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"What, sir, would you make a ship sail against the wind and currents by lighting a bonfire under her deck? I pray you, excuse me, I have not the time to listen to such nonsense."
Napoleon Bonaparte ; When told of the Robert Fulton steamboat
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8020239 | Vehicle wheel/tire cleaning device A tire and wheel washing apparatus for cleaning exterior surfaces of tire and wheel combinations of a vehicle as the vehicle is conveyed past the apparatus. The tire washing apparatus preferably includes a longitudinally-extending cleaning element rotating about a s... | 09/20/2011 |
| 7937793 | Vehicle tire cleaning system A vehicle tire cleaning system comprises a support grate, configured to enable positioning of a tire of a vehicle thereupon. The support grate is capable of supporting a load of the tire thereupon while the tire is mounted to the vehicle. A plurality of openings is ... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7673362 | Wheel cleaning apparatus for a wheelchair or the like A tire-cleaning device for a wheelchair or other wheeled device, such as a scooter, which includes a pair of rotatably-mounted rollers positioned to support at least one wheel of the wheelchair. A rotatably-mounted cleaning brush is positioned between the rollers. T... | 03/09/2010 |
| 7285169 | Apparatus and method for applying a tire dressing fluid to a tire surface An apparatus for applying a tire dressing fluid to a tire surface is provided. The apparatus includes a tire engagement arm having an applicator manifold and leveling pad. The applicator manifold has an opening for receiving a tire dressing fluid and a plurality of ... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7243665 | Spray-type automotive wheel washer An automotive wheel washer comprising a circular conduit having a diameter of approximately 12 to 20 inches and further provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced nozzles which direct cleaning fluid and chemicals laterally of the wheel washer and toward t... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7234186 | Rim cleaning apparatus Apparatus for cleaning the rim of a wheel. The apparatus comprises a housing journaling a driveshaft, driven by an electric motor and mounting a pair of wire brushes configured to contact the wheel rim. Guides on the housing cause the axis of the drive shaft to be p... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7155307 | Surface adhering tool carrying robot A surface clinging robotic device. The device includes a supporting structure or base, on which is mounted (a) a lead pivoting support surface, such as a pivoting wheel, and (b) two or more traction drives, such as drive wheels. Each of the traction drives are indep... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7131216 | Distance measuring apparatus A distance measuring apparatus having a frame and a wheel rotatable relative to the frame around a first axis. The wheel has a peripheral surface that can be rolled against a surface upon which a distance measurement is to be taken. The distance measuring apparatus ... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7111631 | Portable flushing apparatus for motor vehicles The present invention 10 discloses a portable spraying apparatus for motor vehicles comprised of a source of water 16, a pump 18 for pressurizing the water, and conduit 20 having a plurality of water outlet apertures 50 therein pos... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7055202 | Tire rotating machine A machine for rotating a tire disposed on a vehicle. The machine includes a roller and a roller cover. Contaminants on a tire may be captured by the roller cover and disposed of when the roller cover is periodically removed from the roller. ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7018156 | Wheel reconditioning station and method of use The present invention provides a compact and portable reconditioning station that avails all of the tools and materials that a technician needs for reconditioning a wheel. Additionally, the station enables the technician to rotate and index the wheel by depression o... | 03/28/2006 |
| 6968588 | Golf cart wheel cleaner A golf cart wheel cleaner comprises a platform; at least one drive member operably attached to a motor, wherein the at least one drive member is adapted to rotatably turn a golf cart wheel when the golf cart wheel is properly positioned on the platform; and a cleani... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6941958 | Umbrella device An umbrella device which has a shank, an umbrella-like cap formed as a membrane and a driver. The membrane is connected to the shank and is caused by the driver to move from a position of rest where it droops limply around the shank to an open position where it is e... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6939405 | Apparatus and method for applying a tire dressing fluid to a tire surface An apparatus for applying a tire dressing fluid to a tire surface is provided. The apparatus includes a tire engagement arm having an applicator manifold and leveling pad. The applicator manifold has an opening for receiving a tire dressing fluid and a plurality of ... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6936104 | Applicator pad for use with an apparatus for applying a fluid to the tires of a vehicle A vehicle tire dressing apparatus according to the present invention comprises left and right dressing applicators situated alongside a vehicle conveying track, the dressing applicators being moveable individually into contacting engagement with tires on left and ri... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6918964 | Mechanized anthropomorphic car wash apparatus An automated car wash system is provided comprising an anthropomorphic robot that serves to spray and clean cars prior to their entering into, or within, an automated car wash so as to remove surface dirt from the car, using a high-pressure spray gun. The robot is c... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6904847 | Removable or invertable in-situ model railroad wheel cleaner The invention is directed to an apparatus to assist a model railroad hobbyist in cleaning driven or non-driven wheels of a locomotive or car. To achieve this objective, removable and invertable embodiments of the invention are disclosed. The invention provides a con... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6671917 | Wheel cleaning apparatus A wheel cleaning apparatus for a wheelchair comprising a roller-assembly frame 50L which includes a first receiving roller 21L and a second receiving roller 22L which can do seesaw movement with respect to a rocking central axis shaft tube 53, and a resto... | 01/06/2004 |
| 6645309 | Method of using wobbling brush apparatus Disclosed is a method of imparting a wobbling motion to a planar surface. In one embodiment the wobbling motion is imparted to a brush which can be used to clean uneven surfaces efficiently and easily. In another embodiment the wobbling motion is imparted... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6633150 | Apparatus and method for improving traction for a mobile robot An apparatus and method for improving traction for mobile robots where traction is a concern. The mobile robot of the invention includes wheels and brushes. The wheels are mounted to the body of the robot. The brush is mounted to the body close to the whe... | 10/14/2003 |
| 6461429 | Vehicle tire dressing applicator A vehicle tire dressing apparatus according to the present invention comprises left and right dressing applicators situated alongside a vehicle conveying track, the dressing applicators being moveable individually into contacting engagement with tires on ... | 10/08/2002 |
| 6449792 | Wobble brush apparatus Disclosed is an apparatus imparting a wobbling motion to a planar surface. In one embodiment the wobbling motion is imparted to a brush which can be used to clean uneven surfaces efficiently and easily. In another embodiment the wobbling motion is imparte... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6406549 | Method and device for cleaning shoes, wheels and all types of rollers A method and a device for cleaning the undersurface of footwear and wheels of shopping trolleys and other transport expedients to minimize the amount of dirt and moisture brought into a building by persons entering the building. The objective of the inven... | 06/18/2002 |
| 6260225 | Tire coating apparatus A tire coating machine for applying a coating to a vehicle tire. The machine includes a brush and a positioner for supporting the brush and moving the brush into contact with the tire. A first fluid path is connected to a source of a first fluid and direc... | 07/17/2001 |
| 6193808 | Method of washing motor vehicles including two movable gantries In this method for washing motor vehicles in a gantry-type washing installation with two movable gantries, washing is performed with a single pair of vertical brushes which wash between two horizontal brushes and are located on one of the two gantries. Du... | 02/27/2001 |
| 6145146 | Gantry-type washing installation for washing motor vehicle In this method for washing motor vehicles in a gantry-type washing installation with two movable gantries, washing is performed with a single pair of vertical brushes which wash between two horizontal brushes and are located on one of the two gantries. Du... | 11/14/2000 |
| 6108846 | Cleaning apparatus for wheels of car, for semiconductor device manufacturing Cleaning apparatus for the wheels of a car used in a semiconductor manufacturing plant has a pair of endless belts that carry a dust trapping material on their outer surfaces. The belts turn against a wheel and thereby remove the dust.... | 08/29/2000 |
| 5991952 | Railroad car wheel cleaning system A system for cleaning the wheels of railcars as the railcars move along the rails of a railroad track comprises chairs supporting a track rail holding a frame. A movable brush plate is movably mounted on the frame and carries a brush mechanism mounted for... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5860180 | Tire cleaning apparatus for wheelchairs So that in a tire cleaning apparatus for wheelchairs the tires of wheelchairs can be quickly and reliably cleaned without outside help, there is provided a cleaning apparatus which has at least two rollers which carry the wheelchair tires with the wheelch... | 01/19/1999 |
| 5849096 | Method for cleaning wheels of car for semiconductor device manufacturing A method for cleaning the wheels of a car used in a semiconductor manufacturing plant uses a pair of endless belts that carry a dust trapping material on their outer surfaces. The car is located with a wheel supported by two rollers that each carry one of... | 12/15/1998 |
| 5651835 | Model railroad wheel cleaning equipment and method The disclosed model railroad car wheel cleaning device has a structural base, and mats sandwiching the opposite broad faces of the base with each mat having many pairs of elongated substantially parallel grooves formed therein. The grooves are laterally s... | 07/29/1997 |
| 5167044 | Compact drive-through vehicle wash A drive-through wash of a type in which a vehicle is translated forwardly along a longitudinal axis is disclosed. The wash includes a frame affixed to the floor and sized to allow the vehicle to pass therethrough. Right and left side washers are attached ... | 12/01/1992 |
| 5127123 | Rotary cloth roll assembly A rotary cloth roll assembly for treating the surfaces of the tires on one side of an automobile as it proceeds along a predetermined path of travel comprises a rotary shaft having a longitudinal axis parallel to the path of travel, a positive stop abutme... | 07/07/1992 |
| 5123136 | Wheel washing apparatus The apparatus and method is utilized in a drive-through vehicle washing system of the type in which a vehicle is moved by conveyor along a longitudinal path across a floor surface, past a series of washing stations. The apparatus attaches to a parallelogr... | 06/23/1992 |
| 5052629 | Wheel washing apparatus The apparatus and method is utilized in a drive-through vehicle washing system of the type in which a vehicle is moved by conveyor along a longitudinal path across a floor surface, past a series of washing stations. The apparatus attaches to a parallelogr... | 10/01/1991 |
| 4985957 | Wheel washing apparatus and method The apparatus and method is utilized in a drive-through vehicle washing system of the type in which a vehicle is moved by conveyor along a longitudinal path across a floor surface, past a series of washing stations. The apparatus attaches to a parallelogr... | 01/22/1991 |
| 4977689 | Side nozzle tracer system An apparatus and method are disclosed that aid an accessory of an automobile wash system in being positioned accurately with respect to a particular automobile's width. The system consists of an abutment that is positioned within the path of the conveyed ... | 12/18/1990 |
| 4967440 | Rotary cloth roll assembly A rotary cloth roll assembly for treating the surfaces of the tires on one side of an automobile as it proceeds along a predetermined path of travel comprises a rotary shaft having a longitudinal axis parallel to the path of travel, a positive stop abutme... | 11/06/1990 |
| 4916771 | Apparatus for washing the wheels of vehicles in a washing plant The apparatus for washing the wheels (2) of vehicles in a washing plant has two oppositely arranged rotating wash brushes (4) each of which is associated with the wheels of one side of the vehicle and adjustable in the vehicle's direction of movement (B) ... | 04/17/1990 |
| 4878262 | Automotive scrubber A scrubber for an automotive vehicle. The scrubber includes a brush, pivot and centering assembly. The brush scrubs the vehicle. The pivot allows the brush to change angular orientation. The centering means urges the brush toward a single predetermined an... | 11/07/1989 |
