Patent Publication Number: US-2003233969-A1

Title: Particulate material dispenser

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/390,433 filed Jun. 24, 2002 entitled Particulate Material Dispenser. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] This invention relates to the field of lightweight particulate material dispensers, which may be removably mounted to the handle of a garden-cultivating implement, or similar tool, for the convenient application of particulate material such as fertilizer, sand or like material.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The growing of garden plants for either aesthetics or sustenance involves regular surface manipulation of the garden soil for air and water entrainment and weed control, as well as for topical application of fertilizers around the plant for its nourishment and healthy growth.  
       [0004] The surface manipulation of the garden soil is generally undertaken by hand utilizing an implement of choice, usually a hoe or multi-tined cultivator, which enables the gardener to get in and around the plants without having to walk in the general vicinity of the plants and undesirably compact the soil. The application of fertilizer on the other hand may either be achieved by hand or by using a broadcast spreader or a scoop. A broadcast spreader is generally unsatisfactory since there is generally poor directional control of fertilizer within the garden environment so that much of the fertilizer is wasted by being accidentally misdirected onto pathways or outside the garden. Further, some of the fertilizer may be retained on the foliage or fruit of the plants where it can cause harm. Fertilizing by hand or by using a scoop requires one to walk within the garden thereby compacting the soil with the resultant need to re-cultivate the soil surface.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The present invention therefore includes a light weight, generally tubular shaped dispenser which is mountable to the elongated handle of a garden cultivating implement such as a hoe or multi-tined cultivator in proximity to the head thereof. An end cap of the dispenser is provided with an orifice through which particulate material such as fertilizer, sand or the like may be accurately dispensed without the user having to walk in proximity to the plants.  
       [0006] The dispenser may have an arcuate shaped internal baffle positioned near the dispensing orifice so as to selectively restrict the discharge of particulate material. The baffle is mounted such that the dispenser must be inverted about its longitudinal axis and mildly agitated or shaken in general longitudinal axial alignment with the garden cultivating implement, so that particulate material can be dispensed.  
       [0007] In one embodiment of the invention an end plate, having a plurality of different diameter dispensing apertures or an elongate generally wedge-shaped or otherwise narrowing aperture formed therein, is rotatably mounted to an end cap of the dispenser such that a single aperture or portion of the elongate narrowing aperture, may be selectively aligned with the orifice in the end cap to control the amount of particulate material dispensed.  
       [0008] The body of the dispenser may be made of translucent or of transparent material so that the amount of material contained within the dispenser may be clearly evident.  
       [0009] The dispenser may be described as generally tubular, so that the dispenser has an elongated body. At opposite ends, first and second end caps may be either formed or mounted thereon. The first end cap may be removably fitted over a first end of the elongated body and is provided with an orifice towards a first side of the cap, through which particulate material such as fertilizer, sand or the like may be dispensed. The second end cap may be mounted to the second end of the elongated body. The dispensing orifice may be formed in generally tangential alignment with the inner surface of the elongated body of the tubular shaped dispenser. A dispensing tube may surround or be mounted as a spout in the orifice and extend cantilevered outwardly of first end cap.  
       [0010] The inner face of the first end cap, which is circular in cross section, is provided with a fixed arcuately shaped baffle, which extends generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser. A first end of the baffle is affixed by gluing or the like to a portion of the inner surface of first end cap so as to be in tangential alignment with the dispensing orifice. Opposed side edges of the baffle are also affixed to a portion of the inner surface of first end cap so as to compartmentalize an inner portion of the end cap. The second end of the baffle, opposite to the first end of the baffle is spaced, so as to provide a pocket, from the adjacent inside surface of first end cap. The baffle may be shaped as a funnel section, that is, as a sector of a conical frustum or cone so as to allow the channelled passage of particulate material from storage in the body of the dispenser to the dispensing orifice in the first end cap.  
       [0011] In an alternative embodiment, the first end cap may be provided with an externally mounted, rotatable end plate having a plurality of arcuately aligned dispensing orifices or apertures of different diameters formed therein and radially spaced therearound in radially spaced array about the axis of rotation of the plate. Dispensing tubes may be mounted to the apertures so as to extend outwardly as spouts from the end plate. Rotation of end plate selectively aligns a desired dispensing aperture in the end plate with the dispensing orifice in the first end cap.  
       [0012] The body of the dispenser is adapted so as to be removably mountable to the generally cylindrical pole-like handle of a garden-cultivating implement such as a hoe or tined cultivator. The garden implement may alternatively be a snow shovel when de-icing material and sand is required. These and other long-handled implements are collectively referred to herein as “implements”. To this end the body may have one or more spring clips fixed to it by riveting or the like. Alternatively, the body may have a longitudinal groove or channel formed along its length, which will snap or fit over, so as to accept into frictional engagement, a portion of the handle of the implement. The body of the dispenser may be manufactured from transparent material such as plastic or the like, so that the quantity of material stored or contained within the dispenser will be readily apparent to the user.  
