Smoothing tool for finishing a joint filled with grout

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a smoothing tool for finishing a joint filled with a joint compound.

[0002] DE 10 2015 103 842 A1 discloses a smoothing tool comprising a first joint smoother and a second joint smoother. The joint smoothers are each designed in the form of an elongated, thin plate and have a smoothing tip for creating a profile of the joint compound. Since the smoothing tip of the first joint smoother differs from the smoothing tip of the second joint smoother, the smoothing tool can be used to create the joint compound with a different profile as needed. For example, the smoothing tip can be convex with a constant curvature radius, giving the profile of the joint compound a concave shape in the joint.

[0003] In DE 10 2015 103 842, the joint smoothers are held by a U-shaped holder, between whose U-legs the joint smoothers are arranged one above the other in a storage position. From this storage position, the joint smoothers can be pivoted out about a pivot axis that extends between the free ends of the U-legs. This allows an individual joint smoother to be pivoted from the storage position into a use position to smooth or remove the joint compound in the joint. The holder can be used as a handle, which can simplify smoothing or removing the joint compound. However, the holder can also be a hindrance if the space at the joint is very limited and the holder prevents optimal positioning of the joint smoother.

[0004] DE 298 01 028 U1 discloses a smoothing tool comprising a first joint smoother and a second joint smoother, each having multiple smoothing tips. However, in this case, the joint smoothers are not connected to one another by a holder, but are designed as loose pieces. The individual joint smoothers must be held directly in the hand when a joint is to be refinished. In doing so, the removed joint compound can come into direct contact with the hand or fingers. This can contaminate the removed joint compound, making it unusable for other joints. Furthermore, the fingers or hand can become so dirty that a secure hold of the joint smoother and thus its precise guidance are no longer guaranteed.

[0005] EP 0 740 031 A1 also discloses clamping a single joint smoother into a tool holder that functions as a handle. While this reduces the likelihood of direct contact between the hand and the joint compound, it requires an additional component in the form of the aforementioned tool holder.

[0006] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a smoothing tool which is of simple construction and with which the reworking of the joint can be carried out easily.

[0007] The object underlying the invention is achieved with the combination of features according to claim 1. Embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims to claim 1.

[0008] According to the invention, for a detachable connection between the first joint smoother and the second joint smoother, the first joint smoother has a pin, and the second joint smoother has a pin receptacle. The pin receptacle has a longitudinal axis that lies in a main plane of the second joint smoother or extends parallel thereto, wherein the pin can assume a basic position and at least one alternative position in the pin receptacle. A rotation angle of the pin in the basic position relative to the longitudinal axis is different from a rotation angle of the pin in the alternative position.

[0009] By connecting the tenon and tenon socket, the second joint smoother can, for example, be used as a handle for the first joint smoother, with the smoothing tip of the first joint smoother being able to rework the joint with the grout filled therein. This eliminates the need for a separate handle or tool holder to reduce the risk of direct contact between the grout and the hand. Since the tenon in the tenon socket can assume various rotational angles, it is possible to align the second joint smoother, which functions as a handle, with respect to the first joint smoother in such a way that the handling of the first joint smoother is simplified and, in confined spaces, the correct application of the first joint smoother to the joint is not hindered.If space constraints completely prohibit the use of the second joint smoother as a handle, the detachable connection between the tenon and tenon socket allows the second joint smoother to be separated from the first. In this case, the first joint smoother is guided directly by hand, but at the expense of a smaller distance between the hand / finger and the grout.

[0010] Conversely, the first joint smoother can also be used as a handle for the second joint smoother, enabling the smoothing tip of the second joint smoother to be used. It is therefore preferred that the smoothing tip of the first joint smoother differs from the smoothing tip of the second joint smoother, so that different smoothing tips can be used with the smoothing tool according to the invention, with one of the joint smoothers being used as the handle in each case.

[0011] In one embodiment, the main plane of the second joint smoother substantially coincides with a main plane of the first joint smoother when the pivot is in the home position. In this case, the two plate-shaped joint smoothers lie in a common plane. The main plane of the second joint smoother and the main plane of the first joint smoother can be substantially at right angles to each other when the pivot is in the alternative position.

