Abstract:
An apparatus for dispensing a granular fertilizer onto a surface. The apparatus comprises a housing, one or more wheels, a handle, and an auger. The housing has a first end, a second end, an enclosed tubular bore, a first opening facing generally upward, a second opening facing generally downward, and a weephole facing generally downward. The one or more wheels are connected to the housing for supporting the housing with respect to the surface. The handle is configured to be grasped by a user to cause movement of the housing relative to the surface. The auger is housed within the enclosed tubular bore. Rotation of the auger transports the granular fertilizer along the enclosed tubular bore of the housing from the first opening to the second opening to control an amount of the granular fertilizer that is dispensed from the second opening onto the surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/460,544, filed on Aug. 15, 2014, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/058,489, filed on Oct. 21, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/795,739, filed on Oct. 23, 2012. 
    
    
     FIELD OF USE 
     The present invention relates to a portable granular fertilizer dispenser, typically used by home gardeners for accurately dispensing the granular fertilizer onto small areas, as well as preparing the soil surfaces prior to the application of the granular fertilizer and post application soil treatment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In addition, blooms which have long been a concern of environmentalists are the result of the excessive growth of algae in lake areas and streams with high amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus. These chemicals are often the runoff of over-fertilized fields and lawns are a danger to our water supply. 
     Prior approaches to fertilizer dispensing have been large, stand along push dispensers, or tractor attachments, or attachments for lawn mowers, which dispense massive amounts of fertilizer over a large area. Even smaller, portable units tend towards the volume method of fertilizer dispensation and have no means to prepare the soil prior to the application of fertilizer, as well as no means of post application soil finishing. This wasted, unused fertilizer is harmful to the environment. 
     Some of the prior art includes the following:
         a. U.S. Patent Document 20130068861 (Zwahlen; et al) discloses a portable scattering apparatus for storing and dispensing granular material, especially pourable bulk material on a surface, e.g. of grainy fertilizer on a lawn surface, or scattering material on slick roads or paths. The scattering apparatus contains a closable container and a handle part connected to the container for dispensing the granular material. The handle part comprises a lock chamber in the connecting region of the container for controlling the flow rate, and it is shaped into a distributor at the front end. A valve is arranged in the lock chamber, which valve can be actuated via a lever, which is pivotably held on the outside on the handle part. The lever is connected via a valve stem with the valve disk of the valve.   b. U.S. Patent Document No. 20070289511 (Chen; et al.) discloses a method for cutting sub-surface cavities into a region of soil and for delivering liquid fertilizer directly to each cavity while minimizing overflow or spillage of liquid fertilizer onto the surrounding surface soil. A cutting apparatus is described for creating sub-surface cavities the soil, each cavity is associated with an opening at the soil surface through which liquid fertilizer can be delivered to the cavity. A system for delivery of liquid fertilizer to the cavities is described, which includes a fertilizer dispenser including a metering valve assembly for delivery of liquid fertilizer to each cavity. A synchronization system may be incorporated into the system for locating each cavity and directing the dispensing of liquid fertilizer.   c. U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,675 (Elrod; et al.) discloses a portable, user shoulder supported spreader/blower unit includes an ergonomically configured housing which includes a section defining a storage bin for holding a quantity of salt or like chemical particulate material for spreading onto ground surfaces to prevent icing thereon in winter. A centrifugal distributor disk is located in a housing space section below the bin and, a bin discharge aperture aligns over a peripheral area of the distributor disk. A user controllable closure member selectively alters bin discharge aperture size and, hence, outflow quantity from the bin onto the distributor disk, the distributor disk rotating at high speed propelling particulate material out of the housing through a discharge nozzle thereon at a high speed.   