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PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/734,167 filed Nov. 7, 2005, and entitled “RESIDENTIAL SEALCOATING MACHINING HAVING CLEANABLE MANIFOLD”, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates generally to seal coating machines for applying sealant to an asphalt surface. More specifically, the invention is directed to a towable seal coating machine having a removable distribution manifold for easy cleaning of the manifold following application of the sealant to a residential asphalt surface.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Asphalt is used for constructing a large percentage of the paved roadways, parking lots and residential driveways in the United States. Asphalt generally comprises a combination of aggregates (crushed stone and sand), filler (cement, hydrated lime or stone dust) and a bituminous binder (called asphalt cement or asphalt binder). When used in construction, asphalt has a number of advantages including smoothness when applied, ease of construction and durability. While asphalt construction has a number of advantages, asphalt can begin to break down due to oxidation, exposure to ultraviolet rays and exposure to oil and gas spills. As such, asphalt maintenance is important and especially so for residential homeowners that can incur significant expense due to damaged asphalt driveways.  
         [0004]     The most common form of asphalt maintenance is the application of an asphalt sealant or sealcoat applied in a thin layer directly on the asphalt surface. Application of sealcoat provides a number of benefits including protecting the asphalt from exposure to oxygen and water, preventing ultraviolet rays from penetrating the asphalt, resisting damage caused by oil or gas spills, smoothing the asphalt surface and restoring the original look and color of the asphalt.  
         [0005]     Depending upon environmental conditions (sun exposure, temperature variation, amount of moisture) and traffic on the sealcoat, asphalt driveways may require the application of sealcoat every 1 to 3 years. Sealcoat generally comprises a mixture of emulsified asphalt, water, mineral fillers and various other mixtures. Sealcoat can be applied using a squeegee, stiff broom or mechanical sprayers/applicators. Representative sprayers/applicators include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,533,336; 3,703,856; 3,841,779; 3,940,213; 3,989,403; 4,026,658; 4,302,128; 4,315,700; 4,575,279; 4,688,964; 4,831,958; 5,362,178; 5,735,952; 5,549,457; 6,102,615; and 6,290,428, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.  
         [0006]     Many homeowners apply sealcoat to their asphalt driveways themselves. While the sealcoating process can be successfully accomplished by homeowners, the process is generally messy and can destroy the brushes and components used in the sealcoating process. As such, it would be advantageous for residential homeowners to have an apparatus allowing for quick and efficient application of sealcoat while allowing for easy cleaning and maintenance of the apparatus.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The invention addresses the aforementioned needs by providing a residential sealcoat applicator apparatus that quickly and efficiently applies sealcoat and is easily cleanable upon completion of the sealcoating process.  
         [0008]     In one aspect, a representative embodiment of a sealcoating apparatus comprises a towable implement having a mounting frame, a sealcoat reservoir, a distribution manifold and an applicator member. The sealcoat reservoir can supply sealcoat to the distribution manifold and applicator member at the direction of a supply valve accessible to an operator on a tow vehicle. The applicator member can be vertically adjustable from an upward transport disposition to a downward application disposition through use of a manually adjusted repositionable wheel assembly. The distribution manifold is operably removable so as to allow for cleaning of the distribution manifold following completion of the sealcoating process.  
         [0009]     In another aspect, a residential sealcoating process can be accomplished utilizing a towable sealcoating apparatus that is disassemblable for cleaning upon completion of the sealcoating process. The sealcoating process can include supplying liquid sealcoat to an asphalt surface through a distribution manifold that generally evenly distributes sealcoat for application with an applicator member. A repositionable wheel assembly can be adjusted so as to vary the position of the applicator member between an upward transport disposition and a downward application disposition. Upon completion of the sealcoating process, the distribution manifold can be removed and cleaned allowing the towable sealcoating apparatus to be successfully used for subsequent sealcoating applications.  
