Abstract:
A vibratory tamping tool which is shaped for easy maneuvering and tilting so as to allow the tamping and shaping of surfaces which are sloped relative to the horizontal. The tool has a tamping surface which is longer than it is wide, and the tools handle bar is oriented parallel to the length of the tamping surface. A motor and vibratory mechanism are supported on a platform which spaced apart from the tamping surface. The platform is supported above the tamping surface by a web plate extending from the plate which forms the tamping surface to the platform supporting the motor and vibratory mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a vibratory tool for compacting concrete or asphalt. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Poured concrete or asphalt driveways are usually compacted using heavy rollers. This process, however, can lead to driveway edges that are irregular and which easily crumble. Most hand or power tampers are designed for tamping horizontal surfaces and are not suited for tamping the edges of poured or deposited driveways. Examples of vibratory tampers which are not particularly suited for tamping sloping surfaces are shown among the references cited below. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,370, issued to Arno Zurbes et al. on Jul. 8, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,314, issued to Theodore S. Wadensten on Aug. 8, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,233, issued to Robert M. Motl on Aug. 23, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,611, issued to Martin Pilachowski on Feb. 17, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,980, issued to Vladimir A. Shilkov et al. on Aug. 26, 1986; U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,568, issued to Benno Kaltenegger on Aug. 10, 1982; U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,197, issued to Susumu Tetsuo on Jan. 29, 1980; U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,427, issued to Gunnar Grane on Oct. 9, 1979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,576, issued to Alain Clavel et al. on May 29, 1979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,403, issued to Christian T. Tertinek et al. on Sep. 12, 1978; German Unexamined Patent Application Number 28 15 723, by Gunnar Grane, published on Oct. 19, 1978; German examined Patent Application Number 19 16 396, by Heinrich Treude, published on Jun. 15, 1978; and German Unexamined Patent Application Number 21 55 687, by Wacker Werke KG, published on May 17, 1973, all show powered vibratory tampers or compactors. 
     A vibratory edger made by VIBCO industrial vibration products is shown on VIBCO&#39;s internet site at www.vibco.com. The posting date of this site on the internet is not known. VIBCO&#39;s vibratory edger is designed such that a portion of its tamping surface lies horizontally on the top surface of an asphalt driveway while another portion of the tamping surface is at an angle to the horizontal. The VIBCO device can only form asphalt driveway edges at one constant angle and does not allow the end user to form a driveway edge at any of a wide range of slope angles. Therefore, the user of the VIBCO device would have to purchase a separate vibratory edger for each edge surface slope angle that the user desires to form. Furthermore, the VIBCO device is unsuitable for compacting sloped surfaces that are more extensive than the narrow strip along the edge of a driveway. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. In particular, none of the above references show a vibratory compacting tool that can be used to form sloped surfaces at any of a wide range of slope angles as selected by the end user of the tool. Therefore, the need persists in the art for a single vibratory tool which can be used to form sloped surfaces at any of a wide range of slope angles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a vibratory tamping tool which is shaped for easy maneuvering and tilting so as to allow the tamping and shaping of surfaces which are sloped relative to the horizontal. The tool has a tamping surface which is longer than it is wide, and the tool&#39;s handle bar is oriented parallel to the length of the tamping surface. A motor and vibratory mechanism are supported on a platform which is spaced apart from the tamping surface. The platform is supported above the tamping surface by a web plate extending from the plate which forms the tamping surface to the platform supporting the motor and vibratory mechanism. The platform supporting the motor and vibratory mechanism, the web plate, and the plate forming the tamping surface together form the base of the tool. This base has an I-beam structure. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a tamping tool that can be used to compact sloped surfaces. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a tamping tool that is flexible and that can be used to form compacted surfaces at a variety of slope angles. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a tamping tool with a tamping surface that is longer than it is wide and with a handle bar that is parallel to the lengthwise dimension of the tamping surface in order to allow the tool to be easily tilted. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a tamping tool which does not have its motor or vibratory mechanism mounted to the plate which forms the tamping surface, such that the size and shape of the tamping surface will not be constrained by the need to provide for the mounting of the motor and/or vibratory mechanism. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a vibratory tamping tool according to the present invention, being used to compact the edge of a driveway. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vibratory tamping tool according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded view showing the details of the attachment of the handle of the vibratory tamping tool according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded view showing the details of the mounting of the motor of the vibratory tamping tool according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded view showing the details of the vibratory mechanism of the vibratory tamping tool according to the present invention. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the present invention is directed to a vibratory tool  10  which includes a base  12 , a motor  14 , a vibratory means  16  for imparting vibratory movement to the base  12 , and a handle  18 . As shown in FIG. 2, the base  12  includes a top plate  20  and a bottom plate  22 . A web plate  24  extends from the bottom plate  22  to the top plate  20  and is perpendicular to both the bottom plate  22  and the top plate  20 . A portion  26  of the bottom plate  22 , near the forward end of the bottom plate  22 , curves toward the top plate  20 . A cylindrical body  28  extends along the rearmost edge of the bottom plate  22  and gives a rounded profile to the rear edge of the bottom plate  22 . The bottom surface of the bottom plate  22  forms the tamping surface of the vibratory tool  10 . A pair of cylindrical sleeves  30  and  32  project from either side of the web plate  24 . The bores of the cylindrical sleeves  30  and  32  define passages for the bolts  34  and  36  which secure the handle  18  to the base  12 . 