d. U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,557 (Dillon) discloses a portable particulate spreader comprising a container having a closed end, an open end and a storage chamber for holding particulate matter therein is disclosed. A first handle is attached to a side of the container proximate the closed end. A second handle is attached, preferably pivotally, to the same side, approximately midway between the closed end and the open end, allowing a person to conveniently grasp the spreader in either a vertical position for carrying or a horizontal position for use. An impeller at the open end disperses the particulate outwardly and downwardly from the spreader.   e. U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,264 (Truax; et. al.) discloses a portable seed spreader for distribution of bulky and irregular size seeds over a local area. The spreader includes a U-shaped frame that carries a housing having a first seed bin and a second seed bin. A first transverse shaft is mounted to legs of the frame and extends through the first seed bin. The first shaft carries agitators for mixing and stirring the seeds in the first seed bin. Discharge slots are located in a bottom wall of the first seed bin. A second transverse shaft is mounted on the frame and extends beneath the bottom wall of the first seed bin. The second transverse shaft carries picker wheels that extend through the discharge slots into the first seed bin to pick seeds therefrom and draw them through the discharge slot. The shafts are connected so that rotation of one transverse shaft as by a hand crank, an electric motor or a wheeled mechanism, results in rotation of the other.   f. U.S. Pat. No. 2,493,599 (Schroeder) discloses a single row fertilizer applicator where the flow of fertilizer leaving the hopper is steady and reliably constant but under operator control. The applicator has no means to prepare the soil prior to the application of fertilizer, as well as no means of post application soil finishing. Furthermore, the applicator lacks the ability to accurately meter for dispensing the rate of the fertilizer, resulting in the use of excessive fertilizer.       

     Conventional prior art fertilizer dispensers require the proper application of fertilizer to be applied in three distinct steps needed in order to achieve effective feed the targeted plants.
         a. (1) Coarsen the ground prior to applying the fertilizer by tilling, hoeing, raking, or some other suitable means of breaking up the surface of the soil.   b. (2) Apply the granular fertilizer.   c. (3) Work the newly applied granular fertilizer into the surface area and to coarsen the ground.       

     What is needed is a granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus that will perform all three tasks to optimize fertilizer utilization and reduce costs, time and effort, as well as being environmentally green and to reduce costs, time and labor. 
     The primary object of the fertilizer drop dispenser is to enable a user to apply a specified amount of fertilizer to a given area, instead of over large areas where fertilizer might not be needed. Also, the less fertilizer that is used, results in more saving on waste and cost. 
     The primary objective of the fertilizer drop dispenser is to enable a user to target individual plants for the most efficient application of granular fertilizer, instead of bulk dispensing over large areas where fertilizer may not be needed. Furthermore, less fertilizer is used in addition to reduced time of preparing the soil, resulting in saving on waste, cost, and time and less fertilizer introduced into the environment. 
     What is needed is a device that prepares the soil prior to the application of fertilizer, as well as post application soil finishing; a device that will target the base of the individual plant, conserving the fertilizer to sites where it is needed while avoiding dispensing said fertilizer in a wasteful manner, where said excess fertilizer is damaging and harmful to the environment. 
     What is needed is a device to save fertilizer, to enable a user to control a dosage of fertilizer dispensed at any time to any location, a device that is portable, and easy to operate, that will enable the user to operate easily, and efficiently measuring the amounts of fertilizer being applied to pre-selected areas, replacing large, space consuming, volume spreaders which cannot supply metered amounts of fertilizer to small areas. 
     What is needed is a device that will prepare the soil surface prior to the application of granular fertilizer, and enable the user to control the dosage of fertilizer at any time to any location, a device that is portable, easy to operate, and accurately measure the amount of fertilizer being dispensed to pre-selected areas as well as post application soil finishing. The soil finishing is necessary in urea based fertilizers to prevent volatilization. Small spreaders shown in the prior art incapable of pre-application soil treatment and do not afford the ability of post application soil finishing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The fertilizer dispenser apparatus of the present invention addresses these objectives and these needs. 
     Granular fertilizer, as used herein, is any organic or inorganic granular or solid particulate material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to improve the quality or quantity of plant growth. 
