EP2342381A1

EP2342381A1 - Hybrid line marking apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2342381A1
Application number: EP09782330A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Iain Peter Mcguffie
Original assignee: Fleet (Line Markers) Ltd
Current assignee: Fleet (Line Markers) Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-30
Filing date: 2009-08-28
Publication date: 2011-07-13
Also published as: WO2010023275A1; GB0815853D0

Abstract

Hybrid line marking apparatus comprises both a pedestrian line marking apparatus (19) and a ride-on unit (1 ). The pedestrian line marking apparatus (19) includes a body provided with wheels and a reservoir (47) for line marking material. The ride-on unit (1 ) includes a chassis (3) provided with wheels (5, 11 ), a seat (9) for a user, an engine (7) for propelling the chassis, and a platform for receiving the pedestrian line marking apparatus. A line marking head (27) is mounted on the chassis of the ride-on unit and connectable to the reservoir of the pedestrian line marking apparatus.

Description

HYBRID LINE MARKING APPARATUS

[0001] This invention relates to hybrid line marking apparatus.

[0002] Line marking apparatus is commonly provided in two forms, ride-on apparatus and pedestrian apparatus which the user pushes while walking behind the apparatus.

[0003] Pedestrian line marking apparatus is relatively inexpensive and is effective for marking relatively small areas or areas with restricted access. Ride-on line marking apparatus is usually significantly more expensive, but is quick and efficient where large areas are to be marked. However, there is demand for a cost-effective solution where relatively small areas are to be marked most of the time, but less frequently larger areas need to be marked.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide hybrid line marking apparatus which is adaptable to marking both small and large areas in a cost-effective manner.

[0005] According to the present invention there is provided hybrid line marking apparatus comprising a pedestrian line marking apparatus including a body provided with wheels and a reservoir for line marking material; a ride-on unit including a chassis provided with wheels, a seat for a user, an engine for propelling the chassis, and a platform for receiving the pedestrian line marking apparatus; and a line marking head mounted on the chassis of the ride-on unit and connectable to the reservoir of the pedestrian line marking apparatus.

[0006] The engine may be an internal combustion engine.

[0007] The chassis of the ride-on unit may include a platform for receiving a container of line marking material.

[0008] Retaining means, such as a strap or an upwardly extending plate having a slot for receiving an axle of the pedestrian line marking apparatus, may be provided for retaining the pedestrian line marking apparatus on the ride-on unit. Alternatively, the retaining means may comprise means which can be secured to the pedestrian line marking apparatus, for example to a receiving member for the line marking head, and which is pivotable about both vertical and horizontal axes to facilitate manoeuvring of the pedestrian line marking apparatus on the ride-on unit.

[0009] The pedestrian line marking apparatus may include pump means and means providing power to the pump means and the line marking head mounted on the chassis may be connectable to an outlet of the pump means. A switch for operating the pump means may be provided on the pedestrian line marking apparatus, for example on a handle thereof. Alternatively, the reservoir may be pressurised and the pedestrian line marking apparatus may include means for operating a valve for controlling flow of line marking material to the line marking head.

[0010] The line marking head may be removable from the ride-on unit and may be transferrable to the pedestrian line marking apparatus for use therewith. In this way, only a single marking head is required for the two forms of line marking apparatus.

[0011] As part of the present invention, or provided as a separate invention, the line marking head may be mounted on a transverse rail for movement in a transverse direction of the line marking apparatus. In this way the line marking head may be positioned within the confines of the line marking apparatus, for example substantially in line with a user, or alternatively the line marking head may be positioned laterally of the line marking apparatus so as to mark a line to one side of the apparatus.

[0012] The line marking head may be movable along the transverse rail by means of a pivotable lever which is connected to the line marking head by a plurality of link members. The pivotable lever may be provided with locking means for securing the lever is a predetermined position.

[0013] The line marking head may include means for raising the head to facilitate transverse movement thereof.

[0014] For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of hybrid line marking apparatus according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 is a view of part of the apparatus of Figure 1 showing a mounting of a line marking head; and

[0017] Figure 3 is a view of the apparatus of Figure 1 from below.

[0018] The hybrid line marking apparatus comprises a combination of a pedestrian line marking apparatus with a ride-on unit on which the pedestrian apparatus can be accommodated.