         [0010]     The above summary of the various embodiments of the invention is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the invention. The figures in the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view an embodiment of a residential sealant applicator of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the residential sealant applicator of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the residential sealant applicator of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view the residential sealant applicator of  FIG. 1  applying an asphalt sealant to a residential, asphalt surface. 
     
    
       [0016]     While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 , a towable sealcoating apparatus  100  of the present invention can comprise a towable frame  102 , a sealcoat reservoir  104 , a distribution manifold  106  and an applicator member  108 . Operation of towable sealcoating apparatus  100  can be controlled by a sealcoat delivery control  110  and an applicator position control  112 . The components of the towable sealcoating apparatus  100  can be permanently attached such as, for example, by welding the components together. Alternatively, the components of the towable sealcoating apparatus  100  can be disassembled using suitable fasteners such as, for example, nuts and bolts, cotter pins and similar connectors, to promote ease of shipping and assembly of the towable sealcoating apparatus  100 .  
         [0018]     Towable frame  102  can comprise a pair of side members  114   a ,  114   b  and an end member  116 . Side members  114   a ,  114   b  and end member  116  can be fabricated of suitable materials such as, for example, carbon steel and aluminum channel. Side members  114   a ,  114   b  and end members  116  can be attached using suitable attachment methods such as, for example, welding or using connectors such as nuts and bolts. A mounting floor  118  is mountably attached between side members  114   a ,  114   b . Towable frame  102  can further comprise a towing receiver  120  and a repositionable wheel assembly  124 . Towing receiver  120  can comprise any of a variety of suitable towing receiver configurations include a ball receiver, a 3-point hitch and a drawbar hitch. Repositionable wheel assembly  124  can comprise a pair of wheels  126   a ,  126   b , a pair of extension members  128   a ,  128   b  and a mounting member  130 .  
         [0019]     Sealcoat reservoir  104  comprises a tank assembly  132  having an inlet port  134  and an outlet port  136 . Tank assembly  132  can be constructed of suitable materials such as, for example, suitable plastics and metals. Tank assembly  132  is operably mounted to the mounting floor  118 .  
         [0020]     Distribution manifold  106  can comprise a supply portion  138  and a distribution portion  140 . Distribution manifold  106  can be constructed of suitable materials such as, for example, PVC pipe. Supply portion  138  includes a supply end  142  and a distribution end  144 . Distribution portion  140  includes a plurality of distribution bores  146  generally evenly spaced across the length of distribution portion  140 .  
         [0021]     Applicator member  108  can comprise a suitable applicator such as, for example, a squeegee  148  or alternatively, a brush  149 , operably attached to the end member  116  and preferably extending beyond the side members  114   a ,  114   b.    
         [0022]     Sealcoat delivery control  110  can comprise a delivery lever  150 , a delivery bracket  152 , a pair of bracket mounts  154   a ,  154   b , a lever arm  156  and a delivery valve  158 . Delivery bracket  152  can be mounted over tank assembly  132  using bracket mounts  154   a ,  154   b  attached to the towable frame  102 . Delivery valve  158  is fluidly, operably mounted within the supply portion  138 . Delivery lever  150  operably connects to delivery valve  158  with lever arm  156 .  
         [0023]     Applicator position control  112  can comprise a positioning arm  160 , a positioning bracket  162 , an adjustment arm  164  and an attachment arm  166 . Positioning arm  160  is rotatably attached to the positioning bracket  162  wherein the positioning bracket  162  is coupled to the towable frame  102  using a suitable attachment method such as, for example, welding, bolting and the like. Adjustment arm  164  is attached to the positioning arm  160  on one end and to the attachment arm  166  at the other end. Attachment arm  166  further attaches directly to the mounting member  130 .  
         [0024]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , towable sealcoating apparatus  100  can be used with a suitable towing implement such as, for example, a lawn tractor  200  or all-terrain vehicle. Towable sealcoating apparatus  100  can be used to resurface and sealcoat an asphalt driveway  202 . For example, towable sealcoating apparatus  100  can be attached to the lawn tractor  202  by positioning towing receiver  120  over a ball hitch on the lawn tractor  202 . Wheels  126   a ,  126   b  are generally sized such that attachment of the towable sealcoating apparatus  100  to the lawn tractor  200  results in the towable sealcoating apparatus  100  being tilted such that the towing receiver  120  is at a higher elevation than the end member  116 . When towable sealcoating apparatus  100  is in such tilted orientation as shown in  FIG. 4 , outlet port  136  is positioned so as gravity feed sealcoat into the supply portion  136  of distribution manifold  106 .  
         [0025]     In operation, an operator aligns lawn tractor  200 , and consequently, towable sealcoating apparatus  100 , with a portion of the asphalt driveway  202  in which, sealcoat is to be applied. The operator grasps the positioning arm  160  and pulls the positioning arm  160  toward the lawn tractor  200  which, causes adjustment arm  164  to pull the attachment arm  166  forward. As the attachment arm  166  is pulled toward the lawn tractor  200 , mounting member  130  is caused to rotate such that the extension members  128   a ,  128   b  rotatably direct the wheels  126   a ,  126   b  toward the end member  116 . As the extension members  128   a ,  128   b  are rotated, the ground clearance between the squeegee  148  and the driveway  202  is reduced until the squeegee  148  is in physical contact with the driveway  202 .  
         [0026]     The operator then opens delivery valve  158  by pulling delivery lever  150  toward the lawn tractor  200  such that the lever arm  156  actuates the delivery valve  158  to an open position. As delivery valve  156  is opened, sealcoat within tank assembly  130  begins flowing from outlet port  134  into supply end  140 , through supply portion  136 , out distribution end  142  and into distribution portion  138  due to the tilted configuration of the towable sealcoating apparatus  100 . The sealcoat is flowably dispensed out the distribution bores  144  and onto the driveway  202 . The operator directs the lawn tractor  200  forward such that the squeegee  148  comes into contact with and evenly spreads the sealcoat on the driveway  202 . Preferably, squeegee  148  extends beyond the width of the lawn tractor  200  such that the operator can do a next pass on the driveway  202  without driving the lawn tractor  200  over previously applied sealcoat. Upon completion of the sealcoating process, the operator closes the delivery valve  156  by directing the delivery lever  150  away from the lawn tractor  200  and raises the squeegee  148  by directing the positioning arm  160  away from the lawn tractor  200 .  
         [0027]     Once the driveway  202  has been sealcoated, the distribution manifold  106  can be removed from the tank assembly  132 , preferably by removing a quick connect or similar style fitting, that connects the supply end  142  to the outlet port  136 . This allows for easy access and cleaning of the distribution manifold  106  and delivery valve  158  such that the towable sealcoating apparatus  100  can continue to be reused for subsequent sealcoat applications. In some embodiments, supply portion  136  and distribution portion  140  can be detachably removed from the delivery valve  158  to provide individual cleaning and maintenance access to each component. In addition, portions of the distribution manifold  106  can comprise flexible tubing/hose allowing for flexibility and quick connection of the components using connectors such as, for example, barbed fittings and/or hose clamps.  
         [0028]     Although various embodiments of the invention have been disclosed here for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that a variety of changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated without departing from either the spirit or scope of the invention.

Summary:
A towable, residential sealcoating apparatus and related methods for applying sealcoat to a residential, asphalt driveway. The towable, residential sealcoating apparatus can include a towable implement having a mounting frame, a sealcoat reservoir, a distribution manifold and an applicator member. The sealcoat reservoir can supply sealcoat to the distribution manifold and applicator member at the direction of a supply valve accessible to an operator on a tow vehicle. The applicator member can be vertically adjustable from an upward transport disposition to a downward application disposition. The distribution manifold is operably removable so as to allow for cleaning of the distribution manifold following completion of the sealcoating process.