Hand tool for applying pressure when bonding leather or plastics with leather-like properties

Abstract

Hand tool for applying pressure when bonding supple materials, namely leather or plastics with leather-like properties, to bonding surfaces with narrow and difficult-to-access bonding points in the contour, consisting of a shaft (1) which can be fitted with working parts (2) of different dimensions, different curvatures and different radii, and a working part (2) which has an oval contour with a larger dimension of the oval, curved transversely to the shaft (shaft 1) and in a direction transverse to the shaft, and curved both transversely and longitudinally to the shaft.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a hand tool for applying pressure when bonding essentially supple materials, such as preferably leather or plastics with leather-like properties, to adhesive surfaces with narrow or difficult-to-access bonding points in the contour, consisting of a shaft and a working part that can be inserted into the shaft.

[0002] Document US 2016 / 0045931 A1 discloses a hand tool for applying or removing adhesive or sealing materials, consisting of a handle and narrow spatulas molded onto it at both ends and curved in the longitudinal direction of the handle.

[0003] US Patent 8 250 701 B1 shows and describes a versatile hand tool used in art or media fields, also consisting of a handle and various types of tools that can be attached to it.

[0004] US patent 2011 / 0247164 A1 describes a spoon- or shovel-shaped hand tool for various applications.

[0005] Leather is characterized by its supple, relatively tough, durable, and above all, versatile properties. It is waterproof yet breathable, meaning it allows sufficient air and water vapor to pass through. This is why it has become firmly established in the automotive industry as an upholstery material for seats, dashboards, and other surfaces. The above also applies to synthetic materials with leather-like properties, such as Alcantara.

[0006] Due to its suppleness, leather or leather-like materials are not easy to handle when bonding – they have an extreme tendency to wrinkle. The usual hand tools for rubbing these supple covering materials onto essentially rigid bonding surfaces require extremely sensitive handling, both in their movement on the material being bonded and, above all, in the application of pressure. This is particularly true when the surface to be bonded has complex contours, such as concave shapes or particularly tight areas of a component.

[0007] The invention was based on the objective of solving the aforementioned processing problems when dealing with pliable covering materials in the simplest and most effective way possible.

[0008] The invention solves the problems described with a hand tool consisting of a shaft and a working part that can be inserted into the shaft by providing the working part with a substantially oval contour, with a larger dimension of the oval extending substantially transversely to the shaft direction and curved in an orientation extending substantially transversely to the shaft direction.

[0009] The working part must be curved in both its longitudinal and transverse directions with respect to the shaft's shape.

[0010] To improve accessibility in tight spaces and on difficult contours, the shaft of the hand tool can be fitted with working parts of different dimensions (length, width, thickness) and / or different curvature and / or rounding.

[0011] The advantages, features, and details of the inventive solution for a hand tool used for bonding essentially flexible materials, preferably interior trim components of a motor vehicle, will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment schematically illustrated in the figures of a drawing. The described features and combinations of features, as shown below in the drawing, and the features and combinations of features described with reference to the drawing are applicable not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or even individually, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0012] It shows: Fig. 1 a hand tool according to the invention consisting of a shaft and working part; Fig. 2 a top view of the front face of a working part for a hand tool according to the invention and Fig. 3 a section through a working part according to the invention in the longitudinal direction of the shaft.

[0013] The inventive tool consists of a shaft 1 and a working part 2 that can be inserted into the shaft.

[0014] Working part 2 has a substantially oval contour. With its larger oval dimensions, it is arranged essentially transversely to the shank profile of shank 1.

[0015] In Fig. Figure 2 shows that the oval working part 2 is curved in the transverse direction to the shaft. It is not apparent from the drawing that the working part 2 can also be curved in the direction of the shaft.

[0016] Fig. Figure 3 shows the working part 2 in cross-section - section path see Fig. 2. It can be seen that the working part is strongly rounded on all its sides.

[0017] For universal application, a shaft 1 as a hand tool according to the invention can be equipped with working parts 2 of different dimensions in length, width, thickness, curvature and radii.

Claims

[1] Hand tool for applying pressure when bonding supple materials, namely leather or plastics with leather-like properties, to bonding surfaces with narrow and difficult-to-access bonding points in the contour, consisting of a shaft (1) which can be fitted with working parts (2) of different dimensions, different curvatures and different radii, and a working part (2) which has an oval contour with a larger dimension of the oval, curved transversely to the shaft (shaft 1) and in a direction transverse to the shaft, and curved both transversely and longitudinally to the shaft.

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