US3700144A

US3700144A - Spraying apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3700144A
Application number: US118351A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas J Smrt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-02-24
Filing date: 1971-02-24
Publication date: 1972-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-24
Also published as: GB1367249A; JPS5038409B1; CA942550A; BE832624Q

Abstract

A spraying apparatus which is particularly suitable for painting stripes on pavement, grass or the like. The apparatus includes a wheeled frame and an upwardly extending handle for pushing the frame over the surface that is to be marked. The frame includes a base plate which is provided with an opening to receive the valve end of an inverted aerosol spray can, and side plates extend from the base plate to maintain the can in a substantially upright position. The valve of the can is actuated by a slide plate which is slidably secured to the base plate, and sliding movement of the slide plate is effected by a bell crank which is rotatably mounted on the frame. A cable extends along the handle between the bell crank and a trigger mounted on the upper end of the handle, and actuation of the trigger actuates the can valve to spray the marking contents of the can generally downwardly toward the surface.

Description

United States Patent Smrt [151 3,700,144 Oct. 24, 1972 154] SPRAYING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Thomas J. Smrt, 4N 671 Route 59, Bartlett, Ill. 60103 [22] Filed: Feb. 24, 1971 21 Appl. 110.; 118,351

[52] U.S. CI. ..222/176, 222/474, 239/286 [51] Int. Cl. ..B67d 5/64 [58] Field of Search ..239/150, 103, 104,146,178,

3,224,636 12/1965 Atkinson ..222/177X' FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,400,446 4/1965 France ..239/150 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-James M. Slattery AttorneyDawson, Tilton, Fallon & Lungmus ABSTRACT A spraying apparatus which is particularly suitable for painting stripes on pavement, grass or the like. The apparatus includes a wheeled frame and an upwardly extending handle for pushing the frame over the surface that is to be marked. The frame includes a base plate which is provided with an opening to receive the valve end of an inverted aerosol spray can, and side plates extend from the base plate to maintain the can in a substantially upright position, The valve of the can is actuated by a slide plate which is slidably secured to the base plate, and sliding movement of the slide plate is effected by a bell crank which is rotatably mounted on the frame. A cable extends along the handle between the bell crank and a trigger mounted on the upper end of the handle, and actuation of the trigger actuates the can valve to spray the marking contents of the can generally downwardly toward the surface.

15 Claims, l2 l)rawing Figures PATENTEnncr 24 m2 3. 700. 144

- SHEEI 2 OF 2 INVENTOR THOMAS J. SMRT BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY This invention relates to a spraying apparatus, and, more particularly, to a marking apparatus which can be wheeled over the surface which is to be marked, such as pavement, athletic fields, and the like.

It is often desirable to apply an indicating line or stripe to a surface. For example, stripes may be applied to pavement to indicate parking spaces, directional signals, etc., and stripes may be applied to athletic fields to indicate out-of-bounds, goals, etc. While suitable marking devices are relatively common, it is desirable that these marking devices be relatively economical, easy to operate, and accurate.

The invention provides a marking apparatus which may be wheeled along the ground so that the marking material can be applied steadily and accurately, and the apparatus utilizes'an inexpensive aerosol can which can spray downwardly when the can is inverted. A pair of cans can be held in a generally inverted position, and the valves of both cans can be operated simultaneously by a slide plate securedto the frame. The slide plate can be actuated by the operator as the apparatus is pushed by the trigger which is positioned at the upper end of the handle. The inclination of the side plates which hold the cans can be adjusted to regulate the spray pattern of the cans as desired, and a masking device can be mounted on the apparatus below the cans to provide a sharply defined stripe. The color of the marking material can be changed merely by changing the cans, and the apparatus remains substantially unmarked by the marking material so that cleaning of the apparatus is not required.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus with a portion of the handle broken away; I

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus from a different angle;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus with the spray cans removed taken along a line generally perpendicular to the handle;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of the handle;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of the handle from a different angle;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the support frame for the mask;

FIG. 1 1 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the mask in position; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-- 12 of FIG. 11.

