Movable device for applying a marking composition from an aerosol container onto a surface

• US 6,062,443 A
• Filed: 04/22/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Smrt
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Smrt
• Inventors: Smrt, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAVER, KEVIN P
• Application Number:
  US09/064,255
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 222/608, 222/609, 222/611.1, 222/610, 222/612, 222/614, 239/172, 118/305
• US Class Current: 222/608
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/007 At least a part of the apparatus, e.g. a container, being provided with means, e.g. wheels, for allowing its displacement relative to the ground
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/203 comprising an extension rod located between the aerosol container and the hand grip setting-out line markings on playing courts A63C19/065; marking-out on finished paving by spraying from aerosol containers E01C23/227
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/227 the marking material being supplied in aerosol containers

Abstract

A movable marking device including a wheeled chassis on which a plurality of aerosol container discharging mechanisms may be selectively mounted in provided. Each of the aerosol container discharging mechanisms is adapted to allow for the remote discharge of an aerosol container filled with a marking composition. Through the selective mounting of the discharging mechanisms one or more marks of one or more colors may be selectively applied to a surface during a single pass. The discharging mechanisms may be also mounted on the chassis such that a mark may be applied on a generally vertical surface adjacent to the surface over which the marking device is traversing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for discharging the contents of at least one aerosol container having an actuator that is movable between discharging and non-discharging positions onto a surface comprising:

a chassis having an open center portion;

a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to the chassis for supporting the chassis over the surface;

a handle arranged on the chassis for controlling movement of the apparatus as it moves over the surface;

a plurality of mounting structures arranged on the chassis, and

at least one aerosol container discharging mechanism that can be selectively mounted on any of the chassis mounting structures and selectively positioned to permit an aerosol container mounted therein to discharge into either the open center portion of the chassis or outboard of the chassis, the at least one aerosol container discharging mechanism comprising;

a structure configured to retain an aerosol container in an inverted position,

an actuating assembly that effects movement of the aerosol container actuator retained in the structure between discharging and non-discharging positions, and

a trigger mechanism operable to control movement of the actuating assembly and thereby an aerosol container actuator container actuator between discharging and non-discharging positions.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of aerosol container discharging mechanisms which can be selectively mounted on any of the chassis mounting structures.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mounting structures comprise upstanding posts arranged on the chassis.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the upstanding posts are threaded and the aerosol container discharging mechanism can be secured in position on any of the posts by a nut which is threaded on the respective post.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the distance between the container retaining structure and the surface can be selectively adjusted by arranging one or more spacers on the respective post on which the aerosol container discharging mechanism is mounted.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein one of the one or more spacers has an angled surface such that the container retaining structure of the aerosol container discharging mechanism mounted on the respective post is angled upward relative to the surface such that the contents of an aerosol container retained in the retaining structure can be selectively discharged onto a vertical surface.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a base member rotatably mounted to the underside of the aerosol container retaining structure and having an opening within which an aerosol container actuator seats such that the aerosol container actuator can be selectively rotated through rotation of the base member.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further including an arm attached to the base member for controlling rotation of the base member.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating assembly includes a push rod which is mounted on the aerosol container retaining structure for transverse movement relative to the aerosol container held in the container retaining structure between a discharging position, wherein the push rod displaces the aerosol container actuator between the discharging position and a non-discharging position.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein movement of the push rod is controlled by an actuating cable having a first end which is attached to the container retaining structure and a second end which is selectively mountable to a cable mounting structure provided on the handle, the actuating cable including a trigger wire which is arranged for longitudinal sliding movement in an outer protective sheath.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the longitudinal sliding movement of the trigger wire is translated into transverse movement of the push rod by a bell crank which is rotatably mounted on the container retaining structure.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further including a spring attached to the actuator wire such that the spring biases the trigger wire to a position wherein the push rod is in the non-discharging position.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the trigger mechanism includes a trigger lever arm which is pivotally mounted to the handle such that when the trigger lever arm is pivoted from a non-discharging position to a discharging position the trigger lever arm engages and pivots a cam member pivotally mounted to the handle adjacent the cable mounting structure which thereby engages and slidably moves the trigger wire such that the push rod is moved into the discharging position.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a cam member is provided for each of the respective chassis mounting structures.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the cam members are mounted to the handle such that the individual cam members can be selectively moved into a position wherein they are not engaged by the trigger lever arm as it is pivoted between the discharging and non-discharging positions.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the surface of the cam member is configured so as to frictionally catch and hold the triggering lever in the discharging position.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one pair of wheels are mounted to the chassis by an axle such that the wheels and axle rotate when the apparatus is moved relative to the surface and the apparatus further comprising at least one follower member rotatably mounted to the chassis in substantially parallel relation to the axle such that an aerosol container can be supported by and between the follower member and the axle for effecting rotation of said aerosol container.

18. An apparatus for discharging the contents of one or more aerosol containers having an actuator which is movable between discharging and non-discharging positions onto a surface comprising:

a chassis,

at least one pair of wheels rotatably mounted to the chassis by an axle such that the wheels and axle rotate when the apparatus is moved relative to the surface,

at least one aerosol container discharging mechanism mounted on the chassis, the aerosol container discharging apparatus comprising;

a structure configured to retain an aerosol container in an inverted position,

an actuating assembly which effects movement of an actuator of an aerosol container retained in the structure actuator between the discharging and non-discharging positions, and

a trigger mechanism operable to control movement of the actuating assembly and thereby an aerosol container actuator between the discharging and non-discharging positions, and

a follower member rotatably mounted to the chassis in substantially parallel relation to the axle such that an aerosol container can be supported by and between the follower member and the axle for effecting rotation of said aerosol container.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a second follower member rotatably mounted to the chassis in substantially parallel relation to the axle such that an aerosol container can be supported by and between the second follower member and the axle for effecting rotation of said aerosol container.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the first and second follower members are mounted on the chassis such that a third aerosol container may be supported on and between the aerosol containers supported by and between the first follower member and the axle and the second follower member and the axle for effecting rotation of the third aerosol container.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the axle is arranged at a rear end of the chassis.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the follower member and the axle are rotatable supported on a frame extension piece which can be selectively connected to the chassis.