Patent Abstract:
A modular tool for imparting profile characteristics into fluent cementitious material. The tool has an elongated base forming a permanently fixed blade, and at least one handle. The blade is configured to act as a dovetail to which any of several modular blades may frictionally fit in removable fashion. The fixed blade forms a deflector disposed to deflect removed cementitious material away from the handles. Other blades may fit by peg and socket engagement. The tool may have detachable rollers enabling the tool to advance at a controlled elevation along a wall being formed and shaped. A slide block may be arranged to engage the rollers so as to adjust their position on the tool. The tool may have integral bubble levels.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This Continuation Application claims priority to pending Non-Provisional U.S. Application Serial No. 13/167,397, filed on Jun. 23, 2011, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and claims priority thereto. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to tools for finishing cementious surfaces, such as uncured cement, and more particularly, for imparting desired profile characteristics to uncured or partially cured cementitious surfaces. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Swimming pools are typically formed from cementitious materials which are applied in a thick liquid state and allowed to cure or harden into a desired final configuration. Pools have both regular and somewhat irregular configurational features, such as curved and straight surfaces which must be formed to the desired shape or profile, and also make smooth transitions in various places from curved to straight or planar surfaces. The cementitious constituent material must usually be hand worked to achieve final desired surface configurations because of periodic variation in surface contours. 
         [0004]    This is a challenging task. For one thing, vertical walls must be modified to include among other features, horizontal grooves, periodic recesses, and other shapes. Many of these features extend along a significant length if not the full length of the pool wall. Care must be taken to avoid waviness of horizontal lines and planes as these shapes are formed in the unfinished wall, to maintain constant or unvarying height of grooves and other features along their length, and to maintain depth of grooves as the grooves project into the wall, to name a few of the situations that confront the craftsman charged with finishing a swimming pool. 
         [0005]    There exists a need for tools which are particularly suited for accomplishing these goals. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention addresses the above needs by providing a modular tool or, referring to the base tool and its removable modules, a modular tool system which is particularly adapted to impart desired form to vertical and horizontal pool surfaces. The base or fundamental component is a structural frame having one or more handles, an elongated body for receiving blades and other shape imparting elements, rollers for supporting the base component from a suitable pool surface, and levels for enabling the user to maintain vertical and horizontal orientation of the tool. 
         [0007]    It is an object of the invention to provide a modular tool that is adaptable to the various shapes which must be formed in soft cementitious materials. 
         [0008]    Another object of the invention is to provide a module tool which is readily held at appropriate orientations and levels at various surfaces of a swimming pool. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0010]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the base component of the novel tool system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an environmental side view of the novel tool in use, and is shown partly in cross section. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exploded detail view of the base component of  FIG. 1 , shown together with a modular blade. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an environmental side view of the novel tool in use with a modular blade attached, and is shown partly in cross section. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an environmental side view of a groove which may be formed in a wall by the novel modular tool. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the novel modular tool, shown with several optional modular working elements assembled to the base component. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an environmental side view of a groove and a top step which may be formed in a wall by the novel modular tool. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged detail view of a mobile component seen towards the center of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the base component shown in  FIG. 1 , with a modular roller device. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is shows a second modular roller device which is usable with the base component shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of a modular blade which is usable with the base component of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a plan view of the modular blade shown at the bottom right of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is an environmental perspective view of the novel modular tool in use. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of the modular tool showing two additional modular working elements which may be removably attached to the base component. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is an end view of an optional working element usable with the base component. 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is an end view of another optional working element usable with the base component. 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is an end view of still another optional working element usable with the base component. 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged plan detail view of a bubble level seen at the lower right of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  is another embodiment of the modular tool with an adjustable platform. 
           [0031]      FIG. 20  is alternate views of the cutting devices usable with the adjustable platform. 
