US1797484A - Concrete finishing float - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1931. B R $M|TH CONCRETE FINISHING FLOAT Filed Aug. 15, 1929 gmewto'b B. B- 3772 i it Patented Mar. 24, 1931 orator:-

BYRON SMITH, OF HOBART, INDIANA CONCRETE FINISHING FLOAT Application filed August 13, 1829. Serial No. 385,637.

This invention relates to floats for finishingthe surface of concrete or for use under like circumstances and particularly to a float having a relatively large area and to be used for relatively large work.

The general object of the invention is to provide a float of this character which is light, simple in construction, which is rigid and which provides for an improved manner of attaching a handle to the float.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein 1 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a concrete float constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross section thereof.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a board which constitutes the bottom of the float which may have any desired dimensions. Thus for instance, the board may have a width of approximately six inches or more and a length of ten feet or more. It will be understood, however, that the dimensions of this board may be varied witl in very wide limits and that the above dimensions are merely given for illustration.

Attached to the board is a triangular meta-l body 1 designated generally 11 preferably formed of a single sheet of metal bent so as" to form a body which is triangular in cross section. To this end, one margin of the sheet is formed with the vertical flange 12.

The sheet is then bent downward and outward at 13 and then folded upon itself to form a double ply flange 15, then extended alon the face of the board as at 16 and then again folded to form a double ply flange 17 and then extended upward as at 18 and the margin of the metal is bent over the flange 12 as at 19. The two plies of material will be held by a bolt 20. I do not wish to be limited to making this triangular body of one sheet of metal as it may be made of a plurality each other by bolting, soldering or riveting.

Screws spaced relatively short distances apart and designated 21 are disposed at intervals of sheets of metal engaged with.

through the flanges l5 and 17 and extend into the fiat board 10.

Disposed at the middle of the body 11 and projecting laterally therefrom is the triangular portion of sheet metal designated gen- 5 erally '22. This is preferably formed of a sheet of metal bent at its upper edge to provide a portion 23extending parallel to the edge of the'flange 12 and having a flange 241 resting against the folded metal 19 and bolted thereto by the bolt 20. The sides or wings of this member 22 extend. downward and outward in divergent relation as shown in Figure 1 and at the lower edge are provided with a flange 25 through which screws 21 on that side may pass. Thus the bolt 20 and the screws 21 hold this pyramidal body 22 in place against the triangular body 11 and rigid therewith.

It will be seen that the body 22 is approximately pyramidal in form, though not an equi-lateral pyramid. At the apex of the pyramidal body, there is a projecting socket 26 into which awooden handle may be inserted. It will be understood that the triangular body 11 is closed at its ends by metallic end pieces 27 which may be riveted to the side walls of the body 11.

In finishing concrete with a wooden float board, the face of the board that .is in contact with the wet concrete has a tendency to swell and thus the board turns up at the ends or. twists and warps. A. float board in this condition ,is, no'longer useful, as it must be straight and free from warps in order to prevent irregularities in the surface finished. To this end, I fasten the float board 10 to the metal top at close intervals for practically the entire length of the board.

The metal top is hollow because the float, mustnot be too heavy orit will-tend to pull the wet'concrete out of position when drawn over the surface finished. It must be light enough for a: workman to be able to handle with compar'ativeease both during the fin' e5 ishing operation and moving it about the work. The triangular cross section is used in the body 11 because this secures rigidity against bending strainsin all'directions and is" particularly rigid against any twisting movements which it must stand in order to prevent the board from warping or twisting.

The flange at the top is made of three plies in order to prevent any dirt or cement from passing through the crack which would be left if it were not made as shown. This extra ply of metal gives it more strength at the top which is very desirable.

The plates 2'? at the ends of the triangular portion are used to keep out cement and dirt which if allowed to enter would increase the weight. The end plates also add to the rigidity at the end, thereby allowing the tapering of the ends of the metal top. This reduces the weight, eliminates an undesirable sharp. corner and increases the efliciency and safety of the float.

The hollow pyramidal member 22 is used because it distributes the stresses over a longer portion of the float and holds the handle rigid relative to the float. The pyramidal member may vary considerably in dimensions, but the center line of the handle would be well above the center of gravity of the float body and placed at an angle a little above horizontal as this facilitates the operation of the float.

The advantage of this type of float over the ordinary type is that it can be used two v or three construction seasons with no care except the changing of float boards when they are worn out, while an ordinary float does well to stay in useful shape a week and more often they have to be trued several times a day unless they are constructed very heavy. v

I claim 1. A concrete float comprising a float board, a hollow body of sheet metal attached to said board and triangular in cross section, and .a pyramidal member of sheet metal attached to tne body adjacent its middle and projecting laterally therefrom and having a handle socket at its outer end.

2. A concrete float comprising a float board, an elongated sheet metal body having basal flanges resting against the float board and having a flange extending along the upper corner of the body, attaching devices passing through said basal flanges, a substantially pyramidal sheet metal member having flanges engaging against one of the basal flanges and against the upper flange of the body by said attaching devices, the outer end of the pyramidal portion having a handle socket.

3. A. float for concrete comprising a float board, a hollow body of thin sheet metal attached at intervals to the margin of the board around the whole extent-of the margin and extending upward from the float board, and a handle socket supported from said body approximately at its middle and extending outward from one side of the body.

4. A concrete float comprising a float board, a hollow body of sheet metal triangular in cross section, the body having the same form in plan as the plan of the board and being attached to the board at short intervals around its entire perimeter, and a handle socket operatively supported upon said body adjacent its middle and extending laterally from said body.

A concrete float comprising a float signature.

BYRON B. SMITH.

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