GB2164983A

GB2164983A - Line marking apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2164983A
Application number: GB08519127A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Ian Fossey
Original assignee: SHARPLINER Ltd
Current assignee: SHARPLINER Ltd
Priority date: 1984-07-30
Filing date: 1985-07-30
Publication date: 1986-04-03
Also published as: GB8419414D0; GB2164983B; GB8519127D0

Abstract

Line marking apparatus 1 comprises a carriage 2 having a pair of laterally spaced support elements 4. A marking fluid dispenser is mounted between the support elements 4. The apparatus has a pair of laterally spaced disc-like line defining shields 3 rotatably mounted on the supports and in rolling contact with a surface being marked and mountable on the support elements 4 at different positions relative to each other to allow lines of different widths to be reduced. Each shield is associated with a cylindrical boss 25 have a plurality of grooves 26 for location in U-shaped slots on support elements 4 thereby allowing different relative positioning of the shields 3. The shields 3 substantially enclose the marking fluid dispenser which is positioned on the apparatus such that substantial lateral movement of the dispenser is prevented whereas axial movement thereof is allowed such that a trigger rod 15 may be operated to permit marking fluid to issue from the dispenser. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Line marking apparatus This invention relates to line marking apparatus, e.g. for marking out work areas, sports pitches etc.

Various constructions of line marking apparatus are known in which a dispenser (e.g. an aerosol can) of line marking fluid is mounted on the apparatus and is used to apply a line to a surface to be marked and it is an object of this invention to provide various forms of such marking apparatus which are of simple construction.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided line marking apparatus comprising a carriage having a pair of laterally spaced support elements, means for mounting a marking fluid dispenser between the support elements in a position to apply a marking line to a surface over which the apparatus travels, and a pair of laterally spaced disc-like line defining shields rotatably mounted on the supports and dimensioned to be in rolling contact with said surface wherein the shields are adapted to be mounted by said support elements at different relative positions to allow lines of different widths to be produced.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, each shield is associated with a cylindrical boss having a plurality of axially spaced circumferential grooves and said shield is located in position on its respective support element by one of said grooves whereby the shields may be located at different spacings relative to each other.

Additionally, the shields are preferably dimensioned such that they substantially encompass the marking fluid dispenser (when the latter is located on the apparatus) so as to act as wind shields.

The use of shields which encompass the dispenser means that the frame of the carriage may be of simple open construction since the shields act as a windbreak to prevent the fluid issuing from the dispenser being blown bythewind.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided line marking apparatus comprising a carriage having a pair of laterally spaced support elements, means for mounting a marking fluid dispenser between the support elements in a position to apply a marking to a surface over which the apparatus travels, and a pair of laterally spaced disc-like line defining shields rotatably mounted on the supports and dimensioned to be in rolling contact with the said surface and also substantially to enclose said dispenser when in position on the apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided line marking apparatus for forming a line with a marking fluid supplied from a dispenser having a container body and an outlet nozzle opened by relative movement of the nozzle towards the body, the apparatus comprising a support for retaining the container body to prevent substantial lateral movementthereofwhilstallowing axial movement thereof, a reaction surface against which said nozzle locates in use of the apparatus, and a trigger assembly for pushing the body of the dispenser towards said surface thereby to open the outlet nozzle and dispense marking fluid.

The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of line marking apparatus in accordance with the first, second and third aspects of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carriage of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows, to an enlarged scale the line defining shields of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

The illustrated line marking apparatus 1 (Fig. 1) comprises a carriage (Fig. 2) and a rotatable marking shield assembly 3 mounted thereon. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, carriage 2 is comprised of a frame formed with laterally spaced side elements 4 and provided with two rear wheels 5 and two front wheels 6. To facilitate description of the apparatus, each of the side elements 4 are depicted in the drawings as having a generally vertically extending portion 4a and a forwardly extending horizontal portion 4b.

The horizontal portions 4b each have an upwardly opening U-shaped slot 8. Additionally provided on the frame is a vertically adjustable handle assembly 9 also serving to mount an aerosol can (not shown) in the manner to be described.

Handle assembly 9 includes an elongate V-section strip 10 with an upper handle portion 11 and a lower plate 12 having an aperture 13. Also included on the handle assembly 9 is a trigger rod 15 which is axially slidable along strip 10. The lower end of rod 15 is bent over slightly, the purpose of which will be described below.

Handle assembly 9 also includes a threaded stud 17 (affixed to the rear of strip 10) which extends through a slit 18 defined between two locating strips 19 provided on the carriage frame. A nut 20 serves to clamp the handle assembly 9 in a fixed position but this nut 20 may be released allowing stud 17 to be moved upwardly or downwardly in slit 18 thus providing for height adjustment of handle assembly 9.

Atriangular pointer 14 is provided on the carriage for facilitating the guiding thereof along a line to be marked.

Fig. 3 shows the shield assembly 3 in more detail.

This assembly 3 comprises a pair of disc-like shields 21. Each shield 21 is formed with a rim 23 which is turned over at its peripheral edge such that annular troughs 24 are defined around the inner surfaces of the rims 23. As will be seen from Fig. 3, the shields 21 are positioned with their rims 23 in facing relationship.

Each shield 21 is associated with a cylindrical boss 25 (only one shown) having a plurality of spaced annular locating grooves 26.

As will be appreciated from Fig. 1, the shield assembly 3 is located on carriage 2 by virtue of the annular grooves 26 of bosses 25 locating within the U-shape slots 8. It will be seen from Fig. 1 that shields 21 are dimensioned such that, when mounted on carriage 22, the lower portions of their rims 23 are in contact with the ground.

To use the apparatus, an aerosol dispenser (not shown) of marking fluid is supported on carriage 2.

This dispenser will comprise a cylindrical dispenser body having, at one end, a dispenser button with an outlet orifice co-axial with the dispenser body. As well known in this field, such dispensers are constructed such that depression of this button when the dispenser is in an inverted position (i.e.

nozzle lowermost) would allow dispensing fluid to issue from the orifice. The dispenser body will additionally have a cylindrical rim at its end opposite the button, the rim being formed as an extension of the dispenser body.

The dispenser is mounted on the carriage 2 with the dispenser body locating partly within the angle of the V-section strip 10 and the nozzle button resting on plate 12 such that the outlet orifice of the nozzle button is exposed through aperture 13. The partial location of the container body in strip 10 substantially prevents lateral movement of the body. The dispenser body will be substantially enclosed by the two shields 21. Trigger rod 15 is positioned such that the bent end rests against the rim of the dispenser body. When trigger rod 15 is pushed downwardly, it will cause the dispenser body to move relative to the dispenser button.

Marking fluid will thus be dispensed from the body and will pass through aperture 13 below which it forms a diverging fan-shape spray.

To form a marking line, the marking apparatus 1 is pushed over a surface to be marked and it will be appreciated that this causes rotation of the ground contacting shields 21. As the trigger rod 15 is depressed, the marking fluid will be dispensed (in a downwardly diverging fan-shaped spray) and a line will be formed having a width determined by the spacing of the shields 21. Excess spray is caught in the annular troughs 14 of the shields 21 and dries as it is carried around the inner surface of the rims 23.

In order to produce lines of different widths, it is necessary to make two adjustments to the apparatus 1. Firstly, the shields 21 must be spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the width of the desired line. It will be appreciated that the provision of the axially spaced annular grooves 26 on the bosses 25 allows the shield 21 to be supported on the apparatus at different, selected spacings. Secondly, it is necessary to vary the height of handle assembly 9 to adjust the distance of the plate 12 from the ground. To be more specific, the plate 12 should be at a greater distance from the ground for the production of a relatively wide line than is the case for a relatively narrow line since the greater the height of the plate 12 the greater will be the width of the fan-shaped spray at ground level.

It will be appreciated that the above described apparatus has a number of important advantages.

Firstly, the frame is of a very simple construction.

This is allowed by virtue of the shields 21 substantially encompassing the liquid dispenser and thereby acting as windbreaks to prevent disruption of the issuing marking fluid by the wind.

Secondly, the apparatus may be easily adjusted (in the manner discussed more fully above) to allow the production of lines of different widths.

Claims

1. Line marking apparatus comprising a carriage having a pair of laterally spaced support elements, means for mounting a marking fluid dispenser between the support elements in a position to apply a marking line to a surface over which the apparatus travels, and a pair of laterally spaced disc-like line defining shields rotatably mounted on the supports and dimensioned to be in rolling contact with said surface wherein said shields are adapted to be mounted by said support elements at different relative positions to allow lines of different widths to be produced.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each shield is associated with a cylindrical boss having a plurality of axially spaced circumferential grooves and each shield is located in position on its respective support element by one of said grooves whereby the shields may be located at different spacings relative to each other.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the support elements comprise side-frames of the apparatus having U-shaped slots.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 having a handle of V-shaped section by which the dispenser is located to prevent the lateral movement thereof.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the shields are each formed with a rim which faces the rim of the other shield, each of the rims being turned over so that each shield has a peripheral annular trough.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the shields are dimensioned so as substantially to enclose the marking fluid dispenser when the latter is positioned on the apparatus.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 which is adapted to mount a marking fluid dispenser having a container body and an outlet nozzle opened by relative movement of the nozzle towards the body, wherein the apparatus comprises a support for retaining the container body without substantial lateral movement thereof whilst allowing axial movement thereof, a reaction surface against which the nozzle locates in use of the apparatus, and a trigger assembly for pushing the body of the dispenser towards said surface thereby to open the outlet nozzle and dispense marking fluid.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the support is a V-section member.

9. Line marking apparatus comprising a carriage having a pair of laterally spaced support elements, means for mounting a marking fluid dispenser between the support elements in a position to apply a marking to a surface over which the apparatus travels, and a pair of laterally spaced disc-like line defining shields rotatably mounted on the supports and dimensioned to be in rolling contact with said surface and also substantially to enclose said dispenser when in position on the apparatus.

10. Line marking apparatusforforming a line with a marking fluid supplied from a dispenser having a container body and an outlet nozzle opened by relative movement of the nozzle towards the body, the apparatus comprising a support for retaining the container body to prevent substantial lateral movement thereof whilst allowing axial movement thereof, a reaction surface against which said nozzle locates in use of the apparatus, and a trigger assembly for pushing the body of the dispenser towards said surface thereby to open the outlet nozzle and dispense marking fluid.

11. Line marking apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.