[0019] The ride-on unit 1 comprises a chassis 3 on which is provided two rear driving wheels 5 which are driven by a small internal combustion engine 7, the engine being arranged above one of the rear wheels (the left-hand wheel as shown in the figure). A seat 9 for a user is provided over the other rear wheel. Two front wheels 11 are mounted at the front of the chassis 3 for steering the unit 1. The chassis may be made, for example, of square tubular material and may be provided with a wooden or sheet metal covering.

[0020] A steering wheel 13 is mounted in front of the seat 9 and is connected to the front wheels 11 to permit steering of the unit by a user, and foot controls 15, 17 are provided adjacent to the base of a steering wheel column for controlling the speed of the unit. In front of the engine 7 and adjacent to the steering wheel there is provided a pedestrian line marker 19 which is retained on the unit 1 by suitable retaining means, such as a plate 21 which has a slot for engaging with an axle of the line marker 19. However, other retaining means can be provided, such as a strap passing over a body of the line marker 19. According to a further form of retaining means, a marking head receiving component of the pedestrian line marker may be secured to a component secured to the chassis 3 and which is rotatable about both a vertical and a horizontal axis. A handle of the pedestrian line marker 19 is provided with a switch 23 for operating a spray head of the pedestrian line marker. The pedestrian marker 19 will be described in more detail hereinafter.

[0021] An output from the pedestrian line marker 19 is connected by way of flexible tubing 25 to a line marking head 27 which is mounted on a transverse rail 29 positioned in front of the steering wheel. The marking head 27 may be secured in a stationary manner to the rail 29 such that the marking head is substantially in line with a user facing forwardly in the seat 9 to enable the user to sight along the line to be marked. However, as an alternative, the marking head 27 may be mounted on the transverse rail 29 in a manner which permits sliding movement along the rail. In this case, as can be seen from Figure 2, the rail 29 is mounted on the chassis 3 by way of connectors 31 provided at each end of the rail, while the marking head 27 is removably mounted on a further transverse member 33 which is slidably mounted on the transverse rail 29 by way of mounting members 35 provided in that portion of the transverse member remote from the marking head 27. This allows the marking head to move laterally between a position substantially in line with the user to a position extending laterally beyond the chassis 3 so as to allow a line to be marked at a location beside the ride-on unit 1. Movement of the transverse member 33 and therefore of the line marking head 27 is controlled by way of a rotatable lever 37 provided on the chassis in a position that is easily accessible to the user without having to leave the seat, the lever being mounted within a stationary tube. Thus, rotation of the lever 37 in Figure 1 in an anti-clockwise direction will have the effect of moving the line marking head 27 to a position laterally beyond the chassis as shown in dashed lines in Figure 1. Also provided on the stationary tube is a locking mechanism 39, for example a screw-operating locking mechanism engaging with an arcuate slot located in a plate secured to the lever 37, for locking the lever 37 in a position corresponding to either an in-line or an offset position of the line marking head 27. Connection between the lower end of the rotatable lever 37 and the transverse member 33 is shown in Figure 3 which is a view of the chassis from below. Figure 3 shows a first link member 41 which is secured at one end to the lower end of the rotatable lever 37 so as to rotate therewith. The other end of the first link member is pivotally connected to an end of a second link member 43. The other end of the second link member 43 is pivotally connected to the transverse member 33. In this way, rotation of the lever 37 is transmitted to the transverse member 33 so as to result in transverse movement along the transverse rail 29. The line marking head 27 may also be pivotable in a manner which allows the head to be raised before it is moved laterally so as to minimise the risk of damage due to contact with the ground. Clearly, the lateral movement of the line marking head can be provided separately of the hybrid line marking apparatus described herein and may alternatively be provided on other ride-on or pedestrian line marking apparatus. The position of the lever close to the user allows the user to move the line marking head transversely without having to leave the seat.

[0022] In front of the pedestrian marker 19 a container 45 for line marking material is removably mounted on the chassis 3.

[0023] The pedestrian line marker 19 is a line marker in its own right and may be similar, for example, to the line marker described in WO-A-9909256, but is provided with a line marking head at the front of the machine, the head being readily separable from the pedestrian line marker. In practice, when the pedestrian line marker 19 is positioned on its wheels on the chassis, the line marking head is removed and is removably mounted on the transverse member 33 to serve as the line marking head 27. The pedestrian line marker includes a tank 47 for line marking material and a compartment 49 which contains components to enable the line marker to function, in particular a battery and a pump for conveying line marking material to the marking head 27.

