Concrete float

Abstract

A concrete float includes a float body and means for manipulating the float body across concrete to be finished, a finishing surface extending longitudinally, a first substantially square edge along a first portion of the finishing surface, and a ramp and second substantially square edge at a second portion of the finishing surface on a side of the finishing surface opposite the first substantially square edge. A method of finishing a concrete surface includes moving a float body backward with a substantially flat finishing surface across the concrete surface, and moving the float body backward with a ramp surface at a back portion of the float body in contact with the concrete surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A concrete float comprising:
 a float body extending longitudinally having an upper surface and a finishing surface opposite the upper surface;   means on the upper surface for engaging a control element for manipulating the concrete float;   a longitudinally extending first substantially square edge at a first portion of the finishing surface; and   a ramp and second substantially square edge at a second portion of the finishing surface wherein the first and second portions of the finishing surface are on opposite sides of the manipulating means.   
     
     
         2 . The float of  claim 1  wherein the finishing surface is substantially flat between the first and second portions. 
     
     
         3 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 1-2  wherein the first square edge at the first portion of the finishing surface includes a finishing side substantially parallel to the finishing surface and a first perpendicular wall extending substantially perpendicular to the finishing side in a direction opposite the finishing surface. 
     
     
         4 . The float of  claim 3  further including first and second walls angled with respect to each other wherein the first wall contacts and extends away from the first perpendicular wall. 
     
     
         5 . The float of  claim 4  wherein the first and second walls form a convex surface as viewed from the second portion of the finishing surface. 
     
     
         6 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 1-5  wherein the float has a float profile in transverse cross-section that is asymmetric relative to a longitudinally extending plane perpendicularly intersecting a middle portion of the float. 
     
     
         7 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 1-6  wherein the ramp extends arcuately out of a plane of the finishing surface and away from the finishing surface. 
     
     
         8 . The float of  claim 7  wherein the ramp extends from the finishing surface to a substantially flat longitudinally-extending wall on a side of the ramp opposite the finishing surface. 
     
     
         9 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 7-8  wherein the second substantially square edge extends from the ramp in a direction opposite from the finishing surface and wherein the second substantially square edge extends substantially perpendicular to the ramp. 
     
     
         10 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 7-9  wherein the ramp extends arcuately over an arc having a radius of curvature of approximately between 30 and 45 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The float of  claim 10  wherein a radius of curvature is approximately 38 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 1-11  further including first and second walls angled with respect to each other wherein the first wall contacts and extends away from the substantially square edge. 
     
     
         13 . The float of  claim 12  wherein the first and second walls angled with respect to each other form a convex surface as viewed from the first portion of the finishing surface. 
     
     
         14 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 1-13  wherein the float includes a channel and a channel cover covering at least a portion of the channel. 
     
     
         15 . The float of  claim 14  wherein the means on the upper surface for engaging a control element for manipulating the concrete float is positioned in the channel. 
     
     
         16 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 1-15  wherein each end of the float includes a bevel in the float finishing surface. 
     
     
         17 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 1-16  wherein the float includes rail protectors. 
     
     
         18 . A concrete float comprising:
 a float body extending longitudinally between first and second end portions and having an upper surface and a finishing surface opposite the upper surface, and first and second boundary portions each extending at least partly between the first and second end portions and on opposite sides of the finishing surface;   means on the upper surface for engaging a control element for manipulating the concrete float;   wherein the first boundary portion includes a sealing edge; and   wherein the second boundary portion includes an opening surface portion and a cutting edge.   
     
     
         19 . The float of  claim 18  wherein the first boundary portion includes a first surface extending parallel to the finishing surface and a second surface extending substantially perpendicular to the first surface and away from the finishing surface. 
     
     
         20 . The float of  claim 19  further including a wall section extending away from the second surface, extending longitudinally, and having a convex configuration as viewed from the second boundary portion. 
     
     
         21 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 18-20  wherein the opening surface portion on the second boundary portion is formed by a concave surface in transverse cross-section curving from the finishing surface to the cutting edge. 
     
     
         22 . The float of  claim 21  the second boundary portion includes a substantially straight wall in transverse cross-section between the convex surface and the cutting edge. 
     
     
         23 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 21-22  wherein the cutting edge is formed by a substantially 90° angle from the opening surface portion. 
     
     
         24 . The float of  claim 23  wherein the cutting edge includes a longitudinally extending wall extending away from the opening surface portion. 
     
     
         25 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 18-24  wherein an end of the finishing surface is beveled. 
     
     
         26 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 1-25  further including an end cap on each end of the float. 
     
     
         27 . The float of  claim 26  wherein the float includes a finishing surface profile as viewed from an end of the float and the end cap has an end cap profile for a surface adjacent the finishing surface profile and wherein the finishing surface profile and the end cap profile are different. 
     
     
         28 . The float of  claim 27  wherein the float has a substantially flat finishing surface facing at least partly downward when the float is resting on a concrete surface and the end cap has a portion adjacent the substantially flat finishing surface and wherein the profiles of the substantially flat finishing surface and the portion of the end cap adjacent the substantially flat finishing surface are substantially the same. 
     
