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US3775799A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Car-wash installations

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-07-03
•
Granted: 1973-12-04
•
Expires: 1992-07-03
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Abstract

Abstract Improvements in car-wash installations wherein a track comprising contiguous J and L sections form a geometric figure similar to a rectangle having rounded corners, but which is open at one corner and a leg of which extends therebeyond for proper storage of the washing equipment. A wash, rinse-and-wax unit, hereinafter simply referred to as a ''''wash unit,'''' travels about the track structure and, by its design, accommodates essentially all sizes of automobiles. The revolving side-brush structure associated with the wash unit is dragged or pulled, while in its revolving condition, about the periphery of a small car or compact, and this in both directions of travel relative to the wash and rinse cycle portions. For larger cars the revolving side-brush is alternately pulled by the wash unit during the wash portion of the cycle and then is pushed or leads the wash unit during the return portion of the cycle when the car is rinsed or rinsed-and-waxed. The system is designed such that water is sprayed at all times upon the vehicle, and the top and siderevolving brushes are in continuous motion. The side-brush structure is pivoted about a vertical axis so as to accommodate both lead and lag positions relative to the car-wash function. The track rails and cooperating roller unit guide the wash unit in its path about the vehicle. Numerous advantages are presented in the structure relating to the travel of the wash unit as well as the function and structure of the side-brush or brushes, the rail and travelling roller feature, counter-weighting, and so forth.

Inventors

  • 👤 W Talbot
  • 👤 W Dunkley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 11:33
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/04; B60S3/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S15/00; Y10S15/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 78 words
In a car-wash installation, track structure having a Jportion and an L-portion contiguous therewith and forming an essentially rectangular configuration having an open corner, a leg of said L-portion having an extremity extending laterally beyond said corner, and an operating brush and spray unit cooperatively mounted to said track structure and having means for powering the same therealong in forward and reverse directions respectively from and back toward said extremity as a point of origin and unit storage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 78 words
In a car-wash installation, track structure having a Jportion and an L-portion contiguous therewith and forming an essentially rectangular configuration having an open corner, a leg of said L-portion having an extremity extending laterally beyond said corner, and an operating brush and spray unit cooperatively mounted to said track structure and having means for powering the same therealong in forward and reverse directions respectively from and back toward said extremity as a point of origin and unit storage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The installation of claim 1 wherein said track structure includes three interior rounded corners.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
The installation of claim 1 wherein said unit includes wheel means for enabling said unit to be rolled along a supporting surface, and means for powering said unit over such supporting surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
The installation of claim 1 wherein said track structure is of split construction having a guide slot, and means slideably disposed within said guide slot and protruding through said guide slot for connecting to said unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 47 words
The installation of claim 4 wherein track structure has an undercut interior, said connecting means including a block slideably disposed within said track structure and a shaft upstanding from said block, and roller means journaled upon said shaft and rollingly engaging said track structure at said slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
The installation of claim 1 wherein said unit includes a laterally and inwardly extending arm structure provided with and carrying a revolvable side-brush structure, and means for revolving said side-brush structure connected thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 74 words
The installation of claim 6 wherein said unit includes pivot means for pivoting said arm structure about a vertical axis, and spring means connected to said unit and also to said arm structure for retaining said arm structure in a normal, laterally outward position and also, alternatively, for supplying a spring-thrust to said side-brush structure for both lead and lag side-brush structure positions relative to unit travel direction in response to car engagement thereby.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 48 words
The installation of claim 6 wherein said unit includes upper arm structure disposed over said arm structure and including an inwardly extending arm, spray structure attached to the latter, and revolvable top-brush means also mounted and, specifically, journaled thereto, and means for powering said top-brush means connected thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 135 words
In a car-wash installation, an improvement comprising a generally loop-configured track having respective extremities mutually spaced, one of said extremities extending laterally, outwardly beyond the other extremity and constituting a spray unit storage area; a spray unit mounted to said track for travel forwardly from storage area and then, reversing direction, back to said storage area; means for so powering said spray unit along said track, said spray unit having upper and lower, respectively fixed and vertically pivoted arm structures; spray means and revolvable top-brush structure carried by said upper arm structure; revolvable side-brush structure carried by said lower arm structure, and spring means for spring biasing said side-brush structure toward and against a vehicle being washed in both lead and lag positions of said side-brush structure relative to the direction of spray unit travEl.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 135 words
In a car-wash installation, an improvement comprising a generally loop-configured track having respective extremities mutually spaced, one of said extremities extending laterally, outwardly beyond the other extremity and constituting a spray unit storage area; a spray unit mounted to said track for travel forwardly from storage area and then, reversing direction, back to said storage area; means for so powering said spray unit along said track, said spray unit having upper and lower, respectively fixed and vertically pivoted arm structures; spray means and revolvable top-brush structure carried by said upper arm structure; revolvable side-brush structure carried by said lower arm structure, and spring means for spring biasing said side-brush structure toward and against a vehicle being washed in both lead and lag positions of said side-brush structure relative to the direction of spray unit travEl.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 21 words
The car-wash installation of claim 9 wherein said installation includes shock absorber structure disposed in shunting relationship across said spring means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3208088A Cited
US3641606A Cited
US3673626A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-12-03 1977-06-04 1977-12-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-12-03 1981-06-04 1981-12-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-12-03 1985-06-04 1985-12-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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