Multi-functional tool for applying fluid agricultural agents

The present invention provides a multi-functional tool for applying a fluid agricultural treatment agent, particularly a liquid herbicide, to different types of plant life in the most effective manner for each type. The tool includes a first spray nozzle mounted on the forward tool head and a switch for discharging liquid through the first nozzle in a direction selected by the user. The tool further includes a cutting blade mounted to its head, and a second spray nozzle positioned proximate to the cutting blade. A second switch for the second spray nozzle is automatically actuated to discharge the liquid agent in a direction towards the leading edge of the blade as the blade cuts into a thick plant such as a tree, and is automatically deactuated as the cutting blade is retracted. The single tool of the present invention enables the user to selectively apply the liquid agent both externally and internally in the manner most effective for the specific plant life being treated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a multi-functional tool for applying a 
fluid treatment agent to plant life, and in particular, is directed to a 
tool having the capability of selectively applying a liquid agricultural 
agent both externally and internally depending upon the nature of the 
plant life being treated. 
In applying liquid agents, and in particular liquid herbicides to plant 
life, it is common to use two separate application tools during two 
separate application procedures. In order to effectively apply a liquid 
agent such as a herbicide to thick plant life such as a tree, it is 
necessary to first cut into the tree and thereafter apply the agent 
internally in what is commonly referred to as a "hack and squirt" 
application. This procedure generally requires two tools, a cutting tool 
such as an ax or hatchet, and a spray applicator to apply the liquid agent 
once the cut has been made. The spray applicator may also be used to apply 
the liquid agent externally to other smaller plant life. 
The hack and squirt application procedure may be accomplished by the use of 
a single tool marketed under the name Hypo-Hatchet, which is further 
described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,286,402 issued Nov. 22, 1966. This tool is 
similar to a hatchet and includes a handle and a cutting blade mounted to 
the working end of the tool. A blade nozzle is positioned in close 
proximity to the leading edge of the cutting blade, and inertia operated 
switch means are provided which include a member movable by inertial 
forces resulting from swinging the tool and impact with a tree to both 
load and discharge a predetermined dosage of fluid into the tree as the 
tool cuts into the tree. In practice, the Hypo-Hatchet exhibits certain 
disadvantages. In the first instance, the tool is in the nature of a 
hatchet in which the cutting blade is not readily replaceable, thereby 
limiting the useful life of the overall tool. Additionally, the blade 
spray nozzle is positioned close to the leading edge of the cutting blade 
and thus is subject to clogging or blockage when the blade is cut into the 
tree. The Hypo-Hatchet is adapted to apply only predetermined dosages of 
the liquid chemical agent during each cutting maneuver, thereby precluding 
the user from controlling the quantity of material applied by applying a 
quantity of liquid greater or lesser than the predetermined dosage as 
might be required in certain applications. Finally, because the blade 
spray nozzle is located close to the cutting blade, the Hypo-Hatchet may 
only be used effectively for applying a liquid agent in a "hack and 
squirt" application. It cannot be used to effectively apply the liquid to 
plant life which is to be sprayed externally because discharge of liquid 
from the tool is dependent upon the swinging motion and cutting action of 
the tool and because of the close proximity of the cutting blade to the 
spray nozzle which necessarily interferes with the aim of the user, 
adversely affects the user's ability to efficiently maneuver the tool, and 
adversely affects the range, direction and quantity of liquid material 
sprayed from the nozzle. Therefore, as a practical matter, even when a 
Hypo-Hatchet is used in a "hack and squirt" application procedure, a 
separate application using a different application tool is also required 
to externally spray plant life which cannot be treated by the "hack and 
squirt" application method because this tool has no dual spray capability. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a single improved 
multi-functional application tool in which a fluid agricultural treatment 
agent, including a liquid herbicide, may be selectively applied using the 
"hack and squirt" operation to plant life for which this procedure is most 
effective, while having the capability of independently externally 
spraying other plant life for which the "hack and squirt" procedure can 
not be effectively employed. It is a further object of the invention to 
provide a multi-functional liquid applicator in which the quantity of 
liquid material applied by the user, either by the "hack and squirt" 
