Abstract: An exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) is provided for use with associated insulation and substrate layers of a building. The system includes primary and secondary water resistant barriers on first and second surfaces of the associated insulation layer. The secondary water resistant barrier includes a single adhesive and sealing layer defining at least one channel and adhesively securing the second surface of the associated insulation layer to the associated substrate layer. The system is usable with a plurality of associated insulation layers disposed in abutment, the single adhesive and sealing layer defining at least one channel extending from the first insulation panel to the second insulation panel and being adapted to conduct fluid therethrough. Further, a hand tool for working the adhesive and sealing layer is provided.

Abstract: A modular trowel handle device comprises a handle section to provide a handle interface for a user of the trowel handle and a post extending from the handle section. A mounting surface is coupled to the post and extends generally parallel to the handle section. The mounting surface includes a plurality of fasteners extending therefrom or formed therein. A trowel blade receiving plate includes engaging structure configured to engage a connector of a trowel blade and a plurality of corresponding fasteners extending therefrom or formed therein. The trowel blade receiving plate is coupled to the mounting surface by the fasteners and is formed from a different material than the mounting surface.

Abstract: A hand tool includes a plate-like body having a connection end from which a handle is integrally connected there which includes a first section and a second section. A grip is connected to the second section. The first section extends from the connection end by an upward angle and the second section integrally extends from the first section by an angle and toward opposite to the connection end. Each of the first and second sections includes a wall which is a curved wall and faces downward. The hand tool is punched from a metal board and includes a plate-like body and an extension portion which is then bent to form the handle and a grip is connected to the handle.

Abstract: A trowel for working a curved surface is described. In one embodiment, a trowel comprises a relatively flexible sheet of material having a memory property tending to maintain the sheet in a planar configuration. The sheet has a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second side edges connecting the leading edge and the trailing edge. The leading edge is arcuate between the first and second side edges. The trowel further comprises a handle coupled to the sheet at the trailing edge.

Abstract: A method and a drywall tool for making flat and even joints for the construction industry are disclosed. This innovative hand tool for making flat even joints includes a central section that is a cut out notch allowing for an extruded amount of drywall compound that produces a sufficient width and height to be placed over the drywall tape within the drywall recessed or butt joints. Once this cures, a simple fill in step using a standard towel allows these process steps to be accomplished by an unskilled worker, while producing flat and even joints, requiring less time, and dust.

Abstract: A hand trowel is provided with upstanding side and rear walls to prevent cement or grout from sliding off when scooped from a container. The sidewalls of the trowel taper to the front edge of the trowel so that no barrier is created to prevent the front edge from being utilized as a “finishing” edge. A handle extends from the rear wall of the trowel. The handle is provided with ergonomic indentations and the front edge is slanted to allow use by either a right- or a left-handed person.

Abstract: Concrete-finishing tools and attachments, such as edgers, groovers, and groover attachments, are disclosed. The tools and attachments may include a unitary stainless steel body or element. The tools and attachments may be formed by a method or methods including casting and forging.

Abstract: A lightweight tool for applying compound to drywall and like surfaces is achieved by using closed-cell foam to form an application layer secured to a stiff plate. A handle secures to the stiff plate to facilitate use. An application layer made of closed cell foam of substantially uniform thickness nonetheless provides a lower surface having contoured perimeter portions by conforming to a plate having upwardly sloping perimeter regions. In an alternative embodiment, perimeter portions of an upper surface of an application layer are formed to be downward sloping. The upper surface of the application layer may be secured to the lower surface of a plate. The downward sloping portions may be deformed upwardly to be flush with the plate, creating corresponding upwardly sloping portions on the lower surface of the application layer. In yet another embodiment, the application layer is formed or machined to have an upwardly sloping perimeter portion.

Abstract: An invention that uses a convex shaped tool in the application and smoothing of concrete, but also can be used in other fields where needed where there is a concave surface. This trowel will be a big help in many variety of fields that has to deal with different degrees of concave surfaces. This trowel has a need to come in many different sizes, convex shapes, and composition depending on the need in the desired job being worked on. This trowel will be a big help in areas of concave surfaces where before there was no universal tool to do those jobs quickly and efficiently.

