Patent Publication Number: US-2009217944-A1

Title: Mobile Vehicle Washing Apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a mobile automobile washing apparatuses that can easily be moved from one place to another, wherein automobiles may move through the apparatus itself, or the apparatus itself may move across the length of any given automobile. 
     REFERENCES 
     In general within the art, descriptions of automobile washes and mobile automobile washes are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,284 set forth by Schleeter; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,016 by Carlson; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,147 by Chandler; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,843 by Strickland; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,087 by Tomasik. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The automobile washing industry has been dominated by stationary carwash stations that require a full building to house such stations. This stationary design greatly increases start up costs and virtually ties the carwash to its one original location only. Previous attempts at portable automobile washing apparatuses focused on providing U-shaped frame designs with nozzles or power washing units, but really not something that provided a full pre-rinse, brush-wash, rinse and air dry. What is needed is a mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus that can be quickly setup in virtually any location and can provide the normal range of carwash services expected. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention, as illustrated herein, is clearly not anticipated, rendered obvious, or even present in any of the prior art mechanisms, either alone or in any combination thereof. A mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus designed to overcome the previously mentioned shortcomings would give commercial automobile washing facilities the ability to setup quickly in virtually any area, allowing them to move from place to place where it may be advantageous to do so while also reducing startup costs. Thus, the several embodiments of the instant invention are illustrated herein. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the previously mentioned shortcomings found in the prior art automobile washing apparatuses in a new improved mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus that is easy to manufacture, competitively priced and which may clean all surfaces of an automobile while providing the normal array of automobile washing services. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus with a frame that is resistant to weathering. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus with a frame that is coated with a water resistant material, such as acrylic, to protect against weathering. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus with sides that may telescopically extend and contract. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus with removably attached wheels, treads or other movement means including a braking means for said wheels, treads or other movement, means to prevent the apparatus from moving. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus that may dispense any variety of fluids related to the practice of automobile washing via a fluid dispensing system. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus that may dry automobiles that are washed by said apparatus. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus that may accommodate automobiles of various sizes and dimensions by providing some simple to use, adjustable telescoping sides. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus wherein the brushing members are turned by a motor coupled to a rotating belt system. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus wherein the dimensions of the frame are easily adjustable by a series of powered cranks or hand cranks. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims, Detailed Description of the Embodiments Sections and drawings of this application, with all said sections also adding to this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric side view of the mobile and portable automobile washing apparatus. Visible are the frame and its component parts, two brush members hanging from said frame&#39;s top, a motor and rotating belt system mounted on said frame top, a fluid dispensing system, a plurality of cranks attached to said frame, three drying devices one on each side of the frame&#39;s rear, four wheel members where one is located at each frame corner, two handles where one handle is located the left frame side and one handle is located on the right frame side and one control unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention, such as mobile automobile washing apparatuses with non-telescoping frame sides, and mobile automobile washing apparatuses of different shapes and dimensions. 
     Presently, mobile automobile washing apparatuses have failed to provide an efficient means of accommodating automobiles of a large range of sizes while providing uses the ability to offer the normal range of services expected by automobile washing apparatuses, as put forth by the present invention. Some previous apparatuses allow for the cleaning of the sides of a vehicle, but fail to provide a means effectively clean the top of a vehicle. Other systems provide the ability to clean the sides and tops of automobiles, but fail to clean the underside of vehicles and also fail to offer the typical array of automobile cleaning services expected to be offered by a modern automobile washing facility. Further, modern automobile washing facilities themselves are limited in that they are forced to remain in the location in which they were constructed. 
     The present invention solves all these prior shortcomings by introducing a mobile and portable automobile washing device that offers the services that are expected at a modern automobile washing facility. In addition, the use of a frame of telescoping sides allows for this mobile washing device to accommodate automobiles of various heights and lengths. Further, the use of telescoping frame sides makes it easier to store the automobile washing apparatus in smaller areas and makes it even easier to transport from location to location. Another useful feature of the present invention is the use of lockable wheels, treads or other surface movement means. This feature allows vehicles to pass through the apparatus frame or for the frame to be moved over and around the vehicle being washed. 
       FIG. 1  shows an angled side view of the mobile automobile washing apparatus. Visible in  FIG. 1  is the frame  10  comprises of four vertical support members  30 , two top horizontal support members  32 , four side horizontal support members  40 , two side support members  45 , one top central plate member  160 , two top side plate members  150  and two brush member support bars  25 , wherein all of said members being removably attached to each other at their respective attachment ends. Also, removably attached to the vertical and horizontal support members are one or more crank members  100  that are used to telescopically expand and contract the frame&#39;s  10  dimensions. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 1  are two brush members  20  comprising a brush vertical member  21 , and a plurality of brush textile strips  22 , that may be comprised of any textile material know in the art including, but not limited to textile strips of feathery or downy textile materials, removably attached to said brush vertical member. One said brush member being located on the frame&#39;s  10  left side, and the other brush member being located on the frame&#39;s  10  right side. Each of said brush member hanging from its respective brush member support bar  25  which is removably attached to said brush vertical member  21 . 
       FIG. 1  also displays the apparatus water dispersing system comprised of four sets of tubing  90  that hangs from the top horizontal support members  32  on the left and right sides of the apparatus itself, wherein one set of tubing hangs from center of the left side top horizontal support member  32  and one hangs from the front of the left side of top horizontal support member  32 . The other two sets of tubing  90  hang from the right side top horizontal support member  32  in its respective center and front, in the same manner as the tubes  90  hang from the left side top horizontal support member  32  as mentioned above. Extending out of said four sets of tubing  90  are a plurality of nozzles  95  that disburse fluids as a spray. The fluid dispersing end of said nozzles  95  is always pointing toward the center of said apparatus. At the end of said sets of tubing  90  are located drainage valves  97  though which, when open, excess water may pass. 
     Further illustrated in  FIG. 1  are the apparatus side drying units  50  and top drying unit  60 . The two side drying units  50  are attached to the frame  10  on each one of the two rear vertical support members  30 , while the top drying  60  unit is attached to the top rear of said frame  10 . 
     Also illustrated by  FIG. 1  is one embodiment of a means of brush rotation, being comprising a motor  110  mounted on said top central plate member  160  and further comprising two belt members  120 . Said belt members  120  being mounted so that, the center belt ends are mounted about said motor  110  and so that, the non-center belt ends are mounted about said left and right brush vertical members  21 . 
     Remaining features of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  include textile strips  80  hanging from the front top of said frame  10 ; wheel members  70  mounted to the bottom of said frame  10 ; a control unit  130  mounted to a side horizontal support member  40 ; and a fluid reservoir  130  mounted to a side horizontal support member  40 .