대표
청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A vibratory screed apparatus comprising a frame, screed bar coupled to the frame, a flexible-hose vibrator including a power unit, a vibration head, a flexible hose extending between the power unit and the vibration head, and a flexible drive shaft extending from the power unit through the flexible hose to the vibration bead, the flexible drive shaft being coupled for rotation with respect to the flexible hose, and means for coupling the power unit and the vibration head to the frame to allow the vibration head to vibrate th...
The invention claimed is: 1. A vibratory screed apparatus comprising a frame, screed bar coupled to the frame, a flexible-hose vibrator including a power unit, a vibration head, a flexible hose extending between the power unit and the vibration head, and a flexible drive shaft extending from the power unit through the flexible hose to the vibration bead, the flexible drive shaft being coupled for rotation with respect to the flexible hose, and means for coupling the power unit and the vibration head to the frame to allow the vibration head to vibrate the screed bar in response to transmission of power from the power unit to the vibration head by use of the flexible drive shaft extending through the flexible hose. 2. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible-hose vibrator further includes an inflexible tube through which the drive shaft extends, the vibration head includes an eccentric housing and an eccentric mounted for rotation in the eccentric housing and coupled to the drive shaft, and the coupling means includes a first clamp coupled to the frame and clamped to the eccentric housing and a second clamp coupled to the frame and clamped to the inflexible tube. 3. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible-hose vibrator includes an inflexible tube through which the drive shaft extends and the coupling means includes an anchor coupled to the frame and the inflexible tube. 4. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 3, wherein the anchor includes a clamp clamping the inflexible tube for release therefrom. 5. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 3, wherein the power unit includes a motor and the inflexible tube is positioned between the motor and the flexible hose. 6. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a mount and a support, the mount is coupled to the screed bar, the support includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a bottom portion coupled to the mount and connecting the first side portion and the second side portion, and the coupling means includes an anchor coupled to the first side portion and anchoring the power unit to one of the first and second side portions. 7. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first side portion includes a first side handle adapted to be gripped by a person, the flexible-hose vibrator includes a motor, an inflexible tube that is coupled to the flexible hose and through which the drive shaft extends, and a second side handle that is adapted to be gripped by the person and is coupled to the inflexible tube and the motor, and the anchor includes a clamp coupled to the second side portion and the inflexible tube. 8. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling means includes a first clamp and a second clamp, the frame includes a generally triangular structure and a post, the generally triangular structure includes a base portion and a vertex portion opposite to the base pardon, the screed bar and the first clamp are coupled to the base portion, the post extends outwardly from the vertex portion, the flexible-hose vibrator includes an inflexible tube coupled to the flexible hose and a handle that is adapted to be gripped by a person and that extends between the inflexible tube and a motor included in the power unit, the first clamp is coupled to the vibration head, and the second clamp is coupled to the post and clamps the inflexible tube for release therefrom. 9. A vibratory screed apparatus comprising a flexible-hose vibrator including a flexible hose and a drive shaft extending through and rotatable with respect to the flexible hose, a screed bar, and an attachment device coupling the flexible-hose vibrator to the screed bar. 10. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 9, wherein the flexible-hose vibrator includes an inflexible tube through which the drive shaft extends, and the attachment device is coupled to the inflexible tube. 11. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 10, wherein the power unit includes a motor arranged to rotate the drive shaft, the flexible-hose vibrator includes a handle extending between the motor and the inflexible tube, the inflexible tube extends between the handle and the flexible hose, and the drive shaft extends through the inflexible tube. 12. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 10, wherein the attachment device includes a frame and a clamp including a lower jaw coupled to the frame, an upper jaw cooperating with the lower jaw to receive the inflexible tube therebetween, and a jaw mover arranged to move the upper jaw toward and away from the lower jaw to clamp and unclamp the inflexible tube. 13. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 12, wherein the jaw mover includes a rotatable knob adapted to be rotated by hand to cause the upper and lower jaws to clamp and unclamp the inflexible tube. 14. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 9, wherein the power unit includes a motor, the flexible-hose vibrator includes a mount portion positioned between the motor and the flexible hose, and the attachment device includes a clamp clamping the mount portion. 15. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 9, wherein the attachment device includes a base coupled to the screed bar, a support coupled to the power unit, and a releasable clamp coupled to the base and clamping the support for release of the support to allow movement of the support relative to the base to adjust the position of the power unit relative to the screed bar. 16. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 9, wherein the attachment device includes a yoke coupled to the screed bar, releasable first, second, and third clamps, and a U-shaped member, the first and second clamps are coupled to the yoke, the first clamp clamps the vibration head, the U-shaped member includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a bottom portion clamped by the second clamp, the first side portion includes a first side handle adapted to be gripped by a person, the third clamp is coupled to the second side portion and clamps an inflexible tube that is included in the flexible-hose vibrator and through which the drive shaft extends, and the flexible-hose vibrator includes a second side handle that is adapted to be gripped by the person and is positioned between the inflexible tube and a motor included in the power unit. 17. The vibratory screed apparatus of claim 9, wherein the attachment device includes a yoke coupled to the screed bar, releasable first, second, and third clamps, and a support member, the first and second clamps are coupled to the yoke, the first clamp clamps the vibration head, the support member includes a triangular portion coupled to the second clamp and a post extending from the triangular portion, the third clamp is coupled to the post and clamps an inflexible tube that is included in the flexible-hose vibrator and through which the drive shaft extends, and the flexible-hose vibrator includes a handle that is adapted to be gripped by a person and is positioned between the inflexible tube and a motor included in the power unit. 18. A concrete-finishing kit including components capable of being assembled and disassembled in the field, the concrete-finishing kit comprising a flexible-hose vibrator including a flexible hose and a drive shaft extending through and rotatable with respect to the flexible hose, a screed, and a coupler adapted to couple the flexible-hose vibrator to the screed to allow the flexible-hose vibrator to vibrate the screed during use of the tool to screed concrete and adapted to uncouple the flexible-hose vibrator from the screed to allow use of the flexible-hose vibrator as a stand-alone device apart from the screed to vibrate concrete. 19. The concrete-finishing kit of claim 18, wherein the flexible-hose vibrator includes an inflexible tube through the drive shaft extends and the coupler includes a clamp adapted to clamp and unclamp the inflexible tube. 20. The concrete-finishing kit of claim 18, wherein the flexible-hose vibrator includes a power unit, a handle, an inflexible tube, and a vibration head including an eccentric housing and an eccentric positioned for rotation in the eccentric housing, the handle is positioned between the power unit and the inflexible tube, the inflexible tube is positioned between the handle and the flexible hose, and the flexible hose is positioned between the inflexible tube and the eccentric housing, and the drive shaft extends from the power unit through the handle, the inflexible tube, and the flexible hose to the eccentric, and the coupler includes a first clamp adapted to clamp and unclamp the eccentric housing and a second clamp adapted to clamp and unclamp the inflexible tube.