       [0013] The dispenser is mounted to the implement with the first end cap positioned nearest to the head of the implement. The contents of the dispenser are prevented from accidental discharge from the dispensing orifice in first end cap by means of the internal baffle. Inverting the dispensing tube by simply rotating the implement and the attached dispensing tube one hundred eighty degrees about the longitudinal axis of the handle of the implement, followed by a mild shaking or agitation of both the implement and dispenser, metres a small portion of the stored particulate material, less than or equal to the volumetric capacity of the baffle pocket, from the pocket so as to be discharged from the dispensing nozzle.  
       [0014] In summary, the present invention may be characterized as a dispenser for dispensing particulate matter the dispenser including a hollow elongate body having sidewalls extending between opposite first and second ends. First and second end seals seal the first and second ends respectively. The first end seal has an orifice through which the particular material, when stored in the body, is dispensed. A baffle is mounted within the first end, generally abutting against one side wall of the body. The baffle at least partially occludes the orifice and forms a pocket between the orifice and the baffle. A convoluted dispensing flow path is thereby formed for dispensing the particulate material from the body, around the baffle and out of the dispenser through the orifice. The dispensing orifice may be adjacent the one side wall.  
       [0015] In one embodiment, the first end seal is a first end cap removably mounted onto the first end of the body by cap mounting means. Both seals may be end caps. The cap mounting means may be a snug sliding friction fit of the first end cap over the first end of the body. A spout may be mounted in the orifice so as to extend cantilevered outwardly of the orifice.  
       [0016] In an alternative embodiment, the first end seal further includes an apertured member rotatably mounted for rotation relative to the first end seal so that a user may selectively align an aperture on the apertured member with at least a portion of the orifice. The user may thereby selectively control the amount of occlusion of the orifice by the apertured member. The apertured member may be a rigid disc having at least one hole therethrough. Alternatively, the disc may have an array of radially spaced holes of different sizes. Further alternatively, the hole may be an elongate arcuate narrowing aperture.  
       [0017] A mounting means may be provided for mounting of the dispenser to an implement handle. The mounting means is mounted to a sidewall of the dispenser for releasably mounting the body to the handle of the implement. For example, the mounting means may include at least a pair of resilient clamping members mountable to the handle. Alternatively, the mounting means may include at least one concavity formed in the sidewalls of the dispenser for receiving the handle into resiliently clamped engagement within the concavity. The concavity may be an elongate channel.  
       [0018] The sidewall to which the mounting means is mounted may coincide with the one sidewall adjacent to which is the orifice and baffle. Alternatively they may be oppositely disposed so that the orifice and baffle are opposite to the mounting means.  
       [0019] The baffle may be a generally frusto-conically shaped section having a narrow end and an opposite wide end. The narrow end may be mounted to a sidewall and adjacent the first end seal. The wide end defines an oppositely disposed opening, opposite to the narrow end, into the pocket. The baffle thereby forms a funnel from the wide end to the orifice adjacent the narrow end. A rigid weir-like wall may be mounted across the wide end so as to partially block the opening into the pocket formed by the baffle. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0020]FIG. 1, is a side perspective view of a garden cultivator implement with the dispenser of the present invention secured thereto with the cultivator in the cultivating mode.  
     [0021]FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a garden cultivator implement with the dispenser of the present invention secured thereto with the dispenser in the dispensing mode.  
     [0022]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1.  
     [0023]FIG. 3 a  is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of an alternative embodiment.  
     [0024]FIG. 3 b  is a further alternative embodiment of FIG. 3 a.    
     [0025]FIG. 4 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the first end cap.  
     [0026]FIG. 4 a  is an alternative embodiment of the end cap of FIG. 4.  
     [0027]FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4.  
     [0028]FIG. 5 a  is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing the dispensing tube in the non-rotated mode.  
     [0029]FIG. 5 b  is a sectional view along line  5   b - 5   b  of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 4 a.    
     [0030]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative form of the first end cap.  
     [0031]FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line  7 - 7  of FIG. 6.  
     [0032]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a particulate metering end cap according to the present invention.  
     [0033]FIG. 9 is an assembled perspective view of the end cap of FIG. 8.  
     [0034]FIG. 10 is a sectional view along line  10 - 10  in FIG. 9.  
     [0035]FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the dispenser according to the present invention.  
