Patent ID: 6871762

Claim:
A system for storing, dispensing and dispersing granular ice thawing material comprising: a) a dispenser container comprising; (i) a system housing unit having weather-proof sidewalls and bottom; housing a material transfer area; (ii) a hopper for storing granular ice thawing material, with an outlet positioned at the bottom of said hopper, allowing said granular ice thawing material to exit through said outlet by gravity feed; (iii) a spreader tray guide positioned in said material transfer area and below said hopper; (b) a weather-proof lid covering said hopper, with a peaked top to allow moisture run-off; (c) a removable spreader tray comprising; (i) a container sized to fit within the said spreader tray guide; (ii) a spreading tray sifting area located at one end, covered with a mesh screen, with a sieve size to allow said granular ice thawing material to disperse at a regulated rate when said spreader tray is removed from said dispenser container and is gently shaken over area where said granulated ice melting material is required; (iii) a spreader tray loading area, located on top of said container, large enough to accept said ice thawing material without undue spillage; (iv) a handle located at opposite end of said container from said spreader tray sifting area, used for inserting or removing of said spreader tray from said dispenser container, and for holding said spreader tray while dispersing said granular ice melting material over walk areas where desired (d) a dispenser drum for transferring said granular ice thawing material from said hopper outlet to said spreader tray, said dispenser drum comprising; (i) a rotatably mounted hollow cylinder, positioned directly below said hopper, and above said spreader tray and, (ii) with a dispenser drum opening matching a size of said hopper outlet, and wherein said dispenser drum is in a loading position, the said dispenser drum opening is aligned with said hopper outlet, allowing said granular ice melting material to gravity feed into said dispenser drum until said dispenser drum is full, and wherein said dispenser drum is in an unloading position, the said dispenser drum opening is aligned with said spreader tray loading area, allowing said granular ice melting material to gravity feed into said spreader tray until said dispenser drum is empty.