Abstract:
A chemical dispensing apparatus includes a housing that is connectable to a source of water, such as a standard garden house and a chemical dispenser configured to mix a chemical concentrate with the source of water as it flows through the housing and dispensed from the housing from either a sprinkler head or a misting nozzle. Various configurations of fluid passages and water flow are disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/361,938, filed Jul. 7, 2010, the entire of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a yard or garden accessory enabling the automatic addition of a lawn treatment material, such as fertilizer, herbicide or insecticide, to the water being sprinkled on yard or garden. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The proper treatment and care of yards and gardens is highly desirable to prevent destruction from insects and deterioration from malnutrition. The mixture and application of treatment solutions, however, is a time consuming procedure that requires close attention to chemical-water ratios and their distribution. Since proper care equates to scheduled maintenance, many lawns and gardens become neglected, resulting in unnecessary refurbishing costs. Moreover, lawns, gardens, and vegetation still fall victim to improper maintenance, despite consistent care when poorly balanced solutions are administered. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The yard and garden chemical dispenser of this invention provides an apparatus for incorporation into a water supply system a way to deliver lawn treatment chemicals such as fertilizer, herbicide or insecticide to lawns, yards and other botanical and life systems by the controlled application of the chemicals in amounts and periods. 
         [0005]    In general, in one aspect, a chemical dispensing apparatus for use in delivery of a treatment solution to a lawn is provided. The apparatus includes a main fluid supply passage configured for connection to a pipe system carrying water under pressure. A housing has first and second discharge ports. A fluid discharge passage and a discharge control valve connecting the fluid discharge passage to the first discharge port and the second discharge port. The discharge control valve operates to selectively permit the flow of fluid or preclude the flow of fluid from the fluid discharge passage to either the first discharge port or the second discharge port. An internal fluid supply passage connects the main fluid supply and the fluid discharge passage. A supply control valve connects the internal fluid supply passage and the main fluid supply passage. The supply control valve operates to selectively permit the flow of fluid or preclude the flow of fluid from the main supply passage to the internal fluid supply passage. A liquid chemical dispenser is configured to dispense a chemical into a flow of fluid through the internal fluid supply passage. 
         [0006]    In general, in another aspect, the liquid chemical dispenser includes an accumulator for containing a liquid chemical and a lift tube connecting the accumulator and the internal fluid supply passage such that a flow of fluid through the internal fluid supply passage results in a quantity of liquid chemical contained in the accumulator being drawn through the lift tube and into the flow of fluid through the internal fluid supply passage. 
         [0007]    In general, in another aspect, the apparatus includes a bypass passage connecting the main fluid supply passage to the fluid discharge passage. A flap valve operates to connect the fluid discharge passage and the internal fluid supply passage and to seal the bypass passage from the discharge passage when a fluid flows through the internal fluid supply passage or to connect the bypass passage to the fluid discharge passage and to seal the internal fluid supply passage from the bypass passage when a fluid flow through the bypass passage. The supply control valve further connects the bypass passage and the main fluid supply passage, and further operates to selectively permit the flow of fluid or preclude the flow of fluid from the main supply passage to either of the internal fluid supply passage and the bypass passage. 
         [0008]    In general, in another aspect, the apparatus includes a fluid pump disposed across the lift tube and operating to pump a quantity of liquid chemical from the accumulator and into the internal fluid supply passage. 
         [0009]    Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0010]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0011]    For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of a specially designed lawn and garden chemical dispenser in accordance with the principals of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of the dispenser of  FIG. 1  showing a container removed; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is diagrammatic illustration the dispenser in a first mode of operation where the dispenser is by-passed; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of the dispenser in a second mode of operation where the dispenser is operating to dispense a chemical solution through a spray head; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic illustration of the dispenser in a second mode of operation where the dispenser is operating to dispense a chemical solution through a mister; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic illustration of the dispenser in a third mode of operation, where the dispenser is operating to dispense fresh water; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative construction of the dispenser where a by-pass passage is eliminated; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative construction of the dispenser including an integrated container; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative construction of the dispenser of  FIG. 8  where the by-pass passage is eliminated; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic illustration of another alternative construction of dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a diagrammatic illustration of yet another alternative construction of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a diagrammatic illustration of an alternative construction of the dispenser of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a diagrammatic illustration of another alternative construction of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a diagrammatic illustration of another alternative construction of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Diagrammatically illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is a specially design lawn and garden chemical dispenser  10  particularly useful in dispensing chemicals for treating a lawn or garden. Such chemicals may include, among others, herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and/or fragrances. In  FIG. 1 , the dispenser  10  is shown assembled, and in  FIG. 2 , the dispenser is shown partially disassembled. 