     The fertilizer dispenser apparatus is for use over a surface area to be treated. The apparatus comprises a main body for storing the fertilizer, a rolling mechanism affixed to the main body, and a control mechanism cooperatively engaged with the main body. 
     The rolling mechanism disrupts the surface to be treated as the fertilizer dispenser apparatus rolls over the surface area to be treated. 
     The control mechanism enables the user to control the amount of fertilizer dispensed over any part of the surface area to be treated. The control mechanism enables the user to pinpoint an exact location where the dosage of fertilizer is dispensed. 
     The control mechanism is cooperatively engaged with the main body, the control mechanism enables the user to control a dosage of fertilizer dispensed over the surface area to be treated, 
     The control mechanism is cooperatively engaged with the main body, the control mechanism enables the user to control a location where the dosage of fertilizer is dispensed over the surface area to be treated. The control mechanism may include a meter which shows the user the amount or volume of fertilizer being used in each dose and the total amount of fertilizer used. 
     Once the surface of which fertilizer is to be applied is coarsened, via a back and forth motion of the present invention, the operator need only to depress the trigger or control mechanism to dispense a specific amount to the area to be fertilized. 
     The longer the trigger is held, the more fertilizer is dispensed. While the fertilizer is being dispensed, the unit is moved in a manner so as to fertilize the area desired. After the proper dosage of fertilizer has been applied, the apparatus of the present invention is manipulated in a similar back and forth motion that was previously performed to coarsen the surface, whereby fertilizer is worked into the ground reducing volatilization. 
     In another embodiment, the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a receptacle for attachment of a grounded extension cord. 
     In a yet another embodiment of the present invention, a power cord is attached with a grounded extension cord plug. 
     In still another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is manually driven via a gear box attached to the front of the screw housing, which is driven by the motioned generated when the wheels turn in either the forward or backward direction with the trigger actuating an engagement mechanism inside of the gear box, allowing fertilizing agent to be metered out according to the users wishes. 
     Another embodiment will eliminate the trigger housing and, instead, have an attachment point for a drive mechanism, such as a cordless drill, which will be used in lieu of the trigger assembly. The drive mechanism will be connected to the dispensing mechanism via a drive shaft which will replace the electric drive motor. 
     The gear housing where the metering auger is housed includes a quick detach coupling so as to enable different augers with differing pitches to be used so as to change the amount of fertilizer deposited while the trigger is being depressed. 
     For a complete understanding of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention, reference is made to the following summary of the invention detailed description and accompanying drawings in which the presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example. As the invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from spirit of essential characteristics thereof, it is expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts the front view of the first preferred embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts the side view of the first preferred embodiment of the granular fertilizer drop dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the handle and trigger assembly of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of the auger housing, manual gearbox and the contoured wheel assembly, the manual gear box assembly attached to the auger which dispenses the granular fertilizer of the preferred embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  depicts an assembly view of the of the auger housing and manual gearbox of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6B  depicts a perspective view of the auger housing and manual gearbox of  FIG. 4  of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention, and 
         FIG. 6A  is a half-section the auger housing and manual gearbox of  FIG. 6B . 
         FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D  depict various views and details of the manual gearbox engagement gear of  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
         FIG. 8  depicts the drive shaft gear engagement with the manual gearbox engagement gear of  FIG. 7D , the engaging gear located in the manual gear box which engages the auger to dispense fertilizing agent of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  depicts the front view of a second preferred embodiment of granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus, said apparatus deploying an electric motor and a rechargeable battery. 
         FIG. 10  depicts the side view of the power-operated granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 9 , said apparatus using a rechargeable battery. 
         FIG. 11  depicts an assembly view of the power-operated granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  depicts an exploded assembly view of the auger feeder, bridge breaker, and the electric motor of the power-operated granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  depicts an exploded assembly view of the auger assembly as it would be attached to the auger housing of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 14A  depicts the auger feeder/mount, and  FIG. 14B  depicts a sectional view of the auger feeder/mount, with DETAIL “B” depicting an exploded view of the bridge breaker assembly and DETAIL “C” depicting an assembled view of the auger assembly for the power-operated granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 15  depicts a third preferred embodiment of granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus having an electric drill/driver attached to the body. 
