US4030440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Boat cleaning machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-03-24
•
Granted: 1977-06-21
•
Expires: 1996-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A boat cleaning apparatus comprising framework for suspending a boat in the air, a frame having rotatable brushes positioned to clean a portion of the length of the sides and bottom of the boat, spray nozzles attached to the frame for directing an aqueous acid solution or steam against the boat, and wheels supporting the frame and enabling the frame to be moved along the length of the boat. The brushes rotate as the frame is moved along the length of the boat and thereby clean the full length of the sides and bottom of the boat.
Inventors
- 👤 Floyd David Wickersham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:08
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B59/00; B63B59/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
Boat cleaning equipment which comprises: a frame having a first dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of a boat suspended above it; bottom-cleaning means mounted upon said frame for cleaning the bottom of a boat, said bottom cleaning means having a bottom cleaning surface at least a portion of which is positioned to contact the bottom of a boat suspended above it, the bottom cleaning surface being movable relative to a boat suspended adjacent thereto and relative to said frame; first drive means for moving the bottom cleaning surface relative to a boat suspended adjacent thereto and relative to said frame; side cleaning means mounted upon said frame for cleaning the sides of a boat, said side cleaning means having side cleaning surfaces, at least a portion of which are positioned to contact the sides of a boat suspended above the bottom cleaning surface, the side cleaning surfaces being movable relative to a boat suspended adjacent thereto and relative to said frame; second drive means for moving the side cleaning surfaces relative to a boat suspended adjacent thereto and relative to said frame; and roller means operable on a stationary surface to facilitate moving said frame along the first dimension of said frame parallel to the longitudinal axis of a boat suspended above the bottom cleaning surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
Boat cleaning equipment which comprises: a frame having a first dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of a boat suspended above it; bottom-cleaning means mounted upon said frame for cleaning the bottom of a boat, said bottom cleaning means having a bottom cleaning surface at least a portion of which is positioned to contact the bottom of a boat suspended above it, the bottom cleaning surface being movable relative to a boat suspended adjacent thereto and relative to said frame; first drive means for moving the bottom cleaning surface relative to a boat suspended adjacent thereto and relative to said frame; side cleaning means mounted upon said frame for cleaning the sides of a boat, said side cleaning means having side cleaning surfaces, at least a portion of which are positioned to contact the sides of a boat suspended above the bottom cleaning surface, the side cleaning surfaces being movable relative to a boat suspended adjacent thereto and relative to said frame; second drive means for moving the side cleaning surfaces relative to a boat suspended adjacent thereto and relative to said frame; and roller means operable on a stationary surface to facilitate moving said frame along the first dimension of said frame parallel to the longitudinal axis of a boat suspended above the bottom cleaning surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The boat cleaning equipment of claim 1 in which said roller means includes several wheels attached to and supporting said frame, the wheels being operable on a ground or floor under the boat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The equipment of claim 1 and further comprising: suspending means for suspending a boat in the air above the bottom cleaning means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination of claim 3 in which the bottom cleaning surface comprises a cylindrical bottom cleaning brush rotatably attached to said frame, and the side cleaning surfaces comprise a pair of cylindrical side-cleaning brushes rotatably attached to said frame on Vee inclined axes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination of claim 4 in which said roller includes several wheels attached to and supporting said frame, two of the wheels being uncastered wheels adjacent the bottom cleaning brush, and the wheels being caster wheels adjacent said pair of brushes and operable to facilitate steering said frame as it moves over the ground along the first dimension of said frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 4 which further comprises: a source of steam; and nozzle means connected to said source of steam and mounted upon said frame for directing said steam against a boat suspended in the air above the bottom cleaning surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 4 which further comprises: a cleansing liquid suitable for use in cleaning boats; and nozzle means attached to said frame for directing said cleansing liquid against a boat suspended in the air above the bottom cleaning surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 7 in which the cleansing solution comprises an aqueous acid solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The boat cleaning apparatus of claim 7 in which the roller means includes non-steerable wheels and steerable wheels attached to and supporting said frame, the steerable wheels being operable to permit steering said frame as it moves over the ground along the first dimension of said frame, and said nozzle means includes a plurality of nozzles spaced along a pipe extending transverse to said dimension and between said bottom cleaning brush and said side cleaning brushes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination of claim 9 and further comprising: a cleaner concentrate storage vessel on said frame; a concentrate carrier inlet to said pipe for connection to a pressurized source external to the frame; and valved conduit means communicating between said vessel and said pipe to meter concentrate from said vessel into a carrier in said pipe for discharge from said nozzle means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 10 and further comprising: a pump between said inlet and said conduit for elevating pressure of fluid in said pipe supplied to said nozzle means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
BE521982A
Cited
US2104062A
Cited
US2098262A
Cited
US3136425A
Cited
US3773059A
Cited
US3928064A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-06-20 | 1980-12-20 | 1981-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-20 | 1984-12-20 | 1985-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-20 | 1988-12-20 | 1989-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |