System, method, and apparatus for applying tire shine to vehicle tires

{
  "publication_number": "US11981299B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "System, method, and apparatus for applying tire shine to vehicle tires",
  "abstract": "A tire shine application system includes a computer having at least one sensor interfaced thereto that detects and measures sizes of a tire of a vehicle as the vehicle enters a car wash. A tire shine applicator is interfaced to a three-directional movement device that is controlled by the computer. When the tire approaches the tire shine applicator, the computer controls the three-directional movement device to position the tire shine applicator to an outwardly facing wall of the tire and controls the three-directional movement device so that the tire shine applicator traverses the outwardly facing wall of the tire while tracking the tire as the tire shine applicator deposits tire shine liquid on the outwardly facing wall of the tire.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A tire shine application system for use in a car wash, the tire shine application system comprising: a computer; a sensor interfaced to the computer for detecting and measuring sizes of a tire of a vehicle; a tire shine applicator for applying tire shine liquid to the tire; a three-directional movement device controlled by the computer and mechanically interfaced to the tire shine applicator for moving the tire shine applicator in an X-axis plane of direction, a Y-axis plane of direction, and a Z-axis plane of direction; and whereas the computer reads the sensor and detects a location and dimensions of the tire as the vehicle enters the car wash and when the tire approaches the tire shine applicator, the computer controls the three-directional movement device to position the tire shine applicator corresponding to an outwardly facing wall of the tire and the computer controls the three-directional movement device to traverse the outwardly facing wall of the tire while tracking the tire as the tire shine applicator deposits tire shine liquid on the outwardly facing wall of the tire; wherein the tire shine applicator comprises a brush that deposits the tire shine liquid on the outwardly facing wall of the tire through contact with the outwardly facing wall of the tire, the computer controls a width of the tire shine applicator corresponding to a width of the outwardly facing wall of the tire by pulling or pushing an end portion of the brush into or out of a restricting collar.",
    "2. The tire shine application system of claim 1, wherein the tire shine applicator is interfaced to the three-directional movement device through a rotational device, the rotational device moving the tire shine applicator circularly to traverse the outwardly facing wall of the tire.",
    "3. The tire shine application system of claim 1, wherein the brush is made of bristles.",
    "4. The tire shine application system of claim 1, wherein the brush is a sponge brush.",
    "5. A method of applying tire shine to an outward facing wall of a tire of a vehicle in a car wash, the method comprising: detecting and measuring sizes of the outward facing wall of the tire of the vehicle upon entering the car wash; when the tire reaches a tire shine applicator in the car wash, controlling a three-directional movement device to locate tire shine applicator at the outward facing wall of the tire, the three-directional movement device moving the tire shine applicator in an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis plane of direction; controlling the three-directional movement device to position the tire shine applicator, traversing the outwardly facing wall of the tire while tracking the tire as the tire shine applicator deposits tire shine liquid on the outwardly facing wall of the tire; the tire shine applicator comprising a brush, the brush depositing the tire shine liquid on the outwardly facing wall of the tire through contact with the outwardly facing wall of the tire and the tire shine applicator changing a width of the brush by pulling or pushing an end portion of the brush into or out of a restricting collar; and the tire shine applicator adjusting a width of the tire shine applicator corresponding to a width of the outwardly facing wall of the tire.",
    "6. The method of claim 5, wherein the tire shine applicator is interfaced to the three-directional movement device through a rotational device, the rotational device moving the tire shine applicator circularly to traverse the outwardly facing wall of the tire.",
    "7. The method of claim 5, wherein the brush is made of bristles.",
    "8. The method of claim 5, wherein the brush is a sponge brush.",
