EP3963146B1

EP3963146B1 - A multi contact face device for applying a fluid coating material to a building surface

Info

Publication number: EP3963146B1
Application number: EP20722313.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hans KLOSTER
Original assignee: Faster Plaster Aps
Current assignee: Faster Plaster Aps
Priority date: 2019-05-01
Filing date: 2020-04-28
Publication date: 2023-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-28
Also published as: ES2947867T3; EP3963146A1; WO2020221738A1

Description

The present invention relates generally to a device for applying a fluid coating material onto a building surface, such as to a building wall, by moving the device across the surface in contact therewith as the fluid coating material is being continuously supplied to the device.
Such devices of the invention generally comprise a mouthpiece having a front end for discharge of the fluid material onto the building surface and a rear end defining an inlet for the fluid material into the mouthpiece, and a body including a handle for hand holding the device. The handle extends from the rear end of the mouthpiece and includes a conduit for supplying the fluid material to the inlet, the mouthpiece being connected to the body to establish a fluid tight connection between the inlet and the conduit. The mouthpiece defines a contact face for contact of the device with the surface.
Devices of this type are disclosed broadly in WO 2018/058170 A1 , US2011/0297327 , US5882691
US2666323 , US1828738 and CN201007081Y .
The object of the present invention is inter alia to provide an improved device of the aforementioned type. Some embodiments of the present invention allow for the device to be supported against the building surface in a highly stable manner by providing several contact faces. Other embodiments allow for the application using the device of coating material layers of selected thickness while further embodiments also or alternatively allow for the application of individual parallel lanes of the coating material on the building surface wherein the transition between adjacent lanes is smoothened to thereby largely avoid clear demarcations between the parallel lanes.
According to claim 1, the aforementioned body further includes a base extending in a first direction away from the rear end of the mouthpiece and along at least a part of the handle, the base defining a second contact face for contact between the device with the surface, the first and second contact faces extending in a common plane for simultaneous contact with the surface when applying the coating material.
In one embodiment the first and second contact faces are spaced apart to define between them a recess that may receive minor spot-like projections on the surface, such as small stones, to reduce any tendency of the mouthpiece to rock which may give rise to the application of material coating layers with an uneven thickness or irregular surface appearance.
In a further embodiment the device may be coupled to a supply pump via two U-shaped sections of a material delivery conduit, to allow for a high flexibility and ease of movement of the device when applying the material.
In yet another embodiment the mouthpiece may have an adjacent lane material layer smoothening flange portion extending along one or both side walls of the mouthpiece.
Further advantages and effects resulting from the use of the device of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of embodiments of the device.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view of a building wall, illustrating at the same time a top view of a first embodiment of a device of the invention,
Fig. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the device of fig. 1,
Fig. 3a is a perspective view of a similar, second embodiment of the device, with a recess portion formed in a base of the device, and showing a first type mouthpiece before it is connected with a separate body to form the device of the invention,
Fig. 3b show front views of three different embodiments of the first type of mouthpiece ,
Fig. 4a is a side view of the second embodiment of the device with the first type mouthpiece, in use thereof,
Fig. 4b is a top view of the second embodiment of the device, with the first type mouthpiece, being moved essentially linearly in direction T in use thereof.
Fig. 4c is a partial perspective view of a second type mouthpiece, seen from the rear end, before it is connected with a separate body to form a device of the invention,
Fig. 4d is a bottom view of the second type mouthpiece of fig. 4c,
Fig. 4e is a side view of the mouthpiece of fig. 4c,
Fig. 5 is a view similar to fig. 4b, showing a third embodiment of the device, without any recess portion,
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the use illustrated in fig. 4b, and
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the device for apply-ing a fluid coating material to a building surface and having a first type mouthpiece configured in accordance with the principles shown in fig. 3b.

