Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is an assembly for bending the blade of a drywall knife. In one aspect of the invention, a first and second blade bender are each attached to a drywall knife and a force is applied. This force bends the blade in such a manner that an arcuate blade is produced. The magnitude of the bend is highly adjustable.

Abstract: Tools for filling holes and preparing surfaces for painting. A finger putty knife that fits on a fingertip. The putty knife's working surface is held on the fingertip by a cylindrical band. The working surface is used to force putty into a hole and remove excess putty. The finger putty knife does not hinder the motion of the finger or other fingers and engages the fleshy part of the fingertip so that the working surface flexes while working the putty and does not come off the finger. A tool container with an attachment clip for attaching the container to the user's clothing, for holding soft putty, a razor and a putty knife.

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 held tool comprised of an elongated triangular shaped elastomeric applicator tool (20) for spreading, smoothing and feathering filler material which can be utilized with a handle (30).

Abstract: A tool includes a blade with a working end and a handle end opposite the working end, a handle secured to the handle end and having a blade end and a hammer end, a hammer secured to the hammer end and having a body made of a relatively hard, lightweight polymeric material.

Abstract: A mud retriever 10 which includes a handle portion 12 and a blade portion 16 which includes a straight edge 22 which may be used to selectively open a mud container 70 and a semi-elliptical edge 32 which conforms to the curvature of the inner surface 93 of the container 70 and which allows mud 90 (or other material) to be easily retrieved from the container 70 and applied to a desired location 100 or placed within an applicator assembly. The blade portion 16 also includes an edges 30, 22 which each allow the mud 90 to be easily “smeared” or distributed over location 100.

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: The present invention comprises a crack and groove stain and paint tool and method of staining or painting a crack or groove with the crack and groove stain and paint tool comprising a handle, a flat blade attached to the handle and having a first face and a second face separated by an edge, and a backing fabric secured to the blade with the backing fabric having a stain or paint holding nap thereon with the backing fabric extending from the first face to the second face of the blade.

Abstract: A floor dressing spreader includes an elongated handle and an elongated back-up plate. The elongated handle is secured to the back-up plate and extends generally upwardly therefrom. Front and rear attachment plates are disposed adjacent lower portions of the back-up plate and a resilient flexible spreader element is clamped between an attachment plate and the back-up plate. The spreader extends downwardly beyond the lower edge of the back-up plate for spreading the concrete dressing material. The resilient spreader is preferably composed of a material which is flexible and resiliently deformable such as a rubber material.

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: A tile adhesive removal system having a handle, or tool, and one or more removable tips. When applying ceramic tiles, one should remove any excess adhesive in the channel between an existing tile and a tile currently under application. A properly-sized tip is selected for a particular channel width, and is removably attached to the handle. The handle and tip together may remove any excess adhesive from the channel between tiles, and then may be easily cleaned for use in applying the next tile. The size of the handle and tip together is large enough so that the cleaning process is relatively simple for the user. The removal system may have an orienting element, so that the tip is not inserted upside down, and may have an attachment element, such as one or more bumps that engage one or more corresponding detents.

Abstract: A spatula device (10) has a handle portion (12) and a blade portion (14) connected to one end of the handle portion and so as to form a longitudinal axis of the spatula device. The blade portion has a permanent curvature which is radiused about a line transverse of the longitudinal axis, whereby the spatula device may be used to apply grout and other filler material to a curved surface without the user having to bend the blade portion.

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 taping knife, including a blade having a proximal end and a distal end, a bracket having a first portion arranged generally parallel to the blade and attached to the blade proximal end and a second portion arranged generally perpendicular to the first portion, and a handle configured for rotation-free engagement with the bracket second portion.

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 fabric brush comprising a brush head having a top portion and a bottom portion. The bottom portion of the brush head has a plurality of projections extending downwardly therefrom. The plurality of projections comprise at least one row of aligned projections having a non-circular face extending opposite to the top portion of the brush head. The brush is disclosed for removing pet hairs from fabrics.