         [0028]    The dispenser  10  includes a housing  12  having a several of fluid flow conduits or passages that can be integral with the housing or separate tubes extending the housing. Of these passages is included a main fluid passage  14  that extends generally laterally through housing  12  about the bottom thereof, and is fitted with hose couplings  16  and  18  at opposite ends thereof. Hose couplings  16 ,  18  permit the connection of hoses to the dispenser  10  to provide a source of pressurized water and to further permit the interconnection of the dispenser to additional dispenser devices. 
         [0029]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a three-way valve  20  fluidically connects the main fluid passage  14  to a by-pass passage  22  and a supply passage  24 . The by-pass passage  22  extends from valve  20  at one end and is fluidically connected at the opposite end to a discharge passage  26 . Likewise, the supply passage  24  extends from valve  20  at one end and is fluidically connected at the opposite end to discharge passage  26 . Discharge passage  26  is selectively fluidically connected to a first discharge port  28  and a second discharge port  30  by two-way valve  32 . Discharge port  28  can be fitted with a sprinkler head  52 . Discharge port  30  can be fitted with a mister  54 . A flap valve  34  extends the discharge passage  26  and selectively seals the supply passage  24  or the by-passage  22  from the discharge passage as fluid/water flows through the opposite passage. 
         [0030]    As further shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the dispenser further includes a mount or cradle  36  disposed on housing  12  for removably receiving and retaining therein a container  38  of liquid chemical concentrate solution  41 . The container  38  is shown received and retained by the cradle  36  in  FIG. 1 , and is shown removed from the cradle in  FIG. 2 . When container  38  is received and retained by the cradle, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the container is engaged with the dispenser  10 , such that the chemical concentrate solution  41  held within the container is free to flow into a fluid accumulator  40 . The engagement structure between the container  38  and the dispenser  10  needs to serve several functions, including retaining the container  38  within the cradle, and fluidically connecting the container to the fluid accumulator  40  to receive a free flow of the chemical concentrate solution  41  from the container. There are numerous possible engagement structures that can provide these functions. In one possible, and not limiting example, the structure could include a membrane piercing valve  42  that penetrates through a membrane seal  44  on the container  38 . Of course, other suitable structures are possible. 
         [0031]    Maintaining reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the fluid accumulator  40  is fluidically connected to the supply passage  24  by a delivery tube  46 , such as a siphon tube. A screen filter  48  may be fitted at the end of the tube  46  to prevent debris within the fluid accumulator  40  from flowing into the tube. Additionally, a flow regulating valve  50  can be placed across tube  46  to regulate the flow of fluid through the tube, and thus the amount of chemical solution  38  being drawn through the tube. Accumulator  40  include a drain port  60  for draining concentrate solution therewithin. 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 3 , there is diagrammatically illustrated the dispenser  10  in a first mode of operation where the dispenser is by-passed. Here a supply hose  56  carrying a supply of pressurized water is connected to hose coupling  18 , a second hose  58  is connected to hose coupling  16 . Valve  20  is positioned in a first position where water is only permitted to flow through the main supply passage  14  and not permitted to flow from the main supply passage into either of passages  22  or  24 . Accordingly, water from supply hose  56  flows through passage  14  into hose  58  bypassing the dispenser  10 . 
         [0033]    In  FIG. 4 , there is diagrammatically illustrated the dispenser  10  in a second mode of operation wherein the dispenser is operating to dispensing a chemical solution comprising water admixed with the concentrate solution  41  contained within container  38 . Here a supply hose  56  carrying a supply of pressurized water is connected to hose coupling  18 , thereby providing a flow of pressurized water in the main supply passage  14 . Valve  20  is positioned in a second position, where the flow of pressurized water flows through valve  20  and into passage  24 . As water flows through passage  24  it flows across the siphon tube  46  causing concentrate solution  41  within accumulator  40  to be drawing up the siphon tube and where it is admix with the water flowing through passage  24 . The water admixed with the concentrate solution then flows into the discharge passage  26  causing valve  34  to seal passage  22 , and then through discharge port  28  and out of sprinkler or spray head  52 , as shown. Valve  32  can be operated to direct the flow through discharge port  30  and out of mister  54 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 6 , there is diagrammatically illustrated the dispenser  10  in a third mode of operation where the dispenser is operating to dispense fresh water. Here a supply hose  56  carrying a supply of pressurized water is connected to hose coupling  18 , thereby providing a flow of pressurized water in the main supply passage  14 . Valve  20  is positioned in a third position, where the flow of pressurized water flows through valve  20  and into passage  22 , operating valve  34  sealing passage  24 , and discharged through discharge port  28 . Valve  32  can be operated to direct the flow of water through discharge port  30  and out of mister  54 , as similarly shown in  FIG. 5 . Further shown in  FIG. 6 , is the sprinkler or spray head  52  removed to illustrate a possible threaded connection  62  to permit attachment of the spray head to the dispenser  10  in fluidic communication with discharge port  28 . It is to be understand spray head  52  may take on various forms of sprinkler heads or spray heads, and is not limited in any way to any single variation. 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 7 , there is diagrammatically illustrated an alternative construction of the dispenser  10 . Here, by-pass passage  22  is eliminated and three-way valve  20  is replaced with a two-way valve  20 ′. Delivery or siphon tube  46  can be placed in fluidic communication with passage  24  through valve  20 ′, as shown. Alternatively, siphon tube  46  can be connected to passage  24  downstream of valve  20 ′. 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 8 , there is diagrammatically illustrated an alternative construction of the dispenser  10 . Here, the dispenser  10  includes a fixed or integrated container  38 ′ that is not removable from the housing  12 . Container  38 ′ and the accumulator  40  can be integrated, as shown. Container  38 ′ includes a mouth or opening  62  having a removable cover  64  permitting filing of the container  38 ′ with a concentrate solution  41 . 
