Not applicable to this application.
Not applicable to this application.
Example embodiments in general relate to a float sprayer system for efficiently dispensing a fluid from a float to treat a curing material.
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Curing materials such as concrete and the like are often used on ground surfaces to form roads, paths, driveways, and the like. When applying such materials, it is desirable to smooth out the surface of the materials prior to curing to minimize air bubbles or other imperfections.
When smoothing out such curing materials, it is common to use tools such as trowels or floats. Such tools allow the curing material to be smoothed out and compacted prior to curing. These tools are typically used immediately after the curing material is dispensed so that the material may be smoothed out prior to curing.
It is also common to treat curing materials with various fluids, such as evaporative retardants which reduce rapid moisture loss prior to curing of concrete. Other fluids typically used include various monomolecular films. These fluids are typically applied by a separate sprayer during smoothing, which can often necessitate a second person for the job.
An example embodiment is directed to a float sprayer system. The float sprayer system includes a float for smoothing a curing material and at least one sprayer on the float; with the at least one sprayer being adapted to dispense a fluid from the float. A pump is fluidly connected to the at least one sprayer by a conduit which extends through a handle that is connected to the float. The pump is adapted to transfer the fluid from the fluid source through the conduit to be dispensed by the at least one sprayer on the float. A valve on the handle may be utilized to control flow through the conduit within the handle, and a mobile device may be utilized to control the pump.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the embodiments of the float sprayer system in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional embodiments of the float sprayer system that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the float sprayer system in detail, it is to be understood that the float sprayer system is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The float sprayer system is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference characters, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein.
A. Overview.
An example float sprayer system 10 generally comprises a float 20 for smoothing a curing material 12 such as concrete. A sprayer 32 is positioned on the float 20, wherein each of the sprayers 32 is adapted to dispense a fluid 13 from the float 20. A handle 50 may be connected, such as hingedly, to the float 20. A pump 60 connected to a fluid source 65 storing the fluid 13 may be fluidly connected to the sprayer 32 by a conduit 56; with the conduit 56 being fluidly connected between the pump 60 and the sprayer 32. The conduit 56 may extend through the handle 50. The handle 50 may include a guide member 44 through which the conduit 56 enters the handle 50. The pump 60 may be adapted to transfer the fluid 13 from the fluid source 65 through the conduit 56 to be dispensed by the sprayer 32.
The conduit 56 may include a valve 54 for selectively starting or stopping flow of the fluid 13 through the conduit 56 to the sprayer 32. The valve 54 may be connected to the handle 50 such that the valve 54 may be operated from the handle 50. The pump 60 may be remotely activated or deactivated, such as by a mobile device 68 such as a remote control or phone.
The float 20 may comprise an inner end 22 facing toward the handle 50 and an outer end 21 facing away from the handle 50. The sprayer 32 may be oriented to spray outwardly from the outer end 21 of the float 20. The float 20 may comprise a first side 23 and a second side 24. The sprayer 32 may be positioned near the first side 23 of the float 20. The float 20 may comprise an upper surface 25 and a lower surface 26. The sprayer 32 may be positioned on the upper surface 25 of the float 20.
In another exemplary embodiment, an example float sprayer system 10 may comprise a float 20 for smoothing a curing material 12 and a plurality of sprayers 32 on the float 20; with each of the sprayers 32 being adapted to spray a fluid 13 from the float 20. A handle 50 may be connected to the float 20; with a conduit 56 fluidly connected between a pump 60 which is connected to a fluid source 65 and the sprayers 32 extending through the handle 50, such as through a passage 53 in the handle 50. The pump 60 may be adapted to transfer a fluid 13 from the fluid source 65 through the conduit 56 to be sprayed by the sprayers 32.
