HANDLE FOR A CONCRETE SCREED BLADE

Abstract

A manual screed assembly has a screed bar assembly, a release assembly releasably coupled to the screed bar assembly, and a handle assembly releasably secured to the quick release assembly.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/447,118, filed Jan. 17, 2017, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to the devices for finishing the surface of concrete. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a quick release structure that allows a handle assembly to be removed without the use of tools.

Working of large areas of flat concrete while the concrete is still wet or uncured includes placing the wet concrete, striking off or “screeding” the concrete to a particular elevation, and then working of the surface of the concrete to establish the finish of the concrete once the concrete cures. This process may require the use of various implements to achieve the finish required. The use of different implements often requires the use of different assemblies as the implement is secured to the assembly and the implement, or tool, for working the concrete is integral to the assembly. This requires a contractor to maintain multiple assemblies that are changed during the working of the uncured concrete.

SUMMARY

The present application discloses one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter:

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a manual screed assembly comprises a screed bar assembly, a quick release assembly and a handle assembly. The quick release assembly is releasably coupled to the screed bar assembly. The quick release assembly permits the removal of the quick release assembly from the screed bar assembly without the use of tools. The handle assembly is releasably secured to the quick release assembly. The quick release assembly is configured to release the handle assembly to allow the orientation of the handle assembly relative to the quick release assembly to be adjusted without the use of tools.

In some embodiments, the manual screed assembly comprises supports for supporting weights over the screed bar assembly to vary the downforce applied to the screed bar assembly.

In some embodiments, the quick release assembly is clamped to the screed bar assembly.

In some embodiments, the quick release assembly is clamped to the screed bar assembly by lever screws.

In some embodiments, the quick release assembly includes a plurality of slots that engage the lever screws when the lever screws are engaged with the screed bar assembly.

In some embodiments, the handle assembly includes a crossbar that is engaged with the quick release assembly, the crossbar positioned in at least one clamp that is manually adjustable, without the use of tools, to clamp the handle assembly relative to the quick release assembly.

In some embodiments, the quick release assembly comprises a plurality of support bases for supporting weights over the screed bar assembly to vary the downforce applied to the screed bar assembly.

In some embodiments, the support bases are configured to removably receive additional supports to extend upwardly from the support bases to increase the capacity of the number of weights that may be position on the quick release assembly.

Additional features, which alone or in combination with any other feature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims, may comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a manual screed assembly including a quick release mechanism for quickly connecting a handle assembly to a screed blade assembly;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the manual screed assembly of FIG. 1 with additional weight supports and an additional weight added to increase the downforce applied to an implement;

FIG. 3 is an exploded assembly view of the manual screed assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the manual screed assembly of FIG. 1 showing the adjustability of the handle assembly relative to a quick connect assembly;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the manual screed assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view similar to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 showing another embodiment of a manual screed assembly with a different screed bar assembly;

FIG. 7 is a side view similar to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 showing yet another embodiment of a manual screed assembly with a different screed bar assembly; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of yet another embodiment of a manual screed assembly including an elevator mechanism having supports for supporting a weight to modify the downforce applied to an implement of the manual screed assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A manual screed assembly 10, shown in FIG. 1, includes a handle assembly 12, a quick connect assembly 14, and screed bar assembly 16. The manual screed assembly 10 is used by an operator who grips handles 18, 20 of the handle assembly 12 and moves the screed bar 16 over the surface of a material such as uncured concrete, gravel, sand, or the like, to bring the material to a level grade, as is known in the art. A lower surface 22 of the screed bar 16 is usually supported on one or more rails (not shown) which have been positioned to define the grade at which the screed assembly 10 is used to define.

The quick connect assembly 14 solves multiple problems resulting in improved efficiency in the screeding process. First, the quick connect assembly 14 permits the handle assembly 12 to be quickly connected to or removed from the screed bar 16, allowing the user to quickly break down the screed assembly 10 for transport, or to use the same handle assembly 12 for different configurations of a screed bar, other than screed bar 16, as will be discussed in further detail below. Second, the quick connect assembly 14 is configured to permit the user to adjust handle assembly 12 through rotation about an axis 24, without the use of tools. By changing the pitch of handle simile 12 about the axis 24, a user may adjust the handle assembly 12 and adapt it for the preferences of the particular user and a particular application. Finally, quick connect assembly 14 is configured to permit a user to add one or more weights 26 to the screed assembly 10 to increase the down pressure applied to the lower surface 22 of the screed bar 16. This allows a user to adapt the screed assembly 10 to a particular application. For example, a hired density or viscosity material being moved by the screed assembly 10 may require more downforce 28 that a material that has a lower density or lower viscosity.

