IMPROVED MANUAL TOOL FOR APPLYING A DEVICE FOR LAYING TILES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES ON A SURFACE TO BE COATED

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the building industry and, in particular, it relates to a manual tool for the application of a tile laying device and similar articles on a surface to be coated.

Description of the prior art

As well known, the laying steps of tiles, bricks, and boards of different material on a surface to be coated provides a critical step, so called "levelling", during which an operator arranges the tiles so that the visible surfaces are at a same level.

In order to assist the operator during this critical and essential step of laying, devices can be used normally providing a base member, which has substantially a planar shape, provided with a first face that, in use, is oriented towards the surface to be coated, and a second face that, in use, is oriented towards two tiles. The device for laying further comprises a push portion slidingly mounted with respect to the base portion along a band member, or web, and arranged, in use, opposite to the first portion with respect to the tiles. More in detail, the band member is arranged, in use, between the tiles and has one end constrained to the base portion and a free end protruding, in use, from the push portion. When a predetermined tension is exerted on the band member, for example, by a manual tool of the type described in WO2011/012994 in the name of the same Applicant, a sliding of the push portion is caused towards the tiles, thus causing a location of the same at a same level. The device for laying is then left in this configuration for the time that is necessary to dry the glue located between the surface and the tiles. Then, the device is removed tearing the band member from the base portion. Such a step can be carried out, for example, by means of a tensioning device, of which the manual tool described in WO2011/012994 is provided.

The device of WO2011/012994 provides also the possibility of adjusting the tension applied to the band member acting on an adjusting device that adjusts the resilient force of a spring that opposes the action of the tensioning device.

The solution described in WO2011/012994 allows to assist and to simplify the application of devices for laying as described above.

However, the device described in WO2011/012994 does not allow to adjust in a very precise way the tension applied to the band member by the tool.

Another example of a manual tool for applying a tension to the band member of a device for laying tiles is disclosed in WO2014022889. In this case the tool provides a tubular body connected to a handle and have a portion for receiving the band member of the device for laying. The portion for receiving has an opening located between two gripping members opposite and relatively movable. The two gripping members are located between two fixed semi- circular arcs which form the forward end of an internal sliding member, which is pivotally connected to an actuation trigger. Furthermore, a spring is provided that pushes the sliding member in such a way that the portion for receiving slightly protrudes from the end of the tubular body. Another spring radially pushes outward the two gripping members in such a way that the opening has a size that is larger than the thickness of the band member. When the actuation trigger is squeezed on the handle, it rotates about a pivot and forces the sliding member to slide rearward within the tubular body. The end of the tubular portion forces the gripping members inward and rearward and pull the band member inward. When the sliding member and the gripping members are retracted into the tubular body, the forward end of the latter forms the engagement portion of the device for laying that provides a forward surface for engagement with the top surface of the device for laying. Once the band member is gripped and the end of the tubular portion engages with the top surface of the device for laying, continued pressure on the actuation trigger forces the device for laying to slide down. This way, the tiles located between the upper part and the lower part of the device for laying are arranged at a same level.

In WO2014022889 is also provided to equip the tool with a stop member for stopping the sliding of the sliding member. More in detail, in the rear part of the tubular body a rotatable head is provided equipped with a screw arranged in a housing from which the end of the screw same, arranged along the conveying direction of the sliding member, protrudes. Therefore, depending on how much the rotatable head is rotated, the stop member, i.e. the end of the screw oriented towards the sliding member, is arranged at a corresponding distance from the end of the tubular portion. This way, the stroke of the sliding member is adjusted in a rough way and, therefore, the force exerted on the band member of the device for laying during the tensioning of the same.

However, also this solution is not very precise.

Summary of the invention

It is then a feature of the present invention to provide a manual tool for the application of a device for laying tiles and similar articles on a surface to be coated that allows to adjust, in a very precise way, the pull action exerted on the band member, in such a way that it is possible, from time to time, to subject the band member to the tension that is more suitable to the specific application.

