NZ740776B2

NZ740776B2 - Powered hand-held spreader

Info

Publication number: NZ740776B2
Application number: NZ740776A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Ryan R Berger; Chris W Cicenas; Paul M Havlovitz; Johannes Hertrich; Paul E Hsu; Daniel Wisniewski
Original assignee: Oms Investments Inc
Filing date: 2016-08-11
Publication date: 2024-07-30

Abstract

powered hand-held spreader device (10) is disclosed that has a handle (14) that allows a user to grip and hold the device with one hand. The spreader includes an adjustable shutter (58), controlled by a rotary dial (22), 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 (12). 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 (52) actuated by a trigger (16). A spinning rotor plate (26) distributes the granular product fed from the hopper. A trigger lock (18) 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 (28) optionally can be used to control the distribution pattern of the granular product.

Claims

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 the 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. Atty Dkt. No. 54936.004835 CA

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 of the trigger mechanism.

13. The portable device according to claim 12, further comprising: Atty Dkt. No. 54936.004835 CA 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 is 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, 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. The portable device as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed.