Finishing tube assembly

Abstract

A finishing assembly for dispensing a viscous material includes a dispenser in which the viscous material is storable and a finishing head removably coupled to the dispenser to receive viscous material therefrom. The finishing head includes an opening in a bottom face thereof through which the viscous material is discharged and a blade proximate the opening to spread the discharged viscous material across a width of the finishing head. The dispenser is configured to separate from the finishing head to add the viscous material to the dispenser.

1 . A finishing assembly for dispensing a viscous material, the finishing assembly comprising:
 a dispenser in which the viscous material is storable; and   a finishing head removably coupled to the dispenser to receive viscous material therefrom, the finishing head including an opening in a bottom face thereof through which the viscous material is discharged and a blade proximate the opening to spread the discharged viscous material across a width of the finishing head,   wherein the dispenser is configured to separate from the finishing head to add the viscous material to the dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The finishing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the finishing head includes
 an adapter having an inlet removably and fluidly coupleable to the dispenser and defining a first axis, and an outlet defining a second axis perpendicular to the first axis,   a finisher body having a cavity and an opening in a bottom face thereof, and   a hollow pivot pivotably coupling the adapter to the finisher body about the second axis, wherein the cavity of the finisher body is in fluid communication with the adapter outlet via the hollow pivot such that viscous material discharged from the adapter outlet passes through the hollow pivot before being discharged from the opening of the finisher body.   
     
     
         3 . The finishing assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the hollow pivot is a first hollow pivot, wherein the finishing head further comprises a second hollow pivot pivotably coupling the adapter to the finisher body about the second axis, and wherein the cavity of the finisher body is in fluid communication with the adapter outlet via the first hollow pivot and the second hollow pivot such that the viscous material discharged from the adapter outlet passes through one of the first hollow pivot or the second hollow pivot before being discharged from the opening of the finisher body. 
     
     
         4 . The finishing assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the finisher body includes two loops and the cavity is at least partially defined between the two loops, wherein the adapter is T-shaped and includes a first branch and a second branch collectively defining the outlet of the adapter, and wherein the first hollow pivot extends through one of the two loops into the first branch and the second hollow pivot extends through the other one of the two loops into the second branch to pivotably couple the adapter to the finisher body and hold the adapter in the cavity between the two loops 
     
     
         5 . The finishing assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the first hollow pivot and the second hollow pivot each include a radially extending tab, wherein the two loops each include a depression such that when the first hollow pivot extends through the one of the two loops, the radially extending tab of the first hollow pivot is positioned within the depression of the one of the two loops and when the second hollow pivot extends through the other one of the two loops, the radially extending tab of the second hollow pivot is positioned within the depression of the other one of the two loops. 
     
     
         6 . The finishing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the finishing head further includes a blade holder at least partially defining a blade slot for receiving the blade. 
     
     
         7 . The finishing assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the blade slot holds the blade therein by frictional engagement. 
     
     
         8 . The finishing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser includes
 a tube body defining a cavity in which the viscous material is stored,   a plunger having a grip at a first end and a plug at a second end, and   a head attachment assembly having a tube cap, wherein the plug is configured to push the viscous material out of the cavity, and wherein the grip is positioned adjacent a first end of the tube body and the tube cap is attached to a second end of the tube body that is opposite the first end.   
     
     
         9 . The finishing assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the finishing head includes
 an adapter having an inlet removably and fluidly coupleable to the dispenser and defining a first axis, and an outlet defining a second axis perpendicular to the first axis,   a finisher body having a cavity and an opening in a bottom face thereof, and   a hollow pivot pivotably coupling the adapter to the finisher body about the second axis, wherein the cavity of the finisher body is in fluid communication with the adapter outlet via the hollow pivot such that viscous material discharged from the adapter outlet passes through the hollow pivot before being discharged from the opening of the finisher body.   
     
     
         10 . The finishing assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the adapter includes a securing clip, wherein the tube cap includes a finger, and wherein the securing clip is latchable to the finger to retain the finishing head to the dispenser. 
     
     
         11 . The finishing assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the tube cap includes at least one notch and the adapter includes at least one radially extending tab, and wherein the tab fits within the notch to orient the tube body relative to the finishing head. 
     
     
         12 . The finishing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening includes a middle section that is wider than opposite ends of the opening, and wherein the opening is configured to funnel the viscous material toward the middle section. 
     
     
         13 . A caddy for use with the finishing assembly of  claim 1 , the caddy comprising:
 a first section upon which a bucket filled with the viscous material is supportable; and   a second section including an anchor to which the finishing head is retained while the dispenser is removed from the finishing head to refill the dispenser with viscous material from the bucket.   
     
     
         14 . The caddy according to  claim 13 , wherein the first section includes a circular raised lip around the bucket. 
     
     
         15 . The caddy according to  claim 13 , wherein the anchor includes two curled claws separated from one another by a gap through which the dispenser projects. 
     
     
         16 . A method of using a finishing assembly, the method comprising:
 separating a finishing head from a dispenser;   inserting a viscous material into the dispenser;   connecting the finishing head to the dispenser; and   dispensing the viscous material from the dispenser, into the finishing head, and through an opening in the finishing head.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dispenser includes a tube body and a plunger, wherein inserting the viscous material into the dispenser includes inserting the viscous material into the tube body defining a cavity in which the viscous material is stored, and wherein dispensing the viscous material from the dispenser includes pushing the viscous material out of the cavity via the plunger. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein pushing the viscous material out of the cavity includes grasping and pushing a grip at a first end of the plunger toward the finishing head. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein connecting the finishing head to the dispenser includes latching a securing clip to a finger. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein connecting the finishing head to the dispenser further includes orienting the tube body relative to the finishing head. 
     
     
         21 - 40 . (canceled)