Portable spreader for scattering granular materials

The invention relates to a portable scattering apparatus (1) 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 (1) contains a closable container (3) and a handle part (2) connected to the container (3) for dispensing the granular material. The handle part (2) comprises a lock chamber (4) in the connecting region of the container (3) for controlling the flow rate, and it is shaped into a distributor (5) at the front end. A valve (25) is arranged in the lock chamber (4), which valve can be actuated via a lever (11), which is pivotably held on the outside on the handle part (2). The lever (11) is connected via a valve stem (28) with the valve disk (26) of the valve (25).

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the US national phase entry of International Patent Application no. PCT/IB2011/051974, filed May 4, 2011, which claims priority to Swiss patent application no. 00844/10, filed May 28, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a portable scattering apparatus for storing and deploying granulate, especially pourable bulk material, onto an area such as grainy fertilizer on a lawn surface or grit on slick roads or pavements according to the preamble of claim1.

BACKGROUND

Grainy fertilizer, seed or other bulk materials are delivered in boxes or bags. The user then needs to dispense the bulk material by hand or with simple tools such as a shovel on the ground to be covered. This leads to the problem that an even application can hardly be achieved. Furthermore, the dispensing of chemicals in the aforementioned manner also entails a certain likelihood of injury when said chemicals contain caustic or poisonous substances. Further problems arise from the difficulty of storing open boxes or bags in a secure and safe way and of protecting them from humidity for example.

In addition to larger motor-driven apparatuses, there are also hand-operated scattering devices, by means of which the scattering of bulk materials or chemicals is enabled. The German utility model G 93 20 160.5 proposes a scattering device for dispensing de-icing salt and the like onto ground areas, which device is characterized by the attachment of a handle to a conventional bottle. In accordance with the idea of this utility model, the user can convey scattering material from the bottle by holding it by its handle and ejecting said material with rapid movements all around. The advantage of this grip lug is that the user will not come into contact with the bulk material. However, even scattering can be achieved with said device only with difficulty.

The US publication U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,119 contains a further proposal for a solution. It discloses a device for scattering grainy substances, which device comprises a container and a delivery tube, which is connected thereto, and a distributor arranged at the end of the delivery tube. The distributor comprises a substantially flat plate, which is provided on the upper side with pins, which are arranged perpendicularly to the plate and distributed over the area of the plate. Granular material can be distributed with the device without coming into contact with the material. The disadvantage of the device is that the user needs to pivot the container and the granular material contained therein back and forth during scattering, which is relatively laborious and strenuous. Furthermore, it is difficult with this apparatus to evenly distribute the granular material.

The publication WO-A-2008-043191 discloses a portable scattering apparatus for storing and scattering granular material. It contains a container and a distributor for scattering the granular material. A tubular connection and a flow controller are arranged between the container and the distributor. One respective tubular section is arranged on the outlet openings of the distributor in such a way that the individual tubular sections are arranged to extend in a diverging manner away from the outlet opening. The disadvantage of this apparatus is the container on the one hand, which is difficult to refill and is unwieldy in handling. On the other hand, blockages may occur in the region of the flow control and in the flexible tubular section of the described scattering apparatus depending on the grain size of the scattering material. This means that this apparatus, depending on the configuration of the flow controller, can only be optimally used for specific grain sizes.

SUMMARY

The present invention is based on the object of providing a portable scattering apparatus, which eliminates the disadvantages of known portable apparatuses for scattering granular material.

This object is achieved by an apparatus comprising a closable container and a handle part connected to the container for dispensing the granular material, with the handle part comprising a lock chamber for regulating the flow in the connecting region of the container, and wherein the handle part is formed into a distributor at the front end, characterized in that a valve is arranged in the lock chamber, which valve can be actuated via a lever, with the lever being pivotably held on the outside on the handle part, and is connected via a vale stem with the valve disk of the valve.

Further advantages of the invention follow from the dependent claims and the description below, in which the individual components of the scattering apparatus will be described in detail and will be explained in closer detail by reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the schematic drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The same reference numerals have been used in the drawings for the same elements and explanations made for the first time relate to all drawings, unless expressly mentioned otherwise.

FIG. 1shows a schematic view from the side of an exemplary embodiment of the portable scattering apparatus1in accordance with the invention for storing and dispensing granular material. Granular material shall mean any scattering or bulk material, which is pourable or flowable. In order to dispense the scattering material evenly, it not only requires the skill of the person operating the apparatus, but the individual components of the scattering apparatus1must also be adjusted to each other in such a way that even scattering of the scattering material is enabled. Even scattering of the scattering material shall mean that the scattering image on the scattering ground shows an even distribution of the scattering material. The scattering apparatus1substantially consists of two parts, which are a handle part2and a container3. The closable container3is used for accommodating the scattering material and a handle part2, which is connected to the container3, allows the scattering of the granular material. A lock chamber4with a valve that can be actuated via a lever11is arranged in the handle part2directly after the connecting region of the container3. The valve is used for controlling the flow rate. The other end of the handle part2is formed into a distributor5for the scattering material. When the scattering material is dispensed, the user carries the container3of the scattering apparatus with a strap arranged on the upper edge of the container3in the manner of a shoulder bag under an arm or in an oblique fashion over the back and holds the strap with one hand. The strap forms a loop, which the user can pull more or less with the one hand over his or her shoulder. The handle part2is held with the other hand. In this process, the longitudinal axis of the handle part2extends away from the container3slightly downwardly in the direction of the scattering ground, so that the scattering material, as a result of gravity, will flow or run from the container3in the direction towards the lock chamber4in the handle part2and into the distributor5when the valve is opened. As a result of even, horizontal and ejection-like movements with the handle part, the granular material is ejected from the distributor5and thereby applied evenly to the scattering ground. If the user wishes to hold the handle part2closer to the scattering ground in order to dispense a low amount of scattering material in a purposeful fashion at a specific location, he or she can slightly lift the hand that holds the loop and pull the handle part2in the direction towards the scattering ground with the other hand. If contrary thereto the handle part is to be guided closer to the body, the user will pull up the bag6by means of the loop8. As a result, the user can always achieve the position of the portable device, which is optimal for the user or for the application. The dispensing of the granular material occurs without any major effort because the container and its content are carried with the shoulder strap and only the handle part2needs to be held by hand.

FIG. 2shows the handle part2in a schematic representation. The handle part2is composed of an upper part12and a bottom part13, and has a length of approximately 25 cm, but it can also be provided with a longer configuration, which depends on the intended ejection distance for the scattering material to be dispensed. The two parts12,13are joined together in the manner of a tongue-and-groove connection. The front end of the handle part2is shaped into a distributor5. The rear end of the handle part2, into which opens a transition element of the container3, which is referred to as an articulated funnel9, is formed in the lock chamber4. The lever11is pivotably held on the upper part12. Arc-shaped rails15are integrally formed for this purpose on both sides, which rails are used for guiding the lever11. The lever11comprises on each side one respective integrally formed shaped part14with an arc-shaped slit16, into which the rail15engages. An actuating controller17is further provided on the handle part2, which control enables a reproducible setting position of the lever11.

Container3is schematically shown inFIG. 3. In the described embodiment it consists of a horn-shaped bag6, which is made of a plastic film, with the closure7being arranged at its upper end, with which the bag6and the container3can be closed off in a sift-proof way. Depending on the field of application, the bag6has a capacity of approximately 3 liters to 7 liters, but it is advantageously arranged for economic reasons at a capacity of approximately 5 liters. A strap holder18for fastening a carrying strap8(only indicated in the drawing) is provided on the closure7. The bottom end of the bag6is connected with the articulated funnel9, e.g. it is welded, glued, clamped or the like. The articulated funnel9consists of a conically formed, flexible and dimensionally stable tubular section made of plastic and its purpose is preventing radial changes in length in case of a longitudinal load. These properties are achieved in that the jacket of the articulated funnel9is structured and, for example, has different thicknesses. The length of the articulated funnel9is approximately 24 cm, but it can also be shorter or longer by a few centimeters and depend on the shape and the volume of the bag6.

