Abstract:
A plaster removing device includes a main device frame having first and second ends, a device trough carried by the main device frame and a plumb device carried by the main device frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to installation of crown molding and the like. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a plaster removing device which is suitable for removing plaster from between crown molding and a ceiling after installation of the crown molding. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Crown molding is commonly used in residences and other buildings to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the junction between the ceiling and interior walls. The crown molding is typically nailed to the ceiling at the juncture of the ceiling with each wall. Plaster may first be applied between the crown molding and the ceiling to impart a seamless appearance between the crown molding and the ceiling. However, when the crown molding is pushed against the ceiling, the plaster is typically forced out from between the crown molding and the ceiling and should be removed from the gap between the crown molding and the ceiling before the plaster dries. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is generally directed to a plaster removing device. An illustrative embodiment of the plaster removing device includes a main device frame having first and second ends, a device trough carried by the main device frame and a plumb device carried by the main device frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will now be made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a right side perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the plaster removing device; 
         FIG. 2  is a left side perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the plaster removing device; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a roller assembly of an illustrative embodiment of the plaster removing device (partially in section), more particularly illustrating adjustment of the roller assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a plumb device of an illustrative embodiment of the plaster removing device; and 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of the plaster removing device, placed against a ceiling and crown molding in the removal of plaster from between the ceiling and crown molding. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Referring to the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the plaster removing device is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . The plaster removing device  1  includes a main device frame  2  which in some embodiments may have a generally elongated, rectangular shape. The main device frame  2  may have a first end  3  and a second end  4  which is opposite the first end  3 . A device handle  28 , which may be generally elongated, may be provided on a bottom surface (not shown) of the main device frame  2 . In some embodiments, a level  29  may be provided on the device handle  28 . 
     A roller assembly  14  may be provided on the first end  3  of the main device frame  2 . The roller assembly  14  may include a roller bracket  15  which is provided on the first end  3  of the main device frame  2 . An elongated bracket slot  16  may be provided in the roller bracket  15 . An adjusting roller  17  may be provided on a roller shaft  17   a  which is adjustably and slidably mounted in the bracket slot  16 . A roller handle  18  may extend from the adjusting roller  17 . The adjusting roller  17  may be mounted for selective adjustment along the bracket slot  16  of the roller bracket  15  according to any suitable technique which is known by those skilled in the art. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , in some embodiments a roller adjustment knob  19  has a knob shaft  20  ( FIG. 5 ) which threadably engages a knob opening (not shown) provided in the main device frame  2 . The knob shaft  20  abuts against the roller shaft  17   a  of the adjustment roller  17  to facilitate selective positioning of the roller shaft  17   a  and roller adjustment knob  19  along the bracket slot  16 . 
     A plumb device  8  may be provided on the second end  4  of the main device frame  2 . The plumb device  8  may include a generally elongated, rectangular plumb device frame  9  which may be disposed in generally perpendicular relationship with respect to the main device frame  2 . A pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart frame slots  10  may extend through the plumb device frame  9 . A pair of frame adjustment knobs  11  may be provided on respective knob shafts  12  ( FIG. 5 ) which extend through the respective frame slots  10  and are threaded into a pair of respective shaft openings (not shown) provided in the second end  4  of the main device frame  2 . Accordingly, the frame adjustment knobs  11  may be selectively loosened to facilitate selective fore and aft adjustment of the plumb device  8  on the main frame  2 , as shown in  FIG. 4  and then re-tightened to secure the plumb device  8  at the desired position with respect to the main frame  2 . 
     A device trough  22  may be provided on the main device frame  2  of the plaster removing device  1 . The device trough  22  has a trough end  26  which generally coincides positionally with the first end  3  of the main device frame  2 . In some embodiments, the device trough  22  may be generally coextensive with the main device frame  2 . The device trough  22  may have a generally L-shaped configuration with an attachment portion  23  which is provided on a front surface (not numbered) of the main device frame  2  and a blade  24  which extends outwardly from the attachment portion  23  in generally perpendicular relationship thereto. The device trough  22  may be attached to the main device frame  2  according to any suitable technique which is known by those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, fasteners  25  may be extended through respective fastener openings (not shown) provided in the attachment portion  23  and into respective fastener openings (not shown) provided in the main device frame  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in typical application the plaster removing device  1  is used to remove excess plaster (not shown) from between a strip of crown molding  34  and a ceiling  32  after application of the plaster between the crown molding  34  and the ceiling  32 . Accordingly, the handle  28  may be grasped as the main device frame  2  and the plumb device  8  are placed flat against the ceiling  32 . The upper corner of the attachment portion  23  of the device trough  22  is placed in the gap between the ceiling  32  and the crown molding  34  as the adjusting roller  17  of the roller assembly  14  is placed against the lower surface of the crown molding  34 . The vertical position of the adjusting roller  17  of the roller assembly  14  may first be adjusted such as by using the roller adjustment knob  19 , as was heretofore described with respect to  FIG. 3 . Accordingly, the position of the adjusting roller  17  along the bracket slot  16  ( FIG. 1 ) of the roller bracket  15  depends on the thickness of the crown molding  34  and is selected such that the adjusting roller  17  engages the crown molding  34  while the main device frame  2  and the upper edge of the attachment portion  23  of the device trough  22  lie flat against the ceiling  32 . The level  29  on the device handle  28  indicates whether or not the plaster removing device  1  is level against the ceiling  32 . 
     Next, the plaster removing device  1  is moved along the surface of the ceiling  32  and the adjusting roller  17  of the roller assembly  14  rolls along the lower surface of the crown molding  34 . Accordingly, the attachment portion  23  of the device trough  22  scrapes the plaster from the gap between the ceiling  32  and the crown molding  34  and falls onto the blade portion  24  of the device trough  22 . The scrapped plaster collects on the blade portion  24  of the device trough  22  and can be subsequently removed therefrom after the plaster removing device  1  is lowered from the ceiling  32 . As the plaster is removed from between the ceiling  32  and the crown molding  34 , a seamless appearance is left between the crown molding  34  and the ceiling  32 . 
     While the preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.