CONCRETE-LEVELING SYSTEM

Abstract

A leveling system for freshly poured concrete is provided comprising a hand screed and a hand float. The system includes a laser beam leveling system consisting of a laser transmitter mounted on the hand screed and a laser beam receiver target mounted on the hand float. The hand screed further includes an inclinometer mounted on top of the hand screed for maintaining the angle of the screed when the screed is used on sloped surfaces. Bubble levelers positioned on top of the hand screed and the hand float are used to maintain the hand screed and the hand float in a level position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of the hand screed of a representative embodiment of the present invention with the laser mounted at one end of the hand screed.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hand screed of a representative embodiment of the present invention with the laser of FIG. 1 removed.

FIG. 3 is a magnified elevational side view of the laser transmitter mounted on the hand screed of a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hand screed of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a magnified perspective view of the hand screed of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is an elevational side view of the degree plate and turret of a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a top plan view of the laser and turret of a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6C is a top plan view of the degree plate of a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is an elevational side view of the laser mounted on the hand screed of a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention depicting a moveable laser mounting clamp.

FIG. 7C is a side elevational view of the laser mounting clamp of FIG. 7B.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hand float of a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an elevational side view of the hand screed and the hand float of a representative embodiment of the present invention in operation on a horizontal surface.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the hand screed and the hand float of a representative embodiment of the present invention in operation on a sloped surface.

FIG. 11A is an elevational side view of the inclinometer of a representative embodiment of the present invention set to a preset angle.

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the inclinometer of a representative embodiment of the present invention in its retracted position.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a first alternate hand grip attachment for the hand screed of a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second alternate hand grip attachment for the hand screed of a representative embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A plastic concrete leveling system, comprising: a) a hand screed having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;b) a hand float;c) a reference level signal transmitter operatively attached to one of said hand screed and said hand float; andd) a reference level signal receiver operatively attached to the other of said hand screed and said hand float.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter is operatively attached to said hand screed and said receiver is operatively attached to said hand float.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hand screed further comprises at least one bubble level operatively attached thereon.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hand float further comprises at least one bubble level operatively attached thereon.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hand screed further comprises an inclinometer operatively attached thereon.

6. The system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said inclinometer further comprises at least one bubble level operatively attached thereon.

7. The system as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a turret operatively disposed between said transmitter and said hand screed whereby said transmitter is capable of at least partial rotation about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said hand screed.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a moveable clamp operatively disposed between said turret and said hand screed whereby said transmitter is capable of being positioned at any location along the length of said hand screed when said moveable clamp is clamped to said hand screed.

9. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said transmitter is a laser that is capable of producing a visible light beam.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said receiver is a cross-hair target capable of receiving said light beam from said transmitter.

11. A hand screed for use with a plastic concrete leveling system having a reference level signal receiver, comprising: a) a generally horizontal handle defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, said handle having top and bottom surfaces;b) a screed plate operatively attached to said bottom surface; andc) a reference level signal transmitter operatively attached to said handle whereby said transmitter is capable of producing a reference level signal.

12. The hand screed as set forth in claim 11 wherein said transmitter is a laser and said reference level signal is a visible light beam.

13. The hand screed as set forth in claim 11 wherein said transmitter is operatively attached to said top surface.

14. The hand screed as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a turret operatively disposed between said transmitter and said top surface whereby said transmitter is capable of at least partial rotation about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

15. The hand screed as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a moveable clamp operatively disposed between said turret and said hand screed whereby said transmitter is capable of being positioned at any location along the length of said hand screed when said moveable clamp is clamped to said hand screed.

16. The hand screed as set forth in claim 11 further comprising at least one bubble level operatively attached thereon.

17. The hand screed as set forth in claim 11 further comprising an inclinometer operatively attached thereon.

18. The hand screed as set forth in claim 17 wherein said inclinometer further comprises at least one bubble level operatively attached thereon.

19. The hand screed as set forth in claim 11 wherein said screed plate is slidably attached to said handle.

20. The hand screed as set forth in claim 11 wherein said handle further comprises at least one handgrip extending upwards therefrom.

21. The hand screed as set forth in claim 20 wherein said at least one handgrip comprises a pistol grip shape.

22. A hand float for use with a plastic concrete leveling system having a reference level signal transmitter, comprising: a) a substantially flat float board having top and bottom surfaces;b) a handle operatively attached to said top surface; andc) a reference level signal receiver operatively attached to said hand float whereby said receiver is capable of receiving a reference level signal.

23. The hand float as set forth in claim 22 wherein said receiver is a cross-hair target capable of receiving a visible light beam as said reference level signal.

24. The hand float as set forth in claim 22 further comprising at least one bubble level operatively attached thereon.