GB2082449A

GB2082449A - Liquid applicators

Info

Publication number: GB2082449A
Application number: GB8122921A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-07-26
Filing date: 1981-07-24
Publication date: 1982-03-10

Abstract

A liquid applicator (30) for the selective application of liquid weed killer or insecticide, comprises a reservoir (31) for a liquid (32) to be applied to a selected location and an application surface (41) for applying the liquid (32) to said location, the surface (41) communicating or being communicable with the interior of the reservoir (31). The application surface (41) can be a surface of a body (40) of a liquid permeable material, such as, sponge, or a cellular synthetic plastics material, which is retained in a holder (36) upon which the liquid reservoir (31) is mounted. The reservoir (31) has at least one hole (33) in register or registerable with a corresponding hole (34) in a wall (35) of the holder (36), such that liquid (32) can permeate through the body (40) to the application surface (41). A valve arrangement can be provided for controlling the flow of liquid into the permeable body (40) and the reservoir (31) can be detachably secured to the holder (36) by means of a bayonet type fitting (47). A centrally-bored seal (37) may be provided between adjacent pairs of holes (33, 34) in the reservoir and holder wall (35) to provide a liquid tight seal therebetween and to bias the reservoir (31) away from the holder (36). A detachable handle (43) may be provided for manual use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Liquid applicators This invention relates to liquid applicators, especially, but not exclusively, to applicators for selectively applying a liquid weed killer or insecticide.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a liquid applicator comprising a reservoir for a liquid to be applied to a selected location and an application surface for applying the liquid to said location, the surface communicating or being communicable with the interior of the reservoir.

Preferably, the application surface is a surface of a body of liquid permeable material, such as, sponge, or a cellular, synthetic plastics material, retained in a holder upon which the liquid reservoir is mounted. The reservoir either has at least one hole in register with a corresponding hole in the wall of the holder, such that liquid can permeate through the body to the application surface, or has a valve arrangement for controlling the flow of liquid into the permeable body.

Advantageously, the applicator is provided with a handle for manual use, which can be detachably secured to the holder, preferably adjacent the reservoir. Similarly, the reservoir can be detached from the holder for refilling purposes.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, three embodiments of weed killer applicator in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view, in section, of one preferred embodiment of weed killer applicator; Figure 2 is an elevational view, again in section, of another preferred embodiment of weed killer applicator; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig.

1; and Figure 4 is a plan view, in partial section, of the modified embodiment shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, a liquid weed killer applicator 1 comprises a reservoir 11 containing a liquid weed killer 1 2. Two holes 1 3 in the bottom of the reservoir 11 lie in register with corresponding holes 14 in the top wall 1 5 of a channel-shaped holder 1 6. The reservoir 11 is held rigidly in place with respect to the holder 1 6 by means of a socket arrangement 1 7 in which the neck 1 8 of the reservoir is received. The fitment between the reservoir neck 1 8 and the socket arrangement 1 7 is of the bayonet type.

The side walls 1 9 of the holder 1 6 each have an inwardly turned lip 24 for retaining in the holder a body 20 of cellular, synthetic plastics material which is liquid permeable.

The body 20 has an application surface 21 for the liquid weed killer 1 2.

Another socket arrangement 22, also on the top wall 1 5 of the holder 1 6, receives one end of an elongate handle 23.

In use of the applicator 1, the reservoir 11 has its neck 1 8 fitted into the socket arrangement 1 7 via the bayonet type fitting. In this position of the reservoir 11, the holes 13, 1 4 are in register, as shown in Fig. 1. The liquid weed killer 1 2 seeps through the holes 13, 1 4 into the sponge-like body 20 and subsequently reaches the application surface 21.

This surface 21 is then selectively applied to a weed, using the handle 23, whereby weed killer 1 2 is applied to the weed. To stop the flow of weed killer 1 2 from the reservoir 11, the latter can be rotated about its axis, such that the holes 1 3 no longer lie in register with the holes 14 in the top wall 1 5 of the holder 1 6. After use of the applicator 1, the reservoir 11 may be wholly removed from the holder 1 6 and stored separately from the remaining components of the applicator. Additionally, the handle 23 may be removed from the socket arrangement 22 so that the holder 1 6 and sponge-like body 20 can be more easily handled for cleaning purposes.It will be appreciated, that the resiliency of the body 20 permits it to be removed from the holder 1 6.

Turning now to Fig. 2, the components of a second preferred embodiment of weed killer applicator 1' are identical to those of the weed killer applicator 1 described above with reference to Fig. 1, except that there is only one central hole 13' in the bottom of the liquid reservoir 11'. This hole 13' lies in register with a corresponding hole 14' in the top wall 1 5' of the holder 16', as long as the neck 18' of the reservoir 11' is received in the socket arrangement 17'. No means are provided for shutting off the supply of liquid weed killer 1 2 from the reservoir 11' into the sponge-like body 20', as in the embodiment described with reference to Fig. 1.

However, in this second embodiment, when the applicator 1' is not in use, it can be inverted, such that any excess weed killer 1 2 in the body 20 runs back into the reservoir 11', by means of the inclined inner surface 25 of the top wall 15' of the holder 16'.

As in the case of the applicator 1, described above with reference to Fig. 1, the reservoir 11', handle 23' and liquid permeable body 20 can be removed from the holder 16' for cleaning and maintenance purposes.

