Patent Application
20240122425
Brick pavers are a strong material utilized for creating patios, garden paths, driveways and pool surrounds, as nonlimiting examples. Without maintenance, debris may buildup between paver joints. Frequent sweeping is one ways to remove debris from the pavers. However, over time, paver joints may become soiled with muddy shoes, windblown dirt, food spills, and standing water. The embodiments are directed to a tool for cleaning debris in the joints between paver blocks.
Disclosed is a tool for cleaning debris from a joint between paver blocks laid over a ground, the tool including: a wand having an outer surface that defines a tubular profile, having an aft end that defines an aft end opening, a forward end that defines a forward end opening, and a middle section that connects the aft and forward ends, wherein the aft end is configured to connect to a vacuum suction port of a vacuum so that the vacuum is fluidly coupled to the aft end opening; and a pick connected to the forward end of the wand, wherein the pick extends below the forward end of the wand, whereby, in operation, the wand is configured for being moved over the joint to dislodge debris within the joint.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate the forward end of the wand extends along a forward end axis; and the pick extends from an aft end to a forward end along a pick axis and the pick is connected to the wand and oriented so that the pick axis is disposed at an acute angle to the forward end axis of the wand, whereby the aft end of the pick extends below the forward end of the pick and the forward end of the wand, the forward end of the pick is above the aft end of the pick, and the aft end of the pick is further from the forward end opening of the wand than the forward end of the pick.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate the pick is adjustable to move in a direction parallel to the pick axis, to thereby position the aft end of the pick at a selected distance below the forward end of the wand.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate, the tool includes a first wheel, coupled to the forward end of the wand, wherein the first wheel is configured to support the forward end of the wand, and wherein the aft end of the pick is configured to extend below the first wheel, whereby, in operation, the pick extends into the joint.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate, the tool includes a bracket, wherein the forward end of the wand, the first wheel, and the pick are connected to the bracket.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate, the tool includes a clamp that secures the forward end of the wand to the bracket.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate, the tool includes the bracket has a platform having forward end, an aft end that are opposite each other, a first end and a second end that are opposite each other, wherein the platform is oriented so that the forward end of the platform is closer to the forward end opening of the wand than the aft end of platform, and the first and second ends of the platform extend parallel to the forward end axis of the wand, and the clamp is connected to the platform of the bracket, along the first and second ends of the platform.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate the bracket has a U-shape and includes: a first sidewall and a second sidewall that respectively extend downwardly from the first end and the second end of the platform; and the first wheel is connected to the first sidewall of the bracket to spin about a first wheel axis that is normal to the forward end axis of the wand.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate, the tool includes a tube connected to first sidewall of the bracket, aft of the first wheel, and is oriented to position the pick along the pick axis, and the pick is fastened within the tube so that the aft end of the pick extends below the first wheel.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate the first sidewall of the bracket has an aft end that is aft of the aft end of the platform to define an aft extension between the aft end of the platform and the aft end of the first sidewall; and the tube is connected to the aft extension of the first sidewall, at or near the aft end of the first sidewall.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate the tube has an outer wall; and a threaded fastener extends through the outer wall of the tube to fasten the pick within the tube.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate the pick includes spring steel.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate, the tool includes a second wheel connected to the second sidewall of the bracket and configured to rotate about a second wheel axis that is coaxial with the first wheel axis.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate the wand is an S-wand formed of a rigid material so that, in operation, the aft end of the wand is above the forward end of the wand; and the wand includes a vacuum nozzle connector secured to the forward end opening that is configured to receive a vacuum nozzle attachment.
In addition to one or more aspects of the tool or as an alternate the wand includes: an aft section that includes the aft end and an aft portion of the middle section; and a forward section that includes the forward end and a forward portion of the middle section, wherein the aft and forward sections of the wand are connected to each other via a quick release connection.
Disclosed is a vacuum, including a vacuum suction port; a tool having one or more of the above disclosed aspects, wherein the aft end of the wand is connected to the vacuum suction port so that the aft opening of the wand is fluidly coupled to the vacuum suction port.
Disclosed is a method of removing debris from a joint between paver blocks laid over a ground, the method including: connecting the aft end of the wand of the tool of claim 13 to a vacuum suction port of a vacuum; positioning the first and second wheels on the ground so that the forward end of the pick is aligned with the joint; turning on the vacuum and pivoting the wand about the first and second wheels so that the pick engages the joint; and moving the wand while the pick engages the joint to loosen or dislodge the debris from the joint, whereby the debris is suctioned into the vacuum via the wand.
In addition to one or more aspects of the method or as an alternate, the method includes attaching a vacuum nozzle attachment to the forward end of the wand prior to turning on the vacuum so that, in operation, loosened and dislodged debris is suctioned into the forward end opening of the wand by the vacuum.
In addition to one or more aspects of the method or as an alternate, the method includes adjusting a location of the pick within the tube to raise or lower the pick relative to the forward end of the wand.
In addition to one or more aspects of the method or as an alternate, prior to connecting the aft end of the wand to the vacuum suction port, the method includes: assembling the wand by connecting an aft section of the wand with the forward section of the wand via a quick release connection, wherein the aft section of the wand includes the aft end of the wand and an aft portion of the middle section of the wand, the forward section of the wand includes the forward end of the wand and a forward portion of the middle section of the wand.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
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In one embodiment, the wand 130 is an S -wand so that, in operation, the aft end 150 of the wand 130 is above the forward end 170 of the wand 130. The wand 130 is formed of a rigid material such as metal or plastic. The aft end 150 and the forward end 170 of the wand 130 are linear sections that are parallel to each other. The forward end 170 of the wand 130 extends along a forward end axis 191 that, in operation, is parallel to the ground 130. The middle section 190 is a linear section that extends at an acute angle to the aft end 150 and the forward end 170.
In one embodiment, the wand 130 has a forward section 192 that includes the forward end 150 and a forward portion 193 of the middle section 190. The wand 130 has an aft section 194 that includes the aft end 170 and an aft portion 195 of the middle section 190. The forward section 192 and the aft section 194 are connected to each other via a quick release connection 196 or quick release sleeve.
The wand 130 includes a vacuum nozzle attachment 197 secured to the forward end opening 180. The vacuum nozzle connector 198 is configured to receive the nozzle attachment 197. The vacuum nozzle connector 198 may be a standard connector that is connected to a wand 130 of a vacuum 135.
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The pick 220 extends from an aft end 222 to a forward end 224 along a pick axis 235. The pick 220 is connected to the wand 130 and oriented so that the pick axis 235 is disposed at an acute angle to the forward end axis 191 of the wand 130. With this configuration, the aft end 222 of the pick 220 is aft of, and extends below, the forward end 224 of the pick 220 and the forward end 170 of the wand 130. Thus, in operation, the aft end 222 of the pick 220 is closer to the ground 130 than the forward end 224 of the pick 220.
The pick 220 is adjustable to move in a direction parallel to the pick axis 235. This configuration positions the aft end 222 of the pick 220 at a selected distance below the forward end 170 of the wand 130, and into the joint 110.
The tool 100 has a first wheel 240 and a second wheel 250. A configuration with fewer than or greater than two wheels is within the scope of the disclosure. The first wheel 240 and second wheel 250 are coupled to the forward end 170 of the wand 130. The first wheel 240 and second wheel 250 are configured to support the forward end 170 of the wand 130, e.g., above the ground 130 while moving the wand 130 over the joint 110. The aft end 222 of the pick 220 is configured to extend below the first wheel 240 and the second wheel 250. With this configuration, in operation, the pick 220 may extend into the joint 110 when the forward end 170 of the wand 130 is parallel to the ground 130 while the first wheel 240 and the second wheel 250 are against the ground 130.
The tool 100 includes a bracket 260. The forward end 170 of the wand 130, the first wheel 240 and the second wheel 250, and the pick 220 are connected to the bracket 260.
The tool 100 includes a clamp 270 that secures the forward end 170 of the wand 130 to the bracket 260. The clamp 270 may have the shape of an elongated pipe fastener. That is, the clamp 270 may have a body 275 with a generally arcuate or U-shaped cross-section with tabs 272 at opposite ends that are parallel to each other and extend outwardly from the body 275 for receiving fasteners 277 such as bolts.
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The pick 220 is fastened within the tube 350 so that the aft end 224 of the pick 220 extends below the first wheel 240 and the second wheel 250. The tube 350 has an outer wall 370 and a threaded fastener 390 extends through the outer wall 370 of the tube 350 to fasten the pick 220 within the tube 350. As shown in the figures, there are two threaded apertures with two fasteners, though the figures are not intended on limiting the scope of the embodiments. In one embodiment, the pick 220 is formed of spring steel and the threaded fastener 390 engages an outer surface of the pick 220 to securely position the pick 220 within the tube 350.
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As shown in block 930, the method includes assembling the wand 130, prior to connecting the aft end 150 of the wand 130 to the vacuum suction port 132, by connecting an aft section 192 of the wand 130 with a forward section 194 of the wand 130 via a quick release connection 196. As indicated, the aft section 192 includes the aft end 150 and an aft portion 193 of the middle section 190 of the wand 130 and the forward section 194 includes the forward end 170 and a forward portion 195 of the middle section 190 of the wand 130.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that various example embodiments are shown and described herein, each having certain features in the particular embodiments, but the present disclosure is not thus limited. Rather, the present disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the present disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. 63/416,215 filed on Oct. 14, 2022, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63416215 | Oct 2022 | US |