         FIG. 16  depicts the front view of a fourth preferred embodiment of granular fertilizer of the present invention, the apparatus being powered by a self-contained battery pack. 
         FIG. 17  depicts the front view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention with an actuating cable running from the trigger to the gear box. 
         FIG. 18  depicts the side view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19A  depicts the handle and trigger of the fifth preferred embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19B  depicts the wheels, and gearbox of the fifth preferred embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20A  depicts the side view of the gearbox, auger housing and wheels of the fifth embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention; and  FIG. 20B  depicts the underside view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21  depicts a cut-away view of the gearbox of the fifth embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 22  depicts an exploded view of the gearbox assembly of the fifth embodiment of the manual granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 23  depicts front view of the sixth embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention, this apparatus being powered via battery. 
         FIG. 24  depicts the side view of the sixth embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention, this apparatus being powered via battery of the present invention. 
         FIG. 25A  depicts the auger housing of the sixth embodiment of the battery powered granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 25B  depicts the auger of the sixth embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention, this apparatus being powered via battery. 
         FIG. 25C  depicts a cutaway of the sixth embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention, this apparatus being powered via battery. 
         FIG. 26  depicts an exploded view of the sixth embodiment of the granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention, this apparatus being power via battery. 
         FIGS. 27A and 27B, 27C and 27D, and 27E and 27F  depict three augers having varying pitch. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  depict the preferred embodiment of the manual fertilizer dispensing apparatus  20  of the present invention. Attached to the top of the dispenser body  11  is the handle  16  with trigger  17  which enables the user to operate fertilizer dispensing apparatus  20  of the present invention. Attaching the handle  16  to the dispenser body  11  is a handle mount  18  which is a compression style mount attached via fasteners. At the base of the dispenser body is the auger/feeder mount  35  which is attached to the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  20  and houses the auger  4  ( FIG. 5 ). The contoured wheels  15  are attached to the auger housing  32  via a wheel mount/manual gearbox drive shaft  40  (as best depicted in  FIG. 5 ), which are used for mobility, as well as to coarsen the ground prior to dispensing of the fertilizer. 
       FIGS. 3-4  depicts an isometric view of the manual embodiment of the present invention in which the manual gearbox  30  with attached contoured wheels  15  and the handle  16 , and handle mount are visibly attached to the dispenser body  11  via a wheel mount/manual gearbox drive shaft  40  (as best depicted in  FIG. 5 ) with the dispenser cap  9  attached to the dispenser body  11  just above the handle  16 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts the auger housing  32  attached to the front end of the manual gearbox  30  which is operated via the forward and rearward motion of the contoured wheels  15 . A plurality of tines  25  extends radially about each contoured wheel  15 . The tines  25  are generally equally spaced about the circumference of each wheel  15 . The purpose of the tines  25  is to coarsen or break up the surface crust of the area being fertilized. The tines  25  extends radially about each contoured wheel  15 . The tines  25  are generally equally spaced about the circumference of each wheel  15 . The purpose of the tines  25  is to coarsen or break up the surface crust of the area being fertilized. 