2 DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 15 designates generally a marking apparatus which includes a box-like frame 16 and a generally upwardly extending handle 17. The frame is supported for movement over the surface which is to be marked by a pair of

front wheels

18 and 19 and a pair of

rear wheels

20 and 21. The apparatus is adapted to hold a pair of

aerosol spray cans

22 and 23, which can be filled with paint or other marking material, in generally'vertical but inverted positions. The

aerosol cans

22 and 23 do not include a dip tube, so the aerosol propellent expels the contents of the can when the can is held in a generally inverted position. Further, the valves for the cans are of the type which are activated when moved generally laterally, i.e.,transversely of the longitudinal axis of the can.

The frame includes

side walls

24 and 25, front wall 26, rear wall 27, and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined top wall 28. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6,'a bottom wall 29 extends forwardly from the rear wall 27 for only a portion of the length of the side walls to provide an opening in the frame above the surface to be marked through which theaerosol cans can spray. Front and

rear axles

30 and 31 extend through the side walls and rotatably support the wheels.

The aerosol cans are" supported between front and

rear panels

32 and 33 and a pair of adjustable side panels 34 and 35 (FIG. 9). The cans are supported by a base plate 36 which extends downwardly and rearwardly from the front panel 32 to the bottom wall 29 at about a 45 angle (FIG. 6). The base plate is provided with a pair of

openings

37 and 38 for receiving the conventional generally dome-

like tops

39 and 40 of the

cans

22 and 23, respectively. The

openings

37 and 38 preferably, have a diameter slightly less than the maximum diameter of the domeportions so that these portions of the cans can be held rather securely in the openings. A generally U-shaped clip 41 (FIG. 9) is secured to the base plate between the openings, and the clip 41 is formed of spring metal to hold the cans securely against the

side plates

34 and 35.

The

valves

42 and 43 of the

aerosol cans

22 and 23, respectively, are actuated simultaneously by a slide plate 45 which is slidably mounted below the base plate 36. The slide plate includes an elongated sliding or attaching portion 46 and a transversely extending valveactuating portion 47. The slide portion 46 is slidably secured to the base plate between the

openings

37 and 38 by

bolts

48 and 49 which extends through a longitudinally extending slot 50 in the slide portion. The enlarged head portions of the bolts hold the slide portion 46 adjacent the base plate, and the shank portions of the bolt cooperate with the slot 50 to guide the sliding movement of the slide plate along a line equidistant from the centers of the

openings

37 and 38. If desired, a hearing or wear plate of Teflon, nylon or other suitable material can be interposed between the slide portion and the baseplate to facilitate the sliding movement of the slide plate, and the wear plate can be slotted to accommodate the bolts.

The forward end of the slide portion is offset downwardly as at 51 to position the actuating bar 47 adjacent the

valves

42 and 43. The actuating bar is biased to a forward position out of engagement with the valves by spring 51 which is secured to a spring support plate 52 secured to the front panel 32.

As can be seen best in FIG. 6, a bell crank 54 is rotatably mounted on bracket 55 by bolt 56, and the lower end of the bell crank extends downwardly through a slot 57 in the base plate and through the rearward portion of the slot 50 in the slide bar. The particular bell crank illustrated is generally triangular, and the lower apex 58 acts as one crank armvwhile the rearward apex 59 acts as the other crank arm. An actuating cable 60 is secured to the bell crank for rotating the bell crank about the pivot 56.

The bracket 55 is formed from a pair of

bracket halves

55a and 55b which straddle the handle 17 and which are secured as by welding to the panel 33. The bracket halves are reinforced by a bolt 61 (FIG. 2) extending therethrough rearwardly of the handle.

The cable 60 is operated by a trigger 62 which is pivotally secured to the upper end of the handle by a bolt 63 (FIG. 7). The cable isheld adjacent the handle by a pair of spaced-apart clips 64 and 65 (FIG. 1), and the upper end of the cable is secured to the trigger by bolt 66. The cable extends slidably through the

clips

64 and 65, and the clips can be moved axially along the handle to vary the effective length of the cable by increasing or decreasing the slack or the distance which the cable must travel between the trigger and the bell crank.

The apparatus can be pushed with one hand by grasping the upper end of the handle, and the slide bar can be moved to actuate the can valves as the apparatus is being pushed by squeezing the trigger 62 toward the handle with the hand that is pushing the handle. As the. handle is squeezed, the cable 60 is pulled to rotate the bell crank 54 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 6 to slide the actuating bar 47 into simultaneous engagement with the two can valves.

The trigger can be releasably locked in the actuating position illustrated in FIG. 8 by means of a pin 67 which extends through the handle 17 and which is biased outwardly by a coil spring 68. The trigger 62 is provided with an opening 69 below the pin 67, and when the trigger is'squeezed to actuate the valves, the pin 67 can be depressed by the thumb to push the lower end of the pin through the opening 69 to maintain the trigger in the actuating position. The pin is retained in the locking position against the bias of the spring 68 by the force exerted by the trigger which is being pulled by the cable 60. When it is desired to release the trigger, the trigger can be squeezed slightly to remove the force on the pin 67, and the spring 68 will move the pin upwardly out of the opening 69. Thereafter, the trigger can be released, and the spring 51 will return the actuating bar 47 to the non-actuating position illustrated in FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the longitudinal axes of the spray cans are seen to be angled toward each other so that the sprays from the cans will converge toward each other. The angle of inclination of the axes of the spray cans will determine the amount of overlap of the sprays, and the width of the marking material deposited by the cans can be varied by varying this angle of inclination.

The side plates 34 and 35which support the cans can be adjusted to vary this angle of inclination. Each of the

side plates

34 and 35 include a

bottom attaching flange

70 and 71, respectively, which are suitably secured to the base plate 36, as by welding or bolts. The side plates have sufficient flexibility to permit flexing of the upwardly extending portions of the sideplates about the attaching flanges, and adjusting

screws

72 and 73 extend through the

side walls

24 and 25, respectively, into engagement with the side plates. In order to provide good threaded engagement with the side walls, a pair of internally threaded

bushings

74 and 75 may be secured to the side walls.

Referring to FIG. 9, if a relatively narrow stripe of marking material is desired, the adjusting screws 72 and 73 can be'movedoutwardly to permit the spring clip 41 to increase the included angle between the axes of the spray cans, thereby increasing the amount of overlap of the two sprays. The springclip preferably engages the cans inthe upper half thereof so that the upper ends are spread apart as'the adjusting screws are moved outwardly. If a wider stripe is desired, the screws can be moved inwardly to decrease the angle between the side plates and between the can axes and thereby decrease the amount of overlapping of the sprays.

For some applications a sharply defined stripe is desired, for example, in marking property lines, parking areas, and the like. In this event, masking plate illustrated in FIG. 11 may be used. The masking plate is provided witha central opening 81 through which the sprays from the cans can pass, and the mask is made of suitable absorbent material to prevent dripping of the marking material which does not pass through the opening. The mask can be supported in position below the spray cans by a pair of generally Z-shaped

supports

82 and 83 which can be removably secured to the

side walls

24 and 25 of the frame. The side walls are seen to have inwardly extending

bottomflanges

24a and 25a, and the upper, outwardly extending

flange portions

82a and 83a of the mask supports are secured thereto by screws 84. The lower,

flange portions

82b and 83b extend. inwardly to support the mask. When a new mask is needed, the mask can merely be lifted from the

support flanges

82b and 83b.

The handle 17 is secured to the central portion of the frame to provide good balance as the apparatus is wheeled along the surface which is being marked, and the spray cans are positioned forwardly of the handle. This provides a substantial area 85 (FIG. 6) rearwardly of the handle which is enclosed by the

side walls

24 and 25 and the rear wall 27 which can be used as a storage area for full and empty aerosol cans.

Although the specific apparatus described and illustrated is intended for use with two aerosol cans, it will be understood that the apparatus shown can be used with one can, or the apparatus could be modified slightly to accommodate only a single can. If only one can is used, the valve for the can can be selected to provide the desired width of spray. Also, the apparatus could be modified to accommodate more than two cans in a line to provide a wider stripe.

The apparatus could be used to spray both a herbicide and a paint to kill the grass that is being painted by using a base plate with two openings in front of the

openings

37 and 38 and having a second actuating bar attached to the slide plate for actuating the two forward cans. The forwardactuating bar could be attached to the bar 47 by a rod or bar extending between the valves of the front cans. The two forward cans could then spray herbicide, and the two rearward cans could spray marking material. Alternatively, the two forward cans could spray cement sealer or asphalt sealer for sealing cement or asphalt before sealing.