[0012] In one embodiment, the main planes of the two joint smoothers coincide exactly when the pin is in the home position. In another embodiment, the main planes of the two joint smoothers are exactly at right angles when the pin is in the alternative position.

[0013] In one embodiment, the pin, when located in the pin receptacle, can be rotated from the home position to the alternative position. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to separate the connection between the pin and the pin receptacle in order to move the pin from one position to the other. This facilitates handling of the smoothing tool. The torque required for the rotation is preferably so high that it is not achieved during normal use of the smoothing tool. However, the necessary torque should be able to be provided by human hands alone, i.e., without additional tools.

[0014] The pin may have a non-circular cross-section. Preferably, the pin receptacle has a corresponding hollow cross-section that accommodates the cross-section. In one embodiment, the cross-section of the pin is substantially square, while the hollow cross-section of the pin receptacle is also substantially square. The square cross-section of the pin and / or the square hollow cross-section of the pin receptacle may have rounded corners.

[0015] The square cross-section of the tenon and the square hollow cross-section of the tenon socket define four rotation angles, each spaced 90° apart, at which the tenon can be positioned in the tenon socket relative to the longitudinal axis of the tenon socket. For example, this allows the basic position and the alternative position to be rotated by 90°, 180°, or 270° relative to each other. The square cross-section and the square hollow cross-section ensure that the connection between the tenon and the tenon socket is rotationally fixed (when used as intended), which is an important prerequisite for one of the two joint smoothers to be precisely guided by the other, which acts as a handle.

[0016] Various measures can be taken to ensure that the torque required to rotate the tenon in the tenon holder from the basic position to the alternative position when necessary is not too great and, at the same time, to ensure that the connection between the tenon and tenon holder is secure against rotation when the smoothing tool is used as intended. For example, the material of the tenon and / or tenon holder must be selected so that it has a certain degree of elasticity so that, for example, the square cross-section of the tenon can be rotated within the square hollow cross-section of the tenon holder. The extent to which the corners of the square cross-section or the square hollow cross-section are rounded also plays a role. Alternatively or additionally, the tenon can have a central blind hole, which can influence the dimensional stability of the tenon.If only a small wall thickness remains between the central blind hole and the square (outer) cross-section, the pin can deform slightly elastically when rotated within the pin receptacle.

[0017] Preferably, the pin can be inserted into the pin receptacle with a linear movement along the longitudinal axis of the pin receptacle. This thus represents a plug-in connection between the pin and the pin receptacle. In one embodiment, the connection between the pin and the pin receptacle can be released by pulling the pin out of the pin receptacle with a linear movement along the longitudinal axis - opposite to the movement used to establish the connection. Preferably, locking means are provided which determine an axial position of the pin in the pin receptacle. When inserting or removing the pin, certain locking forces must therefore be overcome. The locking forces are preferably set so that the connection between the pin and the pin receptacle is not severed when the smoothing tool is used as intended. However, it should be possible to separate the second joint smoother from the first joint smoother by hand.Therefore, in one embodiment, no separate tool is necessary to pull the pin out of the pin receptacle or to push the pin into the pin receptacle.

[0018] The first joint smoother, including the tenon, can be constructed in one piece. The first joint smoother can be an injection-molded part made of plastic. The plastic can be a plastic blend of a polyolefin and a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The mass fraction of the thermoplastic elastomer is preferably in a range of 10 to 30%. LDPE (low density polyethylene) is preferably used as the polyolefin, which is easy to process. In one embodiment, the plastic blend comprises 80% LDPE and 20% TPE. Using the plastic blends described above, a smoothing tool can be provided in which, on the one hand, the connection between the tenon and tenon holder, and, on the other hand, the smoothing tips of the joint smoother, have a balanced ratio between dimensional stability and elasticity.

[0019] The second joint smoother can also be constructed in one piece. It can also be an injection-molded plastic part, in which case the same materials as the first joint smoother can be used. Preferably, the first joint smoother and the second joint smoother are made of the same material.

[0020] In one embodiment, the first joint smoother has a flat base plate with a raised central region from which the tenon extends. The second joint smoother can also have a flat base plate with a raised central region, with the tenon receptacle now located in the central region. Due to the raised central regions, the two joint smoothers have increased rigidity in the area of ​​the connection between the tenon and the tenon receptacle.

