Floating pond fertilizer device

A floating pond fertilizer device is provided. The device includes a tray for holding fertilizer at the surface of a body of water to be fertilized. The tray has small holes in the bottom of the tray through which fertilizer is released and is secured to a float to support the tray on the surface of the water. The device has opposing mixing arms positioned inside the tray for mixing the fertilizer. The mixing arms are attached to a support arm that can freely rotate within an opening in the center of the bottom of the tray. Rotation of the support arm is facilitated by natural wind and wave action, and thus the device does not require the use of motorized or automated components for mixing or dispensing the fertilizer. The device has a lid that can be retained in an open position during use to facilitate wind-assisted mixing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure refers generally to a floating pond fertilizer device and a method of using the device to fertilize a pond.

BACKGROUND

Pond fertilizer may be utilized to fertilize a pond, lake, or similar body of water in order to increase fish production from the pond. The fertilizer provides nutrients that stimulate the growth of algae and other aquatic plant life that provide feed for many types of small aquatic animals that larger fish prey on. By increasing the amount of prey in the pond, fertilizer may be utilized to increase the number of fish and/or the size of fish, sometimes by as much as three to four times the number of fish naturally produced without using fertilizer. In order to fertilize a pond, a certain amount of fertilizer must be applied to the water over a period of time. A steady, controlled release of fertilizer is preferred in order to maximize the efficacy of the fertilizer and minimize overuse of fertilizer.

Various types of devices for distributing fertilizer in a body of water are known in the art. However, there are problems and disadvantages with known fertilizing devices. Some devices utilize electric motors for automated distribution of fertilizer. These devices require a power source such as a battery as well as other electronic components, which are subject to failure and also make such devices more expensive to purchase and operate. Fertilizer devices that do not include a motor are often not effective in releasing fertilizer in a controlled manner over an extended period of time. Additionally, many devices do not include a means for mixing the fertilizer while the device is in use, which may cause the fertilizer to form clumps that do not distribute as easily or effectively. Non-motorized devices, in particular, generally do not have any type of mixers for mixing the fertilizer contained within the device prior to distribution.

Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a pond fertilizer device that effectively releases fertilizer in a controlled manner over an extended period of time and that is not motorized.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a floating pond fertilizer device is provided. The device comprises a tray for holding granular fertilizer for fertilizing a pond or similar body of water. The tray is secured to a float that supports the tray to keep the tray on the surface of the water. The float is preferably a floatation ring that circumscribes the tray. The float is arranged to support the tray in an upright position with the bottom of the tray contacting water when the device is floating with the tray weighted with fertilizer. The bottom of the tray has a plurality of holes extending through the bottom, which allow a controlled release of the fertilizer contained in the tray through the holes in the bottom of the tray.

The device further comprises a support arm extending through a central opening in the bottom of the tray. The support arm has a top end positioned above the bottom of the tray and a bottom end positioned below the bottom of the tray. Two opposing mixing arms are each attached to the top end of the support arm at an angle to the support arm, which is preferably a 90-degree angle, and each disposed within an interior of the tray. The support arm is free to rotate within the central opening so that the opposing mixing arms will mix the granular fertilizer contained in the tray when the support arm is rotated. An anchor arm is attached at one end to the bottom end of the support arm at an angle to the support arm, which is preferably a 90-degree angle. An anchor is connected to the anchor arm via an anchor line that is secured to an end of the anchor arm opposite the end of the anchor arm attached to the bottom end of the support arm. In a preferred embodiment, the device also includes a wind fan that extends upward from the device when the device is floating. The wind fan catches wind in order to cause the device to rotate when floating on the surface of the water.

