Trowel

Abstract

A trowel includes a blade and a handle that is moveably coupled to blade. Further, the trowel includes a cam mechanism that is supported by one of the blade and the handle and is operable to engage the other of the blade and the handle. The cam mechanism is actuatable to change a position of the handle relative to the blade.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A trowel comprising:
 a blade;   a handle moveably coupled to blade; and   a cam mechanism supported by one of the blade and the handle and operable to engage the other of the blade and the handle, the cam mechanism being actuatable to change a position of the handle relative to the blade.   
     
     
         2 . The trowel of  claim 1 , wherein the cam mechanism is movable between a first position, in which the handle is fixed relative to the blade, and a second position, in which the handle is moveable relative to the blade. 
     
     
         3 . The trowel of  claim 1 , wherein the cam mechanism includes a manual actuator and a cam surface, the cam surface engaging the other of the blade and the handle, the manual actuator being movable to change an amount of force the cam surface exerts on the other of the blade and the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The trowel of  claim 1 , wherein the blade defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the cam mechanism is pivotable about an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The trowel of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a clamp member that is positioned adjacent to the blade, the clamp member selectively engaging a portion of the blade to inhibit movement of the handle relative to the blade. 
     
     
         6 . The trowel of  claim 5 , wherein the cam mechanism includes a manual actuator and a cam surface, the cam surface engaging the clamp member, the manual actuator being movable to change an amount of force the cam surface exerts on the clamp member. 
     
     
         7 . The trowel of  claim 6 , wherein the manual actuator is movable between a first position, in which the cam surface exerts a first force on the clamp member to fix the handle relative to the blade, and a second position, in which the cam surface exerts a second force on the clamp member to allow relative movement between the handle and the blade. 
     
     
         8 . The trowel of  claim 5 , wherein the clamp member is adjustable. 
     
     
         9 . A trowel comprising:
 a blade;   a handle slidably coupled to blade; and   a cam mechanism coupled to the handle and including a cam surface, the cam mechanism moveable between a first position, in which the cam surface engages a portion of the blade to fix the handle relative to the blade, and a second position, in which the handle is moveable relative to the blade.   
     
     
         10 . The trowel of  claim 9 , wherein the cam mechanism includes a manual actuator, the manual actuator movable to move the cam mechanism between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The trowel of  claim 9 , wherein in the first position the cam surface exerts a first force on the blade, and in the second position the cam surface exerts a second force on the blade, the second force being less than the first force. 
     
     
         12 . The trowel of  claim 9 , wherein the blade includes a longitudinal axis and a spine extending along the longitudinal axis, the handle being slidingly coupled to the spine. 
     
     
         13 . The trowel of  claim 12 , wherein the handle includes a clamp member that is positioned adjacent to the spine, the cam surface engaging the clamp member, the clamp member selectively engaging a portion of the spine to inhibit movement of the handle relative to the blade. 
     
     
         14 . The trowel of  claim 13 , wherein the cam mechanism includes a manual actuator, the manual actuator being movable to change an amount of force the cam surface exerts on the clamp member. 
     
     
         15 . The trowel of  claim 13 , wherein in the first position the cam surface exerts a first force on the clamp member to fix the handle relative to the spine, and in the second position the cam surface exerts a second force on the clamp member to allow relative movement between the handle and the spine. 
     
     
         16 . The trowel of  claim 13 , wherein the clamp member is adjustable. 
     
     
         17 . A handle for a trowel including a blade, the handle comprising:
 a body configured to couple to the blade; and   a cam mechanism coupled to the body and including a cam surface, the cam mechanism being actuatable to change an amount of force the cam surface exerts on the blade.   
     
     
         18 . The handle of  claim 17 , wherein the blade defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the cam mechanism is rotatable about an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The handle of  claim 17 , wherein the cam mechanism includes a manual actuator that is movable to change the amount of force the cam surface exerts on the blade. 
     
     
         20 . The handle of  claim 19 , wherein the manual actuator is movable between a first position, in which the cam surface exerts a first force on the blade to secure the handle relative to the blade, and a second position, in which the cam surface exerts a second force on the blade to allow relative movement between the handle and the blade. 
     
     
         21 . The handle of  claim 19 , further comprising a clamp member coupled to the handle and positioned adjacent to the blade, the cam surface engaging the clamp member, the actuator being movable to change the amount of force the cam surface exerts on the clamp member to change the position of the clamp member relative to the blade. 
     
     
         22 . The handle of  claim 21 , wherein the clamp member is adjustable.