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US3783466A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Manually controlled vehicle washing apparatus

Assignee: Bernardi Brothers Inc
•
Filing: 1971-10-26
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1991-10-26
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Abstract

Abstract Vehicle washing apparatus including a movable frame adapted to be driven in first and second opposite directions for passing over a vehicle to be washed, a pair of side brush assemblies disposed on the frame and transversely movable relative thereto, and a unitary control assembly which is manually movable to control both the movement of the frame and the transverse position of the side brush assemblies whereby the apparatus may be inexpensively manufactured and may be operated by the manipulation of only a single control device.

Inventors

  • 👤 D Bernardi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 14:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S3/00; B60S3/04; B60S3/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S15/00; Y10S15/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 124 words
Vehicle washing apparatus comprising a movable frame, drive means connected with said frame and having first and second states for driving said frame in first and second opposite directions, respectively, side brush means, support means connecting said side brush means with said frame and being movable between retracted and extended positions for transversely moving said side brush means relative to said frame, motor means connected with said side brush means for rotating the same, and unitary manual control means operatively connected with said drive means and said support means and movable to control selectively both the state of said drive means and the position of said support means whereby the vehicle washing apparatus may be operated by the manipulation of a single control device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 124 words
Vehicle washing apparatus comprising a movable frame, drive means connected with said frame and having first and second states for driving said frame in first and second opposite directions, respectively, side brush means, support means connecting said side brush means with said frame and being movable between retracted and extended positions for transversely moving said side brush means relative to said frame, motor means connected with said side brush means for rotating the same, and unitary manual control means operatively connected with said drive means and said support means and movable to control selectively both the state of said drive means and the position of said support means whereby the vehicle washing apparatus may be operated by the manipulation of a single control device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
The invention as recited in claIm 1 wherein said support means includes electropneumatic means electrically connected with said unitary manual control means for moving said side brush means in response to preselected movement of said unitary manual control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 50 words
The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said motor means has first and second states for rotating said side brush means in first and second opposite directions, respectively, and wherein said unitary manual control means is connected with said motor means for controlling the state of said motor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 99 words
The invention as recited in claim 3 wherein said frame is movable along a predetermined path of travel between a first position adjacent the front of a vehicle to be washed and a second position adjacent the rear of the vehicle, and further including switching means mounted on said frame and interconnecting said unitary manual control means with said motor means, said switching means being responsive to movement of said frame from said first position to said second position for reversing the resultant rotational movement of said motor means produced by the manipulation of said unitary manual control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said unitary manual control means includes a manually operable lever movable along first and second intersecting paths for controlling the state of said drive means and the position of said support means, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 49 words
The invention as recited in claim 5 further including supplemental manual control means operatively connected with said drive means for controlling the state thereof whereby movement of said frame may be controlled during periods when said lever of said unitary manual control means is positioned along said second path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said unitary manual control means includes a plurality of electrical switches selectively operable in response to movement of said manually operable lever along said first and second paths.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said manually operable lever is biased to a position intermediate said first and second paths.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 80 words
The invention as recited in claim 8 wherein said unitary manual control means is operative to place said drive means in said first state when said manually operable lever is moved along said first path in a first direction from said intermediate position, and wherein said unitary manual control means is operative to place said drive means in said second state when said manually operable lever is moved along said first path in a second direction from said intermediate position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 42 words
The invention as recited in claim 8 wherein said unitary manual control means coacts with said support means to place said support means in said extended position when said manually operable lever is moved along said second path from said intermediate position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 50 words
The invention as recited in claim 10 wherein said side brush means includes first and second side brushes, and wherein said support means includes first and second support assemblies for said first and second side brushes, respectively, said first and second support assemblies being connected to said frame in opposition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 100 words
The invention as recited in claim 11 wherein said unitary manual control means coacts with said first support assembly to place said first side brush in an extended position toward said second side brush when said manually operable lever is moved along said second path in a first direction from said intermediate position, and wherein said unitary manual control means coacts with said second support assembly to place said second side brush in an extended position toward said first side brush when said manually operable lever is moved along said second path in a second direction from said intermediate position.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3731332A Cited
US3581335A Cited
US3706109A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-01-07 1977-07-09 1978-01-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-01-07 1981-07-09 1982-01-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-01-07 1985-07-09 1986-01-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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