U.S. patent application number 14/596294 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-07 for fluid application device and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Weed Less, LLC. Invention is credited to Adam C. Ellsworth, Daniel T. Ellsworth.
Application Number | 20150122834 14/596294 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45934283 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150122834 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ellsworth; Adam C. ; et
al. |
May 7, 2015 |
Fluid Application Device and Method
Abstract
A fluid application device includes a clamp portion including
two clamp arms, at least one of the clamp arms including a sponge.
The fluid application device includes a reservoir to store a fluid
and a grip portion including a trigger to move the clamp arms
towards each other when pressed a first distance and to pump fluid
from the reservoir to the sponge when pressed a second distance
greater than the first distance. The fluid application device
includes a shaft extending between the clamp portion and the handle
portion and a first tube extending along the shaft to transmit the
fluid from the reservoir to the sponge based on activation of the
trigger.
Inventors: |
Ellsworth; Adam C.;
(Gaithersburg, MD) ; Ellsworth; Daniel T.;
(Ruckersville, VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Weed Less, LLC |
Ruckersville |
VA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
45934283 |
Appl. No.: |
14/596294 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13251247 |
Dec 15, 2011 |
8944709 |
|
|
14596294 |
|
|
|
|
61392965 |
Oct 14, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/1 ;
401/188R |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05C 1/06 20130101; A01M
21/043 20130101; B05C 17/00 20130101; B05C 17/00569 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/1 ;
401/188.R |
International
Class: |
A01M 21/04 20060101
A01M021/04; B05C 17/005 20060101 B05C017/005 |
Claims
1. A fluid application device, including: a clamp portion including
two clamp arms, at least one of the clamp arms including a sponge;
a reservoir to store a fluid; a grip portion including a trigger to
move the clamp arms towards each other when pressed a first
distance and to pump fluid from the reservoir to the sponge when
pressed a second distance greater than the first distance; a shaft
extending between the clamp portion and the handle portion; and a
first tube extending along the shaft to transmit the fluid from the
reservoir to the sponge based on activation of the trigger.
2. The fluid application device of claim 1, wherein each of the
clamp arms includes a sponge, and the sponges contact each other
when the trigger is pressed the first distance.
3. The fluid application device of claim 2, further comprising
second and third tubes connected to the first tube to supply fluid
to the respective sponges of the clamp arms.
4. The fluid application device of claim 3, further comprising a
pump to pump fluid from the reservoir to the first tube, wherein
the trigger activates the pump when pressed the second
distance.
5. The fluid application device of claim 1, wherein the trigger
does not activate the pump when pressed the first distance.
6. The fluid application device of claim 1, wherein each sponge is
mounted to a base plate, and each base plate is mounted to a
respective clamp arm.
7. The fluid application device of claim 6, wherein each sponge
includes a first portion to cover an inside surface of a respective
base plate facing an opposing base plate, and a second portion to
cover a side surface of the base plate.
8. The fluid application device of claim 7, wherein the side
surface of the base plate includes a bottom surface of the base
plate.
9. The fluid application device of claim 8, wherein the side
surface of the base plate further includes at least a portion of a
front surface of the base plate.
10. The fluid application device of claim 6, wherein each sponge is
mounted to an inside surface of a respective base plate facing an
opposing base plate, and each sponge extends past a bottom edge of
the respective base plate.
11. The fluid application device of claim 10, wherein each sponge
does not cover a side surface of the respective base plate other
than the inside surface of the respective base plate.
12. The fluid application device of claim 6, wherein each base
plate includes a nozzle to supply the fluid to the sponges, and
each sponge includes an opening surrounding the nozzle.