     As the surface is being dispersed, the trigger  17  is engaged and a metering auger dispenses a controlled amount of fertilizer. The surface treatment enables the fertilizer to be inserted into the soil close to the root system of the plants targeted for growth, rather than fertilizing the weed system surrounding the plants which may eventually threaten the plants. After the fertilizer is inserted, the fertilizer dispenser apparatus in maneuvered in a fashion to cover the newly applied fertilizer with available soil that was previously dug up. Also, the surface treatment results in less handling of the fertilizer and a reduction in the overall amount of fertilizer needed in the area of the plant system. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a detailed assembly view of the manual gear box  30  and the auger housing  32  of the fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . Inside the manual gearbox  30  is the wheel mount/drive shaft  40  up which the engagement gear  68  is mounted which engages the drive shaft gear  78 , which meshes with auger gear  80 , which turns the auger  4 , dispensing fertilizer. Locating the auger  4  in the auger housing  32  is a thrust bearing  65  and a pair of C-clips  62 . The manual gearbox  30  is attached to the end of the assembly by four fasteners with the auger  4  being positioned inside an auger sleeve  63 . Forward and rearward motion of the wheels  15  turns the gearbox  30  and when the trigger  17  is pulled, the gear box engager  38  engages the gears, turning the auger  4  and dispensing a metered amount of fertilizing agent. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  depict the manual gearbox  30  attached to the auger housing  32 .  FIG. 6A  is a cutaway view and  FIG. 6B  is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the assembly. A drive shaft  40  is mounted inside the manual gearbox  30 , which the wheels  15  are mounted to and when a rotational force is applied to them, the driveshaft  40  turns, which in turn turns the auger  4 , dispensing fertilizing agent. The cutaway view shows the auger  4  and manual gear box  30 . Fertilizer is loaded into the fertilizer dispenser apparatus of the present invention  20  through a fertilizer feeding slot  23  disposed in the top of the auger housing  32 . A weep hole  26  is disposed on the underside of the auger housing  32 . The weep hole  26  is preferably positioned slightly upstream of fertilizer feeding slot  23  and is designed to drain off accumulated material from the auger  4 . The fertilizer dispensing slot is located downstream of the auger  4  and is positioned on the underside of the manual gearbox  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D , when the operator pulls the trigger  17 , the manual gearbox engager  38  engages the engagement gear  68 , which in turn engages the driveshaft gear  78  of  FIG. 8 , and turns the auger  4 , through the fertilizing dispensing slot  22  located on the underside of the manual gearbox  30 . The manual gearbox engagement gear  68  depicted in includes an internal spring  70  which aides in the seating and engagement of the gear during operation. In the body of the engagement gear  68  are a plurality of screws  72 , which secure the gear head  90  to the gear body  92 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  depict the front and profile view of the power version of the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  120  of the present invention, and  FIG. 11  is an assembly view of the power version of the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  120 . The auger housing  32  which is mounted to the auger feeder/mount  35  is shown, which is mounted to the end of the dispenser body  11 . Mounted to the front of the auger housing  32  is the auger support  42  which is used to locate the auger  4  as well as being a mounting point for the wheels  115 . At the opposite end of the dispenser body  11  is the handle  116 , which is mounted to a compression fit mount  18  via six fasteners. A rechargeable battery  48  is positioned inside the handle  116 . The rechargeable battery  48  is used to actuate the electric motor  45  which is mounted to the rear of the auger housing  32 . The dispenser body cap  9  is positioned just behind the handle  116  and is used for loading the fertilizer into the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  120  of the present invention. 