To use the device to fertilize a pond, fertilizer is added into the tray, and the device is set in the pond and anchored. Once anchored, the natural action of the wind and water cause the floating device to move on the surface of the water. The wind fan causes both the float and the tray secured thereto to rotate on the water surface while the anchor line pulls on the anchor arm to which the line is secured. These actions cause an arm assembly, which includes the support arm, anchor arm, and mixing arms, to rotate relative to the tray and the float, thereby mixing the fertilizer contained within the tray as the fertilizer is slowly released through the holes in the bottom of the tray. The mixing of the fertilizer with the mixing arms helps to provide a controlled release of an effective quantity of fertilizer without the use of a motor or other automated means of dispensing or mixing the fertilizer.

In an alternative embodiment, the device may comprise a bottom tray for holding the fertilizer and a top tray secured to the bottom tray in a spaced relation to form a holding compartment between the top and bottom trays in which the fertilizer is held as it is being released through the holes in the bottom tray. The top tray has a top opening with a lid pivotally connected to the top tray by a hinge. When the lid is closed, the lid fits flush with the rest of the top tray so that the device may be easily stored when not in use and so that the top tray may be easily shipped for delivery to a customer along with other components of the device. The lid may then be moved into an open position in which the lid extends upwardly from the top tray, which allows the lid to function as a wind fan during normal use of the device for fertilizing a pond. Fertilizer may also be added into the holding compartment through the top opening of the top tray when the lid is opened. The lid may be held in the open position for normal use by a securing cord or similar type of securing element. In a preferred embodiment, the float may be a floatation ring disposed within the holding compartment formed between the top and bottom trays and positioned around a perimeter of the holding compartment. This arrangement provides a device that is as compact as possible for ease of use.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, a system “comprising” components A, B, and C can contain only components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C, but also one or more other components.

In one aspect, a floating pond fertilizer device10is provided.FIGS. 1-3illustrate one preferred embodiment of the device10, andFIGS. 4-12illustrate an alternative embodiment50of the device.FIG. 1illustrates the device10floating on the surface of water20in an upright position suitable for normal use. For ease of illustration of various components of the device10,FIG. 1shows the device10before fertilizer is added for normal use. The device10comprises a tray12for holding granular fertilizer40for fertilizing a pond or similar body of water. The tray12has a bottom14with a plurality of small holes16extending through the bottom14. The holes16may be arranged in a desired pattern, as shown inFIG. 2, or in a random pattern, as shown inFIG. 4. The tray12is secured to a float18that supports the tray12to keep the tray12on the surface of the water20when in use. The float18is arranged to support the tray12in an upright position, as best illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3, with the bottom14of the tray12contacting water20when the device10is floating with the tray12weighted with fertilizer40, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 11. In a preferred embodiment, as best illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the float18is a floatation ring that circumscribes, or completely surrounds, the tray12. Both the float18and the tray12are preferably circular, though other geometries may be utilized. The tray12may be secured to the float18by a plurality of fasteners19, which may include rope, string, cords, wire, plastic cable ties, or similar types of fasteners secured to both the float18and to the tray12. The fasteners19may be looped around the floatation ring18and passed through openings disposed around a perimeter of a side wall of the tray12with opposing ends of the fasteners secured to each other. Alternatively, other suitable types of fasteners may be utilized for securing the tray12to the float18. The float18preferably includes polyethylene foam disposed within the interior of the float, as shown inFIG. 3, or a similar material suitable for floatation.

The device10further comprises a support arm22extending through a central opening28in the bottom14of the tray12. The support arm22has a top end24positioned above the bottom14of the tray12and a bottom end26positioned below the bottom14of the tray12, as best seen inFIGS. 1 and 3. Two opposing mixing arms30are each attached to the top end24of the support arm22at an angle to the support arm22. Preferably, each mixing arm30is attached at a 90-degree angle to the support arm22, as best seen inFIGS. 3 and 11. When the device10is assembled, the mixing arms30are disposed within an interior of the tray12for mixing fertilizer40contained within the tray12. The support arm22is free to rotate within the central opening28about axis50, as indicated by the arrows shown inFIG. 1, so that the opposing mixing arms30will mix the granular fertilizer40contained within the tray12when the support arm22is rotated relative to the tray12and the float18.

