Tire dressing distribution system
View Patent ↗A tire dressing applicator comprises a support and one or more foam plastic elements mounted on the support so as to contact a tire sidewall and transfer dressing onto the tire sidewall. A distribution system drips or drizzles dressing onto the element(s) after which it is spread over and into the element(s) surface. The elements can be toroidal or rectangular and have anti-distortion pins embedded therein.
1. A distribution system for tire dressing comprising:
an applicator comprising a series of coaxial adjacent, foam rollers, each roller formed from a pad with a toroidal shape having an inner surface to receive a shaft and an outer continuous, cylindrical tire contact surface; said rollers being arranged on a single shaft so as to allow for slip between the rollers and said shaft; a distribution conduit disposed above and adjacent the rollers;
a plurality of discharge apertures formed in the conduit, for non-sprayingly dispersing dressing directly onto the surfaces; and
an actuator configured to rotate the shaft and rollers as a unit, wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the applicator intermittently less than a full revolution about the central longitudinal axis of the shaft upon each actuation.
2. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the apertures are non-spraying discharge apertures and are formed in the top of the conduit.
3. A system as described in claim 1 further including a pump connected to the conduit, and wherein the apertures vary in size in proportion to distance from said pump.
4. The system as described in claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a spreader contacting the rollers to distribute dressing over the outer surface of the rollers and into the foam plastic.
5. The system as described in claim 4 wherein the spreader is selected from the group comprising a flap which overlies the applicator and an idler roller in contact with the applicator rollers for rotation therewith.