GB2568163A

GB2568163A - Coating knife

Info

Publication number: GB2568163A
Application number: GB1816681.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Voilquin Eric; Prique Eric
Original assignee: BOUGRELLE Ets
Current assignee: BOUGRELLE Ets
Priority date: 2017-10-16
Filing date: 2018-10-12
Publication date: 2019-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-12
Also published as: FR3072404A1; GB2568163B; GB201816681D0; PL241740B1; DE102018125602B4; FR3072404B1; DE102018125602A1; PL427393A1

Abstract

Coating knife composed of a tubular body 1, a hollow U-shaped section bar of which the convex and concave parts of the wall 3 are connected by ribs 33, and having a short branch 11 constituting the handle, with a long branch 13 forming the blade 2 mounting, of which the outer surface has one principal surface 131a and one securing surface 131b being inclined in relation to the principal surface, to form a dihedron. The securing surface has a recess 132 with a shoulder (133 figure 2B). An articulated latch 14 presses, in the locked position, the blade against the securing surface and the recess. The blade takes the form of a dihedron with an angle corresponding to that of the dihedral of the surfaces of the blade mounting. One flat securing strip 22 endowed with cut and relief locking tabs (221 figure 2B) that fit into the recess against the shoulder.

Description

(57) Coating knife composed of a tubular body 1, a hollow U-shaped section bar of which the convex and concave parts of the wall 3 are connected by ribs 33, and having a short branch 11 constituting the handle, with a long branch 13 forming the blade 2 mounting, of which the outer surface has one principal surface 131a and one securing surface 131b being inclined in relation to the principal surface, to form a dihedron. The securing surface has a recess 132 with a shoulder (133 figure 2B). An articulated latch 14 presses, in the locked position, the blade against the securing surface and the recess. The blade takes the form of a dihedron with an angle corresponding to that of the dihedral of the surfaces of the blade mounting. One flat securing strip 22 endowed with cut and relief locking tabs (221 figure 2B) that fit into the recess against the shoulder.

This print takes account of replacement documents submitted after the date of filing to enable the application to comply with the formal requirements of the Patents Rules 2007.

COATING KNIFE

Domain of the invention

The present invention pertains to a coating knife composed of a body that is generally tubular along its entire length, and having a blade generally made of steel or stainless steel.

State of the art

Such coating knives are known in many implementations such as, for example, patent FR 07 01828, which addresses a knife having a very-particular handle shape suitable for some applications but impractical for others.

Document FR 75 31614, also, covers a coating knife composed of a profiled part forming a handle bearing a plate constituting the actual coating knife.

This implementation has certain advantages, but its disadvantage is having no blade to apply the coating of which the hardness or flexibility can be modified, depending on the coating knife’s usage.

In addition, the handle of this knife is not particularly effective.

Purpose of the invention

The invention herein addresses a coating knife incorporating a body accommodating a detachable steel or stainless steel blade that constitutes the active surface of the knife, with which the coating or a similar product is applied to the surface being worked on.

The purpose of this invention is a knife for coating or for carrying out other work of this kind, which length is easily defined according to the usage, and of which the stainless steel blade is detachably secured in a simple manner to the body constituting the handle by which the user holds the said coating knife.

The object of the invention is notably a knife that allows the blade to be easily removed and/or replaced as a function of the work to be performed or the degree of wear of the blade, while ensuring the full retention of the blade to the body of the tool, to facilitate the user's work.

length, and having a blade. The tubular body is a hollow U-shaped section bar of which the convex and concave portions of the wall are connected by ribs, being endowed with a short branch forming the handle, connected by the elbow to a long branch forming the blade mounting, of which the outer surface incorporates one principal surface and one inclined securing surface recessed from the principal surface so to form a dihedron, with the attachment surface having a hollow recess with a shoulder, and an articulated latch connected by means of a hinge to the tubular body, so as to press in the locking position, with the blade against the securing surface and the recess.

