Patent ID: 9642299
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: A01C,B65G,Y02P

Claim:
1. A granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus for dispensing a granular fertilizer onto a surface, comprising: a housing having a first end, a second end, an enclosed tubular bore that extends longitudinally between the first end and the second end of the housing, a first opening that faces generally upward and is positioned adjacent to the first end of the housing, and a second opening that faces generally downward toward the surface and is positioned adjacent to the second end of the housing, wherein the enclosed tubular bore is free from openings between the first opening and the second opening; one or more wheels that are connected to the housing for supporting the housing with respect to the surface; a handle that is configured to be grasped by a user to cause movement of the housing relative to the surface; an elongate tubular body having a first end that is connected to the housing and a second end that is connected to the handle; and an auger having a substantially constant pitch length, housed within the enclosed tubular bore of the housing, and connected to the one or more wheels, wherein rotation of the one or more wheels causes rotation of the auger, wherein rotation of the auger within the enclosed tubular bore of the housing transports the granular fertilizer along the enclosed tubular bore of the housing from the first opening of the housing to the second opening of the housing to control an amount of the granular fertilizer that is dispensed from the second opening of the housing onto the surface, wherein the enclosed tubular bore of the housing has a longitudinal length that is greater than twice the pitch length of the auger.