Tire-shine system and method

Abstract

A tire-shine system is provided and includes a housing, a brush rotatably supported by the housing and including a plurality of bristles, and at least one manifold supported above the brush and including a plurality of apertures. The at least one manifold applies a first fluid to the brush by allowing the first fluid to exit the at least one manifold at the plurality of apertures and drip onto the plurality of bristles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tire-shine system comprising:
 a housing;   a brush rotatably supported by said housing and including a plurality of bristles; and   at least one manifold supported above said brush and including a plurality of apertures, said at least one manifold operable to apply a first fluid to said brush by allowing said first fluid to exit said at least one manifold at said plurality of apertures and drip onto said plurality of bristles.   
     
     
         2 . The tire-shine system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of bristles of said brush are formed of a polypropylene material. 
     
     
         3 . The tire-shine system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of bristles includes a feather-tipped end. 
     
     
         4 . The tire-shine system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of apertures each include a diameter substantially equal to twenty-nine thousandths of an inch and are spaced apart from one another by approximately one inch. 
     
     
         5 . The tire-shine system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one manifold is fixed relative to said housing. 
     
     
         6 . The tire-shine system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one manifold is hingedly supported by and selectively movable relative to said housing. 
     
     
         7 . The tire-shine system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one manifold is movable relative to said brush to maintain a distance between said at least one manifold and said brush. 
     
     
         8 . The tire-shine system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system for discharging said first fluid from said at least one manifold. 
     
     
         9 . The tire-shine system of  claim 8 , wherein said control system controls discharge of said first fluid from said at least one manifold based on a frequency of tires or vehicles passing through the tire-shine system. 
     
     
         10 . The tire-shine system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one manifold includes a first manifold delivering said first fluid and a second manifold delivering a second fluid. 
     
     
         11 . A tire-shine system comprising:
 a housing;   a brush supported by said housing and selectively rotatable relative thereto;   at least one manifold having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, said plurality of apertures spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis of said at least one manifold and operable to supply said brush with a first fluid by allowing said first fluid to drip from said plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         12 . The tire-shine system of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one manifold is spaced apart from said brush. 
     
     
         13 . The tire-shine system of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one manifold is fixed relative to said housing. 
     
     
         14 . The tire-shine system of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one manifold is hingedly supported by said housing such that said at least one manifold is selectively movable relative to said housing. 
     
     
         15 . The tire-shine system of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one manifold may be moved relative to said brush to maintain a distance between said at least one manifold and said brush. 
     
     
         16 . The tire-shine system of  claim 11 , wherein said brush includes a plurality of bristles each including a feather-tipped end. 
     
     
         17 . The tire-shine system of  claim 11 , wherein said brush is formed of a polypropylene material. 
     
     
         18 . The tire-shine system of  claim 11 , wherein said brush is formed from a non-absorbent material such that said first fluid is not absorbed by said brush. 
     
     
         19 . The tire-shine system of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one manifold includes a first manifold delivering said first fluid and a second manifold delivering a second fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The tire-shine system of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of apertures are disposed above said brush. 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 sensing the presence of a tire;   rotating a brush in response to said sensing;   ejecting fluid from a first manifold disposed adjacent to said brush in response to said sensing;   allowing said first fluid to drip from said first manifold onto said brush; and   applying said first fluid to a surface of said tire using a feather-tipped end of said brush.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising controlling said first manifold based on a frequency of tires or vehicles passing by said brush. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising adjusting a position of said first manifold relative to said brush to maintain a distance between said first manifold and said brush. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising dispensing a second fluid from a second manifold disposed adjacent to said brush in response to said sensing.