The blade is in the form of a dihedron corresponding to the dihedral of the surfaces of the blade mounting, with a flat principal band to bear against the principal surface of the body, and with a flat securing strip endowed with cut-out and relief locking tabs designed to enter the recess against the shoulder of the body’s securing surface, with the securing strip being also bearing against the securing surface.

The coating knife according to the invention has multiple advantages, notably that of being of a particularly simple implementation, since both the tubular body and the blade are products manufactured continuously or substantially continuously, being then cut to the desired length of the tool, according to the tool's intended usage.

This greatly simplifies manufacturing and stock management.

In addition, because the blade is easily and quickly interchangeable, while working, the user can change blade according to the flexibility needed to perform, for example, a finishing job.

The blade is simple to remove, by lifting the lock lever starting at one end and then sliding along the tubular body to its other end. The insertion of the knife into the tubular body is done without risk of error, since the hollow recess extends over the entire length of the tubular body, and the blade incorporates a certain number of locking tongues distributed over the length of the securing strip, but of which the precise longitudinal position in relation to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body and, notably, the recess is not important.

However, the alignment of the blade before its locking, relative to the body, is performed in a simple manner, equalizing the two extremities of the blade in relation to the extremities of the tubular body. One then simply folds down the locking lever, which is also done starting from one end and proceeding towards the other end, while successively folding the successive sections of the latch.

This longitudinal bearing point, both for the finger and for the curved end of the lever, ensures that the blade is properly and firmly pressed against the body of the tool.

To unlock, the operation is performed in reverse. It is sufficient to start lifting the latch at one end and proceed towards the other end, and thereby release the blade.

The lock is advantageously retracted into the contour of the tool, so as not to protrude beyond the plane of the tool’s bearing surface.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the ribs have a radial orientation between the outer wall and the inner wall of the casing of the U-shaped section of the hollow tubular body. This radial orientation makes it possible to effectively transmit forces from the handle towards the blade mounting, and to receive the reverse forces in reaction. It is important for precise work that the user be able to exactly and accurately perceive the forces exerted on the tool and, more generally, on the blade, through the perception that he/she receives at the handle.

Also, because the handle extends over the entire length of the coating knife, the user can change the position of his/her hands according to the movement to be performed with the coating knife and the force to exert at such or such a location.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the short branch ends, at the upper side, with a beak continuing with a curved top and a right return at the joining point with the elbowed portion, which is a particularly ergonomic shape for effectively holding the knife.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the lock is composed of a curved lever connected to the artic ulation, and a locking finger to press, in the locked position, the securing strip against the securing surface on either side of the hollow recess. This shape of lock allows, firstly, effective and firm, blocking of the blade against the body of the tool and, secondly, easy releasing of the lock so as to detach the blade - to remove and replace it, for example.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the articulation connecting the lock to the body is borne by the return of the extension of the outer wall of the elbow, so as to advance the first pressure point of the locking finger against the securing strip of the blade at the moment of latch closure. In addition, the edge of the securing strip is housed within the cavity thus produced, and notably serves as a guide for assembling.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the tubular body and the latch are produced by co-extrusion of a relativelyrigid plastic material and a connection made of a relatively-flexible plastic material, forming the articulation connecting the lock to the body.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the principal surface and the securing surface form an angle of around 30° between them, the which angle is the same as the dihedron of the blade.

Finally, according to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the extremities of the hollow body are closed by blades constituting plugs, and that are snapped or forcibly engaged into the extremities to prevent the entry of dirt into the tubular body.

To sum up, the knife according to the invention - designed for coating or performing other work of a similar nature - is a simple and efficient implementation and is simple and efficient to use. Drawings

The invention herein is described hereinafter in more detail with the aid of a coating knife illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, in which the various Figures are crosssectional views perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coating knife:

- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the coating knife, composed of a profiled tubular body and a blade attached thereto;

Figure 2 - namely parts 2A, 2B thereof - is an enlarged view of a part of Figure 1, showing:

- Figure 2A: the lock in the open position;

- Figure 2B: the lock when the blade is in the locking position; Figure 3 - namely parts 3A-3C therof - shows:

- Figure 3A: the knife before assembly of the blade to the body, with the lock being open;

- Figure 3B is a top view of a blade section;

- Figure 3C shows the blade in the phase of being placed against the bearing surface of the body;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the coating knife in the working position.