[0024] Clearly, other forms of pedestrian line marker may be employed provided the line marking head is removable and the line marker includes a tank for line marking material, a pump for conveying the line marking material to the line marking head and means for operating the pump.

[0025] Consequently, the line marker 19 may be used on its own as a pedestrian line marker, or it may be positioned on the chassis 3 of the ride-on unit 1 to form part of a fully functional ride-on line marker.

[0026] In use of the pedestrian line marker 19, the handle may require re-positioning depending on whether the marker is to be used alone or is to be positioned on the ride-on unit 1 , but this is a simple matter. The user simply attached the line marking head 27 to the front of the line marker and connects the flexible tubing 25 to an outlet from the pump and the machine is ready to use. The user walks behind the machine and operates the switch 23 provided on the handle in order to turn the pump on and off so as to control the marking of a line. In use of the ride-on unit 1 , the line marking head 27 is removed from the front of the pedestrian line marker 19 and is connected to the transverse member 33. The flexible tubing 25 may be disconnected from the pump outlet if desired while the marker 19 is positioned on the ride-on unit, but may alternatively be left in position. The marker 19 is then lifted onto the chassis 3 and secured in place, for example by lowering an axle of the marker 19 into a slot formed in upstanding plate 21 provided on the chassis. The flexible tubing 25 is then re-connected if required. The user then mounts the ride-on unit and sits on the seat 9. From here, he can start the engine 7 and control motion and steering of the ride-on unit with the foot controls 15, 17 and the steering wheel 13. The marking head 27 can be moved transversely either to a position substantially in line with the user or to a position laterally of the chassis 3 as required using the rotatable lever 37 and can then be locked in position with the locking mechanism 39. Once the ride-on unit is in position to begin marking a line, the switch 23 on the pedestrian line marker 19 is operated to begin the supply of line marking material to the head 27 using the battery and pump provided with the line marker 19 and line marking can then begin. If the tank 47 is emptied, a closure 51 can be removed and the tank refilled from the container 45. This enables significantly more lines to be marked than would be possible using the capacity of the tank 47 alone.

Claims

1. Hybrid line marking apparatus comprising a pedestrian line marking apparatus (19) including a body provided with wheels and a reservoir (47) for line marking material; a ride-on unit (1) including a chassis (3) provided with wheels (5, 11), a seat (9) for a user, an engine (7) for propelling the chassis, and a platform for receiving the pedestrian line marking apparatus; and a line marking head (27) mounted on the chassis of the ride-on unit and connectable to the reservoir of the pedestrian line marking apparatus.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the engine (7) is an internal combustion engine.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the chassis (3) of the ride-on unit (1) includes a platform for receiving a container (45) of line marking material.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein retaining means (21) is provided for retaining the pedestrian line marking apparatus (19) on the ride-on unit (1).

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the retaining means (21) comprises a strap.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the retaining means comprises an upwardly extending plate (21) having a slot for receiving an axle of the pedestrian line marking apparatus (19).

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the retaining means (21) comprises means which can be secured to the pedestrian line marking apparatus (19) and which is pivotable about both vertical and horizontal axes to facilitate manoeuvring of the pedestrian line marking apparatus on the ride-on unit (1).

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the retaining means (21) comprises means which can be secured to a receiving member for the line marking head (27).

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pedestrian line marking apparatus (19) includes pump means and means providing power to the pump means and the line marking head (27) mounted on the chassis (3) is connectable to an outlet of the pump means.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein a switch (23) for operating the pump means is provided on the pedestrian line marking apparatus (19).

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, the switch (23) for operating the pump means is provided on a handle of the pedestrian line marking apparatus (19).

12. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the reservoir (47) is pressurised and the pedestrian line marking apparatus (19) includes means for operating a valve for controlling flow of line marking material to the line marking head (27).

13. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the line marking head (27) is removable from the ride-on unit (1) and is transferrable to the pedestrian line marking apparatus (19) for use therewith.

14. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the line marking head (27) is mounted on a transverse rail (33) for movement in a transverse direction of the line marking apparatus (1).

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the line marking head (27) is movable along the transverse rail (33) by means of a pivotable lever (37) which is connected to the line marking head by a plurality of link members (41 , 43).

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pivotable lever (37) is provided with locking means (39) for securing the lever is a predetermined position.

17. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the line marking head (27) includes means for raising the head to facilitate transverse movement thereof.