Wheel paver-perimeter taping tool

Abstract

A paver-perimeter taping tool has a frame with a mounting surface and a peripheral edge. A tape-roll support post mounts to the frame and supports a roll of tape. A tape roller mounted to the frame has a rotatable applicator surface that extends beyond the frame's peripheral edge. Tape may extend from the roll of tape to the applicator surface. A wheel mounts to the frame. A handle attaches to the frame and extends to an operator handle end that an operator may grasp to push the tool adjacent a perimeter of pavers. The tool may apply a layer of tape to the paver perimeter, which is adjacent the top surface of the pavers. When particulate is applied to the top surface of the pavers the grout is held in the gaps between adjacent pavers at the perimeter thereof.

1 . A paver-perimeter taping tool comprising:
 (a) a frame having a mounting surface and a peripheral edge;   (b) a tape-roll support post mounted to the frame and configured for supporting a roll of tape;   (c) a tape roller mounted to the frame and extending in a first direction, the tape roller having a rotatable applicator surface that extends beyond the peripheral edge, wherein tape may extend from the roll of tape to the rotatable applicator surface;   (d) at least one ground-engaging device mounted to the frame with a ground-contacting surface of the ground-engaging device extending in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction; and   (e) a handle attaching at a bottom handle end to the frame and extending to an opposed operator handle end, the operator handle end extending at least partially in the first direction from the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The paver-perimeter taping tool in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot post mounted to the frame and extending in the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The paver-perimeter taping tool in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (a) a pivot post mounted to the frame and extending in the first direction; and   (b) a strut extending radially from the pivot post and the tape roller rotatably mounted to the strut.   
     
     
         4 . The paver-perimeter taping tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring disposed to apply a bias to the tape roller and the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The paver-perimeter taping tool in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the bottom handle end is secured adjacent a rear edge of the frame and extends from the frame so an operator may grasp and push the operator handle end. 
     
     
         6 . The paver-perimeter taping tool of  claim 1 , wherein the ground-engaging device comprises at least one wheel mounted to the frame at a position farther from the handle than the tape roller. 
     
     
         7 . The paver-perimeter taping tool of  claim 6 , further comprising a second wheel secured to the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The paver-perimeter taping tool of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one wheel may be replaced by an alternative wheel having a diameter different than a diameter of the at least one wheel. 
     
     
         9 . The paver-perimeter taping tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a tape cutter secured to the frame and configured to cut the tape upon activation of a cutting trigger secured to the handle. 
     
     
         10 . A wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool, the tool comprising:
 (a) a base plate having a forward edge, an opposed rear edge, and opposed side edges extending between the front and rear edges to define a mounting surface extending between the edges;   (b) a tape-roll support post secured to the mounting surface of the base plate and configured for supporting a roll of tape;   (c) a pivot post secured to the mounting surface;   (d) a tape roller pivotally secured to the pivot post and configured so that the pivot post positions a rotating applicator surface of the tape roller beyond at least one of the edges of the base plate, and configured so that tape from the roll of tape extends from the roll of tape and passes over the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller;   (e) at least one wheel rotatably secured to the base plate and configured so that the at least one wheel has a ground-contacting surface extending below the mounting surface of the base plate in a direction opposed to the direction of extension of the tape-roll support post and pivot post; and   (f) a handle having a bottom end and an opposed operator end, the bottom end being secured adjacent the rear edge of the base plate and extending away from the rear edge and mounting surface of the base plate in the direction of extension of the tape-roll support post and pivot post so that an operator may push the operator end of the handle in a direction toward the forward edge of the base plate thereby rotating the at least one wheel and moving the base plate so that the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller contacts, and applies the tape along, a paver-perimeter of a plurality of pavers positioned adjacent each other to define the paver-perimeter.   
     
     
         11 . The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool of  claim 10 , further comprising the at least one wheel being secured to the base plate at a position closer to the forward edge of the base plate than the tape roller, at a position further from the handle than the tape roller, and at a position adjacent the side edge opposed to the side edge beyond which the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller is positioned, and configured so that, as the paver-perimeter taping tool moves in a direction of travel so that the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller contacts and applies the tape along the paver-perimeter of a plurality of pavers, the operator may simultaneously move the handle in a direction toward the paver-perimeter, thereby turning the at least one wheel into a fulcrum of a second class lever wherein the handle receives an application of force and the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller becomes a load positioned between the fulcrum and application of force, so that the application of force by the operator to move the handle in a direction toward the paver-perimeter produces a mechanical advantage upon the force impacting the rotating applicator surface of the tape roller to assist in adhering the tape to the paver-perimeter. 
     
     
         12 . The wheeled paver-perimeter taping-tool of  claim 10 , further comprising a second wheel secured to the base plate at a position so that a ground contacting surface of the second wheel is between the tape roller and the at least one wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool of  claim 10 , further comprising a spring secured to the mounting surface of the base plate and to the tape roller and configured to apply a spring bias force tending to move the tape roller beyond the outer edge of the mounting surface of the base plate. 
     
     
         14 . The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool of  claim 10 , further comprising a tape cutter secured to the base plate and configured to cut the tape upon activation of a cutting trigger secured to the handle. 
     
     
         15 . The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool of  claim 10 , further comprising the tape being biodegradable tape. 
     
     
         16 . The wheeled paver-perimeter taping tool of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one wheel may be replaced by an alternative wheel having a diameter different than a diameter of the at least one wheel to correspond to varying thicknesses of the paver-perimeter.