     The meter  122  depicted in  FIG. 10  is positioned in the handle  116  of the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  120  of the present invention. The meter  122  is preferably either a volume flow meter or a mass flow meter. The control mechanism  17  is cooperatively engaged with a main body  11 . The control mechanism  17  is also cooperatively engaged with the meter  122 . The meter  122  is a mass or volume flow meter displaying a dosage of fertilizer being dispensed. The user pinpoints a location where said dosage of fertilizer is to be dispensed by positioning said fertilizer dispensing apparatus  120 . The user uses the set point stem setter to advise the apparatus the dosage of fertilizer to be dispensed to the location selected. The control mechanism  17  and the flow meter  122  enable the user to control the dosage of fertilizer dispensed. In addition, the user can view the granular fertilizer being dispensed onto the targeted areas as he walks behind and pushes the granular fertilizer dispenser apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  depict the assembly view of the auger housing  32  auger support  42 , wheels  115 , electric motor  45 , electric motor mount  50 , and auger feeder/mount  35  of the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  120  of the present invention. The electric motor  45  is mounted to the back of the auger housing  32  via the electric motor mount  50 , with the auger housing  32  being attached to the auger feeder/mount  35 , which is, in turn, attached to the dispenser body  11 . The wheels  115  are attached to two wheel axles  55  which are attached to the auger support  42 . The auger  4  is supported by the auger support  42  and positioned via thrust bearing  65  and C-clips  62 . The auger/feeder mount  35  is disposed in the bridge breaker  52  (see DETAIL “B”) which is used to break up any chunks of fertilizer or other material which may interfere with the function the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  120  of the present invention. A coupler  95  transfers rotational energy from the electric motor  45  to the auger  4  which is attached to the drive shaft of the electric motor  45  and to the end of auger  4 . 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  depict the section and off-set view of the auger housing  32 , auger feeder/mount  35  and auger support  42  assembly. In this embodiment, as opposed to the manual version described in  FIG. 1 , in place of the manual gear box  30  is the auger support  42  onto which the wheels  115  are mounted via wheel axles  55 . At the rear of the auger housing  32  is the electric motor  45  and electric motor cover  66  which protects the motor from debris and the elements. Attached to the top of the auger housing  32  is the auger feeder/mount  35  into which the dispenser body  11  is inserted. Insuring proper alignment between the auger feeder/mount  35  and the auger housing  32  is a mounting plate  50 . Visible in the cutaway is the coupler  95  which couples the electric motor  45  to the auger  4 . 
       FIG. 15  depicts a third preferred embodiment of fertilizer dispensing apparatus of fertilizer dispensing apparatus  220  of the present invention in which in place of the trigger  17  is a cordless drill  58  mounted underneath the dispenser body  11  via a cordless drill mount  61  which attaches to the dispenser body  11  where the drive shaft  60  is connected to the drill with the drive shaft  60  connected to the auger housing  32  in place of the electric motor  45 . In this embodiment, the cordless drill  58  powers the unit. The fertilizer is added to the dispenser body  11  and is fed via gravity into the auger feeder mount  35  with fertilizer only being spread when the trigger  17  is depressed. The specially contoured wheels help to coarsen the surface where the fertilizer is to be applied, making the application of the fertilizer more efficient. 
       FIG. 16  depicts the front view of a fourth preferred embodiment of fertilizer dispensing apparatus of fertilizer dispensing apparatus  320  of the present invention, said apparatus being powered by a self-contained battery pack. In this embodiment, along the dispenser body  11  is located battery compartments  12  which power the unit, with said battery compartments  12  preferably being removable and enabling the use the cordless drill, rechargeable style batteries instead. The fertilizer is added to the dispenser body  11  and is fed via gravity into the auger feeder mount  35  with fertilizer only being spread when the trigger  17  is depressed. The specially contoured wheels help to coarsen the surface where the fertilizer is to be applied, making the application of the fertilizer more efficient. Battery-packs differ greatly in power and weight. The battery packs offered a range between  12  and  36  volts. The lower end of this range is appropriate for smaller applications. 
       FIGS. 17 and 18  depict the fifth embodiment of the manual fertilizer dispensing apparatus  390  of the present invention. Attached to the top of the dispenser body  11  is the handle  16  with trigger  17  which enables the user to operate fertilizer dispensing apparatus  390  of the present invention. Attached to the trigger  17  is an actuating cable  324  which runs the length of the dispenser body  11  and is connected to the gearbox  82 . Attaching the handle  16  to the dispenser body  11  is a handle mount  18  which is a compression style mount attached via fasteners. At the base of the dispenser body is the auger/feeder mount  35  which is attached to the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  390  and houses the auger  4 . The contoured wheels  15  are attached to the auger housing  32  via a wheel mount/manual gearbox drive shaft  40 , which are used for mobility to coarsen the ground prior to dispensing of the fertilizer. 
