A plastering hawk and method of plastering utilising the same

Abstract

 A plastering hawk preferably of polypropylene, has an elongate handle (1) and a plate (2) attached to one end of the handle, which plate extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handle. One edge portion (5) of the plate extends away from the handle at an acute angle to the axis of the handle.
In use the acute angled portion of the plate is butted against a work surface and plaster on the hawk is moved across the acutely angled portion (5) into the work surface, thus providing a smooth transition onto the work surface.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a plastering hawk and a method of plastering using the hawk.

[0002] It is commonly known in the plastering art to use a hawk and trowel when plastering. The hawk is a flat rectangular board or plate which is preferably square and has a centrally mounted handle extending from one side of the major surfaces of the plate.

[0003] The hawk is used as a transportable surface on which plaster is stored during a plastering operation. To transfer the plaster from the hawk to the surface being plastered a small proportion of the plaster is scooped with considerable skill and dexterity onto the working surface of the trowel and the trowel isthen pushed against the surface and moved over the surface to spread the plaster. The hawk is generally cumbersome and difficult for the amateur to use.

[0004] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a hawk which is not only smaller and lighter to use, but in which the hawk is modified to facilitate a plastering cperation.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a plastering hawk comprising a handle having a longitudinal axis for manually supporting the hawk, and a plate mounted on the handle and having a working surface for supporting plaster, the plate extending in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handle and having an edge portion towards one edge which extends in a direction oppositely to that of the handle at an acute angle relative to said plane so that during plastering the hawk is placed against a surface to be plastered and plaster is moved across the working surface of the plate and upwardly over the said edge portion onto the surface being plastered.

[0006] In one preferred embodiment, the plate comprises two planar portions with an interconnecting curved portion. In an alternative embodiment the edge portion of the plate is a continuous curve. Conveniently, the plate is formed in one piece and may be of a synthetic plastics material such as polypropylene.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of plastering utilizing a trowel and a hawk having a plate mounted on a handle having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising placing plaster on a working surface of the plate of the hawk, which plate extends in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handle and has an edge portion towards one edge which ' extends in a direction oppositely to the hawk handle at an acute angle relative to said plane, engaging the said one edge with a surface to be plastered, and moving the plaster across the plate with the trowel onto the surface by pressing upwardly over the plate and said one edge of the hawk onto the surface being plastered.

[0008] One embodiment of a hawk according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

The hawk disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing has a handle 1 having a plate 2 mounted on one end 3 of the handle.

[0009] The plate 2 is of a generally rectangular construction having a flat planar portion 4 and an edge portion 5 extending upwardly in the drawing in a direction oppositely to that of the handle in the region of one edge 6. In the particular embodiment disclosed, the edge portion 5 is a continuous curve 7 having a reverse curve portion 8 immediately adjacent edge 6.

[0010] The plate 2 is of a constant thickness and is provided with ribs 9 for strengthening the plate. The ribs 9 extend radially from a bush 10 integral with the plate 2 and in which the handle 1 is inserted for securely mounting the plate on the handle.

[0011] When using the hawk to plaster a wall or other surface, plaster is placed on upper surface 11, that is the working surface, of the hawk and the edge 6 of the hawk is located against the wall to be plastered. A trowel (not shown) is then placed edgewise on the working surface of the hawk and moved towards the wall. The plaster consequently moves across the working surface onto the plate portions 5 and 8. The trowel is maintained in contact with the plate 2 whilst being pressed upwardly over the plate portion 5 and edge 6 and then onto the wall.

[0012] In one alternative embodiment the portions 4 and 5 of the plate are flat planar portions acutely angled one relative to the plane of other and interconnected by a curved portion.

[0013] In a further embodiment the plate portions 4 and 5 are flat planar plates which butt together at an acute angle one relative to the plane of the other.

[0014] These latter two embodiments may be modified to include a reverse curve portion 8 which assists the plastering apparatus. However, the reverse curve portion 8 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is not essential and the portion 5 can be simply continuously curved in one direction.

[0015] Preferably, the hawk is formed by injection moulding and is made of polypropylene although other synthetic plastics materials may be used.

Claims

1. A plastering hawk comprising a handle (1) having a longitudinal axis for maually supporting the hawk, and a plate mounted on the handle and having a working surface (11) for supporting plaster, the plate extending in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handle characterised in that the plate has an edge portion (5) towards one edge (6) which extends in a direction oppositely to that of the handle (1) at an acute angle relative to said plane so that during plastering the on edge (6) of the hawk is placed against a surface to be plastered and plaster is moved across the working surface of the plate and upwardly over the said edge portion (5) onto the surface being plastered.

2. A plastering hawk as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that at least a portion (5) of the plate is curved.

3. A plastering hawk as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the edge portion (5) of the plate (2) is a continuous curve.

4. A plastering hawk as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the plate (2) comprises two planar portions, one defining part of the edge portion (5) interconnected by a curved portion to the remaining planar portion of the plate.

5. A plastering hawk as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plate (2) is formed in one piece.

6. A plastering hawk as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plate (2) comprises a synthetic plastics naterial.

7. A plastering hawk as claimed in Claim 6, characterised in that the synthetics plastics material is polypropylene.

8. A plastering hawk as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the edge portion (5) has along its extreme edge (6) a reverse curved portion.

9. A method of plastering utilising a trowel and a hawk having a plate (2) mounted on a handle (1) having a longitudinal axis, the method conprising placing plaster on a working surface (11) of the plate of the hawk, which plate extends in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handle (1) and is characterised by an edge portion towards one edge (6) which extends in a direction oppositely to the hawk handle at an acute angle relative to said plane, characterised by engaging the said one edge (6) with a surface to be plastered, and moving the plaster across the plate (2) with the trowel onto the surface by pressing upwardly over the plate (2) and said one edge (6) of the hawk onto the surface being plastered.

Drawing