The sprayers 32 may be linearly oriented across the float 20 and in some embodiments may be positioned near a first side 23 of the float 20. The sprayers 32 may be adapted to spray the fluid 13 outwardly from the outer end 21 of the float 20, or downwardly from the lower surface 26 of the float 20. The conduit 56 may include a valve 54 for selectively starting or stopping flow of the fluid 13 through the conduit 56 to the sprayers 32. The valve 54 may be connected to and accessible from the handle 50. A mobile device 68 such as a remote control may be utilized to activate or deactivate the pump 60.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of the float sprayer system 10 may comprise a float 20 for smoothing a curing concrete 12, wherein the float 20 comprises an upper surface 25, a lower surface 26, an outer end 21, an inner end 22, a first side 23, and a second side 24. A handle 50 may be hingedly connected to a central point along a width of the float 20, wherein the float 20 comprises a first portion 27 on a first side 23 of the handle 50 and a second portion 28 on a second side 24 of the handle 50. A plurality of sprayers 32 may be positioned on the upper surface 25 of the float 20; with each of the sprayers 32 being adapted to spray a fluid 13 outwardly from the outer end 21 of the float 20. Each of the sprayers 32 may be positioned on the first portion 27 of the float 20.
A pump 60 may be connected to a fluid source 65; with a conduit 56 being fluidly connected between the pump 60 and the sprayers 32. The conduit 56 may extend through the handle 50; with the pump 60 being adapted to transfer a fluid 13 from the fluid source 65 through the conduit 56 to be sprayed by the sprayers 32. A mobile device 68 may selectively activate or deactivate the pump 60. A valve 54 on the handle 50 may selectively start or stop flow of the fluid 13 through the conduit 56 to the sprayers 32.
B. Float.
As shown throughout the figures, the float sprayer system 10 may include a float 20 which is adapted to smooth out and compact a curing material 12 such as concrete. The float 20 may comprise various shapes, sizes, and configurations depending on the application it is being used for. The shape, size, and configuration of the exemplary float 20 shown in the figures should thus not be construed as limiting.
As best shown in
The first and second sides 23, 24 define the outer bounds of the float 20. The float 20 may comprise a first portion 27 between a midpoint along its width and the first side 23 of the float. The float 20 may also comprise a second portion 28 between a midpoint along its width and the second side 24 of the float 20, such as shown in
The upper surface 22 of the float 20 is exposed when the float 20 is in use. One or more sprayers 32 may be connected to the upper surface 22 of the float 20 in some embodiments such as shown in
The lower surface 23 of the float 20 is used to smooth out and compact the curing material 12. In some embodiments, the lower surface 23 of the float 20 will be smooth-faced so as to leave smoothed-out concrete with no discernible lines or the like. In other embodiments, the lower surface 23 of the float 20 may include ribs or other projections or indentations which leave a pattern when run across a curing material 12 such as concrete.
C. Sprayers.
As shown in
The type of sprayer 32 utilized may vary in different embodiments. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the sprayers 32 comprise devices adapted to spray and disperse a fluid 13 outwardly from the float 20. In other embodiments, the sprayers 32 may be adapted to dispense the fluid 13 in other manners, such as by a stream rather than a spray.
The number of sprayers 32 may vary in different embodiments. Smaller floats 20 may require less sprayers 32, while larger floats 20 may require more sprayers 32. The exemplary embodiments shown in the figures illustrate the usage of three (
The area which the sprayers 32 dispense the fluid 13 may vary in different embodiments. In the exemplary embodiment shown in
As shown in the figures, it may be preferable to dispense fluid 13 from only a portion of the width of the float 20. This can be useful for staggering outward and inward strokes of the float 20 as discussed in more detail below. For example, the sprayers 32 may only be positioned on a first portion 27 of the float 20 such as shown in
The sprayers 32 may be fluidly connected to a pump 60 by a conduit 56 extending through the handle 50 of the float 20 as discussed in more detail below. A single pump 60 may feed all of the sprayers 32 in embodiments in which multiple sprayers 32 are utilized, such as shown in
The couplers 32 may be utilized to couple each of the sprayers 32 with the conduits 32 which fluidly connect with the other sprayers 32. In this manner, a single flow of fluid 13 from the pump 60 and the handle conduit 56 may be utilized to feed a plurality of sprayers 32.