       FIG. 19A  depicts a perspective view of the trigger and handle as attached to the dispenser body  11 .  FIG. 19B  depicts a perspective view of the manual embodiment of the fifth preferred embodiment in which the manual gearbox  30  with attached contoured wheels  15  is visibly attached to the dispenser body  11  via a wheel mount/manual gearbox drive shaft  40 . The actuating cable  324  is connected to the gearbox  30  via actuating cable clamp  346 . Also, shown is the wheel hitch pin  342  which attaches the wheel  15  to the manual gearbox  30  via drive shaft  40 . The auger locator/mount  338  is also shown which holds the auger  4  in place and enables quick changes to augers of varying pitches as needed. 
       FIG. 19B  depicts a preferred embodiment of the contoured wheel  15 . Each contoured wheel  15  includes multiple rows of projections, each row including a plurality of said projections or tines. A plurality of projections extending outward from each contoured wheel  15  the tines being designed to churn the soil, either exposing the root for the fertilizer dispenser apparatus  390  to drop fertilizer onto the root or subsequently cover said root with soil. While preferably this can be accomplished with a single pass, it may be necessary for the fertilizer dispenser apparatus  390  to pass the targeted area more than one time, initially to expose the root and subsequently to cover the fertilized root. 
       FIG. 20A  depicts the side view of the manual gearbox housing  82 . Attached to the manual gearbox housing  82  are the contoured wheels  15  attached via wheel hitch pin  342 . At the rear of gearbox housing  82  is the auger locator/mount  338  which allows the user to quickly remove and replace the auger  4  with an auger of different pitch or for maintenance.  FIG. 20B  depicts the underside of the fertilizer dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 20A . Visible, is the weep hole  26  which is located at the rear of the manual gearbox  30  which allows any excess fertilizer of other debris to fall from the apparatus and prevent any buildup which would adversely affect the operation of the unit. Disposed in the front of the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  390  is the fertilizer dispensing slot  22  from which the fertilizer is dispensed. The manual gear engager  38  is also visible which the actuating cable  324  is connected to via the actuating cable mount  350 . 
       FIG. 21  depicts a cutaway view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  390  with the auger  4  clearly visible. To release the auger  4  the auger release  355  is pulled and the auger  4  will then be able to pulled from the gearbox housing  82  from the rear. Also visible, is the bevel gearset  374  which is at the front of the gearbox  82  and connected via the wheel mount manual gearbox drive shaft  40 . When dispensed, the fertilizer flows down the fertilizer feeding slot  23  and onto the auger  4  which then carries the fertilizer forward and out of the dispensing slot  22  with any excess as well as any other debris falling from the weep hole  26  located at the rear of the manual gearbox  82 . 
       FIG. 22  depicts a detailed assembly view of the manual gear box  30  and the auger housing  32  of the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  390 . Inside the manual gearbox  30  is the wheel mount/drive shaft  40  upon which the bevel gearset  374  is attached, which turns the auger  4  when engaged via the actuating cable  324  which, in turn, actuates the engagement tube  376  which is connected to the gearbox engager  38 , collapsing the compression springs that are interior to the manual gearbox engager  38 , as well as allowing the wave spring  360  to decompress and extend, causing the bevel gearset  374  to connect, dispensing fertilizer. Locating the auger  4  in the auger housing  32  is the recessed spade interface of the auger  4 , which mates with the spade segment of the bevel gearset. At the rear of the auger  4  is the auger quick change hub  372  which has a channel in which the quick change mechanism  378  engages, holding the auger securely in the housing  82 . 
     In this preferred embodiment the manual gearbox is an integral part of the manual gearbox housing. It is one piece and molded. The manual gearbox  30  is attached to the end of the assembly by four fasteners with the auger  4  being positioned inside manual housing  82 . Forward and rearward motion of the wheels  15  turns the gearbox  30  and when the trigger  17  is pulled, the gear box engager  38  engages the gears, turning the auger  4  and dispensing a metered amount of fertilizing agent. At the front of the gear box  82  is the gear box front cover  85  which is secured into place via four fasteners  8  and allows access to the bevel gearset  374  as well as the gearbox engager  38  and the engagement tube  376 . 