Abstract: (A blade (12) for a trowel (10) comprises a rectangular front face for spreading material and a rear face adapted to be attached to a handle (14). A plurality of sequentially smaller rectangular lamellae (16, 18, 20, 22) are bonded together in a stack to create a progression of steps in the face of the blade. As the blade (12) is used to apply, for example, plaster to a wall, the surfaces of the lamellae adjacent the steps act as edges, which spread and smooth the plaster. An alternative embodiment comprising three parallel ribs mounted on a lamina (102) is shown in FIG. 8.

Abstract: Several embodiments of trowels which have an elongated handle and a pair of generally facing weights or a weight or weights and a connector between which a pair of blades are secured with one blade being of lesser height than the other to thereby resist undesired flexing of the other blade. In another embodiment, in lieu of having a second blade, a second weight which is disposed on the opposite side of the blade from the handle, has a downward extension which limits flexing of the blade. In a further embodiment, a blade is a two component blade and has a detachable and replaceable cutting edge. The weights and connector serve a multiple purpose of securing the upper end of the blades therebetween, facilitating downward pressure when the trowel is in use and in some embodiments through either a second blade or an extension of a weight for limiting the amount of flexing of the blade.

Abstract: A hand trowel for vibrating concrete in order to smooth the concrete. The trowel has a blade, a handle mounted on the blade, and electrical components including a motor inside the handle. When the switch is turned on, the motor causes the handle to vibrate, which in turn transmits vibrations to the blade and to the concrete surfaces that come in contact with the blade.

Abstract: A taping knife has a web, a working edge, two side edges, and a handle edge opposite the working edge. The handle is connected to the blade to have an angular orientation relative to the working edge of the blade such that the handle is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the blade working edge.

Abstract: A method and a drywall tool for making flat and even joints for the construction industry are disclosed. This innovative hand tool for making flat even joints includes a central section that is a cut out notch allowing for an extruded amount of drywall compound that produces a sufficient width and height to be placed over the drywall tape within the drywall recessed or butt joints. Once this cures, a simple fill in step using a standard towel allows these process steps to be accomplished by an unskilled worker, while producing flat and even joints, requiring less time, and dust.

Abstract: A tool and method for applying a compound to a surface on which the tapering of the compound is useful for correct finishing. This novel tool and method, when applied to a trade such as drywall finishing, reduces labor time, skill level required, and material consumption to complete the task. The tool and method are generally useful for providing tapered compound and are particularly adapted for the finishing of inside corners, butted seams, and wall hole repairs when tapering of the finishing compound is required.

Abstract: The combination wedge and notch trowel includes a reversible grip handle and an integrated wedge, for applying cement or adhesive to a substrate surface for installation of tiles. The ergonomically contoured reversible handle allows a user to use the notch trowel in a forward or backwards position with the same hand. The blade portion includes a notch pattern of conically shaped trapezoidal notches and large parabolic notches. The integrated wedge allows a user to use the wedge side of the trowel to pry up and remove tiles.

Abstract: An adjustable trowel for spreading material on a surface includes a trowel plane and a post extending from the trowel plane. A mechanism for selectively attaches a handle to the post in either a left-handed orientation or a right-handed orientation relative to the trowel plane.

Abstract: A guide device is adapted to be removably attached to a flat box device for use in applying mastic adjacent an outside corner or edge. The guide device includes a generally S-shaped guide bar, a bracket, and a spring. The bracket is adapted to attach to the flat box device. The guide bar is pivotably and slidably retained by the a first bracket portion. The spring is adapted to bias a first guide bar end of the guide bar away from the first bracket portion of the bracket. The guide bar extends across a width of the flat box device and the first guide bar end extends below the flat box device when the guide device is operably installed on the flat box device. The spring biases the guide bar in a lateral direction corresponding to the width of the flat box device when the guide device is operably installed on the flat box device.

