Abstract:
An herbicide delivery device comprises a cane-type structure that applies herbicide directly to unwanted foliage, comprising an ergonomic handle at a top end and a dauber mechanism at a bottom end further comprising a rotating spherical foam rubber applicator. An interior of the cane structure houses a replaceable vessel of liquid herbicide. The dauber mechanism can be removed to access and refill the tube. The dauber dispenses a small amount of herbicide as the applicator is pressed against a surface. In use, the user walks around an outside area and directly places the foam rubber applicator against foliage to dispense the herbicide without endangering any nearby plant life. A protective cap is attached over the dauber mechanism when not in use.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are currently no applications co-pending with the present application. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a fluid applicator, and in particular, to a herbicide applicator which deliver herbicide to vegetation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Eliminating unwanted vegetation such as weeds or other foliage is a common concern for many property occupants. Unwanted vegetation becomes an eyesore and overruns other valued vegetation. Various systems which are utilized to destroy unwanted vegetation are known; all of which discharge some type of herbicide onto a surface. 
     A common problem with the systems is that the application of the herbicide is uncontrolled. Another problem is that the systems do not contain the herbicide enough to prevent leaks. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide a delivery system for herbicide. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. Pat. No. 1,606,860, issued in the name of Winn, describes a system which distributes weed killing liquids in small amounts onto a surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,979,757, issued in the name of Smith, describes a cane-type weed killer applicator. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,833, issued in the name of Longer, describes a fluid application system. 
     While these attempts fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more disadvantages. Many are not suited to provide control of the herbicide. Others are prone to leaks of the herbicide. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for an herbicide delivery apparatus which offers control of the herbicide and prevents leaks. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present embodiments of the invention to solve at least one (1) of these problems. The inventor has addressed this need by developing an herbicide delivery apparatus that provides control and leak prevention to the herbicide. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to provide an herbicide delivery apparatus for applying herbicides to vegetation including a body, a dauber assembly, a handle assembly, and a cable connection. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an herbicide delivery apparatus with a handle assembly including a trigger to motion the cable connection within the body. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide the dauber assembly with an O-ring to seal the dauber portion. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a dauber which is able to flip one-hundred eighty degrees to apply the herbicide. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an herbicide container for retaining and transferring herbicide. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a dauber cap to be placed onto the dauber when not in use. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of connecting the cable to the dauber assembly and handle assembly, providing herbicide within the herbicide container and engaging within the cane body, removing the dauber cap, enabling the herbicide to saturate the dauber, engaging the trigger to flip the dauber and expose the saturated half of the dauber to a desired vegetation, releasing the trigger as needed, repeating as needed, and replacing the dauber cap as needed. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an herbicide delivery apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a section view of the herbicide delivery apparatus  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is another section view of the herbicide delivery apparatus  10  taken along section line B-B (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cut-away view of a handle assembly portion  50  of the herbicide delivery apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is an inverted view of the herbicide delivery apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  herbicide delivery apparatus 
               20  dauber assembly 
               22   a  dauber sphere 
               22   b  first dauber half 
               22   c  second dauber half 
               24  shaft 
               26  herbicide supply port 
               30  cable enclosure 
               32  cable 
               33  cable tunnel 
               34  spool 
               36  dauber cap 
               38  spring enclosure 
               39  hook feature 
               40  spring 
               42  shaft seal 
               44  first O-ring 
               46  cane body 
               47  herbicide container cavity 
               50  handle assembly 
               52  handle grip 
               54  finger relief 
               56  pull trigger 
               57  trigger aperture 
               58  cable attachment feature 
               60  friction pulley 
               80  herbicide container 
               82  vessel 
               83  herbicide container cap 
               84  herbicide 
               86  male thread 
               87  female thread 
               88  nozzle 
               90  second O-ring 
               91  access door 
               92  hinge 
               94  hasp 
               100  foliage 
               105  ground surface 
               110  user/hand 
               115  index finger 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a device and method for an herbicide delivery apparatus (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a hand-held cane-like apparatus that directly applies a controlled quantity of herbicide  84  to unwanted foliage  100  such as weeds. The apparatus  10  utilizes an elongated cane body  46  approximately two (2) inches in diameter and three (3) to (4) feet long. The interior of the cane body  46  comprises an herbicide container cavity  47  designed to accept a cylindrical herbicide container  80  and a bottom portion comprising a mechanical dauber assembly  20  which dispenses a small amount of herbicide  84  as the dauber sphere  22   a  is compressed. The apparatus  10  allows a user  110  to walk around a yard, driveway, patio, or other outside ground surface  105  and directly apply the herbicide  84  to unwanted foliage  100  without endangering nearby plant life. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front view of the apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises a cane body  46  further comprising a lower dauber assembly  20  at a lower end and an upper handle assembly  50  at an upper end. The dauber assembly  20  further comprises an open-celled sponge material which is responsible for restricting absorption of the herbicide  84  comprising a spherical rubber applicator  22   a  further comprising a first dauber half  22   b  and a second dauber half  22   c . During use, the second dauber half  22   c  delivers and dispenses a volume of absorbed herbicide  84  onto unwanted foliage  100  as a user  110  presses the apparatus  10  against a ground surface  105  which in turn compresses said second dauber half  22   c  to displace said herbicide  84  (see  FIG. 2 ). The cane body  46  extends upwardly from the dauber assembly  20  approximately three (3) to four (4) feet to the handle assembly  50 . 
     The cane body  46  comprises a linear form having a generally round cross section and is envisioned to be made of plastic, fiberglass, wood, or other light-weight material. Said cane body  46  is a generally solid member; however, specific portions are hollow so as to facilitate an internal removably attached herbicide container  80  and a dauber assembly  20 . The cane body  46  comprises an access door  91  allowing a user  110  to load/unload and discreetly conceal said herbicide container  80  within. Said cane body  46  further comprises an internal cable tunnel  33  designed to discreetly route a length of small-diameter wire rope cable  32  upwardly from the bottom-mounted dauber assembly  20  to the top-mounted handle assembly  50 , thereby allowing a user  110  to replenishing a supply of herbicide  84  by actuating a pull trigger portion  56  of said handle assembly  50 . The handle assembly  50  comprises an integral portion of the cane body  46  being located at a top end portion providing a user  110  an ergonomic means to grasp and manipulate the apparatus  10  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , section views of the apparatus  10  taken along section lines A-A and B-B (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The apparatus  10  provides a means of controlled application of a liquid herbicide  84  to subjacent unwanted foliage  100 . The apparatus  10  comprises a dauber assembly  20  and an herbicide container  80  mounted within the cane body  46 . Said herbicide container  80  provides a downward flow of liquid herbicide  84  to the subjacent dauber assembly  20  via a conveying herbicide supply port  26 . Said dauber assembly  20  comprises a foam rubber dauber sphere  22   a  further comprising a top first dauber half  22   b  and a bottom second dauber half  22   c . In use, said dauber sphere  22   a  absorbs a volume of said herbicide  84  conveyed via the herbicide supply port  26 , into the upper first dauber half  22   b . Said dauber sphere  22   a  further comprises a first O-ring  44  being adhesively bonded around an equator area, thereby circumferentially sealing the dauber sphere  22   a  against an inner spherical surface of the cane body  46 , thereby containing said volume of herbicide  84  within the dauber sphere  22   a . Said dauber sphere  22   a  further comprises a metal or plastic shaft  24  which passes horizontally through a center point. The shaft  24  passes through and extends outwardly from both side portions of said dauber sphere  22   a . Said shaft  24  comprises an integral spool portion  34  on one (1) end, and an attached torsion spring  40  which encompasses an opposing end portion of said shaft  24 . Said 24 further comprises a pair of shaft seals  42  which are aligned with and work in conjunction with the aforementioned first O-ring  44  to contain and seal the herbicide  84  within the dauber sphere  22   a , thereby minimizing leakage of the liquid herbicide  84 . Said cable spool  34  is contained within an outwardly protruding semi-circular-shaped cable enclosure  30  being an integrally-molded portion of the cane body  46  and positioned along a bottom edge portion. Said spool  34  provides an attachment means to a length of cable  32  being wound around said spool  34  and extending upwardly through a cable tunnel portion  33  being integrated into a vertical side surface of the cane body  46 . Said cable  32  is in mechanical communication with the handle assembly  50  (see  FIG. 4 ), thereby allowing a user  110  to utilize said handle assembly  50  to apply a tension upon said cable  32  which in turn causes the shaft  24  and dauber sphere  22   a  to rotate. Rotation of said dauber sphere  22   a  causes the dauber halves  22   b ,  22   c  to flip one-hundred eighty degrees (180°), thereby conveying herbicide contained within the upper first dauber half  22   b  from a top position to a subjacent position for immediate application of said herbicide  84 . The spring  40  is located within an outwardly protruding semi-circular-shaped spring enclosure  38  at a horizontally opposing position from the aforementioned cable enclosure  30 . Said spring enclosure  38  also comprises an integrally-molded portion of the cane body  46  along a bottom edge. The spring  40  applies a torsional force upon said shaft  24  to return said shaft  24  to a “home” position when said cable  32  is released by the user  110 . 
     The herbicide container  80  is discretely housed within an herbicide container cavity portion  47  of the cane body  46  in an inverted orientation, thereby providing a downward flow of liquid herbicide  84  to the dauber assembly  20 . Said herbicide container  80  further comprises a transparent or translucent plastic or glass cylindrical vessel  82 , a male threaded portion  86 , and a cylindrical nozzle  88 . The vessel  82  comprises a bottle structure having a fluid capacity of approximately one-quarter (¼) to one-half (½) of a pint and is correspondingly sized to fit snuggly within said herbicide container cavity portion  47 . The male threaded portion  86  of the herbicide container  80  threadingly engages a corresponding female threaded portion  87  of the herbicide container cavity portion  47 , thereby providing a means to seal in the herbicide  84  while also securing said herbicide container  80  in position. Said herbicide  84  in turn flows downwardly through the male threaded portion  86 , through the nozzle  88 , and through the aforementioned herbicide supply port  26 , before entering the first dauber half  22   b . Said herbicide supply port  26  further comprises a second O-ring  90  which provides an additional sealing means against an exterior surface of the nozzle  88  to prevent leakage of the herbicide  84  during transfer from the herbicide container  80  to the dauber assembly  20 . 
     The cane body  46  provides a means to quickly load/unload the herbicide containers  80  via an access door  91  located at an adjacent position with respect to the herbicide container  80 . Said access door  91  comprises an open-ended half-cylinder-shaped hinged structure which when closed, provides a matching profile with that of the cane body  46 . Said access door  91  further comprises a pair of attaching hinges  92  along a vertical axis and a quarter-turn securing hasp  94 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a partial cut-away view of a handle assembly portion  50  of the apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The handle assembly portion  50  of the apparatus  10  provides a user  110  an ability to selectively replenish a flow of liquid herbicide  84  to the dauber assembly  20  while in a standing position, using one (1) hand. The handle assembly  50  comprises an integral upper extension of the cane body  46 , forming a hook-shaped appendage which provides easy gripping and manipulation of the apparatus  10 . The handle assembly  50  further comprises a handle grip  52  and a pull trigger  56 . Said handle grip  52  comprises an arcuate form having a plurality of finger reliefs  54  along a bottom surface and extends to a generally horizontal orientation, thereby allowing a user  110  to grasp said handle grip  52  in an ergonomic manner. The pull trigger  56  is located at a forward bottom position being convenient to a user&#39;s  110  index finger  115 . Said pull trigger  56  is in mechanical communication with the previously described cable  32  via an integral cable attachment feature  58 , thereby enabling the user  110  to upwardly motion said cable  32  as the pull trigger  56  is extended using an index finger portion  115  of the user&#39;s hand  110 . The handle assembly  50  further comprises an internal miniature cylindrical friction pulley  60  rotatingly affixed to an inner surface of said handle assembly  50  which provides a means to guide said cable  32  into the cable tunnel  33 . In use, a user  110  is envisioned to use three (3) fingers and a thumb to hold said handle grip  52  while engaging a remaining index finger  115  through an integral trigger aperture portion  57  of said pull trigger  56 . The user  110  then extends and holds said pull trigger  56  to motion said cable  32  outwardly and rotate the dauber sphere  22   a  (see  FIG. 2 ). After dispensing the herbicide  84  suspended within the dauber sphere  22   a , the user  110  relaxes his/her index finger  115  to allow the pull trigger  56  to motion inwardly to a retracted position, being assisted by an opposing tension force being applied by the spring  40  (see  FIG. 2 ). Said motioning of the cable  32  allows the dauber sphere  22   a  to return to the “home” position, thereby replenishing a volume of herbicide  84  within the dauber sphere  22   a.    
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an inverted view of the apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The herbicide container  80  provides normal sealed containment of the herbicide  84  via a threaded herbicide container cap  83  being removably attachable to the previously described male threaded portion  86  of the herbicide container  80 . Preparation of the apparatus  10  for use is performed in an inverted position and utilizing the access door  91  to enable insertion of the herbicide container  80  into the herbicide container cavity  47 . Subsequently, the male threaded portion of the herbicide container  80  is threadingly engaged with the previously described female threaded portion  87  of the cane body  46 . 
     It is envisioned that at least one (1) herbicide container  80  may be purchased with the apparatus  10  and filled with various types of herbicide  84  for different types of foliage  100 , used to dispense herbicide  84  onto unwanted foliage  100 , and cleaned for subsequent reuse. However, it is further understood that said herbicide container  80  may be provides in a pre-filled form having various herbicides  84  and may be sold as a purchased and disposable commodity, and may possibly be sold as a refill pack containing a plurality of herbicide containers  80 . 
     The apparatus  10  also comprises a cylindrical dauber cap  36  to protect the dauber assembly  20  when the apparatus  10  is not in use. Said dauber cap  36  is affixed to and covers a bottom portion of the dauber assembly  20  via a friction fit. The cane body  46  also comprises an integrally-molded hanging hook feature  39  forming an “L”-shaped appendage which is envisioned to protrude outwardly from the spring enclosure  38 , thereby providing a means to hang and store the apparatus  10  upon a wall surface. The hanging and storing of the apparatus  10  in an inverted position prevents any herbicide  84  from leaking out. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be prepared and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 . 
     The method of preparing and utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring the apparatus  10 ; inverting the apparatus  10 ; opening the access door  91  using the hasp  92 ; removing a herbicide container cap portion  83  from the herbicide container  80 ; inserting the herbicide container  80  through the access door  91  and into the herbicide container cavity  47 ; threadingly engaging and tightening the male threaded portion of the herbicide container  80  with the female threaded portion  87  of the cane body  46 ; closing and latching the access door  91 ; removing the dauber cap  36  from the dauber assembly  20 ; returning the apparatus  10  to an upright orientation; allowing a brief period of time for the herbicide  84  to pass from the herbicide container  80 , through the herbicide supply port  26 , and to be absorbed into the first dauber half  22   b ; holding the handle grip portion  52  of the handle assembly  50  using three (3) fingers and a thumb of the user&#39;s  110  hand; engaging the trigger aperture  57  portion of the pull trigger  56  using one&#39;s index finger  115 ; motioning outwardly and holding the pull trigger  56  to correspondingly motion the cable  32  which in turn rotates the spool  34  and dauber sphere  22   a , thereby positioning the herbicide  84  engorged first dauber half  22   b  at a bottom position and the second dauber half  22   c  at an upper position to absorb a volume of herbicide  84 ; dispensing an amount of herbicide  84  suspended within the first dauber half  22   b  by applying a proportional downward compressive force upon said dauber sphere  22   a  to displace a desired volume of herbicide  84  upon unwanted foliage  100  located upon the ground surface  105 ; continuing to press said dauber sphere  22   a  upon additional foliage  100  in a repetitive manner until exhausting the herbicide  84  within said first dauber half  22   b ; replenishing the dispensable herbicide  84  by allowing the pull trigger  56  to return to the retracted position by relaxing one&#39;s index finger  115 ; allowing the dauber sphere  22   a  to rotate one-hundred eighty degrees (180°) to the “home” position and thereby position the engorged second dauber half  22   c  at a bottom position; continuing to dispense the herbicide  84  from the second dauber half  22   c  in like manner; repeating the above herbicide  84  dispensing and replenishing steps until the herbicide container  80  is empty; inverting the apparatus  10  to install a full herbicide container  80  as described above; continuing to dispense herbicide  84  until completing a foliage  100  elimination project; storing the apparatus  10  by replacing the dauber cap  36  and hanging the apparatus  10  upon a wall surface using the hook feature  39 ; and, benefiting from a convenient means to dispense herbicide  84  upon unwanted foliage  100  from a standing position in a “one-handed” manner afforded the user  110  of the present invention  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.