Resurfacing apparatus and process
First Claim
1. A method of resurfacing a surface comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a self-propelled resurfacing device including at least a pair of drive wheels, said device having front and rear faces, and provided with free-floating, spreading and smoothing means on said front and rear faces, the device further including end brush means mounted on said frame in laterally spaced relationship, said end brush means laterally adjustable along at least said front face;
(b) aligning said device along one end portion of the surface;
(c) adjusting said end brush means along the frame to establish a desired lateral space therebetween;
(d) depositing a mass of resurfacing material on said surface along the said front face of the device; and
(e) moving said device across said surface so that said spreading and smoothing means spreads and smooths said resurfacing material uniformly across at least the entire surface between said end brushes, and wherein said spreading and smoothing means erases tracks in said resurfacing material caused by said drive wheels.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus are provided for resurfacing recreational (e.g., tennis) courts and other surfaces. The apparatus includes self-contained drive means including drive wheels mounted on an elongated frame structure, and additionally supported for rolling movement on a plurality of casters. The apparatus is provided with flexible blade and brush elements for spreading and smoothing court resurfacing material uniformly across the surface. In a forward resurfacing direction, flexible squeegee-type blades, with or without associated brushes, engage the resurfacing material ahead of the device, while flexible brush elements engage the resurfacing material behind the device to erase tracks caused by the drive wheels and casters, and to effect final smoothing and texturing of the resurfacing material. The drive wheels may be moved into and out of ground engaging contact, and a steering device provides for lifting one or the other of the drive wheels out of ground engaging contact. The device is movable in one direction to resurface an entire tennis court in a single pass. In a related aspect, tape is applied over the court boundary lines prior to resurfacing, and removed after resurfacing. Multiple coats of resurfacing material may be applied, in the same, or different directions.
56 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of resurfacing a surface comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a self-propelled resurfacing device including at least a pair of drive wheels, said device having front and rear faces, and provided with free-floating, spreading and smoothing means on said front and rear faces, the device further including end brush means mounted on said frame in laterally spaced relationship, said end brush means laterally adjustable along at least said front face; (b) aligning said device along one end portion of the surface; (c) adjusting said end brush means along the frame to establish a desired lateral space therebetween; (d) depositing a mass of resurfacing material on said surface along the said front face of the device; and (e) moving said device across said surface so that said spreading and smoothing means spreads and smooths said resurfacing material uniformly across at least the entire surface between said end brushes, and wherein said spreading and smoothing means erases tracks in said resurfacing material caused by said drive wheels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Resurfacing apparatus comprising:
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frame means provided with front and rear faces; a plurality of wheel means mounted on the underside of said frame means between said front and rear faces; free floating flexible blade means mounted on, and extending along said front face of said frame, and free floating brush means mounted on, and extending along said rear face of said frame, and end brush means mounted along, and extending forwardly and substantially perpendicularly to each of said front and rear faces; said flexible blade, brush and one portion of said end brush means adapted to engage a mass of resurfacing material applied to a surface at an angle of about 45°
relative to vertical during forward movement of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Resurfacing apparatus for uniformly spreading material across a surface comprising:
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a frame including a front face and a rear face; a leading material applicator extending from said front face and including leading squeegee-type blade means and first trailing brush means; a trailing material applicator extending from said rear face and including at least leading brush means, wherein said leading and trailing applicators are mounted for free floating pivotal motion relative to said frame, and wherein a pair of end brush devices are provided for each of the front and rear faces of said frame, said end brushes extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to said front and rear applicators and adapted for sliding movement along said front and rear faces of said frame. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification