Abstract:
A load dispenser located at the distal end of an elongated hollow tube allows for convenient refilling of the dispenser from the proximal end of the load release mechanism. The length of the tube is dimensioned to serve as a walking stick as well.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of Provisional Application (Application Serial No. 60/418,428, filed Oct. 15, 2002, and applicant claim priority therefrom. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a walking or hiking stick or pole that can provide greater balance, support, thrust, and other aid, and in particular a hiking stick or pole configured to dispense particles such as birdseed, planting seed, fertilizer, insecticides, and the like.  
         PRIOR ART  
         [0003]    Walking and hiking poles are well known in the art, frequently such apparatus include enhanced features such as telescoping shafts and adjustable handles, Also there has also been a variety of dispensers for bird seed and the like are well known.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The invention is based on the recognition that a load dispensing system located at the distal end of a length of hollow tubing provides for a convenient location of a refill port and load activation control while providing for a walking support as well. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus with the principles of this invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged cross sections of the apparatus as FIG. 1 showing the particle load section of the device.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 4 shows the dispenser in the particle retaining position.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 5 shows the dispenser in the particle dispensing position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 shows a load dispenser, shown upright and including a bottom or proximal and a top or distal end. A load dispenser is located at the proximal end and the distal end serves as a refill port as well becomes clear from the following explanation in connection with FIGS. 2, 3,  4  and  5 .  
         [0010]    [0010]FIGS. 2 and 3 show a tubular shaft  1 , with a load funnel  2  having a particle  4  entry opening  5 , affixed onto the tubular shaft  1 . A removable cap  3 , is on top of the open wide neck of the load funnel  2  to seal funnel back-flow. With the cap  3  removed, and the internal area open  5 , particles  4 , may be loaded through opening  5 , into the hollow inner length of the tubular shaft  1  and load funnel  2 . An anti-slip handgrip  6  is affixed onto tubular shaft  1 .  
         [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 4 and 5 show an adjustable, spring-loaded, particle dose dispenser comprised of an inner load body  8 , with the bottom  9  being closed. The center  10  of the load body  8  is open, as well as a slot-like opening (s)  11 , protruding through the inner wall  12 , and outer wall  13 . Affixed to the bottom of the closed end  9 , of the load body  8 , is a flow stop seal  14  that is larger in circumference than the bottom  9  of the load body  8 . The flow stop seal  14  has a slot like opening (s)  15 , which extends from the bottom edge  9  of the load body  8  to the outer edge  17  of the flow stop seal  14 . With the flow stop seal  14  is resting against the release body&#39;s flanged surface  16  particle  4  flow stops as shown in FIG. 3, and particles  4  can only be released when the particle dose dispenser is in the particles release position  4 . The upper end of the load body  8  has an annular flange  18  to seat the compression spring  19 . The release housing  20  has an inwardly protruding annular flange  21  to seat the compression spring  19 . The compression spring  19  rests between the outer wall  22  of the load body  8  and the inner wall  23  of the release housing  20 , a slip fit clearance allows the compression spring  19  to have movement. The mating surfaces  24  of the load body  7 , and the release housing  20  are slip fit. The load body  8  and the compression spring  19  are placed into the release housing  20 , and made captive by the affixing of the flow stop seal  14  to the bottom  9  of the load body  8 . The compression spring  19  maintains pressure, forcing the load body  8  in one direction and the outer release housing  20  in an opposing direction, stopping the release of particles  4 . Surfaces  26 , the inner wall of the release housing  20  and the outer wall of the tubular shaft  1 , are a slip fit to each other. The upper, outer wall of the load body  8  is affixed  7  to the inner bottom wall of the tubular shaft  1 . The release housing  20  has a circumflexing anti-slip cap  27  affixed to the periphery of the bottom outer wall of the release housing  20 , with the cap open to the extent of the bottom inner wall of the load body  8 . Spaced above the release housing  20  and affixed to the tubular shaft is inner ring  29 . The outer wall of the inner ring  29  is threaded  30 . The outer ring  31  has an internal thread matched to the thread  30  on the outer wall of the inner ring  29 . The outer ring  31  when screwed against the release housing  20  forces the release housing  20  away from the inner ring  29 , compressing the compression spring  19 , limiting the particle dose. At the bottom of the anti-slip cap  27  and detachably affixed  33  to the lower inner wall of the release housing  20  is a spiked button  32 , used as a walking or hiking balance aid. In addition the spiked button may be replaced with other accessory devices such as garden picking, turning, and planting devices. While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.