TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is related generally to concrete work and, in particular, to stamping patterns into concrete.
BACKGROUND ART
Concrete stamping, in which patterns are stamped into fresh concrete, is a popular method for enhancing the appearance of a concrete walk, patio, driveway, etc. One conventional method requires significant labor. Stamp mats 20, such as those illustrated in FIG. 1, are placed on top of recently poured, partially cured concrete. Preferably, a release agent is first applied to patterned surface of a stamp mat to allow the mat to be removed without lifting any concrete with it. A colored release agent may also be broadcast on the surface of the concrete to impart a color to the stamped concrete. After the stamp mat is in place, a worker uses a hand tamper to press the patterned surface of the stamp mat into the surface of the concrete. The stamp mat is then lifted and repositioned adjacent to the just-stamped area of the concrete. To speed up the process, several workers may work together, positioning and re-positioning several stamp mats onto the concrete surface, applying the hand tamper, and enhancing or touching up pattern and joint lines (see FIG. 2). It will be appreciated that such a method is both labor intensive and time consuming, particularly if a large area is involved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a concrete stamping system, comprising: a base plate; a handle mounted to the base plate; a vibrator secured to a top of the base plate; and a roller attachment secured to a bottom of the base plate. The roller attachment comprises: a frame; and a plurality of parallel rollers mounted on axles extending across the frame and secured within the frame. When the vibrator is activated, vibrations generated by the vibrator are transmitted through the base plate, through the rollers, and into a stamping mat between the rollers and fresh concrete. The system is rollable across the stamping map by an operator.
The present invention further provides a roller attachment securable to a concrete stamping vibrator machine. The roller attachment comprises: a frame removably mountable to the vibrator machine; a plurality of parallel axles extending across the frame and secured to opposing sides of the frame; and a plurality of elongated rollers mounted on the axles. When the vibrator machine is activated, vibrations generated by the vibrator machine are transmitted through the base plate, through the rollers, and into a stamping mat between the rollers and fresh concrete. The vibrator machine is rollable across the stamping mat by an operator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates the patterned surfaces of several stamp mats;
FIG. 2 illustrates several workers using a prior art method to stamp concrete;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tamping machine of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom of a roller attachment that may be used with the tamping machine of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the roller attachment of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 illustrates the tamping machine of FIG. 3 in use with two stamp mats on a sample piece of concrete;
FIG. 7 illustrates the sample piece of concrete after being stamped with one of the stamp mats removed; and
FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a sprayer attached to the tamping machine of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tamping machine 100 of the present invention. The machine 100 includes a handle 102 secured to a base plate 104 with mounting brackets 106 or the like. The machine 100 further includes a vibrating motor 108 mounted to the top of the base plate 104. For portability, the vibrating motor 108 is preferably powered by a battery 10 secured, for example, on a bracket or tray 110 on the handle 102. However, the vibrating motor 108 may instead be powered by an external DC source, such as a vehicle battery, or an AC source through a long power cord. When a battery 10 is used to power the tamping machine 100, an gauge may be mounted to the handle to indicate the state of the battery. For convenience, a solar recharging module may be secured to the tamping machine 100 to charge the battery 10 between uses. An on/off switch 112 may be secured to the top of the handle 102 in a convenient location for the operator and electrically coupled between the vibrating motor 108 and the battery 10. The switch 112 may also include a controller 112A to vary the current to the vibrating motor 108, thus allowing the operator to vary the speed or intensity of the vibrations generated by the vibrating motor 108. Alternatively, the motor controller 112A may be mounted separately from the switch 112 and the switch 112 may be a momentary push-switch, making it easy for the operator to turn the motor 108 on, to apply vibrations to a stamp mat, and off, when rolling the machine 100 to another location, without having to reset the intensity of the vibrations each time. Brackets may optionally be secured to the top of the base plate 102 to hold weights in place if the concrete becomes too firm as it dries.
The tamping machine 100 also includes a roller attachment 200 mountable to the bottom of the base plate 104. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the roller attachment 200 includes a frame 202 and a number of parallel, elongated rollers 204, each mounted on an axle 206. Each axle 206 is secured to the inside of the frame 202, such as with nuts 208, welding, or any other appropriate means. The roller attachment 200 may be removably secured to the base plate 104 using mounting bolts 210, or any other appropriate means, through holes 114 in the base plate 104 or may be permanently secured to the base plate 104, such as by welding.
In use, one or more stamp mats 20 are positioned onto a section of concrete. The tamping machine 100 is turned on and rolled over the stamp mats 20, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Because the rollers 204 and axles 206 are positioned within the frame 202 perpendicular to the handle 102, the operator may easily push the machine 100 on the rollers 204 along each stamp mat 20 and from one stamp mat 20 to another without having to lift the tamping machine 100. The weight of the tamping machine, and the vibrations, are distributed evenly along the rollers 204, allowing for a more even and consistent tamping on the stamp mats 20. The operator may also roll the tamping machine 100 along, and even over, the edges of the stamp mats 20 without disturbing the still-wet concrete. Consequently, the operator is able to move more quickly than using either a hand tamper or a conventional machine. After the operator has rolled the tamping machine 100 over all of the stamp mats 20, the stamp mats 20 may be removed, revealing the stamped section of concrete (FIG. 7) and repositioned to another section.
In a further embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 8, a sprayer 116, pressurized by a hand pump or an electric pump powered by the battery 10, for example, may be mounted on the base plate 104 or on the handle 102. The sprayer tank may be filled with a release agent, or other appropriate liquid to be applied to the surface of the concrete as the tamping machine is rolled near the edges of a stamp mat 20. A control for the sprayer 116 may be mounted at a convenient location on the handle or, as illustrated, a hand-operated wand may be mounted on the handle. It will be appreciated that the sprayer 116 may be positioned at any other convenient location on the tamping machine 100.
The tamping machine 100 may also be used to tamp pavers into a sand bed and to tamp them again to re-level them after they have settled over time.
The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Patent Application
20170022673
