POWER TROWEL FASTENING ASSEMBLY
This disclosure provides a power-trowel fastening apparatus comprising an arm, a resurfacing tool, and a fastening system. The resurfacing tool is positioned underneath the arm and is connected to the first arm. The resurfacing tool also has a surface side and a fastening side. The fastening system sits between the first arm and the resurfacing tool and includes a peg, an aperture, a magnet, and a magnet recess. Both the peg and the magnet extend from the fastening side of the resurfacing tool. Both the aperture and the magnet recess reside along the bottom of the first arm and are configured to the dimensions and locations of the peg and the magnet on the resurfacing tool. The magnet and the peg fit within the aperture and the magnet recess, respectively, when the resurfacing tool is positioned underneath the first arm.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/914,916 titled POWER TROWEL FASTENING ASSEMBLY (Attorney Reference Number 060900.00009), filed on Dec. 11, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
COPYRIGHT NOTICEA portion of this disclosure contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of this patent document as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but reserves all copyrights whatsoever in the subject matter presented herein.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates generally to mechanical surface finishing equipment and, more particularly, to fastening systems for blades within power trowels and other surface finishing devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREConcrete is a composite material generally defined as a mixture of two components, aggregates and paste. The paste, which typically includes cement, commonly Portland cement, and water, binds the aggregates (sand and gravel or crushed stone) into a rocklike mass as the paste hardens. The paste hardens because of the chemical hydration reaction between the cement and water.
Once concrete is placed, it is typically necessary to level the surface of the concrete, compact concrete, create construction joints, apply an edge finish to the concrete, finish the centers, facilitate curing and/or polishing. The advantages of vibrating or rotating tools and machines such as power trowels in finishing concrete are well known. The concrete contacting parts of these machines, such as their blades, require routine maintenance and replacement. These parts are typically tightly secured by bolts and/or screws onto these heavy machines and in locations making their removal cumbersome. Thus, the routine task of removing such parts for inspection and/or replacement is not only difficult but also possibly injurious.
Epoxy, micro-topping, rubber and/or thermo-plastic aggregate coated surfaces, as well as surfaces requiring decorative polymer overlays require the use of a power trowel for installation and have similar cumbersome blade-replacement issues. It is an object of the present disclosure to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThis disclosure provides a power trowel comprising a handle, a housing assembly, a motor, an arm, a resurfacing tool, and a fastening system. The housing assembly is coupled to and extending from the handle. The motor is positioned above the housing assembly and includes a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is configured to provide rotational motion. The arm is coupled to, and extends radially from, the drive mechanism. The resurfacing tool is positioned underneath the arm and is connected to the arm. The resurfacing tool also has a surface side and a fastening side. The fastening system sits between the arm and the resurfacing tool and includes a peg, an aperture, a magnet, and a magnet recess. Both the peg and the magnet extend from the fastening side of the resurfacing tool. Both the aperture and the magnet recess reside along the bottom of the arm and are configured to the dimensions and locations of the peg and the magnet on the resurfacing tool. The magnet and the peg fit within the aperture and the magnet recess, respectively, when the resurfacing tool is positioned underneath the arm.
This disclosure also provides a power-trowel fastening apparatus comprising a first arm, a resurfacing tool, and a fastening system. The resurfacing tool is positioned underneath the first arm and is connected to the first arm. The resurfacing tool also has a surface side and a fastening side. The fastening system sits between the first arm and the resurfacing tool and includes a peg, an aperture, a magnet, and a magnet recess. Both the peg and the magnet extend from the fastening side of the resurfacing tool. Both the aperture and the magnet recess reside along the bottom of the first arm and are configured to the dimensions and locations of the peg and the magnet on the resurfacing tool. The magnet and the peg fit within the aperture and the magnet recess, respectively, when the resurfacing tool is positioned underneath the first arm.
This disclosure also provides a resurfacing tool for use with an arm having an aperture along the bottom of the arm and a magnet recess along the bottom of the arm. The resurfacing tool includes a surface side, a fastening side, a peg, and a magnet. Both the peg and the magnet extend from the fastening side of the resurfacing tool. Both the peg and the magnet are also configured to the dimensions and locations of the aperture and magnet recess along the bottom of the first arm. The magnet and the peg fit within the aperture and the magnet recess, respectively, when the resurfacing tool is positioned underneath the first arm.
Other advantages within the present disclosure will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSWith reference to the drawings and in operation, the present disclosure overcomes at least some of the disadvantages by providing fastening systems for blades within power trowels and other surface finishing devices. The main benefits of the fastening system are ease of installation and replacement of key components during surface finishing jobs.
