Finishing tools for wallboard surfaces
United States Patent 1 Perna [451 Apr. 22, 1975 I FINISHING TOOLS FOR WALLBOARD SURFACES Anthony Perna, 118-01 101st Ave., Richmond Hill, NY. 11419 [22] Filed: Apr. 10, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 459,531  
 [76] Inventor:  
 [52] US. Cl. 15/235.7; l5/235.3; 15/245 [51] Int. Cl E04f 21/06 [58] Field of Search 15/235.7, 245, 105.5, 104.5,  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,934,936 5/1960 Vernon I5/235.7 3.069.713 12/1962 Obraske 15/I04.5  
 Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-Robert Pous Attorney, Agent, or FirmAlexander Mencher [57] ABSTRACT Tools to finish the taping applied over joints of panels of wallboard surfaces of gypsum and the like which are adapted to conform to irregularities in the wallboard construction due to poor recessing of adjacent panel edges, corners formed by adjacent panel edges, and other irregularities due to poor workmanship and other causes.  
 Tool construction comprises in combination a blade of elastomeric material having a yieldable and abrasive-resistant lining, said blade being cushioned against and overlapping an upper rigid plate, preferably of steel, the tool having a handle integrated with the plate to apply and receive impact of pressure when the overlapping portion of the blade is operatively used against the wall surface at the taped areas. Moreover, both plate and overlapped portion of the blade have substantially parallel edges for smoothing of the applied tape across the joint between the panel members of the wallboard surface. Said parallel edges may also have parallel recesses at selected areas to accommodate for ridges at the tape edges for the smoothing of the plaster or cement thereabout in order to effectuate coextensive surfacing with the panel facings with a minimum of strokes.  
 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FINISHING TOOLS FOR WALLBOARD SURFACES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to tools for finishing the taping applied over joints of panels of wallboard surfaces of gypsum and the like whereby the tape applied and freshly secured in corners may be smoothed out over any irregularities present and whereby in finishing operations as with cement or plaster a continuous smooth surface results between the tape area and the adjacent portions of the panels.  
  A primary object of the invention is to provide tools of the above character involving the combination of an elastomeric blade having a protective lining and a rigid supporting back and handle for cushioning of the blade, the latter having a portion protruding from at least one edge for greater operative yieldability to yield to and conform with irregularities in surfaces operated upon.  
  Prior tools including knives and trowels used for the purposes stated have been too rigid to conform to irregularities and have lacked the flexibility and shapeconforming features to perform finishing operations with less effort, greater efficiency and better results.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary objective of the invention to provide a tool structure having the novel combination of an elastomeric blade having a lining on its operative face for protection against abrasion and being cushioned against a rigid back having a handle secured thereto, the blade having a protruding part with the edge or edges thereof parallel with the corresponding edge or edges of the back or plate member. The tool structure is light in weight, durable in use, economical in cost, efficient in function and time-saving in application for finishing of taped joints in wallboard construction.  
  Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as set forth in the appended claims.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
  FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a tool embodying the invention and operative on a taped joint of a wallboard surface, said tool being in the form of a trowel;  
  FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of another embodiment of the invention in the form of a knife;  
  FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a third embodiment of the invention in the form of a double edge corner tool adapted to finish both sides of a taped corner in one stroke;  
  FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 3 across the plane 4-4 thereof;  
  FIG. 5 is a plan view of portion of tool of FIG. 3 as applied to a corner of a wallboard surface, and  
  FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of the tool of FIG. 2 as applied to a taped joint and adjacent areas of a wallboard surface.  
 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the taping tool is in the form of a trowel and is generally indicated by numeral 10. Thus, a rigid and non-flexible plate member 11 is provided and preferably formed of steel. It is of suitable thickness to permit resistance to application pressure and may be about 1/32 inches thick. Laminated against the underside thereof is an elastomeric blade member 12 of rubber or synthetic composition having a protruding portion 12a along one or both of the longitudinal edges of plate 11.  
