Abstract: A pleated or corrugated cosmetic tool is disclosed. Generally, the cosmetic tool may be used to apply or remove a wide variety of cosmetic formulas to the human body, including face, eyelashes, eyelids, eyebrows, fingernails, toenails, lips, and other body parts. The pleated or corrugated cosmetic tool defines an undulated contact or application surface. The undulating contact application surface may allow the tool to smoothly and dynamically adapt to contours of the user's face, legs, arms, or other body parts.

Abstract: The present invention is a mortar tool for creating a vertical mortar joint. The mortar tool comprises a first sidewall having a first lowermost portion, and a second sidewall having a second lowermost portion that is connected to the first lowermost portion of the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls are at an angle relative to each other and define a channel therebetween. The channel is for receiving mortar that can be transferred to a vertical gap between adjacent bricks or stones from an opening defined by the ends of the first and second sidewalls.

Abstract: A tool and method for molding cornices comprising a sliding hand tool for the formation of cornices comprising a main body and a contact body, wherein the main body is attached to the contact body and wherein the main body is made of a light weight material and the contact body is made of a metal, such as stainless steel, for providing a smooth surface for the cornice. The method comprises the steps of placing a mesh on a foam molding and placing and shaping cement on the foam mold using a cornice hand float tool.

Abstract: Disclosed are tools for use in the building construction industry to apply coatings to surfaces. A trowel is disclosed for shaping a wet coating mixture on a surface. The trowel includes channels in the trowel head. Each channel forms a crest in the wet coating mixture in response to the trowel being passed over the wet coating mixture. Also disclosed is a tool for leveling a coating on a surface. The tool includes a screed bar, a screed bar coupling device, and a handle. The one or more than one screed bar coupling device removeably couples the screed bar to a substrate that includes the surface that the coating is to be applied to. The screed bar provides a level screed reference for the wet coating mixture. After the wet coating mixture is leveled, the screed bar is removed from the substrate.

Abstract: A decorative concrete product and method of making the same is provided. The concrete surface carries a unique textural and visual decorative pattern that is troweled over the uncured surface. The decorative pattern strategically conceals any imperfections in the concrete surface. A decorative finishing tool is utilized to create a unique and consistent pattern throughout the exposed surface of the concrete. Unique visual patterns may include any aesthetic design including wood grain, or lightly finished honed or cut stone. The decorative finishing tool may be configured so that varying textures and contours may consistently be imprinted throughout the concrete. Advantageously, the cured concrete retains the durability of a concrete surface while carrying a visually and texturally appealing appearance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to building tools that are high quality, durable, and in some case lightweight. Various tools may be made, at least in part, using a material including magnesium to reduce the weight of the tool. For example, a trowel includes a tang, support member or attachment member that may be made, at least in part, of a magnesium material so as to create a more light weight trowel. The tang, support member or attachment member connects the trowel handle to the trowel blade. The trowel blade may be made of a steel material or a high carbon steel material for high durability. The trowel may be, for example, a concrete trowel including a cross-ground trowel, a flat back end finishing trowel, or a round/round finishing trowel.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel tool which enables a mason or concrete worker to form very beautiful decorative designs into the edge of poured concrete or central surface area of the poured concrete which is used for a driveway, walkway, border of a planter, or other concrete structure having at least a partially flat surface and at least one side edge where the decorative design is formed. Through use of the present invention, any one of a multiplicity of multi-arcuate designs are formed into at least one side edge or outside edge or inside edge or central location of a poured concrete slab to thereby significant beautify a driveway, walkway, planter border, or any other poured concrete structure.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel tool which enables a mason or concrete worker to form very beautiful decorative designs into the edge of poured concrete which is used for a driveway, walkway, border of a planter, or other concrete structure having at least a partially flat surface and at least one side edge where the decorative design is formed. Through use of the present invention, any one of a multiplicity of multi-arcuate designs are formed into at least one side edge or outside edge or inside edge of a poured concrete slab to thereby significant beautify a driveway, walkway, planter border, or any other poured concrete structure.

Abstract: A longitudinal pavement joint for joining pavement lanes, the longitudinal pavement joint comprising: one or more joining surfaces having respective slope angles between about 0 and about 45 degrees; and optionally, one or more wall surfaces having respective slope angles between about 45 and about 90 degrees, the joining surfaces and the wall surfaces being disposed adjacent one another, and one or more of the joining surfaces comprising a respective joining surface feature.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to building tools with improved comfort in gripping and/or efficient control that may be used in various manners and orientations. A handle and work object (e.g., trowel blade) may be connected together by a connecting member (or connecting means) that may be a sloped, angled, and/or substantially curved member, so that a user has increased hand orientation options and/or control over the tool while gripping the handle and/or connecting member in various manners and orientations. In various embodiment(s), the connecting member (e.g., a tang for a trowel) may be a relatively gradually and/or notably sloped, angled, and/or curved structure that may reasonably provide a comfortable extension of the handle and augment the gripping of the tool. The various tools may include a handle connecting member having construction whereby a portion of the sides of the handle connecting member are removed. Magnesium may be used.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to tools that are made, at least in part, more durable, particularly one or more working surface(s) of the tools. For example, various tools such as trowels, knives, and scrappers may be made having at least a portion of their blades heat treated to make at least their working edges more durable and extend their useful lives. For example, in various embodiments, a putty knife, taping knife, or scrapper blade may have at least one working surface or edge that has been at heat treated while an area of the blade where a handle is permanently attached is not heat treated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a notched spatula applicator (1) including gripping means (3) connected to a spatula (2) of which the straight working edge (2c) is equipped with a plurality of notches (4) that are identical and evenly spaced apart by a distance between 35 and 50 mm, the width of said notches being between 9 and 18 mm and their height between 8 and 20 mm. The invention also relates to a process for laying, by bonding, rigid floorcoverings, especially parquet, which uses said applicator and an adhesive composition comprising from 0.2 to 5 wt % of substantially spherical particles of a material for which the substantially identical diameter may range from 1 to 7 mm. The invention finally relates to the adhesive composition used in said process.

