Abstract:
The present invention provides a novel, curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus and a mobile pressure washing unit to permit curb cleaning without requiring human intervention. In addition, the novel, curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus of the present invention is configured to address a variety of curb shapes, rather than the simple straight configurations of the prior art. The combination of these two items permit a significant reduction in the time and energy required to clean the curbs and sidewalks of a large neighborhood.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The modern age&#39;s obsession with cleanliness has now expanded to include the outdoors. Several areas of the country have homeowners&#39; covenants that require the sidewalks to remain clean. In Florida, for example, there are many business ventures directed to providing lawn care and maintenance, including edging the lawn and pressure spraying the sidewalks. There are many inventions directed to the use of pressure sprayers to eliminate weeds and clean surfaces. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,442 to Shaffer; U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,108 to Miyamoto; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,730 to Thompson. Many of these inventions focus on recycling the water or containing hazardous waste that may be present on the sidewalks&#39; surface. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,597 to Page; U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,298 to Rohrbacher et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,968 to Moll et al. The present invention improves upon the prior art by providing a mobile unit containing sufficient quantities of water to clean the surface and sides of many miles of sidewalks and curbs without requiring a person to walk all those miles.  
           [0002]    Multi-nozzle spray systems are also known in the prior art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,382 to Engdahl, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,746 to Anderberg et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,730 to Thompson. All of these inventions utilize straight, or linear, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparati. The only prior art that could be utilized to clean surfaces that are not flat are the references that contain a hand-held wand and U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,308 B1 to Hall. Of course, the use of a hand-held wand to clean many miles of sidewalks and curbs is time consuming. The present invention improves upon the prior art through the use of a novel, curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention solves the problems of the prior art by utilizing novel, curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus and a mobile pressure washing unit to permit sidewalk cleaning without requiring human intervention. In addition, the novel, curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus of the present invention is configured to address a variety of curb shapes, rather than the simple straight configurations of the prior art. The combination of these two items permit a significant reduction in the time and energy required to clean the curbs and sidewalks of a large neighborhood. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is a perspective of the novel, curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus of the present invention utilized for high back curbs.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 2 is a perspective of the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus of the present invention utilized for type “D” curbs.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 3 is a perspective of the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus of the present invention utilized for miamis or valleys.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 4 is a top, plan view of the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus of the present invention containing an optional spray shield and guide driver.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 5 is a photograph of the front of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 6 is a photograph of the partial side view of the mobile pressure washing unit and curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle system of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]    Throughout the claims and specification, the term “piping” means a hollow cylinder of metal, wood or other material, used for the conveyance of water, gas, steam, and the like. The water, gas or steam so conveyed may include additional additives useful in removing iron, rust, and the like, from the surface being sprayed.  
         [0011]    Throughout the claims and specification, the term “curb-conforming” means straight piping and/or piping containing at least one angle of greater than about 5 degrees.  
         [0012]    Throughout the claims and specification, the terms “at least one angle of greater than about 5 degrees” means any angle between 0 degrees and 360 degrees, including, but not limited to 45, 90, 249.5, and 270.  
         [0013]    Throughout the claims and specification, the term “multiple,” when applied to nozzles or spray heads, means more than one, including, but not limited to, four, five, six, seven, eight and nine.  
         [0014]    Throughout the claims and specification, the term “nozzle” or “spray head” means a spout from which water, gas, steam and the like is discharged and includes both stationary and rotary spray heads.  
         [0015]    Throughout the claims and specification, the term “mobile platform” means a horizontal surface capable of moving.  
         [0016]    The present invention is directed to novel, curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparati and the mobile pressure washing units that utilize them. The following description of the drawings is not intended to limit, but merely serves as exemplary of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention as utilized for high back curbs. In this figure, the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus  10  contains five (5) spray heads;  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 , and  15 . There is a 45 degree angle  16  in the curb-conforming piping  22  between spray heads  11  and  12 . This angle  16  allows water from spray head  11  to be applied to the top  18  of the curb  19 . There is a 249.5 degree angle  17  in the curb-conforming piping  22  between spray heads  14  and  15 . This angle  17  allows water from spray head  15  to be applied to the bottom  21  of the curb  19 . Spray heads  12 ,  13  and  14  apply water to the side  20  of the curb  19 . These angles are for exemplary purposes only. Curbs of different height or width would require different angles at different positions. It would be within the ordinary skill of the art to adjust the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus appropriately.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention as utilized for Type D curbs. In this figure, the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus  30  contains three (3) spray heads;  31 ,  32  and  33 . There is a 45 degree angle  34  in the curb-conforming piping  38  between spray heads  31  and  32 . This angle  34  allows water from spray head  31  to be applied to the top  36  of the Type D curb  35 . Spray heads  32  and  33  apply water to the side  37  of the Type D curb  35 . Once again, these drawings are merely exemplary. It would be within the ordinary skill of the art to include additional spray heads for taller Type D curbs or to adjust the angle to suit specific curbs.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 provides a third embodiment of the present invention as utilized for miamis or valleys. In this figure, the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus  40  contains four (4) spray heads;  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44 . This embodiment of the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle system  40  does not contain any angles and contains four spray heads. Spray heads  41 ,  42 ,  43  and  44  apply water to the top  46  of the miami or valley  45 . For emphasis, these drawings are merely exemplary. It would be within the ordinary skill of the art to include additional spray heads for wider miamis or valleys, or to add an angle to suit specific miamis or valleys.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 provides a top, plan view of a fourth embodiment of the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus  50  of the present invention with an optional spray shield  67  and guide driver  68 . In this figure, the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus  50  contains eight (8) spray heads ( 51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57  and  58 ) on two branches of curb-conforming piping ( 59  and  60 ). Each of the eight (8) spray heads ( 51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  55 ,  56 ,  57  and  58 ) of this embodiment feature a shut-off valve (not shown) that allows each individual spray head to be shut off at the desire of the operator of the invention. Thus, when this embodiment of the present invention moves from one curb type to another curb type, the operator can simply close the spray heads that are not needed for the new curb type and proceed with cleaning.  
