Patent ID: 12227908

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.

Definitions

As described herein, a “unit” means a series of identified physical components which are linked together and/or function together to perform a specified function.

As described throughout this document, the term “about” “approximately” “substantially” and “generally” shall be used interchangeably to describe a feature, shape, or measurement of a component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.

As described herein, the term “removably secured,” and derivatives thereof shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more objects are joined together in a non-permanent manner so as to allow the same objects to be repeatedly joined and separated.

As described throughout this document, the term “complementary shape,” and “complementary dimension,” shall be used to describe a shape and size of a component that is identical to, or substantially identical to the shape and size of another identified component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.

FIGS.1-5illustrate one embodiment of a floor shaving attachment device10that are useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. In each of the drawings, identical reference numerals are used for like elements of the invention or elements of like function. For the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented inFIG.1.

FIGS.1and2illustrate one embodiment of the floor shaving attachment device10having a machine mounting coupler11and a tool receptacle21which can function to secure a scraping tool5in front of, and at a compound angle relative to, a floor scraping machine1. One suitable example of a floor scraping machine includes the model 5600 Panther rip-up machine that is commercially available from National Flooring Equipment®, for example. Of course, any number of other machines and tools may be utilized with the inventive device.

In one embodiment, the machine mounting coupler11can be constructed from a single piece of solid steel round bar having a first end11aand a second end11b. The coupler11can include a shape and size that is complementary to the blade receiver1aon the scraping machine1so as to permit the first end11ato be positioned therein. In one embodiment, a slotted hole12can be positioned through the first end of the coupler11aat a location complementary to the existing mounting holes on the blade receiver. Such a feature allowing the holes to receive a single mounting pin13therethrough to secure the device onto the machine. The hole12can be positioned to ensure the coupler11and receptacle21remain on the same vertical plane when the device is coupled to the machine.

In one embodiment, the scraping tool receptacle21can be constructed from steel round bar and can include a first end21aand a second end21b. The mounting coupler11and scraping tool receptacle21can be connected15at an angle16relative to each other. After extensive testing and research, the preferred rotational angle is eleven degrees.

This angle was specifically chosen as the preferred angle for allowing the device to scrape filling agents such as polyurea from intersecting expansion joints 1) without damaging the blade due to offset angular forces, and 2) without buckling and damaging the concrete at the intersecting joints, while allowing the machine1to operate normally (e.g., without reducing hydraulic or drive power). However, other angles between about 10 degrees and 30 degrees, for example, are also contemplated.

As shown best atFIG.2, the receptacle21can include an opening22along the second end21b, and a hollow channel23can extend from the opening toward the first end21a. In the preferred embodiment, a magnet24can be positioned within the channel at the end opposite to the opening. The channel23can include a shape and a size that is complementary to the shape and size of the shaft5aof the scraping tool5, so as to allow the same to be slidingly positioned within the channel. When so positioned, the magnet24can maintain the tool within the channel. Moreover, because the tool is engaged by the magnet, the device advantageously allows the tool to rotate 360 degrees relative to the device.

In the preferred embodiment, the mounting coupler11and the tool receptacle21will be connected15via welding, so as to result in a unitary component. Although described above with regard to specific construction materials, other embodiments are contemplated. For example, the steel components may be coated in Zinc or other materials, and/or the components themselves may be constructed from any number of other rigid and extremely high strength materials such as metallic alloys, cast iron or composites, for example, that are capable of withstanding compressive and tortional forces of several thousand pounds.

FIGS.3-5illustrate one embodiment of the system10in operation. As shown by arrow a, the first end of the coupler11can be inserted into the scraping tool receiver1aof a shaving machine1and secured therein by the locking pin13. Next, the shaft5aof the scraping tool5can be positioned through the opening on the end of the tool receptacle21as shown by arrow b.

When installed onto the machine1, the device10of the present embodiment can position the tool5at an angle x1 of 11 degrees offset relative to the direction x the machine is traveling. In this regard, the machine can travel the length of a continuous joint2with the blade5bscraping and removing the excess filler agent located above the surface of the concrete.

Moreover, as the device approaches an intersection3where another joint4crosses the first joint2, the blade will engage the perpendicularly oriented joint diagonally so as to ensure the concrete at the intersection is not damaged, as would occur if the blade were to strike the joint material perpendicularly, as noted above. Such a feature advantageously allows a user to scrape and remove filler agent from concrete floors without having to reposition at each intersection, thus saving enormous time.

Finally, as shown atFIG.5, because the scraping tool5is connected to the receptacle21via a magnet, the tool5is able to rotate freely 360 degrees relative to the device10as shown by arrow c. Such a feature permits the blade5bto automatically rotate to engage floors at any number of different angles during operation of the machine. Such a feature is critically important as the hydraulics of the machine raise and lower the device because without this ability, the compound angle of the device10would prevent the blade edge from being flat with the ground. Additionally, such a feature advantageously allows users to periodically rotate the blade 180 degrees to use both surfaces of the blade edge, thus keeping the blade sharp.

Although different dimensions are contemplated, In the preferred embodiment, the coupler11can include (e.g., distance between first end11a, and second end11b) of 120 mm, and the receptacle21can include a length (e.g., distance between first end21aand second end21b) of 145 mm. When affected by the 11-degree angle, the result is to position the tool5about 250 mm from the receiver1aof the machine1. Of course, any number of other dimensions are also contemplated.

Although not illustrated, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the device is provided with different mounting assemblies such as different brackets and couplers, for example, so as to permit the device to be utilized with any number of different types and/or brands of shaving machines.

As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

As described herein, one or more elements of the device10can be secured together utilizing any number of known attachment means such as, for example, screws, glue, compression fittings and welds, among others. Moreover, although the above embodiments have been described as including separate individual elements, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this end, one of skill in the art will recognize that one or more individually identified elements may be formed together as one or more continuous elements, either through manufacturing processes, such as welding, casting, or molding, or through the use of a singular piece of material milled or machined with the aforementioned components forming identifiable sections thereof.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Likewise, the term “consisting” shall be used to describe only those components identified. In each instance where a device comprises certain elements, it will inherently consist of each of those identified elements as well.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.