Combination trowel device

Abstract

A combination trowel may include a handle, a flat-edge blade coupled to the handle, and a notched-edge blade coupled to the handle and located along a first surface of the flat-edge blade. In some embodiments, the notched-edge blade is slideably coupled to the handle such that the notched-edge blade can extend and retract with respect to the handle. A thumb slide coupled to the handle may be configured to facilitate the extension and retraction. The handle may comprise a first portion and a second portion, and the second portion may be configured to extend and retract with respect to the first portion. A first rivet and a second rivet may be used to couple the handle to the flat-edge blade and the notched-edge blade.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination trowel, comprising:
 a handle;   a flat-edge blade coupled to the handle; and   a notched-edge blade slideably coupled to the handle and located along a first surface of the flat-edge blade.   
     
     
         2 . The combination trowel of  claim 1 , further comprising a thumb slide coupled to at least one of the handle and the notched-edge blade, wherein the thumb slide is configured to slideably extend and retract the notched-edge blade with respect to the handle. 
     
     
         3 . The combination trowel of  claim 2 , wherein the notched-edge blade is configured to slideably extend a length of at least 0.2 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The combination trowel of  claim 1 , wherein the flat-edge blade is fixedly coupled to the handle. 
     
     
         5 . The combination trowel of  claim 1 , further comprising a first rivet and a second rivet, wherein the first rivet and the second rivet are configured to extend through the handle to thereby couple the handle to the flat-edge blade and the notched-edge blade. 
     
     
         6 . The combination trowel of  claim 5 , wherein the flat-edge blade comprises a first hole and a second hole, wherein the first hole is configured to receive the first rivet and the second hole is configured to receive the second rivet. 
     
     
         7 . The combination trowel of  claim 6 , wherein the notched-edge blade comprises a first elongate hole and a second elongate hole, wherein the first elongate hole is configured to receive the first rivet and the second elongate hole is configured to receive the second rivet, and wherein the first elongate hole and the second elongate hole are configured to enable the notched-edge blade to slide with respect to the flat-edge blade to thereby enable extension and retraction of the notched-edge blade. 
     
     
         8 . The combination trowel of  claim 1 , wherein the flat-edge blade comprises a tapered thickness such that a proximal portion of the flat-edge blade defines a greater thickness than a distal portion of the flat-edge blade, wherein the proximal portion of the flat-edge blade is located adjacent the handle and the distal portion of the flat-edge blade is located opposite the proximal portion, and wherein the notched-edge blade comprises a tapered thickness, such that a proximal portion of the notched-edge blade defines a greater thickness than a distal portion of the notched-edge blade, wherein the proximal portion of the notched-edge blade is located adjacent the handle and the distal portion of the notched-edge blade is located opposite the proximal portion. 
     
     
         9 . The combination trowel of  claim 8 , wherein the proximal portion of the flat-edge blade defines a thickness of at least 0.04 inches and the distal portion of the flat-edge blade defines a thickness of at least 0.02 inches, and the proximal portion of the notched-edge blade defines a thickness of at least 0.04 inches and the distal portion of the notched-edge blade defines a thickness of at least 0.02 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The combination trowel of  claim 1 , wherein the flat-edge blade comprises a first portion defining a first width of at least 4 inches, the notched-edge blade comprises a first portion defining a first width of at least 4 inches, the handle defines a length of at least 4 inches, and the combination trowel defines a length of at least 9 inches from a proximal portion of the handle to a distal portion of the flat-edge blade. 
     
     
         11 . The combination trowel of  claim 1 , wherein the flat-edge blade comprises a second portion defining a second width less than a width of the handle, and the notched-edge blade comprises a second portion defining a second width less than the width of the handle, wherein the second portion of the flat-edge blade and the second portion of the notched-edge blade are located at least partially inside the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The combination trowel of  claim 1 , wherein the notched-edge blade comprises a row of substantially evenly spaced notches. 
     
     
         13 . The combination trowel of  claim 1 , wherein the notched-edge blade comprises a row of notches located along a distal portion of the notched-edge blade, the row of notches defining at least one of a rectangular-shape and a triangular-shape. 
     
     
         14 . A combination trowel comprising:
 a handle comprising a first portion and a second portion;   a flat-edge blade coupled to the first portion of the handle; and   a notched-edge blade coupled to the second portion of the handle and located along a first surface of the flat-edge blade, wherein the second portion of the handle is configured to slide with respect to the first portion.   
     
     
         15 . The combination trowel of  claim 14 , further comprising a thumb slide coupled to at least one of the second portion of the handle and the notched-edge blade, wherein the thumb slide is configured to slideably extend and retract the second portion of the handle with respect to the first portion of the handle. 
     
     
         16 . The combination trowel of  claim 15 , wherein the second portion of the handle is configured to slideably extend a length of at least 0.2 inches with respect to the first portion of the handle. 
     
     
         17 . The combination trowel of  claim 14 , further comprising a first rivet and a second rivet, wherein the first rivet and the second rivet are configured to extend through the handle to thereby couple the first portion of the handle to the second portion of the handle. 
     
     
         18 . The combination trowel of  claim 17 , wherein one of the first portion and the second portion comprises a first elongate hole and a second elongate hole, wherein the first elongate hole is configured to receive the first rivet and the second elongate hole is configured to receive the second rivet, and wherein the first elongate hole and the second elongate hole are configured to enable the first portion to slide with respect to the second portion. 
     
     
         19 . The combination trowel of  claim 14 , wherein the handle is elongate along a first direction, and the handle defines a thickness along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the handle defines a first thickness and a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. 
     
     
         20 . The combination trowel of  claim 19 , wherein the second thickness is located at a distal end of the handle adjacent the flat-edge blade and the notched-edge blade and the first thickness is located at a proximal end of the handle located opposite the distal end.