Disposable Caulk Smoother

Abstract

A disposable hand tool for easily smoothing or spreading of material made for the filling of gaps or the sealing of two adjacent surfaces. The tool consists of a depressor made of plastic or cut wood surround on one end by cellular foam forming the smoothing head, while the depressor extends beyond the foam to form the handle. The depressor provides necessary reinforcement and stability to the foam, in order that when the surface of the cellular foam makes contact with the caulking material, enough rigidity is provided to transfer pressure as applied variably by the user with the handle to smooth the caulking material, but the pliability of the foam accommodates and flexes to variances in the surfaces being joined or filled by the caulking material. When finished using, the tool can be disposed of, or in some instances cleaned using appropriate process for removal of excess material being smoothed, and reused.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to other tools in the prior art that are used for the smoothing and spreading of dispensed fluid materials that provide for the filling of gaps or the sealing of cracks between two adjacent surfaces, commonly referred to as caulk. Issues with the current state of technology are they are not designed to be disposable, so effort must be applied to clean them so they can be reused. For example U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,769 (Chang and Lee), D634,600 (Gringer, Soled, and Cheng), and D606,375 (Divita). This issue also includes the common use of a human digit of the hand, the caulking soils the digit, and the soiled digit needs to be cleaned, as an un-cleaned digit transfers the dirt and soil to other materials being worked with. Some forms of the prior art must be held at a specific angle or a specific side to be effective. In addition, some forms of the current state of technology or prior art are also rigid, so they do not accommodate well the slight variances in the material being filled or sealed, could damage more delicate surfaces, or catch on minor splinters of wooden surfaces.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disposable hand tool is comprised of a depressor made of injection molded plastic or cut wood surround on one end by closed cell foam smoothing head, while the depressor extends beyond the foam to form the handle. The depressor has the appropriate shape within the foam head to provide necessary reinforcement and stability to the foam, in order that when the surface of the cellular foam smoothing head makes contact with the caulking material, enough rigidity is provided to transfer pressure as applied variably by the user with the handle to smooth the previously dispensed caulking material. The pliability of the foam head accommodates and flexes to variances in the surfaces being joined or filled by the caulking material, the foam smoothing head is effective from a number of angles, and can be turned over if caulking material collects on one side being used, or easily wiped clean. This invention improves on the prior art in that it is very simple and easy to use. It is disposable so while cleanable, particularly with latex based caulking material, does not have to be cleaned after use, and prevents fingers of the hand from becoming soiled by the caulking material. The cellular foam smoothing head is pliable so more readily adapts to variance in material surfaces, thus avoiding potential damage to more delicate surfaces and the catching of wood splinters. The foam smoothing head is also effective from a number of angles and sides. If caulking material collects on one side of the tool, it can be turned over and the other side used, or easily wiped clean if desired.

In a preferred form, the depressor widens to a rounded triangular or arrow shape encased in a conical foam head, the shape of the depressor stick within the foam secures the depressor within the foam smoothing head, and also provides rigidity for the transfer of pressure from the handle. In an alternate preferred form, the depressor and foam head is wider and flatter to accommodate flat surfaces. In any preferred form the foam smoothing head provides a surface for smoothing the previously dispensed caulking material, adapts to variances in the surfaces being sealed or filled, avoids the possibility of damage or gouging the surfaces being joined, can be turned over and another side used if one side collects too much caulking, and it eliminates the need to clean after use by being disposable, but the composition is such that it can be easily cleaned if desired. The tool is simple to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown smoothing an applied bead of caulking material.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the tool in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a sectional front view of the same tool in FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the same tool