Description of form of implementation of the invention

As shown in Figure 1, the coating knife (100) is a generally-tubular tool of which the length is chosen according to the work to be done. This length can range between 2 cm and 100 cm, varying from one coating knife to another.

The shape of the coating knife (100) - which is identical over its entire length - is shown in the different figures only in a crosssectional view (without the plugs that are inserted into the extremities).

The dimensional stipulations in the description are in the cross-sectional plane of the Figures because, with exceptions, these stipulations are valid over the entire length of the knife, which is that of the direction perpendicular to the plane of the Figures (cross-sectional plane). Lastly, to facilitate some parts of the description, the convention is used of referring to upstream (AM) and downstream (AV) in accordance with the usual direction of working (direction F) with the knife (100) (Figure 1); relative to the working surface, which is horizontal in Figure 1, the knife (100) is simply shown as applied or placed against this surface S in a position that is not exactly the working position (Figure 4). The usual working direction F is the direction of smoothing of a coating.

However, to break the surface, one uses a stiffer blade (hardened and/or thicker), and the working direction is then the opposite direction.

As already stated, the blade is replaced simply and quickly, so there is no difficulty in passing from one operation to another during the same work session, by changing the blade according to the operation to be performed.

The knife (100) consists of a hollow tubular body (1), being profiled, bearing a steel blade (2) to apply a coating, smooth, or perform other such work, or surface breaking.

The hollow tubular body (1) is a casing (3) having an elbowed U-shaped cross-section with two branches (11, 13) of unequal lengths, connected by a bend (12). The casing (3) has a convex outer part (31) and a concave inner part (32) connected by ribs (33) comparable to radial ribs along this U-shaped curvature, for transmitting the forces applied to the casing (3).

The two branches (11, 13) are connected continuously by the elbowed part (12). The short branch (11) forms the handle and the long branch (13) forms the blade mounting (2).

The short branch (11), which is the top of the body (1), such as illustrated in Figure 1, and with reference to the surface S, has a generally curved shape with, on the upstream side AM, a beak (111) and a curved top (112) and a right return (113) at the point of connection with the elbowed part (12). This shape is taken by the hand, with the fingers wrap around the beak (111) and enters the hollow under the beak (111), with the palm of the hand being positioned on the curved top (112), with the thumb possibly against the right face (113).

The long branch (13) constituting the blade mounting (2) also has - as specified - a hollow shape with interior ribs (33) between its wall (130), on the interior side, being domed, and its wall (131), on the outer side, being flat. The two walls (130, 131) meet at the front with a tapered join of pointed shape.

The exterior side (131) of the long branch (13) consists of a principal planar surface (131a) extending over the entire length of the long branch, and a flat securing surface (131b) set back in relation to the plane of the principal surface (131a) and extending to the elbow (12). The two surfaces (131a, b) form a dihedral angle of approximately 30° and an edge (131c).

The securing surface (131b) is a wall endowed with a hollow recess (132) forming a shoulder (133) to interoperate with a pivoting locking latch (14). The latch (14) is borne by the extension of the exterior wall of the elbow (12) beyond the plane of the securing surface.

The details of the securing surface (131b) and the latch (14) will come to the fore more clearly on consultation of Figures 2A, 2B on an enlarged scale.

Figure 2A shows the lock (14) in the open position. MM perpendicular to the securing surface (131b) passing through the articulation (143) of the latch (14) defines the passage point PP of the latch (14) for locking.

