A hand trowel and hand trowel handle for use with the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the hand trowel handle, a handle has an ergonomic shape and the handle is provided with a discrete, selectively adjustable, rotational angle. A locking member may be tightened into a locked, abutted relationship with the handle to reversibly lock the discrete, selectively adjustable, rotational angle. The locking member may be loosened from the locked, abutted relationship with the handle to provide selective adjustment of the discrete, selectively adjustable, rotational angle.

A spreading tool allows width and depth variation of the spreading blade. A plate has first openings and second openings along with a first bottom edge. A blade has slots and is pressed against the plate so that the slots each align with a respective one first opening and a securement bolt is passed therethrough, the blade slid up or down against the plate so that the lower edge of the blade extends a desired distance below the bottom of the plate prior to bolt tightening. An extender has third openings and is pressed against the opposing surface of the plate so that its openings align with the second openings of the plate with securement bolts pass therethrough. A lower edge of the extender aligns with the bottom edge of the plate and extends beyond a side of the plate.

A method for applying a layer of curable material to a surface including the steps of: applying the curable material to the surface; positioning a trowel relative to the surface so that a plurality of first radial teeth of the trowel, extending from a working edge of the trowel, is in contact with the surface; and with the plurality of first radial teeth in contact with the surface, moving the trowel across the surface to spread the curable material across the surface at a constant thickness.

The present invention is a trowel having a blade with a rounded side edge, a straight side edge, and a notched edge between the rounded side edge and the straight side edge. The trowel may include a handle disposed opposite the notched edge and substantially parallel to the straight side edge, aligned with the plane of the blade. The blade may be made of a thin or flexible material, allowing the blade to be slightly deformed during use to create a consistent layer of adhesive. The rounded edge may be of a relatively smaller radius, allowing for a wider, shorter blade. In other embodiments, the rounded edge may be of a relatively bigger radius, allowing for a narrower, taller blade. The notched edge may be square notches, v-notches, u-notches, or other notch shapes according to user preference.

The present invention is a trowel having a blade with a rounded side edge, a straight side edge, and a notched edge between the rounded side edge and the straight side edge. The trowel may include a handle disposed opposite the notched edge and substantially parallel to the straight side edge, aligned with the plane of the blade. The blade may be made of a thin or flexible material, allowing the blade to be slightly deformed during use to create a consistent layer of adhesive. The rounded edge may be of a relatively smaller radius, allowing for a wider, shorter blade. In other embodiments, the rounded edge may be of a relatively bigger radius, allowing for a narrower, taller blade. The notched edge may be square notches, v-notches, u-notches, or other notch shapes according to user preference.

Electronic trowels, systems and methods of applying a layer of material using the present electronic trowels. The various electronic trowels include a handle, at least one blade, and one or more sensors residing on or within the trowel. The trowel is for applying a layer of material over a surface area, whereby the one or more sensors detect and collect material installation data during application of the layer of material over the surface area. One or more electronic devices coupled to the one or more sensors receive and analyze the collected installation data for monitoring and controlling the application of the layer of material to ensure a desired end product is achieved. Application errors may be detected before, during, or after the installation process.

An apparatus for the in-situ formation of a moulding. The apparatus includes a forming head and a forming blade. The forming head has a body having a raw material receiver. The body further has one or more outlets to permit the movement of raw material from the raw material receiver through an outer surface of the body and into an area adjacent to a work surface when the forming head is positioned in proximity to the work surface. The forming blade is secured to the body and imparts a desired profile shape to raw material deposited adjacent to the work surface as the forming head is moved along the work surface.

The present invention is directed generally to tools that are made, at least in part, more durable, particularly one or more working surface(s) of the tools. For example, various tools such as trowels, knives, and scrapers may be made having at least a portion of their blades heat treated to make at least their working edges more durable and extend their useful lives. For example, in various embodiments, a putty knife, taping knife, or scraper blade may have at least one working surface or edge that has been at heat treated while an area of the blade where a handle is permanently attached is not heat treated.

A hand trowel and hand trowel handle for use with the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the hand trowel handle, a handle has an ergonomic shape and the handle is provided with a discrete, selectively adjustable, rotational angle. A locking member may be tightened into a locked, abutted relationship with the handle to reversibly lock the discrete, selectively adjustable, rotational angle. The locking member may be loosened from the locked, abutted relationship with the handle to provide selective adjustment of the discrete, selectively adjustable, rotational angle.

A spreading tool has blade for which the width and depth deployment of the blade are each variable. A pair of plates sandwich the blade between them and allow the blade to slide up and down therebetween in order to vary depth deployment. The blade is formed from two plates that each has a blade edge, the two plates slide with respect to each other, varying the overlap of the two blade edges and thus blade width. Slots on each plate with a connector passing therethrough, hold the blade plates together. Aligned slot pairs on the sandwiching plates receive a connector to hold the blade in its sandwiched position, each connector slides within its slot pair and abuts one of the sides of the blade to hold the blade in its selected width. Additional connectors connect the main plate and press plate without passing through the blade.