Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02283594 1999-09-09
ON G~NTACT HERHIGIDE APPLICATOR
Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to contact
herbicide applicators and more particularly to hand-held
contact herbicide applicators.
Description of Related Art
Many devices have been invented to apply herbicides
to weeds. A common prior art manner of applying herbicide is
to spray it on the weeds. Spraying is both fast and
effective, however, it is not selective. All vegetation
within the spray area is at least partially covered by the
herbicide. Therefore, a spray herbicide is not a practical
means of killing weeds that are closely interspersed within
desired plants.
Another prior art means of applying herbicide is
through contact herbicide applicators. A contact herbicide
applicator is one in which an applicator head area must come
into contact with the vegetation on which the herbicide is to
be dispensed. The contact herbicide applicators which are
known to the inventor have one or both of the following
characteristics, a large size and/or a complex mechanism.
The disadvantage to a large sized contact herbicide
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applicator is that it is difficult to use in close quarters.
In other words, when a person has an area of vegetation in
which the distances between the weeds and the desired
vegetation is minimal, it is very difficult to use a
herbicide applicator that is many times larger than the
spacing between the desired vegetation and the undesired
weeds, if the User is simultaneously trying to make herbicide
dispensing contact with the weeds yet avoid the desired
vegetation.
There are three disadvantages to a complex mechanism
on contact herbicide applicator. Firstly, anything that is
complex is relatively expensive to produce. Secondly, a
complex device is more difficult to produce than is a simple
device. Thirdly, a more complex device is more prone to
failure than is a simple device.
A fourth disadvantage to most of the prior art on
contact herbicide applicators of which the inventor is aware
is that they do not allow the User to track the herbicide as
it is being applied.
Summary of the Invention
An object of the present invention was to design a
herbicide applicator that was small enough to be able to
effectively apply herbicide to weeds that were in very close
proximity to desired vegetation, and at the same time avoid
getting the herbicide on the desired vegetation.
A second object of the present invention was to
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design a herbicide applicator that was relatively simple to
construct.
A third object of the present invention was to
design a herbicide applicator that would allow the User to
track the applied herbicide.
The objects of the invention are accomplished by
constructing an on contact herbicide applicator that is
comprised of: a herbicide container of a length and diameter
which allows it to be easily held and used with one hand,
wherein the top end of the herbicide container is in the
shape of an open neck; and which is further comprised of a
herbicide release means which can be sealingly inserted into
the neck of the herbicide container and once so inserted, if
suitable pressure is not applied to the herbicide release
means, then the herbicide release means will prevent liquid
that is within the herbicide container from being released
through the neck of the herbicide container, and if suitable
pressure is applied to the herbicide release means, then the
herbicide release means will allow liquid that is within the
herbicide container to flow out through the neck of the
herbicide container; and which is further comprised of a
liquid herbicide; and which is further comprised of a weed
colouring element that will mix with the liquid herbicide.
There are many advantages to the invention. The
initially obvious advantages to the present invention that
will be clear to those skilled in the art to which this
invention pertains is that it is simple to construct, and it
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does not require the complex mechanisms which many of the
prior art contact herbicide applicators rely on for their
operation.
A further advantage to the present invention is that
it is small and maneuverable by a single hand; accordingly,
it can be used to apply herbicide to weeds that are in close
proximity to desired vegetation with little risk of
accidentally getting the herbicide on the desired vegetation.
A further advantage to the present invention is that
the weed colouring element which is mixed with the herbicide
will allow the User to keep track of which weeds have had
herbicide applied to them, and where on them it was applied.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an on
contact herbicide applicator of the present
invention which uses a liquid permeable applicator
head to transmit the herbicide;
Figure 2 is a cross section of the embodiment of figure 1;
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a head portion
suitable for the embodiment shown in figure 1;
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate
head portion suitable for the embodiment shown in
figure 1;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an
on contact herbicide applicator of the present
invention, which uses a ball and socket assembly to
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transmit the herbicide;
Figure 6 is a cross section of the embodiment of figure 5;
Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the head portion
of the embodiment shown in figure 5;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an
on contact herbicide applicator of the present
invention, which uses a ball and socket assembly to
transmit the herbicide.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The preferred embodiment of an on contact herbicide
applicator of the present invention, which is illustrated in
figures 1, 2, and 3 is made up of a herbicide container,
bottle 10, a bottle neck closure housing 12, a piece of disc
shaped absorbent material 20, a seating ring, which is not
illustrated, a spring action release valve 17, a liquid
herbicide, which is not illustrated, and a weed colouring
element, which is not illustrated, and a screw on cap 11. In
the preferred embodiment the weed colouring element is a
liquid dye that mixes relatively homogeneously with the
liquid herbicide.
In place of a liquid dye any colouring element capable
of colouring weeds can be used as long as it will mix
with the liquid herbicide.
