WO2016118000A1

WO2016118000A1 - Fertilizer dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2016118000A1
Application number: PCT/MY2016/050003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert AK. JACKIUS; Iskandar B. SHARKAWI; Zakaria B. JAMAIN; Mohd. Samsuri B. JOLI; Dayang Nurazimah BINTI ABANG MUAS; Mohd. Faiyzal B. KASSIM; Robiah FUTRA; Ronee B. RAMLEE; Jumadi B. AHMAD; Mohd. Taufiq B. ABDULLAH
Original assignee: Sarawak Information Technology And Resources Council (sitrc)
Current assignee: Sarawak Information Technology And Resources Council (sitrc)
Priority date: 2015-01-23
Filing date: 2016-01-15
Publication date: 2016-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-23

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fertilizer dispenser (100) tool comprising a shaft (101) with pointed sharp edge (102) at one end; a handle (103) disposed at the other end of the shaft (101); a fertilizer receptacle (104) having fertilizer positioned along the shaft (101); a fertilizer dispenser control unit; a dispensing channel (105), connected to the bottom of the fertilizer receptacle (104) by the fertilizer dispenser control unit; a control lever (106) on the handle (103), connected to the dispenser control unit by a cable (111); and a foot shaft (108) positioned perpendicular to the shaft (101) axis and near the pointed sharp edge (102).

Description

FERTILIZER DISPENSER

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus and method for expediting the process of dispensing fertilizer into the soil.

BACKGROUND ART The method of dispersing fertilizer to a lawn or garden has always been slow and not efficient. Manually dispersing fertilizer often results in uneven distribution and an excess in certain areas, which can actually damage plants. Moreover, the use of bulky tools such as hoe, fertilizer container and fertilizer are required to be transported and distributed to workers at gardening site using vehicle such as lorry or pickup truck.

US patent No. 2,028,483 relates a combination tool which may be used selectively as a turf borer or auger or a sod cutter. Such a tool is used to first remove sod and then bore holes in the ground after which fertilizer is inserted in the form of a cartridge. However, it difficulty with such a tool if several operations which are required are quite time consuming, particularly when a number of fertilizer spikes implanted are relatively large.

International application No. WO/2014/066220A2 relates to a fertilizer dispenser apparatus with contoured wheels prepares the surface receiving the fertilizer, making the application of the fertilizer more efficient. A plurality of tines extend radially from each contoured wheel. The tines dig up the surface of the area to be fertilized. Then, a trigger mechanism is pulled and a metering auger dispenses a controlled amount of fertilizer. The surface treatment enables the fertilizer to be inserted into the soil close to the root system of the plants targeted for growth. None of these devices, however, provides a tool having the fertilizer which able to implant fertilizer into the soil efficiently and portable.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention provides a fertilizer dispenser tool comprising a shaft with pointed sharp edge at one end; a handle disposed at the other end of the shaft; a fertilizer receptacle having fertilizer positioned along the shaft; a fertilizer dispenser control unit; a dispensing channel, connected to the bottom of the fertilizer receptacle by the fertilizer dispenser control unit; a control lever on the handle, connected to the dispenser control unit by a cable; and a foot shaft positioned perpendicular to the shaft axis and near the pointed sharp edge.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a fertilizer dispenser tool comprising an elongated rod attached to the shaft that is rotatable and movable along the shaft axis to discard the foreign material sticking at the pointed sharp edge.

Preferably, the dispensing channel further includes a fertilizer outlet located near pointed sharp edge of the shaft to direct the dispensed fertilizer into the ground or soil where the shaft is penetrated.

Preferably, the dispenser control unit further includes a quantity controller to control the amount of content to be dispensed through dispensing channel.

Further, the handle include a rubberized grip attached to at least one end of the handle to enable the user to hold the fertilizer dispenser and aid the user when the user apply force on the handle.

Further, the foot shaft include a rubberized grip attached to at least one end of the foot shaft to enable the user apply force on the foot shaft when penetrating the pointed sharp edge of the shaft into the ground or soil.