Abstract: The orbital vibrating hand trowel has a body with first and second opposite ends and a handle between the ends for grasping. The body houses a motor and power source. An eccentric mass is connected to the motor. An adapter body is connected to a float body. The adapter body has an aperture for housing the eccentric mass such that rotation of the eccentric mass within the aperture of the adaptor body moves and vibrates the adaptor body and attached float body in an orbital path along a horizontal plane with respect to the float body for finishing a surface.

Abstract: A trowel blade includes a pre-finished, hardened and tempered blade having at least two apertures formed therethrough. Each aperture has a cross section tapering from a larger opening in a bottom of the blade to a smaller opening in a top of the blade. At least two cleats are also provided, each cleat being disposed in one of the apertures and each cleat having a lower portion, deformed within the aperture to have a frusto-conical shape mating with internal walls of the aperture. Each cleat also has an upper, inverted frusto-conical portion having a lower surface mating with an upper surface of the blade, and an upper shoulder. The upper shoulder of the upper portion extends upwardly from the lower surface of the upper portion and outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the cleat. The cleats are formed of an integral, rigid material and are collectively configured to provide a substantially rigid interface between the pre-finished blade and a removable handle of the pre-finished blade.

Abstract: A tool for applying mastic to drywall, having a flexible trowelling bar for smoothing and shaping the applied mastic. The curvature of the trowelling bar is controlled by the rotation of a cam that is positioned on a rigid support and that is directly coupled to the trowelling bar through a link. Springs are positioned between the rigid support and the trowelling bar to maintain tension on the link during rotation of the cam. The springs exert pressure on the trowelling bar through plungers having rounded feet that maintain consistent contact with the trowelling bar as the curvature of the trowelling bar changes.

Abstract: A component spatula tool system including an elongate grip handle structure, and a generally planar blade which is releasably grippable by the handle structure. The handle structure has a pair of opposed, selectively openable and closeable, matchingly grip-patterned clamping pads that define a nip region, the blade has opposite sides possessing matchingly grip-patterned clamping sites whose grip patterns are complementary to those of the clamping pads, and the clamping pads and clamping sites accommodate, via operative interengagements of their respective grip-patterned characteristics, positive-lock, universally invertible, plural-position clamp locking of the blade within the nip region.

Abstract: A putty knife for the application of substances for mural coatings and the like comprising a blade made of plastic material provided with a manoeuvring part formed by a handle made also of plastic material secured to the blade in a rapidly detachable fashion.

Abstract: A device for preparing a sloped mud surface around a drain prior to setting tile or stone includes one or more arms (i.e., rigid arms) attached to a sleeve and rotatably supported relative to a vertical axis defined by a vertical shaft and horizontal planar base. An adjustable clamp assembly releasably secures the device to a conventional drain, which may be secured to a drainpipe by pipe threads. The bottom edge of the arm provides a straight working edge. The arm can be freely moved (i.e., rotated) around the vertical shaft degrees, counterclockwise and clockwise. As the arm rotates around the vertical shaft the working edge sweeps over the floor mud surface, spreading and leveling the surface while scraping or sweeping away excess material.

Abstract: An ergonomically-shaped hand screed for levelling and finishing concrete is provided. The screed has a finger relief groove on its rear face and a thumb relief groove on its front face. Both the finger and thumb grooves are positioned nearer the top surface of the screed to form an ergonomically comfortable handgrip. A concrete relief groove is located on the front face near the bottom surface to form a scraper edge. A ridge separates the thumb relief groove and the concrete groove. When the screed is used, the scraper edge and concrete relief groove draw up the concrete overburden from a concrete surface and deflect it away from the operator's hands.

Abstract: A leveling system for freshly poured concrete is provided comprising a hand screed and a hand float. The system includes a laser beam leveling system consisting of a laser transmitter mounted on the hand screed and a laser beam receiver target mounted on the hand float. The hand screed further includes an inclinometer mounted on top of the hand screed for maintaining the angle of the screed when the screed is used on sloped surfaces. Bubble levelers positioned on top of the hand screed and the hand float are used to maintain the hand screed and the hand float in a level position.

