Untitled record

March 8, 1966

H. C. SWEET

LINE MARKER

3,239,147

Filed Feb. 24, 1964

Sheets-Sheet 1

174

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150

142 144

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172

114

116

112

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102

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116

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150

160

152

126

144

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104 108

136

102 146

176

108 86

80'

140

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102 124

172

<img file="US3239147A_D0007.tif" />

122

178

142

8,6

134

132

130 106 (HQ

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116

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100

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INVENTOR.

HAROLD C. SWEET

ATTORNEYS

March 8, 1966

H. C. SWEET

LINE MARKER

3,239,147

<img file="US3239147A_D0010.tif" />

<img file="US3239147A_D0011.tif" />

ATTORNEYS

3,239,147

Patented Mar. 8, 1966

United States Patent Office

3,239,147

LINE MARKER

Harold C. Sweet, 56861 Grand River Ave., New Hudson, Mich.

Filed Feb. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 346,947

Claims. (Cl. 239—150)

This invention relates to line marking equipment and more particularly to devices wherein marking liquid is sprayed uniformly in a continuous line onto the ground or other surface from a vehicle adapted to be pushed along the surface to be marked.

Many vehicles of this kind have heretofore been provided or suggested wherein a reservoir of marking fluid is supported on a frame having wheels along its lower section and a handle at its upper end. A masking device and/or nozzle is provided forward of the frame and suitably sprays and masks the marking fluid.

The present invention is a line marking machine generally of this type but includes several novel and important improvements over these prior devices.

It is an objectt of the present invention to provide a line marking device of this kind wherein the masking device is easily and conveniently adjustable for various line widths.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a line marking device of this kind which is readily and easily disassembled, leaving a conventional hand truck.

Another object is to provide a spray handle and rod in such a device which is easily removed for independent hand spraying of paint, insecticides or any other similar material.

Still another object is to provide a device of this kind which is normally fixed to produce a uniform straight or curved line and including adjusting means for regulating the desired radius of curvature of the produced line.

Another object is to provide a device having means for supporting an extra reservoir of fluid and also means preventing the extra reservoir from accidentally falling off the device.

Yet another object is to provide a well adjacent the end of the spray nozzle accommodating the nozzle when the latter is not in use so as to prevent clogging of the nozzle passage.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof. The description makes reference to the drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present line marking device in its operating position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present device in operating position, shown without its supply can;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device in its raised position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front end view of the carriage showing various positions of the masks in phantom;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5—5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the device in parked position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detail side view showing the retaining means for the liquid tank;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of the hinged connection between the truck and the spray member;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the carriage and spraying assembly; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the valve assembly mounted in place on the spraying assembly.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the line marking device of the present invention generally comprises a truck member 10, a spray member 12 pivotally connected to the truck member, a tank or reservoir of marking liquid 14, and a valved spraying assembly, generally indicated at 16.

The truck member 10 comprises a pair of tubular metal side members or arms 18 and 20 fixed at opposite ends of the rear edge of a rectangular metal platform 22. The side members extend upwardly from the platform in a parallel manner and then converge together at their upper ends as indicated at 24. A horizontal bar 26 is welded to the upper end 24 of the side members 18 and 20, and is provided with rubber handles 28. A series of parallel supporting strips 30 extend horizontally between the rear faces of the arms 18 and 20 at spaced points. A vertical strip 31 extends between the uppermost and lowermost strips 30 and is welded to their rear faces.

A pair of small spaced-apart parallel plates 32 are welded to the outer face of the arm 20 adjacent its upper end. These small plates 32 include aligned holes through which cotter pin 34 is removably disposed. The cotter pin 34 passes through a similar hole at the end of an elongated actuating lever 36 whihc projects horizontally from the arm.

Each arm or side member 18 and 20 is provided with a small rearwardly projecting bracket 38 at a point substantially midway along its length. Each bracket 38 includes holes 40 therethrough as shown in FIG. 8. A large trapezoidal metal panel 42 is fixed to the lower portion of each side member 18 and 20 and projects rearwardly therefrom. A shaft 44 extends between the panels 42 and is fixed in a hole in each of these members. A wheel 46 fits on each end of the shaft 44 where it projects through the panel 42. A nut 48 retains the wheel rotatably in place on the shaft.