13. A method of supplying fluid in a fluid supplying device
including two clamping arms, at least one of the clamping arms
having a sponge mounted thereon, a grip portion including a trigger
to move the clamp arms and to supply a fluid to the sponge, a shaft
extending between the grip portion and the clamping arms, and a
tube extending along the shaft to supply the fluid to the sponge,
the method comprising: moving the trigger a first distance to
activate the clamp arms; moving the trigger a second distance to
activate a pump; and transmitting the fluid through the tube to the
sponge based on activation of the pump.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the trigger the first
distance does not activate the pump.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting the
fluid from the tube to first and second branch tubes connected
between the tube and first and second sponges based on activation
of the pump.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising spraying the fluid
into an opening in the sponge.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Plant and weed killing apparatuses are widely used in
gardens, lawns, and plant beds both professionally and in by
private gardeners. A common method of killing plants and weeds
includes spraying herbicide onto the plant or weeds. However, this
method can result in wasted herbicide, killing adjacent plants, and
harming other plants and ecosystems when the herbicide runs off
into the water supply.
[0002] Other plant and weed killing apparatuses allow a gardener to
apply herbicide directly to a plant or weed using a porous surface,
such as a sponge. However, in a crowded garden, herbicide may still
contact adjacent plants.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0003] The present invention relates to a system and apparatus to
apply a liquid to particular plants while not applying the liquid
to surrounding plants. In particular, the present invention relates
to a device having a trigger that performs the functions of
clamping a clamp and applying a fluid to sponges attached to the
clamp.
[0004] The present invention also relates to sponges configured on
the clamp to apply the liquid to plants at particular locations
with respect to the clamp.
[0005] Features of the present invention may be realized by a fluid
application device including a clamp portion including two clamp
arms, at least one of the clamp arms including a sponge. The fluid
application device includes a reservoir to store a fluid and a grip
portion including a trigger to move the clamp arms towards each
other when pressed a first distance and to pump fluid from the
reservoir to the sponge when pressed a second distance greater than
the first distance. The fluid application device includes a shaft
extending between the clamp portion and the handle portion and a
first tube extending along the shaft to transmit the fluid from the
reservoir to the sponge based on activation of the trigger.
[0006] Features of the present invention may also be realized by a
method of supplying fluid in a fluid supplying device. The device
includes two clamping arms, at least one of the clamping arms
having a sponge mounted thereon, a grip portion including a trigger
to move the clamp arms and to supply a fluid to the sponge, a shaft
extending between the grip portion and the clamping arms, and a
tube extending along the shaft to supply the fluid to the sponge.
The method includes moving the trigger a first distance to activate
the clamp arms, moving the trigger a second distance to activate a
pump, and transmitting the fluid through the tube to the sponge
based on activation of the pump.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1A is a top view of the plant-treatment device, and
FIG. 1B is a side view of the plant-treatment device.
[0008] FIGS. 2A to 2D are cross-section views illustrating the two
separate functions of the trigger mechanism and the positions of
the clamp and sponges.
[0009] FIGS. 3A to 3F illustrate different trigger mechanisms.
[0010] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate sponges and nozzles to supply the
liquid to the sponges.
[0011] FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate side views of clamp portions.
[0012] FIGS. 6A to 6D illustrate front views of clamp portions.
[0013] FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate bottom views of clamp
portions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] FIG. 1A illustrates a top view of a fluid application device
1, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the device 1. The device 1
includes a storage portion 30 including a reservoir 31 to store a
liquid, an extended portion 40 including a shaft 41, and a clamp
portion 50 at an end of the extended shaft 41. The clamp portion 50
includes sponges 52 to apply a fluid from the reservoir 31 to a
plant or other surface. For example, the device 1 may be used to
apply an herbicide or other liquid to a plant, or it may be used to
apply a cleaning liquid, paint, or any other liquid to a surface
clasped between the sponges 52.
[0015] The device 1 includes a grip portion 10 including a handle
11 and trigger 12. The reservoir 31 may rest on a support 32, and
may connect to the main body of the device 1 via a connector
33.
[0016] The clamp portion 50 includes first and second arms 53
holding sponges 52. Tubes 54 connect the reservoir 31 to the
sponges 52. The clamp portion 50 may also include a cover 55 and
one or more hinge portions 56 to control the movement of the arms
53 towards and away from each other.
[0017] When a user presses the trigger 12, the arms 53 are moved
together, and the sponges 52 may be pressed against each other. An
object or plant to which a liquid is to be applied may be
positioned between the sponges 52. When the trigger 12 is pressed
further, the fluid may be pumped from the reservoir 31 to the
sponges 52 to apply the fluid to the object or plant.