It will be appreciated that the liquid permeable body 20 described above can be replaced by any suitable material, as long as liquid can permeate through it from the reservoir, 11, 11' to the application surface 21, 21'.

The holder 16, 16' and its associated socket arrangements for the reservoir 11, 11' and handle 23, 23' can be made from any suitable material, such as, plastics material, in which case, it can be made by injection moulding.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, a liquid weed killer applicator 31 is a modification of the weed killer applicator 1 described above with reference to Fig. 1.

This modified applicator 31 comprises a reservoir 31 containing a liquid weed killer 32. Two holes 33 in respective recesses in the bottom of the reservoir 31 lie in register with corresponding holes 34 in the top wall 35 of a channel-shaped holder 36. Between each pair of in-register holes 33, 34, is located an elastomeric seal having a bore 38 therethrough to allow communication between the holes 33, 34 and, as a consequence, between the reservoir 32 and a liquid permeable body 40. These elastomeric seals 37 bias the reservoir 31 upwardly with respect to the holder 36, whilst providing a suitable liquid tight seal between the respective adjacent walls of the reservoir and holder.

The reservoir 31 is held rigidly in place with respect to the holder 36 by means of a bayonet-type fixing arrangement between a protruding portion 46 of the bottom wall of the reservoir and a cross-member 47. This arrangement also permits the reservoir 31 to be rotated with respect to the holder 36, whereby the holes 33 can be moved out of register with the holes 34, to seal the liquid 32 in the reservoir 31 from the liquid permeable body 40. This is particularly useful for storage purposes, as well as other purposes, such as cleaning and maintenance, whereby unnecessary loss of liquid 32 from the reservoir 31 is prevented.

The reservoir 31 is retained in the appropriate rotational relationship with respect to the holder 36, that is to say, in a flow or non-flow position, by means of respective adjacent pairs of detents 48 formed in the lower surface of the upper wall 35 of the holder 36, with the cross member 47 being located between such adjacent pairs of detents 48.

The side walls 39 of the holder 36 each have an inwardly projecting lip 44 for retaining the liquid permeable body 40 therein, whilst an outwardly projecting flange 45 is provided at the base of the holder 36. This flange 45 can be used to prevent the accidental application of the weed killer 32 on plants growing adjacent any weeds which are to be treated with the weed killer.

A socket arrangement 42, also provided on the top wall 35 of the holder 36, receives one end of an elongate handle 43.

In the on or flow position of the reservoir 31 with respect to the holder 36, the holes 33, bores 38 and holes 34 lie in register, such that the liquid weed killer 32 can flow therethrough to the application surface 41 of the body 40.

As in the case of the two embodiments of applicator 1, 1', described above with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the reservoir 31, handle 43 and liquid permeable body 40 can all be removed from the holder 36 for cleaning and maintenance purposes.

Also, it will be appreciated that any suitable material can be used for the liquid permeable body 40, as in the case of the liquid permeate ble bodies 20 described above with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

Furthermore, the holder 36 and its associated socket arrangements for the reservoir 31 and handle 43 can be made from any suitable material, such as, plastics material, in which case, it can be made by injection moulding.

Thus, the invention provides liquid applicators which are: 1. economical to use; 2. provide no spray drift; 3. can be used in confined spaces; 4. guard against accidental application of weed killer on plants growing adjacent the weeds to be treated; 5. by use of the handle eliminate the need for the operator to bend down.

6. can be inverted without spillage; 7. have reservoirs which can be easily removed for washing purposes; 8. can be provided with interchangeable liquid permeable bodies differing colours for different types of liquid, for instance, fertilizer or weed killer; 9. are simple in construction; 1 0. are cheap to manufacture; 11. are easily handled during use; and 1 2. are readily maintainable.

Claims

1. A liquid applicator comprising a reservoir for a liquid to be applied to a selected location and an application surface for applying the liquid to said location, the surface communicating or being communicable with the interior of the reservoir.

2. An applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the application surface is a surface of a body of liquid permeable material.

3. An applicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body of liquid permeable material is of sponge or a cellular synthetic plastics material retained in a holder upon which the liquid reservoir is mounted.

4. An applicator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the reservoir has at least one hole in register or registerable with a corresponding hole in a wall of the holder, whereby liquid can permeate from the reservoir and through the body to the application surface.

5. An applicator as claimed in claim 4, wherein a valve arrangement is provided for controlling the flow of liquid from the reservoir into the permeable body through said at least one hole of the reservoir and the or each corresponding hole in the holder wall.

6. An applicator as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the reservoir is deta chable from the holder for refilling purposes.

7. An applicator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reservoir is detachably securable to the holder by means of a bayonet-type fitting.

8. An applicator as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the reservoir and holder are rotatable with respect to each other, to bring said at least one hole of the reservoir in or out of register with the or each corresponding hole in the holder wall.

9. An applicator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reservoir can be maintained in a rotational position with respect to the holder, with said at least one hole of the reservoir in or out of register with the or each corresponding hole in the holder wall, by means of at least one detent cooperating with a component of the bayonet-type fitting.

10. An applicator as claimed in any of claims 4 to 9, wherein a seal is located between the or each pair of in-register holes in the reservoir and holder wall, the seal having a bore therethrough to allow communication between said pair(s) of holes and biasing the reservoir away from the holder, whilst providing a liquid tight seal between the respective adjacent walls o the reservoir and holder.

11. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim including a detachable handle for manual operation.

1 2. A liquid weed killer applicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.