Abstract: A spreading apparatus is provided for spreading flowable materials such as adhesives and/or sealants on a surface such as a floor and/or a wall. The apparatus has a pad retainer for retaining a removable spreader pad and a reservoir chamber for flowable material pivotally attached to the pad retainer to permit pivoting of the reservoir chamber frontwards and backwards. The spreader pad comprises an elongated resilient foam member sufficiently thick to fit within and frictionally engage the pad retainer, and sufficiently high to extend below the pad retainer so that the spreader pad rather than the pad retainer contacts the surface when the spreader pad is retained by the pad retainer.

Abstract: A device for applying lotion to the human body, the device comprising a handle including a gripping end and a blade member attached at an obtuse angle to the handle and tapered at its edges to which lotion is applied. The blade member is made of a pliable, absorption resistant, silicone rubber compound that more efficiently applies lotion to a user's body and is more easily cleaned.

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: Apparatus and methods for applying solder paste to circuits, such as integrated circuits, are disclosed. The apparatus and methods comprise a squeegee blade having a pair of elongated face sides spaced apart by a selected thickness and a corresponding pair of elongated substantially parallel narrow sides spaced apart by a selected width. The elongated face sides and elongated narrow sides join together to form squeegee operating edges. The squeegee blade is free of mounting aperture as to provide four operating edges. The squeegee blade is mounted to a resilient clamping structure which applies a regular and controlled gripping force so as to avoid deformation of the squeegee blade edge due to excessive mounting force. The plurality of fasteners are received by the clamping structure for adjusting the gripping force to the squeegee blade.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a scraper suitable for use in removing material adhering to flat surfaces, e.g. paint. In the presently preferred embodiment, the scraper comprises a blade body, a scraping surface and a handle. The scraping surface extends longitudinally along a bottom edge of the blade body while the handle is affixed to a top edge of the blade body. The blade body comprises an elongate, flat body constructed of a rigid, yet flexible material, e.g. steel. The blade is characterized by a pair of angular bends dividing the blade into a center portion and two end portions, each portion being in a different plane. The bends are preferably positioned on opposite sides of the handle, more preferably equidistant from each end of the blade body. The end portions are angled to opposite sides of the center portion so that the angles are complementary, resulting in the end portions being generally parallel.

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 tool used to sculpt the icing on a baked good. The tool includes a handle having opposing inner sides with a channel formed in at least one inner side. The inner sides of the handle define a cavity therebetween. The tool also includes at least one blade with a protrusion that is sized and shaped to engage the channel in the inner side of the handle so that the blade is removably positioned within the handle cavity. The blade also includes decorative tips that extend from each end of the blade. The tool further includes a clip that secures the opposing sides of the handle together to form the tool.

Abstract: A device for providing self-assisting hygienic activity to individuals of limited dexterity, the device including an elongated body constructed of first and second telescoping portions and terminating at a first end in an ergonomically configured handle. A hygienic related accessory is secured to the other end of the elongated body, which includes a repositionable goose neck portion. The accessory capable of being manipulated relative to the elongated body in at least one of axially extending and angularly configurable fashions and the accessory is further capable of being releasably engageable to the associated end of the elongated body and substituted by at least one alternately configured accessory drawn from at least one of a sponge attachment, lotion dispensing attachment, disposable sheet attachment, scrub brush attachment and powder applicator attachment.

Abstract: A spring-biased pivoting squeegee 10 provides a head 12 pivotally attached to a handle 16. The head 12 is movable between a rest position, in which the head 12 is angularly displaced from the handle 16, and a biased position in which the head 12, handle 16, and wiping blade 14 are in linear relation. In the biased position, the wiping blade is maintained at an optimum angle for cleaning a glass surface even with the handle 16 held generally perpendicular to the glass. A spring 60 is fully contained in the head 12 and biases the head toward the rest position. A tension adjustment knob 80 in the head 12 permits adjustment of the spring 60 to a tension level according to the ergonomic requirements of a user.

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 squeegee assembly is described including a handle connected to a blade. The handle defines a hole for hanging the squeegee from a hook and undulations suitable for enhancing the grip. The blade defines a hole and an edge. The blade hole is configured and dimensioned for having a showerhead positioned therethrough and hanging from the showerhead. The blade hole can also apply a bias to the edge during cleaning. The edge is configured for cleaning and removing water from surfaces.

