GB1577936A - Devices for applying flowable material to surfaces - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO DEVICES FOR APPLYING FLOWABLE MATERIAL TO SURFACES (71) We, H & R JOHNSON RICHARDS TILES LIMITED, a British company, of P.O. Box No. 1, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to devices for use in applying flowable material to surfaces by spreading.

Devices according to the invention are particularly, but by no means exclusively, useful in relation to the spreading of adhesive on to floors preparatory to fixing of ceramic floor tiles. For this purpose it is desirable that the adhesive applied should comprise an overall base layer of a suitable thickness surmounted by ribs or other projections. Hitherto adhesives for securing ceramic floor tiles have been applied using hand trowels having plain or castellated blades. It is difficult using such trowels to attain uniform thickness of the base layer of adhesive or uniformity of the superimposed ribs or the like and a further disadvantage resides in the fact that the adhesive requires to be applied from a crouched or kneeling position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device in the nature of a spreader or trowel by means of which one or more of these disadvantages may be obviated or mitigated.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a spreading device incorporating a blade having a working edge of castellated or other irregular form. the blade being carried by supports at its opposite ends which project beyond the working edge so as to space the working edge a predetermined distance from the floor or other surface to be coated when the blade is in its normal position of use. For simplicity reference will be made hereinafter and in the appended claims simply to "the floor", but this term should be construed as covering other working surfaces.

Preferably the surfaces of the supports which contact the floor in use, are formed from a wear-resistant material such as tungsten carbide.

Preferably also said surfaces of the supports are radiussed about the working edge of the blade so as to maintain the working edge spaced from the floor by said predetermined distance in different angular positions of the blade relative to the floor.

The blade is preferably concavely curved as viewed in a plane transverse to the length of the blade, and provided with a handle so disposed relative to the blade that when the handle is held in its normal position of use the region of the blade adjacent the working edge is disposed substantially normal to the floor. The blade is preferably provided with end pieces serving to confine adhesive or the like to the region within the longitudinal extent of the blade.

The handle may advantageously be relatively long in order to enable the device to be used from a standing position.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a spreacer device according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings. the device consists of a handle 5 to which is fitted a spreader head or blade assembly 6. The blade assembly comprises a blade 7 which is curved in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the blade and has a working edge 8 of castellated form.

A pair of support and spacer members in the form of lugs 9 are provided at the opposite ends of the working edge of the blade and serve. in use, to space the working edge a predetermined distance from the floor. The surfaces 10 of the lugs which, in use, engage the floor are radiussed about a centre coinciding with the working edge of the blade. The lugs thus maintain the working edge at said predetermined distance from the floor in different angular positions corresponding to those which the blade would normally adopt during use. The floor-engaging surfaces of the lugs are fonned from tungsten carbide or other wear-resistant material, thereby ensuring maintenance of the correct blade position despite repeated use of the device. End plates 11 close the opposite ends of the blade 7 to confine the adhesive or te like to the width of the blade. The rear edge 12 of the blade is rolled around a support rod serving to rigidify the blade in a direction parallel to the working edge.

The handle 5 is attached to the rear edge of the blade and is relatively long so as to enable the device to be used bv an operator in a standing position. A grip SA is provided at the free end of the handle. though this could be omitted if desired. The angular disposition of the blade relative to the handle is so selected as to ensue that in normal positions of use the region of the blade 7 adjacent the working edge is disposed substantially normal to the floor.

lii use of the device. a quantity of suitable adhesive is applied to the floor and the spreading device is placed over the adhesive with the concave face of the blade directed downwards. The device is then moved towards the user drawing the adhesive with it confined between the blade side members 11. and adhesive escapes from the device through the gap between the orking edge 8 of the blade and the floor. Bv virtue of the spacing maintained by the support lugs 9 and the castcllation of the working edge of the blade a bed of adhesive of uniform thickness is applied on which are superimposed spaced parallel ribs corresponding to the castcllations. As the working edge of the blade is substantially normal to the floor the ribs are of uniform size and spacing. thereby providing a uniform and accurately controlled bed of adhesive to which ceramic floor tiles may be applied. Bv way of example.

the support lugs may be arranged to space the working edge of the blade approximate- ly 8 inch from the working surface. the castellations being 8 inch deep therebv providing an overall depth of adhesive of 41 inch. which. subsequent to pressing of tiles into position will have a thickness of appro ximately 3/16 inch.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For exam ple the working edge of the blade need not be castellated but could be of toothed or other irregular form. The blade need not be of concave construction and the device could take the form of a hand-held device in the nature of a trowel to be used in a crouched or kneeling position if desired.

The suport and spacing members need not be formed from wear-resistant material, particularly in the case of a relatively small hand-held device. Moreover the spacing members need not be radiussed though this is preferred in order to maintain the desired spacing in different positions of use.

Moreover though the invention has been described primarily with reference to a device for use in spreading adhesive for fixing of ceramic floor tiles. devices accord- ing to the invention may be used in a wide range of other applications to spread materials of a flowable or pasty nature on to floors, walls or other surfaces.