         [0021]    The present invention may include from one to eight branches of curb-conforming piping depending upon the intended sidewalk to be cleaned. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, there are two branches of curb-conforming piping ( 59  and  60 ). There is a 90 degree angle  61  in the curb-conforming piping ( 59  and  60 ) between spray heads  54  and  55 . This angle  61  allows water from spray heads  51 ,  52  and  53  to be applied to the top  64  of the curb  63 . There is a 270 degree angle  62  in the curb-conforming piping ( 59  and  60 ) between spray heads  56  and  57 . This angle  62  allows water from spray heads  57  and  58  to be applied to the bottom  65  of the curb  63 . Spray heads  54 ,  55  and  56  apply water to the side  66  of the curb  63 . The number of branches of curb-conforming piping and the angles contained herein are for exemplary purposes only. Different curbs would require differing branch arrangements and angles. It would be within the ordinary skill of the art to adjust the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus appropriately.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 provides one embodiment of the attachment means of the present invention; this embodiment comprises an adjustable bracket swivel wheel  70  and spray boom  71 . The adjustable bracket swivel wheel  70  provides support to the spray boom  71  during pressure spraying to ensure the proper height between the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus  50  and the surface being sprayed (not shown). The adjustable bracket swivel wheel  70  contains a tire  73  that can withstand the rigors of the proposed environment. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, rubber, plastic and metal. It has been found that when the tire  73  is made from some forms of black rubber, the tire  73  leaves marks on the cleaned sidewalks. Therefore, it is preferable to choose a material that does not leave marks, such as a white or light-colored rubber, rubber/plastic mix, or dark-colored rubber that is treated with a sealant to prevent mark formation. The spray boom  71  connects the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus  50  of the present invention to the mobile platform (not shown). The spray boom  71  also needs to be able to withstand the rigors of the proposed environment. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, stainless steel, iron and aluminum. As depicted in FIG. 4, the end of the multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus  50  is pinned and teed to the spray boom  71 . However, other connecting mechanisms within the ordinary skill in the art would be utilized in the present invention, including, but not limited to t-handles, welding, bolts, nuts, screws and the like.  
         [0023]    Not shown in FIG. 4 is the connection between the spray boom  71  and the mobile platform of the present invention. One embodiment of this connection comprises the addition of one or more receiver plates to the bumper of a mobile platform, which then receives the end of the spray boom  71 . The spray boom is secured to the receiver plate by a cotter pin.  
         [0024]    Another embodiment (not shown) of the connection between the spray boom  71  and the mobile platform of the present invention comprises the addition of two receiver plates to the front bumper of a 10-wheel water truck. One receiver plate is located on the driver side of the truck and the other is located on the passenger side. The spray boom  71  is mechanically connected to a hydraulic cylinder device, which is then connected to either receiver plate. The hydraulic cylinder device controls both the lateral and vertical position of the spray boom. The hydraulic cylinder device can be controlled from inside the 10-wheel water truck.  
         [0025]    A further embodiment (not shown) includes the addition of actuators and electronic eyes to the hydraulic system described above. The electronic eyes are utilized by the operator of the water truck to view the positioning of the spray boom in relation to the curb from inside the water truck, or any other variant on the mobile platform. The actuators allow the operator to adjust the spray boom based on the results viewed from the electronic eyes.  
         [0026]    The curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus of FIG. 4 also includes the hose  72 , the optional spray shield  67  and guide driver  68 . The hose  72  connects the water source (not shown) to the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus  50  of the present invention. As depicted in FIG. 4, this connection mechanism is a quick disconnect mechanism, common in the hose industry. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that any non-leaking connection mechanism would be suitable in the present invention, including threading, cam locks or any other non-leaking connection means not currently well-known in the art.  
         [0027]    The optional spray shield  67  in FIG. 4 prevents splashing from the spray heads from reaching areas not intended, such as the adjacent grass or other landscaping. The optional spray shield  67  can be manufactured from any material that withstands the rigors of the proposed environment. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, rubber, plexiglass, plastic, or any combination thereof. The suitable materials include any material that exhibits flexibility but can withstand the pressure of concrete abrasion and high-pressure water.  
         [0028]    The optional guide driver  68  in FIG. 4 can be used to assist in maintaining the proper distance between the spray heads and the curb. While the adjustable bracket swivel wheel  70  provides support to the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus  50 , it is only used to maintain the elevation between the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus  50  and the road. The optional guide driver  68  rides down the crevice between the roadway and the curb, thereby assisting in maintaining the vertical distance between the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus  50  and the sidewalk. In FIG. 4, the optional guide driver  68  comprises two (2) stainless steel pipes,  78  and  79 , an adjustable cross bar  75  and two (2) roller blade wheels,  76  and  77 . The adjustable cross bar  75  allows movement of the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus without requiring movement of the spray boom  71 . Therefore, an operator can adjust the curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle apparatus of the present invention by adjusting the adjustable cross bar  75 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a photograph of the front of one embodiment of the mobile pressure washing unit and curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle system of the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is a photograph of the partial side view of one embodiment of the mobile pressure washing unit and curb-conforming, multi-nozzle spray nozzle system of the present invention.  
         [0031]    The embodiments provided in the figures serve to exemplify, and not limit, the present invention. Clearly, two axle or even four axle vehicles could be used in place of the three axle vehicle depicted in FIGS. 4-6. All that is required of the mobile platform of the present invention is a motor to propel the invention and sufficient strength to hold a large water source.