Detailed description

The invention will now be explained in more detail below by reference to embodiments thereof.
Fig. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of the device 10 of the present invention, in operation where neighbouring parallel rows or "lanes" C1, C2 of a coating material C are applied onto a vertical brick wall surface 1 by a per-son (not shown) holding with his hand around a handle 22 of the device 10 and moving the device 10 horizontally in direction T, in sliding contact with the surface 1 of the brick wall. The direction T may alternatively be up/down, such as vertical.
As shown in fig. 2 the device 10 of the invention generally comprises a mouth-piece 40 having a front end 45 for discharge of the coating material C in fluid form, and an opposite rear end 65 that defines an inlet 70 for the coating material C in fluid form into the mouthpiece 40, as well as a body 20 including the handle 22, which handle 22 extends away from the rear end 65 of the mouth-piece 40 and includes an internal conduit for supplying the fluid material to the inlet 70. The conduit preferably has the shown outwardly fanning part defined at the end of the handle 22 proximal to the mouth-piece 40.
The mouthpiece 40 is preferably connectable to the body 20, such as to the aforementioned outwardly fanning part, by releasable connecting elements establishing at the end of the internal conduit a fluid tight connection be-tween the inlet 70 and the conduit 100 and being designated broadly reference numeral 12. The connecting elements 12 may be arranged on the aforementioned outwardly fanning part, and may include, as in the shown first embodiment, respective cylindrical structures, of which one or both may be threaded, receiving bolts or screws connecting the mouthpiece 40 with the body 20 by engaging the cylindrical structures as well as corresponding structures 502 on a rim 500 of the mouthpiece 40, see fig. 2. Any other type of connecting elements 12, such as releasable complementary engagement structures arranged on or integral with the mouthpiece 40 and the body 20, may alternatively be used, the connecting elements 12 allowing removal of the mouthpiece 40 from the body 20 without destroying the body 20, such as when the mouth-piece 40 is worn down due to its sliding contact with the building surface, or when it is desired to replace the mouthpiece 40 with an-other one providing a different thickness of the coating material applied to the surface 1. As may be understood, the body 20 may preferably be for long-time use in combination with different mouthpieces 40.
Fig. 3a shows clearly the aforementioned outwardly fanning part of the internal conduit 100, comprising in the shown embodiment and at the end thereof a peripheral wall for contacting the mouthpiece 40, which peripheral wall may include separate sealing means (not shown), such as an elastomeric sealing ring, and which may as shown carry or include the connecting elements 12.
As seen best in the side view of fig. 2 the mouthpiece 40 has a contact face 14 configured for contacting the building surface 1 in use of the device 10, and the body 20 further includes a base 24 extending in the shown direction D away from the rear end 65 of the mouthpiece 40 and along at least a part of the handle 22. The base 24 has a further, second contact face 16 of the device for contact of the device 10 with the surface 1, the one and further, second contact faces 14, 16 extending in the shown common plane P, see fig. 2. As will be understood, in use of the device 10 the one and further contact faces 14, 16 simultaneously contact the building surface 1, see fig. 2, to reliably support the device 10 against the surface 1. The contact faces 14, 16 may be relatively smooth and/or even/flat, to allow the device 10 to slide against the sur-face 1 with a relatively low friction.
As seen in fig. 2, and also in figs. 3a and 4a that show an alternative embodiment, the one and further contact faces 14, 16 are arranged spaced apart in the aforementioned direction D to define between them a portion R of the device 10 that is not in contact with building surface 1 in use of the device 10 when the one and further contact faces 14, 16 contact the building sur-face 1, the second face 16 being at an end 25 of the base 24 remote from the mouth-piece 40. As shown in figs. 3a and 4a the portion R may be constituted by a recess formed in the base 24 and being delimited by a third base 24 face 16' also extending in the shown common plane P.
Providing such a non-contact portion R, preferably extending across the entire width (perpendicular to direction D) of the base 24 as shown in fig. 3a and 4a, is of particular benefit when applying coating material to irregular surfaces 1 having spot-like projections, as illustrated by numeral 200 in fig. 4a, such as small particles or stones 200, which projections 200 become received in the portion R until reached by the second contact face 16 as the device 10 is moved across the building surface 1 in direction T. Fig. 5 shows how the device would move with a rocking motion absent such a non-contact portion R upon reaching such a projection 200, giving rise to a relatively uneven thickness of the coating material C of lane C2, as illustrated schematically in this figure.
As seen in the drawings it may be preferred that the handle 22 extends from the rear end 65 away from the base 24 with an axis 100' of the conduit 100 of the handle 22 extending at an angle to the plane P, preferably an angle of between 20° and 60° to the plane P. The handle 22 may be molded integrally with the base 24 from a plastic material, or may otherwise be connected to the base 24 to conveniently form a unitary structure.
As shown, the handle 22 may be releasably connected to a delivery conduit for supplying the fluid material from a fluid material supply via a pump. Specifically, the delivery conduit may comprise a hose H only partially shown in fig. 1 and a delivery conduit portion DCP including two U-shaped sections 151, 158 similar to those disclosed in WO2017/182513 connected by a swivel joint 180 configured for mutual rotation of the two sections 151, 158 about an axis A2, one 151 of the two U-shaped sections being connected by a coupling 150 to the handle 22 for rotation relative to the handle 22 about an axis A3 and the other one 158 of the two U-shaped sections being connected to the hose H for rotation relative to the hose H about an axis A1 along the length of the hose H. This allows for easy operation of the device 10.
As seen perhaps best in figs. 3a and 3b the mouthpiece 40 includes in the shown embodiments and at the front end 45 two opposite side walls 51, 52, a top wall 54 and preferably also an opposite bottom wall 56. The two side walls 51, 52 diverge away from one another in the direction away from the rear end 65.
The top wall 54 has an angled front part 55 extending or projecting beyond an end E of the side walls 51, 52 in a direction away from the rear end 65, the front part 55 of the top wall 54 defining a first face F1 for defining together with the building surface 1 a gap G1; the height W1 of this gap G1 defines the thickness of the layer C1 of the material applied onto the surface 1 in use of the device 10.
Fig. 3b illustrates alternative mouthpieces 40 where the two side walls 51, 52 diverge less away from one another in the direction away from the rear end 65, a smaller angle of divergence allowing for application of a more narrow coating layer lane C1, C2 which may be thicker if the same material supply pressure is used, compared to the embodiment of the mouthpiece 40 shown to the left of fig. 3b where the angle of divergence is relatively large. For structural strength there may be a central wall M inside the mouthpiece 40, connecting the top wall 54 with the bottom wall 56 and splitting the material flow.
Fig. 4b shows by letter B discrete coating material crests that are formed as the device is moved across the building surface 1. These crests B, of a height greater than the aforementioned height W1, are due to part of the coating material exiting the mouthpiece 40 sideways in an uncontrolled manner at the side of the mouthpiece 40 where no previously applied adjacent lane C1 is there to constrain the material.
As shown in i.a. fig. 4b a respective flange 60 connected to or integral with the front part 55 of the top wall 54 has a flange portion 61 extending along the outside of a respective one of side walls 51, 52. This flange portion 61 defines an inclined second face F2 (see fig. 3b) which together with the building surface 1 defines a respective further gap G2 open towards the rear end 65 of the mouthpiece 40. Through the inclination of the second face F2 the further gap G2 on each side of the mouthpiece 40 has a height W2 that is relatively larger closer to the rear end 65 of the mouthpiece 40, with the height W2 of the further gap G2 at the front part 55 being at least the same as the height W1 of the first gap G1.
The second, inclined face F2, when contacting the coating material crests B along the edge K of a lane C1 previously applied to the surface 1, will smoothen the transition between two coating material lanes C1, C2 applied next to each other on the building surface 1 as the device 10 is moved along direction T, by the aforementioned crest material B being "funnelled" side-ways and downwards towards the surface 1 through the combined action of the second, inclined face F2 and the outside of the adjacent wall 51, 52, which outside is at an angle to the direction of movement T as a result of the side walls 51, 52 diverging form one another. This reduces formation of demarcations between the parallel lanes C1, C2, represented schematically by letter W in fig. 4b. The gap G1, G2 heights W1, W2 referred to above may be understood as the distance between the plane P and the respective gap faces F1, F2, see fig. 2.
Fig. 4c shows a second type mouthpiece providing an even better smoothening out of the transition between adjacent coating material lanes C1, C2, by to an even larger degree eliminating the surface pattern W shown schematically in fig. 4b. For this, at least one of the flange portions 61 includes a depending surface 300 extending along the outside of, and opposite to, at least a portion of the length of the adjacent side wall 51, 52, but never below the level of the first face F1 so as to prevent the surface 300 from digging into the depth of the material of the lane C1 already applied. This surface 300 defines together with the surface of the adjacent side wall 51, 52 a channel CH (see fig. 4d) tapering towards the front end 45 of the mouth-piece 40 where there is a transition (at the shown line L) between the first face F1, defined by the angled front part 55, and the second face F2 and where the further gap G2 then has a height W2 that corresponds to the height W1 of the first gap G1. The height W2 of the further gap G2 at the first face F1 is less than the height of the further gap G2 close to the rear end 65 due to the second face F2 being inclined. This channel CH, by the combined action of the inclined face F2 and the tapering channel CH, very effectively funnels the material forming the crests B as this material enters the channel at the rear end 65 when the device 10 provided with this second type mouthpiece is moved in direction T, as shown in figs. 1 and 4b. Note that, as perhaps seen best in fig. 4c, the surface 300 (and possibly even also the opposed surface of the wall 52) may be inclined at some angle different from 90 degrees relative to the second face F2 to provide an additional force, oriented towards the building surface 1, on the crest B material passing in the further gap G2.
The second face F2 may be a planar, inclined face as shown schematically by the broken line in fig. 4e, or be slightly curved.
The mouthpiece 40 may be an integrally molded plastic material structure, and the body 20 or alternatively the delivery conduit H, DCP may include a control device 21 configured for wireless activation of the pump (not shown) supplying the coating material.
In a fourth embodiment of the device 10 shown in fig. 7 no base as de-scribed above is provided, and the body 20, defined in this case by of the handle 22 only, may be integrally formed or separate from the mouthpiece 40, with only the mouthpiece 40 having a contact face 14 for contacting the surface 1. For this fourth embodiment the mouthpiece 40, with or without any connecting elements for connection with the handle 22, is configured as broadly discussed above with reference to fig. 3b, with a respective flange 60 being connected to or integral with the part 55 of the top wall 54, the flanges 60 having a portion 61 extending alongside a respective one of the two side walls 51, 52 and defining together with the building surface 1 the respective further gaps G2 open towards the rear end 65, which further gaps G2 preferably each has a relatively larger height W2 (compared to the height W1 of the gap G1 at the front 50) nearer to the rear end 65, the portion 61 being for contacting a layer C1 of the material already applied to the building surface 1, as shown in fig. 6.
Although not shown, the base 24 shown in any of figs. 1-6 may be provided as a separate item attachable to the handle 22 for providing the second con-tact face 16.
Such a separate base 24 may also be provided for attachment to the handle 22 of the fourth embodiment of the device 10 shown in fig. 7, or any other handle forming part of that device 10.

Claims

A device (10) for applying a layer (C1, C2) of a fluid coating material to a building surface (1), such as to a building wall (1), by moving the device (10) in contact with the surface (1), said device (10) comprising:
a mouthpiece (40) having a front end (45) for discharge of said fluid material and a rear end (65) with an inlet (70) for said fluid material into said mouthpiece (40),

a body (20) including a handle (22) for hand holding the device (10),
- said handle (22) extending from said rear end (65) and including a conduit (100) for supplying said fluid material to said inlet (70),

said mouthpiece (40) being connectable to said body (20) by releasable connecting elements (12),
- said connection establishing a fluid tight connection between said inlet (70) and said conduit (100),

said mouthpiece (40) defining a first contact face (14) for said contact of said device (10) with said surface (1),

characterised in

said body (20) further including a base (24) extending in a first direction (D) away from said rear end (65) and along at least a part of said handle (22),
- said base (24) defining a second contact face (16) for said contact of said device (10) with said surface (1),

said first and second contact faces (14, 16) extending in a common plane (P).
The device of claim 1, said first and second contact faces (14, 16) being spaced apart in said first direction (D) to define between them a device (10) portion (R) configured for not being in contact with said surface (1) when said first and second contact faces (14, 16) contact said surface (1), said second contact face (16) being at an end (25) of said base (24) remote from said mouthpiece (40).
The device (10) of claim 2, said device (10) portion (R) being a recess (R) formed in said base (24).
The device according to any of the previous claims, said handle (22) extending from said rear end (65) away from said base (24) with an axis (100') of said conduit (100) of said handle (22) extending at an angle to said plane (P), preferably an angle of between 20° and 60° to said plane (P).
The device (10) according to any of the previous claims, said handle (22) being releasably connected to a delivery conduit for supplying said fluid material from a fluid material supply via a pump.
The device (10) according to the previous claim, said delivery conduit comprising a hose (H) and a delivery conduit portion (DCP) including two U-shaped sections (151, 158) connected by a swivel joint (180) configured for mutual rotation of said two sections (151, 158) about an axis (A2), one (151) of said two U-shaped sections being connected at a coupling (150) to said handle (22) for rotation relative to said handle (22) about an axis (A3) and the other (158) of said two U-shaped sections being connected to said hose (H) for rotation relative to said hose (H) about an axis (A1).
The device (10) according to any of the previous claims, said mouth-piece (40) including two opposite side walls (51, 52), said material flowing between opposite insides of said two opposite side walls from said inlet (70) to said front end, a top wall (54) having at said front end (45) a first face (F1) for defining together with said building surface (1) a first gap (G1) defining the thickness of said lane (C1, C2) of said material applied onto said building surface (1) by said device (10),.
The device (10) according to the previous claim,
a flange portion (61) extending along the outside of an adjacent one of said two side walls (51, 52), said flange portion (61) having a second face (F2) for defining together with said building surface (1) a respective further gap (G2) having a height (W2) that increases from the level of said first face (F1) towards said rear end (65),
- said flange portion (61) being for contacting a surface part of an adjacent lane (C1) of said material previously applied to said building surface (1),

- an edge of each of said two side walls (51, 52) defining a respective portion of said contact face (14),

- said two side walls (51, 52) diverging away from one another in a direction away from said rear end (65).
The device (10) according to any of the previous claims, said mouth-piece (40) being an integrally molded plastic material structure.
The device (10) according to any of the previous claims when dependent on claim 6, said body (20) or said delivery conduit (H, DCP) including a control device (21) configured for wireless activation of said pump.