    "9. A tire shine application system for use in a car wash, the tire shine application system comprising: a computer; a sensor interfaced to the computer for detecting and measuring sizes of a tire of a vehicle; a tire shine applicator for applying tire shine liquid to the tire, the tire shine applicator is adjustable and the computer controls a width of the tire shine applicator corresponding to a width of an outwardly facing wall of the tire as detected by the sensor; a three-directional movement device controlled by the computer and mechanically interfaced to the tire shine applicator for moving the tire shine applicator in an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis plane of direction; whereas the computer reads the sensor and detects a location and dimensions of the tire as the vehicle enters the car wash and when the tire approaches the tire shine applicator, the computer controls the three-directional movement device to position the tire shine applicator corresponding to an outwardly facing wall of the tire and the computer controls the three-directional movement device to traverse the outwardly facing wall of the tire while tracking the tire as the tire shine applicator deposits tire shine liquid on the outwardly facing wall of the tire; and wherein the tire shine applicator comprises a brush that deposits the tire shine liquid on the outwardly facing wall of the tire through contact with the outwardly facing wall of the tire, the computer controls a width of the tire shine applicator by pulling or pushing an end portion of the brush into or out of a restricting collar.",
    "10. The tire shine application system of claim 9, wherein the tire shine applicator is interfaced to the three-directional movement device through a rotational device, the rotational device moving the tire shine applicator circularly to traverse the outwardly facing wall of the tire.",
    "11. The tire shine application system of claim 9, wherein the brush is made of bristles.",
    "12. The tire shine application system of claim 9, wherein the brush is a sponge brush."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates to the field of automated car washes and more particularly to a system for applying tire shine to a vehicle's tires.\n\nTire shine provides a new-car look to vehicles by making the tires look bright and new. Tire shine enhances the look of a vehicle, especially after the vehicle is washed and/or waxed.\n\nExisting car wash systems provide less-automated ways to apply tire shine to tires of a vehicle. In many cases, this includes a worker manually applying or spraying tire shine onto the vehicle tires. While this is adequate for applying a tire shine solution to a surface of a vehicle tire, such systems require substantial labor and, as with any manual application, such systems are not optimally accurate resulting in tire shine spill-over onto the vehicle wheels, rims and body. Further, as tire shine typically often includes a material that has a low coefficient of friction (e.g. silicon, ethylene glycol, glycerin), overspray of such materials may reduce braking ability for some amount of time after application. Overspray of tire shine on the pavement of the carwash makes the pavement slippery, possibly leading to slip and falls as water is also present. Further, excess use of tire shine materials also creates a cost increase as the materials used are of relatively high cost.\n\nSome car wash systems in which the tires rotate as the vehicle moves through the car wash deploy a tire shine application brush. Upon detection of the vehicle/tire, the brush is moved by an actuator to contact the lower portion of the tire and apply tire shine.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60S 3/04",
    "A46B 11/06",
    "A46B 11/063",
    "A46B 13/02",
    "A46B 15/0006",
    "A46B 2200/20",
    "A46B 2200/3046",
    "A46B 9/005",
    "B05B 12/16",
    "B05B 13/0421",
    "B05B 9/007",
    "B05C 1/00",
    "B05C 1/027",
    "B05C 11/1021",
    "B25J 11/0085",
    "B25J 9/106",
    "B60S 3/042"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A46B 11/06",
    "A46B 13/02",
    "A46B 15/00",
    "A46B 9/00",
    "B05B 12/16",
    "B05B 9/00",
    "B05C 1/00",
    "B05C 1/02",
    "B05C 11/10",
    "B25J 11/00",
    "B60S 3/04"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Edward O'Hanrahan, Jr."
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-09-17",
  "publication_date": "2024-05-14",
  "grant_date": "2024-05-14",
  "priority_date": "2021-09-17",
  "application_number": "US-202117478253-A",
  "family_id": "85573115",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US6260225B1",
    "US20050273962A1",
    "US20080178402A1",
    "US20130081569A1",
    "US20100272916A1",
    "US20130186432A1",
    "US10368630B2",
    "US20180326446A1"
  ]
}