An anchor arm32is attached at one end of the anchor arm32to the bottom end26of the support arm22at an angle to the support arm22. Preferably, as best shown inFIGS. 1, 3, and 11, the anchor arm32is positioned at a 90-degree angle to the support arm22. Thus, the support arm22, anchor arm32, and opposing mixing arms30form an arm assembly that may rotate relative to the tray12and the float18with the support arm22rotating within the central opening28in the bottom14of the tray12. The arm assembly may be constructed of any suitable material such as metal or plastic. In a preferred embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 1-3 and 11, the arm assembly is constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe connected together by PVC fittings, which provides a lightweight, inexpensive construction material. Thus, the top end24of the support arm22may be defined by a tee fitting that connects the support arm22to each of the two opposing mixing arms30, which are preferably at a 180-degree angle to each other, as shown inFIG. 1. In an alternative embodiment, the device10may comprise more than two mixing arms30, and a fitting for connecting more than two mixing arms30to the support arm22may be utilized at the top end24of the support arm22. The central opening28may be sized such that it has a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of the support arm22but slightly smaller than a diameter of the tee fitting connected to the support arm22. This arrangement allows the support arm22to rotate freely within the central opening28while supporting the tee fitting that connects the mixing arms30to the support arm22above the bottom14of the tray12, which thereby supports both of the opposing mixing arms30slightly above the bottom14of the tray12, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 11. In addition, the bottom end26of the support arm22may be defined by a tee fitting or an elbow fitting to which the anchor arm32is connected at an angle to the support arm22.

The anchor arm32is preferably at least six inches long, and more preferably at least 12 inches long. In a preferred embodiment, the tray12and the floatation ring18are circular, and the tray12has a radius extending from the central opening28to an outer perimeter of the tray12supported by the floatation ring18, as best seen inFIG. 2. In a preferred embodiment, as best shown inFIGS. 1 and 3, the anchor arm32has a length at least as long as the radius of the tray12so that the anchor arm32extends at least to the perimeter of the tray12, and more preferably to the perimeter of the floatation ring18.

As shown inFIG. 1, an anchor36is connected to the anchor arm32via an anchor line34that is secured to an end of the anchor arm32opposite the end of the anchor arm34that is attached to the bottom end26of the support arm22. The anchor36rests on a water bottom and prevents the tray12and float18from drifting out of a fertilization zone of the body of water as determined by the length of the anchor line34, which may be adjusted as needed. The anchor36may be any suitably heavy object, including commonly available items, such as a brick, as shown inFIG. 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the device10also includes a wind fan38that extends upward from the device10when the device10is floating, as best shown inFIGS. 1 and 3. The wind fan38is preferably secured to the floatation ring18. The wind fan38catches wind in order to cause the floatation ring18and the tray12secured thereto to rotate relative to the arm assembly, and particularly relative to the mixing arms30, when the device10is floating on the surface of the water20. In an illustrative embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the device10has only one wind fan38. However, the device10may optionally have multiple wind fans38, and may preferably have four wind fans positioned equidistantly around the floatation ring38so that there is always at least one wind fan38perpendicular to the direction of the wind to assist in causing rotation of the floatation ring18and the tray12.

To use the device10to fertilize a pond, granular pond fertilizer40is added into the tray12, as shown inFIG. 3. In a preferred embodiment, the tray12has a diameter and a depth sufficient to hold about 25 pounds of fertilizer, though the size and depth of the tray may be adjusted for different applications. In one embodiment, the depth of the tray12may be in the range of about 2-6 inches. Fertilizer40is added into the tray12so that the fertilizer40at least partially covers the mixing arms30, as shown inFIG. 3, so that the mixing arms30will mix the fertilizer40when the support arm22to which the mixing arms30are attached rotates relative to the tray12. With fertilizer40held in the tray12, the device10is set in the pond to be fertilized so that the device10is floating with the tray12in an upright position with the bottom14of the tray12contacting water20. The device10is anchored in place by the anchor36. The float18should be sized to support the tray12with fertilizer40contained in the tray12so that an exterior surface of the bottom14of the tray12contacts the water20when the tray12and float18are weighted downward into the water20with fertilizer40.