FIG. 4shows a schematic sectional view of the handle part2in the region of the lock chamber4. A sleeve19is inserted into the articulated funnel9of the container3. The outside diameter of the sleeve19is approximately 2.5 cm in the exemplary embodiment. The sleeve19comprises in its middle region a collar20progressing about the outside circumference. The end of the articulated funnel9also comprises a collar21. The sleeve19is inserted to such an extent into the articulated funnel9that the collar20of the sleeve19rests on the collar21of the articulated funnel9and said two collars20,21jointly form a flange-like connection between the articulated funnel9and the sleeve19. An inwardly extending annular groove22is provided in the connecting region of the handle part2, into which the collar20of the articulated funnel9and the collar21of the sleeve19are inserted. As a result, the container3is connected with the handle part2in a form fit. A releasable connection in the manner of a screwable tubular connection can also be considered instead of said flange connection. The cylindrical sleeve19is bevelled at the end disposed in the handle part2. The obliquely extending edge of the sleeve20forms a valve seat23for the valve disk26. The handle part2is substantially arranged in a tubular fashion and the valve25is arranged at the rear end, into which opens the articulated funnel9of the container3and which is formed towards the lock chamber4. The lever11, which is guided on the outside on the upper part12of the handle part2in a rail as shown inFIG. 2, opens with an extension (the valve stem28) into an opening29of the lock chamber4of the handle part2. A first collar27is arranged at the end of the valve stem28and the end of the valve stem28is formed by the valve disk26, which rests on the edge23of the sleeve19when the valve25is closed. As a result, the lever11with the valve stem28and the valve disk26is an integral shaped part32in the illustrated embodiment, which comprises reinforcing ribs35in sections on its side facing the upper part12of the handle part2. The lever11, the valve stem and the valve disk can also be individual parts, which are operatively connected with one another via respective joints. The valve stem28is enclosed by a rubber bellows31, the one end of which is pushed over the edge30of the opening29of the lock chamber4and the second end is pushed over the first collar27of the valve stem28. The interior of the lock chamber4is thereby tightly sealed off against the outside. When the lever11is pressed in the direction of the handle part2, the lever11slides along a circular arc guided by rails disposed externally on the upper part12. In this process, the valve disk26is lifted from the edge of the sleeve19(the valve seat23) and the valve25is opened. The bevel of the valve seat23in relation to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve19is approximately 15°, but can also be greater or smaller by 5° to 10°. When the apparatus1is actuated, the handle part2is held in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the handle part2faces with an angle of approximately 15° to the horizontal against the ground or scattering ground. In this position, the plane of the valve seat is disposed in the vertical. In order to achieve a constant feed of the scattering material to the valve25, a baffle plate is provided in the sleeve19. The baffle plate is formed by a web24, which is arranged in the sleeve19transversely to the longitudinal axis and horizontally. When the valve25is opened, the direction of movement of the valve disk26extends on a circular orbit and the valve disk26lifts of from the valve seat23in the manner of a tilting movement, in which the pivoting axis lies far outside of the lock chamber4. As a result, the opening of the valve25in the region of the bottom part13is slightly larger than in the region of the upper part12of the handle part2. As a result of the expansion of the upper part12in the region of the lock chamber4, in which the valve stem28is arranged with the bellows31and due to the fact that neither a seal nor an axis or any moved part will protrude into the flow of the scattering material, the scattering material is capable of flowing in an unobstructed manner into the lock chamber4when the valve25is opened and further into the tubular section10. The lever11will be pressed by a spring, which is not shown inFIG. 4, away from the upper part12, so that the valve25is closed without any actuation of the lever11. The spring is clamped between the upper part12, on which an indentation33is formed, which indentation is shaped in the manner of a spherical segment, and the reinforcing ribs36arranged on the inside of the lever11in the longitudinal direction. In order to enable the setting of a reproducible opening of the valve25, an actuating controller17is provided on the upper side12of the handle part2. The actuating controller17engages into rails, which are arranged in the longitudinal direction on the handle part2and is thereby displaceable in the longitudinal direction. The side of the actuating controller17, which faces the handle is stepped. Depending on the position of the actuating controller17, the front edge38of the lever11rests on one of the steps37of the actuating controller17. An undulating portion39is arranged between the actuating controller17and the surface of the upper part12of the handle part2, so that during the latching of the actuating controller17in a specific undulating portion during the actuation of the lever11its front edge38will respectively come to lie on the same step37of the actuating controller17, thereby enabling a defined opening of the valve. When the actuating controller is moved to the rearmost position, the front edge38of the lever11rests on the highest step37. The height of this step is chosen in such a way that the valve25is closed. As a result, this position of the actuating controller17acts as a lock for the valve25.

