US4014390A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Beach cleaner apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-02-13
•
Granted: 1977-03-29
•
Expires: 1994-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A beach cleaner vehicle is drawn across sand. A scraper blade shaves a layer of sand and debris from the sand surface. A continuous conveyor transports the sand and debris over sifter bars within the chassis of the beach cleaner. A foraminous sifter separates debris and permits sand to fall back to the beach. The sifting process is enhanced by a system adapted to vibrate the foraminous sifter during operation of the beach cleaner. Debris is deposited in a trash basket which is hydraulically dumped.
Inventors
- 👤 Antone S. Teixeira
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:35
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D17/00; A01D17/10; E; E01; E01H; E01H12/00; A01D2017/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
330 words
A beach cleaner apparatus comprising a wide vehicular chassis for moving across a surface of sand, a wide continuous conveyor, attached to the vehicular chassis and extending across the chassis, for carrying sand and debris removed from a surface of sand along a conveyor run in the vehicular chassis, a sifting deck having lateral beams attached to the vehicular chassis and lying below the prescribed path through which the sand and debris are carried by the continuous conveyor, which sifting deck is formed with a plurality of apertures of sufficient dimensions to permit grains of sand to fall through to the beach and of sufficient dimension to block the passage of debris; and a sand lifting blade, attached to a lower end of the sifting deck and extending forward beyond the conveyor, which sand lifting blade extends downward from the vehicular chassis into the sand at an oblique angle with respect to the surface of the sand such that a lifting edge of the sand lifting blade is pointed in a direction of forward motion of the vehicular chassis; a transverse medial pivot rod connected to pillow blocks on the dependent chassis and to lugs on lateral beams of the sifting deck for pivoting the sifting deck and the attached lifting blade from front to rear at an approximate central area of the deck, and hydraulic actuators connected between the sand lifting edge and the chassis to raise and lower the sand lifting edge to adjust a depth of entry of the cutting edge into a surface of sand; whereby, a thin layer of sand and debris is shaved from the surface of the sand by the sand lifting blade; and whereby, debris is separated from the sand by the subsurface sand lifting blade; and whereby, debris is separated from the sand by the sifting deck over which the sand and debris are drawn by the continuous conveyor, the sand being returned to the beach, and the debris being collected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
330 words
A beach cleaner apparatus comprising a wide vehicular chassis for moving across a surface of sand, a wide continuous conveyor, attached to the vehicular chassis and extending across the chassis, for carrying sand and debris removed from a surface of sand along a conveyor run in the vehicular chassis, a sifting deck having lateral beams attached to the vehicular chassis and lying below the prescribed path through which the sand and debris are carried by the continuous conveyor, which sifting deck is formed with a plurality of apertures of sufficient dimensions to permit grains of sand to fall through to the beach and of sufficient dimension to block the passage of debris; and a sand lifting blade, attached to a lower end of the sifting deck and extending forward beyond the conveyor, which sand lifting blade extends downward from the vehicular chassis into the sand at an oblique angle with respect to the surface of the sand such that a lifting edge of the sand lifting blade is pointed in a direction of forward motion of the vehicular chassis; a transverse medial pivot rod connected to pillow blocks on the dependent chassis and to lugs on lateral beams of the sifting deck for pivoting the sifting deck and the attached lifting blade from front to rear at an approximate central area of the deck, and hydraulic actuators connected between the sand lifting edge and the chassis to raise and lower the sand lifting edge to adjust a depth of entry of the cutting edge into a surface of sand; whereby, a thin layer of sand and debris is shaved from the surface of the sand by the sand lifting blade; and whereby, debris is separated from the sand by the subsurface sand lifting blade; and whereby, debris is separated from the sand by the sifting deck over which the sand and debris are drawn by the continuous conveyor, the sand being returned to the beach, and the debris being collected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 1 further comprising trash basket mounted on the chassis near a rearward end of the sifting deck, the trash basket having an upward opening mouth for receiving debris from an uppermost end of the continuous conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