Further, although the particular apparatus illustrated included a cable for actuating the valve, other means such as solenoids and the like could be used.

While in the foregoing specification, a detailed description of a specific embodiment of my invention was set forth for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that many of the details herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A spraying apparatus comprising a frame having a base plate and a pair of spaced-apart side plates extending generally upwardly from the base plate, the base plate having a pair of openings, each opening adapted to receive the valve end of an aerosol spray can, the spray cans adapted to be positioned between the side plates, wheels rotatably mounted on the frame for permitting the apparatus to be rolled over a surface to be sprayed, a handle secured to the frame and extending generally upwardly therefrom for moving the apparatus along the surface, a valve-actuating plate slidably secured to the base plate for sliding movement in a direction generally parallel to the base plate, the valveactuating plate being positioned below the openings in the base plate whereby the valve-actuating plate is engageable with the can valves, means for slidably moving the valve-actuating plate into engagement with the can valves whereby the contents of the cans may be sprayed downwardly onto the surface to be sprayed, and means for varying the included angle between the side plates whereby the sprays from the aerosol cans can be made more or less convergent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including spring means secured to the base plate between the openings for biasing the upper ends of the aerosol cans away from each other and toward the side plates.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including a masking plate secured to the frame and extending below the base plate, the masking plate having an opening therethrough for controlling the pattern of the marking material deposited on the surface to be marked.

4. A spraying apparatus comprising a frame, wheels rotatably mounted on the frame for permitting the apparatus to be rolled over a surface to be sprayed, holding means on the frame for supporting a valveequipped spray can in position to dispense the contents of the can onto the surface to be sprayed, a handle secured to the frame for moving the apparatus along the surface, and actuating means movably mounted on the frame adapted to engage the valve of the container for releasing the material, the actuating means including a plate slidably secured to the frame and movable between non-actuating and actuating positions, spring means secured to the frame and to the plate for biasing the plate to the non-actuating position, crank means mounted on the frame for rotation in a plane generally perpendicular to the direction of sliding movement of the plate, the crank means being engageable with the plate whereby rotation of the crank means imparts sliding movement to the plate, and means for rotating the crank means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including a masking plate secured to the frame and extending below the holding means, the masking plate having an opening therethrough for controlling the pattern of the marking material deposited on the surface to be marked.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for slidably moving the valve-actuating plate includes a crank mounted on the frame for rotation in a plane generally perpendicular to the direction of sliding movement of the valve-actuating plate and being engageable with the valve-actuating plate, and a cable secured to the crank and extending along the handle whereby movement of the cable may rotate the crank and slide the valve-actuating plate into engagement with the can valve.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 including trigger means on the handle, the cable being secured to the trigger means whereby the cable can be moved by the trigger means to rotate the crank.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 including locking means engageable with the trigger means for releasably holding the trigger in position to actuate the can valve.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 including spring means secured to the frame and to the valve-actuating plate for biasing the plate to a non-actuating position.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the frame includes a base plate provided with an opening therethrough for receiving one end of the container, the actuating means including an actuating bar secured to the plate and. extending adjacent the opening and spaced therebelow and being movable in a plane extending generally parallel to the base plate and spaced therefrom.

11. A spraying apparatus comprising a frame having a base plate and a pair of spaced-apart side plates extending generally upwardly from the base plate, the base plate having an opening therethrough adapted to receive the valve end of an aerosol spray can, wheels rotatably mounted on the frame for permitting the apparatus to be rolled over a surface to be sprayed, a handle secured to the frame and extending generally upwardly therefrom for moving the apparatus along the surface, a valve-actuating plate slidably secured to the base plate for sliding movement in a direction generally parallel to the base plate, the valve-actuating plate being positioned below the opening in the base plate and including an actuating portion spaced from the base plate and engageable with the can valve, and means for slidably moving the valve-actuating plate to bring the actuating portion thereof into engagement with the can valve whereby the contents of the can may be sprayed downwardly onto the surface to be sprayed.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the valve-actuating plate includes an elongated slide portion slidably secured to the base plate, the actuating portion of the valve-actuating plate extending generally transversely to the slide portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the valve-actuating plate includes an elongated slide portion slidably secured to the base plate, the actuating portion of the valve-actuating plate extending generally transversely to the slide portion, the slide portion being provided with a longitudinally extending slot, a bolt extending through the slot and secured to the base plate for holding the valve-actuating plate adjacent the base plate and for guiding the sliding movement of the valveactuating plate, means for slidably moving the valve-actuating plate including a crank mounted on the frame for rotation in a plane generally perpendicular to the direction of sliding movement of the valve-actuating plate, a portion of the crank extending through the slot in the valve-actuating plate and engageable with the valve-actuating plate at the end of the slot.