The bottle 10 would typically be made out of a low cost
plastic which is suitable for holding herbicide. The
specific shape of the bottle shown in figures 1, 2, 5, 6 and
CA 02283594 1999-09-09
8 is not an essential feature of the invention; however, the
shape of bottle 10 is the shape that the inventor considers
as the preferred shape for the bottle.
The absorbent material 20 can be a woven cloth, or a
foam material, or any other material that absorbs liquid at a
suitable rate such that it will become saturated during
normal use of the invention at a rate that is complimentary
to the rate at which an anticipated User will be applying the
herbicide/weed colouring element to the weeds. Thereby an
approximate dynamic equilibrium will be maintained between
the rate at which the liquid is absorbed (from within the
bottle 10) by the absorbent material such as at 20 and the
rate at which the liquid is dispensed to the outside of the
bottle by the absorbent material such as at Z0. The result
of such a dynamic equilibrium is that the on contact
herbicide applicator of the present invention will tend not
to drip herbicide onto vegetation to which herbicide was not
intended to be applied during normal use of the invention.
Alternatively, as illustrated in figure 9, a material such as
a fine sponge 21, or other easily saturatable material can be
used in combination with a fibrous diaphragm 22. The
combination of the fine sponge or other easily saturatable
material together with the fibrous diaphragm will yield a
combined saturation rate that is similar to the saturation
rate of the absorbent material 20.
The spring action release valve 17 is a standard type,
made up of: a cone shaped head terminating at its top end in
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,gin aperture 17a, and terminating at its t~ottom end in ,gin
opening the outer edge of which is 17c; a valve, not shown,
that is fitted within the cone shaped head below the aperture
17a, that can seal off the aperture; and a spring that
depends down from the valve terminating in a bottom coil 17b.
The spring controls the valve. The spring puts pressure on
the valve causing it to seal off the aperture 17a. However,
if sufficient pressure is exerted against the top end of the
cone shaped head to cause the spring to become sufficiently
depressed, then the spring ceases to maintain the valve in a
closed position, thereby allowing liquid to pass from the
inside of the cone shaped head out through aperture 17a.
The neck closure housing 12, as illustrated in figures 2
and 3 has a hollow cylindrical body 13, a top end 19 with an
outer annulus 14a, a central aperture 15, and at its bottom
end an inner lip 16 which defines its bottom opening. The
diameter of the opening defined by the inner lip 16 is
smaller than is the diameter of the bottom 17b of the spring
action release valve 17. The aperture 15 in the top 14 of
the neck closure housing 12 is of approximately the same
diameter as the aperture 17a in the top of the spring action
release valve 17.
The outer diameter of the hollow cylindrical body 13 is
such that it can sealingly fit within the neck 18 of the
bottle 10. The inner diameter of the hollow cylindrical body
13 is of such a diameter that the outer edge 17c of the cone
shaped head of the spring action release valve 17 sealingly
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fits within the inner wall of the body 13 of the bottle neck
closure housing 12.
The spring action release valve 17 is a standard type.
It is angularly inserted into the bottle neck closure housing
12 from the bottom. Once inserted, and vertically aligned
with the interior of the body 13 of the bottle neck closure
housing 12, the outer edge 17c of the cone shaped head of the
spring action release valve 17 sealingly sits within the
inner wall of the body 13 of the bottle neck closure housing
12; and the bottom 17b of the spring action release valve 17
sits on the inner lip 16. Under normal use the bottom 17b
will not pass through the opening defined by inner lip 16. A
standard spring action release valve 17 maintains closed its
top aperture 17a, not allowing liquid to pass through it,
until sufficient pressure is exerted against the top to
depress the spring at which time the valve portion of the
spring action release valve opens to permit liquid to pass
through aperture 17a. Once the pressure is removed from the
top of the spring action release valve the spring again
causes the valve to close off the top aperture 17a.
After the spring action release valve 17 has been
inserted within and vertically aligned with the interior of
the body 13 of the bottle neck closure housing 12, the bottle
neck closure housing 12 is press fit within the neck 18 of
the bottle 10. It is not an essential feature of the
invention that the closure housing be able to be press fit
within the neck of the bottle. A screw in neck closure
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housing could be used if the inside of the neck of the bottle
was screw threaded. Any means by which the housing becomes
sealingly held within the neck of the bottle will suffice.
However, it is the preferred method to use a housing that
sealingly press fits into the neck.
The preferred method of assembling the invention
illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3, is to pour the herbicide
and the weed colouring element into the bottle 10, through
the opening 19 in the neck 18. Then to angularly insert the
spring action release valve 17 into the bottle neck closure
housing 12. The bottle neck closure housing 12 is then
sealingly press fit within the neck 18 of the bottle 10. The
disc shaped absorbent material 20 is then placed onto the top
14 of the neck closure housing 12 and held in place by a
seating ring, which is not shown, that is snap fit into the
annulus 14a of the neck closure housing 12. The cap 11 is
then screwed onto the neck 18.