           [0032]      FIG. 21  is a plan view of the slip-on cutting plate connector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , according to at least one aspect of the invention, there is shown an elongated base  12  for a modular tool system  10  (not shown in its entirety in  FIG. 1 ) for imparting profile characteristics or otherwise forming surfaces of uncured or partially cured cementitious materials used to fabricate walls and other surfaces of swimming pools (not shown) for example. Of course, swimming pools are only one example of objects which may be constructed from cementious materials. Cementitious materials may include cement, concrete, plaster, mortar, grout, and similar substances which are typically prepared from granulated raw materials, mixed with water, and which assume a thick, fluid condition, and which ultimately cure or harden into a hard, inflexible solid. The modular tool system  10  is intended to impart surface features into walls and other surfaces when the cementitious material is sufficiently fluid to flow responsive to application of a trowel or like tool (not shown), yet sufficiently viscous or solid so as to hold its form after being shaped with a trowel or like tool. 
         [0034]    The base  12  may comprise an elongated platform  14  which bears a plurality of handles  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  projecting therefrom. The handles  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  may be regarded as principals handles, which are spaced apart from one another, which may be parallel to one another, and which are arranged to occupy a plane which extends along the length of the platform  14 . In addition to the principal handles  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , that side  24  of the platform  14  which is opposed to a permanent blade  26  which is permanently fixed to the platform  14  may be rounded, as seen in end view. The side  24  of the platform  14  may serve as an auxiliary handle due to comfort afforded to grip of the platform  14  at the rounded side  24 , to overall thickness of the platform  14 , and other configurational and dimensional characteristics of the side  24 . It will be seen that the principal handles  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  are oriented to present a hand gripping position which is at a generally right angle to the hand gripping position presented by the auxiliary handle established by the rounded side  24 . 
         [0035]    The platform  14  and the permanent blade  26  are shown as integral and could be fabricated integrally, but of course could also be fabricated as two components which are subsequently fixed to one another. For this reason, the terms base  12  and platform  14  may be employed interchangeably herein. It will be seen that the platform  14  and permanent blade  26  collectively form a dovetail for engaging other components of the modular tool  10 , as will be explained hereinafter. The permanent blade  26  has not only a working edge  28  which could be utilized to scrape a large surface, but also curvature culminating in a surface  30  which projects generally at a perpendicular angle to that portion of the permanent blade  26  which is proximate the working edge  28 . The surface  30  serves as a deflector which is disposed to deflect cementitious material waste which as been scraped by the permanent blade  26  from the fluent cementitious material away from the principal handles  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 . It will be appreciated that the underside surface  32  of the permanent blade  26  could be utilized for smoothing cementitious surfaces being worked. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary cementitious wall  2  being worked by the modular tool  10 . The modular tool  10  is shown being grasped by two principal handles  16 ,  20  and held in a vertical orientation. In this orientation, the modular tool  10  may be moved horizontally along the wall  2 , for smoothing, final scraping, or similar operations. 
         [0037]    It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as horizontal, vertical refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. The drawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normal use, which could obviously change with changes in the way the novel modular tool  10  is grasped. Therefore, orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  shows a first removable blade  34  which is removably engageable with the dovetail of the permanent blade  26 . The first removable blade  34  has opposed canted walls  36 ,  38  joined to a central panel  40  which collectively form a socket which envelops and is retained on the dovetail. A blade member  42  projects from the joint of the canted wall  38  and the central panel  40 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows the first removable blade  34  in use. The modular tool  10  is depicted as being grasped by the principal handles  16 ,  22 , and in use would be moved horizontally. The blade member  42  projects into the fluent cementitious material of the wall  2 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , this will result in a groove  4  being formed in the wall  2 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  shows the first removable blade  34  and also a removable step forming blade  44  attached to the base  12  for simultaneously forming two features in a wall such as the wall  2 . These features include the groove  4  and also steps defined by a shoulder  3  and the upper flat surface  5  shown in  FIG. 7 . The step forming blade  44  has a stepped configuration for forming steps, such as that formed by the shoulder  3  and the upper flat surface  5 . The step forming blade  44  will be understood to include a connector for removably engaging the dovetail of the platform  14  and the permanent blade  26 . Although details are not visible in  FIG. 7 , the connector may comprise an arrangement similar in structure and function to the socket arrangement of the first removable blade  34 , for example. 
