US-12624560-B2 - Concrete screeding depth and leveling tool

US12624560B2US 12624560 B2US12624560 B2US 12624560B2US-12624560-B2

Abstract

A concrete screeding tool includes an elongated stake, a disk, and a bar. The stake has a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end. The disk extends radially from the outer surface. The bar is spaced from the outer surface and is parallel to the longitudinal axis. Slurry depth is measured by vertically positioning the concrete screeding tool spaced from an outer frame; pouring a slurry into the frame; placing a screeding board between the bar and the elongated stake and on the outer frame; and leveling the slurry with a sawing motion. The tool is small and durable, is easy to set up and clean, prevents dips in concrete, makes bull floating concrete easier, and can save man hours in screeding the concrete level.

Inventors

Richard Ray Wanke
Todd Melby

Assignees

Richard Ray Wanke
Todd Melby

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20211201

Claims (3)

1 . A measuring and supporting tool for use with concrete slurry, comprising: an elongated stake having an upper stake portion and a lower stake portion, the upper stake portion including a plurality of pre-measured line guide notches; a disk extending radially from the lower stake portion, configured to rest at ground level when the tool is pounded into the ground; and a guide bracket extending from a margin of the disk, the guide bracket being parallel to the upper stake portion, forming a slot between the upper stake portion and the guide bracket configured to support a board; wherein the upper stake portion is formed with a circumferential notch at a junction between the upper stake portion and the disk, the circumferential notch defining a weakened break point; and wherein the elongated stake, the disk, and the guide bracket are formed as a single unitary piece.
2 . The measuring and supporting tool of claim 1 , wherein the guide bracket further comprises a reinforcing fin formed longitudinally along a surface thereof.
3 . The measuring and supporting tool of claim 1 , wherein the upper stake portion comprises bores formed therethrough orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/199,009, filed Dec. 1, 2020, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to concrete screeding and, more particularly, to a depth and leveling tool therefor. To prevent dips in concrete, a screed device must be used to level the concrete. Commercially available screed devices either do not secure or hold the screed board at an accurate depth or they are disruptive and time consuming to remove and/or cleanup and transport. As can be seen, there is a need for a device that consistently provides an accurate screeding depth and is easy to remove and/or clean and transport. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a relatively small and durable tool that prevents dips in concrete and can save man hours in screeding the concrete level. The tool may be used in conjunction with current screeding methods. The inventive tool also makes bull floating concrete easier. The inventive device provides a fixed depth point in the middle of or in hard to get at places in a concrete pour. It is easy to set up, particularly in tight spots or hard to get at corners. The device holds one end of the screed board and is spinnable. It is also easily removed during the pour. It is easy to clean after the job is done and can, in some cases, eliminates the need for one crew member during the screeding process. In one aspect of the present invention, a concrete screeding tool is provided, comprising an elongated stake having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end; a disk extending radially from the outer surface; and a bar spaced from the outer surface and parallel to the longitudinal axis. In another aspect of the present invention, a method of measuring a slurry depth, is provided, comprising: positioning the concrete screeding tool vertically such that it is spaced a predetermined distance from an outer frame; pouring a slurry into the outer frame; placing a screeding board between the bar and the elongated stake and on the outer frame; and leveling the slurry with a sawing motion. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a screeding tool according to an embodiment of the present invention, shown in use; FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view thereof; FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is another sectional view thereof, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a screeding tool according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a side elevational view thereof; and FIG. 7 is a side elevation view thereof, showing a step of separation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. Broadly, one embodiment of the present invention is a tool comprising a stake with a disk and an L-shaped bar. In some embodiments, the inventive tool may be a single, unitary piece. In some embodiments, the stake may comprise two pieces: an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion may form a sleeve over the lower portion and may rest on a groove. The lower portion of the device may be left in the pour and the upper portion may be removed. In some embodiments, the lower portion of the device includes the disk or round base and the upper portion of the device includes the L-shaped bar or bracket. The lower portion may be detachable from the upper portion for easier removal. In some embodiments, the upper portion of the device includes the L-shaped bar and the disk. In some embodiments, the lower portion of the spike has a pointed end to improve ground penetration. The tool may be used to measure the depth of any slurry which will harden into a solid. For example, the inventive device may be used as a stationary point in the middle of a concrete or flooring emulsion pour to provide an accurate depth measurement. The device may be positioned where the concrete will be poured, at a suitable distance from an outer frame. For example, an end of a screed board preferably reaches the device with enough slack to allow a sawing motion when leveling. The device may be pounded into the ground to a depth where the disk is at ground level. The device may then support one end of the screed. The materials and methods of manufacture are not particularly limited. The components may comprise, for example, steel, alu