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US 10,773,174 B1Granted
Automated devices using rotational motion to apply chalk to a surface
AssigneeMake Ideas, LLC
InventorKeith Alan Mullin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various devices utilize rotational movement of a piece of chalk to apply a graphic to a surface. Such a device includes a chassis, a motor connected to the chassis, a solid piece of chalk supported by a mounting structure carried by the chassis, and a rotatable axle or spindle that transmits rotational movement from the motor to the solid piece of chalk via the mounting structure such that the solid piece of chalk may be sanded by a surface to render a graphic to the surface. Some such devices are vehicles. Various systems include such devices as well as remote communication devices for operational control.
Claims15
A system utilizing rotational movement of a piece of chalk to apply a graphic to a surface, comprising:
- (a) a chalk-drawing vehicle to be driven on a surface, including:
- (i) a chassis adapted to move relative to the surface without being attached thereto,
- (ii) a motor connected to the chassis,
- (iii) a wireless receiver to receive operational input,
- (iv) a solid piece of chalk supported by a mounting structure carried by the chassis as the chassis moves relative to the surface, wherein the solid piece of chalk is part of a rotary sanding chalk device, and
- (v) two wheels, at least one of which is motorized to impart movement of the chassis relative to the surface,
- (vi) wherein the rotary sanding chalk device further comprises a rotatable axle or spindle that transmits rotational movement from the motor to the solid piece of chalk via the mounting structure, wherein the axle or spindle rotates about an axis that is directed downward toward the surface such that a lower end of the solid piece of chalk is sanded by the surface on which the vehicle is driven to render the graphic to the surface,
- (vii) wherein the chassis is adapted to be supported on the surface at exactly three support points, with the lower end of the solid piece of chalk being one of the three support points and the two wheels being a second and a third of the three support points, and
- (viii) wherein the three support points are non-linear with respect to each other such that a portion of a weight of the vehicle is carried on the solid piece of chalk thereby both at a time of initial use and after the chalk has been substantially sanded, without adjustment by a user;
- and
- (b) a remote communication device, including a transmitter, to provide the operational input to the vehicle, via the wireless receiver, to control the chalk drawing vehicle.
8 more elements
A system utilizing rotational movement of a piece of chalk to apply a graphic to a surface, comprising:
- (a) a chalk-drawing vehicle to be driven on a surface, including:
- (i) a chassis adapted to move relative to the surface without being attached thereto,
- (ii) a wireless receiver to receive operational input,
- (iii) a motor,
- (iv) a first support point for the chassis, the first support point comprising a solid piece of chalk connected to the chassis by a mounting structure as the chassis moves relative to the surface, wherein the solid piece of chalk is part of a rotary sanding chalk device,
- (v) a second support point for the chassis, and
- (vi) a third support point for the chassis,
- (vii) wherein the rotary sanding chalk device further comprises a rotatable axle or spindle that transmits rotational movement from the motor to the solid piece of chalk via the mounting structure, wherein the axle or spindle rotates about an axis that is directed downward toward the surface such that a lower end of the solid piece of chalk is sanded by the surface on which the vehicle is driven to render the graphic to the surface,
- (viii) wherein the chassis is adapted to be supported on the surface entirely at the three support points, and
- (ix) wherein the three support points are non-linear with respect to each other such that a portion of a weight of the vehicle is carried on the solid piece of chalk thereby both at a time of initial use and after the chalk has been substantially sanded, without adjustment by a user;
- and
- (b) a remote communication device, including a transmitter, to provide the operational input to the vehicle, via the wireless receiver, to control the chalk drawing vehicle.
9 more elements
A chalk-drawing apparatus to be operated on a surface, comprising:
- (a) a chassis adapted to move relative to a surface without being attached thereto;
- (b) a motor connected to the chassis;
- (c) a first support point for the chassis, the first support point comprising a solid piece of chalk connected to the chassis by a mounting structure as the chassis moves relative to the surface, wherein the solid piece of chalk is part of a rotary sanding chalk device;
- (d) a second support point for the chassis;
- and
- (e) a third support point for the chassis;
- (f) wherein the rotary sanding chalk device further comprises a rotatable axle or spindle that transmits rotational movement from the motor to the solid piece of chalk via the mounting structure, wherein the axle or spindle rotates about an axis that is directed downward toward the surface such that a lower end of the solid piece of chalk is sanded by the surface on which the chassis is moved to render the graphic to the surface;
- (g) wherein the chassis is adapted to be supported on the surface entirely at the three support points;
- and
- (h) wherein the three support points are non-linear with respect to each other such that a portion of a weight of the chassis is carried on the solid piece of chalk thereby both at a time of initial use and after the chalk has been substantially sanded, without adjustment by a user.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.