Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Assembling or joining
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-11
2001-11-20
Hughes, S. Thomas (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Assembling or joining
C029S428000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317958
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a vehicle laundering device of the type having multiple depending cloth elements which contact an external surface of a vehicle or other structure to be treated and which are set in motion by an overhead drive assembly. The invention relates in particular to such a laundering device that presents a distinctive and attention-getting visual appearance, which is inexpensive to construct and which facilitates reconstruction by replacement of the cloth elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle laundry systems have evolved from designs having rotatable top and side brushes with long polypropylene strands toward the use of brushes and curtains with cloth elements made of non-woven, synthetic felt. The mounting end of the element is typically formed by folding the material of the element back over a plastic insert and thereafter stitching the folded material to form an edge bead which is inserted into a slot formed in a carrier or hub. Examples of this type of vehicle laundry system as applied to brushes can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,028 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,014.
In a prior art curtain-type device with multiple depending cloth elements, extruded metal slats are assembled in parallel groups and suspended for oscillatory motion over a vehicle lane. The bottoms of the slats are provided with longitudinal keyways which receive the edge bead of the cloth elements. An arrangement of several such slats is typically supported above a vehicle laundering station by means of a four-legged structure constructed of square or rectangular beams. A drive system is typically mounted on a platform in the center of the structure and is connected to the racks by suitable linkages to move them longitudinally or transversely of a wash lane.
Such prior art curtain laundry systems have several drawbacks, each of which is addressed by our invention as set forth herein. First, the overall appearance of the prior art curtain laundry station is “mechanically busy”; i.e., there is a strong sense of the profusion of beams and slats which is at odds with efforts to make vehicle laundries more aesthetically pleasing to the customer, both inside and outside the building.
Second, the prior art curtain-type devices are further lacking in visual appeal to the customer by virtue of being constructed essentially without color; i.e., the device is usually constructed from metal beams and plates which are aluminum or steel color, or may be the color of a corrosion inhibiting paint.
Third, the cost of constructing such a system is high as a result of the quantity of material needed and the labor required to build or assemble the system on site.
Fourth, the support structure takes up a great deal of valuable space and this opposes the increasing demand to include more laundry features and stations in a given conveyor corridor length.
Fifth, where left and right banks of curtain elements are employed in a single support structure, a substantial gap exists between them and this gap may lead to inadequate cleaning of the vehicle along the longitudinal centerline thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Common to all aspects and/or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein is an improved laundering implement for cleaning or treating an external surface of a vehicle or other article includes a fixed overhead support member, a plurality of replaceable cloth elements having an elongate fabric body engageable with the treated surface, and an interface structure pivotally; i.e., rotatably, mounted directly or indirectly to the support member and adapted to releasably secure and cause motion of the depending cloth elements when actuated by a drive assembly. The term “interface” is used herein to denote a structure which mounts to a stationary assembly but which can move or pivot relative to that assembly and which bridges a space gap between a support assembly and the plurality of depending cloth elements.
According to one aspect of the invention, the interface structure adds a distinctive and attention-getting appearance factor to the structure by carrying one or more surface colors arranged such as to be visible to users of the structure whether they be in an automobile being treated or standing in a pedestrian lane next to the treatment station.
In the preferred form, this is achieved by constructing the interface structure of a material, such as plastic, to which color may be permanently added by dyeing the raw material from which the individual elements of a multi-element interface structure is manufactured.
In an illustrative example, hereinafter described in detail, the interface structure comprises a plurality of hollow plastic spacer bodies pivotally arranged in parallel fashion on an overhead, horizontal support member for concerted motion relative thereto. Means are provided for clamping the spacer bodies in the parallel array with cloth elements between adjacent spacers and depending therefrom to permit easy removal and replacement. The spacers may be uniformly or variably colored to match or contrast with the cloth elements and may be custom colored to either match or serve as a corporate identity logo. This is particularly advantageous for use of the laundry implement in or in connection with a service station or convenience store because the national outlets typically have logos or trade identities of which colors are a prominent part.
As hereinafter described and illustrated in detail with reference to several illustrative embodiments, the curtain is made up of multiple depending cloth elements arranged in a generally vertically extending planar form or an approximation thereof. The cloth elements may be slitted to form vertically extending fingers which contact the surface to be processed. The cloth elements are elongate rectangles, or approximations thereof, and are mounted on and between stacked spacers. The stacked spacers are compressibly clamped to capture and anchor sandwiched cloth elements interposed between adjacent spacers.
The terms “laundering” and “cleaning,” as used herein, refer primarily to the operation of wet washing a vehicle, but may also be construed to include wet and dry polishing functions, as well as other processing or treating functions performed by engagement with an external surface of an article, not necessarily a vehicle.
According to another aspect of the invention, individual vehicle laundry brush and/or curtain elements are provided which require no edge bead inserts. The elements are constructed and arranged so as to minimize the time and difficulty involved in attaching the elements to a carrier. The elements are also less expensive to manufacture. In some cases, all stitching can be eliminated from the cloth elements. This can be achieved in various ways, one of which is to die cut holes in the cloth elements, thereby to receive pins extending between adjacent surfaces of the interface spacer bodies. Another way is to create tongue and groove structure in adjacent spacer bodies which capture and hold the cloth elements firmly therebetween.
The laundering implement of the present invention is light in weight, accommodates cloth elements in a stacked or sandwiched array, and facilitates rebuilding or reconstruction of the laundering implement to replace the cloth elements. The laundering implement can include a plurality of carrier or spacer bodies arranged in parallel, stacked or sandwiched relation and having in each case at least one face which lies adjacent to, but not necessarily in contact with a mating face of an adjacent spacer. The spacers can be formed as hollow, lightweight bodies, preferably constructed of color impregnable plastic. Metal end plates by which the spacers are clamped together may be secured to a drive element such that a rotary or oscillatory drive force may be imparted to the spacers and to the cloth elements anchored or captured therebetween.
The spacers comprising the interface structure of an oscillating curtain-type laundering implement are generally rectangular in shape and are
Belanger Michael J.
Wentworth Robert J.
Blount Steven A
Hughes S. Thomas
Young & Basile
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