Rotating expandable roll-out assembly and sheet tow assembly for rolled materials

Abstract

A roll-out assembly for use in dispensing rolled materials on to a surface. An elongated frame has opposing ends including structure for attachment to brackets rotatably attached to the rolled material. A pivot structure is attached to the elongated frame between the opposing ends. An attachment structure is connected to the pivot structure for attaching the roll-out assembly to a vehicle. A sheet tow assembly for attachment to a tow vehicle and for towing and unrolling a sheet of rolled material across a surface. An elongated bracket has a top surface for hinged attachment to a base structure and a bottom surface for attachment to the base structure. The base structure is for attachment to the tow vehicle. The top and bottom surfaces are for attachment to a portion of the sheet of rolled material to secure the sheet portion between the top and bottom surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A roll-out assembly for use in dispensing rolled materials on to a surface comprising:
 an elongated frame having opposing ends including structure for attachment to brackets rotatably attached to the rolled material;   a pivot structure attached to the elongated frame between the opposing ends; and   an attachment structure connected to the pivot structure for attaching the roll-out assembly to a vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The roll-out assembly of  claim 1  further including extendable boom arms coupled with the elongated frame such that the boom arms extend and retract with respect to the opposing ends to accommodate varying widths of rolled material. 
     
     
         3 . The roll-out assembly of  claim 2  further including structure for attaching at least one hydraulic arm for causing the boom arms to extend and retract. 
     
     
         4 . The roll-out assembly of  claim 1  wherein the pivot structure includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder rotatably mounted within the first cylinder such that the second cylinder remains rotatably held within the first cylinder when the roll-out assembly is suspended from the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The roll-out assembly of  claim 4  wherein the attachment structure includes a pivot plate attached to the second cylinder wherein the pivot plate is also for attachment to the vehicle such that the first cylinder rotates with respect to the second cylinder when the roll-out assembly is suspended from the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The roll-out assembly of  claim 4  wherein the attachment structure includes a bottom pivot plate attached to the second cylinder, a top pivot plate hingedly attached to the bottom pivot plate at a first location and structure on each of the bottom and top pivot plates for attachment of at least one hydraulic arm to cause the bottom pivot plate to rotate with respect to the top pivot plate about the hinge. 
     
     
         7 . The roll-out assembly of  claim 4  wherein the pivot structure further includes a bearing pivot plate attached to the second cylinder, the bearing pivot plate having a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the second cylinder and greater than an inner diameter of the first cylinder such that the bearing pivot plate causes the second cylinder to remain within the first cylinder when the roll-out assembly is suspended from the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . A sheet tow assembly for attachment to a tow vehicle for towing and unrolling a sheet of rolled material across a surface comprising:
 an elongated bracket having top surface for hinged attachment to a base structure and a bottom surface for attachment to the base structure and wherein the base structure is for attachment to the tow vehicle; and   wherein the top and bottom surfaces are for attachment to a portion of the sheet of rolled material such that the sheet portion is secured between the top and bottom surfaces.   
     
     
         9 . The sheet tow assembly of  claim 8  wherein the top and bottom surfaces abut each other and frictionally hold the portion of the sheet during towing. 
     
     
         10 . The sheet tow assembly of  claim 8  wherein the top and bottom surfaces are each formed by a length of board attached to the elongated bracket and wherein the portion of the sheet is wrapped at least once around one of the boards before attachment to the elongated bracket. 
     
     
         11 . A sheet laying system for enabling a sheet of rolled material to be unrolled and placed across a surface comprising:
 a sheet tow assembly including:   an elongated bracket having top surface for hinged attachment to a base structure and a bottom surface for attachment to the base structure and wherein the base structure is for attachment to a first tow vehicle; and   wherein the top and bottom surfaces are for attachment to a portion of the sheet of rolled material such that the sheet portion is secured between the top and bottom surfaces; and   a roll-out assembly including:   an elongated frame having opposing ends including structure for attachment to brackets rotatably attached to the rolled material;   a pivot structure attached to the elongated frame between the opposing ends; and   an attachment structure connected to the pivot structure and for attaching the roll-out assembly to a second tow vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the top and bottom surfaces abut each other and frictionally hold the portion of the sheet during towing. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the top and bottom surfaces are each formed by a length of board attached to the elongated bracket and wherein the portion of the sheet is wrapped at least once around one of the boards before attachment to the elongated bracket. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  further including extendable boom arms coupled with the elongated frame such that the boom arms extend and retract with respect to the opposing ends to accommodate varying widths of rolled material. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2  further including structure for attaching at least one hydraulic arm for causing the boom arms to extend and retract. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pivot structure includes a first cylinder, a second cylinder rotatably mounted within the first cylinder such that the second cylinder remains rotatably held within the first cylinder when the roll-out assembly is suspended from the second tow vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the attachment structure includes a pivot plate attached to the second cylinder wherein the pivot plate is also for attachment to the second tow vehicle such that the first cylinder rotates with respect to the second cylinder when the roll-out assembly is suspended from the second tow vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the attachment structure includes a bottom pivot plate attached to the second cylinder, a top pivot plate hingedly attached to the bottom pivot plate at a first location and structure on each of the bottom and top pivot plates for attachment of at least one hydraulic arm to cause the bottom pivot plate to rotate with respect to the top pivot plate about the hinge. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the pivot structure further includes a bearing pivot plate attached to the second cylinder, the bearing pivot plate having a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the second cylinder and greater than an inner diameter of the first cylinder such that the bearing pivot plate causes the second cylinder to remain within the first cylinder when the roll-out assembly is suspended from the second tow vehicle.