GB2502637A - Tile chisel with hand shield - Google Patents

Abstract

The tile chisel includes an elongate rigid shaft, a handgrip, a hand shield and a blade. The blade is provided with a chamfered leading tip. The tip presents leading and receding sections. The sections may be defined at an oblique angle to the tip and/or to the shaft. Alternatively a blade with the same features may be provided for a tile chisel.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

RUSSELL CRAWLEY

FOR

A TILE CHISEL

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tile chisel, more particularly a bolster, or chisel for stonework, concrete or removing or prising tiling.

Background and Prior Art

Increasing desire to improve property has become symptomatic of developed and developing societies, as space becomes at a premium and moving home or commercial premises is increasingly beyond the reach of many.

Fashions pass such as painted walls, wallpaper, carpets or moquette, wooden flooring or tiles.

However tiles in particular can be problematic to remove as fashion for tiling passes and/or users wish to remove the tiles and either use different tiles or other materials to cover areas.

Tiles or tiling is frequently attached to underlying surfaces with tile adhesive that can be hard to break down, in particular when the tiling has been in place for a length of time and the adhesive has hardened.

When attempting to pry up such tiles the tiles are liable to breakage and executing a process of prying up any chisel or bolster being used will tend to skid or slip off the tile. This can be dangerous andior time consuming. Furthermore as the bolster has a large flat leading or usable blade a user will either need to approach the tile from a direct angle, where the blade provides a large impact transference point and consequently disperses any force applied, or at a corner of the blade, which tends towards encouraging breakage of the tile and leads to more slippage and less precision and ease of use.

In contrast the present invention provides a means of prising up tiling effectively, quickly and with minimal chance of slippage.

Summary 01 the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a tile chisel; including an elongate rigid shaft, a handgrip, hand shield and blade, wherein the blade provides a chamfered leading tip, and said tip presents leading and receding sections.

The chisel is used to pry tiles from a surface, wherein the blade is placed under or at a tile edge with the shaft extending upwards, and the shaft's distal end providing a target for a user to hit with a hammer.

The handgrip in preferred embodiments is located at the distal end of the shaft to the blade and typically constitutes a plastic, rubber, silicone or other elastomer cover over the shaft end, also extending to the shield.

In some embodiments said shaft end, handgrip or shield may be flared or expanded so as to provide a larger area for the user to hammer.

Furthermore in preferred embodiments the handgrip and shield are contiguous in order that there is minimal chance of displacement, dislocation or otherwise removed under hammering.

In some embodiments the handgrip consequently extends over the shaft end in order that in use the user will hammer onto the handgrip. Therefore it is preferable that said handgrip material is durable, robust and capable of withstanding repetitive hammering, to also provide the shield.

In some embodiments the shaft and blade are presented at angles to one another, wherein the blade extends at an obtuse angle from the shaft end. In this way the blade may be more comfortably inserted below a tile to allow hammering to be more comfortably achieved in less accessible locations.

In some further embodiments the angle of the blade in relation to the shaft may be flexible, adjustable or user-defined. For example there may be means by which articulation may be included in a joint between the blade and shaft. In this way the user is enabled to provide maximum effectiveness in hammering.

In addition or the alternative the blade may be turned away from an axis defined by the shaft, in order that the blade may be used to dislodge tiles to one side of a direction of hammering.

In this way the user is enabled to maximise effectiveness of hammering when hammering for example with their right hand and holding the chisel with their left hand, wherein in addition or the alternative the chisel is able to address the tile at a more conducive angle for the user.

In conjunction with this the blade is provided with leading and receding sections that act in use to ensure that the chisel achieves purchase on a tile or structure edge.

The blade thereby includes cut out sections in order that tile, grout or structure is forced into these sections and as a consequence the chisel is much less liable to slip off the edge, or skid along the edge.

This ensures that less effort is wasted and there chances of damage to the user, tiles, or surroundings are minimised.

Furthermore in all embodiments the sections of the blade allow for a smaller contact area when applying sudden pressure through the chisel with a hammer. In this way transfer of force is more precise and focussed and consequently more likely to break down grout or other substance preventing movement of the tile or other dislodgeable piece.

Preferably the chamfer inclines away from one side of the blade, being asymmetric.

Where embodiments have asymmetric blades or angled shaft/blade intersections or joints, the chamfer typically creates a blade that inclines away from the blade bottom in use, in order to allow the blade to be inserted below a tile.

In some embodiments the sections are shaped, formed, angled or inclined such that where in use and under impacts from a right handed user operating a hammer on the distal end, the shape of the sections predisposes the sections to bite into the tile, grout or structure.

In other embodiments the sections may define a single cutout or a waved, sinuous or arcuate tip, as may be best suited for example to individual jobs. In preferred embodiments however there are defined a plurality of cutouts.

There may accordingly be available separately disposed, shaped or configured sections and blades for left-handed users.

Preferred embodiments of the chisel are equipped with a elongate shaft of approximately 50 cm wherein a user is enabled to work standing up.

This shaft is typically formed of a tube or bar of steel, wherein a bar provides additional weight and heft to the chisel but is more costly, and a tube reduces costs and weight.

In some embodiments there may be a silicone/rubber outer coating on the shaft for additional grip giving a cushioning effect to the handle to take up some impact force from a hammer but also gives the user a sturdy handle for levering tiles.

The coating on the handle can reduce the repeated vibrations being sent through the handle from a hammer and make it more comfortable over prolonged periods of use.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to1 falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the chisel; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment; Figures 3 show views from above and below of the embodiment; and Figures 4 show side views of the embodiment.

Detailed Description of Figures

The pictured and preferred embodiment provides a sturdy chisel or bolster for removing tiles fixed with stubborn adhesive.

In the pictured and preferred embodiment the chisel's handle is rigid and made as part of the shaft, wherein the end of the shaft distal from the blade gives a large surface area for use with a hammer.

Silicone rubber surrounds the handle, and the handgrip has a rigid surround to provide a shield of a user's hands against hammer blows.

A solid surround to the end of the chisels shaft should provide a good hand hold for levering the tiles once the chisel tip has got underneath.

The chisel tip is chamfered to drive underneath the wall or floor tiles to prise them off the fixing surface.

The blade includes a profiled and hardened tip to the chisel should be long lasting.

In some embodiments where the handgrip surrounds the shaft there may be a tolerance gap to allow the grip to dissipate some vibration and movement when the chisel is being hit with a hammer.

In use the user places the tip of the chisel at the base of the floor or wall tile, ideally against the grout and using a hammer against the end of the handle shaft, prises the tile away from the floor or wall.

The blade and the shaft of the tool is ideally be forged or produced in one piece wherein the tip of the blade needs to be hardened and tempered.

The handle at the end of the main shaft can be used to leaver the tiles The handle will also acts as protection from a hammer whilst the chisel is being held in place

Claims (5)

1. Claims 1. A tile chisel; including an elongate rigid shaft, a handgrip, hand shield and blade, wherein the blade provides a chamfered leading tip, and said tip presents leading and receding sections.
2. 2. A chisel according to claim 1 wherein the sections are defined at an oblique angle to the tip.
3. 3. A chisel according to claim wherein sections are defined at an oblique angle to the shaft.
4. 4. A blade for a tile chisel according to any preceding claim.
5. 5. A method of forming a tile chisel according to any preceding claim or with reference to the Figures.