IE85122B1 - Horticultural spreader - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT A container (12) for distributing horticultural particulate material having a generally rectangular cross section, which container has a handle (2) on one length side of the container, and a particulate distribution means (8) wholly or substantially along the opposing length side of the container (12).

Description

Horticultural Spreader The present invention relates to a spreader for distributing particulate material for horticultural use.

Any person having a garden or the like desires to keep the grass in the best of conditions. For this reason, there are many available fertilisers, pesticides, seeds and other particulate or finally divided materials which are desired to be evenly spread and distributed on to the soil or grass or other vegetation for improving the grass quality, density or killing weeds, mosses, etc.

Traditionally, spreading devices such as those shown in US4304344 and GB2175482A have been used as separate wheeled apparatus for distributing such granular materials. However, the increase in the popularity of gardening has lead to such particulate materials being delivered directly from their packaging container. This provides convenience to the user in not having to have separate equipment for spreading the material, and convenience to the manufacture by providing a directly usable product.

However, packaging containers are now designed to contain and directly spread their contents onto lawns, gardens etc, and they generally have a rectangular shape, having a width narrower than its length as shown for reference in figure 1.

Hitherto, any handle is on the side of the "width" at one end, and any spreader is on the width side at the other end. However, the spread of material from the container is limited by the extent of the width of the container. in 85122 It is an object of the present invention to provide a container with the greater ability to spread.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for distributing particulate matter as claimed in claim 1. The handle may have any suitable size, shape or design. Preferably the handle is integral with the container, more preferably integrally formed with the container. Between the handle and the container there may be an indentation or aperture adapted to provide ease of grip and use by a user.

The container may be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to one or more of the plastics, metal, cardboard and the like.

Preferably, the container is wholly or substantially formed by a single moulding process such as blow, injection or rotational moulding.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the container is adapted to be hand held and used. The distribution of the material in the container is partly, wholly or substantially carried out through at least a part of the lid. Thus the lid, or at least a part of it, forms the particulate distribution means. A part of the distribution means may include one or more passageways, preferably two or more, adapted to provide passage of the particulate material in the container from the body of the container.

Preferably, the lid is formed from two or more parts, at least two of the which parts provide at least some of the passage for the flow of material out from the container.

The particulate distribution means may include one or more baffle plates adapted to alter the path of the particulate material exiting the container.

In this way, it is intended to increase the spreadability of the particulate material exiting the container.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a reference drawing for the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a container according to one embodiment of the present inventions; Figure 3a and 3b are front and side view of the container of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a first part of the lid in Figure 4; Figures 6a and 6b show plan and perspective views of a second part of the lid of the container in Figure 4; Figures 7a and 7b show plan and perspective views of a third part of the lid of the container in Figure 4; and Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the container in use.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a reference drawing to indicate the terms "width" and "length" in relation to a generally rectangular container.

Figures 2, 3a and 3b show a horticulture particulate container having a generally rectangular cross section, which container has a handle 2 on one side of the length of the container, a container body 12, and a lid 4.

The lid 4 is shown in more detail in Figures 4-7b. The lid in figure 4 is made from three parts, a lid housing 6 shown in Figure 5, a spout plate 8 shown in Figures 6a and 6b, and the top spreader lid plate 10 shown in Figures 7a and 7b.

The lid housing 6 is designed to fit on the general body of the container 12 and remain in conjunction therewith, and to provide a housing for the other lid parts, 8, 10. The lid housing 6 includes a slotted aperture 14 through which the particulate material in the body of the container 12 can pass.

The lid housing 6 also includes two holes 16, for housing the rotating studs 18 on the spout plate 8.

The pout plate 8 has two main passageways 18 or ‘spouts’ trough which the particulate material from the body of the container 12 and passing through the aperture 14, can flow. At the end of each spout 18, is a baffle plate 20 adapted to divert the particulate material exiting the passageways 18 outwardly.

Figures 7a and 7b show a top lid plate 10 adapted to conjoin with and fit over the spout plate 8 using clips 22. The combined spout 8 and top plate provide a width 23 for distribution of the particulate matter therefrom which is virtually the same as the length of the container, as well as allowing material to flow out from their sides 24. This is enhanced by the design of the aperture front wall 25 on the top plate 10.

Figure 8 shows the container of the present invention in sue. The spout plate 8 conjoined top plate 10 have been rotated approximately 90° from alignment with the lid housing 6. Particulate material can then pass from the container body 12, through the aperture 14, spouts 18, and be spread by the baffle plates 20.

Whilst the rate and spread of the particulate material will depend upon the width and size of the spouts 18 and the distribution of the baffle plates 20, it is generally intended to have a feed rate that is in and around 35gms per square metre, for a typical lawn feed. weed and moss killer particulate material.

The container of the present provides a wider spread path than distribution by the width of the container only, and by providing a wider spread, the user requires less time and effort to cover an area than is currently required. Preferably, the present invention provides a spread width which could be 600-800mm spread, whereas prior art containers generally have a maximum spread of 400-450mm. Thus, the present invention provides an almost double spreadwith.

Claims (1)

Claims

1. A container for distributing horticultural particulate material, said container having a substantially rectangular cross section and a handle arranged on one side of the container, the container including a lid, at least part of the lid being pivotally movable between a closed position, wherein the lid closes the container, and an open position, wherein particulate material can exit the container, the lid being provided with at least one passageway defining a passage for the flow of particulate material when the movable part of the lid is in its open position, said passage defining at least part of a particulate distribution means extending along a side of the container opposing said one side. . A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle is integrally formed with the container. . A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container is wholly or substantially formed by a single moulding process such as blow, injection or rotational moulding. . A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container is adapted to be hand held and used. . A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lid is formed from two or more parts, at least two of which parts provide at least some of the passage for the flow of material out from the container. . A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a part of the distribution means includes one or more passageways adapted to provide passage of the particulate material in the container from the body of the container. . A container as claimed in claim 6, wherein a part of the distribution means includes two or more passageways for passage of particulate material. . A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the particulate distribution means includes one or more baffle plates adapted to alter the path of the particulate material exiting the container. . A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.