         [0041]    Frictional retention on the dovetail is not the only way to mount modular blades and other working tools to the base  12 . Returning to  FIG. 1 , the base  12  is seen to have a groove  46  extending along at least part of the length of the base  12 . A slide block  48  may be slidably mounted within the groove  46  and entrapped therein. The slide block or block  48  may comprise a connector for receiving and removably retaining accessory devices which may be temporarily attached to the base  12 . As depicted, the connector may comprise a hole  50  which receives a corresponding peg (not shown) of an accessory device, and retains the peg by friction. Other types of connectors (not shown) may of course also be employed. 
         [0042]    The block  48  may be configured as shown in  FIG. 8 , having an enlarged base member  52 . The groove  46  may be a T-slot or tee shaped groove which cooperatively receives the block  48  and retains the block  48  by interference while still permitting sliding of the block  48  along the groove  46 . The block  48  may comprise a lock such as a setscrew  52  having a winged head  54  which may be grasped and rotated to tighten and untighten the threads of the setscrew  52 . Tightening of the setscrew  52  may lock the block  48  in place by engaging a surface of the base  12  for example, thereby providing a lock which is disposed to releasably hold the block  48  at a selected position along the groove  46 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  illustrates an accessory device which is usable with the modular tool  10 . In this example, the accessory device is a roller arrangement  56  including a rod  58  serving as an axle, a roller  60  rotatably mounted on the axle, and a first extension section  62  of the axle  58 . The extension section  62  terminates in a peg section  64  which is dimensioned and configured to connect to the block  48  by engaging the hole  50  by friction. The roller arrangement enables the tool to be guided when being moved horizontally as depicted in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 . That is, with the roller  60  resting on the upper surface of the wall  2 , the modular tool  10  is supported by the roller arrangement to move at an unvarying elevation relative to the wall  2 . Hence the user is free to concentrate only minimally on controlling elevation of the modular tool  10  and hence to focus on forming the features of the wall  2  which are shaped by the various blades and working surfaces of the modular tool  10 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 10  shows a variation on the roller arrangement of  FIG. 9 . In  FIG. 10 , a rod  66  supports two rollers  68 ,  70 , and additional rollers (not shown) if desired, in tandem. The tandem arrangement enables the two rollers  68 ,  70  to roll simultaneously along the same flat surface in a common plane, thereby opposing any tendency of the modular tool  10  to swing or tilt as it is moved horizontally along the wall  2 . The rod  66  may comprise a stem  72  which is a counterpart of the extension section  62 , a cross piece  74  fixed to the stem  72 , a first axle  76  which rotatably supports the roller  68  and a second axle  78  which rotatably supports the roller  70 , and a peg section  80  which may be the structural and functional equivalent of the peg section  64  of  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 13  shows the roller arrangement of  FIG. 10  in use, attached to the modular tool  10 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 13  also illustrates deflection of removed cementitious material (not shown). Any cementitious material which is scraped from the wall  2 , such as that which must be removed in order to form the groove  4 , will be intercepted and redirected downwardly as depicted by an arrow  92  in  FIG. 13  away from the principal handles  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  before the user&#39;s hands become fouled by contact with such removed cementitious material. 
