Abstract: A surface-treating tool is configured for coupling to an extension pole with opposed proximal and distal pole ends. The tool comprises a tool head including a rigid tool support having mutually opposed tool-support upper and lower surfaces. A pole coupling configured for selectively coupling the tool support to the pole distal end is affixed to the tool-support upper surface such that a coupled extension pole is pivotable relative to the tool support about mutually orthogonal first and second pivot axes. A tool pad includes a rigid plate with plate top and bottom surfaces and a resilient layer permanently adhered the plate bottom surface. The resilient layer includes an attachment surface to which a working material may be removably attached without tools. A pad fastener introduced through the resilient layer attaches the tool pad to the tool-support lower surface with the rigid plate between the tool support and the resilient layer.

Abstract: A dual-bladed scraper includes a handle extending between a proximal end including a grip portion and a distal end extending forwardly of the proximal end. A blade-retaining head is rotatably mounted to the distal end for pivotal movement about a head-rotation axis. The head has opposed first and second ends configured for retaining, respectively, first and second scraping blades on mutually opposite sides of the head-rotation axis about which the head is pivotable between first and second angular positions. The first angular position is such that the first blade is in a deployed attitude and the second blade is shrouded in a non-deployed attitude beneath the handle. Conversely, the second angular position is such that the second blade is in a deployed attitude and the first blade is shrouded in a non-deployed attitude beneath the handle.

Abstract: A dual-bladed scraper includes a handle extending between a proximal end including a grip portion and a distal end extending forwardly of the proximal end. A blade-retaining head is rotatably mounted to the distal end for pivotal movement about a head-rotation axis. The head has opposed first and second ends configured for retaining, respectively, first and second scraping blades on mutually opposite sides of the head-rotation axis about which the head is pivotable between first and second angular positions. The first angular position is such that the first blade is in a deployed attitude and the second blade is shrouded in a non-deployed attitude beneath the handle. Conversely, the second angular position is such that the second blade is in a deployed attitude and the first blade is shrouded in a non-deployed attitude beneath the handle.

Abstract: A tool packaged for retail sale has a tool handle including a handle outer surface and an internal storage channel within the handle and having a channel opening facilitating selective access to the storage channel. A removable handle cap with a cap-exterior surface is installed over the channel opening in order to close off the storage channel. The handle cap is retained in place by a cap-restraining strip fabricated from a tear-resistant material. More specifically, a central portion of the cap-restraining strip is disposed over at least a portion of the cap-exterior surface, while portions of the cap-restraining strip on opposite sides of the central portion are disposed to extend along mutually opposite sides of the handle outer surface. A wrapper securely binds the portions of the cap-restraining strip located on opposite sides of the handle outer surface, thereby preventing removal of the handle cap without destruction of the wrapper.

Abstract: A conduit-coupling adaptor configured for mutually joining conduits of disparate diameters includes a central conduit with interior and exterior surfaces extending longitudinally between central-conduit first and second ends. The central-conduit first and second ends define, respectively, first-end and second-end coupling sleeves that extend longitudinally in opposite directions and terminate at, respectively, first and second openings. The coupling sleeves can be implemented, alternatively, as male or female coupling members relative to other conduits. A first-end skirt includes a skirt wall concentrically disposed about at least a lengthwise portion of the central-conduit first end. The skirt wall has skirt-wall inside and outside surfaces that longitudinally co-extend with at least a portion of the first-end coupling sleeve and are joined to the central-conduit wall by a shoulder.

Abstract: A fluid sprayer includes a rigid fluid conduit extending along a conduit axis between longitudinally opposed open conduit first and second ends. A spray nozzle having a fluid-expulsion bore is connected to the conduit second end such that the nozzle can pivot about a nozzle-pivot axis that extends orthogonally to the conduit axis and fluid introduced into the conduit first end is expelled through the fluid-expulsion bore. An attachment-mounting arm is connected to the fluid conduit for pivotal movement about an arm-pivot axis having a component of spatial extension orthogonal to the conduit axis and being longitudinally non-displaceable relative to the rigid fluid conduit. Moreover, the attachment-mounting arm is selectively lockable into a plurality of discrete angular positions relative to the conduit and configured to removably retain a surface-engaging attachment designed for engaging a surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A sponge sander configured for selective attachment to a dust-collection system includes a housing having a housing-interior surface defining a sponge cavity and a sponge seat configured for removably retaining a determinately-dimensioned sanding sponge. The sponge has an abrasive sanding surface, a back surface opposite the sanding surface and a sponge periphery defined between the sanding and back surfaces. The sponge is retained within the sponge cavity such that (i) the abrasive sanding surface can engage a work surface to be sanded, (ii) fluid-flow channels are maintained between the sanding sponge and the housing-interior surface and (iii) the spaces are in fluid communication with a fluid port defined in the housing so that when a negative pressure is applied across the fluid port by a vacuum system external to the housing, dust created by sanding is drawn into the fluid-flow channels and out of the housing through the fluid port.