To use the invention the cap 11 is removed, the bottle
is tilted so that the internal liquid can flow towards the
top end of the bottle 10, and the disc shaped absorbent
material ZO is pressed and rubbed against the weed.
The embodiment of the invention illustrated in figures
5, 6, 7 and 8 is made up of a herbicide container, bottle 10,
a bottle neck closure housing 25, a ball 23, a liquid
herbicide, which is not illustrated, a weed colouring
element, which is not illustzated, and a sc=ew on cap 11. The
bottle neck closure housing 25 has an opening 28 in its top
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end which defines a socket with a top inner edge 29 and a
bottom inner edge 30. The diameter of the ball 23 is greater
than is the diameter of the opening defined by the top inner
edge 29, and greater than is the diameter of the opening
defined by the bottom inner edge 30. However the diameter of
the ball 23 is such that the ball 23 can, by the application
of pressure that will not damage the ball or the edges 29 or
30, be snap fit between the edges 29 and 30. The distance
between inner edges 29 and 30 is such that the diameter of
the cross section of ball 23, at the point at which the ball
23 will naturally rest against the bottom inner edge 30, when
the bottle 10 is vertical and right side up, is minutely less
than is the diameter of either inner edge 29 or 30. The
distance between inner edges 29 and 30 is such that the
diameter of the cross section of ball 23, at the point at
which the ball 23 will naturally rest against the top inner
edge 29, when the bottle 10 is vertical and upside down, is
minutely less than is the diameter of either inner edge 29 or
30.
The preferred method of assembling the invention
illustrated in figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, is to pour the
herbicide and the weed colouring element into the bottle 10,
through the opening 19 in the neck 18 of the bottle 10. Then
to snap fit the ball 23 within the inner edges 29 and 30 of
the bottle neck closure housing 25. The bottle neck closure
housing 25 is then sealingly press fit within the neck 18 of
the bottle 10. The cap 11 is then screwed onto the neck 18.
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To use the invention the cap 11 is removed, the bottle
is tilted so that the internal liquid can flow towards the
top end of the bottle 10, and the ball 23 is pressed and
rubbed and thereby rolled against the weed. When the bottle
10 is tilted so that the internal liquid can flow towards the
top end of the bottle 10, and the ball 23 is pressed and
rubbed and thereby rolled against a weed, the ball will roll
within its socket, defined by inner edges 29 and 30, and seal
against the downward inclined portion of either or both of
inner edges 29 and 30. Thereby liquid from inside the bottle
will be transmitted by the ball's surface to the surface
which the ball is being rubbed and thereby rolled against,
and liquid will not significantly drip out of the downward
inclined portion of the top end of the bottle.
The screw on cap 11 is not an essential feature of the
invention, however, in any preferred embodiment of the
invention there would be a means of closing off the top of
the on contact herbicide applicator. In the figures 1, 2, 3,
4 and 7 embodiments, a screw on cap is used to close off the
top of the on contact herbicide applicator. Another closure
means could be a snap shut lid such as the one illustrated at
31 of figure 8. In figure 8 the lid is hinged to the edge of
the top of the bottle neck closure housing 25. Alternatively
a snap on/snap off lid could be completely removable from the
herbicide applicator. In any case a means to seal the
herbicide release means from the surrounding air, when it is
not in use, is preferred, though not an essential element of
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the invention.
A clear advantage to any construction of the invention
is that the on contact herbicide applicator of the present
invention is small enough to apply herbicide to most weeds
without getting any herbicide on even very close desired
vegetation. A second advantage is that the invention, in all
of its embodiments is simple to construct, and relative to
most (if not all) of the prior art, will be inexpensive and
quick to construct out of commonly available materials. That
fact alone presents an obvious tremendous advantage (i.e.
relatively low cost and easy and ready access to the
necessary materials). Another very significant advantage is
that it allows the User to keep track of which weeds have had
herbicide applied to them, and where on them it was applied.
Users of this invention will normally be applying herbicide
to weeds that are in very close proximity to desired
vegetation, and in areas where the quantity of weeds makes it
impractical to pull out the weeds by hand. Hence there will
be a lot of weeds closely mixed with a lot of desired
vegetation. Accordingly, after a few dozen weeds have been
treated it would normally be very easy for the User to forget
which weeds had already been treated and which still needed
treatment. However, as the weed colouring element allows the
User to see where the herbicide has been applied, the User
will be able to accurately apply the herbicide to all of the
weeds in the area and have a means of ascertaining when he
has in fact applied it to all of the weeds.
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Variations to the invention can be made, as shown by
way of example in the various embodiments illustrated in
figures 1 to 8 inclusive; in addition, other variations
will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and they are
covered by the appended claims, as they are within the scope
of the invention.
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