The shaft 44 is situated at such a distance above the plane of the platform 22 that the wheels 46 contact the ground or other supporting surface at all times except when the truck member 10 is disposed with its side members 18 and 20 in a vertical position as shown in FIG. 6. When the truck member 10 is in this last “parking” position, the platform 22 contacts the ground, thus suspending the wheels 46 off the ground. The platform thus acts as a type of brake in this position.

A can of marking liquid 14 is removably mounted on the rear of the truck member 10. As shown in FIG. 7, this can includes an upper annular lip 50, a lower annular projecting flange 52, a rotatable axially movable pressure handle 54, and an outlet tube 56. An L-shaped bracket 58 is welded to the rear of the vertical strip 31 below the uppermost horizontal strip 30. The rearwardly projecting leg of the bracket 58 is provided with a bolt 60 projecting upwardly. An L-shaped clip 62 is provided with a hole in one of its legs which fits over the bolt 60. The other leg of the clip 62 fits around the lip 50 so as to retain the can 14 in place. A hairpin cotter 64 fits through a hole in the pin 60 and thereby locks the entire assembly together. A clip 66 is fixed to the vertical strip 31 adjacent the lowermost horizontal strip 30 and projects upwardly. This clip fits around the lower flange 52 on the can 14 so as to retain the lower end of the can in place.

The spray member 12 comprises a tubular fork member 68 having a collar portion 70, and diverging arms 72 and 74. Caps 76 at the ends of the arms 72 and 74 seal them against dirt and other undesirable elements. Each arm includes an inwardly projecting pin 78 adapted to fit in the hole 40 of the bracket 38 as illustrated in FIG. 8. The fork 68 is constructed such that the normal or relaxed distance between the pins 78 is less than the distance between the holes 40. Thus the arms 72 and 74 must be spread apart in order to be mounted on the brackets 38. The resulting tension in the -fork causes the arms 72 and 74 to fit tightly against the side members 18 and 20 with the pins 78 in pivoting position in the holes 40.

The spray member 12 also includes a carriage 80 pivotably connected to the collar portion 70 of the fork

3,239,147 ³ member 68. The carriage 80 is comprised of a masking assembly 82 having a wheel 84 mounted at its rearward end. The masking assembly includes a horizontal elongated rectangular plate 86 having a pair of small pins 88 and 90 welded to its lower face so as to project on both long edges of the plate. The ends 92 of the forward pin 88 are bent slightly upwardly. The ends 94 of the second pin 90 are bent slightly rearwardly.

An L-shaped wheel support 96 is welded to the upper face of the rearward end of the plate 86. The wheel 84 is held in place on the wheel support by means of bolt 98 and nut 100 on a shaft 101 passing through the wheel and a hole in the wheel support 96. A carriage arm 102, in the form of a short section of tubing, is welded to the mid-portion of upper face of the plate 86. A bolt 104 passes vertically through the collar portion 70 of the fork member 68, through the arm 102, and the plate 86. A nut 106 is threaded on the lower end of the bolt 104 and holds the entire assembly together. A small cup or tube 108 is welded on the upper face of the plate 86 forward of the carriage arm 102, just above a spray hole 110 in the plate 86. The cup 108 is inclined forward slightly.

A pair of mask supports 112 and 114 are mounted along opposite edges of the plate 86 on the pins 88 and 90. Each mask support 112 and 114 consists of an L-shaped plate 116 having a retaining flap 118 welded and bent into position at one end thereof. A plurality of holes 120 are provided in the short leg of the plate 116. A circular hole 122 is provided adjacent the upper edge of the longer leg of the plate 116 and an elongated slot 124 is provided at the opposite end of this leg.

