Caulking removal tool

Abstract

A caulking removal tool 100 is disclosed which comprises a blade 110 secured to a mounting block 120. The blade the blade is L-shaped, having two sides 114, 116 arranged in mutually orthogonal planes,

Description

Field of the invention The invention relates to a tool for removal of caulking, also termed sealant, from a corner. Background of the invention Caulking, commonly made of silicone, is used to seal around shower trays, baths and sinks and may also be used around skirting boards and tiling to provide a neat finish. When the caulking needs to be replaced, for example when water seepage occurs, the old caulking needs to be removed before fresh caulking can be applied to the corner. Various tools are available for removal of caulking, a typical example of a such a tool being shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. The tool 10 has a long handle 12 with a blade 14 one end. The L-shaped blade has sharp front and rear edges 16 and 18, its shape enabling it to fit into a corner. The tool can either be pushed forward in the direction of arrow F or pulled backwards in the direction of arrow R. If pushed forward, the pointed end of the blade risks digging into the surfaces of the comer, which can cause damage if one surface is, for example, that of a fibreglass bath. If pulled backwards, so that the removal is carried out by the rear edge 18, then it is hard to apply sufficient force into the corner to achieve efficient removal of the old caulking. Object of the invention The present invention seeks therefore to provide a caulking removal tool that allows sufficient force to be applied for efficient removal of the caulking, while minimising the risk of damage to the surfaces of the caulked corner. Summary of the invention According to the present invention, there is provided a caulking removal tool comprising a blade secured to a mounting block, wherein: the blade is L-shaped, having two sides lying in mutually orthogonal planes, with each side terminating in a respective cutting edge, the blade is secured to a corner of the mounting block defined by two mutually orthogonal sides and an end face of the block, the sides of the blade are mounted flush with the two sides of the block, and a cutout is formed in the end face of the block adjacent the blade, to permit passage through the block of caulking removed by the blade. In the invention, the block has sufficient surface area to enable the user to press the blade firmly into the comer and, because the flat surfaces of the block can be pressed firmly against the surfaces meeting at the caulked comer, any tendency for the blade to twist if it catches on a hard obstacle can be more easily avoided. In some embodiments, the blade does not project beyond the end face of the block, to avoid any risk of the blade digging into the surfaces of the corner from which caulking is being removed. In some embodiments, the edges of the L-shaped blade are aligned with the edges of the block. It is, however, alternatively possible for the edges to be inclined relative to the edges of the block so that the sharp edges of the blade may slice through the caulking. In order to reduce the volume of material required to produce the block, and to reduce its weight, recesses, blind bores or through holes may, in some embodiments, be made in the sides of the block. Such recesses may, if desired, serve as a storage space for spare blades. Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1, as previously described, shows a known caulking removal tool, and Figures 2 to 4 are perspective views from different sides of a caulking removal tool of the present invention. Detailed description of the drawings In the drawings, a black circle at the end of a lead line is intended to indicate that the line is pointing to a surface. The tool 100 shown in Figures 2 to 4 comprises an L-shaped blade 110, made for example from stainless steel, secured by means of fixings 112, and / or an adhesive, to a block 120. As can be seen in Figure 4, the block 120 has mutually orthogonal back 122 and bottom 124 faces, the blade 110 being mounted at the comer of the block 120 with its sides flush with the back and bottom faces of the block 120. Furthermore, as can be seen from Figures 2 to 4, the sharp edges 114 and 116 are aligned with the edges of the block 120 and do not extend beyond its end face 126. Figures 2 and 3 show that a cutout 130 is formed in the end face 126 of the block 120 in the corner adjacent the blade 110. This cutout communicates with an opening 132 in the front face 128 of the block, to enable removed caulking to pass through the block 120. Figure 4 also shows that recesses 136 and 138 may be formed in the faces of the block, in this case the rear face 122. Such recesses, which may alternatively be through bores or blind bores, reduce the amount of material in the block 120, to reduce the cost of its manufacture. Recesses may also serve for storage, for example of spare blades. The block 120 may be made of a hard material, such as of wood or of a plastics material. In some embodiments, the block, or at least the surfaces to be pressed into the corner from which caulking is to be removed, may be made of a resilient material, such as a rubber or polyethylene, so that it may conform to irregularities in the surfaces of the corner, In the embodiment of the invention, as shown in solid lines in Figures 2 to 4, the sharp edges of the L-shaped blade lie in a plane orthogonal to the two sides of the blade 110 to align with the edges of the block 120. However, this is not essential and, as represented by the dotted lines 114a and 116a in Figure 4 , the cutting edges may be inclined either towards or away from the comer, so as to perform a slicing action through the caulking when pushed along the comer from which caulking is to be removed. In use, the back and bottom faces of the block 120 are firmly pushed by the user into the comer from which caulking is to be removed and block is pushed along the corner to gouge out the caulking. The removed caulking passes through the cutout 30 and does not to impede the progress of the tool. The block ensure that the blade is correctly positioned to remove the caulking without causing any damage to the comer, so no skill is required. The illustrated block can be used either by moving it from right to left with the larger faces vertical or from left to right, with the larger surfaces horizontal. Furthermore, the thickness of the block is sufficiently small to permit removal of caulking from areas with restricted access, such as behind faucets. While the illustrated embodiment has a blade secured to only one corner, it is alternatively possible for the block to have blades at both ends, so that it may cut through caulking when moved in either direction, regardless of the orientation of the block. Each blade may be designed to be reversible. To achieve this, both ends of the blade may be sharpened and the holes for receiving the fixings 112 may be positioned so as to permit the blade to be mounted in the block with either orientation. If desired, the holes for the fixings 112 may be elongated to allow adjustment of the position of the blades relative to the block. In such an embodiment, the blade may be movable from a deployed position to a retracted position for safety during storage and transportation. To enable blades to be replaced more quickly, in some embodiments, blades may be mounted on interchangeable inserts instead of being mounted directly on the block.