[0018] FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate the structure and operation of the
trigger portion 10 and the clamp portion 50. The top portion of
each figure corresponds to the trigger portion 10, and the lower
portion of each figure illustrates a corresponding state of the
clamp portion 50.
[0019] The trigger portion 10 includes the trigger 12 and handle
11. The trigger 12 may rotate about a shaft 14. A wire, cord,
cable, or other connection line 15 may connect the trigger 12 to
the arms 53 of the clamp portion 50. The trigger 12 moves within a
hole 13 in the body, represented by dashed lines in FIGS. 2A to 2D.
A pump 16 is connected between the reservoir 31 and the trigger 12.
An actuator 18 extends from the pump 18 towards the trigger 12, and
tube 17 connects the reservoir 31 to the pump 16. A tube 19 extends
from the pump 16 to the tubes 54a and 54b that connect to the
sponges 52.
[0020] FIG. 2A illustrates the trigger 12 in a resting state. The
trigger 12 is located at a first distance, d.sub.0, from the handle
11.
[0021] The lower portion of FIG. 2A illustrates the position of the
clamp portion 50 in the resting state. The clamp portion 50
includes two portions. Each portion may include a sponge 52 mounted
onto a base plate 51. For example, FIG. 2A illustrates a first
sponge 52a mounted to a first base plate 51a opposing a second
sponge 52b mounted to a second base plate 51b. First and second
tube connectors 54a and 54b supply fluid to the sponges 52a and
52b. First and second clamp arms 53a and 53b are connected to the
first and second base plates 51a and 51b, and are designed to move
toward and away from each other to cause the sponges 52a and 52b to
contact each other and move away from each other.
[0022] In the resting position, the sponges 52a and 52b and the
base plates 51a and 51b are spaced apart from each other. The
trigger 12 does exert force upon the cable 15, and consequently,
the clamp arms 53a and 53b do not approach each other.
Alternatively, the trigger 12 may constantly exert a force upon the
cable 15, by the force exerted in the resting state may be
insufficient to cause the clamp arms 53a and 53b to approach each
other. In addition, the trigger 12 does not press against the
actuator 18 to cause the pump 16 to pump fluid from the reservoir
31 to the sponges 52a and 52b.
[0023] FIG. 2B illustrates the trigger mechanism in a second state.
The trigger 12 is pressed towards the handle 11, as represented by
the arrow A1. When the trigger 12 is pressed to be a distance
d.sub.1 from the handle 11, the trigger 12 pulls the cable 15, as
indicated by the arrow A2. Consequently, as shown in the lower
portion of FIG. 2B, the clamp arms 53a and 53b are moved toward
each other as indicated by the arrows A3 and A4, and the sponges
52a and 52b are brought together to contact each other.
[0024] In the second state illustrated in FIG. 2B, the trigger 12
may contact the actuator 18. However, the trigger 12 does not press
the actuator toward the pump 16, so that no fluid is pumped through
the tube 19 to the sponges 52a and 52b. In other words, when the
trigger 12 is squeezed a first distance, illustrated in FIG. 2B,
the clamp arms 53a and 53b are moved towards each other, but the
fluid is not pumped from the reservoir 31 to the clamp portion
50.
[0025] FIGS. 2C and 2D illustrate the trigger 12 pressed further
toward the handle 11 to cause the pump 16 to pump fluid from the
reservoir 31 to the sponges 52a and 52b. The trigger 12 is pressed
toward the handle 11 as indicated by the arrow A5 until the trigger
12 is located a distance d.sub.2 from the handle 11, where the
distance d.sub.2 is less than d.sub.1 and d.sub.0. The trigger 12
presses the actuator 18 toward the pump 16, activating the pump 16,
and pumping fluid from the reservoir 31 through the tube 19 as
indicated by the arrow A7 to the tubes 54a and 54b and the sponges
52a and 52b as indicated by the arrows A10 and A11.
[0026] In FIG. 2C, the trigger 12 pulls the cable 15 as indicated
by the arrow A6, so that the clamp arms 53a and 53b move toward
each other, as indicated by the arrows A8 and A9. The sponges 52a
and 52b are pressed toward each other, which may compress the
sponges 52a and 52b against each other.