Preferably, the fertilizer receptacle further includes a clear panel to indicate or identify the content of the fertilizer receptacle. Preferably, the fertilizer dispenser control unit further includes a spring to control the content of the container using the cable and the release lever. Preferably, the pointed sharp edge of the shaft is designed such a way that it able to penetrate into the ground or soil to create a hollow opening that enables the fertilizer dispenser to unload the content of the fertilizer receptacle into the opening. Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of using a fertilizer dispenser tool comprising steps of; locating at least one location to dispense fertilizer; placing the fertilizer dispenser having a shaft with pointed sharp edge on one end at the location; applying force on at least one foot shaft and a handle attached to the shaft to penetrate the ground or soil on the location; creating hollow opening using the fertilizer dispenser to fill or unload fertilizer in the into the opening; applying force on a release lever on the handle having connection to a fertilizer receptacle using a cable to dispense fertilizer in the fertilizer receptacle; release the release lever upon filling the hollow opening; and lifting the fertilizer dispenser away from the hollow opening.

The present invention consists of features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

To further clarify various aspects of some embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by references to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the overall architecture of a fertilizer dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The proposed invention relates to a 2-in-1 gardening tool creation of a fertilizer dispenser called Tugalizer' that aims to replace the use of the conventional hoe to expedite the process of fertilizing the landscape; making it a very handy and easy-to-use tool for gardeners, landscapers, councils and those who love gardening.

The conventional hoe would require eight persons to carry out fertilizing for one tree whereas the time-saving Tugalizer' would only require one person to produce the same output. Another advantage of this tool is that it can be used on narrow road dividers and is suitable for use on all types of soils.

As illustrated in Figure 1 , Figure 1 relates to a gardening tool or fertilizer dispenser (100) (100) to dispense fertilizer into a soil or ground having an elongated shaft (101 ) with pointed sharp edge (102) at one end to penetrate the ground or soil and a handle (103) on the other end to enable a user to hold the fertilizer dispenser (100). A fertilizer receptacle (104) or container is placed along or attached to the shaft (101 ), in which the fertilizer receptacle (104) having a dispensing channel (105) connected to a control unit to dispense the content of the fertilizer receptacle (104) when the user activates the control unit. The control unit has a release lever (106) attached to handle (103) or shaft (101 ) which enable user to control the output of the content of the fertilizer through the dispensing channel (105). The dispensing channel (105) or release chamber further includes a fertilizer outlet (107) located near pointed sharp edge (102) of the shaft (101 ) to direct the dispensed contents into the ground or soil where the shaft (101 ) is penetrated. The shaft (101 ) further includes at least one foot peg (108) or foot shaft to enable user's foot to be placed on the foot peg (108) to create a force that enables the elongated shaft (101 ) penetrate the ground or soil when the user steps or apply force on the foot peg (108). The foot peg (108) is connected using at least one connecting means (109) such as bolt, hinge or nut. The shaft (101 ) also includes a soil pusher or an elongated rod (110) attached or placed along the shaft (101 ) to dispense or discard the soil or any other foreign material sticking near pointed sharp edge (102) of the shaft (101 ). The handle (103) may also include a rubberized grip such as handle grip attached to at least one end of the handle (103) to enable the user to hold the fertilizer dispenser (100) and aid the user when the user apply force on the handle (103). The foot shaft (108) may also include a rubberized grip such as foot grip attached to at least one end of the foot shaft (108) to enable the user apply force on the foot shaft (108) when penetrating the pointed sharp edge (102) of the shaft (101 ) into the ground or soil. The control unit having the release lever (106) and at least one lever or valve connected using at least a cable (111 ) which able to transmit mechanical force or energy by the movement of an inner cable (most commonly of steel or stainless steel) relative to a hollow outer cable housing, where the force applied to the release lever (106) will open the valve or spring to dispense the content of the container or close the valve or spring (112) when force is not applied to the release lever (106). The pointed sharp edge (102) of the shaft (101 ) is designed such a way that it able to penetrate into the ground or soil to create a hollow cavity or opening that enables the fertilizer dispenser (100) to fill or unload the content or fertilizer into the opening. The user may require to move the handle (103) toward and away (back and forth) from the user to create the optimal hollow cavity or opening. The fertilizer receptacle (104) or container may also include a quantity controller (113) to control the amount of fertilizer or content to be dispensed through dispensing channel (105). The dispensing channel (105) or fertilizer receptacle (104) can be made of material such as a plastic pipe or PCV pipe or UPCV pipe. The dispensing channel (105) and fertilizer receptacle (104) connected through at least one dispensing means (114) made of material such as a plastic pipe or PCV pipe or UPCV pipe. At least one adjustable strap (115) means such as fabric fastener or metal fastener (117) or fabric hook and loop fastener (Velcro) is used to mount or attach the dispensing channel (105) and fertilizer receptacle (104). The fertilizer receptacle (104) can be replaced with another fertilizer receptacle if the user would like to refill or replace the existing fertilizer receptacle (104) with new content or new fertilizer or when the content of existing fertilizer receptacle (104) is drained. The fertilizer receptacle (104) may include label or clear sheet (116) to indicate the content of the fertilizer receptacle (104).