The housing assembly 14 is coupled to and extends from the handle 12. The housing assembly 14 and the handle 12 provide the main structure of the power trowel 10 and the fastening system 30. The handle 12 can include controls for the operation of the motor 16, the drive mechanism 18, and the resurfacing tool 24. The handle 12 also aids in supporting a user during operation of the power trowel 10. The housing assembly 14 is the main unit that provides structural support for the power trowel 10 components and provides protection and air flow during operation of the power trowel 10. The embodiment in
Alternate embodiments may integrate the peg 32 and the magnet 34 in order to provide additional security when attaching the resurfacing tool 24 underneath the arm 22. Furthermore the bottom of the arm 22 may also be magnetized in order to provide support to the resurfacing tool 24. In these present embodiments the arm 22 is parallel to a working surface.
Alternative embodiments may use alternate arm designs in order to provide additional support and force against a working surface.
Exemplary embodiments of these systems and methods are described above in detail. The systems and methods are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of the systems and/or steps of the methods may be utilized independently and separately from other components and/or steps described herein. For example, the systems may also be used in combination with other systems and methods, and is not limited to practice with only the system and method as described herein.
The order of execution or performance of the operations in the embodiments within the disclosure illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations described herein may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and embodiments of the present disclosure may include additional or fewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is within the scope of aspects of the disclosure.
This written description uses examples within this disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the subject matter within the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Other aspects and features within the present disclosure may be obtained from a study of the drawings, the specification, and the appended claims. The subject matter of the present disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims. It should also be noted, that the steps and/or functions listed within the appended claims, notwithstanding the order of which steps and/or functions are listed therein, are not limited to any specific order of operation.
Although specific features of various embodiments of within the disclosure may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. In accordance with the principles of the subject matter within the disclosure, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.
Claims
1. A power trowel comprising:
- a handle;
- a housing assembly coupled to, and extending from, the handle;
- a motor positioned above the housing assembly, the motor including a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism configured to provide rotational motion;
- an arm coupled to, and extending radially from, the drive mechanism;
- a resurfacing tool positioned underneath the arm, the resurfacing tool being connected to the arm and having a surface side and a fastening side; and
- a fastening system between the arm and the resurfacing tool, the fastening system including: a peg extending from the fastening side of the resurfacing tool; an aperture along the bottom of the arm, the aperture configured to the dimensions and location of the peg on the resurfacing tool; a magnet extending from the fastening side of the resurfacing tool; and a magnet recess along the bottom of the arm, the magnet recess configured to the dimensions and location of the magnet on the resurfacing tool, wherein the magnet and the peg fit within the aperture and the magnet recess, respectively, when the resurfacing tool is positioned underneath the arm.
2. A power-trowel fastening apparatus comprising:
- a first arm;
- a resurfacing tool positioned underneath the first arm, the resurfacing tool being connected to the first arm and having a surface side and a fastening side; and
- a fastening system between the arm and the resurfacing tool, the fastening system including: a peg extending from the fastening side of the resurfacing tool; an aperture along the bottom of the arm, the aperture configured to the dimensions and location of the peg on the resurfacing tool; a magnet extending from the fastening side of the resurfacing tool; and a magnet recess along the bottom of the arm, the magnet recess configured to the dimensions and location of the magnet on the resurfacing tool, wherein the magnet and the pin fit within the aperture and the recess, respectively, when the resurfacing tool is positioned underneath the first arm.
3. The fastening apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first arm is parallel to a working surface.
4. The fastening apparatus of claim 2, the first arm further having a cavity extending vertically through the first arm and exposing a portion of the fastening side of the resurfacing tool.
5. The fastening apparatus of claim 2, the first arm further having a second arm, the second arm being perpendicular to the first arm and located at the distal end of the first arm, the second arm having an aperture along the bottom of the second arm and a magnet recess along the bottom of the second arm and wherein the magnet and the peg fit within the aperture and the recess, respectively, when the resurfacing tool is positioned underneath the second arm.
6. The fastening apparatus of claim 5, the resurfacing tool further having a support edge parallel to the second arm, the support edge extending from the fastening surface of the resurfacing tool and having a peg and a magnet extend from the support edge parallel to the fastening surface, the second arm having an aperture along the back of the second arm and a magnet recess along the back of second and wherein the peg and the magnet fit into the aperture and magnet recess, respectively, when the resurfacing tool is positioned underneath the first arm and behind the second arm.
7. The fastening apparatus of claim 2, the apparatus further including a second arm attached to the fastening side of the resurfacing tool, wherein the peg and the magnet extend from the second arm.
8. A resurfacing tool for use with an arm, the arm having an aperture along the bottom of the arm and a magnet recess along the bottom of the arm, the resurfacing tool comprising:
- a surface side;
- a fastening side;
- a peg extending from the fastening side of the resurfacing tool, the peg configured to the dimensions and location of the aperture along the bottom of the arm; and
- a magnet extending from the fastening side f the resurfacing tool, the magnet configured to the dimensions and location of the magnet recess along the bottom of the arm, wherein the magnet and the peg fit within the aperture and magnet recess, respectively when the resurfacing tool is positioned underneath the arm.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 10, 2014
Publication Date: Jun 11, 2015
Inventor: Mark Wetherell (Henderson, NV)
Application Number: 14/566,377