     Near the forward end of the top plate there are four holes  38 . The four holes  38  allow the vibratory means  16  to be mounted to the top plate  20 , near the forward end of the top plate  20 . As shown in FIG. 5, an optional mounting plate  40  can be provided intermediate the vibratory means  16  and the top plate  20 . The mounting plate  40  has four holes  42  that register with the holes  38  in the top plate  20 . The thickness of the mounting plate  40  can be varied to adjust the distribution of mass along the length of the base  12 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, the vibratory means  16  includes a shaft  44  rotatably supported by two ball bearing sets  46  and  48 . Each ball bearing set includes an inner race, an outer race, a cage, and a plurality of ball bearings. Each of the ball bearing sets  46  and  48  is cooperatively held in place by a respective bearing seat  50  and a respective U-bracket  52 . Each U-bracket  52  has a pair of holes  54 , one at each end, that register with a respective pair of the holes  38 . Bolts  56  are placed through the holes  54  at the ends of the U-brackets  52 . The bolts  56  also pass through the holes  42  in the mounting plate  40  and the holes  38  in the top plate  20 . Each of the bolts  56  is secured in place by a respective nut  58 . The nuts  58  and the bolts  56  cooperatively secure the two ball bearing sets  46  and  48  to the base  12 . This arrangement allows the shaft  44  to be mounted to the base  12  while allowing for the free rotation of the shaft  44 . One end of the shaft  44  projects beyond the ball bearing set  46  and has a pulley  60  fixedly attached thereto such that the shaft  44  and the pulley  60  rotate as a unit. 
     An eccentric weight  62 , which in this case is a section of a cylindrical sleeve that can fit around the shaft  44 , is fixed to the shaft  44  by the screws  64 . The eccentric weight  62  is positioned intermediate the ball bearing sets  46  and  48 . As the shaft  44  and the eccentric weight  62  rotate together, the shaft  44  and the eccentric weight  62  form an unbalanced rotating mass which imparts vibratory motion to the base  12 . 
     As seen in FIG. 4, also mounted to the base  12  is the engine or motor  14  which in the illustrated example is of the gasoline powered variety. However, an electric motor can also be used to power the rotation of the shaft  44  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the motor  14  is a small gasoline powered two-cycle engine of the type commonly used to power lawn mowers. The motor  14  is mounted to the base  12  using a mounting bracket  66 . The mounting bracket  66  is formed by two plates  68  and  70  which are joined together at a right angle, for example, by welding the plates  68  and  70  together. The joint between the plates  68  and  70  may be reinforced by gussets  72  on either side of the mounting bracket  66 . The first plate  68  has four holes  74  that allow the bolts  76  to pass therethrough. The bolts  76  engage the crank case  78  of the engine  14  and secure the engine  14  to the first plate  68 . In addition, the first plate  68  has a hole  80  that allows the output shaft  82  of the motor  14  to pass therethrough and project outward from the first plate  68 . The projecting portion of the output shaft  82  is located on the same side of the vibratory tool  10  as the first pulley  60 . 
     The second plate  70  has four holes  88  that register with four holes  84  formed in the top plate  20 . Four cylindrical rubber bushings  86  are placed between the second plate  70  and the top plate  20  of the base  12 . Each cylindrical bushing  86  has a central bore that is in registry with a respective hole  88  in the second plate  70  and a respective hole  84  in the top plate  20 . Each of the bolts  90  passes through a respective hole  88  in the second plate  70 , a respective rubber bushing  86 , and a respective hole  84  in the top plate  20  and engages a respective one of the nuts  92 . Thus, the bolts  90  and the nuts  92  cooperatively secure the motor  14  to the top plate  20  of the base  12 . The rubber bushings  86  provide a measure of isolation for the motor  14  from the vibrations of the base  12  and help reduce the severity of the vibrations imparted to the motor  14  by the vibrating base  12 . 
