Abstract:
A wheeled herbicide and/or pesticide carrier incorporates a non-motorized, three wheeled cart including a frame defining a basket for receiving tanks containing a fluid solution. An air compressor and battery are also supported on the cart. A nozzle communicates with the tanks for dispensing the solution. A control panel is mounted on the cart&#39;s handle to permit a user to select which tank is to be utilized and the rate for spraying. A second embodiment of the invention is designed to support four tanks thereon.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/839,695, filed Aug. 24, 2006. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to dispensing apparatus. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a non-motorized cart for dispensing herbicide and/or pesticide. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Maintaining lawn and garden areas often require spraying solutions of herbicide and/or pesticides on all or portions of the area. Conventionally, this task requires carrying a heavy container to the area and manually pumping the solution from the container. When the container is empty, another container must be retrieved and carried to the area being treated. Even for those who enjoy “yard work”, such a task can be arduous and energy draining. The art would certainly welcome an apparatus that would alleviate the heavy lifting and the energy-draining manual pumping, while also providing an ample amount of herbicide and/or pesticide solution to treat a relatively large area. Thus a non-motorized, wheeled cart solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     The related art is replete with carts designed to carry dispensing apparatus. Pertinent samples of such related art are cited and identified in the accompanying IDS. However, none of the cited and identified related art, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to disclose a wheeled herbicide carrier as will subsequently be described and claimed in the instant invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The wheeled carrier of the present invention comprises a non-motorized, three wheeled cart including a frame defining a basket for receiving at least one tank containing herbicide and/or pesticide solution. In the preferred embodiment, an air compressor and battery are also supported on the cart. A nozzle communicates with the tank for dispensing solution therefrom. A control panel is mounted on the cart&#39;s handle to permit a user to select which tank is to be utilized and the rate for spraying. 
     Accordingly, the invention presents a herbicide and pesticide cart that is rugged, efficient and easy to use. It should be recognized that invention can be utilized to spray almost any liquid solution. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes. 
     A clear understanding of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a wheeled carrier according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial side view of a first embodiment of a wheeled carrier according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the second fuel tank of a wheeled carrier according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a handle and trigger mechanism of a wheeled carrier according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a control panel of a wheeled carrier according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a lo wheeled carrier according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a wheeled carrier according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a wheeled carrier according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a wheeled carrier according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a partial, perspective view of a spray nozzle holder for use with the embodiment of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIGS. 11A-11D  are views of the mounting arrangement of the spray nozzle holder for a wheeled carrier according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of a fuel tank for a wheeled carrier according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is an end view of a nozzle for a wheeled carrier according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Attention is first directed to  FIGS. 1 and 2  wherein a first embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated at 10. Herbicide and/or pesticide carrier  10  comprises a tubular frame constructed from tubular stock members  12 . The frame has three legs, wherein a first leg defines a center member having a first end and a second end, a second leg and a third leg being located symmetrically about the center member and having terminal ends. The tubular frame  12  is mounted on three wheels  14  (two rear wheels mounted on the terminal ends of frame member  12  and one front wheel mounted at the first end of the center member). To insure stability and easy movement, the rear wheels are slightly larger than the front wheels and the tubular support for the rear wheels are mounted behind the solution tanks. A basket, comprising a base plate  16 , an array of tubes  18  and adjustable clamp members  20 , is mounted on the frame in any convenient manner. The basket functions to support first and second solution tanks  22  and  24  therein. Clamp members  20  are operative to stabilize the tanks in the basket. Spacers  15  are provided, where needed, to further add stability to the structure. Plugs  18   a  are provided to close the open ends of tubes  18 . 
     An air compressor  28  and a battery  26  are supported on the frame beneath the basket. A tubular arm  30  has one end member  30   a  attached to one of the tubes  18  that forms the basket. Member  30   a  can be vertically and rotationally positioned on tube  18 . A second end of tube  30  terminates in a spray nozzle  30   b . A flexible tube  32  connects the herbicide solution tanks to the end member  30   a  of arm  30 . A second flexible tube  34  connects air compressor  26  with the fuel tanks. A handle  40  and control panel  50 , whose functions will be explained below, are also supported on the frame. 
     Attention is now directed to  FIG. 3  wherein the structure of second tank  24  is more clearly illustrated. Tank  24  is configured as a hollow doughnut and is adapted to encircle first tank  22 . Tank  24  is provided with respective inlet and outlet conduits  24   a  and  24   b. A cap  24   c  is disposed to close a fill opening in the tank. Niches are spaced around the inner circumference of tank  24  to receive basket tubes  18  therein whereby the tank can be fastened to the tubes for greater stability. A pouch  17  is provided to house the nozzle (not shown) for tank  24 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 4 , handle  40  is fabricated from tubes  42  and incorporates a trigger mechanism  44 ,  44   a  for controlling the supply of solution from the nozzle. Covers  48  enclose springs that bias the trigger to an off position. A trigger cable  46  extends from the trigger mechanism to a switch (not shown) for controlling the valve to the nozzle. 
       FIG. 5  best illustrates the features of the control panel. Control panel  50  includes a computer  52  mounted thereon for integrating all functions of the carrier. Panel  50  includes on/off switches  54  for both tanks, an air pressure monitor  56 , a push-button switch  58  for the air compressor and gauges  60  to monitor battery power. PH level tester probes  62  are interfaced with the computer. A closable pouch  64  is employed to house probes  62  when the probes are not in use. 
       FIG. 6  is illustrative of a second embodiment of the invention wherein the basket is expanded to support two extra tanks. This arrangement increases the amount of solution, and increases the size of the area that can be treated without refilling the tanks. The first extra tank  22   a  is identical to tank  22 . Third tank  22   b  is supported on the basket between tanks  22  and  22   a.    
       FIG. 7  illustrates a basic embodiment of the invention designed to utilize a single, conventional, hand-pumped tank T. The instant embodiment does not incorporate an air compressor, battery or control panel. A spray nozzle support apparatus  70  (described below) is removably attached to a tube  18  of the basket. 
     The embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  is a “step up” from the embodiment of  FIG. 7  and incorporates a battery  26 , air compressor  28  and control panel  50 . 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 9  is an upgrade of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  in that two tanks  22 ,  22   a  are employed. The instant embodiment also employs two air compressors  28 ,  28   a , one for each tank. 
       FIGS. 10-11D  best illustrate spray nozzle support apparatus  70 . Apparatus  70  includes a plate  72  removably secured to tube  18  by straps  74 . Strap stops  19  are disposed on tube  18  to stabilize straps  74  thereon. A spray nozzle holder  76  is attached to the front face of plate. Spring  78  and lever  80  assemblies function to secure the spray nozzle in holder  76 . Lines  40   a  are connected to the trigger  40  to control spray flow. 
       FIG. 12  is illustrative of a tank to be employed in the invention. Tank  22  is designed to contain approximately three and one half gallons of solution i.e. pesticide or herbicide. Tank  22  includes a removable cap  90 , which cap seals the opening in the top of the tank. A washer  92  is employed to facilitate the seal. An inlet  94  is disposed on the upper end of the tank to receive a line from the air compressor. An outlet  96  is employed to supply the solution to the spray nozzle. 
       FIG. 13  shows a spray nozzle tip  30   b  utilized to dispense the solution. Nozzle  30   b  can be adjusted to dispense the solution in either a flat spray from outlet  100 , a jet spray from outlet  102  or a mist spray from outlet  104 . 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.