       FIGS. 23 and 24  depict the front and profile view of the power version of the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  400  of the present invention, and  FIGS. 25A, 25C, and 26  is an assembly view of the power version of the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  400 . The auger housing  32  which is mounted to the auger feeder/mount  35  is shown, which is mounted to the end of the dispenser body  11 . The auger housing  32  is comprised of two halves which are held together via multiple fasteners  8 . The rear of the housing  32  is attached the electric motor  45  with cover  66 . The electric motor  45  when the trigger  17  is depressed, the electric motor turns the auger  4 . In this embodiment, there is no gearbox connected to the wheels. The quick change mechanism  378  is at the front of this embodiment, allowing the auger  4  to be removed from the front of the unit. At the opposite end of the dispenser body  11  is the handle  116 , which is mounted to a compression fit mount  18  via six fasteners.  FIG. 25B  is the auger  4  with quick change hub  372  and c-clip  62  clearly shown. A rechargeable battery  48  is attached behind the handle with a wire track  385  running down to the electric motor  45 . The rechargeable battery  48  is used to actuate the electric motor  45  which is mounted to the rear of the auger housing  32 . The dispenser body cap  9  is positioned just behind the handle  116  and is used for loading the fertilizer into the fertilizer dispensing apparatus  400  of the present invention. 
     The meter  122  as depicted in  FIG. 10  is positioned in the handle  116  of the fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention. The meter  122  is preferably either a volume flow meter or a mass flow meter. The control mechanism  17  is cooperatively engaged with a main body  11 . The control mechanism  17  is also cooperatively engaged with the meter  122 . The meter  122  is a mass or volume flow meter displaying a dosage of fertilizer being dispensed. The user pinpoints a location where said dosage of fertilizer is to be dispensed by positioning said fertilizer dispensing apparatus  400 . The user uses the set point stem setter to advise the apparatus the dosage of fertilizer to be dispensed to the location selected. The control mechanism  17  and the flow meter  122  enable the user to control the dosage of fertilizer dispensed. 
       FIGS. 27A and 27B, 27C and 27D, and 27E and 27F  depict three augers having varying pitch.  FIGS. 27A and 27B  depict a first and longer auger pitch  4 A,  FIGS. 27C and 27D  depict a second and narrower auger pitch  4 B, and  FIGS. 27E and 27F  depict a third and smallest auger pitch  4 C. The auger pitch  4 C enables the slowest rate of fertilizer to be applied through the granular fertilizer apparatus of the present invention. 
     The fertilizer dispenser apparatus of the present invention may be manual or powered as described above. In either event, the fertilizer dispenser apparatus is used by an operator that walks behind or alongside of the unit, deciding how much fertilizer to apply at any particular location. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the electric motor  45  has a variable speed type. This enables a pre-programmable system for the user to set the meter for various amounts of fertilizer to be dispensed, allowing different amounts to be dispensed when the trigger  17  is pressed. 
     Further, to allow for ease during usage in applications when the device would need to be used underneath foliage, removable fenders could be used so as to prevent any damage to sensitive foliage. 
     The longer the trigger is held, the more fertilizer is dispensed. While the fertilizer is being dispensed, the unit is moved in a manner so as to fertilize the area desired. After the proper dosage of fertilizer has been applied, the unit is manipulated in a similar back and forth motion that was previously performed to coarsen the surface prior to application. 
     The granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention provides a user with a clear view of said root system within said surface area to be treated to monitor apparatus operation. The granular fertilizer dispensing apparatus of the present invention can accurately meter the rate to dispense onto an area as small as one square inch (7 square centimeters). 
     Throughout this application, various patents and applications are referenced by number and inventor. The disclosures of these documents in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. 
     It is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations of the granular fertilizer dispenser apparatus  20  of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the disclosure herein. It is intended that the metes and bounds of the present invention be determined by the appended claims rather than by the language of the above specification, and that all such alternatives, modifications, and variations which form a conjointly cooperative equivalent are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of these claims.