Reflective Material Dispenser

Abstract

A reflective material dispenser comprising an indicator laying machine coupler, a hopper, and a dispenser shield. The hopper may comprise a lid, cover, front, at least one wall, and a dispenser assembly adapted to face an indicator material ejection device such as a paint sprayer. The dispenser shield may be adapted to substantially prohibit indicator material splashback onto the dispenser assembly. One dispenser shield may extend outwardly from the hopper and have a first end located proximal the indicator material ejection device.

1 ) A reflective material dispenser comprising,
 an indicator laying machine coupler;   a hopper comprising,
 a hopper lid, 
 a hopper cover, 
 a hopper front, and 
 at least one hopper wall; 
   a dispenser assembly comprising an extension blade movement device, the dispenser assembly extending outwardly from the hopper and adapted to face an indicator material ejection device; and   a dispenser shield adapted to substantially prohibit indicator material splashback onto the dispenser assembly, the dispenser shield having a first end located proximal the indicator material ejection device.   
   
   
       2 ) The reflective material dispenser of  claim 1  further including,
 a trigger, and   a cable assembly operatively coupled to the trigger and the dispenser assembly, the cable assembly operatively adapted to both release a user-specified thickness and a user-specified width of reflective material from the dispenser assembly upon trigger operation.   
   
   
       3 ) The reflective material dispenser of  claim 2  wherein,
 the dispenser assembly comprises a plurality of sequentially-aligned ejection blades adapted to control the reflective material width, each ejection blade having a generally vertically-aligned length; and   the cable assembly comprising,
 a cable having a first end and a second end, the cable first end operatively coupled to the trigger and the cable second end operatively coupled to the ejection blade movement device,
 a knob adapted to control the reflective material thickness, and 
 at least one biasing mechanism. 
 
   
   
   
       4 ) The reflective material dispenser of  claim 2  wherein,
 the ejection blade movement device comprises,
 an outer blade trapper, 
 an inner blade trapper, and 
 a blade guide; 
   the cable assembly comprises a rotatably adapted shaft and at least one pin having a pin proximal end and a pin distal end,
 the shaft operatively coupled to the pin proximal end, 
 the pin distal end coupled to at least one of the inner blade trapper and the outer blade trapper; 
 a knob coupled to the shaft; and 
   the trigger comprising a handlebar coupling device.   
   
   
       5 ) The reflective material dispenser of  claim 1  wherein, the dispenser assembly comprises,
 a reflective material depositor;   a plurality of sequentially-aligned ejection blades, each ejection blade having a generally vertically-aligned length having a longitudinal axis;   at least one of an inner blade trapper and an outer blade trapper;   a plurality of thumb screws; and   a blade guide.   
   
   
       6 ) The reflective material dispenser of  claim 5  wherein, the reflective material depositor further comprises,
 a slidingly adapted hopper coupler;   a plurality of grooves generally equal to the number of ejection blades,   a top side generally non-perpendicularly-aligned with the ejection blade longitudinal axis; and   an exit port located proximal the dispenser shield first end.   
   
   
       7 ) The reflective material dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising, an indicator material locator device adapted to establish an initial surface placement location for ejected indicator material. 
   
   
       8 ) The reflective material dispenser of  claim 7  wherein, the indicator material locator device comprises,
 a paint gun assembly, and   a laser pointer adapted to identify a corner location for initial paint placement on the driving surface.   
   
   
       9 ) A method of using the reflective material dispenser of  claim 7  comprising,
 coupling the reflective material dispenser to an indicator striping machine;   placing reflective material within the hopper;   powering on the indicator material locator device;   positioning the indicator material locator device;   powering on the indicator striping machine;   engaging a trigger;   placing indicator material on a surface; and   ejecting reflective material through the reflective material dispenser onto at least one of the surface and the indicator material.   
   
   
       10 ) The method of  claim 9  wherein,
 coupling the reflective material dispenser to the indicator striping machine comprises,
 coupling a hopper support frame rod to a striping machine frame first section, 
 inserting an ejection device reception tube to a striping machine frame second section, 
   placing the reflective material within the hopper comprises filling the hopper with glass beads;   turning on the indicator material locator device comprises powering on a laser pointer;   placing indicator material on a surface comprises ejecting paint having a first width; and   ejecting reflective material through the reflective material dispenser comprises sliding a plurality of glass beads along a reflective material depositor, the plurality of glass beads sliding along the depositor having a width about equal to the indicator material first width.   
   
   
       11 ) A method of using a reflective material dispenser comprising,
 coupling the reflective material dispenser to a walk-behind striping machine;   placing reflective beads within a hopper;   turning on an indicator material locator device;   ejecting indicator material from a paint gun onto a driving surface; and   operatively releasing reflective material from a reflective material dispenser substantially onto the indicator material.   
   
   
       12 ) The method of  claim 11  wherein, releasing reflective material from a reflective material dispenser comprises,
 adjusting a reflective material release width and a reflective material thickness;   engaging a trigger assembly;   engaging a cable assembly; and   sliding reflective glass beads along a grooved reflective material depositor.   
   
   
       13 ) The method of  claim 12  wherein,
 adjusting a reflective material release width comprises,
 loosening a thumbscrew, 
 sliding at least one blade generally vertically upward; and 
   adjusting a reflective material thickness comprises,
 increasing a distance between a blade trapper bottom end and a hopper bottom surface. 
   
   
   
       14 ) The method of  claim 12  wherein,
 engaging a trigger assembly comprises,
 squeezing at least one handlebar trigger, 
 drawing a cable generally towards the trigger; and 
   engaging a cable assembly comprises,
 engaging at least one biasing member, and 
 rotating a rod. 
   
   
   
       15 ) The method of  claim 12  wherein,
 releasing reflective material from a reflective material dispenser further includes generally vertically raising at least one blade; and further including,   sliding the depositor along the slider beam;   coupling the depositor to a receiver tube; and   steering the reflective material dispenser.   
   
   
       16 ) A reflective material striping system comprising,
 an indicator material laying system;   a reflective material dispensing system; and   a positioning system adapted to identify the correct location to initiate laying indicator material and reflective material.   
   
   
       17 ) The reflective material striping system of  claim 16  wherein,
 the indicator material laying system comprises a walk-behind system;   the reflective material dispensing system comprises
 a dispenser shield; 
 a frame portion having brackets; 
   the positioning system is comprised of a paint sprayer and a laser pointer;   
   
   
       18 ) The reflective material striping system of  claim 16  wherein,
 the indicator material laying system comprises
 handlebars having at least one trigger, 
 first and second reception tubes; 
   the reflective material dispensing system further comprises an indicator material reception system adapted to receive paint;   
   
   
       19 ) The reflective material striping system of  claim 18  wherein, the at least one trigger comprises first and second triggers. 
   
   
       20 ) The reflective material striping system of  claim 15  further including, a striping surface.