Claims

1. A caulking removal tool comprising a blade secured to a mounting block, wherein:the blade is L-shaped, having two sides lying in mutually orthogonal planes, with each side terminating in a respective cutting edge,the blade is secured to a corner of the mounting block defined by two mutually orthogonal sides and an end face of the block,the sides of the blade are mounted flush with the two sides of the block, anda cutout is formed in the end face of the block adjacent the blade, to permit passage through the block of caulking removed by the blade.

2. A caulking removal tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the blade is mounted on the block so as not to project beyond the end face of the block.

3. A caulking removal tool as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the edges of the L-shaped blade are aligned with the edges of the block.

4. A caulking removal tool as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the edges of the L-shaped blade are inclined relative to the edges of the block.

5. A caulking removal tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein blades are secured to more than one comer of the block.

6. A caulking removal tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each blade has sharp edges at both its ends and is reversibly mounted in the block.

7. A caulking removal tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein recesses, blind bores or through holes are made in the sides of the block.6AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:-CLAIMS1. A caulking removal tool comprising a mounting block made of a hard or resilient material, and a blade secured to the mounting block, wherein:5 the blade is L-shaped, having two planar sides lying in mutually orthogonal planes,with each side terminating in a respective cutting edge,the blade is secured to a comer of the mounting block defined by two mutually orthogonal sides and an end face of the block,the sides of the blade are mounted flush with the two sides of the block, and io a cutout is formed in the end face of the block adjacent the blade, to permit passagethrough the block of caulking removed by the blade.

2. A caulking removal tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the blade is mounted on the block so as not to project beyond the end face of the block.

153. A caulking removal tool as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the edges of the L-shaped blade are aligned with the edges of the block.

4. A caulking removal tool as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the edges of the L-2 o shaped blade are inclined relative to the edges of the block.

5. A caulking removal tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the block has more than one corner and blades are secured to different corners of the block.2 5 6. A caulking removal tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or eachblade has sharp edges at both ends of its two sides and is reversibly mounted on the block.

7. A caulking removal tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein recesses,blind bores or through holes are made in the sides of the block.30

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