Concrete finishing apparatus and method for finishing freshly poured or partially cured concrete

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a concrete finishing, smoothing and/or leveling apparatus and, more particularly, to a concrete smoothing and leveling apparatus which is operable on freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete to smooth the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete surface to a flat, level surface.

1 . A concrete finishing apparatus for smoothing and leveling freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete comprising: 
 (a) a movable unit which is movable and supported over and/or on the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete, the movable unit being movable in at least a first direction and being supported on the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete by at least one track member which engages a surface of the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete; and    (b) at least one straight edge finishing member mounted on the movable unit, the at least one straight edge finishing member defining a straight edge contact surface therealong which is adapted to contact the surface of the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete as the at least one straight edge finishing member is moved over the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete,    wherein the at least one track member has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the exterior surface coming into contact with the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete, wherein the interior surface of the at least one track member contains a plurality of transverse members.    
   
   
       2 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one straight edge finishing member has a width that extends beyond the width of the movable unit and the straight edge finishing member is mounted on the movable unit such that the width of the straight edge finishing member is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the movable unit.  
   
   
       3 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the straight edge finishing member is positioned in front of the movable unit as the movable unit moves in the first direction.  
   
   
       4 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the straight edge finishing member is positioned behind of the movable unit as the movable unit moves in the first direction.  
   
   
       5 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein straight edge finishing members are positioned at opposite ends of the movable unit as the movable unit moves in the first direction.  
   
   
       6 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the straight edge finishing member is vertically adjustable relative to the movable unit.  
   
   
       7 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 6 , further including a laser leveling system, the at least one straight edge finishing member being vertically adjustable in response to the laser leveling system.  
   
   
       8 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one straight edge finishing member is variably weighted to adjust or vary an amount of force or downward pressure being applied to the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete by the straight edge finishing member.  
   
   
       9 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one track member spreads the weight of the movable unit over an area of the partially cured concrete to limit depression of the partially cured concrete by the movable unit.  
   
   
       10 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the movable unit is adjustably weighted to adjust an amount of down pressure of the straight edge finishing member on the partially cured concrete surface.  
   
   
       11 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one support comprises at least two continuous tacks.  
   
   
       12 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the downward pressure created by the concrete finishing apparatus is less than about 100 pounds per square foot.  
   
   
       13 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the downward pressure created by the concrete finishing apparatus is less than about 50 pounds per square foot.  
   
   
       14 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein one of the two straight edge finishing members is lowerable to contact and smooth the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete surface when the movable unit is moved in the first direction, while the other of the two straight edge finishing members is lowerable to contact and smooth the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete surface when the movable unit is moved in a second direction, the second direction being generally opposite the first direction.  
   
   
       15 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one straight edge finishing member is mounted on the movable unit such that the width of the at least one straight edge finishing member is canted relative to the first direction.  
   
   
       16 . The concrete finishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one straight edge finishing member is adjustably mounted on the movable unit such that the width of the at least one straight edge finishing member is adjustable to adjust an angle of the at least one straight edge finishing member relative to a direction of travel of the movable unit.  
   
   
       17 . A method for finishing a concrete surface of freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete comprising: 
 (A) providing a concrete finishing apparatus comprising: 
 (I) a movable unit which is movable and supported over and/or on the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete, the movable unit being movable in at least a first direction and being supported on the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete by at least one track member which engages a surface of the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete; and  
 (ii) at least one straight edge finishing member mounted on the movable unit, the at least one straight edge finishing member defining a straight edge contact surface therealong which is adapted to contact the surface of the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete as the at least one straight edge finishing member is moved over the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete;  
   (B) moving the concrete finishing apparatus along the concrete surface such that the concrete finishing apparatus is supported on the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete surface, the concrete finishing apparatus being supported on the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete by the at least one track member; and    (C) engaging the at least one straight edge finishing member with the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete surface while the concrete finishing apparatus is undergoing movement,    wherein the at least one track member has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the exterior surface coming into contact with the freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete, wherein the interior surface of the at least one track member contains a plurality of transverse members.    
   
   
       18 . The method for finishing a concrete surface of freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one straight edge finishing member has a width that extends beyond the width of the movable unit and the straight edge finishing member is mounted on the movable unit such that the width of the straight edge finishing member is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the movable unit.  
   
   
       19 . The method for finishing a concrete surface of freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete of  claim 17 , wherein the straight edge finishing member is positioned in front of the movable unit as the movable unit moves in the first direction.  
   
   
       20 . The method for finishing a concrete surface of freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete of  claim 17 , wherein the straight edge finishing member is positioned behind of the movable unit as the movable unit moves in the first direction.  
   
   
       21 . The method for finishing a concrete surface of freshly poured and/or partially cured concrete of  claim 17 , wherein straight edge finishing members are positioned at opposite ends of the movable unit as the movable unit moves in the first direction.