[0021] The first joint smoother and / or the second joint smoother can have side edges that are beveled at an angle of 5°-75°, preferably at an angle of 45°, thus forming an undercut. This allows the joint compound to be precisely removed or smoothed.

[0022] The first joint smoother and / or the second joint smoother can have a recessed grip, which increases the grip and thus the handling of the joint smoother, regardless of whether the respective joint smoother is guided directly or indirectly via the other joint smoother acting as a handle.

[0023] The first base body and / or the second joint smoother can have three smoothing tips. This allows the single joint smoother to be used without the other joint smoother to create different joint profiles.

[0024] The invention is explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a smoothing tool in plan view; Figure 2 shows the smoothing tool of the Figure 1 in a perspective view; Figure 3 the smoothing tool of the Figure 1 in a perspective view, wherein a first joint smoother and a second joint smoother are separated from each other; Figure 4 the smoothing tool according to Figure 2 , wherein the first joint smoother and the second joint smoother are rotated by 90° to each other; and Figure 5 shows a side view ( Figure 5A ) and a longitudinal section ( Figure 5B ) of the smoothing tool of the Figure 1 .

[0025] The figures show a smoothing tool, designated in its entirety by 1. With the smoothing tool 1, a joint compound can be smoothed, which has previously been applied, for example, with a cartridge gun into or onto a joint. The smoothing tool 1 comprises a first joint smoother 10 and a second joint smoother 40. As can be seen in particular from Figure 3 As can be seen, the first joint smoother 10 and the second joint smoother 40 are two separate components that can be connected to and separated from each other.

[0026] The joint smoother 10 has a pin 11 that can be inserted into a pin receptacle 41 of the second joint smoother 40. The pin 11 has a square cross-section with rounded corners. Furthermore, the pin 11 has locking means in the form of a locking lug 12 on each outer edge of the square cross-section. When the pin 11 and the pin receptacle 41 are connected, the locking lug 12 engages in a locking groove 42 of the pin receptacle 41 (see Figure 5B , which shows a longitudinal section along the line VV in Figure 1 The interaction of the locking lug 12 and the locking groove 42 prevents the pin 11 from accidentally slipping out of the pin receptacle 41. In other words, a certain locking force must be overcome in order to pull the pin 11 out of the pin receptacle 41.

[0027] Except in Figure 3In the figures, the first joint smoother 10 and the second joint smoother 40 are shown in a connected state. In this connected state, the pin 11 is located in the pin receptacle 41. The pin 11 can assume various positions in the pin receptacle 41, which differ in a rotation angle relative to a longitudinal axis 43 of the pin receptacle 41. As can be seen from the Figure 5B As can be seen, the longitudinal axis 43 lies in a main plane 44 of the second joint smoother 40. Both the longitudinal axis 43 and the main plane 44 are in Figure 5B represented by the dotted line. In the representation of the Figure 1 The main level 44 corresponds to the drawing level of the Figure 1 .

[0028] In a basic position, the pin 11 is inserted into the pin receptacle 41 in such a way that a main plane 13 of the first joint smoother 10 coincides with the main plane 44 of the second joint smoother 40. The main plane 13 of the first joint smoother 10 and the main plane 44 of the second joint smoother 40 lie in the same plane, which, as already explained above, is shown in the illustration of the Figure 1 corresponds to the drawing plane (see also dotted line in Figure 5B .

[0029] In addition, the pin 11 can assume an alternative position in the pin receptacle 41, which is Figure 4 This leads to the configuration shown. In the alternative position, the main plane 13 of the first joint smoother 10 and the main plane 44 of the second joint smoother are rotated by 90° relative to each other.

[0030] The first joint smoother 10 has a flat base plate 14 with a circumferential side edge 15, which is beveled at an angle of 45° to the main plane 13. The thickness of the base plate 14 is preferably only a few millimeters (e.g., 3 to 8 mm, preferably 4 to 6 mm). The maximum extension of the base plate 14 in one direction within the main plane 13 can be 40 to 100 mm.

[0031] The side edge 15 has different edge sections, whereby a smoothing tip 16 of the first joint smoother 10 is formed by three edge sections 15c, 15d and 15e (see Figure 1 ). Sections 15c and 15e are each straight and enclose an angle of 90°.

[0032] Between these mutually perpendicular edge sections 15c, 15e is arranged the edge section 15d, which has an angle of 45° to the edge sections 15c, 15e. The smoothing tip 16 can be used to smooth the grout of a joint that runs along two mutually perpendicular surfaces (for example, the floor and wall of a bathroom). The profile of the grout created with this smoothing tip 16 has a correspondingly straight surface that is inclined at 45° to the floor or wall. The length of the edge section 15d can be, for example, 10 mm.

[0033] In addition to the smoothing tip 16, the first joint smoother 10 has two further smoothing tips 17, 18, wherein the smoothing tip 17 is formed by the edge sections 15a, 15b and 15c and the smoothing tip 18 is formed by the edge sections 15e, 15f and 15g. The smoothing tip 17 differs from the smoothing tip 16 essentially only in the length of the edge section that lies between the two mutually perpendicular outer edge sections of the respective smoothing tip 16, 17. The length of the edge section 15b can be, for example, 6 mm, so that reworking with this smoothing tip 17 results in a smoothed joint compound with a joint compound width that is smaller than the joint compound width achievable with the smoothing tip 16. With the smoothing tip 18, in which an edge section 15f has a constant rounding radius 19 (for example a radius of 12 mm), a profile for the joint compound can be produced that fits tangentially to the wall and floor.The profile of the joint compound is concave. The basic shape of the base plate 14 is square, except for the slanted flattening in the area of ​​the tenon 11.

[0034] In addition, the first joint smoother 10 has a raised central region 20 in which a recessed grip 21 is incorporated. From the raised central region 20, the pin 11 extends outward from the base plate 14. The pin 11 lies in the main plane 13 of the first joint smoother 10.

[0035] The second joint smoother 40 has a comparable design with a flat base plate 45 and a raised central section 46. Here, too, the raised central section 46 is provided with a recessed grip 47. The thickness of the base plate 45 is 3 to 8 mm. A circumferential side edge 48 can be divided into several edge sections 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d, 48e, and 48f. The length of the edge section 48d differs from the lengths of the edge sections 15b, 15d, so that a smoothing tip 49, formed by the sections 48c, 48d, and 48e, can again be used to produce a joint compound with different joint compound widths. In addition to the smoothing tip 49, the second joint smoother 40 has two further smoothing tips 50, 51. The smoothing tip 51 is formed only by the two mutually perpendicular edge sections 48e, 48f, which meet at a corner point 52.

[0036] If the smoothing tip 16 is to be used to finish a joint filled with joint compound, the second joint smoother 40 can be used as a handle when connected. The handle (or the joint smoother 40) can simplify the finishing process accordingly. In particular, the handle can be used to increase the distance between the joint compound and the hand with which the smoothing tool 1 is guided. In special situations (space is limited, access to the joint is difficult), it can be advantageous if the joint smoother acting as a handle is rotated 90° relative to the first joint smoother. In particularly limited space or access to the joint is particularly difficult, it can also be advantageous to use only the first joint smoother 10 and forego the advantages of the second joint smoother 40 as a handle.For this purpose, the second joint smoother 40 can be detached from the first joint smoother 10 by pulling the pin 11 out of the pin receptacle 41.

[0037] In a similar manner to the smoothing tip 16, the smoothing tip 49 of the second joint smoother can also be used with the aid of a handle, with the first joint smoother 10 now acting as the handle. Here, too, depending on the given situation (space available, access to the joint), the joint smoother 10 acting as the handle can be rotated by 90, 180, or 270° relative to the second joint smoother 40, or can be completely removed.

[0038] In order for the pin 11 to rotate in the pin receptacle 41, the material of the one-piece joint smoother 10 or the material of the likewise one-piece joint smoother 40 must exhibit a certain degree of elasticity. It has proven advantageous to use a plastic mixture comprising polyethylene and a thermoplastic elastomer for the material of the two joint smoothers 10, 40. Such a plastic mixture also allows a certain degree of flexibility to be achieved in the side edges 15, 48 of the joint smoothers 10, 40, which can be used to compensate for unevenness during post-processing of the joint.

