Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus that chops off a weed at or below ground level and applies a small shot of herbicide to the freshly cut weed base. More particularly the present invention is a rechargeable, battery operated, solenoid driven, and hand held device with a herbicide reservoir on the handle and a reciprocating cutter blade with a directed herbicide spray nozzle at the base.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus that chops off a weed at or below ground level and applies a small shot of herbicide to the freshly cut weed base. More particularly the present invention is a rechargeable, battery operated, solenoid driven, and hand held device with a herbicide reservoir on the handle and a reciprocating cutter blade with a directed herbicide spray nozzle at the base. 
         [0003]    2. Prior Art 
         [0004]    There are numerous rotary action blade or cord devices for cutting weeds and some that have herbicide sprayers acting in conjunction with the rotary cutters. These systems, however, do not allow for selectively eradicating individual weeds in the middle of valuable crops or vegetation. Numerous rotary weed cutter devices are currently on the market, some using electric motors with extension cords, others with internal combustion engines and some with rechargeable batteries. None have disclosed a unit that is relatively light weight and easy to move from one place to another and allows the eradication of individual weeds in the midst of valuable crops. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An object of the Weed Cutter and Chemical Applicator is to provide a system that allows individual weeds to be eradicated without harming contiguous vegetation. 
         [0006]    Another object of the Weed Cutter and Chemical Applicator is to provide a system that is relatively light weight and easily repositioned from weed to weed. 
         [0007]    Another object of the Weed Cutter and Chemical Applicator is to provide a system that is relatively inexpensive to construct. 
         [0008]    Another object of the Weed Cutter and Chemical Applicator is to provide a system that is easy to disassemble into component parts for cleaning, storage and shipping. 
         [0009]    Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice this invention, and be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention is described with reference to the following drawings: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the Weed Cutter and Chemical Applicator; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a an enlarged partial view thereof; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of cutter assembly in the extended mode; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of cutter assembly in the retracted mode; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a partial section view of cutter assembly taken along cutting plane  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    In order that the invention is fully understood it will now be described by way of the following examples in which Weed Cutter and Chemical Applicator  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  discloses Weed Cutter and Chemical Applicator  10  in a side elevation view. Tubular frame  28  is preferably approximately 1 inch in diameter and approximately 50 inches long with finger-patterned grip  16  at its proximal end. The distal end of frame  28  is cut off at an approximate angle of 30 degrees from its axis. Finger-patterned grip  16  has firing button  14  mounted to its top side wherein firing button  14  can be easily discharged with the thumb on the hand with fingers engaging grip  16 . Approximately 20 inches axially from firing button  14  is mounted device control handle  30 . Mounted to frame  28 , directly under device control handle  30  is rechargeable battery  18 . Current carrying wires  12  run from firing button  14  to rechargeable battery  18  axially down the inside of frame  28  until they exit frame  28  at lower terminus  60 . Two set of steel straps  44  are attached to frame  28  toward its distal end at approximately a 30 degree angle to frame  28 &#39;s axis. Steel straps  44  are formed outward to a width commensurate with side walls of solenoid case  42  where they are attached. Lower terminus  60  is in line with top set of steel straps  44  and when current carrying wire  12  exits terminus  60  it follows steel strap  44  until it reaches solenoid case  42 &#39;s entrance grommet  62 . Current carrying wire  12  enters solenoid case  42  and is connected to single acting solenoid  58 . 
         [0018]    Herbicide reservoir  20  is mounted at the approximate midpoint in the length of frame  28 . Shut-off valve  22  is mounted at the distal end of herbicide reservoir  20 . Herbicide feed tube  24  depends from shut-off valve  22  and is attached to frame  28  by connector  26 . 
         [0019]    Attached to distal end of frame  28  is cutter blade guide  36 . Cutter blade guide  36  is approximately 2 inches wide by 2 inches long and is approximately ⅜ inches thick. It has a 1 ½ inch wide by ⅛ inch high opening from its proximal side to its distal side centered in the height and width dimension. Cutter blade guide  36  also has ¾ inch wide, open-ended to the proximal side, notches in both top and bottom panels centered in the width dimension. The distal ends of these notches are finished with a ⅜ inch radius approximately 1 inch from the distal side. The distal end of frame  28  is attached to the top surface of cutter guide  36  approximately tangent to distal side of cutter guide  36 . With the bottom of cutter blade guide  36  held horizontally, frame  28  elevates at the 60 degree angle from the distal end to the finger-patterned grip  16  allowing the user to stand upright while exercising Weed Cutter and Chemical Applicator  10 . 
