Plate compactor

Abstract

A plate compactor includes a base, a vibration mechanism coupled to the base, a compacting plate coupled to the base and configured to be vibrated in a vertical direction by the vibration mechanism, and a non-stick coating on a surface of the compacting plate. The compacting plate is configured to compact a work surface. The non-stick coating is configured to prevent a buildup of material on the compacting plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plate compactor comprising:
 a base;   a vibration mechanism coupled to the base;   a compacting plate coupled to the base and configured to be vibrated in a vertical direction by the vibration mechanism, the compacting plate configured to compact a work surface; and   a non-stick coating on a surface of the compacting plate that engages the work surface during compacting, the non-stick coating configured to prevent a buildup of material on the compacting plate.   
     
     
         2 . The plate compactor of  claim 1 , wherein the non-stick coating is a ceramic coating. 
     
     
         3 . The plate compactor of  claim 1 , wherein the non-stick coating has a pencil hardness of between 5H and 9H. 
     
     
         4 . The plate compactor of  claim 3 , wherein the pencil hardness is between 8H and 9H. 
     
     
         5 . The plate compactor of  claim 1 , wherein the surface that engages the work surface during compacting is a bottom surface configured to be in facing relationship with the work surface, wherein the compacting plate further includes a forward-facing surface and a rearward-facing surface, and wherein the non-stick coating is applied to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         6 . The plate compactor of  claim 5 , wherein the non-stick coating is applied to the forward-facing surface. 
     
     
         7 . The plate compactor of  claim 1 , wherein the non-stick coating includes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). 
     
     
         8 . The plate compactor of  claim 1 , wherein the non-stick coating has a temperature resistance rated for at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit for four hours. 
     
     
         9 . A plate compactor comprising:
 a base;   a handle coupled to the base, the handle configured to be engaged by an operator to guide the plate compactor along a work surface;   a vibration mechanism coupled to the base, the vibration mechanism including an electric motor and an eccentric shaft coupled to the electric motor to be driven by the electric motor;   a compacting plate coupled to the base, the compacting plate configured to be vibrated in a vertical direction by rotation of the eccentric shaft; and   a ceramic coating disposed on a portion of the compacting plate that engages the work surface.   
     
     
         10 . The plate compactor of  claim 9 , wherein the ceramic coating is a non-stick coating. 
     
     
         11 . The plate compactor of  claim 9 , wherein the ceramic coating has a temperature resistance rated for at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit for four hours. 
     
     
         12 . The plate compactor of  claim 11 , wherein the ceramic coating has a temperature resistance rated for at least 750 degrees Fahrenheit for four hours. 
     
     
         13 . The plate compactor of  claim 9 , wherein the compacting plate includes a bottom surface configured to be in facing relationship with the work surface, wherein the compacting plate further includes a forward-facing surface and a rearward-facing surface, and wherein the ceramic coating is applied to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         14 . The plate compactor of  claim 13 , wherein the ceramic coating is applied to the forward-facing surface and the rearward-facing surface. 
     
     
         15 . The plate compactor of  claim 14 , wherein the ceramic coating has a pencil hardness of between 5H and 9H. 
     
     
         16 . The plate compactor of  claim 15 , wherein the ceramic coating has a pencil hardness of between 8H and 9H. 
     
     
         17 . A compacting plate for a type of walk-behind construction equipment, the compacting plate comprising:
 a bottom surface configured to be in facing relationship with a work surface to be compacted;   a forward-facing surface coupled to the bottom surface;   a rearward-facing surface coupled to the bottom surface opposite the forward-facing surface; and   a non-stick coating applied to the bottom surface.   
     
     
         18 . The compacting plate of  claim 17 , wherein the compacting plate is formed as a unitary plate. 
     
     
         19 . The compacting plate of  claim 17 , wherein the non-stick coating is applied to the forward-facing surface and the rearward-facing surface. 
     
     
         20 . The compacting plate of  claim 17 , wherein the non-stick coating is a ceramic coating.