14. A spraying apparatus comprising a frame including a base plate having upper and lower surfaces and having a pair of spaced-apart openings, each opening adapted to receive the valve end of an aerosol spray can, wheels rotatably mounted on the frame for permitting the apparatus to be rolled over the surface to be sprayed, a handle secured to the frame and extending generally upwardly therefrom for moving the apparatus along said surface, a slide plate having a slide portion slidably secured to the lower surface of the base plate for sliding movement in a direction generally parallel to the base plate and along a line extending generally perpendicularly to a line extending between the centers of the openings in the base plate, the slide plate including an actuating bar which is spaced from the lower surface of the base plate and which extends generally parallel to a line extending between the centers of the base plate openings, the actuating bar extending to adjacent the center of each opening in the base plate whereby the actuating bar is engageable with the valve of each spray can when the slide plate is moved, and means for slidably moving the slide plate to bring the actuating bar into engagement with the valves of each spray can whereby the contents of each can may be sprayed downwardly onto the surface to be sprayed.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which the slide portion of the slide plate extends between the openings in the base plate and the actuating bar extends transversely from the slide plate in both directions to provide the slide plate with a generally T-shape.

Claims

1. A spraying apparatus comprising a frame having a base plate and a pair of spaced-apart side plates extending generally upwardly from the base plate, the base plate having a pair of openings, each opening adapted to receive the valve end of an aerosol spray can, the spray cans adapted to be positioned between the side plates, wheels rotatably mounted on the frame for permitting the apparatus to be rolled over a surface to be sprayed, a handle secured to the frame and extending generally upwardly therefrom for moving the apparatus along the surface, a valve-actuating plate slidably secured to the base plate for sliding movement in a direction generally parallel to the base plate, the valve-actuating plate being positioned below the openings in the base plate whereby the valve-actuating plate is engageable with the can valves, means for slidably moving the valve-actuating plate into engagement with the can valves whereby the contents of the cans may be sprayed downwardly onto the surface to be sprayed, and means for varying the included angle between the side plates whereby the sprays from the aerosol cans can be made more or less convergent.

4. A spraying apparatus comprising a frame, wheels rotatably mounted on the frame for permitting the apparatus to be rolled over a surface to be sprayed, holding means on the frame for supporting a valve-equipped spray can in position to dispense the contents of the can onto the surface to be sprayed, a handle secured to the frame for moving the apparatus along the surface, and actuating means movably mounted on the frame adapted to engage the valve of the container for releasing the material, the actuating means including a plate slidably secured to the frame and movable between non-actuating and actuating positions, spring means secured to the frame and to the plate for biasing the plate to the non-actuating position, crank means mounted on the frame for rotation in a plane generally perpendicular to the direction of sliding movement of the plate, the crank means being engageable with the plate whereby rotation of the crank means imparts sliding movement to the plate, and means for rotating the crank means.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the frame includes a base plate provided with an opening therethrough for receiving one end of the container, the actuating means including an actuating bar secured to the plate and extending adjacent the opening and spaced therebelow and being movable in a plane extending generally parallel to the base plate and spaced therefrom.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the valve-actuating plate includes an elongated slide portion slidably secured to the base plate, the actuating portion of the valve-actuating plate extending generally transversely to the slide portion, the slide portion being provided with a longitudinally extending slot, a bolt extending through the slot and secured to the base plate for holding the valve-actuating plate adjacent the base plate and for guiding the sliding movement of the valve-actuating plate, means for slidably moving the valve-actuating plate including a crank mounted on the frame for rotation in a plane generally perpendicular to the direction of sliding movement of the valve-actuating plate, a portion of the crank extending through the slot in the valve-actuating plate and engageable with the valve-actuating plate at the end of the slot.