Once set in place and anchored, the device10is allowed to float in the body of water for a period of time, thereby allowing a controlled release of fertilizer40through the holes16in the bottom14of the tray12. The holes16in the bottom14of the tray12allow water20to seep upward through the holes16and contact the fertilizer40contained in the tray12, which allows the fertilizer40to be slowly released over an extended period of time. While floating, the natural action of wind and water20cause the float18and tray12to move on the surface of the water20. The wind fan38causes both the float18and the tray12secured thereto to rotate on the water surface relative to the mixing arms30while the anchor line34pulls on the anchor arm32due to surface movement of the float18due to the wind and wave action. This pulling action may further assist in the relative rotational movement of the arm assembly. In addition, the anchor arm32having a length at least as long as a radius of the tray12may provide added leverage to cause relative rotational movement of the arm assembly. The pulling action in conjunction with wind action may cause the arm assembly, which includes the support arm22, anchor arm32, and mixing arms30, to rotate relative to the tray12, thereby mixing the fertilizer40contained within the tray while the fertilizer is slowly released through the holes16in the bottom14of the tray12. The mixing of the fertilizer40with the mixing arms30helps to keep the granular fertilizer40from forming clumps, which may clog the holes16and prevent an adequate quantity of fertilizer from being released through the holes16. Thus, the mixing action of the mixing arms30helps to provide a controlled release of an effective quantity of fertilizer40without the use of a motor or other automated means of dispensing or mixing the fertilizer.

As shown inFIG. 3, the support arm22may be free to vertically pivot within the central opening28in the bottom14of the tray12. Thus, when the device10is floating in an upright position, the support arm22may be positioned at a slight angle to vertical axis50. This vertical pivoting may be caused by the pulling action of the anchor line34pulling on the anchor arm32due to surface movement of the float18due to the wind and wave action. The anchor arm32having a length at least as long as a radius of the tray12may provide added leverage to cause vertical pivoting of the support arm22. When the support arm22pivots vertically, this pivoting causes one of the opposing mixing arms30to be positioned lower than the opposite mixing arm30, which may cause one mixing arm30to contact an interior surface of the bottom14of the tray12, as shown inFIG. 3. When the mixing arms30rotate in this position relative to the tray12, the rotation causes an end of one mixing arm30to scrape the bottom14of the tray12, which generally assists further in preventing the formation of fertilizer clumps, particularly around the holes16in the tray12. A central portion of the bottom14of the tray12may be slightly raised, as shown inFIG. 1, so that the lower of the two mixing arms30passes closer to the bottom14of the tray12when the mixing arms30rotate to facilitate breaking up fertilizer clumps.

The anchor36may optionally have a second line82secured thereto that runs from the anchor36to a stake or similar tie-down point located on a shore of the pond. This line may allow a user to pull the line to draw the anchor36to the shore, which thereby allows the user to access the device10from the shore without the necessity of using a boat. The user may then re-fill the tray12with fertilizer40as needed and then re-set the device10in the pond by pushing the re-filled tray12and floatation ring18out into the pond and then throwing the anchor36back to its previous location.

FIGS. 4-12illustrate an alternative embodiment50of the present floating pond fertilizer device. In this embodiment, the device50comprises a top tray52and a bottom tray54secured to each other in a spaced relation to form a holding compartment72between the top and bottom trays in which fertilizer40may be contained during normal use, as shown inFIG. 11.FIGS. 4 and 5illustrate the bottom tray54and the top tray52, respectively. The bottom tray54supports the fertilizer40and has a bottom opening28for the support arm22to extend through, as well as a plurality of holes16extending through the bottom tray for release of the fertilizer40into the water20.