     A second pulley  94  is fixedly attached to the output shaft  82  of the motor  14 , such that the pulley  94  rotates with the output shaft  82  of the motor  14 . An endless belt  96  is frictionally engaged to both the pulleys  60  and  94 . As the motor  14  runs, the output shaft  82  rotates causing the pulley  94  to rotate. The rotation of the pulley  94  is imparted to the pulley  60  via the belt  96 , thus causing the shaft  44  to rotate. Because of the presence of the eccentric weight  62 , rotation of the shaft  44  causes vibrations which are imparted to the base  12 . These vibrations provide the tamping action of the bottom plate  22  on the supporting surface below. Although a belt drive system has been used in the illustrated example, a chain and sprocket system, a shaft drive system, or a toothed belt and pulley system can also be used to transmit rotational motion from the motor output shaft  82  to the eccentric weight  62 . A protective cover or guard  98  covers the power transmission system of the vibratory tool  10  so as to reduce the likelihood that foreign objects will get caught in the power transmission system and cause damage to the vibratory tool  10 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the handle  18  has two limbs  100  and  102  that straddle the top plate  20 . The handle shaft  104  forms a T-connection with a middle bar portion  106  which extends between the two limbs  100  and  102 . The other end of the handle shaft  104  forms a T-connection to a handle bar  108  which is approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top plate  20 . The handle bar  108  is provided with soft rubber, neoprene, or plastic grips  110  at each end which afford a comfortable grip to the user. The handle shaft  104  is slightly cranked and has two bends. The portion of the handle shaft  104  extending between the two bends is canted relative to the vertical, while the portions of the handle shaft  104  at each end of the handle shaft  104  extend in directions that are more nearly vertical. At the end of each of the limbs  100  and  102 , distal from the handle shaft  104 , is a flat plate  112  which has two holes  114  and  116 . With the limbs  100  and  102  straddling the top plate  20 , each of the holes  114  registers with the bore of a respective cylindrical sleeve  32  and each of the holes  116  registers with the bore of a respective cylindrical sleeve  30 . Intermediate each hole  114  and the respective cylindrical sleeve  32  is a cylindrical rubber bushing  118 . The bore of each cylindrical rubber bushing  118  is in registry with the cylindrical sleeves  32 . Intermediate each hole  116  and the respective cylindrical sleeve  30  is a cylindrical rubber bushing  120 . The bore of each cylindrical rubber bushing  120  is in registry with the cylindrical sleeves  30 . Only one each of the cylindrical sleeves  30  and  32  have been shown, because the other cylindrical sleeves  30  and  32  are simply mirror images of the ones shown in the accompanying illustrations. 
     A first bolt  36  is positioned to extend through the holes  114 , the bushings  118 , and the sleeves  32 , and the bolt  36  is engaged to a nut  122 . Similarly, a second bolt  34  is positioned to extend through the holes  116 , the bushings  120 , and the sleeves  30 , and the bolt  34  is engaged to a nut  124 . The bolts  34  and  36  and the nuts  122  and  124  cooperatively secure the handle  18  to the base  12 . The rubber bushings  118  and  120  provide some measure of vibration isolation to the handle bar  108 , thus allowing the user to grip the handle bar  108  with less battering from the vibrating tool  10 . 
     A lever  126  is provided on the handle bar  108 . The lever  126  operates the throttle which forms part of the carburetor (not shown). With the lever  126  released, the motor  14  will run at idle RPM. When the lever  126  is gripped by the operator and pivoted toward the grip  110 , the motor RPM, i.e. the rotational speed of the crank shaft, will increase resulting in a more forceful vibratory motion of the vibratory tool  10 . The operator can set the severity of the vibratory motion of the vibratory tool  10  at any desired level by adjusting his or her grip on the lever  126 . Furthermore, using the lever  126  the operator can maintain the motor RPM at such a level that will allow the operator to remain in control of the vibratory tool  10 . If the user accidentally loses his or her grip, the lever  126  will be released and the motor  14  will automatically return to idle RPM. Other safety devices, such as a kill switch, may also be provided for the vibratory tool  10 . Also, the motor  14  is well known and is not described in detail herein. 
     The use of the vibratory tool  10  will be described in the context of tamping the edges of an asphalt driveway  128 , however, it must be born in mind that the presentation of this example of the operation of the vibratory tool  10  is not intended to be limiting as to the variety of the uses of the present invention. In use, the user normally stands to the side of the asphalt driveway  128  facing the edge  130 , of the asphalt driveway, which is to be tamped. The user grasps the handle bar  108  with the motor running such that the longitudinal axis of the handle bar  108  and the longitudinal axis of the bottom plate  22  are parallel to the edge  130  that is to be tamped, and such that the bottom surface of the bottom plate  22  rests on the edge  130  which is to be tamped. The vibratory movement of the base  12  repetitively pounds the surface under the bottom plate  22 . 
     The user can hold the bottom plate  22  at any desired angle by tilting the vibratory tool  10  relative to the vertical. The angle to which the vibratory tool  10  is tilted is simply a function of how far the user stands from the base  12  and of how close to his or her body the user holds the handle bar  108 . By tamping the driveway edge  130  with the bottom plate  22  held at an angle relative to the horizontal, a driveway edge  130  that is banked or angled relative to the horizontal can be obtained. The bottom plate  22  is usually several times longer than it is wide to allow for easy tilting of the vibratory tool  10 , while the bottom plate  22  longitudinally extends along the edge being tamped. For example, the bottom plate  22  may have a length that is two to eight times its width. The width of the bottom plate  22  is generally of the same order as the desired width for the banked edge  130  of the driveway. In practice, the bottom plate  22  may be from three to twelve inches wide. By separating the plate to which the motor  14  and vibratory mechanism  16  are mounted from the plate that is actually used to tamp the asphalt or concrete, the plate that is used for tamping can be made in a desired size and shape which is best suited to the particular tamping task at hand. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.