Abstract:
A horizontal trough for use with a concrete broom is disclosed. The trough can be customized to fit various shapes and widths of concrete brooms.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/874,816, which was filed on Dec. 14, 2006. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a water trough, and more specifically to a horizontal trough which is useful for providing water to a broom during a concrete finishing process. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is important that water be continually applied to the surface of a broom being used for finishing concrete, prior to hardening. Consequently an improved means for providing water to the broom is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a trough for providing water to a broom that is being used to finish concrete. It is an additional object of the present invention to make that trough customizable to many sizes of brooms, and to be portable and accessible in a construction environment. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a concrete broom being used in an environment with recently poured concrete; 
         FIGS. 2A-2B  show a typical method of wetting the broom of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a broom that has been improperly wetted; 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  show a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4C and 4D  show a broom being inserted and withdrawn from the embodiment of  FIGS. 4A-4B ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a modified embodiment of the trough of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  shows additional features that of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     The process of completing a concrete project has several steps. These steps include first pouring the concrete, then placing it, then leveling it, and then finishing it. The finishing step occurs when the concrete is ˜90-95% solidified or hardened, and ensures that the concrete has a surface that is satisfactory for its intended purpose. The present invention is directed toward improving various factors that occur during the finishing step. 
       FIG. 1  shows a concrete broom  100  being used on a section  112  of concrete that is ˜90-95% solidified or hardened and is thus ready for the finishing step. The broom  100  is used to finish the concrete, thereby providing it with a suitable surface, as stated. Although a trowel is sometimes used for finishing concrete, there are circumstances in which it is desired to use a broom  100  rather than a trowel or other device for the finishing step. 
     During the finishing step, it is important that water be continually applied to the broom  100  for two reasons, first that the various chunks and segments of wet concrete clinging to the broom  100  might “set” (harden, not remain liquid) thereupon. When this occurs, it is difficult to break the concrete segments away from the bristles  104  of the broom  100 . Also, the stress of setting and then cracking loose the concrete chunks causes the bristles  104  to wear out more quickly, and can even ruin the broom  100  entirely. Secondly, it is necessary to have water on the broom  100  to achieve a consistent finish on the concrete surface  112 . 
     To address this,  FIG. 2A  shows a typical method of wetting the broom of  FIG. 1 , which involves a five-gallon bucket  200 . Five gallon buckets have the advantage that they are commonly found at construction sites, and can hold enough water to provide a reasonable amount of broom-wetting for most jobs. 
     The problem with using five-gallon or other buckets to wet the brooms  100  is shown in  FIG. 2B . From  FIG. 2B  it is apparent that the broom  100  does not even half-fit within the bucket  200 , so that it is necessary to turn the broom  100  over to wet it consistently. However, that will still leave a space in the middle of the broom  104  where water does not make contact. 
     There is also the problem of spillage of water. A user might apply some water to this middle area, but such application is unsatisfactory. Turning over the broom  100  also causes water to be shed from the bristles  104 , and also splashes and spills out of the bucket  200 . This in turn causes an even larger space in the middle of the broom  100  that goes without water. 
       FIG. 3  shows what happens when one uses a broom  100  that has been improperly wetted. A scratch or irregular channel  300  can appear in the concrete, which is caused by the middle of the broom  100  having unwanted chunks attached, thereby obfuscating smoothness and consistency on the surface of the section  112  of fresh concrete. It is then necessary for the user to re-smooth the channel  300 , perhaps by tilting the broom  100  to have the best wetted surface applied thereto. Such tilting is disadvantageous for several reasons. 
     Accordingly, to address these and other issues,  FIG. 4A  shows a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a trough  400  is shown positioned on the ground. Water can be placed inside the trough  400  by a user through the aperture  404 .  FIG. 4B  shows the trough of  FIG. 4A  filled with water. As shown in  FIGS. 4C and 4D , the broom  100  can be consistently and entirely wetted inside the trough  400 , by inserting the bristles  104  of the broom  100  through the aperture  404  of the trough  400 . 
       FIG. 6  also shows folds  408  that are manufactured within the trough  400 , along the edges of the aperture  404 . The folds  408  can assist in reducing the displacement of water while the broom is inserted and withdrawn therefrom. 
     The trough  400  can be manufactured from a high durability plastic that is resistant to changes in temperature. 
     It is to be noted that the embodiments of  FIGS. 4A-4D  are but for exemplary purposes only, so that the present invention should not be considered as limited exclusively thereto. Other possible configurations are also contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     After the trough  400  is no longer in use, and all water is removed therefrom, some setting and sticking of concrete chunks may occur on its interior. It is desired to avoid such chunks because cleaner water with reduced concrete means the broom  100  can be used for a longer period. Accordingly, one way to remove these unwanted chunks is by knocking the trough  400  against a hard surface, and then shaking out the chunks through the aperture  404 . Even then, some of the chunks may require extra effort to be bounced out as they are impeded from passing through the aperture  404  by the splash-guard folds  408 . 
     To address this,  FIG. 5  shows a modified embodiment of the trough  500 , in which an elbow joint  504  is included. This elbow joint  504  is convenient because it allows a user to crack loose the unwanted surplus concrete chunks from inside the trough  500  when in a dry state. After being cracked loose, these unwanted chunks can be poured out the side of trough  500 , rather than have to turn the previous embodiment i.e. trough  400  upside down and shake the chunks out. Accordingly, using the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the accumulation of unwanted surplus concrete fragments can be more easily removed. The elbowed trough  500  shown in  FIG. 5  also provides an easy way to fill with water, and to dump that water when completed. 
       FIG. 6  shows additional features that can be included with the present invention, including a tip-guard  604 , wheels  608 , chain  612 , and/or handle  616 . Although these features are shown in  FIG. 6  as modifying the trough  400 , they could also modify the trough  500 , or other embodiments as well. 
     It is anticipated that various changes may be made in the arrangement and operation of the system of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as depicted in the following claims.