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 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: Apparatus and methods for applying solder paste to circuits, such as integrated circuits, are disclosed. The apparatus and methods comprise a squeegee blade having a pair of elongated face sides spaced apart by a selected thickness and a corresponding pair of elongated substantially parallel narrow sides spaced apart by a selected width. The elongated face sides and elongated narrow sides join together to form squeegee operating edges. The squeegee blade is free of mounting aperture as to provide four operating edges. The squeegee blade is mounted to a resilient clamping structure which applies a regular and controlled gripping force so as to avoid deformation of the squeegee blade edge due to excessive mounting force. The plurality of fasteners are received by the clamping structure for adjusting the gripping force to the squeegee blade.

Abstract: A handle tool handle has two interlocking first and second hollow molded plastic parts. The first part is formed with a peripheral lip. The second part is formed with transversely disposed peripheral surfaces inwardly disposed of the peripheral lip. Each handle part is formed a first plastic material and with a molded over second softer plastic material which covers the hand grip portion but not the peripheral lip or the peripheral surfaces. A tool blade is disposed between the interlocked handle parts. Rivets and a grommet provide pressed engagement of the handle parts with tight sealing of the peripheral lip. The hollow handle parts have respective facingly opposed structural ribs having respective spacedly disposed free ends to maximize the pressing engagement and insure sealing the peripheral lip.

Abstract: A device for applying lotion to the human body, the device comprising a handle including a gripping end and a blade member attached at an obtuse angle to the handle and tapered at its edges to which lotion is applied. The blade member is made of a pliable, absorption resistant, silicone rubber compound that more efficiently applies lotion to a user's body and is more easily cleaned.

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 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: The invention is concerned with an implement for spreading a powdery cleaning material on surfaces that have been contaminated with fluids dropping from vehicular traffic. The powdery material needs to be evenly spread over the contaminated surfaces while at the same time undergoing an abrading action relative to the surface to be cleaned. The implement consists of a rectangular block having a rubber sheet overlying its bottom surface with the sheet being fastened to the longitudinal side surfaces of the block. The rubber sheet on the bottom of the block and facing the surface to be cleaned has a tire-like tread profile thereon. A handle is attached to a top surface of the block.

Abstract: One object of the present invention is to provide a blade for forming ribs that is able to improve wear resistance; in order to achieve the object, the present invention provide a blade for forming ribs that forms ribs either on the surface of a substrate or via an undercoating layer on the surface of a substrate by moving a blade body in a fixed direction relative to a paste film in the state in which comb teeth formed on at least a portion of the periphery of said blade body are penetrated into said paste film formed on the surface of said substrate to plasticly deform said paste film; wherein, the surface of said comb teeth formed on said blade body that makes contact with said paste film is coated with a compound layer in which hard particles are dispersed in a metal.

Abstract: A pressure adhesive film backed automotive vehicle exterior body panel decal applicator tool for applying a decal to a planar and/or non-planar surface of an automotive vehicle external body panel is provided. The tool includes an applicator blade having two blade edge portions formed on opposite longitudinal edges. The blade has a central portion including a pair of parallel spaced-apart protrusions and a valley between the spaced-apart protrusions, the valley having a generally flat portion with a first thickness. A handle is provided by a polymeric tubular member having a wall thickness between 3 and 6 mm with a slot of a second thickness which is one-half or less of the first thickness. The slot has opposing edge walls and at an extreme end the slot has an axially expanding tapered opening to receive the blade valley.

Abstract: A hand tool handle has two interlocking first and second hollow molded plastic parts. The first part is formed with a peripheral lip. The second part is formed with transversely disposed peripheral surfaces inwardly disposed of the peripheral lip. Each handle part is formed a first plastic material and with a molded over second softer plastic material which covers the hand grip portion but not the peripheral lip or the peripheral surfaces. A tool blade is disposed between the interlocked handle parts. Rivets and a grommet provide pressed engagement of the handle parts with tight sealing of the peripheral lip. The hollow handle parts have respective facingly opposed structural ribs having respective spacedly disposed free ends to maximize the pressing engagement and insure sealing the peripheral lip.