Abstract: A tool packaged for retail sale has a tool handle including a handle outer surface and an internal storage channel within the handle and having a channel opening facilitating selective access to the storage channel. A removable handle cap with a cap-exterior surface is installed over the channel opening in order to close off the storage channel. The handle cap is retained in place by a cap-restraining strip fabricated from a tear-resistant material. More specifically, a central portion of the cap-restraining strip is disposed over at least a portion of the cap-exterior surface, while portions of the cap-restraining strip on opposite sides of the central portion are disposed to extend along mutually opposite sides of the handle outer surface. A wrapper securely binds the portions of the cap-restraining strip located on opposite sides of the handle outer surface, thereby preventing removal of the handle cap without destruction of the wrapper.

Abstract: A dual-bladed scraper includes a handle extending between a proximal end including a grip portion and a distal end extending forwardly of the proximal end. A blade-retaining head is rotatably mounted to the distal end for pivotal movement about a head-rotation axis. The head has opposed first and second ends configured for retaining, respectively, first and second scraping blades on mutually opposite sides of the head-rotation axis about which the head is pivotable between first and second angular positions. The first angular position is such that the first blade is in a deployed attitude and the second blade is shrouded in a non-deployed attitude beneath the handle. Conversely, the second angular position is such that the second blade is in a deployed attitude and the first blade is shrouded in a non-deployed attitude beneath the handle.

Abstract: A conduit-coupling adaptor configured for mutually joining conduits of disparate diameters includes a central conduit with interior and exterior surfaces extending longitudinally between central-conduit first and second ends. The central-conduit first and second ends define, respectively, first-end and second-end coupling sleeves that extend longitudinally in opposite directions and terminate at, respectively, first and second openings. The coupling sleeves can be implemented, alternatively, as male or female coupling members relative to other conduits. A first-end skirt includes a skirt wall concentrically disposed about at least a lengthwise portion of the central-conduit first end. The skirt wall has skirt-wall inside and outside surfaces that longitudinally co-extend with at least a portion of the first-end coupling sleeve and are joined to the central-conduit wall by a shoulder.

Abstract: A fluid sprayer includes a rigid fluid conduit extending along a conduit axis between longitudinally opposed open conduit first and second ends. A spray nozzle having a fluid-expulsion bore is connected to the conduit second end such that the is nozzle can pivot about a nozzle-pivot axis that extends orthogonally to the conduit axis and fluid introduced into the conduit first end is expelled through the fluid-expulsion bore. An attachment-mounting arm is connected to the fluid conduit for pivotal movement about an arm-pivot axis having a component of spatial extension orthogonal to the conduit axis and being longitudinally non-displaceable relative to the rigid fluid conduit. Moreover, the attachment-mounting arm is selectively lockable into a plurality of discrete angular positions relative to the conduit and configured to removably retain a surface-engaging attachment designed for engaging a surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A bladed tool includes a handle and a blade with a surface-engaging edge and a blade-retaining shank. The handle includes an elongated handle body having longitudinally opposed body front and rear ends, and at least one side wall extending between the body front and rear ends. The side wall defines an outer surface configured for gripping by a user and an inner surface that defines an interior access channel extending from an access opening in the body rear end toward a forward channel wall located to the rear of the body front end. Situated between the body front end and the forward channel wall is a handle core that defines a shank-retaining slot extending between a forward slot-opening in the body front end and a rearward slot-opening in the forward channel wall. The shank extends rearwardly through the shank-retaining slot such that a protruding shank portion extends to the rear of the forward channel wall.

Abstract: A fluid sprayer includes a rigid fluid conduit with a conduit side wall extending along a conduit axis between open first and second conduit ends. The conduit side wall defines a fluid passage extending between the open first and second ends. A spray nozzle with a fluid-expulsion bore is connected to the second conduit end such that it can pivot about a nozzle-pivot axis that extends orthogonally to the conduit axis and such that fluid introduced into the first conduit end is expelled through the fluid-expulsion bore. A nozzle actuator is attached to the conduit for bi-directional rotation about an actuator-rotation axis having a component of spatial extension perpendicular to the conduit axis. The nozzle actuator and nozzle are mechanically linked so that rotation of the actuator causes the nozzle to pivot with respect to the conduit axis. A spray-angle selector rotates in tandem with the nozzle actuator and includes an angle-selection surface.

Abstract: A sponge sander configured for selective attachment to a dust-collection system includes a housing having a housing-interior surface defining a sponge cavity and a sponge seat configured for removably retaining a determinately-dimensioned sanding sponge. The sponge has an abrasive sanding surface, a back surface opposite the sanding surface and a sponge periphery defined between the sanding and back surfaces. The sponge is retained within the sponge cavity such that (i) the abrasive sanding surface can engage a work surface to be sanded, (ii) fluid-flow channels are maintained between the sanding sponge and the housing-interior surface and (iii) the spaces are in fluid communication with a fluid port defined in the housing so that when a negative pressure is applied across the fluid port by a vacuum system external to the housing, dust created by sanding is drawn into the fluid-flow channels and out of the housing through the fluid port.