These and other features are accomplished with one exemplary manual tool for the application of a device for laying tiles and similar articles having a predetermined thickness, said device for laying comprising:

- a base portion equipped with a first face that, in use, is oriented towards said surface to be coated and a second face that, in use, is oriented towards a first and at least one second tile;

- a band member engaged with said base portion and arranged to protrude from said tiles at a slit;

- a push portion slidingly mounted along said band member opposite to said base portion with respect to said tiles, said push portion arranged to slide, in use, along said band member for arrange itself between a rest position, in which it does not push against said tiles, and a push position, in which it pushes said tiles against said base portion in order to position them substantially at a same level;

said manual tool comprising:

- a handle for a user;

- a working head equipped with a support surface, said support surface arranged to be located, in use, next to the push portion of the device for laying opposite to said tiles;

- a stretching member arranged, in use, to engage with said band member for applying on it a predetermined tension Tl in such a way that said working head pushes said push portion towards said base portion for laying said tiles;

- an actuation means arranged to actuate the stretching member, said actuation means comprising:

- a sliding member arranged to slide, opposed by a resilient means, between an approached position close to the working head, and a spaced position distanced from said working head along a predetermined conveying direction;

- an actuation lever operatively connected to said sliding member, in particular on which a user is adapted to operate, and arranged to cause said sliding member to slide from said approached position to said spaced position;

- an adjustment means that is arranged to adjust the tension of the stretching member;

wherein the main feature of the tool is that the adjustment means comprises:

- a stop device having a plurality of abutment surfaces located at different distances from said working head and at the opposite side to said working head with respect to said sliding member, said abutment surfaces arranged to stop said sliding of said sliding member from said approached position to said spaced position; and

- a selection means which is adapted to arrange a determined abutment surface of said plurality of abutment surfaces at a stop position and the other abutment surfaces of said plurality at positions that are outside said conveying direction, said selected abutment surface positioned at a predetermined distance from said working head corresponding to a tension Ti that has to be applied on said band member. In particular, the abutment surface can be selected depending on the tension that has to be applied to the band member, i.e. depending on the distance of the abutment surface from the working head. In fact, as can be easily understood, at a higher distance of the abutment surface from the working head corresponds a higher tension applied to the band member and vice-versa.

Advantageously, the tool provides a hollow body having a recess in which the stretching member and the plurality of abutment surfaces are housed. In particular, the working head has an opening through which the band member is introduced/extracted recess, in order to be engaged, in use, by the stretching member.

In an exemplary embodiment, the stop device is a rotating member having the above described abutment surfaces at different distances from the working head. In this case the selection means is arranged to cause a rotation of the rotating member up to position a determined abutment surface at the stop position.

Advantageously, the rotating member is mounted on a support, in particular integral to the hollow body, and reference members are provided arranged to indicate the positioning of each abutment surface of the above described plurality at the stop position.

In particular, the reference members comprise:

- a plurality of recesses alternate to a plurality of protrusions peripherally arranged on said rotating member;

- a spherical member mounted in a housing obtained in said support, said spherical member arranged, during the rotation of said rotating member, to be put at each recess of said plurality of recesses in order to indicate the positioning of an abutment surface at said stop position.

In an exemplary embodiment, the stop device comprises:

- a fixed body on which at least one first abutment surface of said plurality is located;

- a movable member that is arranged to move with respect to said fixed body, on said movable member at least one second abutment surface of said plurality being provided.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the movable member is arranged to translate with respect to the fixed body. In particular, the movable member can be arranged to translate along a direction inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the sliding member. In particular, the stretching member is arranged to apply on said band member a first tension Tl, when a first abutment surface is selected, and at least one second tension T2, with T2>T1, when a second abutment surface is selected. In particular, the second tension T2 can be suitable for causing the disengagement of the band member from the base portion of the device for laying.

Advantageously, the stretching member comprises a lock means that is arranged to pass from a position of releasing the band member to a position of locking the band member same.

Advantageously, the actuation means is arranged to bring the lock means from the position of releasing to the position of locking, and vice-versa.

In particular, the actuation means is arranged to bring the lock means from the position of releasing, in which it is arranged in contact of an abutment surface opposite to the support surface, to the position of locking, in which the lock means is distanced from the abutment surface.

Advantageously, the actuation means is arranged to cause a rotation of the lock means from the position of releasing to the position of locking.

