Patent ID: 7252042
Filing Date: 2007-08-07
Classification: A01C

Abstract:
1. A tool for injecting solid fertilizer spikes into soil for tree and plant root nutrition utilizing elongated brackets, comprising: an elongated hollow handle shaft tube having an upper end and a lower end; a handle or end cap formed around the periphery of the upper end of the elongated hollow handle shaft tube or optionally an end plug inserted into the upper end of the elongated hollow handle shaft tube; two identical diametrically opposing elongated brackets connected to the lower end of said handle shaft tube such that said brackets extend thereupon a distance to form an open-ended elongated hexagonal shaped fertilizer spike chamber to accommodate only that portion of the fertilizer spike which is not considered to be part of the fertilizer spike ground engaging tapered tip thereby permitting said ground engaging tapered tip to extend outward from the lower end of said brackets; a flat base plate fixed to the lower end of said brackets with an elongated hexagonal shaped aperture located in the centre for loading therethrough a solid fertilizer spike; said elongated hexagonal shaped aperture in said base plate is fixed directly over and inline with the bottom end of said elongated hexagonal shaped fertilizer spike chamber formed by said elongated brackets; an elongated rigid injector tube, having an upper end and a lower end and having an outside diameter that is less than the inside diameter of said elongated hollow handle shaft tube, disposed and longitudinally reciprocally moveable within the lower end of said elongated handle shaft tube and said elongated brackets such that the lower end of said elongated rigid injector tube extends perpendicularly through and beyond an accommodating aperture in a foot bar and at the end terminates with a force-fitted plug or end cap to engage the top contact surface of the fertilizer spike; a foot bar collar, tubular in shape, being adapted to be longitudinally moveable over and concentric to the lower end of said handle shaft tube and said two diametrically opposing elongated brackets from the uppermost position at the lower end of said handle shaft tube, for the purpose of loading the fertilizer spike, to the lowest position on top of said base plate at which point the fertilizer spike has been fully injected into the soil simultaneously with being fully ejected from said fertilizer spike chamber; a foot bar perpendicularly fixed to the lower section of said foot bar collar with an aperture located mid-length to accommodate the end of said foot bar collar onto which it is fixed, such that a foot ledge extends equally on each side therefrom said foot bar collar so as to provide a platform against which the operator exerts force with both feet simultaneously; said injector tube is connected to said foot bar collar by means of a bolt passing through compliant holes in the upper end of said injector tube, through compliant holes in the mid-section of said foot bar collar and through diametrically opposing elongated slots formed in the side walls of the lower end of said handle shaft tube thereby allowing said foot bar collar, said foot bar, and said injector tube to move simultaneously from the uppermost position at the bottom end of said handle shaft tube, for the purpose of loading the fertilizer spike, to the lowest position on top of said base plate at which point the fertilizer spike has been fully injected into the soil simultaneously with being fully ejected form said fertilizer spike chamber; a wire spring, secured to the side wall of said handle shaft tube such that said wire spring is sized and positioned such that when said foot bar collar is raised by the operator upward towards said handle or end cap of said handle shaft tube, said bolt is moved to the uppermost position and passing the arc lock-point in said wire spring becomes engaged thereto, causing said fertilizer spike chamber, said injector tube, said foot bar collar and said foot bar to be held in place in the fertilizer spike load position until released by downward force by the operator on the top said foot bar; said wire spring alternatively secured to the side wall of said injector tube such that said wire spring is sized and positioned such that when said foot bar collar is raised by the operator upward towards said handle or end cap of said handle shaft tube, said wire spring is moved to the uppermost position and passing the arc lock-point in said wire spring becomes engaged with a pin, rod or bolt fixed to said handle shaft tube, causing said fertilizer spike chamber, said injector tube, said foot bar collar and said foot bar to be held in place in the load position until released by downward force by the operator on the top said foot bar; one or more flat springs, as a fertilizer spike retention mechanism fixed to the peripheral end of said handle shaft, parallel with said brackets and within the open sides spaces between said brackets, such that by their design and mechanical nature, easily receive and hold the fertilizer spike within said fertilizer spike chamber until ejected by said injector tube; said one or more flat springs alternatively fixed onto said base plate within the open sides spaces formed by said two diametrically opposing elongated brackets such that the underside foot bar flanges of said foot bar are longitudinally moveable over said one or more flat springs down to the topside of said base plate; said tool being fully operable in an upright position wherein a fertilizer spike is left embedded in the ground and detached from said tool without the need to remove said tool from the ground in a manner where, with one process of downward movement of said foot bar, two functions occur simultaneously, namely; the full injection of the fertilizer spike into the soil concurrent with the full release of the fertilizer spike from said tool by the complete ejection of the fertilizer spike from said fertilizer spike load chamber and said fertilizer spike retention mechanism of said tool.