Vehicle-mountable guideline painting apparatus and method

Abstract

A vehicle-mountable guideline painting apparatus and method. The apparatus has an arm with a first end mountable to a vehicle. A holder is operably supported at a second end of the arm at a desired elevation above a roadway. The holder is configured to receive an aerosol paint canister in a position with its nozzle oriented in a direction to spray paint onto the roadway. An actuator is disposed to actuate the nozzle upon receiving an electrical signal from a power source causing paint to be sprayed onto the roadway.

1 . A vehicle-mountable guideline painting apparatus, comprising;
 an arm having a first end mounted to a vehicle;   a holder operably supported at a second end of said arm at a desired elevation above a roadway, said holder configured to receive an aerosol paint canister and to support said canister in a position with its nozzle oriented in a direction to spray paint onto said roadway;   an actuator electrically connected to a power source, said actuator disposed to actuate said nozzle upon receiving an electrical signal from said power source causing paint to be sprayed onto said roadway.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first end of said arm is received within a trailer hitch receiver mounted to said vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said power source is the vehicle's electrical power source. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further including a wiring harness electrically coupled to said actuator at one end and having a connector adapted to be received by a trailer light plug on said vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said actuator is actuated by turning on one of said vehicle's turn signals, whereby intermittent guidelines are painted on said roadway in sequence with blinking of said turn signal. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said actuator is actuated by turning on said vehicle's lights, whereby a continuous guideline is painted on said roadway until said vehicle lights are turned off. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said holder is supported by a post that is vertically positionable with respect to said arm. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said holder is horizontally positionable with respect to said vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said holder is operably supported by a resilient member at said second end of said arm. 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle-mountable guideline painting apparatus, comprising:
 an arm having a first end adapted to be received within a trailer hitch receiver of a vehicle;   a holder operably supported at a second end of said arm at a desired elevation above a roadway, said holder configured to receive an aerosol paint canister and to support said canister in a position with its nozzle oriented in a direction to spray paint onto said roadway;   a wiring harness having a connector at one end adapted to be received by a trailer light plug on said vehicle;   an actuator electrically connected at another end to said wiring harness, said actuator disposed to actuate said nozzle upon receiving an electrical signal from said vehicle through said wiring harness causing paint to be sprayed onto said roadway.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said actuator is actuated by turning on one of said vehicle's turn signals, whereby intermittent guidelines are painted on said roadway in sequence with blinking of said turn signal. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said actuator is actuated by turning on said vehicle's lights, whereby a continuous guideline is painted on said roadway until said vehicle lights are turned off. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said holder is supported by a post that is vertically positionable with respect to said arm. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said holder is horizontally positionable with respect to said vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said holder is operably supported by a resilient member at said second end of said arm. 
     
     
         16 . A method of painting guidelines on a roadway, comprising:
 securing a first end of an arm to a vehicle;   operably supporting a holder at a second end of said arm at a desired elevation above a roadway;   placing an aerosol paint canister into said holder with its nozzle oriented in a direction to spray paint onto said roadway;   operably coupling an actuator to actuate said nozzle;   electrically coupling said actuator to said vehicle's electrical system;   electrically actuating said actuator to actuate said nozzle causing paint to be sprayed onto said roadway.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said first end of said arm is received within a trailer hitch receiver of said vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said actuator is electrically coupled to said vehicle's electrical system through said vehicle's trailer light plug. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein electrically actuating said actuator includes turning on one of said vehicle's turn signals, whereby intermittent guidelines are painted on said roadway in sequence with blinking of said turn signal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein electrically actuating said actuator includes turning on said vehicle's lights, whereby a continuous guideline is painted on said roadway until said vehicle lights are turned off.