procedure or by external spraying, is within the control of the user. It 
is another object of the invention to provide a multi-functional 
applicator tool having a useful life in excess of that of the known 
applicator tools. Further objects and advantages of the tool of the 
present invention will become apparent from the following description. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a multi-functional tool for applying a fluid 
chemical agent, and in particular a liquid herbicide, to different types 
of plant life in the manner most suitable and effective for the plant life 
being treated. The tool includes a handle and a working head on which a 
replaceable cutting blade is mounted. A first spray nozzle is mounted to 
the tool head and positioned proximate to the cutting blade, and first 
switch means are provided to cause automatic discharge of liquid material 
from the first nozzle when the blade is cut into a tree. A second spray 
nozzle is positioned on or proximate to the forward end of the tool head, 
and second switch means are provided on the tool to manually control the 
discharge of liquid from the second nozzle. Accordingly, when the "hack 
and spray" application method is employed, the blade is cut into a tree or 
other plant life and liquid material is sprayed automatically through the 
first nozzle and internally applied into the cut area. When external 
application of the liquid material is desired, the user merely aims the 
second nozzle on the tool head toward the plant life to be sprayed, and 
manually actuates the second switch means to discharge liquid from the 
forwardly oriented second nozzle. The same liquid agent is discharged 
through both the first and second spray nozzles, and thus may be supplied 
to the tool from a common source of supply. 
The first switch means proximate to the cutting blade may be automatically 
actuated when the blade cuts into a tree and automatically deactuated when 
the blade is retracted from the tree. In this manner, the user controls 
the quantity of material internally applied to the cut area by controlling 
the time in which the blade remains in the cut area. In the alternative, 
the first switch means may be manually actuated by the user to permit the 
user to control the quantity of liquid material internally applied to the 
tree by controlling the time that the switch is manually depressed. The 
second switch, which controls the spray through the second nozzle for the 
external application of liquid material, is manually actuated by the user 
to control the quantity of liquid material discharged from the second 
spray nozzle. Preferably, the cutting blade of the tool is replaceable so 
that the useful life of the overall tool does not depend upon the useful 
life of the original cutting blade.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawing, the multi-functional liquid applicator tool 
is generally designated by the reference numeral 2. The tool includes a 
handle 4, a head 6, and a replaceable cutting blade 8 which is removably 
mounted to the tool head by a set screw 10. 
The tool handle 4 is preferably hollow, or at least partially hollow, to 
receive therein a first fluid conduit or hose 12 which branches into two 
separate conduits or hoses 14 and 16. The conduits 14 and 16 extend 
longitudinally through the hollow handle 4. The end of the conduit 12 
remote from the tool head 6 is coupled by a quick release connector 18 to 
an external supply conduit 20 which itself is connected to a source or 
tank of pressurized fluid (not shown in the drawing). The external conduit 
20 is connected by the quick release connector 18 to the internal conduit 
12 at the bottom end 22 of the handle 4 which defines a suitable opening. 
After the conduit 14 branches off from the main conduit 12 and extends 
longitudinally through the hollow handle 4, it enters the tool head 6 
which is also preferably partially or completely hollow. The forward end 
of the conduit 14 terminates at a blade nozzle 24 which is mounted to the 
tool head 6 proximate to the cutting blade 8. As can be seen from the 
drawing, the blade nozzle 24 is oriented in the same direction as the 
leading cutting edge 26 of the blade mounted to the tool head, and the 
nozzle 24 is recessed rearwardly from the blade. A spring loaded switch 28 
for the blade nozzle 24 is mounted to the tool head 6 and disposed between 
the blade nozzle 24 and the tool head 6. A U-shaped switch actuator 30, 
which is operatively associated with the switch 28 for the blade nozzle 
24, is mounted to the switch 28 and disposed between the switch 28 and the 
blade nozzle 24. The switch actuator 30 is oriented to extend in a 
direction toward blade 8 and overlaps at least a portion of the blade. The 
portion of the switch actuator overlapping the blade is adjacent to at 
least one side of the blade. Preferably, the switch actuator has a mirror 
image portion (not shown in the drawing) which overlaps and is adjacent to 
at least a portion of the other side of the blade 8. The switch actuator 
30 is resiliently biased by the spring loaded switch 28 in a direction 
away from the switch 28 and toward the leading edge 26 of the blade 8. 