Abstract: During the construction of a building it is necessary to smooth the concrete, create a keyway for the wall and produce a slight curve on the edge of the concrete slab. The current device will enable the operator to perform all three tasks with one tool. The position of the keyway may be adjusted depending on the specific requirements of the construction project.

Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to tools that are made, at least in part, more durable, particularly one or more working surface(s) of the tools. For example, various tools such as trowels, knives, and scrappers may be made having at least a portion of their blades heat treated to make at least their working edges more durable and extend their useful lives. For example, in one embodiment, a trowel blade may have at least one texturing edge that has been at least partially heat treated.

Abstract: An improved trowel for facilitating the production of air pockets in a layer of mortar mix applied to a substrate for receiving marble-flooring pieces thereon. The trowel comprises a handle and an elongated blade joined together by a shank. The shape of the blade gradually narrows to a distal end that includes a plurality of tips separated by one or more V-shaped notch or notches. In various versions of the invention, the number of tips may vary and the tips may be flat or pointed. The V-shaped notch or notches may vary in depth.

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: 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: An adjustable trowel assembly capable of distributing spreadable material along the work surface at various depths and/or different groove patterns formed in the material by simply adjusting the two overlapping sliding plates of the assembly relative to each other. More particularly, the instant invention is drawn to an adjustable trowel wherein the two adjustable plates are aligned and held together by quick release cam clamps placed into the handle.

Abstract: A drainage wall cladding system including a substrate backing assembly, an insulation layer, and elongated adhesive ribbons compressed between the substrate backing assembly and the insulation layer. Prior to compression, the ribbons have a base portion and a top portion formed on the base portion. After compression, the top portion is substantially compressed and the base portion is minimally compressed, wherein the adhesive ribbons are formed such that formation of cavities is minimized. Preferably, the base and top portions are trapezoidal in cross-sectional shape. A trowel or push box may be used to form the adhesive ribbons. An edge of such trowel and a blade of such push box define one or more notches to create ribbons with a trapezoidal base portion and a smaller trapezoidal top portion.

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: The present invention is a combination squeegee (i.e., a scraper) and hand trowel tool. The tool can be conveniently used to first remove a material from a can, bucket or other material container and then used to spread the material evenly on a surface or substrate. The tool has a blade having a curved edge portion for removing material from cans or buckets and a separate notched edge portion (preferably with indentations or serrations) for evenly spreading the material on a surface. The invention further contemplates a method of using the tool to remove material from a can, bucket or container and applying the material to a surface.

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 method and a serrated hand tool for construction are disclosed. A novel hand tool for plaster application over a taped surface joined includes a blade having a central section and two serrated side sections. The central section contains a cutout with a straight edge of sufficient width to allow a thicker layer of plaster to be placed over the tape. The serrated side sections contain a number of teeth with a triangular shape. According to the method, the plaster is applied in a plurality of parallel lines under the side sections and in a smooth straight layer under the central section of the tool all at one time to reduce the overall construction time, plaster consumption, and the skill level required to perform the task.

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: A spreader for use in spreading a bed of predetermined thickness of adhesive material on a prepared floor surface prior to the laying of tiles. The spreader comprises a rectangular planar portion (2) having a serrated lower longitudinal edge (4) and flanges (6 and 8) extending substantially at right angles from the transverse edges of the rectangular planar portion (2). The flanges provide a barrier allowing a mass of adhesive to lie in front of the serrated edge (4) and between the flanges (6 and 8) as the spreader is drawn over the surface of the surface to be tiled. As the spreader is drawn over the surface the adhesive flows under the serrated edge thereby providing an even application of adhesive across the full width of the spreader. A height adjuster comprising an adjustable gauge (28) is provided as is a handle (10) or elongate handle (50) for convenient use by the tiler.

Abstract: A hand-held trowel that includes a first and second adjoining edges that have a plurality of notches disposed therein that is used to provide grooves in cementious material, said trowel used for spreading cementious material and said trowel including a third edge extending away from the trowel body having sufficient rigidity and strength for prying up a ceramic tile for use as a margin trowel. The trowel also includes a handle for grasping by hand that is rigidly attached to the trowel body which may include a level indicating device to tell with an air bubble and liquid whether or not the fourth edge of the trowel, which is straight when placed on the surface of a tile, is level relative to the gravitational field of the earth. A trowel for use with tile, brick, block and plaster may also include first and second level indicators mounted in the handle or on the trowel blade that provides for levels of indication or straightness relative to the earth's surface in two different planes.

Abstract: A novel plaster application method includes the first step of applying the plaster in a plurality of parallel and spaced apart lines using a novel hand tool so that the upper edges of each plaster line define the plane of the final plaster surface. After allowing the plaster lines to dry and harden, the second step is to fill the spaces between the lines with more plaster forming the final plaster surface by raising the level of plaster to the plane of the final surface. More layers of plaster may be applied if needed. A serrated hand tool is proposed for aiding the plaster spreading which contains a plurality of generally triangular teeth with oval upper portions and blunt lower ends defining the distal edge of the tool. The new method allows a faster application of plaster in a construction practice with reduced consumption of plaster material.