Abstract: A trowel assembly includes a blade plate, a connecting strip fixed on the blade plate and formed with an insertion recess, and a handle mounted on the connecting strip and having a downward extended support post provided with an insertion block inserted into the insertion recess of the connecting strip. Thus, the connecting strip is fixed on the blade plate in a riveting manner, and the handle is combined with the connecting strip in a screwing manner, so that the trowel assembly can be assembled easily, rapidly and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user mounting the trowel assembly.

Abstract: A trowel for finishing the top of concrete stem walls around protruding anchor bolts has a finishing surface in the form of a blade or block attached to a handle. An opening in the form of a notch or a hole is provided in the blade or block for accommodating an anchor bolt. The trowel may be provided with means to position the anchor bolt vertically and horizontally in addition to finishing the concrete around the anchor bolt. The trowel may also have a curved side edge for rounding the concrete where it contacts the form.

Abstract: An Advanced Burnishing Tool for burnishing Venetian plaster surfaces comprises a base with a working surface with a plurality of concentric ribs. The tool may be used manually or may be mounted on a power tool such as an oscillating sander. Each rib has a rounded upper portion for contacting the surface, so that each rib acts in a manner similar to the rounded edge of conventional burnishing tools. The plurality of ribs provide a simultaneous working of multiple points in the plaster surface. Efficiency is further improved when a power tool is used to reduce the manual effort required for burnishing.

Abstract: An angular notched trowel applies a bonding material uniformly to a substrate. The angular notched trowel contains: (a) a top plate; (b) a notched plate connected along and descending from the trailing edge of the top plate; (c) a handle connected to the upper surface of the top plate, and (d) a descending member connected to the lower surface of the top plate or the handle. The bottom of the descending member is located so that the spread section is substantially free of gaps.

Abstract: A tri-joint groover or trowel assembly for finishing a concrete surface includes an elongate handle, a base member and a connector assembly for selectively connecting the handle to the base member. The base member has opposed edge portions and a centrally disposed longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The trowel assembly further includes an elongate track preferably having opposed sidewalls extending upwardly from the base member and extending along the longitudinal axis with the opposed sidewalls forming an opening therebetween. The base member includes a groove formed therein and substantially aligned with the opening of the track so that the connector assembly can be slidably moved therealong. The trowel assembly further includes an elongate grooving member integral with the connector assembly and extending substantially parallel to the opposed edge portions and downwardly from the base member with the grooving member being slidably movable along the groove.

Abstract: A hand tool having a flat, planar blade parallel to a surface and a variable length handle allows efficient and effective grading or leveling of a surface. The device allows for effective grading without undue stress on the body of the operator. The ergonomic design of the device, as well as the functional design, allow for effective and efficient grading of surfaces next to and surrounding sensitive structures.

Abstract: A vibrating tamping bull-float is used for smoothing the top surface of freshly poured concrete, while pushing coarse aggregate down into the concrete while allowing cement cream to surface. Additionally it levels the concrete in the area surrounding the vibrating tamping bull-float. It includes a plurality of float body portions: a stable platform portion and at least one vibrating portion which tamps as you push and pull the vibrating tamping bull-float across the surface of the freshly poured concrete.

Abstract: A device is provided for applying and/or finishing viscous materials along at least one adjoining surface or a bead along a corner, while simultaneously effecting all of the surfaces substantially free of any excess of the viscous material. The device includes a reinforcing portion (24), at least one operative extension (34R), (34L) with a working edge (56R), (56L) that protrudes beyond the termination (out of view) of the reinforcing portion, and a forward working edge (36), (38). The viscous material is formed with the forward edge. The angle of the operative extension edge to the forward edge is variable and resilient, which conforms to irregularities of the corner and variations in the position of the reinforcing portion and the forward working edge in relation to the adjoining surface, while sidewardly force is maintained against the adjoining surface. A seal is produced and maintained between the extension edge and the adjoining surface.