Preferably, a resilient means is provided arranged to oppose the movement of the lock means from the position of releasing to the position of locking.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method for the application of a device for laying tiles and similar articles on a surface to be coated, said tiles having a predetermined thickness, comprises the steps of:

- arranging a support surface of a head tool next to a push portion of a device for laying tiles, or similar articles, said device having:

- a base portion equipped with a first face that, in use, is oriented towards the surface to be coated and a second face that, in use, is oriented towards a first and at least one second tile;

- a band member engaged with the base portion and arranged to protrude from the tiles at a slit, said push portion being slidingly mounted along said band member opposite to the base portion with respect to the tiles, said push portion arranged to slide, in use, along said band member for arranging itself between a rest position, in which it does not push against said tiles, and a push position, in which it pushes said tiles against said base portion in order to position them substantially at a same level;

- adjusting the tension to apply by a stretching member arranged in said manual tool at the opposite side of said device for laying tiles with respect to said support surface, said stretching member being actuated by an actuation means comprising:

- a sliding member arranged to slide, opposed by a resilient means, between an approached position close to said working head, and a spaced position spaced from said working head along a predetermined conveying direction;

- an actuation lever operatively connected to said sliding member and arranged to cause said sliding member to slide from said approached position to said spaced position; - selecting a tension between a predetermined plurality of tensions that can be applied on said band member by said stretching member;

- applying said selected predetermined tension on said band member by said stretching member;

- said applying step of said tension Ti on said band member producing a force of said working head on said push portion that causes a sliding of the push portion towards said tiles and therefore the laying of said tiles .

According to another aspect of the invention, a kit for the application of a device for laying tiles and similar articles comprises:

- a device for laying in which the push portion and the band member are arranged to engage each other in a removable way at an engagement weakened portion;

- a manual tool, according to any of the previous claims, said manual tool arranged to apply a predetermined tension on said band member without causing the disengagement of the same from said base portion;

- an additional manual tool comprising:

- a handle for a user;

- a housing in which, in use, said band member is arranged to be housed, said housing defined by a side wall;

- a working head equipped with an outer abutment surface, said outer abutment surface arranged to be positioned, in use, adjacent to the surface of said tiles that, in use, are visible, said outer surface being convex with a predetermined curvature, in such a way that said additional tool can rotate on the surface of said tiles leaning on said engagement weakened portion up to cause its breaking and then the disengagement of said band member from said base portion.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a manual tool for the removal of a device for laying tiles and similar articles, said device for laying comprising:

- a base portion equipped with a first face that, in use, is oriented towards said surface to be coated and a second face that, in use, is oriented towards a first and at least one second tile;

- a band member engaged with said base portion and arranged to protrude from said tiles at a slit;

- a push portion slidingly mounted along said band member opposite to said base portion with respect to said tiles, said push portion arranged to slide, in use, along said band member for arranging itself between a rest position, in which it does not push against said tiles, and a push position, in which it pushes said tiles against said base portion in order to position them substantially at a same level, said push portion and said band member engaging each other in a removable way;

whose main characteristic is that it comprises:

- a handle for a user;

- a housing in which, in use, said band member is arranged to be housed, said housing defined by a side wall;

- a working head equipped with an outer abutment surface, said outer abutment surface arranged to be located, in use, adjacent to the surface of said tiles that, in use, is visible, said outer surface being convex with a predetermined curvature, in such a way that said additional tool can rotate on the surface of said tiles leaning on said weakened engaging portionup to cause it to the break and then the disengagement of said band member from said base portion.

In an exemplary embodiment, the actuation means is arranged to translate the lock means from the position of releasing to the position of locking.

In particular, the above described translation of the lock means from the position of releasing to the position of locking is opposed by resilient means.

Advantageously, the opening through which the band member is inserted in the working head comprises a first portion that is located at the support surface and a second portion that is located at a side face of the working head.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be now shown with the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Fig. 1A diagrammatically shows an elevational side view partially cross sectional of a first exemplary embodiment of a tool, according to the invention, for the application of a device for laying tiles and similar articles on a surface to be coated in working conditions ;

Fig. IB shows in detail the possibility, according to the invention, of providing the selection means with reference numbers to assist the user to adjust the tension to apply on the band member;

Figs. 2 to 4 diagrammatically show in longitudinal sectional views, some possible working configurations of the tool of Fig. 1 ;

Figs. 5 and 6 show in detail a perspective elevational side views, respectively, in an assembled configuration, and in a exploded configuration, of the stop device of which the tool of Figs. 2-4 is equipped;

Figs. 7 to 9 diagrammatically show cross sectional longitudinal views of some possible working configurations of an exemplary embodiment of the tool of Fig. 1;

Figs. 10A, 10B and 11 show in detail the stop device of which the tool of Figs. 7-9 is equipped;

Fig. 12 diagrammatically shows a detail of a possible exemplary embodiment of the contrast means that opposes to the sliding of the sliding member from the approached position to the spaced position spaced from the working head;

Figs. 13, 14A and 14B diagrammatically show perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of the device for laying of Fig. 1;

Fig. 15 shows a perspective elevational front view of a tool, according to the invention, for releasing the band member from the device for laying Fig. 14A and 14B; Figs. 16 and 17 show the tool of Fig. 15 in working conditions ;

Figs. 18 to 20 show an exemplary embodiment of the tool of Fig. 15.

Detailed description of some exemplary embodiments

With reference to Fig. 1A, a first exemplary embodiment of a manual tool 1, according to the invention, for the application of a device 100 for laying tiles 150a and 150b on a surface 200 to be coated comprises a working head 15 having a support surface 16. This is arranged, in use, adjacent to a push portion 120 of the device for laying 100 located opposite to a base portion 110, with respect to the tiles 150a and 150b. More in detail, the push portion 120 is slidingly mounted at the opposite side along an elongated portion, or band member 160, which projects, in use, from the tiles 150a and 150b at the slit between the tiles 155. The tool 1 is also provided with a handle 50 at which a user grips the same.

Furthermore, a means for tensioning 60 is provided arranged, in use, to engage the band member 160 for applying on it a predetermined tension Tl. This causes a push by the working head 15 on the push portion 120 towards the base portion 110 and then the laying of the tiles 150a, 150b, i.e. their location substantially at a same level.

The tool 1 also comprises an actuation means 65 for actuating the stretching member 60. More in detail, the actuation means 65 comprises a sliding member 70 arranged to slide between an approached position close to the working head 15 (Fig. 2) and a spaced position (Figs. 1 and 3) spaced from the working head 15 same along a predetermined conveying direction. It is, moreover, provided an actuation lever 25 operatively connected to the sliding member 70 on which a user is adapted to work for causing the sliding of the sliding member 70 from the approached position to the spaced position.

According to the invention an adjustment means is also provided arranged to adjust the tension of the stretching member 60. More in detail, the adjustment means comprises a stop device 80 having at least two abutment surfaces, for example 5 abutment surfaces 81a-81e, which are located at different distances from the working head 15 at the opposite side of the working head 15 with respect to the sliding member 70. The abutment surfaces 81a-81e are adapted to stop the sliding of the sliding member 70 from the approached position to the spaced position.

The sliding member 70 engages at a point 27 the actuation lever 25, on which the user acts grasping the tool 1, for causing the sliding of the sliding member 70 from the approached position to the spaced position. More in detail, the actuation lever 25 is hinged to the tool 1 at a point 26. Therefore, when the user acts on the actuation lever he/she causes a rotation of the same about an axis passing through the point 26 and substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal plane of the tool 1. More in detail, in the starting rest configuration, the resilient force of the resilient means 76 on the translating member 70 forces the translating member 70 same in the forward position. When, instead, the user acts on the actuation lever 25 he/she wins the resilient force of the resilient means 76 and causes the sliding of the sliding member 70 from the forward position to the back position until the abutment surface does not stop the stroke of the same.

As diagrammatically shown in Fig. 12, the sliding of the sliding member 70 is opposed by a resilient means, for example a torsion spring 76, that is wound about its rotation axis 126 of the actuation lever 25, and that has an end portion 76a adjacent to the lever 25 and another end portion 76b arranged pre-loaded against the inner surface of the hollow body 10.

Furthermore, a selection means 85 is provided arranged to select a predetermined abutment surface between the above described plurality of abutment surfaces 81a-81e. More in detail, the selected abutment surface is arranged at a stop position having a distance from the working head 15 corresponding to a tension Ti that has to be applied on the band member 160. In particular, the stop position is arranged along the conveying direction of the sliding member 70.

In fact, as can be easily understood, a higher distance d from the working head 15 corresponds to a higher tension T applied to the band member 160, and vice- versa the less the distance d is, the less the tension T applied to the band member 160 is.

