Abstract:
A dispensing system for dispensing gardening products includes a container for holding a selected gardening product and rotating means internal to said container for stirring the selected gardening product stored in the container. A dispersal aperture through the container disperses the selected product from the container after stirring. At least one dispensing system wheel external to the container and coupled to the rotating means is adapted to frictional engage a lawnmower wheel and thereby rotate the rotating means in response to rotation of the lawnmower wheel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates in general to gardening and in particular, to gardening product dispensing systems and methods. 
   2. Background of Invention 
   Lawn care is one of the major tasks faced by any gardener or homeowner. Lawns not only typically cover relatively large areas of the landscape but also require consistent attention to maintain their appearance. Periodic mowing, watering, fertiziling, re-seeding and edging are only a few of the tasks the gardener must consistently perform in order to maintain a well-manicured lawn. Depending on such factors as the size of the lawn, the slope on which the lawn in planted, the condition of the grass itself and the weather, lawn maintenance can be a physically demanding and time consuming for even the most dedicated and experienced gardeners. 
   One particular lawn care task that is normally very inefficient (e.g. time consuming and labor intensive) is the dispersal of dry lawn care products such as dry fertilizers, grass seed, insecticides, and the like. The small hand-cranked, hand-carried dispenser often used by home gardeners typically disperse the given product over a relatively small area of a few square yards. Hence, numerous traversals of the area can become necessary if a large lawn is involved. Additionally, this type of dispenser often does not provide uniform dispersal of product, depending on the consistency the hand cranking and the walking speed and the direction of the gardener. The larger, wheeled (manually pushed) spreaders provide for the dispersal of dry lawn care products on a bulk basis. However, the efficiency of wheeled spreaders is again a function of the consistency action of the gardener, such as the overlap of the gardener&#39;s paths across the lawn and the speed of the traversal, over the ground. Maintaining consistent paths and speed can be especially difficult when the spreader is heavy and hard to push. Moreover, the flow of the product through the spreader can at times be impeded as the product forms clods or sticks within the container walls. 
   Hence, what is needed are new apparatus and methods for efficiently dispersing dry card products. Among other things, such apparatus and methods should reduce the physical strains and time demands on the gardener. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The principles of the present invention advantageously allow the efficient dispersion of lawn care and similar gardening products in an efficient manner. According to one exemplary embodiment, A dispensing system is disclosed for dispensing gardening products includes a container for holding a selected gardening product and rotating means internal to said container for stirring the selected gardening product stored in the container. A dispersal aperture through the container disperses the selected product from the container after stirring. At least one dispensing system wheel external to the container and coupled to the rotating means is adapted to frictional engage a lawnmower wheel and thereby rotate the rotating means in response to rotation of the lawnmower wheel. 
   Methods, apparatus and system embodying the inventive principles make the process or dispersing gardening product less strenuous and less time consuming. Among other things, the processing of dispersing the given product can be done concurrently with mowing a lawn or other surface area. The internal rotating mechanism ensures that the product is sufficiently broken up to flow to the underlying ground relatively unimpeded and in a controlled and consistent fashion. Moreover, when used in conjunction with a power lawnmower, dispensing apparatus and systems according to the inventive principles significantly reduce the physical demands on the gardener. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1A  is a side elevational view of a representative lawn mower-product dispenser assembly embodying the principles of the present invention, in this view the lawn mower rear wheels are disengaged from the product dispenser wheels; 
       FIG. 1B  is a side elevational view of the lawn mower-product dispenser assembly of  FIG. 1A  illustrating the engaged configuration between lawn mower rear wheels and the product dispenser wheels; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of product dispenser of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear cross-sectional view of the lawn mover-product dispenser assembly of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 4  is plan view of one embodiment of the dispensing aperture shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of a second embodiment of the dispensing aperture shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The principles of the present invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the illustrated embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1–14  of the drawings, in which like numbers designate like parts. 
     FIG. 1A  is a side elevational view of a representative lawn mower-product dispenser assembly  100  embodying the principles of the present invention. Lawn mower-dispenser assembly  100  includes a conventional lawn mower  101  and a dispenser assembly  102 . 
   In the depicted embodiment, a gasoline engine  103  powers lawn mower  101 . In alternate embodiments, lawn mower  101  may be a manual push mower or powered by another type of power source, such as an electric motor. Lawn mower  101  includes conventional front and rear wheels, two of which are shown at  104  and  105  respectively for the side of lawn mower-dispenser assembly  100  visible in  FIG. 1 . Also shown are a standard handle assembly  106  including a handgrip  107  and motor control bar  108 . Handle assembly  106  is generally U-shaped, including a pair of arms and a crossbar therebetween, as shown in further detail in the rear view of mover—dispenser assembly  100  provided in  FIG. 3 . 
   Dispenser assembly  102  includes wheels  110  (one of which is visible in the side view of  FIG. 1 ) and a lawn care product container  111 . Wheels  110  drive the internal dispensing mechanism discussed below to disperse a dry or solid lawn care product loaded into container  111  on the underlying ground during movement of mower  101 . Container  111  is either hardsided, constructed out of metal or plastic, or softsided, constructed from canvas or a similar flexible material. In the illustrated embodiment, container  111  is depicted as hardsided. 
   Dispenser assembly  102  slidably attaches to the handle assembly  106  of lawn mower  101  with a set of clamps  109 . In the illustrated embodiment, two clamps  109   a  and  109   b  provide for each side (arm) of handle assembly  105 . Clamps  109  include screws, thumbscrews, or the like that allow the friction applied between clamps  109  and handle assembly to be increase or decreased. In turn, dispenser  102  can be slid along handle assembly  106  such that wheels  110  be functionally engaged and disengaged from the rear wheels of lawn mower  101 . 