A mask 126 mounted on each mask support 112 and 114 takes the form of a flat plate having rounded lower corners 128. One upper corner of the mask 126 fits slidingly under the flap 118 and includes a flange 130 at its upper edge which acts as a stop in preventing the mask from sliding past the flap. A screw 132, which passes through an elongated slot 134 in the mask 126, passes through the mask support 112 and 114 and is locked rigidly in place by means of a nut 136. The mask 126 is thus held in place in the support 112 and 114; the screw 132 and flap 118 permit vertical sliding movement of the mask with respect to the support. Thus, when the masks and supports are in place in the device, the masks will accommodate to rocks, uneven ground or other obstacles by sliding vertically in their supports.

The mask support 114 also includes a well or cup 138 which is welded to the outer face of the long leg of the plate 116 in an inclined position, similar to that of the cup 108 on the plate 86.

Each mask support 112 and 114 is mounted on the pins 88 and 90 with the rearwardly bent ends 94 projecting through the holes 122, and the upwardly bent ends 92 extending through the slots 124. In this manner the short legs of the plates 116 lie across one another. The mask supports 112 and 114 are pivotable on the pins 88 and 90 in the direction of the extension of the pins. The holes 120 in the plates 116 are so disposed that different holes in the two plates become aligned when the angle of inclination of the plates is varied in this manner. The mask supports 112 and 114 may therefore be pivoted in this manner until the distance between their lower edges is equal to the desired width of the line to be marked. When the desired position of the supports 112 and 114 is attained, a locking pin 140 is placed in the aligned holes 120, thus locking the supports against further movement.

The arm 72 of the fork member 68 includes a small projection 142 supporting a short tubular section 144. A second short tubular section 146 is fixed to the upper surface of the carriage arm 102 by means of a bolt 145 and cotter pin 147 and is threaded along its interior length. A turning crank 148, having a bent handle section 150 at its upper end is journaled in the tubular section 144 and is threaded at its lower end so as to en4 gage the threads in the the tubular section 146. Rotation of the crank 148 thus causes the carriage arm to pivot about the bolt 104, thereby producing a rotational movement of the entire carriage about the bolt 104. The 5 position of the crank 148 thus controls the orientation of the front wheel 84, and hence controls the direction of movement of the entire device when it is pushed forward.

The spraying assembly 16 is comprised of a metal spray rod 152 having a manual valve assembly 154 at one end as shown in FIG. 10. A pivotally mounted valve handle 156 is adapted to open the valve when it is pivoted upwardly. The inlet 158 to the valve assembly 154 is connected by means of a rubber hose 160 15 to the outlet tube 56 on the can 14.

A small plate 162 welded to the arm 74 of the fork member 68 is provided with a bolt 164 and a stop 166. A clip 168 extends about the bolt 164 and the valve assembly 154 and thereby secures the latter in place. 20 The stop 166 resists upward pivoting of the valve assembly 154 and clip 168 about the bolt 164.

A pair of parallel teeth or prongs 170 project downwardly from the lower surface of the handle 156. A connecting rod 172 extends between the actuating lever 25 36 and the handle 156. The upper end of the rod 172 is hooked and is held pivotally in the lever 36 by means of a cotter pin 174. The lower end of the rod is also hooked and extends about the valve assembly 154 between the prongs 170. Upward movement of the lever 30 36 thus induces an upward movement of the handle 156, thereby opening the valve so as to permit the marking liquid to flow into the spray rod 152.

The lower end of the spray rod 152 is bent at right angles and terminates in a spray nozzle 176. The pin 35 mounting of the valve assembly 154 on the arm 74 permits a limited pivoting movement of the spray rod 152. Thus the spray rod may be shifted between positions where the nozzle 176 rests in the cup 108 or in the well 138. When the nozzle is in the cup 108, actua40 tion of the lever 36 causes marking liquid to flow through the nozzle 176 onto the ground or other surface between the masks 126.

The present line marking device has three positions for storage and use. In the first or parking position, 45 as shown in FIG. 6, the truck member 10 is vertical, and the platform 22 rests upon the ground with the wheels 46 suspended thereabove. The platform then acts as a kind of brake device.

