Patent ID: 8544178
Filing Date: 2013-10-01
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A rechargeable, reciprocating, hand held weed cutter and chemical applicator comprising: a tubular frame with an axis, a proximal end, a distal end, a top side, an under side, where said proximal end is cut perpendicular to said axis and said distal end is cut at a 30 degree angle to said axis, with a finger-patterned grip on said proximal end; a device controlling handle on said top side approximately located ¼ of the axial length of said tubular frame from said proximal end; a firing button located such that when the fingers of a dominant hand are engaged with said finger-patterned grip, said firing button is in reach of an average person's thumb; a rechargeable battery mounted on said under side of said tubular frame directly under said device controlling handle with current carrying wires running from said firing button to said rechargeable battery internal to said tubular frame; a solenoid case with a proximal side, a distal side, a top side, a bottom side, a toe pressure pad extending proximally away from said proximal side collinear with said bottom side with a plurality of gripping teeth on its bottom side towards said proximal side, where said solenoid case is attached to said tubular frame with two sets of steel straps; a single acting solenoid mounted inside said solenoid case, connected to said rechargeable battery with said current carrying wires run out through an entrance grommet of said solenoid case and along one of said steel straps, into said a lower terminus of said tubular frame and up said tubular frame to said rechargeable battery; a herbicide reservoir with a top and a bottom end mounted on said under side of said tubular frame at the approximate midpoint between said proximal and distal ends of said tubular frame with a shut-off valve mounted at said bottom end of said herbicide reservoir, with a herbicide feed tube descending from said shut-off valve and held against said tubular frame by a connector; a cutter blade guide with a top panel, a bottom panel, a proximal end, a distal end, wherein said top panel of said cutter blade guide is attached to said distal end of said tubular frame and where said top side of said tubular frame is located tangent to said distal end of said cutter blade guide, said cutter blade guide also has an opening that runs from said proximal end of said cutter blade guide to said distal end of said cutter blade guide, centered between the width and height dimensions of said cutter blade guide of a sufficient height and width to allow for a sliding fit between said opening and a cutter blade, wherein said top and bottom panels have slots open ended to said proximal end of said cutter blade guide and radiused at the distal ends of said slots where said radii are tangent to said under side of said tubular frame, wherein said slots leave sufficient material in said top and bottom panels and both sides to adequately guide said cutter blade; said cutter blade made from hardened tool steel that slip fits through said opening in said cutter blade guide with a distal end, a proximal end, a top side, and a bottom side, with said distal end of said cutter blade guide tapered at an approximate angle of 45 degrees with a rectangular opening centered in said cutter blade with a clearance hole through the center of said proximal end of said cutter blade into said rectangular opening; a herbicide distribution tube that slip fits through said clearance hole in said proximal end of said cutter blade with a replaceable flexible split tip that snaps onto a distal end of said herbicide distribution tube such that when pressure is generated in said herbicide distribution tube, said split tip opens allowing for a spray of herbicide into said rectangular opening in said cutter blade and when pressure is relieved said split tip closes, thus sealing leakage from said distal end of said herbicide distribution tube, wherein said herbicide distribution tube remains at a constant diameter until after it passes through a distal wall of a said solenoid case, after entering said solenoid case the diameter of said herbicide distribution tube flares to form the walls of a cylinder which is fixed within said solenoid case; a herbicide injector piston that fits slidingly within said cylinder such that said herbicide injector piston, when driven by activating said firing button, drives said single acting solenoid to stroke said herbicide injector piston, generating sufficient pressure in said herbicide distribution tube as to open said split tip, spraying herbicide into said rectangular opening; a cutter blade drive piston is attached to said proximal end of said cutter blade on its distal end and connects to said single acting solenoid mounted in said solenoid case on its proximal end, with a lubricious bushing separating said cutter blade drive piston and said herbicide distribution tube, such that when said firing button is pushed, said single acting solenoid also drives said cutter blade forward while said herbicide distribution tube remains stationary; and a return spring rotationally and slidingly attached to spring retainer pins protruding from sides of said cutter blade and attached to said steel straps just prior to their attachment to said solenoid case, that is stressed when said single acting solenoid drives said cutter blade forward and when said single acting solenoid is no longer engaged, drives said cutter blade drive piston and said herbicide injector piston to return to at-rest position.