Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Apparatus – For vehicle or wheel form work
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-15
2001-05-01
Stinson, Frankie L. (Department: 1746)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Apparatus
For vehicle or wheel form work
C134S198000, C134S199000, C134S201000, C446S423000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223757
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to outdoor toyvehicle cleaning devices and, more particularly, to a portable toy car wash apparatus which simulates an actual car wash for the entertainment of small and pre-teenage children.
A particularly desirable activity for most children is assisting a parent with washing a vehicle. In fact, many children will wash their bicycles or toy cars in conjunction with the washing of the vehicle by a parent. Of course, these activities often coincide with cooling off under the spray of a garden hose.
Various devices have been proposed in the prior art which provide structures for dispensing water in an entertaining manner as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,649,867 and 5,480,336 to Briggs and Blanchard, respectively. Existing devices, however, do not provide individual control over the flow of water through each water dispensing outlet of the apparatus. In addition, the devices referenced above are not structurally adapted for a child to slide or to maneuver a toy car through.
It is therefore desirable to have a toy car wash apparatus in which individual water dispensing nozzles can be adjusted to a desired water flow. It is also desirable to have a toy car wash apparatus through which a child can slide or maneuver a toy car or bicycle. A toy car wash should be easily movable to desired locations for use or storage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A toy car wash apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention utilizes a housing which presents a top and a pair of opposed side walls that define an open front and back. The housing comprises a plurality of rigid tubes having various lengths that are coupled together with connectors of various configurations to form a generally U-shaped framework indicative of an actual drive-through type car wash. Each connector presents at least two hollow ends having identical interior diameters. The ends of each tube present identical exterior diameters and are sized to mate tightly with ends of the connectors. An adapter is configured to connect a tube to a water source, such as a garden hose, such that the entire framework can be filled with water.
A plurality of valves is coupled to various tubes for dispensing water into the interior space defined by the housing. An actuation head is attached to each valve such that a user can incrementally adjust the water stream dispensed by the valve by rotating the head. Other water dispensing devices, such as a rotating sprinkler and wand-type sprayers are also communicatively mounted to the framework.
The framework defines an open front and back through which a user can slide or maneuver a play object. A slide can extend through the open ends and be releasably attached to the framework if desired. Wheel assemblies are pivotally mounted to the base of the framework at one end. The wheel assemblies are retractable to a horizontal position parallel to the ground such that the framework bears against the ground and is thus not freely movable during use. The wheel assemblies can also be moved to a vertical position which elevates one end of the framework, allowing the lateral and longitudinal placement of the framework by lifting the opposed end and rolling the wheel supported end.
It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a toy car wash apparatus that replicates an actual car wash for the entertainment of children.
Another object of this invention is to provide a toy car wash apparatus, as aforesaid, which presents a framework through which a child can slide or maneuver a toy object.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a toy car wash apparatus, as aforesaid, having wheels adapted for lateral and longitudinal movement of the apparatus to a desired location.
A further object of this invention is to provide a toy car wash apparatus, as aforesaid, which maintains its configuration during movement to a desired location.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a toy car wash apparatus, as aforesaid, the framework of which presents a network of tubes through which water is carried and dispensed.
A further object of this invention is to provide a toy car wash apparatus, as aforesaid, which can dispense water at selectively variable flow rates from a plurality of nozzles positioned about the framework of the apparatus.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a toy car wash apparatus, as aforesaid, the framework of which presents an aesthetically attractive cover.
Another object of this invention is to provide a toy car wash apparatus, as aforesaid, which presents a variety of different water dispensing components.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a toy car wash apparatus, as aforesaid, which can dispense water from a variety of angles relative to a user.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention.
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patent: 5480336 (1996-01-01), Blanchard
patent: 5638843 (1997-06-01), Strickland
patent: 5649867 (1997-07-01), Briggs
patent: 244171 (1965-04-01), None
patent: 437672 (1926-03-01), None
patent: 22963 (1956-11-01), None
Horvath Joseph R.
Horvath Roger C.
Ream Dale J.
Stinson Frankie L.
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