GB2230169A

GB2230169A - Granules applicator

Info

Publication number: GB2230169A
Application number: GB8907609A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold Crook
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-04-05
Filing date: 1989-04-05
Publication date: 1990-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2009-04-05
Also published as: GB8907609D0; GB2230169B

Abstract

A hand-held applicator for granules comprises a hopper 8, a duct 1 having a discharge part 9 and a valve 3 operated by handle 7 to regulate the flow of particles. <IMAGE>

Description

GRANULES APPLICATOR The invention is concerned with applying granules and free flowing powders to gardens and the like.

The invention is based on the observed need for a handheld apparatus to deliver variable quantities of substances in the form of granules or free flowing powders (referred to as the granules) to the soil, the bases of plants, or to lawns and the like, whilst reducing the need of the user to bend down, or to tread on dug earth particularly when treating plants more distant from a path; also to reduce waste by accurate placing of the granules; also, without the granules going onto foliage or coming into contact with the skin of the user; also without necessarily delivering a fixed quantity of the granules at each application but enabling the user to judge how much is required for each one.

The apparatus according to the invention consists of a hopper, a duct, a valve between the hopper and the duct operated from a handle forming part of or attached to the duct.

In one embodiment the duct is circular in cross-section and the valve is a sliding cylindrical member within which by virtue of its position within the duct, closes or opens a connection between the hopper and the duct.

In one embodiment the valve is controlled by a sliding member attached to the handle, operated by the hand of the user.

Advantageously the valve is urged towards its closed position by a spring preferably a helical spring inside the duct and between the valve and the handle so that it does not affect the free flow of the granules in the duct.

A convenient method of connecting the valve to the sliding member attached to the handle is by a string of nylon or similar material, a wire, or a rod.

The sliding member may be a captive button in a slot in the handle and to which the string or equivalent may be attached, and which projects outside of the handle and may be shaped to be operated by the thumb, fingers, or palm of the hand of the user.

In the last case, the sliding member may advantageously be shaped to form a ring or part ring moving over the handle, with a projection through a slot in the handle to which the string or equivalent may be attached.

Advantageously, the hopper may be substantially transparent so that the level of granules within it may be observed.

In one embodiment of the invention, the hopper has a removable cap on its upper end in use, so that the hopper may be replenished easily.

The apparatus according to the invention may be adapted to hold hollow attachments at the lower or discharge end of the duct so that the character of the discharge of granules may be varied for example by a fish-tail attachment, for spreading granules in strips.

In one embodiment the discharge end of the hopper is connected to the tubular member by means of a screw, thread, bayonet, clip or by means of a push fit, so that the hopper may be removed and another fitted as a replenishment or by one containing granules with different properties, thus avoiding waste and inconvenience, and avoiding contact between the granules and the skin of the user. In this case the hopper may have a closure which is removed before connecting to the tubular member.

Advantageously the duct is about 1 m long but capable of extension or shortening by the addition or subtraction of mating sections.

Advantageously, the handle in use is approximately horizontal, the duct at an angle of between 300 and 900 to the horizontal, depending on the fluidity of the granules and the hopper about 10 cms down from the upper end of the duct, and the handle forming part of the upper end of the duct.

Materials of construction may be of plastics such as polythene, high impact polystyrene, nylon, metals, preferably non-rusting, or combinations of these.

In operation, the hopper is charged with the granules, the outlet of the duct held over the place required to be treated, the sliding member at the handle moved to open the valve, allowing a quantity of the granules to pass from the hopper to the duct and thence down the duct and onto the ground.

By judgment, when sufficient of the granules has been discharged, the user releases the sliding member and urged by the spring the valve closes.

One advantage of the invention is that depending on the characteristics of the granules, the user may hold the valve open by a small amount for a relatively long period, or by a large amount for a short period; thus controlling accurately the amount the user judges to be correct, without the need to bend down or reach over or tread on dug earth and without handling the granules.

The apparatus for the invention may be used to apply plant nutrients, parasite repellents and destroyers, moss inhibitors, selective weed killers and the like, when in granular or free flowing powder form.

Particular embodiments are now described more fully as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Fig. I is a diagrammatic section through the apparatus according to the invention.

Item 1 is a tubular member of circular cross-section with continuations to form a handle 6 and an outlet 9.

Item 2 is a connecting piece between the tubular member 1 and a hopper 8.

In this embodiment the hopper 8 is shown with a male screw thread at its discharge end in use, to match a female screw thread in the connecting piece 2. The hopper 8 may be removed and closed by a screw cap (not shown) when not in use.

Item 3 is a valve being a cylindrical member sliding within the tubular member 1, and is shown in the position closing the connection 2 between the hopper 8 and the tubular member 1.

Item 4 is a string or cord of nylon or similar material connecting the valve to a sliding member 7, held captive in a slot in handle 6.

Item 5 is a helical spring urging the valve 3 towards a closed position.

Item 8 is a hopper to contain the granules to be discharged from outlet 9.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation through the upper part of the tubular member 1 and the handle 6, showing abutments inside the tubular member to restrain the spring 5.

Fig. 3 is an outside elevation of handle 6 showing the sliding member 7 as a part ring or part cylinder around the handle 6, to enable string 4 to be pulled back by the whole hand or palm of the user.

Fig. 4 is a front and side elevation of a typical interchangable attachment 10 in this case a fish-tail to act as a spreader, particularly when the whole apparatus shown is moved laterally, over the surface to be treated.

In operation, the hopper 8 is charged with the granules, outlet 9 is held over the place required to be treated, the sliding member 7 is moved towards the rear of the handle 6, thus pulling the valve 3 open by means of string 4 and compressing spring 5.

The granules then flow from the hopper 8 through the connecting piece 2, down the tubular member 1 and out of the outlet 9.

A plurality of hoppers 8 in the form of containers containing substances in appropriate form with different properties may be kept separately from the apparatus shown, closed with screw caps not shown, and when a particular substance is required to be applied, the screw cap may be removed from the appropriate hopper and screwed into the connecting piece 2, without the user coming into contact with the particular substance.

The apparatus thus described is particularly directed to those who do not wish to bend down such as the elderly, the arthritic, and also those who may have a disability of the hands, also when the granules are of substances which may be toxic or unpleasant.

Claims

Claim 1. A granules applicator comprising a hopper a duct a valve between the hopper and the duct operated from a handle remote from the hopper.
Claim 2. A granules applicator as claimed in Claim 1 where the valve is urged towards its closed position by a spring.
Claim 3. A granules applicator as claimed in Claim 2 where the valve is a sliding cylindrical member.
Claim 4. A granules applicator as claimed in Claim 3 where the valve is controlled by a sliding member in the handle.
Claim 5. A granules applicator as claimed in Claim 4 where the sliding member in the handle is connected to the valve by a string cord wire or rod.
Claim 6. A granules applicator as claimed in any preceding claim where the duct is adjustable in length.
Claim 7. A granules applicator as claimed in any preceding claim where the duct has interchangable attachments at its discharge end for example a fish-tail distributor.
Claim 8. A granules applicator as claimed in any preceding claim where the hopper is removable and sealable from the duct and is interchangeable with other similar hoppers containing granules.
Claim 9. A granules applicator as described herein in Figs. 1 to 4.
Claim 10. A granules applicator as claimed in any preceding Claim in use as an applicator for granules or free flowing powders of substances used to treat soil and vegetation.