Conduit 16, the second conduit branching out from the main conduit 12 
within the hollow handle 4, also extends longitudinally through the handle 
portion 4 of the tool and into the hollow head 6, terminating at a spray 
nozzle 32. The spray nozzle 32 is mounted to the forward end of the tool 
head 6 and oriented in a direction forward of the tool 2. A switch 34, 
which is mounted toward the bottom of the handle 4, is operatively 
associated with the conduit 16 supplying liquid to the spray nozzle 32. 
The switch 34 is manually controlled by the user of the tool to control 
the fluid flow through the conduit 16 and the fluid discharge from the 
spray nozzle 32. 
In operation of the tool, an external tank containing pressurized fluid to 
be applied by the tool is strapped to the back of the user. The conduit 20 
extending from the tank of pressurized material is connected to the 
conduit 12 within the hollow tool handle by the quick release connector 18 
at the bottom end 22 of the tool. The external tank is conventional and 
may be of the type employing pressurized carbon dioxide to provide the 
driving pressure causing the flow of the liquid material from the supply 
tank through the conduit 20. In the alternative, a hand pump may be 
employed to provide the driving pressure to the tank to result in the 
pressurized flow of the fluid material in the tank through the conduit 20. 
The tool of the present invention is intended to apply liquid agricultural 
treatment material such as liquid herbicide sold by the American Cyanamid 
Company under the trademark CHOPPER, or other liquid herbicide materials, 
particularly imidozolinone and imazapyr products. However, the tool may 
also be employed to apply other liquids including other liquid 
agricultural treatment agents in a similarly efficient manner. Moreover, 
the tool is capable of applying gases in the same manner that it applies 
liquids. 
Once the pressurized tank of supply fluid is connected to the tool by 
coupling conduit 20 to conduit 12, the pressurized supply fluid flows 
through conduit 14 to the blade nozzle 24 positioned at the end of the 
conduit as a result of the driving pressure of the supply tank. The blade 
nozzle 24 is normally maintained in a closed position by the spring biased 
blade nozzle switch 28. The pressurized fluid from the common supply tank 
simultaneously flows through conduit 16 to the switch 34 as a result of 
the driving pressure of the supply tank. The switch 34 obstructs further 
flow of fluid and prevents discharge of fluid through the upstream forward 
nozzle 32 located at the end of the conduit 16 by constricting the conduit 
16 below the nozzle 32. 
When spray of the pressurized fluid is to be discharged from the blade 
nozzle 24, the user cuts into a tree or other large plant with the blade 
8. As the blade advances into the cut area, the switch actuator 30, which 
is oriented adjacent to the blade, is urged rearwardly away from the 
leading edge of the blade in a direction against the spring bias of the 
switch 28 acting upon the switch actuator. The relative movement of the 
switch actuator to the blade 8 occurs since only the blade and not the 
switch actuator is received within the narrow cut area, thereby resulting 
in rearward motion of the switch actuator relative to the blade 8 as the 
leading edge of the blade 8 advances into the cut area. Relative rearward 
movement of the blade actuator against the spring bias of the switch 28 
causes the blade nozzle 24 to open and results in the spray of the 
pressurized liquid in the conduit 14 from the blade nozzle 24. The blade 
nozzle 24 is oriented in the same direction as the leading edge of the 
blade 8, so that the liquid from the blade nozzle 24 is sprayed directly 
into the region of the cut to internally apply the sprayed fluid into the 
cut area. As the blade is retracted from the cut area, the force acting 
upon the switch actuator 30 is relieved and the opposing force of the 
spring bias acting on the switch actuator again dominates and causes 
relative movement of the switch actuator in a direction toward the leading 
edge of the blade. The movement of the switch actuator toward the blade 8 
closes the blade nozzle 24, preventing any further spray of fluid through 
that nozzle. 