More in detail, the tool 1, according to the invention, is able to apply a first tension Tl, when the selected surface 81a is arranged at a first distance dl from the working head 15, and at least one second tension T2, when the selected surface 81b is arranged at a second distance d2 from the working head 15. For example, both the tension Tl and the tension T2 can be such as to cause both the tensioning of the band member 160, without causing its disengagement from the base portion 110. Alternatively, the tension T2 can be suitable for causing the disengagement of the band member 160 from the base portion 110, then, the movement of the device for laying in a disengagement configuration.

In case the tool 1 has a large number of abutment surfaces, for example 5 abutment surfaces 81a-81e, as in the example shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the user has the possibility of adjusting the tool 1 same, in order to adapt it to his/her needs, for example according as the type of device for laying that has been used, or the kind, or thickness, of the tiles to be laid, or simply according as the force of the user. The selection means 85 can be provided with reference numbers 86a-86e each of which corresponding to a respective abutment surface 81a-81e. This way, the user knows which abutment surface 81a-81e is arranged at the stop position.

On the sliding member 70 a head portion 71 and a tail portion 72 can be identified arranged to abut against the abutment surface 81a-81e arranged at the stop position when the sliding member 70 is arranged in the spaced position .

In an exemplary embodiment, the translating member 70 is slidingly mounted between a couple of guides 75a and 75b. For example the guide can provide a first and a second metal plates, for example made of phosphorous bronze, in order to reduce the friction during the sliding of the translating member 70.

The manual tool 1 provides a hollow body 10 having a recess in which the stretching member and the plurality of abutment surfaces 81a-81e are housed. More in particular, the working head 15 has an opening 17 through which the band member 160 is adapted to be introduced/extracted in the cavity 18 in order to be engaged, in use, by the stretching member.

In the exemplary embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6, the abutment surfaces 81a-81e are made on a rotating member 80. In this case, the selection means 85 is configured to cause a rotation of the rotating member 80 up to position a determined abutment surface 81 at the stop position.

The rotating member 80 is advantageously mounted on a support 90 integral to the hollow body 10 and reference members are provided 91 and 92 arranged to indicate the positioning of each abutment surface 81a-81e at the stop position .

In the case shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the reference members comprise a plurality of recesses 92 alternate to a plurality of protrusions 93 peripherally arranged on the rotating member 80 and a spherical member 91 mounted in a housing 94 made in the support 90. More in detail, the spherical member 91 is adapted, during the rotation of the rotating member 80, to be selectively arrange at each recess 92 of the above described plurality in order to indicate the positioning of a respective abutment surface 81a-81e at the stop position.

In the exemplary embodiment diagrammatically shown in Figs. 7 to 12, the stop device 80 provides a fixed body 82 on which at least one first abutment surface 81a is located and a member 83 movable with respect to the fixed body 82 on which at least one second abutment surface 81b is provided.

More in detail, in a first position, diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10A, the movable body 83 is located between the sliding member 70 and the fixed body 82 in such a way that the surface 81b is arranged at the stop position. Therefore, in this position, the sliding of the sliding member 70 is stopped by the movable body 83. The surface 81b is arranged at a distance dl from the working head 15 corresponding to a tension Tl exerted on the band member 160.

In a second position, instead, diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10B, obtained causing a sliding of the movable member 83 acting on the selection means 85, for example a sliding button, the movable member 83 moves in a position that is external to the trajectory described by the sliding member 70 during the sliding. Therefore, in this case is the surface 81a, which is arranged on the fixed member 82, to arrange itself at the stop position. Since the surface 81a is arranged at a distance d2>dl the tension T2, that is exerted in this configuration on the band member 160 from the tool 1, is higher than the previous case, i.e. T2>T1.

The stretching member comprises a lock means 30 arranged to pass from a position of releasing the band member 160 to a position of locking the same. For example, the lock means 30 can be mounted at the head portion 71 of the sliding member 70.