     
         29 . The float of  claim 28  wherein the profiles of the substantially flat finishing surface and a portion of the end cap adjacent the substantially flat finishing surface are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         30 . The float of  claim 27  wherein an end portion of the float includes a side having a side concrete finishing surface with a side concrete finishing surface profile, and further includes an adjacent end cap surface profile wherein the side concrete finishing surface profile is different from the adjacent end cap surface profile. 
     
     
         31 . The float of  claim 30  wherein the side concrete finishing surface profile and the adjacent end cap surface profile are non-coplanar. 
     
     
         32 . The float of  claim 30  wherein the side concrete finishing surface profile and the adjacent end cap surface profile are spaced apart. 
     
     
         33 . The float of  claim 30  wherein the side concrete finishing surface profile and the adjacent end cap surface profile extend at respective angles relative to each other. 
     
     
         34 . The float of  claim 30  wherein the side concrete finishing surface profile extends in a first direction relative to a surface of concrete when the float is resting on the surface of the concrete, and wherein the adjacent end cap surface profile extends upward and away from the side concrete finishing surface profile. 
     
     
         35 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 18-34  wherein a surface of the end of the float facing longitudinally away from the float is covered by a portion of the end cap. 
     
     
         36 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 18-35  wherein a surface of the end of the float facing longitudinally away from the float is not covered by the end cap. 
     
     
         37 . A concrete finishing float comprising a finishing surface having a finishing surface profile as viewed from a first end of the float and an end cap supported on an end of the float and having an end cap surface adjacent an adjacent portion of the finishing surface and wherein the end cap surface has a profile as viewed from the first end of the float different from the finishing surface profile. 
     
     
         38 . The float of  claim 37  wherein the finishing surface profile includes a straight line portion and the end cap surface profile adjacent the straight line portion is substantially straight line. 
     
     
         39 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 37-38  wherein a portion of the finishing surface profile and a portion of the end cap surface profile are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         40 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 37-39  wherein the finishing surface have a flat portion for resting on a concrete surface and wherein the finishing surface includes at least one end portion adjacent the flat portion, and wherein the end cap has a first end cap surface adjacent the at least one finishing surface end portion wherein the first end cap surface has a first end cap surface profile different from a profile of the at least one end portion of the finishing surface. 
     
     
         41 . The float of  claim 40  wherein the first end cap surface profile is non-coplanar with the profile of the at least one end portion of the finishing surface. 
     
     
         42 . The float of  claim 40  wherein the first end cap surface profile is not flush with the profile of the at least one end portion of the finishing surface. 
     
     
         43 . The float of  claim 40  wherein the first end cap surface profile is spaced apart from the profile of the at least one end portion of the finishing surface. 
     
     
         44 . The float of  claim 40  wherein the first end cap surface profile includes a first line and the profile of the at least one end portion of the finishing surface includes a second line extending at an angle to the first line. 
     
     
         45 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 37-44  wherein the finishing surface profile and the end cap surface profile are viewed from the first end in a direction parallel to a concrete surface on which the float can rest, in a direction normal to an edge of the float forming the finishing surface, wherein a vertical line intersects the direction normal to the edge and a projection of the vertical line defines a first point on the finishing surface profile and a second point on the end cap surface profile, and wherein a first line can define a first tangent line on the finishing surface profile and a second line can define a second tangent line on the end cap surface profile. 
     
     
         46 . The float of  claim 45  wherein the first and second tangent lines are parallel. 
     
     
         47 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 45-46  wherein the first and second tangent lines are parallel. 
     
     
         48 . The float of  claim 45  wherein the first and second tangent lines are not spaced apart and do not intersect. 
     
     
         49 . The float of  claim 45  wherein the first and second tangent lines are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         50 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 45 and 49  wherein the first and second tangent lines intersect each other. 
     
     
         51 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 45-50  wherein the first tangent line extends substantially parallel to a concrete surface on which the float can rest and the second tangent line extends at an angle in the direction of a substantially square edge. 
     
     
         52 . The float of  any of the preceding claims 45-51  wherein the first tangent line extends at an angle to a concrete surface on which the float can rest and the second tangent line extends at an angle to the first tangent line in the direction of a ramp surface. 
     
     
         53 . A concrete float having a first side for supporting means on the first side for engaging a control element for manipulating the concrete float, a channel on the first side, and a second side opposite the first side having a concrete finishing surface, and a cover over at least part of the channel. 
     
     
         54 . A method of using a float for finishing concrete comprising:
 positioning a concrete float extending longitudinally so that the concrete float can be moved transversely of a longitudinal axis of the float in a forward direction and a backward direction, wherein the concrete float includes a finishing surface extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and transversely of the axis, a sealing surface on a forward portion of the float, and a ramp portion on a backward portion of the float with a cutting edge on the ramp portion opposite the finishing surface;   moving the concrete float backward such that the finishing surface contacts a surface of the concrete; and   moving the concrete float backward such that at least one of the ramp portion and the cutting edge contacts the surface of the concrete.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54  further including moving the concrete float forward with the ramp portion contacting the concrete surface. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  any of the preceding claims 54-55  wherein moving the concrete float backward includes scraping concrete with the cutting edge. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56  wherein the concrete float ramp portion includes a substantially flat surface adjacent the cutting edge and wherein moving the concrete float backward includes moving the concrete float backward such that the substantially flat surface moves along the concrete surface with the cutting edge in contact with the concrete surface. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57  further including scraping concrete with the cutting edge along the surface of the concrete.