Apparatus and Method for Paving an Inclined Surface

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus for smoothing and leveling a hardenable paving material on an inclined surface. The apparatus can be detachably mounted onto a vehicle. The apparatus includes a base and at least one screed bar that extends outwardly from the base. The screed bar is capable of being angularly adjustable with respect to the base. The angle between the screed bar and the base can be adjusted so that the screed bar can be positioned in a substantially parallel relationship with a surface that is to be paved. The apparatus can be moved parallel to the surface to be paved so that the screed bar traverses across and levels hardenable material that has been deposited on the inclined surface. Upon completion of paving operations, the apparatus can be detached from the vehicle. In one embodiment, the apparatus can be mounted on a fork lift.

1 . A vehicle mountable apparatus for smoothing a hardenable paving material into an inclined surface, said apparatus comprising:
 a base comprising at least one cross member and at least one upright member extending from said cross member;   a screed bar extending outwardly from said base, said screed bar having a lower end pivotably attached to said base;   an elongate support having a first end attached to said screed bar at a location spaced from said lower end and an opposite second end attached to said upright member, said elongate support serving to position the screed bar in a desired angular inclined relationship with respect to said base; and   means for detachably mounting the base to a vehicle.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said elongate support is of adjustable length and including means cooperating with said screed bar for adjusting the length thereof to vary the angular inclined position of the screed bar. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the screed bar has a first elongate surface defining a longitudinally extending linear screed edge oriented to engage underlying paving material, and including means for mounting the screed bar to the base for adjustable rotational movement about its longitudinal axis so as to vary the angle of said first surface with respect to the underlying paving material. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the screed bar has a second elongate surface joined to said first elongate surface to form a right-angle, acute-angle or obtuse angle cross-section for the screed bar. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for detachably mounting the base to a vehicle comprises an opening formed in the base and configured for receiving the tines of a fork lift vehicle. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the base includes a second cross member disposed above and spaced apart from said first cross member to define said opening. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a first pair of coplanar cross members, a second pair of coplanar cross members, and at least four upright members extending between and joining the first and second pairs of coplanar cross members to define a framed structure. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for detachably mounting the frame to a vehicle comprises one or more brackets disposed on the cross member. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a vibration unit disposed on said screed bar. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stiffening support member having a first and proximal end attached to the screed bar and a second and opposite end that is attached to the base at a location that is rearward of the point at which the screed bar is pivotably attached to the base. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for leveling and smoothing a hardenable material on an inclined surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a base having a first pair of coplanar and spaced apart cross members, a second pair of coplanar and spaced apart cross members disposed above said first pair of cross members, and a plurality of spaced apart upright members extending between and joining the first and second pairs of cross members to define a framed structure;   at least one screed bar extending outwardly from said base on one side, said first screed bar having a lower end pivotably attached to said base;   at least one elongate support having a first end attached to said screed bar at a location spaced from said lower end and an opposite second end attached to an upright member, said elongate support serving to position said screed bar in a desired angular inclined relationship with respect to said base;   a stiffening support member having a first and proximal end attached to the screed bar and a second and opposite end that is attached to the base at a location that is rearward of the point at which the screed bar is pivotably attached to the base; and   means for detachably mounting the base to a vehicle.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second screed bar extending outwardly from said base on a side opposite said at least one screed bar, said second screed bar having a lower end pivotably attached to said base; and   a second elongate support having a first end attached to said second screed bar at a location spaced from said lower end and an opposite second end attached to an upright member, said second elongate support serving to position said second screed bar in a desired angular inclined relationship with respect to said base.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said screed bar has a generally “L” shaped cross section. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said distal end of said stiffening member is pivotably attached to said base. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1   1 , further comprising means for mounting the screed bar to the base for adjustable rotational movement about its longitudinal axis so as to vary the angle of said first surface with respect to the underlying paving material. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for leveling and smoothing a hardenable material on an inclined surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a base having a first pair of coplanar and spaced apart cross members, a second pair of coplanar and spaced apart cross members disposed above said first pair of cross members, and a plurality of spaced apart upright members extending between and joining the first and second pairs of cross members to define a framed structure;   a first screed bar extending outwardly from said base on one side, said first screed bar having a lower end pivotably attached to said base;   a second screed bar extending outwardly from said base on a side opposite said first screed bar, said second screed bar having a lower end pivotably attached to said base   a pair of elongate supports each having a first end attached to one of said screed bars at a location spaced from said lower end and an opposite second end attached to an upright member, said elongate supports serving to position each of said screed bars in a desired angular inclined relationship with respect to said base; and   means for detachably mounting the base to a vehicle.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first pair of cross members are spaced apart from the second pair of cross members to define an opening formed in the base that is configured for receiving the tines of a fork lift vehicle. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a stiffening support member having a proximal end attached to the screed bar and a distal end attached to the base, the stiffening support member being configured and arranged to restrict movement of the screed bar with respect to the base. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second screed bars are attached to the base with a ball joint. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the pair of elongate members each include a pair of rods that are attached together with a coupling device that is capable of increasing or decreasing the distance between each rod. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the coupling device comprises a turnbuckle. 
   
   
       22 . A method of paving an inclined surface comprising:
 providing an apparatus having a base and at least one screed bar extending outwardly from said base, the screed bar being angularly adjustable with respect to said base;   mounting said apparatus on a vehicle;   adjusting the angle between said screed bar and said base so that a lower edge extending along the length of the screed bar is aligned with an inclined surface to be paved;   depositing a hardenable material on the inclined surface; and   moving the screed bar across the inclined surface to smooth and level the deposited hardenable material.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the hardenable material comprises concrete or asphalt. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of detaching the apparatus from the vehicle. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising vibrating the screed bar as it moves across the inclined surface. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the steps of:
 inserting a pair of tines of a fork lift vehicle in an opening formed in the base of said apparatus, said opening being configured for receiving the tines of the fork lift vehicle; and   lifting said apparatus.