FIG. 5 is a bottom sectional view of the same tool as depicted in FIG. 3

FIG. 6 is a front view of an alternate preferred embodiment

FIG. 7 is a side view of the same tool in FIG. 6

FIG. 8 is a sectional front view of the same tool in FIG. 6

FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of the same tool

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of the disposable caulk smoother 10 of the present invention is shown as an example of typical use. In this perspective a bead of caulk 3-a is depicted as having been laid to fill any gaps between adjoining surface 1 in this depiction conceived as a wall surface, and surface 2, some other material adjacent to surface 1 such as baseboard. The disposable caulk smoother 10 is represented as would be common usage. The conical closed cell foam smoothing head 15 fully encapsulates the end of a depressor 20 via insertion of the depressor head 25 (See FIG. 2) into the foam smoothing head 15, or injection of closed cell foam around the depressor head to form the foam smoothing head 15. The extension of the depressor 20 beyond the foam smoothing head forms the handle 30. The user will grasp the handle 30 and draw the foam smoothing head 15 of the tool 10 over a previously applied bead of caulk 3-a applying pressure as desired resulting in a smoothed caulk bead 3-b. The action is simple to execute, and afterward the tool can be disposed of, or because of the closed cell structure of the foam smoothing head 15, easily cleaned if desired. The closed cell structure of the foam smoothing head 15 also provides a smooth but flexible surface that will adapt to slight changes and variations in surfaces being sealed or filled. The conical shape of the foam smoothing head 15 in this embodiment also allows for the smoothing of caulk from multiple sides of the same. Other conceived embodiments hold to the same principle that the shape of the depressor head gives structure to the foam smoothing head and assists in keeping the foam smoothing head on the depressor, while the foam smoothing head provides an improved surface for the smoothing of caulk.

Referring to FIG. 2, the two major elements of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, disposable caulk smoother 10 can be seen. The depressor, 20 formed from a single piece of injection molded plastic or cut wood, has the elements of the depressor head 25 which in the embodiment shown consists of a rounded triangular or arrow shaped end, and in the illustration of FIG. 2 is depicted with broken lines to show that it would not naturally appear but be covered by the foam smoothing head 15 (see FIG. 1), and as a single piece extends beyond the foam smoothing head 15 forming the handle 30. The conically shaped foam smoothing head 15 provides the malleable surface conducive to the smoothing of the caulk, and completely encompasses the depressor head 25.

Referring to FIG. 3, a frontal sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the current invention exposing the depressor head 25. The foam smoothing head 15 completely wraps the depressor head 25.

Referring FIG. 4, side sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the current invention. The two major elements of a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be seen. The depressor, 20 formed from a single piece of injection molded plastic or cut wood, in this embodiment is thinner on the side, has the elements of the depressor head 25 which in the embodiment shown consists of a rounded triangular or arrow shaped end, again moderately thinner from the side, and as a single piece extends beyond the foam smoothing head 15 forming the handle 25. The conically shaped foam smoothing head 15, show in section to expose the depressor head 25, provides the malleable surface conducive to the smoothing of the caulk, and completely covers the depressor head 25.

Referring to FIG. 5, a bottom sectional view of the front view of FIG. 3, exposing again the depressor head 25, fully encased by the closed cell foam smoothing head 15.

Referring to FIG. 6, a front view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the current invention adapted for flat surfaces and the safe removal of excess caulking material. This preferred embodiment of the current invention disposable caulk smoother 11 has the same general components as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, but is thinner in depth and wider to accommodate flat surfaces. It consists of a flexible injection molded plastic depressor 21, surrounded on one end by the closed cell foam smoothing head 16, extending above that is the handle 31. The flexible foam smoothing head 16 provides the surface for smoothing and spreading of caulk, is more forgiving to inconsistencies in the surface, less likely to damage delicate surfaces, can be turned over if one side accumulates too much material, and is disposable or easily cleaned if desired.

Referring to FIG. 7, a side view of the same tool in FIG. 6, showing the disposable caulk smoother 11 presenting that this preferred embodiment of the current invention has a thinner depressor 21, handle 31, and foam smoothing head 16, so will have more flexibility for flat surfaces.

Referring to FIG. 8, a sectional front view of the same preferred embodiment of the disposable caulk smoother 11, showing the foam smoothing head 16 cut away to expose the depressor head 26 of the depressor 21 which extends up to form the handle 31. The depressor head 26 is covered with the cellular foam smoothing head 16.

Referring to FIG. 9, a sectional side view of the same preferred embodiment of the disposable caulk smoother 11, showing the foam smoothing head 16 cut away to expose the depressor head 26 of the depressor 21 which extends up to form the handle 31. The depressor head 26 is covered with the closed cell foam smoothing head 16.

Claims

1. A disposable caulk smoothing tool comprising a depressor made of plastic or cut wood surround on one end by cellular foam forming the smoothing head, while the depressor extends beyond the foam to form a handle as shown and described.