Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – Brushing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2001-07-17
Edwards, Laura (Department: 1734)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
Brushing
C015S097300, C015SDIG002, C118S684000, C118S244000, C118S255000, C118S258000, C118S264000, C118S304000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260225
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of vehicle cleaning machines and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for coating tires.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle washing services have been known for decades. Generally, such washing services utilize automated washing machines that are designed to wash particular portions of the vehicles. For example, vertical surfaces of the vehicle body are normally washed using a relatively large and long brush rotating about a generally vertical axis that washes those surfaces as the vehicle moves through the washing station. The vehicle is either driven or conveyed through the washing station.
Other special washing machines are designed to clean the vehicle's tires as it moves through the washing station. Such tire washing machines often use a long brush that is rotating with respect to a horizontal axis and is moved into contact with the vehicle tires by a cylinder or other means. Washing and rinsing fluids are sprayed through a common nozzle onto the tire, the rotating brush or both. While such machines are effective at removing dirt from the tires, after the wash, the tires are generally a flat color that is not visually attractive. Further, the nature of the tire material causes them to again quickly collect dirt and look even less attractive.
For many years, there have been commercially available coatings that are manually applied to vehicle tires to substantially improve their appearance and make them more dirt resistant. In the environment of a full service vehicle cleaning business, the requirement of having to manually apply the coating is labor intensive, expensive and adds valuable time to a vehicle cleaning cycle. Further, manually applied coatings may be inconsistently applied especially at the area where the tire meets the ground. Thus, there is a need for an apparatus and method for automatically applying such a coating to tires after they have been cleaned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a tire coating apparatus that automatically applies a consistent, high quality tire coating to the tires of a vehicle. The tire coating apparatus of the present invention produces coated tires that are very pleasing in appearance, and coated tires normally look cleaner longer than uncoated tires. Further, the coating provides some protection for the tires against the harmful effects of ultraviolet light. The tire coating apparatus of the present invention is especially useful in combination with facilities that have automatic vehicle cleaning machines. Thus, the tire coating machine of the present invention is efficient and economical to install and use.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention and in accordance with the described embodiments, the present invention provides a tire coating machine for applying a coating to a vehicle tire. The machine includes a brush and a positioner for supporting the brush and moving the brush into contact with the tire. A first fluid path is connected to a source of a first fluid and directs the first fluid to the brush, and a second fluid path is connected to a source of a second fluid and directs the second fluid to the brush. The first and second fluids saturate the brush, and the brush transfers at least the second fluid to the tire.
In one aspect of the invention, the first fluid is water; and the second fluid is a tire coating fluid, for example, a silicone-type tire coating. In another aspect of the invention, the first and second fluid paths include respective first and second nozzles for first wetting the brush with water and thereafter wetting the brush with the coating solution.
The coating machine of the present invention has the advantages of utilizing minimal floor space, requiring no manual labor and providing a consistent coating in a minimal amount of time.
A second embodiment of the invention provides a method of executing a tire coating operation comprising applying during a first period of time a first fluid to a brush, applying during a subsequent, second period of time a second fluid to the brush, and thereafter moving the brush into contact with the tire to apply at least the second fluid to the tire. In one aspect of this second embodiment, the first fluid is water and the second fluid is a tire coating fluid.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description together with the drawings herein.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3208089 (1965-09-01), Vani
patent: 3305886 (1967-02-01), Fricke
patent: 3345666 (1967-10-01), Hanna et al.
patent: 3346895 (1967-10-01), Consolo
patent: 3403417 (1968-10-01), Hanna et al.
patent: 3628212 (1971-12-01), Van Brakel
patent: 3822431 (1974-07-01), Van Brakel
patent: 4020518 (1977-05-01), Harding et al.
patent: 4312090 (1982-01-01), Durcan
patent: 4694523 (1987-09-01), Van Brakel
patent: 4985957 (1991-01-01), Belanger et al.
patent: 5052629 (1991-10-01), Belanger et al.
patent: 5123136 (1992-06-01), Belanger et al.
patent: 5125981 (1992-06-01), Belanger et al.
patent: 5134742 (1992-08-01), Ennis
patent: 5463788 (1995-11-01), Ennis
Edwards Laura
Wood Herron & Evans L.L.P.
LandOfFree
Tire coating apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Tire coating apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tire coating apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2508280