  Blade member 12 is of suitable thickness as for example from l/16 to A; inches and has laminated to the underside or operative face thereof a flexible and resilient lining 13 adapted to be protective against abrasion of the juxtaposed lower facing of blade 12. Said lining is preferably of flexible and tempered steel and of suitable or required thickness of 5/1,000 inches.  
  Blade member 12 and the lining l3 therefor extends beyond the longitudinal edges of plate 11 as shown in FIG. 1 and indicated by numerals 12a and 13a respectively, the edges of said extensions being parallel with the corresponding longitudinal edges of plate 11. Thus, extensions 12a and 13a are parts of the tool that are cushioned when in use and permit the flexibility needed when applying plaster or cement in the finishing operation over the joint tape to conform to tape surface irregularities and corners for smooth surfacing effects and thereby saving endless srokes required as by use of the rigid type metal tools. To ameliorate such conformation, tool 10 along the longitudinal and parallel edges of plate 11 and of extensions 12a and 13a is provided with parallel and curved recesses ll, 12 and 13 to accommodate for ridges and irregularities in the applied tape conformation 18 as shown in FIG. 1 at the joint between panels 15 and 16 filled in by plaster or cement 17. Such smooth application of cement or plaster over the irregularities or ridges of tape 18 is shown by numeral 19. Of course, tool 10 is shown to have a suitable handle 14 anchored in plate 11.  
  In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the taping tool is in the form of a knife for finishing as by plaster or cement taped corners and is indicated generally by numeral 20. Tool 20 has a rigid plate 21, angular back edges 21a and a handle 24 suitably anchored to and coextensive with said plate. As in the tool embodiment of FIG. 1, plate 21 has laminated to the underside elastomeric blade 22 with face lining 23, elastomeric and lining extensions 22a and 23a, the latterhaving at the edges recess areas 22&#39; and 23&#39; running parallel with plate edge recess 21&#39;. I  
  In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the taping tool generally indicated by numeral 25 is in the form of a double edge corner structure that is capable of finishing both sides of corn&#39;er tape in one&#39; stroke both from the standpoint of initiallysecuring and smoothing the tape against the corner and thereafter applying plaster or cement thereover for finishing purposes of the applied and smoothed out corner tape. As an alternative, the knife of embodiment shown in FIG. 2 may be used for finishing as by plaster or cement each side of the corner tape applied or smoothed by the tool of FIGS. 3 and 4. Before describing the corner tool in detail hereafter, it is understood that the tools are made in various sizes from 4 inches to 12 inches depending on requirements. Moreover, the face linings of all the embodiments herein as mentioned being formed preferably of flexible and resilient tempered steel afford the smooth operation of the operative protruding portions against the taped joints with a minimum of pressure and with a minimum of friction.  
  Tool 25 as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with a rigid plate 26, an elastomeric blade 27, a flexible and resilient steel blade lining 28 and an extension of the blade and lining, such extension, however, being in the form of an angular corner with elastomeric legs 27a and 27b and blade lining portions 286 and 28d. Plate 26 at the front end has angular edges 26c and 26d as seen in FIG. 3, the plate being substantially diamond-shaped. The elastomeric extensions or legs 27a and 27b and lining extensions therefor 28: and 28d respectively protrude from and have outer edges which are parallel with plate edges 26c and 26d respectively.  
  A handle generally indicated by numeral 29 is suitably provided for corner tool 25. As shown, a plate extension 26e is formed at substantially the intersection of plate member rear edges 26a and 26b and has suitable gripping faces secured thereto as by rivets 30a.  
  Tool 25, although not shown, may be recessed at selective areas at the operative double edges or single edge of the extensions thereof for any required purpose or for the purposes set forth in connection with the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2.  
  FIG. shows use of the corner tool 25 in operation against the corner of panel members 31 and 32 at an adhered tape portion 33 thereacross, the shapeconforming protruding portions being shown in yielded positions. FIG. 6 shows the application of the knife type of tool 20 of FIG. 2 with the recessed areas 22&#39;-23&#39; overlying and being pressed upon the taped area of a joint in wallboard surface 34 and showing cement, plaster or other suitable compound 24a applied thereover.  
