Convex Trowel for Concave Concrete Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing concrete trowels, including flat and pool trowels, are ineffective in achieving smooth finishes on tight concave surfaces without marring the surface due to their design, which is not suited for such applications.

Innovation Solution

A convex-shaped trowel design that allows for the preparation, smoothing, and sealing of concave surfaces, with adjustable sizes and angles to accommodate both tight and gradual surfaces, eliminating the risk of surface damage from sharp edges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional flat or pool trowels are used on tight concave surfaces, then the trowel can apply concrete to the surface, but the sharp edges of the trowel will cut into and mar the surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface finish qualityVSAvoidsurface damage from cutting

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The trowel blade is designed with a convex curved surface instead of a flat or sharply edged profile. This curvature allows the blade to conform to tight concave surfaces while the rounded edges prevent cutting into the concrete, achieving smooth finishes without surface damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a flat or sharply edged blade that forces its way into concave surfaces (causing cutting and damage), the invention inverts the approach by using a convex blade that gently conforms to the surface geometry, eliminating the harmful cutting action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If existing trowels are used on tight concave surfaces, then concrete can be applied, but the surface cannot be smoothed and sealed properly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmooth finish capabilityVSAvoidsurface smoothing and sealing quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The convex curved blade design enables the trowel to follow the contours of tight concave surfaces, allowing proper smoothing and sealing actions that traditional flat trowels cannot achieve, thereby improving both productivity and surface quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The blade geometry parameters are changed from flat/sharp-edged to convex/rounded-edged, which fundamentally alters how the trowel interacts with concave surfaces, enabling smooth finishing and sealing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a convex trowel design is used, then tight concave surfaces can be handled smoothly, but the trowel cannot perform all the jobs that traditional trowels can do

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle concave surfacesVSAvoidtrowel design uniqueness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The convex blade design provides specialized capability for tight concave surfaces that traditional trowels cannot handle, increasing adaptability to specific applications while maintaining a relatively simple overall tool structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS7543349B2Trowel

Publication Date: 2009.06.09 COON DUANE A

AI summary

An invention that uses a convex shaped tool in the application and smoothing of concrete, but also can be used in other fields where needed where there is a concave surface. This trowel will be a big help in many variety of fields that has to deal with different degrees of concave surfaces. This trowel has a need to come in many different sizes, convex shapes, and composition depending on the need in the desired job being worked on. This trowel will be a big help in areas of concave surfaces where before there was no universal tool to do those jobs quickly and efficiently.