         [0020]    Cutter blade  34  is preferably made from hardened tool steel and is approximately 1 ½ inches wide by 2 ¼ inches long and ⅛ inch thick. It slip-fits through the ⅛ inch high by 1 ½ inch wide opening in cutter blade guide  36 . The distal end of cutter blade  34  is tapered at approximately a 45 degree angle. Approximately ¼ inch from proximal end of cutter blade  34  are mounted 1/16 inch diameter spring retention pins  38 , extending outward approximately 3/16 inch from both sides of cutter blade  34 , centered in the ⅛ inch high dimension. Cutter blade  34  also has a ⅜ inch wide rectangular opening running from ¼ inch from proximal end and stopping within approximately ¼ inch from distal end. Through proximal end of cutter blade  34  is a clearance hole approximately 1/16 inch in diameter through which slips 1/16 inch diameter herbicide distribution tube  46 . Herbicide distribution tube  46  is approximately 1 ½ inches long and has a replaceable flexible split tip  54  that snaps over retainer grooves in distal end of herbicide distribution tube  46 . Tip  54  is split such that when injection pressure is felt, tip  54  opens and allows a spray of herbicide down cutter blade  34  and onto just-cut weed base. Herbicide feed tube  24  is connected between the exit of shut-off valve  22  and toward the distal end of herbicide distribution tube  46 . 
         [0021]    Cutter blade drive piston  50  is fastened to proximal end of cutter blade  34  and when firing button  14  is pushed, single acting solenoid  58  is activated, driving cutter blade drive piston  50  forward approximately ¾ of an inch, cutting off a weed. Spring  32  fits over spring retainer pins  38  and attaches to steel support straps  44  on both sides. When cutter blade drive piston  50  is fully extended, spring  32  is in its maximum stress condition and when single acting solenoid  58  drive pressure is released, spring  32  forces cutter blade  34  to return to its at-rest position. A second embodiment would eliminate the return spring  32  and spring retention pins  38  and replace single acting solenoid  58  with a double acting solenoid  58  that would power out and back with each push of firing button  14 . Herbicide distribution tube  46  is separated from cutter blade drive piston  50  by lubricious bearing  52 . Side walls of herbicide distribution tube  46  flare to form cylinder walls to accommodate herbicide injector piston  40  just after entering solenoid case  42  and are attached to solenoid case  42  such that when solenoid  58  is activated, herbicide injector piston  40  and cutter blade drive piston  50  move forward approximately ¾ inches while herbicide distribution tube  46  remains stationary. 
         [0022]    The bottom rear surface of solenoid case  42 , has a set of gripping teeth  48  depending from the bottom surface of solenoid case  42 . Opposite side from gripping teeth  48  is small toe pressure pad  56  to allow foot pressure to anchor Weed cutter and chemical applicator  10  after setting it adjacent to the weed to be cut, prior to pushing firing button  14 . 
       Operation 
       [0023]    The operation of Weed Cutter and Chemical Applicator  10  is as follows: place the dominant hand on finger patterned grip  16  and the off hand on device control handle  30 . Position Weed Cutter and Chemical Applicator  10  adjacent to weed to be cut and step on toe pressure pad  56  to anchor device in place. Use thumb on dominant hand to press firing button  14 , triggering the cutting and chemical application process. Once firing button  14  is pushed solenoid  58  is activated, which fires cutter blade drive piston  50  forward driving cutter blade  34  forward through weed in question. As cutter blade  34  moves forward, herbicide injector piston  40  also moves forward inside the cylinder walls connected at the proximal end of herbicide distribution tube  46 , raising the pressure internal to herbicide distribution tube  46  which forces herbicide out through tip  54  spraying herbicide onto the cut stem of the weed in question. As soon as pistons  40  and  50  reach their desired stroke, the solenoid is released and return spring  32  forces cutter blade  34  back to its at rest position and tip  54  closes as soon as the injection pressure is relieved, preventing leakage or seepage of the herbicide in transport or storage. There is also a shut-off valve  22  at the base of herbicide reservoir  20  to further assure no leakage. Again the second embodiment functions in a similar manner except return spring  32  is eliminated and a double acting solenoid  58  performs the return function. 
         [0024]    Although this invention has been described by detailing a preferred embodiment it is not intended to be limited to this set of materials and dimensions. Rather, the scope of this invention is defined by the following claims.