The front part of the handle part2is formed into a distributor5.FIG. 5shows the distributor5in a schematic representation of the bottom part13of the handle part2. The middle section10of the handle part2substantially corresponds to a cylindrical tubular section, which opens into the distributor5. The distributor5has a deltoid-shaped base plate52, which comprises in the longitudinal direction a depression53, which tapers in the forward direction. Said depression53is substantially the continuation of the tubular configuration of the handle part2, which ends in an outlet56. Perpendicular ribs are arranged to the side of the depression53on the right and left, which ribs extend forwardly under an angle of approximately 55° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle part2. This angle can also be slightly larger or smaller, but should lie between 45° and 65° in order to achieve optimal distribution of the scattering material. The ribs are shorter towards the front and respectively reach on the base plate52up to its outside edge55. The upper part12of the handle part2is provided with the same geometrical shape in the region of the distributor and forms the cover of the distributor5there. The outside dimensions are slightly smaller than those of the base plate. The ribs54on the cover reach up to its outside edge. This leads to a bevel56of the ribs on their outside edges. The end57of the distributor5is formed into an outlet. In the preferred embodiment, the distributor5is provided with seven respective ribs54on the left and right. The number is not limited to seven however. The number can be larger smaller or smaller depending on the size of the distributor.

When the scattering material is dispensed, the granular material reaches the distributor5via the lock chamber4and the middle piece10. As a result of the ejection movement performed by hand during dispensing, the granular material will be accelerated and will meet the ribs54depending on the direction of ejection when flowing through the distributor5, it will be deflected by said ribs and be guided and ejected to the outside. In the case of a low flow speed (e.g. when the handle part2is held downwardly without any ejection movement) the scattering material will only flow out of the outlet57. As a result, fertiliser or other scattering material can be dispensed in an entirely purposeful way and also in small quantities.

FIG. 6shows the closure7of the bag6and the apparatus1as shown inFIG. 3. The closure7principally consists of six strip-like elements (40to45), which are connected with one another at their narrow sides48. The elements that are connected with each other in this manner form a hexagon. The bottom edges47of the elements (40to45) are rigidly connected with the bag6, e.g. they are welded or glued together. By folding the elements40to45together along their narrow sides48, the upper edge of the bag6will be folded together and can be closed off by means of a clamp or clip. In order to achieve simple opening and closing and folding of the elements40to45of the closure in the same sequence, two elements40,43are welded together on their common narrow side49. Similarly, their respective opposing elements42,45are connected with each other on their common narrow side50, e.g. they are welded or glued together. The other elements are connected with one another on the narrow sides48by means of film hinges46. When the closure7is held on the welded narrow side49,50for folding and the two front elements40,43are pressed together, the two insides of the first two elements40,43come to rest on of one another, wherein the narrow sides of the subsequent elements41,44also come to rest on each other. When the two elements40,43, which rest together are pushed in the direction of the centre of the closure7, the outside surfaces of the middle elements41,43come to lie on the outside surfaces of the first elements40,43and the bag begins to close. When seen from above, the edges of the elements42,45form a large V, which encloses a W, which is enclosed by the elements44,43and40,41. When the partly folded elements are further pushed in the direction of the third elements42,45, the insides of the middle elements41,43come to rest on the insides of the third elements42,45and the closure7is thereby folded together and the bag is closed. In the illustrated embodiment, the narrow sides of the third elements have different lengths. A strap holder18is arranged in addition to the weld seam50on the element42,45, which strap holder is used for fixing a carrying strap. Furthermore, a bracket51is provided on one of the two third elements42, with which the closure7can be fixed in the folded state by suspension in a respective bracket clamp on the other third element45. For opening and filling the bag, the bracket51is pressed out of the bracket clamp and pulled on the two weld seams49,50. As a result, the elements40to45will move apart and the bag is opened. The elements are differently long in practice. Their size is based on the thickness of the elements40,45, the material of the bag and the hinges. The film hinges46are arranged on the connection of the first elements40,43with the middle elements41,44on the outside, and on the connection of the middle elements41,44with the third elements42,45on the inside. The bag, which is folded together with the described closure7is sealed in a sift-proof way, which means that no granular material will flow from the bag, even when it is held with the closure facing downwardly. It can be advantageous for highly fine-grained granular material such as de-icing salt when additional sealing means are provided on the upper edge of the elements40to45. These sealing elements can be a structured surface of the element40to45, thin strips made of coarse material, which are glued on, or a slightly protruding edge, which engages into a recess on the contacting element. The closure7can also be arranged of six individual elements40to45, which are held together on their narrow sides by means of a hinge-like connection. It is also possible that an integral shaped part is produced with six side walls, which form the elements40to45. The hinge-like connection of the elements40to45is then produced by the thin parts between the individual sections.

The described scattering apparatus can dispense grainy material of virtually any size without any problems and without any major effort in an even manner. The user will come into contact with the scattering material only to a very minute extent. The highly versatile apparatus allows easy dispensing of de-icing salt on roads and paths as well as fertilizer, pesticides and the like in difficult areas in the terrain and on the ground and beneath bushes and shrubs or on side slopes.