         [0046]    Working elements of the modular tool  10  such as the permanent blade  26  and the removable blade  34  may be supplemented by other working elements. Illustratively, and referring to  FIG. 11 , additional modular working elements may include a second removable blade  82 . The second removable blade  82  may be generally similar in purpose and method of operation as the first removable blade  34 , apart from dimensions of the respective blade sections. The second removable blade  82  may have socket structure which slidably surrounds and engages the dovetail of the base  12  in a manner like that of the first removable blade  34 . However, the second removable blade  82  has a configuration which is different from that of the first removable blade  34 . As seen by comparing  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the blade member  42  may have a width (indicated by an arrow  84 ) and a depth (indicated by an arrow  86 ) which differ from corresponding width (indicated by an arrow  88 ) and depth (indicated by an arrow  90 ) of the blade member  92  of the second removable blade  82 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 14  shows two additional modular working elements of the modular tool  10 . A groove cutting module  94  may be removably attached to the base  12  by a peg  96  adapted to be received and retained by friction within a hole  98 . The groove cutting module  94  may have a handle  100 , and an attachment arm comprising an adjustably positioned rod  102  both mounted to an enlargement  104 . The rod  102  may terminate in a connector or fitting  106  which is received in a socket  108  located at the proximal end of a blade holding rod  110 . The blade holding rod  110  may have a first leg  112  which projects laterally from the rod  102 , and at its distal end, a second leg  114  disposed at a perpendicular angle to the first leg  112  so as to face downwardly as depicted in  FIG. 14 . A blade member  116  may be fixed to the distal end of the second leg  114  such that the blade member  116   i  is arranged to project downwardly when the modular tool  10  is held in a vertical orientation, such as the orientation of  FIGS. 2 and 4 . It follows that with the groove cutting module  94  assembled, when the modular tool  10  is positioned as shown in  FIG. 4 , the groove cutting module  94  will generate a groove (not shown) which would be parallel to the step which includes the shoulder  3  shown in  FIG. 7 , but which projects downwardly into the upwardly facing surface of the wall  2 . 
         [0048]    Another working element shown in  FIG. 14  is a removable trough cutting module  118  having a trough cutting blade  120  and a connector which is removably engageable with the base  12  of the modular tool  10 . The connector may comprise an arrangement similar in structure and function to the socket arrangement of the first removable blade  34 , for example. The trough cutting blade  120  may have opposed parallel upper panels  122 ,  124 , opposed aligned horizontal panels  126 ,  128 , opposed parallel lower panels  130 ,  132 , and a bottom panel  134  which spans the opposed parallel lower panels  130 ,  132 . 
         [0049]    Additional working elements may be provided for use with the modular tool  10 . These additional working elements may have not only straight cutting elements arranged at perpendicular angles to one another, as has characterized those working elements described thus far, but rather may have cutting surfaces arranged to form curved profiles and shapes, and may if desired depart from perpendicularity.  FIGS. 15 ,  16 , and  17  illustrate some curved cutting elements that may be incorporated into working elements which in other ways correspond to the first and second removable removable blades  34 ,  82 , or the groove cutting module  94 . 
         [0050]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the modular tool  10  may comprise a first bubble level  136  which is oriented to have a longitudinal working axis (seen as a projection line  138 ) disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis  140  of the platform  14  of the modular tool  10 . A second bubble level  142  which is oriented to have a longitudinal working axis  144  disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis  140  of the platform  14  may be provided. A third bubble level  146  which is angularly adjustable relative to the platform  14  of the modular tool  10  may be provided. 
         [0051]    Turning now to  FIG. 18 , the third bubble level  146  may comprise a lock which is disposed to releasably hold the third bubble level  146  in a selected angular orientation on the platform  14  of the modular tool  10 . The lock may take the form of a setscrew  148  which is a structural and functional counterpart of the setscrew  54  of the block  48 . 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 19 , the modular tool  10 , may have a platform  14  that is adjustable in length  200 . As an non-limiting example, the platform  14  may be adjustable in length  200  by using a telescopic method wherein the desired length would be locked into place. As such, the modular tool  10  may be customizable for a particular job. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 20 , the modular tool  10 , may have different crescent shaped cutting devices for cutting different radii. The tool  10  shows a crescent shaped cutting device  402  attached. As a non-limiting example, each crescent shaped device eight inch  410  and six inch  420  has a different radius and would accordingly shape the cement in different radii. A close up of the cutting device  430  is seen. The The cutting edge  431  comes in contact with the cement to give it the desired look. The attachment region  432  is connected to the modular tool  10 . When the cement is being shaped, the excess cement would be removed via the collection trough  433  and expended. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 21 , the modular tool  10 , may have a slip-on cutting plate connector  300  which is removably engageable with the platform  14 . The slip-on cutting plate connector  300  comes in different lengths and different cutting depths. The slip-on cutting plate connector  300  would slide on to the platform  14  and would attach. As a non-limiting example, it may attach by the use of latches that are held in place by a rod. 
         [0055]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible

Technology Classification (CPC): 4