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US 8,523,467 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for drywall tools
AssigneeExceptional IP Holdings, LLC
InventorScott A. Murray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed generally to building tools that are high quality, durable, and in some case lightweight. For example, various tools may made by forming multiple sections into a single integrated piece by, for example, casting the parts using a molding process so as to reduce manufacturing cost and increase the structural durability of the tool. Further, various tools may be made, at least in part, using a material including magnesium to reduce the weight of the tool. Still further, various tools may be made using one or more protective coatings for protecting various metals against corrosion, for example, using a high impact coating such as paint covered with a clear coat of lacquer.
Claims65
A mastic applicator, comprising:
- a mastic flat box applicator housing that has a lateral length from side-to-side greater than its height or width, and includes at least two side walls integrally formed including;
- an elongated front side wall;
- an elongated angled bottom side wall connected to the front side wall at a first end;
- a left side wall connected to the front side wall and bottom side wall;
- a right side wall opposite the left side wall and connected to the front side wall and bottom side wall;
- and
- a single flat elongated straight back plate opposite the front side wall and connected to a second end of the bottom side wall at a bottom edge so as to form an approximately perpendicular corner or angle, the single flat straight back plate having a relatively short width or height compared to the height of the various side walls from where it is connected at the bottom edge to the bottom side wall;
- a movable plate disposed in an opening of the housing and abutting at one of its ends the corner or angle formed between the bottom side wall and the back plate as a pivot point and pivoting therein, without being fixedly attached thereto, so as to permit rotational movement of the movable plate about an axis in the corner or angle location;
- wherein one of the side walls includes an exit hole through which mastic exits the housing responsive to movement of the movable plate, and the back plate is a single flat plate having a width dimension that allows the movable plate to open sufficiently wide with respect to the housing to allow residual mastic or mud to be removed from the inside of the housing without the need for removing the movable plate or any side wall.
6 more elements
A mastic applicator, comprising:
- a mastic flat box applicator housing that is made of a material including a magnesium alloy or aluminum alloy and having:
- a front side wall;
- a bottom side wall;
- a left side wall;
- a right side wall;
- a back plate side wall;
- and
- a movable plate disposed in an opening of the housing and abutting at one of its ends the corner or angle formed between the bottom side wall and the back plate as a pivot point and pivoting therein, without being fixedly attached thereto, so as to permit rotational movement of the movable plate about an axis in the corner or angle location;
- wherein one of the side walls includes an exit hole through which mastic exits the housing responsive to movement of the movable plate, and the back plate side wall is a single flat plate having a width dimension that allows the movable plate to open sufficiently wide with respect to the housing to allow residual mastic or mud to be removed from the inside of the housing without the need for removing the movable plate or any side wall.
6 more elements
A mastic applicator, comprising:
- a mastic flat box applicator housing that includes at least four side walls;
- a back plate attached to the housing;
- a movable plate disposed in an opening formed by the at least four side walls and attached to one of the side walls to permit rotational movement of the movable plate about an axis;
- and
- a wheel assembly mounting bracket removably connected to a back portion of the housing with a plurality of screws, wherein the plurality of screws are placed such that ends of the screws protrude from an interior of the housing bottom wall to stop outward movement of the moveable plate when the moveable plate is in the open position responsive to a plurality of springs attached thereto;
- wherein one of the side walls includes an exit hole through which mastic exits the housing responsive to movement of the movable plate.
3 more elements
A mastic applicator, comprising:
- a laterally elongated mastic flat box applicator housing that includes at least five walls integrally formed, including a front wall, a bottom wall and a back plate wall that are longer than a left side wall and a right side wall, and a back plate wall;
- a movable plate disposed in an opening formed by the five walls and abutting an angled corner formed at a connection point of the bottom wall and the back plate so as to permit rotational movement of the movable plate about an axis of rotation occurring at the angled corner;
- a plurality of screws disposed in the bottom wall at a distance sufficiently close to an inner edge of the movable plate at the axis of rotation so as to catch the inner edge of the movable plate and stop outward and rotational movement of the movable plate at an open position;
- and
- an exit hole formed in one of the walls and through which mastic exiting the housing is controllably applied to a building surface in responsive to movement of the movable plate, and wherein the back plate is a single flat plate having a width dimension that allows the movable plate to open sufficiently wide with respect to the housing to allow residual mastic or mud to be removed from the inside of the housing without the need for removing the movable plate or any side wall.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a mastic flat box applicator housing including a first front wall and a second bottom wall, and a back plate welded to the second bottom wall;
- a movable plate disposed in an opening of the applicator housing and abutting an angled corner formed at a connection point of the bottom wall and the back plate so as to permit rotational movement of the movable plate about an axis of rotation occurring at the angled corner;
- and
- a plurality of screws disposed in the bottom wall at a distance sufficiently close to an inner edge of the movable plate at the axis of rotation so as to catch the inner edge of the movable plate and stop outward and rotational movement of the movable plate at an open position, and wherein the second bottom wall includes an exit hole through which mastic exits the housing responsive to movement of the movable plate, and the back plate is a single flat plate having a width dimension that allows the movable plate to open sufficiently wide with respect to the housing to allow residual mastic or mud to be removed from the inside of the housing without the need for removing the movable plate or any side wall.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.