D. Handle and Connector.
As shown throughout the figures, the float 20 may include a handle 50 which is grasped to manipulate the float 20, such as by pushing the float 20 forward or pulling the float 20 backward. The shape, size, and configuration of the handle 50 will vary in different embodiments and should not be construed as limited by the exemplary embodiment of the figures. The handle 50 could be short for one-handed operation of smaller floats 20 in some embodiments, or may be configured for two-handed operation of larger floats 20 such as shown in
The handle 50 is generally connected to the float 20 by a connector 40. As shown in
A guide member 44 may be positioned adjacent to the hinge 43 to inhibit full movement of the handle 50 with respect to the float 20. The hinge 43 will press against the guide member 45 when the handle 50 is rotated upwardly to a certain point, which will allow the float 20 to be pushed easily. Thus, the handle 50 may only be angularly-adjustable along a limited path in some embodiments. For example, the handle 50 may be angularly-adjustable along a window of approximately thirty degrees in some embodiments.
The guide member 44 may be connected to the base 41 by guide member supports 45 such as shown in
As shown in
The conduit 56 serves to fluidly connect the pump 60 with the sprayer assembly 30. As shown in
The conduit 56 may include a valve 54 which is used to selectively start or stop flow of the fluid 13 through the conduit 56 without manipulating the pump 60 itself. The valve 54 may be positioned at various locations along the length of the conduit 56 and should not be construed as limited by the exemplary positioning shown in the figures. The valve 54 may be connected to the handle 50 such that the valve 54 may be accessed by the operator 15 grasping the handle 50 such as shown in
E. Pump.
As shown in
Various types of pumps 60 may be utilized. The figures illustrate a battery-powered pump 60, though gas pumps 60 may be utilized (or any other type of pump 60). In the exemplary figures, the pump 60 is connected to a separate power source 62 (battery in the shown embodiment). In certain embodiments, the pump 60 may include its own power source 62 (such as a combustion engine).
As shown in
The pump 60 may be remotely operable, such as by a mobile device 68 as shown in
F. Operation of Preferred Embodiment.
In use, the pump 60 may be activated either by hand or via a mobile device 68 such as a remote control or phone. The valve 54 may start in the closed position to ensure that the sprayer assembly 30 does not activate until the proper time. Upon opening the valve 54, fluids 13 will be pumped by the pump 60 from the fluid source 65 through the conduit 56 extending through the handle 50. The fluids 13 will be fed by the conduit 56 directly to the sprayer assembly 30. The one or more sprayers 32 of the sprayer assembly 30 may then disperse the fluids 13, such as by spraying.
The fluid source 65 may be filled with the fluid 13 to be dispensed by the sprayer assembly 30. If not already connected, the conduit 56 from the handle 50 may be connected to the pump 60. The curing material 12 such as concrete may be applied to the ground surface in any manner.
With the curing material 12 dispensed on the ground surface, the float 20 may be utilized. The handle 50 may be grasped by the operator 15 and the float 20 lowered to contact the curing material 12. The float 20 may be pushed outwardly to smooth and compact the curing material 12 to smooth out a first swathe of the curing material 12 without the sprayers 32 activated such as shown in
The sprayers 32 may be activated upon the return trip on the first swathe. If the pump 60 has not already been activated, it may be powered on at this point, such as by a mobile device 68 such as a remote control. If the valve 54 was previously closed, it may then be opened to allow flow of fluids 13 from the fluid source 65 through the handle 50 to the sprayers 32. As the sprayers 32 dispense the fluids 13, the float 20 may be pulled inwardly by the operator 15 so as to apply the fluids 13 to a first half of the first swathe such as shown in
As shown in
At the end of the pass on the second swathe, the sprayers 32 may be reactivated such as by opening the valve 54. The float 20 may then be pulled inwardly as the sprayers 32 apply the fluids to the second half of the first swathe and the first half of the second swathe such as shown in
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the float sprayer system, suitable methods and materials are described above. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. The float sprayer system may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.
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