The top tray52has a top opening70, as best seen inFIG. 12, with a lid56pivotally connected to the top tray52by a hinge58. As best seen inFIG. 5, the hinge58may preferably be a living hinge formed from the same material as the top tray52and the lid56, which is preferably a plastic material. The lid56is pivotable between an open position, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, and a closed position, as shown in FIG.5. The lid56is retainable in the open position. When in the closed position, the lid56fits flush with the rest of the top tray52, which may allow the top tray to be easily shipped for delivery to a customer and also the assembled device to be easily stored when not in use. The lid56may be moved into the open position and retained in the open position in which the lid56extends upwardly from the top tray52at an angle to the top tray. The lid56is preferably retained in a generally vertical position when the device50is in an upright position floating in a body of water20. The lid56may be retained in the open position by a securing element, which is preferably a securing cord60attached to the lid56at one end of the cord60. The device50preferably has an attachment point configured for securing the cord60to the attachment point to retain the lid56in the open position. In a preferred embodiment, the lid56may include a stopper62secured to the cord60, and the attachment point may comprise a cut64in the top tray52sized to receive the cord60therein but having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the stopper62. As shown inFIG. 9, the cord60may be inserted into the cut64in the top tray52so that the stopper62holds the cord60in place, thereby retaining the lid56in the open position. The hinge58is preferably biased toward the closed position so that the lid56does not pivot backward by 180 degrees from the closed position and thus remains extending upwardly from the top tray52. When in the open position, the lid56provides a flat surface that provides wind resistance to help facilitate wind-assisted mixing of the fertilizer40. Thus, retaining the lid56of the top tray52in the open position during normal use of the device50allows the lid56to function in the same manner as a wind fan38while the device is floating on a water surface to fertilize the body of water20. When the lid56is in the open position, fertilizer40may also be added into the holding compartment72through the top opening70of the top tray52. In alternative embodiments, other types of securing elements suitable for retaining the lid56in the open position may be utilized and still fall within the scope of the present disclosure. For instance, a hinge with a locking element may be utilized to lock the hinge in place to retain the lid in the open position at a desired angle from the top of the top tray52.

The device50further comprises a float74arranged to float the device50with a bottom side of the bottom tray54contacting water20when the device is floating on a water surface. In a preferred embodiment, as best seen inFIG. 11, the float is a floatation ring74disposed within the holding compartment72formed between the top and bottom trays and positioned around a perimeter of the holding compartment72. By placing the floatation ring74inside the holding compartment72of the device50, the size of the device may be minimized as much as possible. In a preferred embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6, the floatation ring74may be assembled from a pair of float tubes76and a flexible plastic bag78sized and shaped to receive the float tubes76therein. This may allow the separate components of the floatation ring74to be shipped easily and then assembled by an end user. The float tubes76may be made of any material suitable for floatation, such as polyethylene foam or other types of flexible foam material. To assemble the floatation ring74, the tubes76may first be placed inside the bag78. The bag78may then be formed into the general shape of a ring and the opposing ends of the bag78may be fastened to each other to generally form a circular floatation ring74, as shown inFIG. 7. Once the device50is completely assembled with the floatation ring74placed inside the holding compartment72, the top and bottom trays52,54may retain the floatation ring74in a circular shape.

The float74is sized to float the device50with the bottom side of the bottom tray54contacting water20when the device is floating on a water surface with fertilizer40contained within the holding compartment72. In a preferred embodiment, the float74utilizes two float tubes76stacked vertically, as best seen inFIG. 11, and a bag78sized and shaped to hold two vertically stacked tubes76. Utilizing two float tubes76generally provides adequate buoyancy for the device50. By vertically stacking the tubes76, the overall diameter of the device50may be minimized and the vertically stacked tubes76may provide additional spacing between the top tray52and bottom tray54for holding a sufficient amount of fertilizer40when the tubes76are disposed between the top and bottom trays, as shown inFIG. 11. In alternative embodiments, the float74may be configured in other shapes and/or sizes and may optionally be disposed exterior to the holding compartment72and still fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

