Drywall taping tool

Abstract

A taping tool is provided, the taping tool includes a housing, a spool disposed at one end of the housing, and a blade disposed at another end of the housing. The blade has a first end defining a first cutting tool and a second end defining a second cutting tool. The blade is retained by the housing in either a first configuration in which the first cutting tool projects from the housing or in a second configuration in which the second cutting tool projects from the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A taping tool comprising:
 a housing;   a spool disposed at one end of the housing; and   a blade disposed at another end of the housing, the blade having a first end defining a first cutting tool and a second end defining a second cutting tool,
 wherein the blade is retained by the housing in either a first configuration, in which the first cutting tool projects from the housing, or in a second configuration, in which the second cutting tool projects from the housing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The taping tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first cutting tool is a straight blade. 
     
     
         3 . The taping tool of  claim 1 , wherein the second cutting tool is a serrated blade. 
     
     
         4 . The taping tool of  claim 1 , wherein the blade includes a first aperture adjacent the first end and a second aperture adjacent the second end, and the blade is fastened to the housing at either the first aperture or the second aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The taping tool of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second apertures defines an elongated slot. 
     
     
         6 . The taping tool of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second apertures is a threaded aperture for receiving a threaded shaft to fasten the blade to the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The taping tool of  claim 4 , further comprising a fastener for coupling the blade to the housing, the fastener including a knob. 
     
     
         8 . The taping tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first cutting tool is at an angle relative to the second cutting tool. 
     
     
         9 . A taping tool comprising:
 a housing including a bottom outer surface, the bottom outer surface defining a base plane;   a spool disposed at one end of the housing; and   a handle disposed opposite the bottom outer surface and defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis is provided at an angle relative to the base plane.   
     
     
         10 . The taping tool of  claim 9 , wherein the angle between the longitudinal axis of the handle and the base plane is within a range of about 6 degrees to about 14 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The taping tool of  claim 10 , wherein the angle between the longitudinal axis of the handle and the base plane is about 10 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The taping tool of  claim 9 , wherein the handle defines a grip area between the handle and the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The taping tool of  claim 12 , wherein the grip area provides an area for a user's fingers when holding the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The taping tool of  claim 9 , wherein the taping tool defines a center of gravity located between a first end and a second end of the handle in a direction extending between the first end and a second end of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . A taping tool comprising:
 a housing including a bottom outer surface defining a base plane, a top outer surface, a first end and a second end;   a spool disposed at one end of the housing;   a handle disposed at the top outer surface; and   a grip area defining an opening between the handle and the housing,
 wherein the taping tool defines a center of gravity located at a position between the first end of the housing and the second end of the housing, and an axis of the center of gravity is perpendicular to the base plane and passes through the grip area of the handle. 
   
     
     
         16 . The taping tool of  claim 15 , wherein the taping tool includes a second handle. 
     
     
         17 . The taping tool of  claim 16 , wherein an axis of the center of gravity passes between a first end and a second end of the second handle. 
     
     
         18 . The taping tool of  claim 16 , wherein the second handle includes a strap. 
     
     
         19 . The taping tool of  claim 15 , wherein the center of gravity axis extends through a point of the handle between the first end of the handle and the second end of the handle, where the point separates a first segment of the handle from a second segment of the handle and the first segment extends generally away from the base plane, and the second segment extends generally towards the base plane. 
     
     
         20 . The taping tool of  claim 19 , wherein both the first segment and the second segment of the handle are each transverse to the center of gravity axis.