[0027] FIG. 2D illustrates a cable 15 having first and second
portions 15a and 15b separated by a spring or elastic portion 21
and a stopper 20. When the trigger 12 is pulled up to the first
position illustrated in FIG. 2B, the cable 15 is also pulled with
the trigger 12. However, when the trigger 12 is further pulled into
the pumping position, as illustrated in FIG. 2D, the first portion
of the cable 15a is stopped by the stopper 20 so that the sponges
52a and 52b are not compressed together, and the second portion of
the cable 15b moves with the trigger 12. Consequently, when the
cable 15 includes an elastic portion or spring portion, the fluid
may be pumped to the clamp portions 50 without further pressing the
sponges 52a and 52b against each other.
[0028] In addition, the spring or elastic member 21 may be
positioned so that the sponges 52a and 52b compress against each
other to a predetermined degree. In other words, although FIG. 2D
illustrates a configuration in which the sponges 52a and 52b do not
compress each other, the cable 15 may be configured to allow any
predetermined degree of compression. Alternatively, the cable may
be designed to have a predetermined degree of elasticity instead of
having a separate elastic member or spring 21.
[0029] Although FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate one configuration of a
trigger 12, pump 16, and cable 15, any configuration may be used to
achieve a similar result. For example, the cable may be a rigid
rod, a rope, or a metal cable. Likewise, the pump 16 may be on an
opposing side of the trigger 12, the pump 16 may be controlled by a
pulling motion, a pressure-generating function, or by any other
pumping function, and the trigger 12 may have any configuration
including a rotation about the top as illustrated in FIGS. 2A to
2D, rotation about a bottom, or a linear sliding motion.
[0030] FIGS. 3A to 3F illustrate different types of trigger
mechanisms. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the trigger 12 rotates about a
shaft in a top portion of the trigger 12. In FIGS. 3C and 3D, the
trigger slides linearly toward the handle 11. In other words, the
trigger 12 may not have a rotation motion when pressed toward the
handle 11. FIGS. 3E and 3F illustrate a trigger that rotates about
a shaft or hinge in a bottom portion of the trigger 12.
[0031] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the sponge and base plate of the
clamp portion 50. The sponge 52 is mounted to the base plate 51
which provides a stiff rear surface to allow the sponge 52 to
compress against another sponge 52. Alternatively, only one of the
clamp arms may include a sponge 52, and the other may be a rigid
surface against which the sponge 52 may press.
[0032] The base plate 51 may include a nozzle 59 to provide liquid
to the sponges 52. The sponge 52 may include an opening 58. The
opening 58 may provide a path for the fluid to enter the sponge 52.
The inner surface of the opening 58 may also provide a surface area
into which the fluid may penetrate to saturate the entire sponge
52. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the nozzle 59 may
supply the fluid directly into the sponge 52, and there may be no
opening in the sponge 52. The base plate 51 may also be provided
with grooves or ridges to provide a capillary action for the fluid
to disperse to the entire sponge 52.
[0033] FIGS. 1A to 4B illustrate a substantially rectangular sponge
located on an inside surface of the base plate. However, the sponge
may be of any desired shape, and may also be located on different
surfaces of the base plate. In addition, the base plate may have
different shapes.
[0034] FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate side views of the clamp portion
50, including the clamp arm 53 and the base plate 51. In FIGS. 5A
and 5B, sponges 57 are included on a bottom side of the base plate
51, where the bottom side is the side that faces the ground. The
clamp arm 53 may be arranged at any angle, as illustrated in the
figures. For example, the clamp arm 53 may be arranged between 30
degrees to 60 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane defined by
the ground and parallel to a bottom surface of the base plate 51.
When the clamp arm 53 is configured to have an angle with respect
to the ground, a user may hold the handle 11 and the bottom surface
of the base plate may be aligned with the horizontal plane to allow
the user to apply the sponge 57 to the ground. FIGS. 5A to 5C also
illustrate the fluid receiving hole or tube 54 to receive fluid
from the reservoir 31 and to provide the fluid to the sponges
52.
[0035] FIG. 5C illustrates a base plate 51 having a rounded shape,
and the sponge 57 located on the outer surface of the base plate
51. Consequently, the clamp arm 53 may be held at any angle to
correspond to users of different heights or ground levels of
varying elevations, and the sponge 57 may still be parallel to or
tangential to the ground to allow the user to apply the sponge 57
to the ground.
[0036] FIGS. 6A to 6D illustrate front views of the clamp portion
50. In FIG. 5A, which may correspond to the side views illustrated
in FIGS. 5A and 5B, sponges 57a and 57b are positioned below each
of the sponges 52a and 52b and the base plates 51a and 51b. The
fluid tubes 54a and 54b may supply fluid to the sponges 52a and
52b, and the fluid may drain to the sponges 57a and 57b.
Alternatively, the fluid tubes 54a and 54b may include a second set
of tubes that supply fluid directly to the sponges 57a and 57b.
[0037] In FIG. 6A, the sponges 52 and 57 are illustrated as
separate sponges. However, the sponges 52 and 57 may be a single
sponge that is bent to cover the inside surface and bottom surface
of the respective base plate 51.
[0038] FIG. 6B illustrates a clamp portion 50 in which the sponges
57a and 57b are located along the front sides of the base plates
51a and 51b. For example, the device of FIG. 6B may correspond to
the device of FIG. 5C, in which the sponges 57a and 57b surround
the bottom and front sides of the base plate 51.
[0039] FIG. 6C illustrates an embodiment in which the inside
sponges 52a and 52b extend past a bottom ends of the base plates
51a and 51b by a distance d.sub.3 to allow the sponges 52a and 52b
to contact a surface below the bottom side or surface of the base
plates 52a and 52b. No sponge may be located directly beneath the
bottom surfaces of the base plates 51a and 51b. The clamp portion
50 of FIG. 6C may correspond to the clamp portions 50 of FIGS. 5A
and 5B, for example.
[0040] FIG. 6D illustrates a front view of a clamp portion 50
having base plates 51a and 51b which each have bottom surfaces
extending from the main portion of the base plates 52a and 52b. The
bottom surfaces may be of rectangular shapes, semi-circular shapes,
or any other desired shape, as viewed from the bottom, and they
provide a larger surface area for contacting a surface beneath the
clamp portion 50. For example, if a user wants to apply a fluid in
the sponges 57a and 57b to a plant on the ground, the sponges 57a
and 57b provide the user with a larger surface area for contacting
the plant. In addition, the features of FIG. 6D may be combined
with those of FIGS. 5C to provide a sponge 57 that extends around
the outer sides of the base plate 51 while also extending outward
from the base plate 51.
[0041] FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate the clamp portion 50 from the
bottom side view. FIG. 7A illustrates a clamp portion 50 in which
sponges 52a and 52b are located on inside surfaces of the base
plates 51a and 51b, respectively, but no sponge is located on the
bottom surfaces of the base plates 51a and 51b. The clamp portion
50 of FIG. 7A may correspond to the clamp portion 50 of FIG. 6C,
for example.
[0042] FIG. 7B illustrates a bottom side view of a clamp portion in
which the sponges 57a and 57b extend across the bottom surface of
the base plates 51a and 51b. In FIG. 7B, sponges 57a and 57b cover
the bottom surface of the base plates 51a and 51b. Alternatively,
each base plate 51a and 51b may include only a single sponge 52a
and 52b, respectively, that is bent to cover both the inside
surface of the base plate 51 and the bottom surface of the base
plate 51.
[0043] FIG. 7C illustrates the clamp portion 50 in which the base
plates 51a and 51b include extended portions at the bottom. The
extended portions are covered in part by sponges 57a and 57b to
provide a larger surface area to apply a fluid in the sponges 57a
and 57b to a surface adjacent to the bottom surface of the base
plates 51a and 51b. The clamp portion 50 of FIG. 7C may correspond
to the clamp portion 50 of FIG. 6D, for example.
[0044] Although a few examples have been shown and described, it
would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may
be made in these examples without departing from the principles and
spirit of the general inventive concept.
* * * * *