Powered hand-held spreader

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10595458-B2
Application number	US-201615234095-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2016
Priority date	Aug 20, 2015
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

A powered hand-held spreader device is disclosed that has a handle that allows a user to grip and hold the device with one hand. The spreader includes an adjustable shutter, controlled by a rotary dial, to allow for distribution of a range of different granular products that require different flow rates for distribution. The granular product is contained in a hopper. The product can be distributed over various types of terrain, including, but not limited to, lawns, gardens, and paths. The spreader is driven by an electric motor actuated by a trigger. A spinning rotor plate distributes the granular product fed from the hopper. A trigger lock is optionally available to lock the trigger in the “on” position during use and to prevent actuation when the trigger is in the “off” position. An adjustable side deflector optionally can be used to control the distribution pattern of the granular product.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A portable device suitable for spreading granular product, comprising:
a spreader body, comprising:
a hopper, comprising an open upper portion and an internal volume configured to contain an amount of granular product for spreading over terrain or other surfaces, and further comprising an outlet located at a bottom portion of the hopper;
a handle integral to the spreader body;
a motor disposed in a lower portion of the spreader body, below the hopper;
a gear train driven by the motor;
an opening located on a forward portion of the spreader body;
a rotor plate for spreading the granular product located in the opening below the outlet and driven by the gear train through a first shaft;
an agitator mounted in the hopper, proximate the outlet, and driven by the gear train through a second shaft;
a trigger, mounted in the handle, that is movable between a first position in which the motor is off and a second position in which the motor is actuated, the trigger configured to default to the first position, the trigger being operably coupled to a trigger mechanism;
a rotary dial, coupled to the forward portion of the spreader body below the handle, the rotary dial being rotatably movable between a plurality of settings;
a shutter cam, coupled internally to the rotary dial, for adjusting a distance of travel of a shutter plate, that is located proximal to the outlet, based on a selected setting of the rotary dial; and
the shutter plate being coupled to the shutter cam and being movable with respect to the outlet, the shutter plate being movable such that when the trigger is in the first position the shutter plate covers the outlet and when the trigger is in the second position, the shutter plate is retracted and uncovers the outlet, traveling a distance based on the selected setting of the rotary dial through movement of the trigger mechanism.

2. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the handle is facing rearward over the hopper such that the handle overhangs the hopper.

3. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the handle is integral to a forward portion of the spreader body.

4. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the granular product comprises ice melting granules, fertilizer, pesticides, granular soil amendment material, granular oil absorbent material, dusting products, granular floor cleaning product, grass seed, or combinations thereof.

5. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the motor is powered by a power source comprising one or more batteries.

6. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the agitator comprises a single blade.

7. The portable device according to claim 6 , wherein the single blade is curved.

8. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of settings each result in a different position of the shutter plate.

9. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of settings comprises 23 different positions.

10. The portable device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a trigger lock configured to secure the trigger in the second position when engaged.

11. The portable device according to claim 10 , the trigger lock being further configured to prevent movement of the trigger from the first position.

12. The portable device according to claim 1 , the trigger mechanism further comprising:
a first spring connected to an upper portion of the trigger mechanism; and
a second spring connected to a lower portion the trigger mechanism.

13. The portable device according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a stop connected to an upper end of the second spring such that the second spring is compressed upon the stop contacting the shutter cam in response to movement of the trigger mechanism.

14. The portable device according to claim 1 , the trigger mechanism comprising:
a frame comprising a dividing frame member, centrally located in the frame, dividing the frame into an upper and a lower portion, the dividing frame member having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a first spring located in the upper portion;
a second spring located in the lower portion;
the first spring being attached at its lower extremity to the upper surface and extending upwardly therefrom and having its upper extremity attached to a fixed projection of the portable device that is separate from the frame such that the first spring is compressed during upward movement of the trigger mechanism;
a stop member located below the dividing frame member comprising a first portion contacting, but not connected to, the lower surface dividing frame member and held in place by the second spring, and
the second spring being attached at its lower extremity to a lower portion of the frame and extending upwardly therefrom such that its upper extremity is attached to the stop member, and
the stop member further comprises a second portion configured to contact the shutter cam upon upward movement of the trigger mechanism in response to movement of the trigger from the first position to the second position causing a compression of the second spring in response to the contact with the shutter cam.

15. A portable hand-held spreader device comprising:
a hopper for holding an amount of granular product for spreading over terrain or other surfaces, comprising an outlet for exhausting the granular product;
a handle means for holding a container;
an opening located on a forward portion of a spreader body;
a spreading means for spreading the granular product located in the opening below the handle and driven by a power source;
an agitator means for agitating the granular product located within the hopper and proximate the outlet;
a control means for controlling a distance of travel of a shutter plate located inside of the outlet and mechanically coupled to the control means, the control means being coupled to the forward portion of the spreader body and having a plurality of settings, such that each setting adjusts the distance of travel of the shutter plate with respect to the outlet;
a trigger mechanism for actuating the power source and moving the shutter plate the distance according to the setting of the control means, the trigger mechanism further comprising:
a first spring connected to an upper portion of the trigger mechanism, and
a second spring connected to a lower portion the trigger mechanism; and

a stop connected to an upper end of the second spring such that the second spring is compressed upon the stop contacting the shutter cam in response to movement of the trigger mechanism.

16. The portable hand-held spreader device according to claim 15 , wherein the trigger mechanism has a first, default position in which the power source is not actuated and the shutter plate covers the outlet and a second, actuated position in which the power source is actuated and the shutter plate is retracted from the outlet and travels the distance based on the setting of the control means.

17. The portable hand-held spreader device according to claim 15 , wherein the granular product comprises ice melting granules, fertilizer, pesticides, granular soil amendment material, granular oil absorbent material, dusting products, granular floor cleaning product, grass seed, or combinations thereof.

18. The portable hand-held spreader device according to claim 15 , wherein the power source comprises:
a power transfer means for transferring power from the power source to the spreading means.

19. The portable hand-held spreader device

Assignees

• Oms Invest Inc

Inventors

• Hsu Paul E
• Havlovitz Paul M
• Berger Ryan R
• Cicenas Chris W
• Wisniewski Daniel F
• Hertrich Johannes

Classifications

• A01C15/02 Primary

  for hand use · CPC title

• A01C7/02 Primary

  Hand sowing implements · CPC title

• E01H10/007

  Mobile apparatus specially adapted for preparing or applying liquid or semi-liquid thawing material or spreading granular material on wintry roads · CPC title

• E01C2019/206

  Hand operated spreading devices · CPC title

• A01M9/0046

  motor-driven · CPC title