The handle assembly 12 includes a frame 30 is formed to include a crossbar 32 that is gripped by a pair of clamp assemblies 34, 36 of the quick connect assembly 14. A first arm 38 extends from the crossbar 32 to form the right hand handle 20. A second arm 40 extends from the crossbar 32 to form the left-hand handle 18. The first arm 38 and second arm 40 are secured together by a crossbeam 42 that provides rigidity to the handle assembly 12. A leg 44 is secured to the second arm 40 by a clamp 46. The user utilizes a grip 48 to loosen or tighten the clamp 46 and adjust the position of the leg 44 relative to the second arm 40. The leg 44 may be adjusted to an out-of-the-way position during use of the screed assembly 10, and placed in the position shown in FIG. 1 when the screed assembly 10 is not being used, the leg 44 operating to support the handle assembly 12 so that the handles 18, 20 are maintained off of the ground when the screed assembly 10 is not in use.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the screed bar 16 includes a pair of brackets 50, 52 that extend vertically above and upper surface 54 of and implement 56 of the screed bar assembly 16. The quick connect assembly 14 is secured to the brackets 50, 52 by lever screws 58, 60, respectively. Each of the clamp assemblies 34, 36 include a base 62 and a grip 64. A clamp screw 66 is used to move the grip 64 relative to the base 62 to provide a clamping force on the crossbar 32 of the handle assembly 12, as will be discussed in further detail below. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the screed assembly 10 is modified to include a pair of support posts 68, 70 which are connected to support bases 72, 74 of the quick connect assembly 14. The support posts 68, 70 extend upwardly to form receivers over which a second weight 26 may be positioned to increase the downforce 28 that is transferred through the quick connect assembly 14 to the screed bar assembly 16.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the screed bar assembly 16 includes an H-bracket 76 which is secured to the implement 56 by a pair of bolts 78, 80 the pass-through lower legs two, 84 of the H-bracket 76. The bolts 78, 80 secure the H-bracket 76 to the implement 56 by the clamping action of a pair of nuts 86, 88 which are secured to the bolts 78, 80 respectively to secure the H-bracket 76 to the implement 56.

The quick connect assembly 14 includes a bracket 90 with legs 92, 94. Each leg 92, 94 is formed to include a respective slot 96, 98 which is received on a respective shaft 100, 102 of the respective lever screws 60, 58 the shafts 100, 102 are each threaded and pass through the H-bracket 76 with a respective nut 104, 106 being received on the shafts 100, 102. The lever screws 60, 58 include flanges 108, 110 that engage respective washers 112 114 which are positioned between the flanges 108, 110 and the respective legs 92, 94. The lever screws 60, 58 each include a handle on her 16, 118 which permit a user to rotate the lever screws 60, 58 as the shafts 100, 100 to engage the nuts 104, 106 to clamp the bracket 90 to the H-bracket 76. The lever screws 60, 58 are configured to permit a user to develop enough torque to manually secure the bracket 90 to the H-bracket 76 without the need for tools.

The quick connect assembly 14 further includes a pair of bolts 124, 126 that passed through the bracket 90 and secure the bases 62, 62 of the respective clamp assemblies 36, 34 to the bracket 90. Each bolt 124, one or 26 secured by respective nut 128, 130. The shaft of each bolt 124, 126 extends into an opening 132 formed in the grip 64 of each clamp assembly 36, 34. The bracket 90 is formed to include two arms 120, 122 which support respective weld nuts 134, 136 that are secured to the arms 120, 122 respectively. A shaft 138 of each clamp screw 66 is received in the weld nuts 134, 136. Each clamp screw 66 includes a handle 140 which a user may actuate manually to draw the respective grip 64 closer to the respective base 62 to increase a clamping force exerted on the crossbar 32.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the user may utilize the clamp screw 66 to release the frame 30 relative to the quick connect assembly 14 to adjust the handle assembly 12 to multiple positions about the axis 24. As indicated by the arrow 142, the handle assembly 12 can be moved to a plurality of positions about the axis 24 and respective clamp assemblies 34, 36 can be tightened to secure the position of the handle assembly 12 relative to the quick connect assembly 14. In this way, the user may adjust the position of the handle assembly 12 relative to the screed bar assembly 16 to adjust the position to be ergonomically correct for the particular user.

Referring again now FIG. 3, each of the support bases 72, 74 are formed with female threads 150 that are configured to receive mail threads 152 on supports 168, 170 such that the supports 168, 170 may be secured to the bases 72, 74 and extend upwardly there from to provide additional support for additional weights 26.

In another embodiment of manual screed assembly 210, the handle assembly 12 and quick connect assembly 14 are secured to a screed bar assembly 216. The screed bar assembly 216 includes an L-shaped bracket 218 that is secured to an implement 220. The bracket 90 of the quick connect assembly 14 is supported on the shafts 100, 102 of the lever screws 58, 60 and clamped to the L-shaped bracket 218 in the manner described above with regard to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. The L-shaped bracket is secured to the implement 220 by a pair of lag bolts 222 that are threaded into a block 224 that is positioned in an elongate channel 226 of the implement 220. The lag bolts 222 secure the L-shaped bracket to the top surface 228 of the implement 220. In yet another embodiment of manual screed assembly 312 shown in FIG. 7, the quick connect assembly 14 is secured to an H-bracket 76 which is secured to an L-shaped implement 316 by a pair of bolts 318, 318 and nuts 320, 320, to form a screed bar assembly 316. It should be understood that the quick connect assembly 14 and handle assembly 12 can quickly be removed from either the screed bar assembly 16, screed bar assembly 216, or screed bar assembly 316 reattached to one of the other screed bar assemblies 16, 216, or 316, by quickly releasing the lever screws 58, 60. This permits a user to interchange the various screed bar assemblies 16, 216, 316 as conditions change during the screening process. In addition, the clamp assemblies 34, 36 permit quick adjustment without the use of tools of the pitch of the handle assembly 12 relative to the quick connect assembly 14 and thereby, the respective screed bar assembly 16, 216, 316. Still further, depending on changing conditions, a user may quickly adapt the quick connect assembly 14 to add or remove additional weights 26 two very the downforce 28 exerted on the respective screed bar assembly 16, 216, 360.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a manual screed assembly 440 includes a screed blade assembly 416 and a manipulator 412 which provides lateral stability to the user by providing struts 402 and 404 that extend from a handle 406 and connect to an elevator bracket 408 that spans between two quick-release supports 410, 410 that are spaced apart and are configured to secure the elevator bracket 408 to an implement 420. The struts 402, 404 are pivotably coupled to the ends of the elevator bracket 408 and are configured to rotate relative to the elevator bracket 408 about an axis 422. The struts 402 and 404 are also each pivotably coupled to a collar 424 that is positioned on a cylindrical shaft 426 of the handle 406. The collar 424 is slidable along the shaft 426. The struts 402, 404 rotate relative to the collar 424 about an axis 456.

The manipulator 412 includes a bracket 144 that permits the attitude of a cup 428 to be adjusted about an axis 430 to change the relative angle between a handle 406 relative to the implement 420. A base 432 is secured to a plate 434 of the elevator bracket 408. The elevator bracket 408 has two notches 436, 438 that are received on respective lever screws 60, 58 on the respective quick-release supports 410, 410. The lever screws 60, 58 clamp the elevator bracket 408 to the supports 410, 410. The elevator bracket 408 is formed to include two support bases 72, 74 to support the weight 26. Similar to the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7, the support bases 72, 74 are configured to receive additional supports 168, 170 to support additional weights 26.

Although certain illustrative embodiments have been described in detail above, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of this disclosure as described and as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A manual screed assembly comprises

a screed bar assembly,

a quick release assembly releasably coupled to the screed bar assembly, the quick release assembly permitting the removal of the quick release assembly from the screed bar assembly without the use of tools, and

a handle assembly releasably secured to the quick release assembly, the quick release assembly configured to release the handle assembly to allow the orientation of the handle assembly relative to the quick release assembly to be adjusted without the use of tools.

2. The manual screed assembly of claim 1, wherein the manual screed assembly comprises supports for supporting weights over the screed bar assembly to vary the downforce applied to the screed bar assembly.

3. The manual screed assembly of claim 1, wherein the quick release assembly is clamped to the screed bar assembly.

4. The manual screed assembly of claim 3, wherein the quick release assembly is clamped to the screed bar assembly by lever screws.

5. The manual screed assembly of claim 4, wherein the quick release assembly includes a plurality of slots that engage the lever screws when the lever screws are engaged with the screed bar assembly.

6. The manual screed assembly of claim 5, wherein the handle assembly includes a crossbar that is engaged with the quick release assembly, the crossbar positioned in at least one clamp that is manually adjustable, without the use of tools, to clamp the handle assembly relative to the quick release assembly.

7. The manual screed assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a crossbar that is engaged with the quick release assembly, the crossbar positioned in at least one clamp that is manually adjustable, without the use of tools, to clamp the handle assembly relative to the quick release assembly.

8. The manual screed assembly of claim 1, wherein the quick release assembly comprises a plurality of support bases for supporting weights over the screed bar assembly to vary the downforce applied to the screed bar assembly.

9. The manual screed assembly of claim 8, wherein the support bases are configured to removably receive additional supports to extend upwardly from the support bases to increase the capacity of the number of weights that may be position on the quick release assembly.