Abstract:
What is disclosed is a pad for use with a compactor having a planar plate for protecting material to he protected. The pad includes a rigid planar surface adapted to maintain a co-planar relationship with the plate of the compactor during the operation of the compactor. The pad is adapted to be affixed to the compactor by clamps and other mechanical means.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0004]    The present invention concerns a protective pad that prevents damage to material that is subjected to compaction such as paver bricks. In particular, paver brick and other materials laid over a sand base often require compacting as part of the installation process. Current paver designs often include uneven top surfaces having peaks and valleys that mimic the contours of natural stone. However, when a motorized compactor having a metal base is passed over a peak, the peak is often marred and/or broken as a result of the compactor concentrating force on the peak. To solve this problem, one approach has been to place a soft pad made from rubber, silicone or urethane over the compactor&#39;s compaction plate and to bolt the rubber pad to the compactor. 
         [0005]    Using a soft pad has several drawbacks. First, the pad will often rip at one or more mounting points on the compactor. Also, a compactor, which is typically gas powered, typically cannot be pulled in reverse and in other directions as a result of the flexible pad&#39;s tendency to bunch. This limits the range of motion of the compactor. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides solutions to the above-mentioned limitations of the prior designs. It provides an inflexible, non-metallic pad this resists tearing or ripping at an attachment point. It does not hinder compactor speed of operation or inhibit direction of movement. It is also fast and easy to attach and remove, saving time and effort, unlike. soft pads that need to be bolted after drilling holes into the compactor. Moreover, a universal attachment portion is freely positionable to permit mounting to many different compactor designs. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side view showing the universal positioning aspect of the attachment portion. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an explode side view. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in use. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the present invention includes a pad  100  having an inflexible or rigid planar portion  102  having an upwardly curved lip  104  connected to a hinge member  106  and an attachment portion  108 . Rigid planar portion  102  can be any substantially rigid or semi-rigid material, such as, but not limited to, plastic and other non-metallic materials. In one configuration, the planar portion may be made from a substantially sturdy rigid sheet material that has a small deflection when subject to a compacting force or when moved across a surface to be compacted. Suitable materials for pad  102  include, but are not limited to, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acrylic, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene LOPE and HOPE, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and styrene. 
         [0018]    In addition, planar portion may also be a composite of rigid material sections  140 - 142  and a flexible material  150  which may be an elastomeric material. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 6 , pad  600  may be a layered composite of a rigid material  602  and flexible material  630 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  7 , planar portion is adapted to have sufficient rigidity and corresponding limited amount of deflection, or none at all, so as to maintain a co-planar relationship with a surface to be compacted  800  during the compaction process. In addition, the planar portion is also adapted to have sufficient rigidity to maintain a co-planar relationship with planar compaction plate  812  of compactor  810  during the operation of compactor  810 . This co-planar relationship is maintained for all directions of travel of compactor  810 . 
         [0020]    Tapered edge  110  is located opposite tapered edge  105  formed by bend  104 . The edges, which oppose one another, allow for the smooth travel of the pad and compactor assembly over a surface that often includes loose material such as sand and the like. The edges may also be beveled, rounded and in other configurations. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , pad  700  is attached to compactor  810  by clamps  720  and  722  which clamp attachment portion  708  to the machine. As a result of compactors having different angular front edges, in a preferred embodiment, pad  100  includes a hinged portion  106 , which allows attachment portion  108  to be positioned in a variety of angular positions such as  200  and  202 . Hinged portion  106  may be a mechanical hinge of a living hinge as shown. As shown in  FIG. 4 , living hinge  106  is comprised of section  170  that connects sections  177  and  178 . To create the flexibility to form the hinge, section  170  may be substantially less in thickness than sections  177  and  178 . In a preferred configuration, section  170  is 75 percent thinner than the other sections. 
         [0022]    In addition, hinge  106  may face the compactor or it may face way from the compactor such as shown in  FIG. 5  for hinge  506 . Even with the hinge facing away from the compactor, attachment portion  508  may still he affixed to a device by clamps  520  and  522 . In addition, a pad may he affixed to a compactor by bolts, screws, fasteners, rivets and in other ways known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0023]      FIG. 8  depicts another embodiment, which requires no mechanical affixation of pad  850  to a compactor. In this embodiment, the device is comprised of planar surface  802  which may be of a composition as described above. In addition, pad  802  is connected to sidewalk  810 - 813  which, together, form a semi-enclosed housing or structure in which a compactor nests or may be placed. The sidewalk maintain the compactor within the device during operation. In addition, the sidewalls may also be angled or tapered to allow for the smooth travel of the pad and compactor assembly over a surface that often includes loose material such as sand and the like. The edges may also be beveled, rounded and in other configurations.