Outside corner finishing tool

Abstract

An outside corner finishing tool for dispensing a drywall finishing compound includes a splitter defining an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, a first plate coupled to the splitter and defining an outlet, a second plate coupled to the splitter and defining an outlet, a first ball joint coupling the first plate to the splitter, and a second ball joint coupling the second plate to the splitter. The outlet of the first plate is spaced apart from the outlet of the second plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An outside corner finishing tool for dispensing a drywall finishing compound, the outside corner finishing tool comprising:
 a splitter defining an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet;   a first plate coupled to the splitter and defining an outlet;   a second plate coupled to the splitter and defining an outlet;   a first ball joint coupling the first plate to the splitter; and   a second ball joint coupling the second plate to the splitter;   wherein the outlet of the first plate is spaced apart from the outlet of the second plate.   
     
     
         2 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the splitter includes a valve seat that is selectively closed by a plug. 
     
     
         3 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the splitter is generally U-shaped with a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first outlet is defined at an end of the first arm and the second outlet is defined at an end of the second arm. 
     
     
         4 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first plate extends between an upper edge and a lower edge, the outside corner finishing tool further comprising a blade coupled to the upper edge of the first plate. 
     
     
         5 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 4 , further comprising a roller coupled to the lower edge of the first plate. 
     
     
         6 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring configured to bias an outer end of the first plate towards an outer end of the second plate. 
     
     
         7 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a connection bar rotatably coupled to the first plate and rotatably coupled to the second plate, wherein the connection bar constrains relative motion between the first plate and the second plate. 
     
     
         8 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first ball joint includes a ball coupled to the splitter and a socket coupled to the first plate, the socket of the first ball joint receiving the ball of the first ball joint, and wherein the second ball joint includes a ball coupled to the splitter and a socket coupled to the second plate, the socket of the second ball joint receiving the ball of the second ball joint. 
     
     
         9 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the drywall finishing compound is transferred from the splitter to the first plate via the first ball joint and to the second plate via the second ball joint. 
     
     
         10 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first plate and the second plate extend between an inward surface and an outward surface, wherein the inward surface of the first plate is located adjacent the inward surface of the second plate, and wherein the outward surface of the first plate is spaced apart from the outward surface of the second plate. 
     
     
         11 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 10 , further comprising a first roller coupled to the outward surface of the first plate and a second roller coupled to the outward surface of the second plate. 
     
     
         12 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first plate is arranged at an angle between 80 degrees and 105 degrees relative to the second plate. 
     
     
         13 . An outside corner finishing tool for dispensing a drywall finishing compound, the outside corner finishing tool comprising:
 a U-shaped splitter defining an inlet, a first arm extending between the inlet and a first outlet, and a second arm extending between the inlet and a second outlet;   a first plate coupled to the U-shaped splitter at the first outlet; and   a second plate coupled to the U-shaped splitter at the second outlet.   
     
     
         14 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 13 , wherein the first plate extends between an upper edge and a lower edge, the outside corner finishing tool further comprising a blade coupled to the upper edge of the first plate and a roller coupled to the lower edge of the first plate. 
     
     
         15 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 13 , further comprising a spring configured to bias an outer end of the first plate towards an outer end of the second plate, the spring positioned between the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         16 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 13 , further comprising a connection bar rotatably coupled to the first plate and rotatably coupled to the second plate, wherein the connection bar constrains relative motion between the first plate and the second plate. 
     
     
         17 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first ball joint having a ball coupled to the U-shaped splitter and a socket coupled to the first plate, the socket of the first ball joint receiving the ball of the first ball joint, and   a second ball joint having a ball coupled to the U-shaped splitter and a socket coupled to the second plate, the socket of the second ball joint receiving the ball of the second ball joint.   
     
     
         18 . An outside corner finishing tool for dispensing a drywall finishing compound, the outside corner finishing tool comprising:
 a splitter defining an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;   a first plate coupled to the splitter and defining an outlet; and   a second plate coupled to the splitter and defining an outlet;   wherein a width of the outlet of the first plate is adjustable between a first width and a second width, and   wherein a width of the outlet of the second plate is adjustable between a first width and a second width, wherein the width of the outlet of the first plate is adjustable without adjusting a width of the second plate.   
     
     
         19 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 18 , further comprising a first masking plate attachable to the first plate at a first location to set the width of the outlet of the first plate to the first width, and attachable to the first plate at a second location to set the width of the outlet of the first plate to the second width. 
     
     
         20 . The outside corner finishing tool of  claim 19 , further comprising a second masking plate attachable to the second plate at a first location to set the width of the outlet of the second plate to the first width, and attachable to the second plate at a second location to set the width of the outlet of the second plate to the second width.