  The tools shown as has been stated are adapted particularly to tape finishing operations after the roughing procedure. This roughing procedure consists of first applying the cement into the wallboard seams and adjacent areas and while the cement is wet pressing the tape into the cemented seam and flat against the adjacent wallboards. After drying overnight, the applied tape is ready&#39;to be finished by the utilization of the tools described.  
  For finishing purposes there is applied to the affixed .tape and adjacent wallboard areas suitable compounds (or-.cement or plaster if desired) capable of drying and hardening. For a tape 2 /2 inches wide, such compound is adapted to cover an overall width of about 5 inches to 6inches.  
  Under prior procedures, after applying the compoundor cement or other material, three steps were necessary:  
  (l).one side was first feathered; (2) then opposite side was feathered; (3) then the tape was finally operated upon by going down the center.  
  Under procedure utilizing the tools of the invention herein, above steps (I) and (2) of the prior procedure are simultaneously accomplished by above step (3); namely, by going down the center with the tool. Moreover, the corner tool 25 does in one pass what would have to be done heretofore in many passes.  
  It is to be observed that after the compound is applied to the taped and adjacent surfaces, the tool is applied with the rubber edge facing out. The tools are constructed to flatten and blend edges at the same time. The tool recessed edges if held at the proper angle will flatten portion to be filled and feather out edges. If such result is not obtained, it is merely necessary to change the angle to achieve a one-pass finish.  
  The tools above described are adapted to do more work more easily and better and to allow beginners and part-time tapers to achieve better results without the long training period now needed.  
  I wish it understood that changes in dimensions, material and integration and extension of parts of the structures embodying the invention may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.  
 I claim:  
  I. A tool for finishing of taped joints between panels of wallboard surfaces comprising a top reinforcing plate having a handle secured thereto, a resilient and deformable shape-conforming blade secured to the underside of said plate, said blade having at least one operative extension area protruding from the corresponding edge of said top reinforcing plate, the edge of said extension area being parallel with said plate corresponding edge, a protective lining on the underside of said blade at least at the extension area whereby when said tool is applied to the taped joint under hand pressure for finishing operations, the operative extension area is cushioned against the said top reinforcing plate and yields to and follows any irregularities along said tape.  
  2. A tool for finishing of taped joints as set forth in claim 1 wherein said operative extension area is rightangular and wherein the edge of said area and the corresponding edge of the said blade are right-angular and parallel, whereby when said tool is applied to a taped corner joint under hand pressure for finishing operations, the operative extension area is cushioned against the reinforcing plate and yields to and follows any irregularities along each side of said tape in one operation.  
  3. A tool for finishing of taped joints as set forth in claim 2 wherein the plate is formed of rigid steel, the blade is formed of an elastomeric material and the lining is formed of flexible tempered steel.  
  4. A tool for finishing of taped joints as set forth in claim 3 wherein the plate is substantially l/32 of an inch in thickness, the lining is substantially 5/1,000 of an inch in thickness and the blade is substantially between 1/16 and /s inches in thickness.  
  5. A tool for finishing of taped joints as set forth in claim 1 wherein the corresponding edges of the blade extension area and of the plate include parallel recessed portions to accommodate for ridges and irregularities caused by taping over the joints of the&#39; panels so that in use of the tool for applying cement or plaster a continuous surface is formed between the taping edges and adjacent areas of the panels.  
  6. A tool for finishing of taped joints as set forth in claim 5 wherein the plate is formed of rigid steel, the blade is formed of an elastomeric material and the lining is formed of flexible tempered steel.  
  7. A tool for finishing of taped joints as set forth in claim 6 wherein the plate is substantially l/32 of an inch in thickness, the lining is substantially 5/l,000 of an inch in thickness and the blade is substantially between 1/16 and inches in thickness.