         [0037]    In  FIG. 9 , there is diagrammatically illustrated an alternative construction of the dispenser  10 . Here, the dispenser  10  includes several alternative constructions previously described and shown. Particularly, the dispenser  10  is a combination of alternative constructions shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 . Same reference numbers are used for similar elements. 
         [0038]    In  FIG. 10 , there is diagrammatically illustrated yet another alternative construction of the dispenser  10 . Here dispenser  100  comprises essentially any of the alternative constructions of dispenser  10  described herein, but in a dual construction wherein dispenser  100  includes two dispenser units  102  and  104  integrated into a single unit housing  106 . Dispenser units  102  and  104  could be completely separated for independent and concurrent operation, or can be partially integrated together as illustrated for alternating use. Dispenser units  102  and  104  can take the form of any of the constructions of dispenser  10 . However, as illustrated, dispenser units  102  and  104  are each of similar construction of dispenser  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 , with a few exceptions. Primarily the dispenser units  102  and  104  share a common bypass passage  108 , and the three-way valve  20  is replaced by a four-way valve  110 . Additionally, two flapper valves  112  and  114  are placed across discharge passage  116 . It is believed the above description with regard to the construction and operation of the dispenser  10  is sufficient to understand the construction and operation of dispenser  100  here. 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 11 , there is diagrammatical illustrated yet another alternative construction of dispenser  10 . Here, the dispenser is primarily the dispenser of  FIGS. 1-6 , further including an electric pumping device  66  placed across tube  46 . The electric pumping device  66  operates to pump concentrate solution  41  from the accumulator  40  and into the flow of water through passage  24 . Valve  20  is replaced with an electrically operable valve  68 , and valve  32  is replaced with an electrically operable valve  70 . Both valves  68  and  70  may also be manually operated. 
         [0040]    Still referring to  FIG. 11 , a power source, such as batteries  72  provide electrical power to the pumping device  66 , valves  68  and  70 , and various other components. A controller  74  is operatively connected to the pumping device  66 , valves  68  and  70 , and is programmed to control the operation of the pumping device and the valves in accordance with desired modes of operation. Alternatively or in addition solar panels, or a source of external power can be used to power the dispenser. Further, a remote control  76  can be provided to permit a user the ability to control the operation of the dispenser remotely. A receiver  78  operates to receive command signals from the remote control and transmit them to the controller  74 . 
         [0041]    In  FIG. 12 , there is diagrammatical illustrated alternative construction of dispenser  10  of  FIG. 11 . Here the electric pumping device  66  is replaced with a hydro-mechanical pumping device  78 . Pumping device  78  is operatively connected and driven by an impeller or turbine  80  placed across passage  24  that is operated as water flows therethrough. Pumping device  78  and turbine  80  may be operatively connected by a pulley and belt system as shown. However, alternative structures can be implemented to operatively couple the turbine  80  and pumping device  78 . 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 13 , there is diagrammatically illustrated an alternative construction of the dispenser  10 . Here, the dispenser  10  includes a foot step  82  and a ground spike  84  for securing the dispenser  10  to a soft ground surface by inserting the ground spike into the ground. A user can step on the foot step  82  to aid in inserting the ground spike  84  into the ground. 
         [0043]    In  FIG. 14 , there is diagrammatically illustrated an alternative construction of the dispenser  10 . Here, the dispenser  10  is configured to be hard plumbed with a water sprinkler system supply conduit  86 . Supply conduit  86  replaces the main fluid passage  14 . The dispenser  10  is further fitted with a pipe coupling  88  to permit coupling of the supply conduit  166  to the dispenser  10 . 
         [0044]    A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.