Abstract: A tool for applying grout into a recess between adjacent tile surfaces comprises a body for gripping by the user formed with an elongate, resilient channel member adapted for retaining a line of grout and delivering the grout directly into the recess by aligning and pressing of the channel member over the recess. A finishing portion can be formed on the same body or a separate body for compressing and shaping the grout after delivery into the recess. The tool of the present invention avoids wasting of grout and increases the speed of application without sacrificing the appearance or integrity of the grout joint.

Abstract: A drywall knife having a handle and a blade securely mounted thereon. The handle includes an elongated inner core having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, a front end, a rear end and first and second opposite surfaces extending from the rear end to the front end of the inner core along the longitudinal axis of the handle, the blade being securely mounted to the front end of the inner core. The improvement resides in that the inner core of the handle includes at least one recess having an opening facing the first surface so as to reduce the overall weight of the drywall knife, and the inner core further includes a lid hingedly mounted to the first surface of the inner core, said lid being positioned and sized to be folded about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner core so as to cover each recess. The drywall knife is inherently lightweight due to its design. The drywall knife is mounted onto the blade without the use of fasteners, due to the design of the handle and blade.

Abstract: A leveling device for a construction material surface surrounding a drainpipe presents an elongated beam having a central seat therein for reception of the end of a drainpipe therein. Upon a seating of the drainpipe, a pair of opposed inclined surfaces contact the construction material surrounding the drainpipe. Rotation of the beam about the drainpipe presents a smoothed, inclined surface about the drainpipe with the excess poured material being collected in pockets in a sidewall of the device. The depth of the inclined surfaces below the drainpipe top can be regulated. Bubble levels assure a proper orientation of the beam during rotation.

Abstract: A jig adapted for easily positioning, properly orienting and installing a molding. The jig includes a body having a positioning portion configured to receive a molding. The body also includes a first positioning margin and a second positioning margin each emanating from the positioning portion, the positioning margins being configured so as to be substantially perpendicular to each other. The jig facilitates placement of the molding at a proper installation angle at a juncture of two surfaces, such as a ceiling and wall.

Abstract: The Moon Trowel is a tool of convenience. Because of the unique design and shape of the blade, anyone who uses it will not want to be without it. Its convex shaped blade matches perfectly with the inside contour of a five gallon bucket enabling the user to efficiently retrieve all materials, whatever they may be, from the inside of a bucket with little waste or effort. The idea is simple, match the shape of the trowel blade to the inside shape of a five gallon bucket which comes out to be a curve of 5&⅝ inch radius. A perfect fit means no manipulation of the tool to get it to work properly. Tools should not have to be manipulated to work . . . they should just work. The Moon Trowel works extremely well.

Abstract: A smoother includes a plate with a neck connected to an end of the plate and a handle is connected to the neck. A friction sleeve is mounted to the neck so that the user may snap the friction sleeve by his or her index finger and thumb to operate the smoother. The friction sleeve can be added to the existed smoother without too much amendment.

Abstract: A ceiling design tool and method of using the tool for forming plaster designs on walls and ceilings comprising a circular planar face portion having a centered cylindrical handle. The face portion comprises a rubber layer over a burlap layer clamped onto the edge of a circular metal plate. The face portion of the tool is dipped in a fluid plaster mixture and applied to a ceiling or wall surface of either plaster or drywall in a stepwise rolling motion to create a unique textured surface such as half-moons, bead work and scroll patterns.

Abstract: A hand float for forming a concrete slab. The hand float comprises a substantially rectangular float member, a handle member, first and second screw members that attach the handle member to the float member, and a leveling device attached to the handle member. he user of the hand float grasps the handle member to work the concrete slab before the slab is cured. The user of the hand float views the leveling device while working the concrete slab to ensure that the portion of the slab being worked is substantially flat and substantially at a desired level.