Abstract: A tool for spreading plaster comprises a knife blade with an edge configured as a concavity. In one embodiment, the concavity has a radius of curvature of approximately one-sixteenth of an inch and tapers to respective flat surfaces on each end of the blade. The blade is disposed on a handle for easy manipulation. The blade and handle may be fabricated from metal or plastic material and may be of one-piece design.

Abstract: A silicone paint brush artist's tool includes a handle and a novel painting tip. The painting tip is made of a resilient silicone having a generally three-dimensional paint contacting working surface that has a maximum cross-sectional diameter no larger than a maximum cross-sectional diameter of the handle. The tip is preferably attached to the handle using a ferrule and expansively locking the tip into a cavity of the ferrule by insertion of an insert. The insert may be a common screw or a barbed, fluted extension of the handle. The tips may include an insert cavity and have various shapes and hardnesses and may be optionally color coded. A formation method for the tool is disclosed with simultaneous insert insertion and joining of ferrules to handles. The ferrules also may be reversibly attached to the handle, in which case a kit comprising multiple interchangeable painting tips may be provided.

Abstract: A silicone paint brush artist's tool includes a handle and a novel painting tip. The painting tip is made of a resilient silicone having a generally three-dimensional paint contacting working surface that has a maximum cross-sectional diameter no larger than a maximum cross-sectional diameter of the handle. The tip is preferably attached to the handle using a ferrule and expansively locking the tip into a cavity of the ferrule by insertion of an insert. The insert may be a common screw or a barbed, fluted extension of the handle. The tips may include an insert cavity and have various shapes and hardnesses and may be optionally color coded. A formation method for the tool is disclosed with simultaneous insert insertion and joining of ferrules to handles. The ferrules also may be reversibly attached to the handle, in which case a kit comprising multiple interchangeable painting tips may be provided.

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: The wipe-down knife herein is assembled upon an elongate handle, one end of which is fitted with a generally cylindrical blade-supporting head. The head has a collar and lever arm on one end for securely engaging the handle shaft, and a pair of closely opposed pads and a pivot pin on its other end for engaging a blade-supporting plate. A bracket which grasps the blade at its base is affixed to the blade-supporting plate. The blade is wide and flexible, projecting from the blade support at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the knife's handle. The blade curves away from the blade-supporting bracket at a right angle, such that the plane of the blade's working edge is parallel with the handle's longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A handheld, durable, easy-maintenance, easy-hold, precision-contour drywall finishing tool substantially in the shape of a round disk presents both convex and concave, or bull-nose, peripheral regions repectively suitable for coving, and for cleaning, flowable building material within, respectively, concave wall joints >90° and <180° nominally 135°, and convex wall joints >180° and <270° nominally 225°. The disk is preferably about 12 cm. in diameter, with its otherwise circular peripheral edge relieved over about 45° of arc in the shape of a concave curve, or bull nose, of some 3.5 cm diameter. Preferably one major surface of the disk is flat while the opposing surface slopes radially symmetrically from a central region of greater thickness, about 0.75 cm., towards a lesser thickness, about 3 mm., at the edge of the disk. A feature, preferably a knob of about 0.75 cm height by 3 cm.

Abstract: A tool (1) for spreading adhesive over a substrate has a blade edge (4) with a set of spaced large indentations (5) and at least one set of spaced smaller indentations (6) extending into the blade edge. The smaller indentations extend into the blade less than any one of the large indentations and are interspaced between the large indentations. The blade edge is slid over the substrate to which adhesive has been applied and the adhesive is spread such that the large indentations form large ridges (20) of adhesive projecting from the substrate. The smaller indentations form smaller ridges (21) of adhesive projecting from the substrate and the smaller ridges (21) are interspaced between the large ridges (20). When a tile (23) is pressed into the adhesive the larger ridges (20) are compressed first, thereby broadening the ridge and pushing adjacent ridges into the smaller ridges (21). In this any void between ridges is more readily filled and a more uniform spread of keyed in adhesive is achieved.

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.