AU1641300A - Fertilizing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

FERTILIZING APPARATUS This invention relates to fertilising apparatus.

This invention aims to provide fertilising apparatus which will facilitate the introduction of fertiliser below the surface of the medium to be fertilised.

With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in dispensing apparatus suitable for introducing a quantity of granular material into a further granular medium, including:a dispensing tube having a lower end which may be introduced into the further granular medium; a discharge port in the dispensing tube adjacent its lower end through which granular material in the dispensing tube may be discharged; a releasable closure for closing the discharge port, and metering means for metering the granular material to be dispensed into the lower end of the dispensing tube.

The metering means may be actuated independently to dispense a desired amount of granular material into the dispensing tube or it may be operated by actuation of the releasable closure.

.0 .The discharge port may be in the bottom wall of the dispensing tube and be associated with a rotary valve for closing same or it may be a side port in a pointed 20 end portion or a cylindrical side wall portion of the dispensing tube. The releasable closure could be a pivotable flap or the like or it could be an outer tube accommodate over the discharge tube and slidable along or rotatable about the dispensing tube between a covering position covering the discharge port and a released position clear of the discharge port. The lower end of the outer tube may be formed with an open end which is non-circular so as to assist in ease of penetration into the granular medium into which the granular material is to be introduced..

The metering means could be a dispenser mounted on the outer tube which may extend beyond the inner tube and the dispensing tube could be controlled by a handle thereon which passes through the outer tube.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to a typical embodiment of the invention for introducing fertiliser into a growing medium, wherein:- 2 Figs. 1 and 2 are side views of the fertilising apparatus illustrated in opposed operating positions Fig. 3 illustrates the use of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged cutaway views corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2 and illustrating the dispensing operation of the lower end portion; and Fig. 6 diagrammatically illustrates the configuration of the deposited fertiliser.

The fertilising apparatus 10 utilises a PVC outer tube 11 formed with a bevelcut at its lower end, to facilitate penetration into a medium to be fertilised, and located slidably about the lower part of a stainless steel dispensing tube 12 about 1600mm long. The dispensing tube 12 has a handle 13 protruding from its upper part whereby its lower end 14, which is closed by an end wall 15, may be forced into the medium to be fertilised. The upper end 16 of the dispensing tube supports a mechanically operated dispenser 17 which meters a set quantity of fertiliser into the dispensing tube upon each operation of the dispenser 17.

15 The upper end of the outer tube 11 is slotted at 18 to receive a pin or bolt 19 located transversely through the dispensing tube 12 and extending from opposite sides thereof.

The lower end 14 is formed with a discharge port 20 in the side wall thereof and extending upwardly from the end wall 15 such that all material supported against 20 the end wall 15 can pass through the port 20. The port 20 is about 50mm long as are the slots 18 so that the outer tube 11 may be slid from a covering position, as illustrated in Fig. 2a, to a release position, as illustrated in Fig. 2b at which the port is uncovered for discharge of fertiliser from the dispensing tube 12.

It will also be seen that in the covering position, the bevelled end 21 of the outer tube 11 protrudes beyond the end wall 15 to facilitate initial penetration of the apparatus 10 into the medium to be fertilised. The dispensing tube 12 is a relatively small diameter tube so that it is also relatively easy to force into the medium to be fertilised. This action is accomplished by grasping the handle 13 with one hand and placing the other hand about the outer tube 11. A further handle 25 may be provided on the outer tube, as illustrated, if desired.

It will be seem that the upper end of the outer tube 11 is provided with an apertured lug 22 through which a stay 23 connects the outer tube 11 to the dispenser 17 such that reciprocation of the outer tube 11 along the dispensing tube 12, within the limits imposed by the lengths of the slots 18, causes actuation of the dispenser 17 which is contained in a container 24 releasably attached to the dispenser. In this embodiment the dispenser 17 meters out about five grams of fertiliser in each dispensing cycle.

In use, the container 24 is filled with fertiliser and the outer tube 11 is pushed downward to close the dispensing port 20 and to activate the dispenser 17 which dispenses the metered quantity of fertiliser down the stainless steel dispensing tube 12. The fertilising apparatus 10 is then pushed into the ground or potting mix to a depth of approximately 80mm to 1 OOmm under the surface, or otherwise as desired.

The outer tube 11 is then pulled upward causing a further quantity of fertiliser to be dispensed providing a quantity of about ten grams of fertiliser to be discharged through the port Retraction of the outer tube 11 while maintaining the dispensing tube 12 in the ground or potting mix clears the discharge port 20 and provides a clearance 26 about 15 the dispensing tube 12 to enable the fertiliser in the tube 20 to fall through the port into the formed hole 27 as the dispensing tube is lifted from the formed hole. Loose soil 28 may be pushed into the hole to cover the deposited fertiliser 29 with the end of the fertilising apparatus.

If more than ten grams of fertiliser is required to be deposited into the ground, 20 the outer tube is moved up and down again to meter the required amount into the S* dispensing tube 12 prior to its retraction from the ground.

From the above it will be seen that metered quantities of fertiliser may be readily dispensed, sub-surface, into a pot plant or a desired location in a garden bed.

.o..oi SThe quantities of fertiliser may be readily increased in known increments so that the one instrument can be used, without modification or adjusting to fertilise both large and small pot plants, for example, in a simple and convenient manner.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in ye art are deemed to all within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is defined in the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. Dispensing apparatus suitable for introducing a quantity of granular material into a further granular medium, including:- a dispensing tube having a lower end which may be introduced into the further granular medium; a discharge port in the dispensing tube adjacent its lower end through which granular material in the dispensing tube may be discharged; a releasable closure for closing the discharge port, and metering means for metering the granular material to be dispensed into the lower end of the dispensing tube.

2. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the metering means is operated by actuation of the releasable closure.

3. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the discharge port is a side port in the dispensing tube and the releasable closure is an outer tube accommodate over the discharge tube and slidable along the dispensing tube between a covering position covering the discharge port and a released position 20 clear of the discharge port.

4. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lower end of the outer tube is formed with non-circular opening. °looo

5. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein:- the dispensing tube is tubular throughout its length; the outer tube is retained slidably on the dispensing tube for reciprocation between its covering position and its released position, and the metering means is a dispenser mounted on one of the outer tube or the dispensing tube and arranged to discharge into the dispensing tube.

6. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the dispenser is mounted at the upper end of the dispensing tube, an operating handle extends from the dispensing tube adjacent the dispensing means and the outer tube is located on the dispensing tube between its lower end and the handle.

7. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the dispenser is a lever operated dispenser and the lever is connected to the outer tube through a connecting link external to the dispensing tube.

8. Dispensing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge port is at the lower end of the dispensing tube and the lower end closure of the discharge tube is arranged to deflect granular material through the discharge port. 7. Dispensing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS Fourteenth DAY OF February 2000 JOHN ANDREW COLE S 20 by PIZZEYS PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS