Abstract:
A pellet dispersing blade assembly includes an assembly coupling; a pellet broadcasting blade drivingly engaged for rotation by the assembly coupling, the pellet broadcasting blade having a plurality of blade projections; and a pellet dispersing shall drivingly engaged for rotation by the assembly coupling. The pellet dispersing shaft may include a main shaft segment carried by the assembly coupling, a terminal shaft segment extending from the main shaft segment, the terminal shaft segment oriented at an angle relative to the main shaft segment and forming a terminal end of the pellet dispersing shaft and a single shaft bend between the main shaft segment and the terminal shaft segment.

Description:
FIELD 
     Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to wildlife feeders. More particularly, illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate to a pellet dispersing blade assembly which breaks up or loosens clumped or aggregated feed pellets in a wildlife feeder for broadcasting of the feed pellets from the feeder. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wildlife feeders are frequently used by hunters or observers of game such as deer to attract wildlife to a selected area for hunting or observation. A conventional wildlife feeder may include a generally cylindrical feed receptacle having a receptacle interior for containing feed pellets. The feed receptacle may be fitted with tripod legs which are adapted to support the feed receptacle above the ground. A funnel-shaped feed dispensing hopper extends from the bottom of the feed receptacle. A feed dispensing mechanism may include a timer which can be set to periodically dispense the feed pellets from the feed receptacle and feed dispensing hopper onto the ground at timed intervals. 
     Under some circumstances, the feed pellets may have a tendency to become clumped or aggregated in the feed receptacle and the feed dispensing hopper, particularly if bark, leaves and other extraneous material is present in the feed. Clumping of the feed pellets may hinder dispensing of the pellets from the wildlife feeder. 
     Accordingly, a pellet dispersing blade assembly which breaks up clumped or aggregated feed pellets in a wildlife feeder for dispensing or broadcasting of the feed pellets from the feeder may be desirable for some applications. 
     SUMMARY 
     Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to a pellet dispersing blade assembly. The pellet dispersing blade may include an assembly coupling; a pellet broadcasting blade drivingly engaged for rotation by the assembly coupling, the pallet broadcasting blade having a plurality of blade projections; and a pellet dispersing shaft drivingly engaged for rotation by the assembly coupling. The pellet dispersing shaft may include a main shaft segment carried by the assembly coupling, a terminal shaft segment extending from the main shaft segment, the terminal shaft segment oriented at an angle relative to the main shaft segment and forming a terminal end of the pellet dispersing shaft and a single shaft bend between the main shaft segment and the terminal shaft segment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an exemplary wildlife feeder fitted with an illustrative embodiment of the pellet dispersing blade assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a longitudinal sectional view of the exemplary wildlife feeder illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an illustrative pellet dispersing blade assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view of the illustrative pellet dispersing blade assembly illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is an enlarged side view of an end segment of an exemplary pellet dispersing shaft of an illustrative pellet dispersing blade assembly, with a terminal shaft segment disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to a main shaft segment of the pellet dispersing shaft; 
         FIG. 4B  is an enlarged side view of an end segment of an exemplary pellet dispersing shaft of an alternative illustrative pellet dispersing blade assembly, with the terminal shaft segment disposed at a right angle with respect to the main shaft segment of the pellet dispersing shaft; 
         FIG. 5  is a longitudinal sectional view of an exemplary blade coupling which is suitable for coupling the pellet dispersing blade assembly to a motor shaft (partially in section) of an illustrative pellet dispersing blade assembly; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of an exemplary pellet broadcasting blade of an illustrative pellet dispersing blade assembly; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a portion of the exemplary pellet broadcasting blade, more particularly illustrating alternative positions of a blade projection extending from the blade; 
         FIG. 8  is a longitudinal sectional view of an exemplary wildlife feeder fitted with an illustrative pellet dispersing blade assembly, more particularly illustrating rotation of the pellet dispersing blade assembly by operation of an assembly drive motor in exemplary application of the assembly; 
         FIG. 8A  is a longitudinal sectional view of an exemplary wildlife feeder fitted with an alternative illustrative embodiment of the pellet dispersing blade assembly, more particularly illustrating rotation of the pellet dispersing blade assembly by operation of an assembly drive motor in exemplary application of the assembly; 
         FIG. 8B  is a longitudinal sectional view of an exemplary assembly coupling, with the pellet dispersing shaft distorted in a funnel trajectory and a shaft accommodation cavity in the coupling accommodating the pellet dispersing shaft during rotation of the assembly coupling; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of an exemplary wildlife feeder fitted with an illustrative embodiment of the pellet dispersing blade assembly, with a supply of feed pellets placed in the wildlife feeder preparatory to operation; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of an illustrative pellet dispersing blade assembly in rotation of the assembly as the rotating assembly breaks up, separates or loosens clumped feed pellets in the wildlife feeder and the loosened feed pellets fall from the wildlife feeder onto the rotating underlying pellet broadcasting blade of the assembly; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the rotating pellet dispersing blade assembly, more particularly illustrating an alternative lower position of the assembly with respect to the wildlife feeder; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of a portion of an exemplary pellet broadcasting blade of the illustrative pellet dispersing blade assembly, more particularly illustrating a steep angled position of a blade projection extending from the blade; 
         FIG. 12A  is a top view of the wildlife feeder and more particularly illustrating a feed broadcast area having a size which corresponds to a pellet broadcasting blade having the steep angled position of the blade projection illustrated in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of a portion of an exemplary pellet broadcasting blade of the illustrative pellet dispersing blade assembly, more particularly illustrating a shallow angled position of the blade projection extending from the blade; and 
         FIG. 13A  is a top view of the illustrative pellet dispersing blade assembly and more particularly illustrating a feed broadcast area having a size which corresponds to a pellet broadcasting blade having the shallow angled position of the blade projection illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. Relative terms such as “upper” and “lower” are used for descriptive purposes herein and indicate the positions of the various components of the assembly relative to each other. Thus, such relative terms are not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-8B  of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the pellet dispersing blade assembly, hereinafter assembly, is generally indicated by reference numeral  100 . As will be hereinafter described, in some applications the assembly  100  may be a component part of a wildlife feeder  1 , which may have a conventional design. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary wildlife feeder  1  which is suitable for implementation of the assembly  100  may include a feed receptacle  2 . The feed receptacle  2  has a receptacle wall  3  which may have a generally elongated, cylindrical shape and forms a receptacle interior  5 . A removable receptacle lid  4  ( FIG. 1 ) may be placed on the feed receptacle  2  to close the receptacle interior  5 . 
     A generally funnel-shaped feed dispensing hopper  8  may extend downwardly from the receptacle wall  3  of the feed receptacle  2 . The feed dispensing hopper  8  has a dispensing hopper interior  9  which communicates with the receptacle interior  5  of the feed receptacle  2 . A hopper tip  10  may extend downwardly from the feed dispensing hopper  8 . Multiple feeder legs  14  may extend from the receptacle wall  3  of the feed receptacle  2  to support the feed receptacle  2  above the ground or other support surface (not illustrated). 
     A base  107  which contains an assembly drive motor  101  ( FIG. 10 ) may be provided beneath the feed dispensing hopper  8  of the feed receptacle  2 . The drive motor  101  may be conventional and drivingly engages the assembly  100  typically through a motor shaft  108  ( FIG. 5 ) for rotation of the assembly  100  in a manner which will be hereinafter described. A timer (not illustrated) may interface with the drive motor  101  to operate the drive motor  101  for rotation of the assembly  100  at preselected programmed time intervals, typically in the conventional manner. It will be recognized and understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description of the wildlife feeder  1  is exemplary only, and that the assembly  100  may be equally adaptable for use with wildlife feeders having any of a variety of alternative designs known by those skilled in the art. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , the assembly  100  may include an assembly coupling  116 . The assembly coupling  116  may be drivingly coupled to the motor shaft  108  ( FIG. 5 ) of the drive motor  101  ( FIG. 10 ) for rotation by operation of the drive motor  101  in a manner which will be hereinafter described. A pellet broadcasting blade  102  is drivingly coupled to the assembly coupling  116  for rotation thereby such as in a manner which will be hereinafter described. A flexible pellet dispersing shaft  132  is drivingly coupled to the assembly coupling  116  for rotation thereby for purposes which will be hereinafter described. The assembly coupling  116  and the pellet broadcasting blade  102  may each be metal such as aluminum or may be carbon fiber composite, a rigid and durable plastic and/or other material which is consistent with the functional requirements of the assembly  100 . The pellet dispersing shaft  132  may be flexible metal such as aluminum or other flexible and rigid or semi-rigid material. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the assembly coupling  116  of the assembly  100  may include a coupling body  117 . In some embodiments, the coupling body  117  of the assembly coupling  116  may be generally elongated and cylindrical in shape. The coupling body  117  may have a generally flat or planar lower coupling body end  118  and a generally flat or planar upper coupling body end  119 . A shaft accommodation cavity  120  may extend into the upper coupling body end  119 . 
     The pellet broadcasting blade  102  of the assembly  100  may be generally flat and circular with a flat or planar lower blade surface  103 , a flat or planar upper blade surface  104  and a circular outer blade edge  105  ( FIG. 6 ). Multiple blade projections  110  extend from the upper blade surface  104  of the pellet broadcasting blade  102 . The blade projections  110  may be disposed adjacent to the outer blade edge  105  in spaced-apart relationship to each other around the circumference of the pellet broadcasting blade  102 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, three blade projections  110  may protrude from the upper blade surface  104  of the pellet broadcasting blade  102  at substantially equally spaced-apart intervals to each other around the circumference of the pellet broadcasting blade  102 . In other embodiments, a lesser or greater number of the blade projections  110  may protrude from the upper blade surface  104 . 
     In some embodiments, each blade projection  110  may be cut from the pellet broadcasting blade  102 , forming a blade projection notch  112  which extends into the outer blade edge  105  adjacent to the blade projection  110  and toward the geometric center of the pellet broadcasting blade  102 . Each blade projection  110  may bend upward along a bend line  111  and protrude beyond the upper blade surface  104  of the pellet broadcasting blade  102 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments, each blade projection  110  can be selectively bended or positioned at a steep angle (illustrated in solid lines) or a shallow angle (illustrated in the phantom lines) relative to the plane of the upper blade surface  104  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. It will be recognized and understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description of the pellet broadcasting blade  102  is exemplary only and that the assembly  100  may have pellet broadcasting blades with any of a variety of alternative designs which are known by those skilled in the art and consistent with the functional requirements of the pellet dispensing blade  102 . 
     The pellet broadcasting blade  102  may be drivingly engaged by the assembly coupling  116  according to any technique which is known by those skilled in the art and suitable for the purpose. In some embodiments, a coupling opening  106  ( FIG. 6 ) may extend through the geometric center of the pellet broadcasting blade  102 . A blade seat  122  ( FIG. 5 ) may circumscribe the coupling body  117  generally beneath the upper coupling body end  119 . The coupling opening  106  in the pellet broadcasting blade  102  may accommodate the coupling body  117  of the assembly coupling  116  in an interference fit. It will be recognized and understood by those skilled in the art that the manner of attachment of the pellet broadcasting blade  102  to the assembly coupling  116  as was heretofore described with respect to  FIG. 5  is exemplary only and that the pellet broadcasting blade  102  may be drivingly engaged by the assembly coupling  116  according to any technique which is known by those skilled in the art and suitable for the purpose. For example and without limitation, in various embodiments the pellet broadcasting blade  102  may be attached to the assembly coupling  116  using mechanical fasteners (not illustrated) suitable for the purpose. In other embodiments, the pellet broadcasting blade  102  may be welded, molded, casted and/or otherwise fabricated in one piece with the assembly coupling  116  according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. 
     As further illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4B , the pellet dispersing shaft  132  of the assembly  100  may include a generally elongated main shaft segment  133 . The main shaft segment  133  has a lower shaft segment end  133   a  ( FIG. 5 ) which may be drivingly engaged for rotation by the assembly coupling  116  in a manner which will be hereinafter described. A terminal shaft segment  134  terminates an upper shaft segment end  133   b  of the main shaft segment  133  at a single shaft bend  135 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , in some embodiments of the assembly  100 , a longitudinal axis  148  of the terminal shaft segment  134  may be disposed at an obtuse angle  136  relative to a longitudinal axis  150  of the main shaft segment  133 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , in other embodiments of the assembly  100   a , the longitudinal axis  148  of the terminal shaft segment  134  may be disposed at a right angle  137  relative to the longitudinal axis  150  of the pellet dispersing shaft  132 . The terminal shaft segment  134  forms a terminal end of the pellet dispensing shaft  134   a . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the upper blade surface  104  of the pellet broadcasting blade  102  faces the terminal shaft segment  134  of the pellet dispersing shaft  132 . 
     The motor shaft  108  which is drivingly engaged by the assembly drive motor  101  ( FIG. 10 ) may drivingly engage the assembly coupling  116  of the assembly  100  for rotation according to any technique or mechanism which is known by those skilled in the art and suitable for the purpose. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, at least one shaft bore  124  may be provided in the coupling body  117  of the assembly coupling  116 . In some embodiments, the shaft bore  124  may traverse the coupling body  117  from the lower coupling body end  118  to the upper coupling body end  119 , as illustrated. The upper end of the motor shaft  108  may be inserted in the shaft bore  124  at the lower body end  118 . In some embodiments, a motor shaft set screw  127  may be threaded through a radial motor shaft set screw opening  126  which communicates with the shaft bore  124  generally above and adjacent to the lower body end  118  of the coupling body  117 . The motor shaft set screw  127  may engage the motor shaft  108  to secure the motor shaft  108  in the shaft bore  124 . In other embodiments, the motor shaft  108  may be fixedly or releasably secured in the shaft bore  124  using alternative securing techniques which are suitable for the purpose. 
     The assembly coupling  116  may drivingly engage the lower shaft segment end  133   a  of the main shaft segment  133  of the pellet dispersing shaft  132  according to any technique or mechanism which is known by those skilled in the art and suitable for the purpose. In some embodiments, the lower shaft segment end  133   a  of the main shaft segment  133  may be inserted in the shaft bore  124  at the upper body end  119  of the coupling body  117  with the main shaft segment  133  protruding through the shaft accommodation cavity  120 . A dispersing shaft set screw  129  may be threaded through a radial dispersing shaft set screw opening  128  which communicates with the shaft bore  124  generally below and adjacent to the upper body end  119  of the coupling body  117 . The dispersing shaft set screw  129  may engage the main shaft segment  133  of the pellet dispersing shaft  132  to secure the pellet dispersing shaft  132  in the shaft bore  124 . In other embodiments, the main shaft segment  133  of the pellet dispersing shaft  132  may be fixedly or releasably secured in the shaft bore  124  using alternative securing techniques which are suitable for the purpose. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when the assembly  100  is stationary (not rotating), the longitudinal axis  150  of the main shaft segment  133  of the pellet dispensing shaft  132  coincides with a center axis of rotation  152  of the pellet dispersing shaft  132 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 8-8B , operation of the assembly drive motor  101  ( FIG. 10 ) facilitates rotation of the pellet broadcasting blade  102  and the pellet dispersing shaft  132  of the assembly  100  through the assembly coupling  116 . The terminal shaft segment  134 , disposed at an obtuse angle  136  ( FIG. 4A ) or a right angle ( FIG. 4B ) with respect to the main shaft segment  133  of the pellet dispersing shaft  132 , imparts centrifugal force to the main shaft segment  133 , causing the main shaft segment  133  to spread outwardly. Accordingly, as the pellet dispersing shaft  132  rotates about the center axis of rotation  152  ( FIGS. 8 and 8A ), the main shaft segment  133  forms a lower funnel pattern  138  around the center axis of rotation  152  whereas the terminal shaft segment  134  forms an upper funnel pattern  140  around the center axis of rotation  152 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8A , in the assembly  100   a , the terminal shaft segment  134  forms an annulus pattern  142  around the center axis of rotation  152 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8B , the shaft accommodation cavity  120  in the upper coupling body end  119  of the coupling body  117  accommodates the main shaft segment  133  as it spreads outwardly into the inverted cone-shaped lower funnel pattern  138  and angles from the center axis of rotation  152 . 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 9-13A  of the drawings, in exemplary application of the assembly  100 , the pellet dispensing shaft  132  extends upwardly through the hopper tip  10  and into the dispensing hopper interior  9  in the feed dispensing hopper  8  of the feed receptacle  2 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , in some applications, the height of the feed receptacle  2  and/or the assembly  100  can be selected to position the terminal shaft segment  134  at a selected height or vertical position within the dispensing hopper interior  9  of the feed dispensing hopper  8  or the receptacle interior  5  of the feed receptacle  2 . A supply of feed pellets  144  is placed in the dispensing hopper interior  9  of the feed dispensing hopper  8 . Under some circumstances, the feed pellets  144  may be clumped or aggregated together particularly in the event that bark, leaves and other extraneous material is present in the supply of feed pellets  144 . 
     Operation of the assembly drive motor  101  causes rotation of the assembly coupling  116 , the pellet broadcasting blade  102  and the pellet dispersing shaft  132  of the assembly  100  at a selected rotational speed. In some applications, the operational speed of the assembly drive motor  101  may be selected such that the assembly  100  rotates a speed of at least about 10,000 rpm. Accordingly, the terminal shaft segment  134  of the pellet dispersing shaft  132  imparts centrifugal force to the pellet dispensing shaft  132 , causing the main shaft segment  133  to spread outwardly into the lower funnel pattern  138 . The terminal shaft segment  134  spreads outwardly into the upper funnel pattern  140  ( FIG. 8 ) or the annulus pattern  142  ( FIG. 8A ). Therefore, the pellet dispersing shaft  132  breaks up the clumped or aggregated feed pellets  144 , enabling the loosened feed pellets  144  to fall freely from the dispensing hopper interior  9  through the hopper tip  10  onto the rotating underlying pellet broadcasting blade  102 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the spread configuration of the rotating main shaft segment  133  and terminal shaft segment  134  enables the pellet dispersing shaft  132  to contact and break up or loosen a large quantity or volume of the feed pellets  144  in the feed receptacle  2 , particularly the feed pellets  144  in the hopper tip  10  and the dispensing hopper interior  9  of the feed dispensing hopper  8 . Upon subsequent termination of operation of the assembly drive motor  101 , the pellet dispersing shaft  132  stops rotating about the center axis of rotation  152  ( FIG. 8 ) and the main shaft segment  133  of the pellet dispersing shaft  132  recoils to the vertical position in alignment with the center axis of rotation  152 , as illustrated in FIG  9 . 
     As the loosened feed pellets  144  fall from the dispensing hopper interior  9  through the hopper tip  10  and onto the underlying rotating pellet broadcasting blade  102 , the blade projections  110  of the pellet broadcasting blade  102  strike and broadcast the feed pellets  144  outwardly from the assembly  100  onto the ground  154  ( FIGS. 12A and 13A ) in a circular feed broadcast area  146 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the angle of each blade projection  110  relative to the plane of the upper blade surface  104  of the pellet broadcasting blade  102  can be selected according to the desired size or area of the feed broadcast area  146 . As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , for a larger feed broadcast area  146  ( FIG. 12A ), each blade projection  110  can be oriented at a steep angle (such as perpendicular relationship) to the upper blade surface  104 . Thus, the feed pellets  144  may be broadcast from the wildlife feeder  1  in a feed broadcast area  146  having a diameter of 60 feet or more. Conversely, as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , for a smaller feed broadcast area  146  ( FIG. 13A ), each blade projection  110  can be oriented at a shallow angle to the upper blade surface  104 . Thus, the feed pellets  144  may be broadcast from the wildlife feeder  1  in a feed broadcast area  146  having a diameter of 40 feet or less. In some applications, a timer (not illustrated) which interfaces with the assembly drive motor  101  may be set to operate the assembly drive motor  101  at selected times and for selected periods of time according to the desired quantity of feed pellets  144  which is to be dispensed from the wildlife feeder  1 , as is known by those skilled in the art. 
     While various illustrative embodiments have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.