Plant husbandry – Plant surface contact material applicator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-10-02
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Plant husbandry
Plant surface contact material applicator
C401S197000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295757
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to chemical applicators and more specifically it relates to a chemical application system for providing a cost effective and simple method of edging lawns and applying chemical to narrow areas.
Homeowners often times desire to “edge” their lawns for preventing the growth of grass and weeds adjacent cement or other structures. One method of edging the grass requires a rotary blade structure that physically digs the ground adjacent the cement or other structure creating a trail of debris which is undesirable. Conventional chemical applicator systems do not allow the application of chemical in a narrow area to limit killing of grass and weeds in a desired area. Hence, there is a need for a chemical application system that applies chemical in narrow defined areas without damaging or killing surrounding vegetation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Chemical applicators have been in use for years. Typically, a chemical applicator is comprised of a storage reservoir for storing a mixture of the chemical, a pump attached to the storage reservoir for either applying air pressure into the storage reservoir or for drawing the chemical mixture from within, and a nozzle attached to the storage reservoir by a length of hose for dispersing the chemical mixture.
As stated previously, conventional chemical applicators are fine for the duties they are designed—spraying broad areas of vegetation. However, conventional chemical applicators are not suitable for applying a chemical mixture to a narrow and defined area so as to prevent damaging or killing surrounding vegetation.
Examples of attempted chemical applicators include U.S. Pat. No. 1,578,129 to Jacobson; U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,938 to Sweet; U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,486 to Magda; U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,751 to Armstrong; U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,519 to Brown which are all illustrative of such prior art.
Jacobson (U.S. Pat. No. 1,578,129) discloses a spraying device. More specifically, Jacobson teaches a tank having an inlet means for placing the interior of the tank under pressure, an annular flexible receptacle having an outlet extending through the tank, the receptacle being disposed within the tank adjacent the entire perimeter thereof, and a means engageable with a rod whereby the tank may be wheeled to various locations.
Sweet (U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,938) discloses a boom directed spray marking device. Sweet teaches a nozzle-supporting boom mounted on a portable wheeled frame carrying a paint storage tank and a self-contained source of air pressure.
Magda (U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,486) discloses a method and apparatus for treating lawns with both granular and liquid treatment materials. Armstrong (U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,751) discloses a carbon dioxide powered striping machine for painting long term parking surfaces. Brown (U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,519) discloses a portable wheeled spraying apparatus having an adjustable handle.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they arc not as suitable for providing a cost effective and simple method of edging lawns and applying chemical to narrow areas. Conventional sprayer devices do not allow for spraying within narrow areas without damaging surrounding vegetation. Conventional sprayer devices also create a mist of the chemical that the user inhales which can be unhealthy for the user over extended periods of time.
In these respects, the chemical application system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a cost effective and simple method of edging lawns and applying chemical to narrow areas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of sprayer devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new chemical application system construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing a cost effective and simple method of edging lawns and applying chemical to narrow areas.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new chemical application system that has many of the advantages of the sprayer devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new chemical application system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art sprayer devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a frame having at least one handle, a reservoir attached to the frame for storing a volume of fluid, a pump attached to the reservoir, and a dispensing wheel rotatably attached to the frame and fluidly connected to the reservoir. The dispensing wheel is comprised of a center chamber rotatably attached to the frame and fluidly connected by a hose. A plurality of dispensing tube extend radially from the center chamber toward an outer rim thereby fluidly connected to a corresponding number of nozzles within the outer rim. An outer member comprised of an absorbent material, such as sponge, is secured about the outer portion of the outer rim for receiving and absorbing the chemical mixture dispensed from the nozzles. The chemical mixture eventually absorbs through the entire outer member so that when the dispensing wheel is rolled along a ground surface, a portion of the chemical mixture within the outer member is released upon the foliage that comes in contact with the outer member. The outer member may be comprised of various cross section designs depending upon the particular situation being utilized. An optional spray wand may be fluidly connected to the reservoir for allowing hand spraying if desired.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a chemical application system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
Another object is to provide a chemical application system that applies a chemical mixture to a defined area.
An additional object is to provide a chemical application system that provides a cost effective and simple method of edging lawns and applying chemical to narrow areas.
A further object is to provide a chemical application system that provides increased efficiency of application of the chemical to plants compared to conventional chemical applicators.
Another object is to provide a chemical application system that does damage or kill surrounding foliage.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
REFE
Jordan Charles T.
Neustel Michael S.
Palo Francis T.
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