To assemble the device50, the top tray52and bottom tray54are secured to each other in a spaced relation to form the holding compartment72between the trays. The top tray52and bottom tray54are preferably secured directly to each other, though the two trays may also be secured indirectly to each other by securing each tray52,54to the floatation ring74. In a preferred embodiment, the top tray52and bottom tray54are secured to each other using a plurality of securing wires68, as best seen inFIGS. 8 and 12. To assemble the device50, the floatation ring74may first be placed within the bottom tray54and around a perimeter of the bottom tray54, and the top tray52may then be placed over the floatation ring74. The top tray52and bottom tray54may then be secured to each other by inserting a securing wire68through a hole66in the top tray52and any one of the holes16in the bottom tray54and then twisting the securing wire68around itself, as best seen inFIG. 8, to secure the top and bottom trays together. The top end of the wire68may be looped around the edge of the top opening70to twist the securing wire68around itself, and the bottom end of the wire68may be inserted back up through an adjacent hole16in the bottom tray54to twist the securing wire68around itself. In a preferred embodiment, the top tray52has four equidistantly spaced holes66, as shown inFIG. 5, and four spaced securing wires68are utilized to adequately secure the two trays together. The securing wires68are preferably positioned as close to the floatation ring74as possible so as to not obstruct movement of the mixing arms30when mixing the fertilizer40. Thus, the holding compartment72for holding fertilizer40may be defined by the top and bottom trays52,54and by an interior side of the floatation ring74, which is preferably defined by the bag78encapsulating the float tubes76. It should be understood by one skilled in the art that other securing or fastening devices suitable for securing the trays to each other may be utilized and still fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Once the trays52,54are secured together with the floatation ring74installed between the trays, the arm assembly, including the support arm22, anchor arm32, and mixing arms30, may be installed on the device50so that the mixing arms30are disposed within the holding compartment72and the support arm22is free to rotate within the bottom opening28of the bottom tray54. The anchor80may then be connected to the anchor arm32via the anchor line34.FIG. 10shows the assembled device50with the lid56in the closed position.FIG. 12shows the assembled device50with the lid56retained in the open position, as well as an alternative embodiment of the anchor80, which may comprise a bag filled with weighted material and tied off at one end. The anchor line34may run through the bag to an opposing side of the bag. A retrieval line82may be secured to the anchor line34on the opposing side of the anchor80so that the anchor80and device50may be retrieved to shore by pulling the device using the retrieval line82.

To use the device50to fertilize a body of water20, granular fertilizer40is added into the holding compartment72through the top opening70of the top tray52of the assembled device50. The device50is then set in the body of water20to be fertilized so that the device50is floating with the bottom side of the bottom tray54contacting water while the device is anchored by the anchor80. The device50may then be floated in the body of water20for a period of time, thereby allowing a controlled release of the fertilizer40through the plurality of holes16in the bottom tray54to fertilize the body of water. Preferably, the lid56is pivoted to the open position and then retained in the open position while the device50is floating in the body of water20so that the open lid56may help to facilitate wind-assisted mixing of the fertilizer40by the mixing arms30. To retain the lid56in the open position, the securing cord60may be secured to the attachment point64.

In accordance with an alternative method, the fertilizer40may be replaced with a granular material suitable for chumming, such as dog food. In this case, the device10,50operates in the same manner, but the material released through the holes16in the tray12,54is food that may be eaten directly by fish rather than fertilizer40that promotes the growth of aquatic plants. Even in small quantities, the released chum may attract game fish due to the scent released into the water. Thus, the present device10,50may be utilized for chumming when fishing in addition to fertilizing.

It is understood that versions of the invention may come in different forms and embodiments. Additionally, it is understood that one of skill in the art would appreciate these various forms and embodiments as falling within the scope of the invention as disclosed herein.