The latch (14) is composed of a curved lever (141) connected to the articulation (143), and a locking finger (142) forming an angle αθ in relation to the right-hand part of the lever (141) connected to the articulation (143). The articulation (143) is borne by the return (145) of the extension (121) of the exterior wall of the elbow (12), so as to create a cavity accommodating the edge of the securing strip 22 of the blade (2), and to make it possible to advance the passage point PP towards the edge (131c) of the dihedron of the surfaces (131a, b).

The end of the finger (142) is rounded and the length of the finger is such that, during the pivoting of the lever (141), the end of the finger encounters the securing surface (131b) before the point PP. To pass this point PP, it is necessary to elastically force the finger (142), by closing its angle a so as to arrive at the locking position PV of Figure 2B, in which the finger (142) bears against the securing strip (22) of the blade (2) to beyond the area of the locking tabs (221). In this position PV, the finger (142) is placed under elastic tension, but remains blocked and blocks the lever due to the position of the locking point PV beyond the passage point PP. It can only be unlocked by a deliberate reverse action exerted on the lever (141).

The curved shape of the lever (141) beyond the base of the finger (142) bears against the securing surface (131b) at and beyond the hollow recess (132) at a point or area of contact PC to hold the blade (2). The curved shape of the lever (141), of which the extremity remains in relief in relation to the securing surface (131b) thus makes a holding point for raising the lever (141) and overcoming the torque exerted by the finger (142) to its reverse passage beyond the passage point PP. The relief of the lever (141) in the locked position (Figure 1) remains thoroughly retracted above the main surface (131a) so as to avoid touching the surface being worked with the coating knife.

To sum up, the locking of the blade (2) by its securing strip (22) endowed with locking tabs (221) is performed with the locking lever (141), which has the form of a flap extending over the entire length of the body (1), having been procured by extrusion from the overall form. The locking point PV is actually a line which extends over the entire length of the securing strip (21) of the blade (2), and the same applies to the contact point or area PC extending over the entire length of the securing surface (131b) and the securing strip (22). However, because of the curved shape of the lever (141), this contact is not linear but over a certain surface area. The blade (2) is thus held regularly over its entire length, and it cannot slide on the securing surface in the direction parallel to the Figures, because of the pressure of the tabs (221) against the shoulder (133). The extrusion used for the body (1) is advantageously the co-extrusion of a very strong plastic material, being therefore rigid for the entire body (1) and the latch (14), and a flexible plastic material to form the hinge (143).

The same applies for the recess (132), which is continuous over the entire length (direction perpendicular to the surface in the Figures), such that the locking tabs (221) can arrive at any point of the recess (132).

Advantageously, the geometry of the lever (141) and its finger (142) is such that the locked pressure point PV is located on the part of the securing surface (131b) beyond the recess (132) so that the pressure is firm and complete, in the same manner as the pressure point PC on the other side of the recess (132), such as shown in the locked position in Figure 2B.

Figures 3A-3C show the introduction of the blade (2) into the body (1). Figure 3A shows these two separate parts (1, 2). The blade (2) is preformed in a dihedral shape, with the principal strip (21) and the securing strip (22) being joined according to the edge (23). The lock ing tabs (221) are raised in relation to the plane of the securing strip (22).

As illustrated in Figure 3B, which shows a blade segment (2) in plan view, the tabs (221) are distributed in the longitudinal direction of the blade, namely in the direction perpendicular to the drawing for the other Figures than Figure 3B. These tabs (221) are precut into the blade on three sides, and they preferably have a rectangular shape cut on three sides. The two unrestricted tips of this rectangular shape preferably have rounded comers. The blade (2) is advantageously a flexible blade - for example of a thickness of 0.3 mm - for applications of the coating knife. In the case of a tool of the same type but for other applications - for example to produce a scoring knife - the blade will be made of quench-hardened steel, with a thickness of 0.5 to 0.6 mm.

Thicker plasters may require a blade that is slightly more rigid than stated above, with a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm. Such a steel blade will not be quench-hardened.

Figure 3C shows the blade (2) for positioning against the pressure surface (131a) and the securing surface (131b), with the tab (221) not yet being engaged in the recess (132).

