GB2399487A - Portable Container Automatic Carwash Assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention consists wholly of an oblong container similar in shape and feature to a cargo shipping container that is housing an automatic car cleaning machine from any manufacturer and of any model or type. The container has lifting eyelets on the container and they are fixed to the container's chassis so that it can be lifted with the automatic car washing machine inside it.

Description

PORTABLE CONTAINER AUTOMATIC CARWASH FACILITY

This invention relates to a conventional ordinary automatic car-cleaning machine as known and used by ordinary people wishing to have their cars cleaned by driving through a car washing bay situated in and around petrol pump garage stations where most car cleaning machines operate from.

Ordinary conventional automatic car cleaning plants and buildings are all pre-planned for construction and are permanently based mainly around petrol pump stations where automatic car cleaning machines are fixed inside those buildings known as car wash tunnels or bays. A main disadvantage of the conventional automatic car wash business is that it is permanently based thus the business is collapsible if customers are unavailable due to factors like security, choosing the wrong location to situate the business or if there are seasonal water rationing programmes in the area. With this invention, the automatic car-cleaning machine inside the container can be wholly moved easily and safely to an alternative location if such a problem arises.

An object of this invention is to provide the service of cleaning cars using an automatic car cleaning machine from anywhere instead of people being forced to only get their cars cleaned at petrol pump garages only, as well as an added flexibility for the business to choose a variety of sites.

Accordingly, this invention comprises of a container, similar in features and all aspects of handling lifting and transportation to the conventional shipping container. The oblong cubic 'container' steel structure's main purpose is used to act as a 'housing' so that an automatic car cleaning machine of any type or model can be permanently fixed inside the containers chassis, so that the 'container' with the machine inside it can be placed anywhere where it is to be used as an automatic car cleaning facility, and ordinary vehicles can access it and receive a cleaning service just like they would at a conventional automatic car cleaning garage where vehicles of a certain height or width limit are able to drive through a building whilst being cleaned by an automatic car cleaning machine inside it before exiting from the other end. Hence similarly, in this present invention, there is provided an oblong cubic steel container framework and an automatic car cleaning machine of any model or type, being permanently fixed inside the container's chassis or framework and thus fully operating from within the container where vehicles can get into the container from one end and exit the container from the other end, just like the procedure is carried out in conventional permanent automatic car wash tunnel building, although in this case, the tunnel building is being replaced by an oblong cubic steel/metal container congruent in all aspects of handling, lifting and transportation to those of a shipping or truck cargo container.

Water and electricity supply is supplied to the automatic car cleaning machine inside the container via conduits from a mains source elsewhere, but in conditions where there is no near mains source supply for water and electricity, a portable electric power generator is used to power the machine as well as power lighting and a water recycling and reclaiming machinery. A water reservoir tank can be placed on top of the container.

A preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which; FIGURE 1 shows a three-dimensional view illustration of an automatic car-cleaning machine of any make with a guide directional arrow for guiding a car driver.

FIGURE 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the container's skeletal steel framework consisting of beams and stanchions joined together at intersections by bolts or welding.

FIGURE 3 shows a view through the container placed on the ground, showing the automatic car cleaning machine as well as a car about to enter into the 'container' to be cleaned by the automatic car cleaning machine inside the container.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a side-view of the container with an automatic carcleaning machine of any type cleaning a car whilst the container is placed on the ground; the directional arrows indicate a preferred entry and exit procedure.

FIGURE 5 shows a side-view from the 'container entry angle wherein there is the automatic car-cleaning machine inside the container cleaning a car.

FIGURE 6 shows a three-dimensional view of the container whilst 'hanging in the air' from a crane, and inside its 'transparent' walls is an automatic car-cleaning machine fixed inside the container.

FIGURE 7 shows a lorry lifting the 'container' with the automatic car washing machine inside it onto or off its lorry bed and onto the ground using a hydraulic arm.

FIGURE 8 illustrates the container with the automatic car washing machine inside it; whilst being transported on lorry bed,and a three dimensional view below.

Referring to the drawing this invention consists wholly of a an oblong container 1, similar in shape and feature to a cargo shipping container that is housing an automatic car cleaning machined, from any manufacturer and of any model or type, with brushes 3,or of any other type or model (with waterjets,or so) inside the container I, and is fixed to the container's chassis I a, inside or within the container's framework la, the lifting eyelets 4,on the container 1,are used to lift the container with the automatic car cleaning machine 2,inside it and onto a lorry bed 5, or on the ground 6, using chains 7, or so and from an independent hydraulic arm 8 attached to a lorry 9,or so elsewhere.

Referring to Figure 8

l.A portable container automatic carwash facility comprising of an independent fully working car washing machinery or equipment of any manufacturer's type model or make; with the conventional brushes, or brushless/touchless (water jets), and that is permanently fixed or fitted to the chassis or framework of a rigid oblong cubic container that is similar in all features as well as all aspects of handling,lifting and transportation to the standardized cargo transport shipping container so that it is adapted to house a fully working automatic car washing machine system that is permanently fixed inside its main framework so that it can be placed anywhere at anytime, on a surface of any form,floor,ground where a designated vehicle(s) by height limit, structure or so can easily access towards and into the facility so as to be wholly cleaned by the automatic car cleaning machine, with water and electricity supply for the machine coming from elsewhere on a mains conduit; or from a portable reservoir for the water and a portable electric power generator of any wattage for the electrical power supply.

2.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim I, wherein means that a 'container' modified to accommodate a conventional car cleaning machine of any manufacturer make or model which is placed inside the container for the purpose of running a car wash business is known.

3.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 2, wherein means that a structure in resemblance or near of congruence of the above named description, to perform or facilitate the cleaning of vehicles, paid or unpaid, using a portable 'container' described herein which can be place anywhere at any time with a fully independent working automatic car cleaning machine of any manufacturer or make is known.

4.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 3, wherein means that a the structure or frame enclosing the car washing machinery has eyelets or sockets at strategic lifting points (identical to the conventional cargo container lifting procedure, method and style) so that it is lifted from anywhere with ease from the ground and onto a truck bed.

5.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 4, wherein means that the conventional cargo-like container being used to house the car washing machinery within it's framework is lift able from the ground via eyelets situated at strategic points on the container top, (lifting points) and that the 'container' with the automatic car washing machinery can be lifted using chains by a crane arm from a truck or so;in order to transport it (the container with machinery) or to situate it onto a lorry or truck bed or onto the ground or floor surface in either way mentioned is known.

6.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 5, wherein means that the car washing machinery hereby whereby is; adjoined as one unit with the framework herein mentioned as container-like in order to be as one system inclusive within itself as one unit; i.e., the framework or chassis, the car washing materials and equipment, the portable electricity and water reservoir, as to say is one unit in itself from a manufacturer saying so or by so, and featuring with all characteristics and mannerism of the above mentioned description and idea in either way is known.

7.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein means that a car washing unit as described herein so as to perform car cleaning services whilst; placed onto a lorry bed, or surface of elevation by any means whether hydraulic, concrete or steel built platform or other in order to perform tasks said and described herein is known and obvious.

8.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 60r Claim 7, wherein means that a cargo-like container frame-work or structure;(whether opaque or transparent) in the above said idea, can be placed in a short notice by a pre-finished assembly of parts so as thence constructed with beams and stanchions joined together by bolts, clamps or welded together at specific building regulatory end-points and definite intersections; all done at a said point or situation, thence resembling the said description of the car washing idea said herein, whereby the said structure is congruent to the idea in any way of structure; minimal size dimensions of length, breadth and height, and overall weight; ease of outlook and purpose, with or without a deep, obviously unnecessary foundation to a flat ground surface, and on a sloppy ground/surface or either way-wherein it is to be or situated;-at a car-park,storey or multistorey, a roadside or lay-by, a pavement,hardshoulder,soft verge, footpath, private or public car park land or via a thoroughfare, is known.

9.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein means that the (opaque or transparent) container-like unit that houses the car washing materials and equipment is placed at a car-park, storey or multi-storey building car-park, a roadside or lay-by, a pavement, hardshoulder, soft verge beside a road, footpath, private or public car-park land or thoroughfare; by lifting using hydraulic arms or chain and cable crane from truck beds or stationery point,or by dragging, thence or the unit is, to be or constructed by assembly method on a piece of minute land or platform of concrete or steel thereupon on leased or rented (public or private) land, but all bearing distinctive and congruent features of minimalism, with or without a foundation; whether to a pre-built and finished foundation(s)-of/by fastening bolts and nuts together, or clamping with/to, or onto a slide-in foundation(s),and with the handling, lifting,sirnilar weight and dimensions explained before and herein is known.

l O.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 1, wherein said that the electricity and water supply for the automatic car washing machinery that is fixed inside the container-like structure/framework-housing; opaque or transparent by look,that the water can be placed in tank reservoirs on top of the container-like structure/framework and so is an electricity generator of any wattage, water recycling/reclaiming system, where need be; or all portable water supply, water recycling/reclaiming machinery and portable electricity are kept in trailers or so, near or adjacent to the main car washing unit(container-like) structure/frame so as to facilitate a full overall self-reliance programme/system is known.

I I.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 10, wherein means that the car washing 'container' unit is easy and accessible via driving thru, and it is adaptable to possess its own water/treatment reclaiming and recycling system as well as having its own supply of electrical power is known.

12.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 11, wherein means that the carwash unit 'container' is adapted to operate in using the said brush and brush less technology as well as the under- body car washing jets and wheel scrubbers inside the unit is known.

1 3.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 12, wherein means that as essentially described; whereby any automatic or manual car cleaning apparatus, mentioned or unmentioned, of any make or model,or manufacturer brand, whether using motor propelled revolving brushes or high power compressed water via jets for cleaning cars, and wind blowers (for drying purposes), all wholly placed into a containerlike structure mentioned herein with capabilities and structural congruency and purpose, irrespective of their shape's variation or design; i.e,triangular,or dome-shaped, all bearing similarities of ease and portability means mentioned herein is known.

14.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 10, wherein means that the normal governing health and safety rules and regulations governing both the consumption of electricity and water and the disposal of water; as well as rules for the user client using this service(s); the 'container' car wash unit mentioned herein are adhered to and are the same as for all conventional carwash service stations at sites are known.

15.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein said that the carwash 'container' is expandable thus can be adjusted to be used to clean jeeps, pick-ups and trucks also buses, by using any model type or make of an automatic car cleaning machine is known.

16.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 14 or Claim 15, wherein means that the carwash 'container' housing the car cleaning materials and equipment works in the same order as other conventional car washing equipment in carwash stations albeit this particular one mentioned herein is placed inside a rigid cubic oblong 'container' steer structure/framework so that it can be moved safely from place (site) to place thus the 'portable' term used; with its water reservoir tanks, portable electricity and water recycling system on board it; is all known and obvious.

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17.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 15, wherein means that the car washing 'container' is adapted to have it fitted with any manufacturer's brand name, models, make, type of an automatic car wash machinery in the market now and in the future is known.

1 8.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 16 or Claim 17, wherein means that the car washing 'container' with its car washing materials and equipment is easily assembled or placed into car-park multi-storey buildings, or any building, basements and car-parks, private or public thoroughfares, sidewalks, pavements, soft verges beside roads all or dry weather roads, lay-bye and hard shoulders and where a vehicle(s) of any form can access is known.

1 9.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 18 or Claim 1,wherein said that a car washing plant, in a lift able 'container' structure or framework bearing in it a car washing materials and equipment as wholly described herein with or without transparent sides, varying in design, oblong, square, dome-shaped, with above said congruencies in design, style objective and handling however translated is known.

20.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 19 or Claim 18, wherein said that the separate beams and stanchions used to construct the skeletal framework of the 'container' that houses the car cleaning materials and equipment can be assembled or dismantled at prebolt able joints, clamping joints, welded joints, or at intersections and endpoints governed or ungoverned by regulations of building and engineering, with a discreet deep or shallow bore/drilling on the ground for where the base of the container' structure is to be placed for the purpose of running a car cleaning business using any form/make/model of a car washing material(s) and equipment for cleaning,scrubbing,brushing machine(s) now or in the future of this Claim at a point previously unplanned site/in building(for instance; a multi- storey car-park built without a prior carwash plan in original building drawing/map) for a carwash site of this minute-form whether permanent or not is an obvious contravention.

21.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 20 or Claim 9, wherein said means that the cubic oblong 'container' framework (consisting of stanchions and beams) housing all the car washing materials and equipment within it (having its own water supply and electricity from elsewhere via conduits, or a water reservoir and portable electricity within the 'container' structure) are bolted together, welded, slide-in, or quick-clamped, at endpoints and chosen intersections so that a triangular or arched roof (of light-weight transparent,transluscent or opaque plastic material or so) and some wall (of ordinary brick,gypsum,plaster boards or other) is built conventionally around,inside,or within the framework (of the stanchions and beams) in order to disguise a 'portable-look' so as to seem permanent, so that it can be removed in case the business is not so good, by 'uprooting it' from its shallow foundation(s) that are easy to repair/seal discreetly when they were dug in say; a road-like surface, floor,ground,for example; a farm land besides a busy road, a car-park or a car-park inside a building, or where a plan application would be needed but not granted for such a business at such a place, and thence would be uneconomical for a prospective entrepreneur to build, initialise, initiate a proper car washing garage via purchasing land at that point!place, if pursues is not adhering to proper building acts and regulation concerning building foundations of this calibre as adhered/followed to by other carwash stations, garage entrepreneurs situated in petrol stations and so forth, is so to say is without a proper dug foundation for a building of that purpose) drilled or bored in order so that the building is not 'portable-like',-bearing in mind the unusual site chosen; a multi-storey car- park building(with no such a plan in its original drawing) a basement car- park, disused petrol station, building sites, car-parks-public or private as well as public or private thoroughfares,sidewalks,footpaths,pavements-public or private, soft verges besides a road -sloppy or level ground, public or private, lay- by or hard-shoulder(s) is known and obvious.

22.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 21 or Claim 10, wherein means that the 'container' housing the carwash materials and equipment can be place/quickly/abruptly/without formal regulatory plan procedure adhered to; and or easily assembled on a site required, either by constructing it or by lifting it readily assembled from a lorry bed and onto a site surface required and with a minimal or none disturbance to the road surface/ground for where it is to be placed is a key advantage as; is just as same as placing an ordinary standardized shipping cargo container/box to the ground and not leaving or making any ground disturbance for foundations and henceforth is herein said and described; thus is known.

23.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 22, wherein means that the carwash containers' can be arranged/aligned in mass side by side on a large piece of land (car-park) so that to form a car cleaning "porta-village" is known.

24 A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 23, wherein means that carwash unit container' is placed adjacent (next to each other by the side), by many numbers is known.

25.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 24, that the carwash unit 'container' is adapted for more than one unit 'container' to be cojoined with one another to form a unit double or in so length of one unit; with the car washing equipment and materials inside the 'containers' is known.

26.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 25 or Claim 23, wherein said that a container' housing the car cleaning materials and machinery is adapted to have wheels inleu of worm-screw operated stilts or hydraulic operated stilts said herein, also having in it an engine being propelled by electricity or big-degradable fuels (petrol), to house the car washing machinery and materials and so to run the business of cleaning cars/vehicles from the back of a lorry bed or a bus or so modified is known.

27.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 26, that the portable carwash facility is adapted to lift itself off the ground using height adjustable stilts run by motors cojoined to wormscrews or hydraulic pistons cojoined to height adjustable stilts, all placed at strategic lifting points around the corner base points of the 'container' also to facilitate a horizontal level where ground surface is un-even is known.

28.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 27 or Claim 26, wherein means that a lorry, pylon,gantry,post(s) or van or trailer acting as a pivot/fulcrum to support/hold a carwashing/cleaning machinery (with or without brushes), hanging besides it so that cars can drive beneath it, or be stationery whilst the machine(s) cleans the vehicle(s), whilst moving independently on rails/tracks, and thence parked in a car-park or besides a busy road; and in areas mentioned before herein is known.

29.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 27, wherein means that the carwash container unit is portable in all ways as is known for the shipping cargo container's conventional handling methodsof-moving, transporting and placing it on the ground, and also that it can be placed anywhere without prior planning permission or to the piece of land where it is to be placed because it is not a building; is known.

30.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 28, wherein means that a carwash machinery equipment of any make/model or type, being placed on a steel/plastic or wooden chassis that is movable from place to place, on a vehicle or trailer for the purpose of cleaning cars/vehicles commercially in the places and sites said before herein, contravenes the above said idea and thus known.

31.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 30, wherein said that the 'container' is expandable in width so that during operation of the car cleaning equipment(s) working within it, although during transit, the 'container' is retracted in its width dimension so that it sits on a lorry bed safely, the car cleaning machinery may or may not be adjusted during transit on a lorry bed albeit the container is adjusted to fit present traffic regulations of truck width dimensions; and is known.

32.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 31, wherein means that the carwashing 'container' whether opaque or transparent can be adapted to expand/contract in width via sliding track joints or rollers bearings so as to accommodate any form/make/model of car washing machinery variations where need be; and also to prevent the water and cleaning agents from splashing away, as well as to act as a guard and prevent harm and injury to animals and people whilst the unit is in operation or not is known.

33.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 29 or Claim 1, wherein said that the portable carwash facility can be placed or removed from a point by lifting it using chains connected to sockets/eyelets on the 'container' or using a hydraulic arm/crane for transportations purposes on a truck bed whilst the car washing machinery is still inside the 'container' is known.

34.A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in any preceding Claim with features of design and technique of the claims; Claim 1,to Claim 35, shall be deemed known and obvious.

35.A portable container automatic carwash facility substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-8 of the accompanying drawing.

Claims (1)

1. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

   CLATMS

   I A Portable container automatic carwash facility that is wholly and entirely placed unattached on a flat surface or ground and comprises of a steel housing made of rigid strong steel panels with rectangular (box) shape of dimensions L=9SOOmm,B=SOOOmm,Tl=3200mm and within it is a 41 5Volt automatic car cleaning plant with the average dimensions of L=2000mm,B- 4000mm,1 1=2900mm, and is placed on the floor area of the rectangular box with it own in-built roller wheeled means for its independent operating car cleaning movements; forward and backwards whilst it sits on two specially adapted and arranged longitudinal tracks parallel to the rectangular steel box's lengthwise dimensions and while the automatic carwash plant independently and specifically targets to cleanse and shine on its own, the exterior body work of a vehicle parked inside the centre floor specified area of the steel rectangular box for a chosen cleaning in-built computerized programme to perform the cleaning operation in conjunction with using its rotating brushes with water and electric power coming from elsewhere via a conduit, thence water used is collected from the surface where the vehicle is parked using surface water pumps via a hosepipe for disposal before the vehicle exits the steel box container by reversing out or continuing forward out of the box once the carwash plant's cleaning operation is reached its completion stage.

   2 A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 1, wherein means the track guide means are provided longitudinally on the floor surface, parallel of the rectangular steel housing (box) to cooperate with the overall chassis arrangement of the entire rectangular steel housing as one unit permanently joined together.

   3 A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 1, wherein means the carwash is placed on a flat surface unless otherwise on a sloppy ground where it can be jacked to attain a degree of level.

   4 A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim 1, wherein means that the used water is collected for disposal from the sealed steel Door surface of the container using a self-water detecting actuated pump via a hosepipe.

   A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim I and Claim 2,wherein means that the steel rectangular housing (box) is provided with at least one opening with an option to have doors/shutters, and vehicle access ramps for entry and parking the vehicle into the centre of the container (box) 6 A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim I, wherein means (hat an automatic car cleaning plant with brush or inrush less technology can be placed into the steel rectangular housing (box) said.

   7 A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim I and Claim 5, wherein means that the steel container is made of a series of chassis and covered by rigid strong steel panel(s) all joined together as one unit, or by strong thick steel (or plastic) gauge panels joined together to form the exterior dimensions of the steel (box) structure mentioned herein as well as hold the entire plant's weight is known.

   X A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in Claim I and Claim 4, wherein means that the electrical and water supply comes from a conduit to the automatic car cleaning plant which operates entirely on its own computerized pre-programmed accord to cleanse and shine the exterior body work of a vehicle on its own.

   9 A portable container automatic carwash facility as claimed in any preceding Claim with features of design and technique of the claims; Claim I,to Claim 10, shall be deemed known and obvious.

   A portable container automatic carwash facility substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-8 of the accompanying drawing.