182 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a hydraulic emptying system for the trash basket comprising a platform on the vehicular chassis on which the trash basket is rested when being loaded with debris by the continuous conveyor, an upward extending lifting arm, pivotably mounted to a side of the trash basket at a first pivot point, so that the trash basket is tipped in a rearward direction for emptying when the trash basket is raised from its platform and translated rearward by the lifting arm, a generally upward extending chassis frame member, to an upper portion of which an upper end of the lifting arm is pivotably attached at a second pivot point, and a hydraulically powered means connected to the lifting arm for rotating the lifting arm in a rearward direction about the second pivot point; whereby, a trash basket resting on the platform for loading is unloaded by lifting and tipping the trash basket by means of an upward and rearward directed force exerted on the first pivot point on the basket by the pivoting lifting arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 3 wherein the hydraulically powered means for rotating the lifting arm comprises an offset arm with a proximal portion pivotably mounted at the second pivot point and attached to the lifting arm so that the offset arm and the lifting arm form a fixed oblique angle, a drawing arm pivotably mounted to a distal portion of the offset arm, and a hydraulic cylinder connected to the drawing arm for retracting the drawing arm so that the trash basket is lifted and translated from the platform on the vehicular chassis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 1 wherein the continuous conveyor comprises a flexible conveyer belt formed in a continuous loop, conveyor fins mounted approximately vertically at intervals along the conveyor belt to move the sand along the sifting deck, and parallel supporting rollers mounted on the sifting deck about which the continuous loop of conveyor belt is movably mounted, which supporting rollers are located in such positions that the conveyor fins draw the sand and debris across the sifting deck.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 5 wherein the continuous conveyor further comprises a power driving unit connected to the conveyor belt to move the continuous loop of conveyor belt along a path defined by the supporting rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 5 wherein the continuous conveyor further comprises a power takeoff linkage to transmit rotational motion from wheels, by which the vehicular chassis is supported, to the supporting rollers; whereby the continuous conveyor is powered by rolling the beach cleaner apparatus across the surface of the sand.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 5 wherein the conveyor fins are mounted on the conveyor belt so that they are angled forward in a direction of travel of the conveyor belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sifting deck comprises an array of evenly spaced parallel bars, the apertures therein being spaces between the bars.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sifting deck comprises a wire mesh.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
Beach cleaner apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for vibrating the trash basket, whereby, sand and debris are scraped from the surface of the sand, conveyed to a trash basket and sifted by vibrating the sand through a mesh bottom of the trash basket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 11 wherein the means for vibrating the trash basket comprises spring mountings attaching the trash basket to the vehicular chassis, a motor driven eccentric arm which rotates about an axis passing through a proximal end of the eccentric arm, a vibration transfer arm, with a proximal portion pivotably mounted to a distal end of the eccentric arm so that an axis of rotation of the transfer arm is parallel to the axis passing through the proximal end of the eccentric arm, and with a distal portion of said transfer arm pivotably mounted to a side of the trash basket so that an axis of rotation of the transfer arm about its point of attachment to the trash basket is parallel to the axis passing through the proximal end of the eccentric arm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a downward sloping foraminous sifter plate mounted on the chassis between the conveyor and the trash basket to pass debris to the trash basket, and means connected to the plate for vibrating the plate and shaking sand through apertures in the plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
129 words
A beach cleaner apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a downward sloping, sifter plate to receive the sand and debris from an uppermost end of the continuous conveyor, which sifter plate is formed with a plurality of apertures of sufficient dimensions to permit grains of sand to fall through to the beach, and of sufficient dimensions to block the passage of debris, means for vibrating the sifter plate, and a trash basket with an upward opening mouth mounted on the chassis to receive debris from a lower portion of the sifter plate; whereby, sand and debris are scraped from the surface of sand, and conveyed to the sifter plate where sand and debris are separated; the sand falling to the beach and the debris deposited in the trash basket.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 14 wherein the continuous conveyor comprises a flexible conveyor belt formed in a continuous loop, conveyor fins mounted approximately vertically at intervals along the conveyor belt to move the sand along the prescribed path, and supporting rollers about which the continuous loop of conveyor belt is movably mounted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