It is thus apparent that the user of the tool may readily control the 
quantity of liquid material discharged from the conduit 14 through the 
blade nozzle 24 and internally applied to a cut area of a tree or other 
plant life. Since discharge of the pressurized liquid through the blade 
nozzle 24 only occurs during the time that the blade 8 is received within 
a cut in a tree, the user merely allows the blade to remain in the area 
for a sufficient time to enable the desired quantity of treatment material 
to be applied to this area. When the desired quantity has been applied, 
the user removes the blade from the cut area and the spray of treatment 
material through the blade nozzle 24 automatically ceases. The discharge 
opening on the blade nozzle 24 may be adjustable in a conventional manner 
so that the rate of discharge of the fluid through the blade nozzle may be 
controlled, adjusted or pre-set by the user. Accordingly, the user of the 
tool can readily control the quantity of treatment material applied to a 
cut area by merely cutting into a tree or other plant life and removing 
the tool after a predetermined time period. No manual manipulation of 
switches is required since the blade nozzle is automatically opened and 
closed by the cutting operation alone. 
As illustrated in the drawing, blade nozzle 24 is preferably recessed from 
the blade 8 to avoid any clogging or obstruction problems to the nozzle 
during the cutting operation. In the event that the tool becomes stuck in 
the object being cut, the operator may nonetheless stop the spray from the 
blade nozzle by merely disconnecting the conduit 20 from the conduit 12 by 
the quick release connector 18 to interrupt the supply of the pressurized 
fluid from the source. It is further within the scope of the invention to 
provide a manually actuated shut-off valve (not shown) on the handle 4 of 
the tool and operatively associated with the conduit 14 to provide 
additional means for the user to quickly prevent any further discharge of 
material through the blade nozzle 24. 
When liquid treatment material is to be applied to plant life which can not 
be cut in the manner described above, the material may be applied 
externally by spray from forward nozzle 32 mounted to the forward end of 
the tool head 6. The user manually actuates the switch 34 to open the 
conduit 16 leading to the nozzle 32. When this occurs, the pressurized 
fluid flows through the conduit 16 past the switch 34 and is discharged 
from the forward spray nozzle 32. The spray nozzle 32 is aimed at the 
plant life to be treated by the user, and the spray discharged from the 
nozzle 32 is thus directly externally applied thereto. When the desired 
quantity of material has been discharged, the user merely releases the 
switch 34 which returns to its to closed position and constricts the 
conduit 16 to obstruct any further flow of pressurized fluid therethrough. 
The switch 34 is resiliently biased in a conventional manner to act upon 
and close the conduit 16 in its normal position, and permit flow through 
the conduit 16 when the bias is manually overcome by the user. Therefore, 
when discharge of the treatment material through the forward nozzle is 
desired, the user merely depresses the switch 34 for a sufficient time to 
permit the desired quantity of material to be discharged through the 
nozzle 32. Thereafter, the user removes his finger from the switch 34, 
allowing it to assume its normally closed position in which further fluid 
flow through the conduit 16 is obstructed. As discussed with respect to 
blade nozzle 24, conventional means may be provided by which the user may 
selectively adjust the size of the discharge opening of nozzle 32 to 
control, adjust and otherwise regulate the rate of flow of the material 
discharged through that nozzle. Likewise, a shut-off valve (not shown) for 
the conduit 16 may be provided as backup means to quickly stop the 
discharge of material from the forward nozzle 32 in the event that the 
switch 34 malfunctions. The flow of fluid through the conduit 16 may also 
be stopped by disconnecting the supply line 20 from the internal conduit 
12 to disconnect the source of pressurized material and the driving 
pressure from the tool in the same manner as discussed with respect to the 
blade nozzle 24. 
