Trowel filer
AssigneeMTF, Inc.
InventorFredrick H. Hoffschneider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filing tool for filing trowel edges includes a metal file and a body to contain and hold the file in a securely clamped arrangement. The body forms a relatively narrow guide slot which is given generally parallel side walls as well as a generally open bottom, front and back. The file's filing surface forms the upper boundary of the slot. The slot is given a gap that allows close fitting passage of blade of a trowel. The filing tool is used for dulling and straightening the sharp and worn edges that appear on the blade of a finishing trowel and are caused by use of the trowel while spreading, shaping and/or leveling abrasive viscous material such as cement, mortar, or grout and the like.
Claims13
A handtool for filing trowels, comprising:
- a metal file having a filing surface;
- and,
- a body assembly in which the file is contained and clamped, the body assembly including a web component, left and right flange components and interconnecting fasteners;
- wherein the web and flange components are shaped and arranged such that, when assembled together, the left and right flange components define a guide slot having generally parallel side walls, the left and right flange components being spaced apart such that the guide slot has a width adapted for allowing close fitting passage of a blade of a trowel;
- wherein the web component is formed with a recess in which the file can rest, the recess being located such that the file's filing surface is partly accessible in the guide slot for filing on the trowel blade when passed through the guide slot;
- wherein the left and right flange components include abutment surfaces arranged to abut the file's filing surface at spaced left and right locations in order to press upon the file while at rest in the recess in the web component, whereby tightening the fasteners effectively clamps the file more tightly between the web flange components;
- and,
- wherein the web component has a top wall formed with an upright bearing surface which, when the handtool is grasped for use with a user's palm rested substantially on the top wall, said bearing surface is arranged and shaped to bear against at least the side of the first and largest knuckle on the user's index finger, the bearing surface opposing hand slip during a forceful filing stroke in a direction of pushing as a safety precaution against the risk of the hand slipping off the towel-filing handtool and onto a sharp trowel blade.
A handtool for filing worn edges of a trowel blade, comprising:
- a metal file having a filing surface;
- a body assembly, for containing the file, having an elongated web component and left and right elongated flange components interconnected to the web component to define a guide slot that is given generally parallel side walls as well as a generally open and accessible bottom, front and back;
- and,
- interconnecting means for forming a secure interconnection between the web and flange components;
- one of (i) the web component, and (ii) the left and right flange components in combination, being formed with a recess in which the file can rest in a position such that the file's filing surface is partly accessible in the guide slot for filing on the trowel blade when passed through the guide slot;
- the other of (i) the web component, and (ii) the left and right flange components in combination, being formed with abutment surfaces to abut the file while in the recess therefor, whereby securing the interconnecting means during assembly effectively creates and enhances a clamping arrangement on the file between the web and flange components;
- wherein the web component has a top wall formed with an upright bearing surface which, when the handtool is grasped for use with a user's palm rested substantially on the top wall, said bearing surface is arranged and shaped to bear against at least the side of the first and largest knuckle on the user's index finger, the bearing surface opposing hand slip during a forceful filing stroke in a direction of pushing as a safety precaution against the risk of the hand slipping off the towel-filing handtool and onto a sharp trowel blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.