Patent ID: 7866579

Claim:
A spreader ( 100 ) for spreading material, comprising: an upper bracket ( 120 ) having first and second opposite ends ( 122 and second 124 ) and a middle portion ( 126 ), said middle portion ( 126 ) defining a hole ( 128 ) therethrough; a shaft ( 140 ) having opposite top and bottom ends ( 140 t and 140 b ), said top end ( 140 t ) fits in slidable engagement through said hole ( 128 ); a return spring ( 160 ); a lower bracket ( 180 ), said lower bracket ( 180 ) having first and second opposite ends ( 185 and 190 ) and a middle portion ( 195 ), said middle portion ( 195 ) of said lower bracket ( 180 ) having a bottom surface ( 197 ), said bottom surface ( 197 ) of said middle portion ( 195 ) of said lower bracket ( 180 ) defining a lower bracket opening ( 198 ), first and second sets of chain links ( 200 a and 200 b ); and a spreader plate ( 220 ) having a central plate-hole ( 240 ) therethrough, top and bottom surface, wherein said upper bracket is attached to the bottom surface of said spreader plate, wherein each of said set of chain links ( 200 a and 200 b ) have opposite upper and lower ends, wherein the upper ends of said first and second sets of chain links ( 200 a and 200 b ) are respectively attached to said first and second ends of said upper bracket, wherein the lower ends of said first and second sets of chain links ( 200 a and 200 b ) are respectively attached to said first and second ends of said lower bracket, wherein said central plate-hole ( 240 ) of said spreader plate ( 220 ) is aligned with said upper-bracket hole ( 128 ) of said middle portion ( 126 ) of said upper bracket ( 120 ), said central plate-hole ( 240 ) fits over the top ( 140 t ) of said shaft ( 140 ), and said return spring ( 160 ) is located around said shaft ( 140 ) and located between said upper and lower brackets ( 120 and 180 ), wherein the bottom of said shaft ( 140 b ) is attached to the middle portion ( 195 ) of said lower bracket ( 180 ), whereby upon rotating said spreader ( 100 ) said first and second sets of chain links ( 200 a and 200 b ) generate an outwards centrifugal force causing the spreader plate ( 220 ) to move to a down-shaft position thereby at least partly compressing said return spring ( 160 ), and upon ceasing rotation of said spreader ( 100 ) the return spring ( 160 ) causes said spreader plate ( 220 ) to return to an up-shaft default position.