Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids – Process – Gas or vapor contact with treated material
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-12
2001-10-09
Wilson, Pamela (Department: 3749)
Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids
Process
Gas or vapor contact with treated material
C034S443000, C034S448000, C034S069000, C034S092000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298578
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing a liquid from a surface.
More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for drying a tennis court or other surface.
When concrete, asphalt, or similar “hard surface” outdoor tennis courts become wet, the courts are typically dried by using a squeegee having a long handle to push water off to the side of the court and by then allowing any remaining moisture to evaporate of its own accord from the court. Utilizing a squeegee to clear water from a tennis court or other hard surface has disadvantages. First, the squeegee usually will not remove all water from a tennis court. Some water escapes around the ends of the squeegee. Remaining water tends to puddle in low areas in the court. Second, if it is necessary to allow remaining water to evaporate from a tennis court, two or three or four hours may pass before the court is dry and can again be utilized. Third, in humid climates the evaporation of water from a tennis court can take a long time.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved apparatus and method for drying a tennis court.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for removing liquid from a surface.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method for drying a hard surface like a tennis court.
Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for removing water from a surface and for quickly drying the surface.
These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawing.
Briefly, in accordance with my invention, I provide an improved apparatus for drying a surface. The apparatus includes a frame; at least one ground engaging wheel mounted on the frame to support the frame above the surface and facilitate movement of the frame over the surface; water removal apparatus mounted on the frame to remove water from the surface; heat producing apparatus mounted on the frame to produce heat which is absorbed by the surface and promotes the evaporation of water from the surface; and, motive power apparatus for moving the frame over the surface.
In another embodiment of the invention, I provide a method for drying a surface. The method includes the steps of providing liquid removal apparatus including a frame; at least one ground engaging wheel mounted on the frame to support the frame above the surface and facilitate movement of the frame over the surface; liquid removal apparatus mounted on the frame to remove permanently at least a portion of liquid on the surface; heat producing apparatus mounted on the frame to produce heat which is absorbed by the surface and promotes the evaporation of liquid from the surface; and, motive power apparatus for moving the frame over the surface. The method also includes the step of utilizing the motive power apparatus to move the liquid removal apparatus over the surface such that the liquid removal apparatus removes liquid from the surface and the heat producing means produces heat which is absorbed by the surface and promotes the evaporation of at least a portion of the liquid from the surface.
In a further embodiment of the invention, I provide a method for drying a ground surface. The method includes the steps of providing liquid removal apparatus to suction liquid off the ground surface; providing heat producing apparatus to dry the ground surface; operating the liquid removal apparatus to remove a liquid from the ground surface; and, operating the heat producing apparatus to produce heat which is absorbed by the surface and promotes the evaporation of at least a portion of the liquid from the ground surface.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4133072 (1979-01-01), Face, Jr.
patent: 4571849 (1986-02-01), Gardner et al.
patent: 5533577 (1996-07-01), Jucker
patent: 5548905 (1996-08-01), Kuma et al.
patent: 6049943 (2000-04-01), Carter
Nissle P.C. Tod R.
Wilson Pamela
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