[0039] In addition to the material selection, the elasticity or dimensional stability of the tenon 11 can also be adjusted by a blind hole 22, which is arranged centrally to the cross-section of the tenon 11. If only a small wall thickness remains between the outer edge of the cross-section of the tenon 11 and the blind hole 22, the tenon 11 can be deformed more easily if the two joint smoothers 10, 40 are rotated relative to each other when the tenon 11 and the tenon receptacle 43 are connected.

[0040] The smoothing tool 1 according to the invention offers various application possibilities. The joint smoothers 10, 40 can be used interchangeably as a handle or tool holder for the other joint smoother 40, 10. The joint smoother acting as a handle can be rotated relative to the other joint smoother. Furthermore, the joint smoothers 10, 40 can be separated from each other. The invention thus provides a simply constructed and very flexible smoothing tool. List of reference symbols

[0041] 1 smoothing tool 10First joint smoother 11Tenon 12Locking lug 13Main plane 14Base plate 15Side edge (15a to 15g edge sections) 16Smoothing tip 17Smoothing tip 18Smoothing tip 19Rounding radius 20Central area 21Grip recess 22Blind hole 40Second joint smoother 41Tenon receptacle 42Locking groove 43Longitudinal axis 44Main plane 45Base plate 46Central area 47Grip recess 48Side edge (48a to 48f edge sections) 49Smoothing tip 50Smoothing tip 51Smoothing tip 52Corner point

Claims

1. A smoothing tool (1) for finishing a joint filled with a joint compound, having a first planar joint smoother (10) and a second planar joint smoother (40), the first joint smoother (10) and the second joint smoother (40) each having at least one smoothing tip (16, 17, 18, 49, 50, 51) for producing a profile of the joint compound, characterized in that, for a releasable connection between the first joint smoother (10) and the second joint smoother (40), the first joint smoother (10) has a pin (11) and the second joint smoother (40) has a pin receiver (41), the pin receiver (41) having a longitudinal axis (43) which lies in a main plane (44) of the second joint smoother (40) or extends in parallel therewith, the pin (11) being able to assume a basic position and at least one alternative position in the pin receiver (41), and, in the basic position, an angle of rotation of the pin (11) with respect to the longitudinal axis (43) being different from an angle of rotation of the pin (11) in the alternative position.

2. The smoothing tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the main plane (44) of the second joint smoother (40) substantially coincides with a main plane (13) of the first joint smoother (10) when the pin (11) is in the basic position, and in that the main plane (44) of the second joint smoother (40) and the main plane (13) of the first joint smoother (10) are substantially at a right angle to one another when the pin (11) is in the alternative position.

3. The smoothing tool (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pin (11), when it is in the pin receiver (41), can be rotated from the basic position to the alternative position.

4. The smoothing tool (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pin (11) has a non-round cross-section, and the pin receiver (41) has a corresponding hollow cross-section which accommodates the cross-section.

5. The smoothing tool (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a cross-section of the pin (11) is substantially square.

6. The smoothing tool (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pin (11) has a central blind hole (22).

7. The smoothing tool (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pin (11) can be inserted into the pin receiver (41) with a linear movement along the longitudinal axis (43) of the pin receiver (41).

8. The smoothing tool (1), if necessary according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that locking means are provided which determine an axial position of the pin (11) in the pin receiver (41).

9. The smoothing tool (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first joint smoother (10) including the pin (11) is designed in one piece.

10. The smoothing tool (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first joint smoother (10) has a flat base plate (14) with a raised central region (20) from which the pin (11) extends.

11. The smoothing tool (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the second joint smoother (40) has a flat base plate (45) with a raised central region (46) in which the pin receiver (41) is arranged.

12. The smoothing tool (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the first joint smoother (10) and the second joint smoother (40) are made of a plastics material containing proportions of thermoplastic elastomer.

13. The smoothing tool (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the first joint smoother (10) and / or the second joint smoother (40) have a side edge (15, 48) which is beveled at an angle of 5° - 75°, preferably at an angle of 45°, thus forming an undercut.

14. The smoothing tool (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the first joint smoother (10) and / or the second joint smoother (40) have three smoothing tips.

15. The smoothing tool (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the first joint smoother (10) and / or the second joint smoother (40) have a recessed grip (41, 47).