Patent Application
20080101861
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention provides a cover for a power trowel and more specifically a cover for the blade attachment member and hardware of a power trowel.
Power trowels are used for both floating and finishing large slabs of concrete. Compared to ordinary hand tools, power trowels significantly increase production and reduce costs by their ability to cover more square footage of slab area per day. At the same time, they improve the quality of the concrete surface and help maintain flatness of the slab. Power trowels are divided into two styles, walk-behind and ride-on. Walk-behind power trowels typically have a rotor with four blades, are powered by a gasoline engine, and are available in 30-, 36- and 48-inch diameters. The blades of power trowels are bolted to a blade attachment member which is, in turn, coupled to the rotor. Ride-on power trowels typically have two rotors each with four or five blades, are powered by one or two gasoline engines and are available in 36- and 48-inch (single rotor diameter) models. Ride-on power trowels operate in two different configurations, overlapping and non-overlapping. The non-overlapping position of the blades may require higher torque and can accommodate the use of pans during the floating operation, as is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The overlapping position is often used at faster rotor speeds and provides seamless coverage during the finishing process.
In general, blades are interchangeable between most brands of walk-behind and ride-on power trowels as long as both the blades are the same size, i.e. 36- or 48-inch. Standard finish, combination, and float blades are made of high quality steel and bolted to the trowel arms. Once the blades wear out or a different type of blade is desired by the user, the user simply unbolts the blade and attaches another. However, due to the fact that power trowels are used with concrete, the bolts that couple the blades to the blade attachment member can become covered with hardened concrete and are sometimes difficult to remove.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a cover for a blade attachment member and hardware of a power trowel. More specifically, the present invention discloses a cover for covering a plurality of fasteners that attach a plurality of blades to the blade attachment members. The covers are attached to the blade attachment members in an effort to keep the bolts free from concrete buildup thereby allowing the user to easily remove the bolts to change blades.
The cover includes a cap portion and an attachment portion. The cap portion includes a top surface and a pair of side walls that depend downwardly therefrom. The cap portion houses the bolts that attach the blades to the blade attachment member. The cap portion includes a flared portion that is connected to the cap portion. Specifically, the flared portion contains a pair of angled side walls that are coupled to the pair of side walls and depend therefrom. The angled side walls depend outwardly and downwardly from the side walls. The attachment portion is connected to the flared portion. The attachment portion includes a pair of semi-circular members that depend from the angled sidewalls.
As described above, the cover attaches to the blade attachment member and is used to cover the bolts that attach the blades to the blade attachment members.
Additional aspects of invention, together with the advantages and novel features appurtenant thereto, will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:
With initial reference to
Referring now to
The blades 22 include a planar surface 44 and a mounting rail 46. The mounting rail 46 is coupled to the planar surface 44 by rivets 48. However, it should be understood that any suitable coupling method may be used. The mounting rail 46 contains a plurality of threaded apertures 50 that receive the bolts 42 to couple the blade 22 to the blade attachment members 20. The lower surface 36 of the arm 26 rests on the mounting rail 46 when the blade 22 is coupled to the arm 26.
Referring now to
The flared portion 54 includes first and second angled walls 78, 80 each having upper and lower portions 82, 84, 86, 88. The upper portions 82, 86 of the first and second angled walls 78, 80 are connected to the lower portions 70, 74 of the first and second side walls 60, 62 and depend therefrom. The first and second angled walls 78, 80 depend outwardly and downwardly from the first and second sidewalls 60, 62 of the cap portion 52.
The attachment portion 56 depends from the flared portion 54. The attachment portion 56 includes a pair of semi-circular members 90. An upper portion of the semi-circular member 90 depends from the lower portions 84, 88 of the first and second angled walls 78, 80 at a joint 92.
To attach the covers 24 to the arms 26 of the blade attachment members 20, the user simply slides the cover 24 onto the arm 26. Initially, the semi-circular members 90 of the attachment portion 56 contact the upper angled sidewalls 32. As the user continues to push downwardly on the covers 24, the flared portions 54 move slightly outwardly until the semi-circular members 90 of the attachment portion 56 pass the point 38 where the upper and lower angled sidewalls 32, 34 converge. Once the semi-circular members 90 of the attachment portion 56 pass the point 38 of the arm 26, the joint 92 between the flared portion 54 and the attachment portion 56 receives the point 38. The flared portions 54 of the cover 24 rest on the pair of upper angled sidewalls 32. As such, the attachment portions 56 hold the cover 24 in place and the bolts 42 reside within the cavity 76.
The attachment portion 108 depends from the cap portion 106. The attachment portion 108 includes a pair of semi-circular members 128. An upper portion of the semi-circular member 128 depends from the lower portions 122, 126 of the first and second side walls 112, 114 at a joint 130.
The attachment portion 136 depends from the cap portion 134. The attachment portion 136 includes a pair of semi-circular members 148. An upper portion of the semi-circular member 148 depends from the first and second side walls 140, 142 at a joint 150.
It should be understood that the embodiments in
The present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments, which are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its scope.
It will be seen from the foregoing that this invention is one well adapted to attain the ends and objects set forth above, and to attain other advantages, which are obvious and inherent in the device. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.
