IP Library Granted Patent US 8,689,385
Granted Patent B2
US 8,689,385 · App. 12/018,609 · Granted Apr 8, 2014

Tire-shine system and method

Inventors: Jeffrey J. Martines (Birmingham, MI); Todd P. Christopher (Trenton, MI)
Assignees: Martines Properties, LLC; TPC Auto Wash Supply, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,689,385
App. No.
12/018,609
Granted
Apr 8, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tire-shine system includes a housing, at least one manifold supported by the housing, and a brush rotatably supported by the housing. The brush is spaced apart from the at least one manifold and includes a plurality of bristles each including a feather-tipped end. The feather-tipped end of the plurality of bristles selectively receives a first fluid from the at least one manifold.

Claims (22)

1. A tire-shine system comprising:

a housing defining an entrance and an exit;

a brush rotatably supported by said housing and including a plurality of bristles;

at least one manifold supported by said housing and including a plurality of apertures operable to apply a first fluid to said brush by allowing said first fluid to exit said at least one manifold at said plurality of apertures and drip onto said plurality of bristles, said at least one manifold selectively movable toward said brush into a plurality of use positions in response to said brush experiencing wear to maintain a desired distance between said at least one manifold and said brush during use; and

a controller operable to apply a first amount of said first fluid to said brush proximate to said entrance and operable to apply a second amount of said first fluid to said brush proximate to said exit, said first amount of fluid being greater than said second amount of fluid.

2. The tire-shine system of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of bristles of said brush are formed of a polypropylene material.

3. The tire-shine system of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of bristles includes a feather-tipped end.

4. The tire-shine system of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of apertures each include a diameter substantially equal to twenty-nine thousandths of an inch and are spaced apart from one another by approximately one inch.

5. The tire-shine system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one manifold is hingedly supported by and selectively movable relative to said housing.

6. The tire-shine system of claim 1 , wherein said controller controls discharge of said first fluid from said at least one manifold based on a frequency of tires or vehicles passing through the tire-shine system.

7. The tire-shine system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one manifold includes a first manifold delivering said first fluid and a second manifold delivering a second fluid.

8. A tire-shine system for a vehicle having front tires and rear tires, the tire-shine system comprising:

a housing receiving the front tires and the rear tires;

a brush supported by said housing, selectively rotatable relative thereto, and in selective engagement with the front tires and the rear tires;

at least one manifold disposed at least partially above said brush and operable to supply said brush with a first fluid by allowing said first fluid to drip from said at least one manifold onto said brush, said at least one manifold selectively movable toward said brush into a plurality of use positions in response to said brush experiencing wear to maintain a desired distance between said at least one manifold and said brush during use; and

a controller operable to apply a first amount of said first fluid to the front tires and operable to apply a second amount of said first fluid to the rear tires by controlling discharge of said first fluid from said at least one manifold, said first amount being greater than said second amount.

9. The tire-shine system of claim 8 , wherein said controller controls discharge of said first fluid from said at least one manifold based on a frequency of tires or vehicles passing through the tire-shine system.

10. The tire-shine system of claim 8 , wherein said at least one manifold is hingedly supported by said housing such that said at least one manifold is selectively movable relative to said housing.

11. The tire-shine system of claim 8 , wherein said brush includes a plurality of bristles each including a feather-tipped end.

12. The tire-shine system of claim 8 , wherein said brush is formed of a polypropylene material.

13. The tire-shine system of claim 8 , wherein said brush is formed from a non-absorbent material such that said first fluid is not absorbed by said brush.

14. The tire-shine system of claim 8 , wherein said at least one manifold includes a first manifold delivering said first fluid and a second manifold delivering a second fluid.

Assignments (10)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2024
From: NATIONAL CARWASH SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: OHA AGENCY LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 067520/0112 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AT R/F 054767/0948 Recorded May 24, 2024
From: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: NATIONAL CARWASH SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 067528/0392 →
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT OF R/F 042175/0771 Recorded Jan 8, 2021
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: NATIONAL CARWASH SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054927/0985 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2020
From: NATIONAL CARWASH SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054767/0948 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROPERTY NUMBER 8689365 TO 8689385 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 042175 FRAME: 0771. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 9, 2020
From: NATIONAL CARWASH SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 054854/0839 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 9, 2020
From: RYKO SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: NATIONAL CARWASH SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054375/0703 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2017
From: FIRSTMERIT, N.A.
To: RYKO SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 042192/0510 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2016
From: TPC AUTO WASH SUPPLY, INC.; MARTINES PROPERTIES, LLC
To: RYKO SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040425/0229 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2008
From: MARTINES, JEFFREY J.
To: MARTINES PROPERTIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 020770/0866 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2008
From: CHRISTOPHER, TODD P.
To: TPC AUTO WASH SUPPLY, INC.
Reel/Frame 020770/0945 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 60897850 · Jan 26, 2007
Related Publication 20080178402A1 · Jul 31, 2008