The second position is that shown in FIG. 2. This is 50 the actuating position in which the marking liquid is sprayed onto the ground or other surface. In this position, the wheels 46 rest on the ground with the platform 22 disposed above. The truck member 10 is inclined at an angle from the vertical. To operate the de55 vice in this position, the can 14 is first connected to the valve assembly 154 and then is pressurized by pumping the pressure handle 54. The crank 148 is then rotated until the device rolls along the ground on a path having the desired degree of curvature. The device is 60 brought to the point where the marking is to begin, the lever 36 is actuated and the device rolled forward. When the apparatus is to be parked for some period of time, the nozzle of the spray rod 152 is raised out of the spray hole 110 and is placed in the well 138, which is 65 normally filled with water or other suitable solvent. This prevents clogging of the nozzle when the marking liquid is not flowing through the device.

The third position of the device is shown in FIG. 3 wherein the truck member 10 is inclined further towards 70 the horizontal. The front edge of the platform 22 strikes the arms 72 and 74 of the fork member 68 and raises the latter member above its normal position. The front wheel 84 is thereby raised off the ground. The device is easily turned about when it is thus supported solely 75 on its rear wheels 46.

3,239,147

The platform 22 serves as a storage shelf for an extra or supply can 178 of marking liquid. The arms 72 and 74 of the fork member 68 converge towards the front of the device. As a result, the supply can 178 is prevented from falling forward off the device; the can may only 5 be removed in the vertical direction parallel to the side members 18 and 20.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the spray member 12. A tube 180 is welded to the front end of the plate 86. A second and third tube 182 telescope χθ within opposite ends of the first tube 180. A mask support and mask assembly 184 similar to that shown with respect to the first embodiment of the invention is welded to the center of the tube 180 and at the end of the second and third tubes 182 at which it is supported on wheels 15 186. The first tube is provided with a pair of holes 188, and the second and third tubes with a series of spaced similar holes 190 therethrough which are aligned with the first hole when the second and third tubes are moved to different positions in the first tube. A hairpin cotter 20 192 passes through the holes 188 and 190 when they are aligned. The second and third tubes 182 may be thus positioned and locked in the first tube 180 so that a desired distance between the various masking assemblies 184 is obtained. 25

This embodiment of the invention employs extension spray rods 194 having a transverse connector member 196. The upper end of the connector 196 is connected tp the main spray rod 152. The spray nozzle 176 is threadably mounted at the lower end of the connector ³θ member and fits in the cup 108. The extension spray rods 194 fit into the sides of the connector. The main spray rod 152 is adapted to pass liquid into the connector and thence into the rod 194 and the spray nozzle 176. The opposite ends of the rod 194 have downwardly ex- ³⁵tending nozzles 198 which each fit in an opening in the masking assembly 184. Liquid introduced into the rod 194 is thus emitted as a spray through the masking assembly 184.

If desirable, only a single extension masking assem- ⁴⁰bly 184 may be employed in addition to the central masking assembly. A variety of extension spray rods 194 must be supplied to accommodate the various positions of the telescoping tubes 182. It can be seen that the same type of structure as disclosed herein can easily be 45 adapted to provide any number of parallel lines, each having its own width.

When the line marking device shown in the above embodiments of the invention is not to be used for a period of time, the entire device may be disassembled. 50 This may be easily done by first pulling the cotter pins 34 and 64, and removing the can from the truck member 10. The spray member 12 is removed by spreading the arms 72 and 74 and pulling them out of the brackets 38. The entire valved spray assembly 16 and 55 spray member 12 are then removed as a unit from the truck member 10.

When the present line marking device is to be used for marking something other than lines and the masks are not needed, the valve assembly 154 with its rod 152 may 60 be easily pulled out of its clip 168 and off the rod 172 and operated manually. The can and spraying assembly can be used in the same manner for miscellaneous spraying of insecticides or other liquids.

This invention may be embodied in other forms or 65 carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments of the invention are therefore to be considered as in all respects illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, 70 and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.