Preferably, the tool itself will be made from conventional materials. Since 
the handle and head are preferably hollow, these components should be 
formed from a durable material such as a metal or hard plastic. Also, the 
tool should be lightweight as a convenience to the user who may be 
required to hold the tool for long periods of time during a spraying 
operation. The conduits 12, 14 and 16 may be formed from any suitable 
resilient or flexible material (as, for example, rubber) to enable the 
switches, such as the switch 34, to exert a resilient force against the 
conduit to cause it to readily constrict and obstruct fluid flow 
therethrough. The conduit should be made from a durable material since it 
is internally disposed within the handle and head of the tool and may be 
difficult to repair or replace. Likewise, the conduit should be formed 
from material which will not react with the fluids intended to be applied 
by the tool. The spray nozzles 24 and 32 are removably mounted to the 
tool, as for example by screwing, so that the nozzles may be replaced or 
exchanged. The blade 8 should be formed from a metal or metal alloy which 
is durable and can tolerate intended extremes in temperature (particularly 
cold) in which the tool is likely to be used. Preferably, the blade is 
replaceable so that the tool is not rendered useless if the blade breaks 
or is worn beyond a degree where it can no longer be used in an effective 
manner. Thus, the replaceable blade extends the useful life of the overall 
tool. 
As more fully discussed above, fluid is automatically discharged through 
the blade nozzle 24 when the blade is cut into an object, and the 
discharge automatically ceases when the blade is removed from the object. 
As an alternative embodiment of the invention, this automatic spray 
feature may be eliminated by removing the switch 28 and the switch 
actuator 30, and replacing these elements with a manually actuated switch 
mounted to the handle and adapted to act on the conduit 14 in a manner 
similar to the operation of switch 34 on conduit 16. This will provide the 
user with exclusive manual control of the discharge fluid from nozzle 32. 
Moreover, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide 
conventional override means by which the user may selectively elect to 
employ either the automatic spray feature or the manual control of spray 
through the nozzle 24. This may be accomplished, for example, by providing 
a clutch by which the user may selectively disengage the resiliently 
biased switch actuator 30. 
It is apparent from the above description that the tool of the present 
invention is multi-functional and enables the user to apply the same 
agricultural fluid agents in different manners most suitable for 
particular applications at the selection of the user. Where appropriate, 
the tool enables application of treatment fluid by the "hack and squirt" 
operation. In the alternative, plant-life may be externally sprayed with 
treatment fluid where the "hack and squirt" procedure is not feasible. 
Therefore, the user may at his election apply the treatment material 
either internally or externally (or both) as the circumstances may 
warrant. In either event, the user is required to carry only a single tool 
and a single source or supply of the material to be applied. Accordingly, 
the multi-functional tool of the present invention avoids the necessity of 
either carrying two separate tools for different treatment applications, 
or the necessity for the user to apply the treatment fluid in two separate 
spraying operations using two different application tools. 
The tool of the present invention is also versatile in that the user 
controls which method of application will be employed for any treatment, 
and exclusively controls the quantity of treatment material discharged 
from either the blade discharge nozzle or the forward discharge nozzle. 
Although it is possible to provide the tool with a metering device to 
discharge only predetermined quantities of material from either or both of 
the nozzles, the tool is preferably used in the manner described above in 
which the operator maintains exclusive control over the quantity of 
material discharged from both discharge nozzles. 
The versatility of the tools is further exhibited by the fact that although 
the tool is to be used preferably for the application of liquid 
agricultural treatment material, and more particularly liquid herbicides, 
the tool itself may be used to apply other fluids including other liquids 
and gases. Accordingly, the single multi-functional tool of the present 
invention may be employed to selectively apply a wide variety of different 
fluids in the different manners of application described herein. 
Other variations and modifications of the invention will become apparent to 
those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the description of the invention 
provided herein is illustrative only and not restrictive of its scope, 
that scope being defined by the following claims and all equivalents 
thereto.