WHAT WE CLAIM lS:- l. A spreading device incorporating a blade having a working edge of castellated or other irregular form. the blade being carried by supports at its opposite ends which project beyond the working edge so as to space the working edge a predetermined distance from the floor or other surface to be coated when the blade is in its normal position of use.

2. A spreading device according to claim l wherein the surfaces of said supports which engage the floor in use are radiussed about the working edge of the blade so as to maintain the working edge spaced from the floor by said predetermined distance in different angular positions of the blade relative to the floor.

3. A spreading device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the surfaces of said supports which engage the floor in use are formed from a wear-resistant material.

4. A spreading device according to any preceding claim wherein said blade is concavely curved as viewed in a plane transverse to the length of the blade.

5. A spreading device according to any preceding claim wherein said blade is provided with end pieces serving to confine adhesive or the like to the region within the longitudinal extent of the blade.

6. A spreading device according to any preceding claim wherein means is provided to rigidify said blade in the direction of its working edge.

7. A spreading device according to any preceding claim provided with a handle of sufficient length to enable the device to be used for spreading purposes from a standing position.

X. A spreading device according to claim 7 wherein said handle is so disposed relative to the blade that when the handle is held in its normal position of use the region

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (1)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   opposite ends of the working edge of the blade and serve. in use, to space the working edge a predetermined distance from the floor. The surfaces 10 of the lugs which, in use, engage the floor are radiussed about a centre coinciding with the working edge of the blade. The lugs thus maintain the working edge at said predetermined distance from the floor in different angular positions corresponding to those which the blade would normally adopt during use. The floor-engaging surfaces of the lugs are fonned from tungsten carbide or other wear-resistant material, thereby ensuring maintenance of the correct blade position despite repeated use of the device. End plates 11 close the opposite ends of the blade 7 to confine the adhesive or te like to the width of the blade. The rear edge 12 of the blade is rolled around a support rod serving to rigidify the blade in a direction parallel to the working edge.

   The handle 5 is attached to the rear edge of the blade and is relatively long so as to enable the device to be used bv an operator in a standing position. A grip SA is provided at the free end of the handle. though this could be omitted if desired. The angular disposition of the blade relative to the handle is so selected as to ensue that in normal positions of use the region of the blade 7 adjacent the working edge is disposed substantially normal to the floor.

   lii use of the device. a quantity of suitable adhesive is applied to the floor and the spreading device is placed over the adhesive with the concave face of the blade directed downwards. The device is then moved towards the user drawing the adhesive with it confined between the blade side members 11. and adhesive escapes from the device through the gap between the orking edge 8 of the blade and the floor. Bv virtue of the spacing maintained by the support lugs 9 and the castcllation of the working edge of the blade a bed of adhesive of uniform thickness is applied on which are superimposed spaced parallel ribs corresponding to the castcllations. As the working edge of the blade is substantially normal to the floor the ribs are of uniform size and spacing. thereby providing a uniform and accurately controlled bed of adhesive to which ceramic floor tiles may be applied. Bv way of example.

   the support lugs may be arranged to space the working edge of the blade approximate- ly 8 inch from the working surface. the castellations being 8 inch deep therebv providing an overall depth of adhesive of 41 inch. which. subsequent to pressing of tiles into position will have a thickness of appro ximately 3/16 inch.

   Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For exam ple the working edge of the blade need not be castellated but could be of toothed or other irregular form. The blade need not be of concave construction and the device could take the form of a hand-held device in the nature of a trowel to be used in a crouched or kneeling position if desired.

   The suport and spacing members need not be formed from wear-resistant material, particularly in the case of a relatively small hand-held device. Moreover the spacing members need not be radiussed though this is preferred in order to maintain the desired spacing in different positions of use.

   Moreover though the invention has been described primarily with reference to a device for use in spreading adhesive for fixing of ceramic floor tiles. devices accord- ing to the invention may be used in a wide range of other applications to spread materials of a flowable or pasty nature on to floors, walls or other surfaces.

   WHAT WE CLAIM lS:- l. A spreading device incorporating a blade having a working edge of castellated or other irregular form. the blade being carried by supports at its opposite ends which project beyond the working edge so as to space the working edge a predetermined distance from the floor or other surface to be coated when the blade is in its normal position of use.

   2. A spreading device according to claim l wherein the surfaces of said supports which engage the floor in use are radiussed about the working edge of the blade so as to maintain the working edge spaced from the floor by said predetermined distance in different angular positions of the blade relative to the floor.

   3. A spreading device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the surfaces of said supports which engage the floor in use are formed from a wear-resistant material.

   4. A spreading device according to any preceding claim wherein said blade is concavely curved as viewed in a plane transverse to the length of the blade.

   5. A spreading device according to any preceding claim wherein said blade is provided with end pieces serving to confine adhesive or the like to the region within the longitudinal extent of the blade.

   6. A spreading device according to any preceding claim wherein means is provided to rigidify said blade in the direction of its working edge.

   7. A spreading device according to any preceding claim provided with a handle of sufficient length to enable the device to be used for spreading purposes from a standing position.

   X. A spreading device according to claim 7 wherein said handle is so disposed relative to the blade that when the handle is held in its normal position of use the region

   of the blade adjacent the working edge is disposed substantially normal to the floor.

   9. A spreading device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.