The fertilizer dispenser comprises of a sharp edged shaft on one end and a hand rest and foot rest positioned along the other end, which the shaft having an elongated channel along the length of the shaft. The fertilizer dispenser further equipped with a receptacle to store fertilizer and a dispenser control unit to regulate the dispensation of fertilizer. The fertilizer dispenser further includes soil pusher to remove the unwanted soil attached to the end of the shaft. The fertilizer dispenser also includes a pair of rubberized grip on the hand rest to provide grip when performing operating on the fertilizer dispenser. The fertilizer dispenser has a receptacle to store fertilizer and a dispenser control unit to regulate the dispensation of fertilizer on the fertilizer dispenser having sharp edged shaft on one end and a hand rest and foot rest positioned along the other end. The fertilizer dispenser may include features such as temperature or pH sensor to obtain the temperature or pH of the soil before dispenses the fertilizer into the soil. The pH is a measure of the soil's acidity or alkalinity. Different plants require different pH levels, so once you know your soil's pH, you can plant plants that will thrive in that soil, or you can amend the soil to expand the range of plants you can use.

To operate the fertilizer dispenser, a user can insert the sharp edged shaft into the ground to create an indentation thereon, aided by manual force exerted by the user on the hand rest and food rest. Once the indentation is created, the user can dispense the fertilizer from the fertilizer cartridge using the release lever, in which the fertilizer travels through the channel along the shaft into the ground. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1 . A fertilizer dispenser (100) tool comprising

a shaft (101 ) with pointed sharp edge (102) at one end;

a handle (103) disposed at the other end of the shaft (101 );

a fertilizer receptacle (104) having fertilizer positioned along the shaft (101 ); a fertilizer dispenser control unit;

a dispensing channel (105), connected to the bottom of the fertilizer receptacle (104) by the fertilizer dispenser control unit;

a control lever (106) on the handle (103), connected to the dispenser control unit by a cable (1 1 1 ); and

a foot shaft (108) positioned perpendicular to the shaft (101 ) axis and near the pointed sharp edge (102).

2. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1 further comprising an elongated rod (1 10) attached to the shaft (101 ) that is rotatable and movable along the shaft axis to discard the foreign material sticking at the pointed sharp edge (102).

3. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the dispensing channel (105) further includes a fertilizer outlet (107) located near pointed sharp edge (102) of the shaft (101 ) to direct the dispensed fertilizer into the ground or soil where the shaft (101 ) is penetrated.

4. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser control unit further include a quantity controller (1 13) to control the amount of content to be dispensed through dispensing channel (105).

5. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the handle (103) further include a rubberized grip attached to at least one end of the handle (103) to enable the user to hold the fertilizer dispenser (100) and aid the user when the user apply force on the handle (103).

6. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the foot shaft (108) further include a rubberized grip attached to at least one end of the foot shaft (108) to enable the user apply force on the foot shaft (108) when penetrating the pointed sharp edge (102) of the shaft (101 ) into the ground or soil.

7. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer receptacle (104) further include a clear panel (1 16) to indicate or identify the content of the fertilizer receptacle (104).

8. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer dispenser control unit further includes a spring to control the content of the container using the cable (1 1 1 ) and the release lever (106).

9. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the pointed sharp edge (102) of the shaft (101 ) is designed such a way that it able to penetrate into the ground or soil to create a hollow opening that enables the fertilizer dispenser (100) to unload the content of the fertilizer receptacle (104) into the opening.

10. The method of using a fertilizer dispenser (100) tool comprising steps of;

locating at least one location to dispense fertilizer;

placing the fertilizer dispenser (100) having a shaft (101 ) with pointed sharp edge (102) on one end at the location;

applying force on at least one foot shaft (108) and a handle (103) attached to the shaft (101 ) to penetrate the ground or soil on the location;

creating hollow opening using the fertilizer dispenser (100) to fill or unload fertilizer in the into the opening

applying force on a release lever (106) on the handle (103) having connection to a fertilizer receptacle (104) using a cable (1 1 1 ) to dispense fertilizer in the fertilizer receptacle (104);

release the release lever (106) upon filling the hollow opening; and

lifting the fertilizer dispenser (100) away from the hollow opening.