Ductwork Tape Application Tool

Abstract

The invention herein disclosed is a foil duct tape applicator tool and method of applying foil duct tape to seam where two duct segments join. The tape applicator tool is comprised of an elongated bar having on one end a head whereby the head has a flexible plate attached to its rear portion such that a slot is formed in between the flexible plate and the elongated bar. The slot is purposed for receiving foil duct tape whereby an adhesive side of the tape faces the flexible plate and once the tape is inserted into the slot, a user presses downward on the flexible tape to engage the tape whereby the tape becomes temporarily adhere to the flexible plate and a user can then extend the tool via the elongated bar into a narrow opening to properly apply the tape to the air duct seam.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A tape applicator tool, comprising:
 an elongated bar;   a head located on one end of the elongated bar;   said head further comprising a flexible plate extending rearward from the head; and   said head further comprising a slot located between the flexible plate and the top surface of the elongated bar for the insertion of a portion of foil duct tape such that the foil duct tape's adhesive surface is facing upwards and is attachable to a bottom surface of the flexible plate.   
     
     
         2 . The tape applicator tool of  claim 1  further comprising a handle located on the opposite end of the elongated bar from the head. 
     
     
         3 . The tape applicator tool of  claim 2  where the handle has a base and whereby said base is semi-pyramidal in shape having a top face, two side faces, a bottom face and a rear face. 
     
     
         4 . The tape applicator tool of  claim 3  wherein the handle base has a central applicator blade and two side applicator blades whereby said central applicator blade and the two side applicator blades are purposed for applying pressure to foil duct tape that has been installed on to a ductwork seam where two portions of ductwork meet at a right angle. 
     
     
         5 . The tape applicator tool of  claim 4  wherein the handle further comprises ridges at the junction of the top face and the two side faces whereby there is an obtuse angle between said ridges and the elongated bar. 
     
     
         6 . The tape applicator tool of  claim 1  wherein the head has an applicator blade angled upward and extending away from the head such that the applicator blade can be used to press foil duct tape firmly onto an air duct surface by sliding the applicator blade along the length of said portion of foil duct tape. 
     
     
         7 . The tape applicator tool of  claim 1  wherein the elongated bar is flexible along its length and can bend. 
     
     
         8 . The tape applicator tool of  claim 1  further comprising a handle attached to said elongated bar on an end of the elongated bar opposite from said head. 
     
     
         9 . A method of sealing two pieces of duct work adjacent to one another using foil duct tape, comprising the steps of:
 providing a tape applicator tool that is comprised of an elongated bar, a head located on one end of the elongated bar, said head further comprising a flexible plate extending rearward from the head, and said head further comprising a slot located between the flexible plate and the top surface of the elongated bar for the insertion of a portion of foil duct tape such that the foil duct tape's adhesive surface is facing upwards and is attachable to a bottom surface of the flexible plate;   unrolling a desired length of foil duct tape suitable to seal the seam of two adjoining pieces of ductwork;   inserting one end a portion of said foil duct tape into the slot located between the elongated bar and the head's flexible plate such that the adhesive side is oriented towards to the flexible plate and placing the tape along the elongated bar and in the elongated bar's footprint;   pressing the flexible plate downwards so that the flexible plate comes into contact with the adhesive side of the foil duct tape such that the tape is temporarily adhered to the flexible plate;   extending the tape applicator tool such that the head is in the vicinity of the end of a seam of two adjoining pieces of ductwork and pressing the exposed adhesive surface of the foil duct tape near the head onto the ductwork seam from one end to the other; and   engaging an applicator blade located on the end of the head against the applied foil duct tape and along the entire length of the section of foil duct tape such that the foil duct tape is uniformly adhered on the seam of said ductwork segments.   
     
     
         10 . A method for sealing two pieces of duct work that are perpendicular to each other using foil duct tape, comprising the steps of:
 providing a tape applicator tool that is comprised of an elongated bar, a head located on one end elongated bar, said head further comprising a flexible plate extending rearward from the head, and said head further comprising a slot located between the flexible plate and the top surface of the elongated bar for the insertion of a portion of foil duct tape such that the foil duct tape's adhesive surface is facing upwards and is attachable to a bottom surface of the flexible plate;   unrolling a desired length of foil duct tape suitable to seal the seam of two adjoining segments of ductwork perpendicular to each other;   inserting half the width of an end of a portion of said foil duct tape into the slot located between the elongated bar and the head's flexible plate such that the adhesive side is oriented towards the flexible plate and placing half of the width of the tape in the elongated bar's footprint;   pressing the flexible plate downwards so that the flexible plate comes into contact with the adhesive side of the foil duct tape such that the tape is temporarily adhered to the flexible plate;   bending the remaining half width of foil duct tape in a position generally perpendicular to that of the elongated bar; and   extending the tape applicator tool such that the head is in the vicinity of the end of a seam of two adjoining pieces of ductwork and pressing the exposed adhesive surface of the foil duct tape near the head onto the ductwork seam from one end to the other whereby half of the width of tape is applied to one segment of ductwork and the remaining half width of tape is applied to the perpendicularly adjoining segment of ductwork.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of providing a handle to said tape applicator tool located on the opposite end of the elongated bar from the head and whereby the handle has a base and whereby said base is semi-pyramidal in shape having a top face, two side faces, a bottom face and a rear face and wherein the handle base has a central applicator blade and two side applicator blades whereby said central applicator blade and the two side applicator blades are purposed for applying pressure to foil duct tape that has been installed on to a ductwork seam where two portions of ductwork are perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of choosing the appropriate side applicator blade along with the central applicator blade and engaging the side applicator blade and central applicator blade with the applied foil tape and slidably engaging the tape at the perpendicular junction of the joined segments of ductwork with the side applicator blade and central applicator blade along the entire length of the section of foil duct tape such that the tape is uniformly adhered on the seam of said ductwork segments.