168 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 15 wherein the means for vibrating the sifter plate comprises spring mountings for attaching the sifter plate to the vehicular chassis, a ratchet arm rotatably mounted at a third pivot point to the vehicular chassis, a first portion of which ratchet arm extends from the third pivot point to a point at which intermittant translational contact is made with the conveyor fins; a second portion of which ratchet arm extends in an approximately opposite direction from the first portion and is attached to the sifter plate, and a spring retainer, attached to the second portion of the ratchet arm, so that it opposes movement of the ratchet arm due to motion of the conveyor fins; whereby, the sifter plate is vibrated by reciprocating motion of the pivot-mounted ratchet arm which is rotated in one direction by passage of the conveyor fins and which is rotated in an opposite direction by the spring retainer when no conveyor fin is contacting the ratchet arm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
183 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a hydraulic emptying system for the trash basket comprising a platform of the vehicular chassis on which the trash basket is rested when being loaded with debris by the continuous conveyor, an upward extending lifting arm, pivotably mounted to a side of the trash basket at a first pivot point near, so that the trash basket is capable of being tipped in a rearward direction for emptying when the trash basket is raised from its platform and translated rearward by the lifting arm, a generally upward extending chassis frame member, to an upper portion of which an upper end of the lifting arm is pivotably attached at a second pivot point, and a hydraulically powered means for rotating the lifting arm in a rearward direction about the second pivot point; whereby, the trash basket rested on a stationary platform for loading is unloaded and by lifting and tipping the trash basket by means of an upward and rearwardly directed force exerted on the first pivot point on the basket by the pivoting lifting arm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
90 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 17 wherein the hydraulically powered means for rotating the lifting arm comprises an offset arm with a proximal portion pivotably mounted at the second pivot pointed and attached to the lifting arm so that the offset arm and the lifting arm form a fixed oblique angle, a drawing arm pivotably mounted to a distal portion of the offset arm, and a hydraulic cylinder for retracting the drawing arm so that the trash basket is lifted and translated from the platform on the vehicular chassis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 14 wherein the vehicular chassis comprises an approximately rectangular undercarriage frame a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on either side of a rearward portion of the undercarriage frame so that the wheels support the undercarriage frame and permit the undercarriage beach cleaner apparatus to be drawn across the surface of the sand.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a vehicle hitch attached to a frontward portion of the undercarriage frame; whereby, the beach cleaner apparatus is drawn across the surface of the sand by a powered vehicle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 17 further comprising hydraulic cylinders connected between the chassis and the sand cutting edge to raise and lower the sand cutting edge to adjust a depth of entry of the cutting edge into the surface of the sand.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 14 wherein the continuous conveyor further comprises a motor driving unit to move the continuous loop of conveyor belt along a path defined by the supporting rollers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 14 wherein the continuous conveyor further comprises a power takeoff linkage to transmit rotational motion from wheels, by which the vehicular chassis is supported, to the supporting rollers; whereby the continuous conveyor is powered by rolling the beach cleaner apparatus across the surface of the sand.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 14 wherein the conveyor fins are mounted on the conveyor belt so that they are angled forward in a direction of travel of the conveyor belt.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sifting plate comprises an array of evenly spaced parallel bars, apertures therein being the spaces between the bars.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The beach cleaner apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sifting plate comprises a wire mesh, apertures therein being regions between wires composing the mesh.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-28 | 1980-09-27 | 1981-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-28 | 1984-09-27 | 1985-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-28 | 1988-09-27 | 1989-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |