GB1601834A - Apparatus for treating growing plants - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR TREATING GROWING PLANTS (71) I, BRIAN KEITH THOMAS, of "Springdale", 17 Millwood, Lisvane, Cardiff, Glamorgan, a British subject, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to apparatus for killing weeds.

For eradicating weeds it is convenient to apply an overall selective weed-killer but this is expensive and time consuming and it is difficult to avoid applying the weed-killer to some sensitive plants. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved device which will overcome some of these problems.

Broadly stated, the invention consists in apparatus for use in killing weeds or other plants, including an elongate handle, rod or tube, means at one end thereof for holding a solid mass incorporating an active chemical weed-killer and means for progressively exposing the mass in use.

In one form of the invention the means for progressively exposing the mass includes a surrounding shield or shroud and means for creating relative longitudinal movement between the shield or shroud. Conveniently a support holder for the mass is effectively fixed in use to the supporting tube or handle and the shroud is movable. Alternatively, the support holder for the mass is movable relative to the handle or tube and operating means are included for progressively extending the mass beyond the open end of a surrounding shield or shroud and the mass.

The invention may be performed in various ways and several embodiments, with some possible modifications, will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section through a first embodiment using a solid weed-killing body, Figure 2 is a cross-section through the lower end of another embodiment having a solid weed-killer, and Figure 3 is a cross-section through the lower part of another embodiment using a solid weed-killer, the container being detachable from the handle.

The example of Figure 1 is intended to be held in the hand like a walking stick and has a vertical tube or shaft 10 with a spade grip or other handle 11 at its upper end. This is screw-threaded at its lower end to-receive a removable cylindrical container 13 for a cylindrical plug 14 of a solid but soft weedkilling substance. When this is applied to a plant or weed so that the substance is smeared over its surface, the plant will be killed.

The container 13 includes a base portion 30 threadably received on shaft 10 and having an integral sleeve 31 which carries a slidable, hollow cylindrical holder 32 for the plug 14. The sleeve 31 is formed with two diametrically opposite, longitudinal slots 33 which act as guides for upstanding pins 34 on the holder 32.

The sleeve 31 is surrounded by a further sleeve 35 having two diametrically opposite helical guide channels 36 formed on its inner wall. The channels 36 act as guides for the pins 34.

In use, the sleeve 35 is rotated relative to the base portion 30 which causes the pins 34 to move along the channels 36 until stopped by the limit of the slots 33. Thus, the holder 32 can be moved longitudinally in the sleeve 31 in either direction by rotating the sleeve 35 in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. The plug 14 can therefore be moved progressively downwards as the substance is used. In addition there may be a removable protective cap over the plug.

When the plug has been completely exhausted the container 13 can be removed from the lower end of the shaft 10 and a fresh container and plug substitute. Alternatively, a fresh plug 14 alone can be substituted.

In the example of Figure 2 the holder 20 is removably attached by a screw-threaded bayonet fitting or other device to the shaft 10 and the plug 14 is fixed to the holder. Around the holder is a cylindrical protective sleeve 21 which is arranged to slide over the holder and has a frictional gripping device 22 designed to hold the sleeve in any selected position. The sleeve can therefore be simply extended or withdrawn as the plug is progressively consumed.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, the plug 14 rests on a disc 41 of synthetic plastics material which is slidable in a sleeve 42. The upper end of the sleeve 42 is a tight fit on a cover 43 which has a passage 44 in which the lower end of a hollow shaft 10 is a tight fit. The shaft 10 carries a piston 46 which can be pushed manually against the disc 41 through an aperture 47 in the sleeve 42. The piston 46 carries a handle (not shown) at its upper end. A cap 45 covers the lower end of the sleeve 42 and, when the cap is removed, the plug 14 can be pushed forward by holding the shaft 10 and pushing the piston 46 against the disc 41. In order to replace the plug 14, the sleeve 42 is pulled away from the cover 43 and a fresh sleeve 42 and plug 14 inserted into position.

It will be appreciated that different shaped handles from the illustrated embodiment can be used. Furthermore, it is advantageous to make the support shaft for the container or receiver between about 12 and 60 inches in length for ease of application of the chemical substance to different treatment sites.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for use in killing weeds or other plants, including an elongate handle, rod or tube, means at one end thereof for holding a solid mass incorporating an active chemical weed-killer and means for progressively exposing the mass in use.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for progressively exposing the mass in use includes a surrounding shield or shroud and means for creating relative longitudinal movement between the shield or shroud and the mass.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which a support holder for the mass is effectively fixed in use to the tube, rod or handle and the shield or shroud is movable.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the support for the mass is movable relative to the tube, rod or handle and including operating means for progressively extending the mass beyond the open end of a surrounding shroud.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the handle, tube or rod is movable against the mass to extend progressively the mass beyond the open end of the shield or shroud.

6. Apparatus for killing or treating weeds or other plants, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1, Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. position. The sleeve can therefore be simply extended or withdrawn as the plug is progressively consumed. Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, the plug 14 rests on a disc 41 of synthetic plastics material which is slidable in a sleeve 42. The upper end of the sleeve 42 is a tight fit on a cover 43 which has a passage 44 in which the lower end of a hollow shaft 10 is a tight fit. The shaft 10 carries a piston 46 which can be pushed manually against the disc 41 through an aperture 47 in the sleeve 42. The piston 46 carries a handle (not shown) at its upper end. A cap 45 covers the lower end of the sleeve 42 and, when the cap is removed, the plug 14 can be pushed forward by holding the shaft 10 and pushing the piston 46 against the disc 41. In order to replace the plug 14, the sleeve 42 is pulled away from the cover 43 and a fresh sleeve 42 and plug 14 inserted into position. It will be appreciated that different shaped handles from the illustrated embodiment can be used. Furthermore, it is advantageous to make the support shaft for the container or receiver between about 12 and 60 inches in length for ease of application of the chemical substance to different treatment sites. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for use in killing weeds or other plants, including an elongate handle, rod or tube, means at one end thereof for holding a solid mass incorporating an active chemical weed-killer and means for progressively exposing the mass in use.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for progressively exposing the mass in use includes a surrounding shield or shroud and means for creating relative longitudinal movement between the shield or shroud and the mass.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which a support holder for the mass is effectively fixed in use to the tube, rod or handle and the shield or shroud is movable.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the support for the mass is movable relative to the tube, rod or handle and including operating means for progressively extending the mass beyond the open end of a surrounding shroud.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the handle, tube or rod is movable against the mass to extend progressively the mass beyond the open end of the shield or shroud.

6. Apparatus for killing or treating weeds or other plants, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1, Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.