Abstract: A trowel includes a blade, a handle having two ends formed integral with the blade with such as a molding or a forging process. An outer cover is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the handle by such as a molding process for allowing the users to comfortably grasp the handle. The ends of the handle are formed integral with two seats and two ramps of the blade, and each has one or more notches for receiving bulges of the outer cover and for solidly securing the outer cover onto the handle and for preventing the outer cover from moving relative to the handle.

Abstract: A hand-held tool to produce bead-like profiles or joints in a single process without the necessity of separation agents. The avoidance of use of such separating agents results in improved durability of the joint produced with the tool, in particular with regard to the sealing function. Due to the chamfer on the peripheral sides formed in the corner areas with the recess, these peripheral sides form elastic tool or scraping edges, with which the surface is adjacent to the bead-like joint are cleaned or scraped off during forming of the joint mass. After forming of the bead-like joint, reworking of the adjacent sides is therefore not necessary.

Abstract: A grout float, including a blade and a pair of core sections defining a handle. Interlocking male tapered bosses and female tapered receptacles join the core sections. Tapered tongues on the core sections pass through openings in upstanding flanges on the blade. The tapered tongues produce a wedging action with the flange openings whereby the locking union of the core sections also secures the handle rigidly to the blade. For comfort, the assembled handle and blade are encapsulated in an overmolded elastomeric liquid-tight sheath.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for removing joint filler and a method of using the same. The device includes a body member and a peeling element located adjacent to the front end of the body member. The peeling element includes at least two peeling points, where the first peeling point is located proximate to the topside of the peeling element and the second peeling point is located proximate to the underside of the peeling element. The device also includes an opening located between the peeling element and body member.

Abstract: A trowel includes a series of levels embedded in the handle for measuring the inclination of a surface being finished. The trowel includes a flat base plate, with a handle having two ends each secured to the plate to define a grip area therebetween. This construction provides an extremely rigid structure, where the handle and its included levels cannot flex angularly relative to the base plate or blade. At least one of the handle ends, and optionally both ends, includes two mutually orthogonally disposed level indicators installed therein for simultaneously measuring the level or slope of a surface being worked, in two mutually perpendicular axes. The opposite handle end may also include a pair of similarly arranged levels, if so desired. The levels may comprise bubble or spirit levels, electronic levels with audible output, and/or other level types as desired.

Abstract: A trowel includes a blade, a handle having two ends formed integral with the blade with such as a molding or a forging process. An outer cover is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the handle by such as a molding process for allowing the users to comfortably grasp the handle. The ends of the handle are formed integral with two seats and two ramps of the blade, and each has one or more notches for receiving bulges of the outer cover and for solidly securing the outer cover onto the handle and for preventing the outer cover from moving relative to the handle.

Abstract: A concrete smoothing device including a plate portion having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface is planar for positioning on freshly poured concrete. The upper surface has a reinforcement brace secured centrally thereon. A swivel bracket is secured to the reinforcement brace of the upper surface of the plate portion. The swivel bracket includes a cylindrical post extending upwardly from the reinforcement brace. The cylindrical post has a collar rotatably disposed thereon. The collar has a pair of arms extending laterally therefrom. The pair of arms has a space disposed therebetween. An elongated handle is provided having an upper end and a lower end. The lower end has an end cap secured thereto. The end cap has a tab extending outwardly therefrom. The tab is positioned within the space between the pair of arms of the swivel bracket and pivotally secured thereto by a pivot pin.

Abstract: A handle of a trowel, comprising a penetrating hole disposed longitudinally within, with one end rim thereof extending to form an arcuate bearing piece permitting a narrow rod of a blade to insert in the penetrating hole and to press against onto a concaved arc-plane on the front rim of the bearing piece, is characterized that the circumferential side of the penetrating hole of the handle is disposed longitudinally with a plurality of ribs to enable the inserted narrow rod at the distal end of the blade to have preferred tightness; a disposed sealing cover and the bearing piece have corresponding shapes, both interlock correspondingly by means of a concave and a convex fastening members to sheath and firmly seal the narrow rod of the blade.