Next, once the blade (2) is pressed against the surfaces (131a, 131b) of the dihedron of the body (1), the lever of the latch (14) is folded so as to arrive at blocking point, such as shown in Figures 2B and 1.

Figure 4 is a schematic view showing an example of the working position of the coating knife (100), applied against a generallyvertical surface.

NOMENCLATURE

100 Coating knife

Hollow tubular body

Short branch / handle

111 Beak

112 Top

113 Return

Elbow

Long branch/blade mounting

130 Interior side

131 Exterior side

131a Principal surface

131b Securing surface

131c Edge

132 Concave recess

132 Shoulder

Latch

141 Lever

142 Finger

143 Articulation

145 Return of elbow

Blade

Principal strip

Securing strip

221 Locking tab

Edge

Casing

Exterior wall

Interior wall

Rib

PP Passage point

PV Locking point

PC Contact point/contact area

Claims

1) Coating knife composed of a body that is generally tubular along its entire length, and having a blade, characterized by the fact that:

A. the tubular body (1) is a hollow profile with a U-shaped crosssection of which the convex and concave parts of the wall (3) are connected by ribs (33), and having:

- one short branch (11) forming the handle connected by the elbow (12) to

- a long limb (13) forming the blade mounting, of which the outer surface incorporates:

* one principal surface (131a), and * one securing surface (131b) inclined rearwards from the principal surface, to form a dihedron;

* the securing surface (131b) having:

* a hollow recess (132) with a shoulder (133), and * an articulated latch (14) connected by an articulation (143) to the tubular body (1) for pressing, in the locked position, the blade (2) against the securing surface (131b) and the recess (132);

B. the blade (2) takes the form of a dihedron with an angle corresponding to that of the dihedral of the surfaces (131a, b) of the blade mounting (13), and having:

- one flat principal band (21) that presses against the principal surface (131a) of the body (1), and

- one flat securing strip (22) endowed with cut-out and relief locking tabs (221) that fit into the recess (132) against the shoulder (133) of the securing surface (131b) of the body (1), with the securing strip (22) being also applied against the securing surface (131b).

2) Coating knife in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that the ribs (33) have a radial orientation between the outer wall (31) and the inner wall (32) of the casing (3) of the U-shaped cross-section of the hollow tubular body (1).

3) Coating knife in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that the short branch (11) terminates at the upstream side (AM) with a beak (111), and continues with a curved top (112) and a right return (113) at the point of connection with the elbowed part (12).

4) Coating knife in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that the lock (14) is composed of a curved lever (141) connected to the articulation (143), and a locking finger (142) to press, in the locked position, the securing strip (22) against the securing surface (131) on either side of the hollow recess (132).

5) Coating knife in accordance with claim 4, characterized by the fact that the articulation (143) connecting the latch (14) to the body (1) is borne by the return (145) of the extension (121) of the exterior wall of the bend (12).

6) Coating knife in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that the tubular body (1) and the latch (14) are produced by co-extrusion of a relatively-rigid plastic material and a connection made of a relativelyflexible plastic material, forming the articulation (143) connecting the latch (14) to the body (1).

7) Coating knife in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that the principal surface (131a) and the securing surface (131b) of the long branch (13) form an angle of about 30° between them.

Intellectual Property Office

Application No: GB1816681.9

Claims searched: 1-7

Examiner: Mr Rhys J. Williams

Date of search: 27 February 2019

Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17

Documents considered to be relevant:

Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance A - US 2012/0110769 Al (LIN) See whole document. A - US 2007/0056133 Al (PYATT) See whole document. A - DE 202017104446U1 (HUANG) See WPI abstract no. 2017-72795V and the figures. A - US 2015/0143650 Al (DAVIDIAN) See whole document. A - FR 2969192 Al (MONDELIN) See WPI abstract no. 2012-G88675 and the figures.

Categories:

X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and/or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention. same category. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.

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