Portable ultraviolet floor curing device

• US 8,458,923 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2011
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jelight Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jelight Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Mackinnon, Andrew J., Amen, Dick
• Primary Examiner(s): Gravini, Steve M
• Application Number:
  US12/932,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20120210593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 342/77, 342/04, 342/06, 342/09, 342/10, 342/11, 342/36, 528/28, 156/166, 156/285, 156/212, 156/382, 427/407.1, 427/493, 427/163.2, 427/508, 427/512, 427/514, 252/8.61, 118/125, 118/620, 118/641, 118/642, 118/643, 250/504.R, 250/504, 250/492.1
• US Class Current: 34/277
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/28 by radiation, e.g. from the sun
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/347 Electromagnetic heating, e.g. induction heating or heating using microwave energy
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/003 Small self-contained devices, e.g. portable

Abstract

A floor curing apparatus is disclosed, including an ultraviolet lamp, a replaceable reflector configured to direct light energy transmitted from the ultraviolet lamp, the replaceable reflector including one of a plurality of interchangeable reflectors, a shutter mechanism configured to selectively move a shutter to expose the ultraviolet lamp and the reflector toward a surface upon which the floor curing apparatus operates, and wheels. The ultraviolet lamp and the reflector height from the floor surface are maintained at a predetermined distance above the surface. The plurality of interchangeable reflectors provides varying transmission characteristics.

Claims

1. A floor curing apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising;

an interchangeable reflector assembly; and

a shutter assembly comprising a shutter retractable along a plurality of rails; and

a plurality of wheels oriented at the bottom of the housing;

wherein the interchangeable reflector assembly comprises an ultraviolet lamp and a reflector configured to maintain a fixed distance from the floor surface, and further wherein the reflector is configured to direct a predetermined light projection pattern toward a photo-sensitive sealant when different reflectors are employed.

2. The floor curing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a manually installed reflector, and further wherein the predetermined light projection pattern is configured by installing a reflector comprising one from a group consisting of a focused reflector, a flood reflector, and a cross-focused projection pattern reflector.

3. The floor curing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shutter is selectively moveable to expose the ultraviolet lamp to a surface upon which the floor curing apparatus operates.

4. The floor curing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wheels comprise a left front wheel and a right front wheel and a plurality of omnidirectional rear wheels.

5. The floor curing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wheels comprise two ball caster wheels positioned at each rear corner of the irradiator assembly configured to facilitate sideways movements of the floor curing apparatus.

6. The floor curing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wheels comprise freewheeling omnidirectional rear wheels comprising a transversely mounted wheel and a swivel wheel positioned at each rear corner of the irradiator assembly configured to facilitate sideways movement.

7. The floor curing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an operator control panel disposed above the axle assembly on an adjustable angle telescoping handlebar configured to be rotationally repositioned and locked using an angle adjustment knob and semicircular slot.

8. The floor curing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a telescoping handlebar operator control panel disposed on an adjustable angle handlebar configured to be rotationally repositioned and locked using an angle adjustment knob and semicircular slot.

9. A floor curing apparatus comprising:

an ultraviolet lamp;

a replaceable reflector configured to direct light energy transmitted from the ultraviolet lamp, the replaceable reflector comprising one of a plurality of interchangeable reflectors;

a shutter mechanism configured to selectively move a shutter to expose the ultraviolet lamp and the reflector toward a surface upon which the floor curing apparatus operates; and

a plurality of wheels;

wherein the ultraviolet lamp and the reflector height from the floor surface are maintained at a predetermined distance above the surface, and further wherein the plurality of interchangeable reflectors provide varying transmission characteristics.

10. The floor curing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the replaceable reflector comprises a manually installable reflector configured to form a desired light energy projection pattern toward the surface.

11. The floor curing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of interchangeable reflectors comprises one from a set consisting of a focused reflector, a flood reflector, and a cross-focused projection pattern reflector.

12. The floor curing apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a linear actuator configured to drive an axle in a direction away from the ultraviolet lamp, the axle affixed to a plurality of guide blocks configured to slide on ceramic-coated shafts draw the shutter device away from the ultraviolet lamp.

13. The floor curing apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an axle assembly comprising a left front unidirectional wheel and a right front unidirectional wheel.

14. The floor curing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of wheels comprise freewheeling rear wheels comprising ball caster wheels configured to facilitate sideways movements.

15. The floor curing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of wheels comprise freewheeling rear wheels comprising a transversely mounted wheel and an omnidirectional swivel wheel configured to facilitate sideways movements.

16. The floor curing apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an operator control panel disposed above the axle assembly on an adjustable angle telescoping handlebar configured to be rotationally repositioned and locked using an angle adjustment knob and semicircular slot.

17. The floor curing apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a telescoping handlebar operator control panel disposed above the drive assembly on an adjustable angle handlebar configured to be rotationally repositioned and locked using an angle adjustment knob and semicircular slot.

18. A floor curing apparatus comprising:

a housing containing;

an ultraviolet lamp;

a replaceable reflector configured to direct light energy transmitted from the ultraviolet lamp, the replaceable reflector comprising one of a plurality of interchangeable reflectors; and

a shutter mechanism configured to selectively move a shutter to expose the ultraviolet lamp and the reflector toward a surface upon which the floor curing apparatus operates; and

a plurality of wheels affixed to the housing and configured to provide omnidirectional movement of the floor curing apparatus;

wherein the plurality of interchangeable reflectors provide varying transmission characteristics.