GB2123066A

GB2123066A - Marking device

Info

Publication number: GB2123066A
Application number: GB08317279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred Yates; Gordon Stewart Partington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-06-25
Filing date: 1983-06-24
Publication date: 1984-01-25
Also published as: GB8317279D0

Abstract

A road etc marking device comprises a wheeled carriage (1) and a roller (6) detachably mounted (7, 8) on the carriage and arranged in use to limit the lateral extent of spray from a dispenser (12) of marker fluid. The roller may comprise a cylinder covered with material such as foamed plastics which transfers marker fluid to the road surface, but as shown there are two coaxial rollers (5, 6) in the form of circular shields which engage the surface area to be marked by rolling contact, the dispenser being arranged to spray upon the surface between the shields. In a modification the two rollers are independently mounted via stub axles and have facing curved flanges forming annular troughs. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Marking device This invention relates to wheeled devices for marking a line on surface areas, for example in factories, warehouses and public buildings or on car parks, roads and sportsgrounds.

According to the present invention a marking device comprises a carriage and a roller detachable from the carriage and arranged in use to limit the lateral extent of spray from a dispenser of marker fluid.

Preferably the roller engages the surface area to be marked in use of the device, more preferably by rolling contact.

According to a first preferred embodiment of this invention, the roller may comprise a spool or reel. Alternatively two rollers may be provided, having the form of a pair of circular shields. The roller or shields may be rotatably mounted in the carriage and the dispenser being arranged to spray upon the surface area between the ends of the spool, reel or between the shields as the case may be.

The roller preferably incorporates an axle or one or more axle stubs each of which engages a slot or recess in the carriage. Each slot is preferably arranged so that the roller may move relative to the surface area to accommodate irregularities such as bumps or depressions in the latter. Each axle stub of a roller is preferably provided with independent suspension. This may provide the further advantage that the marking device may be used upright on sloping surfaces. The roller may be located in position on the carriage by a clip, spring, latch or by the action of gravity.

The roller may be rigid or provided with flexible circumferences composed for example of foamed plastics material or of fabric. Alternatively, the circumferences of the roller may be spiked for use, for example, upon grassed surface areas.

A preferred roller comprises an inwardly opening annular trough. This serves to collect over-spray and prevent splashing. The roller may be generally C-shaped in cross-section, the opening of the trough being located inwardly towards the line from the point of contact with the ground. When the trough becomes filled with marker fluid during use, the fluid is thrown by rotation of the roller onto the path of the line ahead of the roller. A preferred marking device comprises two trough shaped rollers.

According to a second preferred embodiment the roller may be composed of a cylinder of permeable material such as foamed plastics material, nonwoven fabric or artificial fur. The spray may be directed onto the roller and the latter may serve to transfer marker fluid to the surface area to be marked.

Preferably a marking device in accordance with this invention is arranged so that more than one roller or pair of rollers may be used inter-changably, so that the device may be used to mark lines of different widths or upon different surface areas as may be convenient.

The carriage is preferably provided with wheels. When wheels are disposed to the rear of the roller or rollers they are preferably arranged outside the line of movement of the roller or rollers. A carriage having three or more wheels is especially preferred, since two wheeled carriages are difficult to run in a straight line. The carriage may be provided with a handle by which it may be pushed along. The handle may be provided with means to remotely control the dispenser.

The handle and dispenser may be removable from the carriage for use as a free hand marker.

The dispenser is preferably an aerosol spray dispenser although any other convenient dispenser may be employed.

Marking devices in accordance with this invention find additional use in application of chemicals such as weedkillers, insecticides and fertilisers. They may also be used for obliterating lettering resultant from vandalism.

The invention is further described by way of example, with reference to Figs. 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a partial view of a device in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 shows a roller as used in Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows the handle of the marker shown in Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a cross section of an alternative roller; Figure 5 is a front elevation of the roller of Fig. 4; Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the roller; and Figure 7 illustrates the roller in use.

The marking device shown in Fig. 1 comprises a carriage 1 provided with a front wheel 2 and two rear wheels 3, 4. A roller, also shown in Fig. 2, comprises two circular shields 5, 6 mounted on an axle 7. The ends of the axle 7 engage in slots 8 in the carriage 1, but are allowed to move in a vertical direction to accommodate irregularities in the surface to be marked. The roller is preferably in constant contact with the surface during marking. A handle 9, also shown in Fig. 3 is removably located in a mounting 10 on the carriage 1. The handle is provided with clips 11 which support an aerosol spray can 1 2 of marker fluid. A lever 1 3 is arranged to regulate release of marker fluid from the can 1 2.

The handle 9 and can 1 2 may be removed from the carriage for freehand marking.

Figs. 4 to 6 illustrate a preferred roller. The roller 14 has the form of an annular trough having an opening 1 5 arranged to face inwardly in use. The roller is generally C-shaped and is adapted to collect marked fluid at 1 6.

In the event that the roller becomes filled with fluid, rotation of the roller causes the fluid to be thrown out along the direction of the line ahead of the roller. Two such rollers 14 may be used, with the spray 1 7 located between them as shown in Fig. 7.

Each roller may be provided with a stub axle 1 8 which is engaged in use in a slot in the carriage 1 9. The rollers may move freely within the slot to remain in constant contact with the surface to be marked. The line marker may therefore be used on sloping or uneven surfaces as shown in Fig. 7.

Claims

1. A marking device comprising a carriage and a roller detachable from the carriage and arranged in use to limit the lateral extent of spray from a dispenser of marker fluid.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roller engages in use the surface to be marked.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the roller engages said surface by rolling contact.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the roller comprises a spool or reel, the dispenser being arranged to spray upon the surface between the ends of the spool or reel.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein a pair of rollers are rotatably located on the carriage, the dispenser being arranged to spray upon the surface between the shields.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the roller comprises an axle or one or more axle stubs arranged to engage one or more slots or recesses in the carriage.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the or each slot is arranged so that the roller may move in the slot relative to the surface area.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the roller comprises a flexible circumference.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a spiked roller.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the roller comprises an inwardly opening annular trough.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the roller is C-shaped in cross section.

1 2. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the roller comprises a cylinder of permeable material.

1 3. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the carriage includes a handle, the handle and dispenser being removable for use as a free hand marking device.

14. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figs. 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.