Concrete screed with angularly positionable rake guide

Abstract

A floating screed device includes: an elongated float, rigid and spaced-apart rods with the tops thereof defining a planar region having a planar bottom for floating on plastic concrete, a device coupled to the float to determine elevation thereof relative to a target elevation in the plastic concrete, and a support and adjustment (S/A) mechanism that moves the rods based on the elevation so-determined as the floating screed device is moved through a volume of the plastic concrete that is unfinished. In general, the rods are moved by the S/A mechanism such that the planar region defined by the rods rotates about an axis that is parallel to the rods and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the float.

1 . A floating screed device comprising:
 an elongated float having a planar bottom for floating on plastic concrete, said float having a longitudinal axis;   a device coupled to said float for determining elevation thereof relative to a target elevation in the plastic concrete;   a plurality of rigid and spaced-apart parallel rods with tops of said rods defining a planar region; and   a support and adjustment (S/A) mechanism coupled to said float, said rods and said device for determining elevation, said S/A mechanism uniquely adjusting a height of each of said rods relative to said planar bottom of said float based on said elevation so-determined as said floating screed device is moved through a volume of the plastic concrete that is unfinished with said rods defining a leading edge between said floating screed device and the volume of the plastic concrete that is unfinished, wherein said planar region rotates about an axis that is parallel to said rods and perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said float.   
     
     
         2 . A floating screed device as in  claim 1  wherein said S/A mechanism moves each of said rods along a circular arc with each of said rods being swept through a unique angle. 
     
     
         3 . A floating screed device as in  claim 1  wherein said S/A mechanism moves each of said rods along a circular arc with each of said rode being swept through the same angle. 
     
     
         4 . A floating screed device as in  claim 1  wherein the length of each of said rods is the same. 
     
     
         5 . A floating screed device as in  claim 1  wherein the color of each of said rods is different from that of concrete. 
     
     
         6 . A floating screed device as in  claim 1  wherein said axis is one of coincident with said planar bottom and parallel to said planar bottom. 
     
     
         7 . A floating screed device as in  claim 1  wherein said axis is located inboard from a longitudinal end of said float. 
     
     
         8 . A floating screed device comprising:
 an elongated float having a planar bottom for floating on plastic concrete, said float having a longitudinal axis;   a plurality of rigid rods;   a mechanical linkage system coupled to said float and said rods, said linkage system positioning said rods in a spaced-apart parallel fashion and in proximity to one side of said float with tops of said rods defining a planar region aligned with said planar bottom at a neutral position of said floating screed device, said linkage system simultaneously and uniquely adjusting a height of each of said rods relative to said planar bottom of said float as said floating screed device is moved through a volume of the plastic concrete that is unfinished with said rods defining a leading edge between said floating screed device and the volume of the plastic concrete that is unfinished, wherein said planar region rotates about an axis that is parallel to said rods and perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said float and wherein said planar region forms an angle of inclination with respect to said planar bottom;   means coupled to said float for determining elevation thereof relative to a target elevation in the plastic concrete; and   a controller coupled to said linkage system and said means for determining elevation, for controlling said linkage system based on said elevation so-determined as said floating screed device is moved through the volume of the plastic concrete that is unfinished.   
     
     
         9 . A floating screed device as in  claim 8  wherein said linkage system moves each of said rods along a circular arc with each of said rods being swept through a unique angle. 
     
     
         10 . A floating screed device as in  claim 8  wherein said linkage system moves each of said rods along a circular arc with each of said rods being swept through the same angle. 
     
     
         11 . A floating screed device as in  claim 8  wherein the length of each of said rods is the same. 
     
     
         12 . A floating screed device as in  claim 8  wherein the color of each of said rods is different from that of concrete. 
     
     
         13 . A floating screed device as in  claim 8  wherein said axis is one of coincident with said planar bottom and parallel to said planar bottom. 
     
     
         14 . A floating screed device as in  claim 8  wherein said axis is located inboard from a longitudinal end of said float. 
     
     
         15 . A floating screed device comprising:
 an elongated float having a planar bottom for floating on plastic concrete, said float having a longitudinal edge that is beveled from said planar bottom to a height above said planar bottom, said float having a longitudinal axis passing through opposing longitudinal ends of said float;   a plurality of rigid rods;   a mechanical linkage system coupled to said float and said rods, said linkage system positioning said rods in a spaced-apart parallel fashion with respect to said longitudinal edge of said float with tops of said rods defining a planar region aligned with said planar bottom at a neutral position of said floating screed device, said linkage system simultaneously and uniquely adjusting a height of each of said rods relative to said planar bottom of said float as said floating screed device is moved through a volume of the plastic concrete that is unfinished with said rods defining a leading edge between said floating screed device and the volume of the plastic concrete that is unfinished, wherein said planar region rotates about an axis that is (i) located inboard with respect to one of said longitudinal ends of said float, (ii) parallel to said rode, and (iii) perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said float, and wherein said planar region forms an angle of inclination with respect to said planar bottom;   means coupled to said float for determining elevation thereof relative to a target elevation in the plastic concrete; and   a controller, coupled to said linkage system and said means for determining elevation, for controlling said linkage system based on said elevation so-determined as said floating screed device is moved through the volume of the plastic concrete that is unfinished.   
     
     
         16 . A floating screed device as in  claim 15  wherein said linkage system moves each of said rods along a circular arc with each of said rode being swept through a unique angle. 
     
     
         17 . A floating screed device as in  claim 15  wherein said linkage system moves each of said rods along a circular arc with each of said rods being swept through the same angle. 
     
     
         18 . A floating screed device as in  claim 15  wherein the length of each of said rods is the same. 
     
     
         19 . A floating screed device as in  claim 15  wherein the color of each of said rods is different from that of concrete. 
     
     
         20 . A floating screed device as in  claim 15  wherein said axis is one of coincident with planar bottom and parallel to said planar bottom.