   In  FIG. 1A , dispenser  102  is disengaged from rear wheels  105  of lawn mower  101 . In the disengaged position, dispenser  102  is slid up and away from the rear wheels  105  along the arms of handle assembly  106 . When disengaged, dispenser wheels  110  are spaced from wheels  105  of lawn mower  101 ; therefore, rotation of dispenser wheels  110  is substantially independent from the rotation of rear lawn mower wheels  105  during movement of lawn mower  101 . 
   The engaged configuration between lawn mower rear wheels  105  and dispenser wheels  110  is shown in  FIG. 1B . Here, dispenser  102  is slid down the arms of handle assembly  106  such that lawn mower rear wheels  105  and dispenser wheels  110  are in contact. The rotational friction between the two sets of wheels  105  and  110  is sufficient such that a rotation of lawn mower rear wheels  105  causes a corresponding rotation of dispenser wheels  110 . The rotation of dispenser wheels  110  in turn drives the internal product dispersion mechanism described further below. 
   Dispenser  102  can be also be detached from lawnmower  102  for independent use. In this case, handles  112  are provided for manually pushing dispenser assembly  102  across the ground directly on dispenser wheels  110 . 
     FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of container  111 . Container  111  includes a hinged door or flap  201  on its upper (wider) end for receiving dry and solid lawn care products, such as fertilizer, seeds, herbicides, insecticides or the like. Within the lower (narrow) end of container  111  is a dispersion mechanism  202 , which rotates with the rotation of dispenser wheels  110 . (At least the bottom wall  113 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , is sloped inward towards dispersion mechanism  202  such that material within container  111  flows under gravity towards dispersion mechanism  202  under relatively upright conditions). Dispersion mechanism  202 , shown in further detail in  FIG. 2 , breaks-up the material introduced into container  111  and ensures that such material properly flows from dispensing aperture  203 . Dispensing aperture  203  is described further below with respects to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional rear view of container  111 , as attached to lawn mower handle assembly  106 . Dispersion mechanism  202  includes a plurality of projections or paddles  301  extending from an axle or rod  302 . As shown in both  FIGS. 2 and 3 , projections  301  are spaced laterally apart along axle  302  and disposed at varying angles with respects to one another to insure that material can flow to dispensing aperture  203  no matter the current position of dispersion mechanism  202 . While projections  301  are depicted as relatively flat, solid structures, in alternate embodiments projections  301  could themselves include apertures therethrough, be made of a mesh material, and/or have a degree of curvature. 
   Axel  302 , which is preferrably constructed of metal or the like, extends the through the sidewalls of container  111  at points  303   a  and  303   b . Bearings or bushings may be provided at points  303   a  and  303   b  to ensure that axle  302  freely rotates and that material within container  303  does not leak to the outside. Dispenser wheels  110  are afixed to the ends of axle  302  by bolts, screws or a similar conventional mechanical linkage  304   a – 304   b.    
   Hence a rotation of dispenser wheels  110 , whether by direct contact with the ground or by rotation of lawn mower real wheels  105 , causes axle  302  to correspondingly rotate. Consequently, projections  301  rotate to mix and break-up the product introduced in container  111 . This mixed and broken-up material can then more easily pass through dispensing aperture  203 . 
   Dispensing aperture  203  is shown in further detail in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , dispensing aperture  203  includes three spaced-apart apertures,  401   a – 401   b  which provide communication between the interior of container  111  and the underlying ground. A pair of strips or sheets  402   a  and  402   b  of plastic or metal slide laterally with respects to apertures  401   a – 401   b  to selectively cover and uncover aperture  401   a – 401   c . For example, if dispenser assembly  102  is not in use, yet contains lawn care product, strips  402   a – 402   b  can be slid inward (together) to completely close off apertures  401   a – 401   c  and thereby halt the exit of material from container  111 . By increasingly sliding outward one or both of strips  402   a  and  402   b , the material flow out of container  111  can be increased and the product dispersion area widened. 
   The embodiment of disposing aperture  203  of  FIG. 5  includes three apertures  501   a – 501   c  for passing material from container  111  to the underlying ground. A rotating (hinged or swiveled) flap or cover  502  allows apertures  501   a – 501   c  to be completely closed to prevent material flow-through, or opened by a selective amount to allow a controlled material flow to the ground. Knobs or handles  503   a – 503   b  provide for manual swiveling of flap  502 , as required. 
   In the preferred operation, dispenser assembly  102  is attached to lawn mower  101  generally as shown in  FIGS. 1–3 . The material to be spread or dispersed is loaded into container  111  through access door  201 . With dispenser wheels  110  engaged with lawn mower rear wheels  105 , as mower  101  rolls across the ground, dispersion mechanism  202  rotates to mix and break-up the material loaded into container  111 . Depending on the setting of dispensing aperture  203 , this material then funnels down the walls of container  111  and is dispensed across the ground through dispensing aperture  203  with the movement of the mower  111 . 
   In sum, lawn care products can be applied concurrently with mowing of a lawn, thereby reducing the amount of work and time required by the gardener. If a power mower  101  is used, the physical strain is further reduced. Moreover, a wide variety of dry and solid materials, such as pelletized or powdered lawn care products, can be dispensed using dispenser assembly  102 , either alone or in combination with lawn mower  101 . 
   Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiments, these descriptions are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
   It is therefore, contemplated that the claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.