     [0036]FIG. 12 is an assembled perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 11. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
     [0037] With reference to the drawing figures, wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, the particulate material dispenser  10  is illustrated as having end caps  12  and  14  respectively, which close off the ends of a generally elongated hollow tubular body  16 . In one embodiment, body  16  may be formed with sealed ends instead of using end caps to seal the ends of the tube. Dispenser  10  may be larger or smaller depending on the weight which may be conveniently carried by the user. Either end cap may be removable to allow the insertion into body  16  of particulate material  20 , for example and without intending to be limiting, such as fertilizer, sand or other particulate material, in one use such as utilized within a flower or vegetable garden environment. End cap  14  may also be fixed or tubular body otherwise sealed at both ends, and body  16  provided with a side-filling closable aperture, door or other filling means. Tubular body  16  may be provided with external spring clips  22 . Clips  22  frictionally engage an elongated handle  24 , for example the handle of a garden implement such as a hoe, cultivator or rake or like tool. Alternatively, the elongated handle  24  of a garden implement may be releasably mounted to dispenser  10  by providing an elongated U shaped indentation, groove or channel  28  along one side of body  16 . Channel  28  is shaped so as to resiliently clip or snap onto the handle. Channel  28  may be shaped to accommodate different thicknesses of handle, for example as seen in FIG. 3 b . Dispenser  10  may be mounted on top of, or underneath the handle as convenient for the particular design. Of course, a small hand held dispenser  10  need not be handle-mounted at all.  
     [0038] First end cap  12  is provided with a dispensing orifice  30 , through which particulate material  20  may flow to exit body  16 . Orifice  30  is formed in end cap  12  so as to be in generally tangential alignment with the inner surface  32  of the tubular body  16  of dispenser  10 . A dispensing spout or tube  34  may be mounted to, so as to surround, orifice  30  and extend cantilevered outwardly of first end cap  12 .  
     [0039] An arcuately shaped baffle  40 , which extends generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis A of the dispenser  10 , is fixedly positioned or otherwise mounted within end cap  12 . The surface  40   a  of baffle  40  may be shaped as a conical sector or frusto-conical sector so as to extend inwardly of end cap  12 . Baffle  40  has a first end  42  affixed to the inner surface  12   a  of end cap  12  in generally tangential alignment with orifice  30 . Opposed side edges  44  of baffle  40  are also affixed to a portion of the inner surface  12   a . Baffle  40  thus creates a pocket or compartment  48  within end cap  12  in communication with dispensing orifice  30  so that material in the pocket may be metered from the orifice in a controlled manner. That is, second end  46  of baffle  40 , opposite to that of first end  42 , is spaced apart from the adjacent inside surface  12   a  of cap  12  so as to provide a convoluted passage for the flow of particulate material in direction B from storage in dispenser  10  through compartment  48  to the dispensing orifice  30  in first end cap  12 . In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 4 a  and  5   b , baffle  40  has a flow restricting wall  45  across the opening from body  16  into compartment  48  which partially occludes the opening.  
     [0040] A further alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein a rotatable end plate  50  is rotatably mounted externally on first end cap  12  for rotation about axis A. End plate  50  is provided with a plurality of arcuately aligned dispensing orifices  52  of different diameters. As end plate  50  is rotated about pin  54  to selectively align a desired dispensing orifice  52  in the end plate  50  with dispensing orifice  30  in the first end cap  12 , control over the amount of particulate material discharged from dispenser  10  is further controlled.  
     [0041] In a further alternative embodiment, as seen in FIGS.  8 - 12  rotatable end plate  50 ′ is rotatably mounted externally on end cap  12 ′ for rotation about axis A. End plate  50 ′ has an elongate narrowing aperture  52 ′ which may be described, without intending to be limiting, as an arcuately curved, wedge-shaped or spatulate-shaped aperture. Aperture  52 ′ is positioned on end plate  50 ′ so that a portion of aperture  52 ′ may be aligned to overlap dispensing orifice  30 ′ in end cap  12 ′ as end plate  50 ′ is rotated about axis A on pin  54 ′. Thus the size of the opening through which particulate matter may flow from the dispenser may be selectively adjusted between fully open and fully closed by rotation of plate  50 ′. A baffle, such as baffle  40 ′, and weir-wall  45 ′ mounted on feet  41 ′ within or adjacent end cap  12 ′ so as to block or dam particulate material in the dispenser cavity from flowing directly out of orifice  30 ′. Instead, particulate material must be manipulated so as to flow under the weir-wall and along a convoluted path B′ to reach orifice  30 ′ by the selective inversion of the dispenser about axis A for example by the rotation of handle  24  in direction C when the dispenser is mounted to the handle. The dispenser  10  may be mounted to the implement handle  24  for example by means of resilient clamping bands  22 ′ clamping base  23 ′ conformally against handle  24 , base  23 ′ securely mounted to and along a sidewall of body  16 .  
     [0042] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.