The lock means 30 can comprise a lock member 31 that operates in combination with an abutment surface 32 to provide the tensioning of the band member 160. The lock member 31, at the surface oriented towards the abutment surface 32, is advantageously provided with an indented surface comprising a plurality of teeth, in particular feather-edge teeth, and is provided movable with respect to the abutment surface 32 between a position of releasing, in which it is possible to arrange between them the band member 160 (Fig. 2), and a position of locking, in which the band member 160 is pressed between them, and is subjected to a predetermined tension T (Fig. 3) . Furthermore, a torsion spring 36 is provided arranged to return the lock member 31 in the position of releasing once ended the step of tensioning the band member 160.

In this case, in the approached position of the sliding member 70 (Fig. 2), the resilient force of the torsion spring 36 is won by the resilient force of the spring 76, therefore the lock member 31 is pushed by the inner wall 11 of the hollow container body 10 in the rest position, in which it allows the introduction of the band member 160 between the lock member 31 and the abutment surface 32. When the sliding member 70 is arranged in the spaced position (Fig. 3) the torsion spring 36, not more opposed by the spring 76, causes the rotation of the lock member 31 in the position of locking and then on the band member 160 a pulling action is exerted between the possible forces developed, i.e. that one corresponding to the selected abutment surface.

As shown in detail in Figs. 13 and 14 the device for laying 100 can provide that the band member 160 is engaged in a removable way.

More in detail, the push portion 120 can be provided completely releasable from the band member 160 and the band member can be provided not integrated in the base member 110, but constrained to it at a weakened engaging portion 130. This can comprise at least one engagement member 131 having a substantially pin shape and arranged to engage, in use, in a respective opening 161 made in the engaging portion of the band member 160.

In this kind of devices for laying 100, once removed from the base portion 110, the band member 160 remains unimpaired and, therefore, can be used again.

For this kind of device for laying 100, in particular in case of thin tiles 150, an additional tool 101 can be provided arranged to apply a less energetic action with respect to the tool 1 above described, but however enough to cause the disengagement of the band member 160 from the base portion 110.

More in detail, the additional tool 101 can be used after having caused, by the tool 1, a tensioning on the band member 160 suitable for causing the levelling of the tiles 150a and 150b by the push portion 120.

The tool 101 provides a holding portion, or handle 105 for a user and a housing 112, defined laterally by a wall 111, in that, in use, the band member 160 is adapted to be housed .

According to the invention, the tool 101 has a working head 115 equipped with an outer surface 116 arranged, in use, adjacent to the surface 152 of the tiles 150a, 150b that, in use, remains visible. More in detail, the outer surface 116 is convex, in particular with radius of curvature r set between 40 mm and 70 mm, for example equal to 50 mm. During the rotation of the tool 101 on the surface 152 a shear stress is exerted on the weakened engaging portion 130 causing its breaking and, therefore, the disengagement of the band member 160 from the device for laying 100. In the exemplary embodiment shown for example in Fig. 14A, 3 engagement members 131a, 131b and 131c are provided. These, by rotating the tool 101, are broken one after the other, up to cause a full disengagement of the band member 160 from the base portion 110, as described above. It is, in any case, provided also the possibility to have a single engagement member 131, or a different number of engagement members, for example depending on the specific application to which the device for laying 120 is destined (Fig. 14B) .

The band member 160 comprises an engaging portion 165 at which it is adapted to engage with the weakened portion 130 of the member of base 110 having a first width 11 and a grip portion 163 having a second width 12 with 11>12. More in detail, the housing 112 has a width that is substantially equal to the width of the embracing portion 165 of the band member 160.

In the exemplary embodiment of Figs. 18-20, the housing 112 has a first portion 112a having a width l'l that is substantially equal to the width 11 of the embracing portion 165 of the band member 160, and a second portion 112b more distant, in use, from the surface 152 of the tiles 150 with respect to the first portion 112a that has a width 1'2 that is substantially equal to the width 12 of the grip portion 162 of the band member 160.

In the exemplary embodiment of figures the tool 1 has a lock member 103 arranged to fix the band member 160 at the grip portion 162 in order to avoid that the band member 160 can move during the use of the tool 1. This assures to apply an effective action at the weakened engaging portion 130 of the member of base 110. The lock member 103 is advantageously associated with a torsion spring arranged to apply a resilient force on the lock member 103 same for bringing it to the position of locking, in which it is adapted to tighten the band member 160, in particular at the grip portion 162.

The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt in various applications the specific exemplary embodiments without further research and without parting from the invention, and, accordingly, it is meant that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiments. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology that is employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation .