US4965960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and devices for using porous materials in the controlled feeding, distribution, and application of liquid agricultural chemicals
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-04-26
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Granted: 1990-10-30
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Expires: 2008-04-26
Abstract
Abstract Dimensionally-stable porous materials such as porous plastic are used in a variety of ways to provide uniform distribution and application of liquids to vegetation. Porous plastic can be readily cut, sawed and drilled to provide liquid distribution channels and various applicator shapes. Porous plastic is easily glued or welded for joining to other materials. Rods, tubes and handles are easily inserted into the porous plastic, and selected areas of the porous surfaces are readily sealed with glue or by melting to confine liquid application to selected areas. The pore size, preferably in the range of 5 to 200 microns, can be selected in accordance with the viscosity of the liquid and the desired rate of flow and pressure. Porous plastic can be highly abrasion resistant, which is especially useful for constructing applicators which rest upon the ground or pavement. Where abrasion is not a problem, the porous plastic may serve to distribute liquid to a soft absorbent applicator such as a sponge. Unitary applicators are readily fashioned from a block of porous plastic by forming a connection to a sprayer nozzle or squeeze bottle, drilling a hole to provide an internal distribution channel, and sealing surfaces that are not intended to deliver liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:28
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01M; A01M21/00; A01M21/04; A01M21/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for applying liquid to vegetation comprising an applicator block consisting of a porous material defining at least a portion of a contiguous liquid distribution channel, a source of said liquid connected to said applicator block for supplying said liquid to said distribution channel, and a structural member to which said applicator block is mounted for enabling an operator to place said applicator block in contact with said vegetation, so that said liquid may flow from said source to said distribution channel and then uniformly through the pores of said porous material to a surface in wiping contact with said vegetation, and wherein said porous material is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally-stable that it can be cut, sawed, drilled, tapped and threaded using ordinary metal working tools.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for applying liquid to vegetation comprising an applicator block consisting of a porous material defining at least a portion of a contiguous liquid distribution channel, a source of said liquid connected to said applicator block for supplying said liquid to said distribution channel, and a structural member to which said applicator block is mounted for enabling an operator to place said applicator block in contact with said vegetation, so that said liquid may flow from said source to said distribution channel and then uniformly through the pores of said porous material to a surface in wiping contact with said vegetation, and wherein said porous material is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally-stable that it can be cut, sawed, drilled, tapped and threaded using ordinary metal working tools.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said porous material is a plastic polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said porous material has an average pore size in the range of about 5 to 200 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structural member is a hollow handle enclosing a tube connecting said source of liquid to said applicator block for supplying said liquid to said channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said applicator block is elongated and said distribution channel is an internal hole drilled in said applicator block along most of its length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein said hole has an axis that is offset from the center of said applicator block so that said distribution channel is proximate to an elongated application zone on the external surface of said block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein said applicator block is diamond shaped and said structural member is a handle attached to the block at an angle, such that the applicator block is operable in many different positions so as to wipe vegetation with a variety of surfaces ranging from broad, to narrow, to pointed, and from a variety of angles with respect to said vegetation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one surface of said applicator block has fastened to it a structural member that encloses said distribution channel and strengthens said block.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structural member has a U-shape and encloses three sides of said block.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein a soft, absorbent material adjoins a least a portion of said applicator block so as to provide a reservoir for said liquid where it is readily available to be applied to said vegetation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said applicator block is cantilevered to said structural member so that the block is free to rest upon an underlying surface, and to apply a swath of liquid to said surface as it is moved over said surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one wheel mounted to said structural member via a shaft, and at least one arm mounted to said shaft and carrying said block.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid source comprises a collapsible container, thereby enabling the entire liquid-containing system feeding the applicator surface to be sealed while supplying liquid uniformly to said applicator block.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liquid source comprises a closed squeeze bottle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a series of flexible rods inserted in and protruding from a lower surface of said applicator block.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a series of hollow tubes inserted in a lower surface of said applicator block, and wherein the lower surface of said block is otherwise sealed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said structural member comprises a horizontal frame for supporting said applicator block above ground level, and means for adjustably mounting said applicator block to said horizontal frame at a selected height above ground level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The applicator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein external areas of said applicator block are sealed except at said surface intended to be in wiping contact with said vegetation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
90 words
A hand-held, self-fed applicator assembly for selectively applying liquid to vegetation, said applicator assembly comprising a replaceable squeeze bottle for containing said liquid, and a block of porous plastic polymer connected to said bottle, said block of porous plastic polymer having an application region defined thereon, and areas of the external surface of said block being sealed except at said application region, and wherein said porous plastic polymer is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally-stable that it can be cut, sawed, drilled, tapped and threaded using ordinary wood and metal working tools.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
90 words
A hand-held, self-fed applicator assembly for selectively applying liquid to vegetation, said applicator assembly comprising a replaceable squeeze bottle for containing said liquid, and a block of porous plastic polymer connected to said bottle, said block of porous plastic polymer having an application region defined thereon, and areas of the external surface of said block being sealed except at said application region, and wherein said porous plastic polymer is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally-stable that it can be cut, sawed, drilled, tapped and threaded using ordinary wood and metal working tools.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The applicator assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein said bottle has a threaded outlet portion, and wherein said applicator assembly further comprising means mounted to said block for engaging the threaded outlet portion of said bottle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The applicator assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein said block is elongated and has an internal hole drilled in it along a substantial portion of its length to provide a distribution channel for the liquid from said squeeze bottle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The applicator assembly as claimed in claim 19, further comprising soft absorbent material attached to said block at said application region.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
89 words
A hand-held, self-fed applicator assembly for selectively applying liquid to vegetation, said applicator assembly comprising a hollow handle including a connector at an upper end portion of the handle for attachment to a bottle of said liquid, and a block of porous plastic polymer attached to a lower end portion of the handle for distributing liquid from said bottle to said vegetation, wherein said porous plastic polymer is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally-stable that it can be cut, sawed, drilled, tapped and threaded using ordinary wood and metal working tools.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
89 words
A hand-held, self-fed applicator assembly for selectively applying liquid to vegetation, said applicator assembly comprising a hollow handle including a connector at an upper end portion of the handle for attachment to a bottle of said liquid, and a block of porous plastic polymer attached to a lower end portion of the handle for distributing liquid from said bottle to said vegetation, wherein said porous plastic polymer is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally-stable that it can be cut, sawed, drilled, tapped and threaded using ordinary wood and metal working tools.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination as claimed in claim 23, wherein said block has downwardly converging sidewalls.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination as claimed in claim 23, wherein said block has installed in the lower portion thereof absorbent material to receive and retain excess liquid for future use.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
71 words
An applicator comprising a porous plastic applicator block having a connection point for receiving liquid from a source of liquid, and an internal channel defined in said block for connecting pores of said block to said connection point, and wherein said applicator block consists of porous plastic material that is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally-stable that it can be cut, sawed, drilled, tapped and threaded using ordinary wood and metal working tools.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
71 words
An applicator comprising a porous plastic applicator block having a connection point for receiving liquid from a source of liquid, and an internal channel defined in said block for connecting pores of said block to said connection point, and wherein said applicator block consists of porous plastic material that is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally-stable that it can be cut, sawed, drilled, tapped and threaded using ordinary wood and metal working tools.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The applicator as claimed in claim 26, wherein said applicator block consists of a single piece of material and has integrally formed therein means for connecting said block to a source of liquid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The applicator as claimed in claim 26, wherein said applicator block consists of microporous plastic polymer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The applicator assembly as claimed in claim 26, wherein external areas of said applicator block are sealed except at a surface intended for application of said liquid.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
75 words
A hand-held applicator assembly for selectively applying liquid to vegetation, said applicator assembly including a hand-held liquid supply providing a source of liquid, a block of porous material connected to said hand-held liquid supply, so that liquid from said hand-held liquid supply can be wiped onto said vegetation, and wherein said porous material is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally-stable that it can be cut, sawed, drilled, tapped, and threaded using ordinary wood and metal working tools.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
75 words
A hand-held applicator assembly for selectively applying liquid to vegetation, said applicator assembly including a hand-held liquid supply providing a source of liquid, a block of porous material connected to said hand-held liquid supply, so that liquid from said hand-held liquid supply can be wiped onto said vegetation, and wherein said porous material is sufficiently rigid and dimensionally-stable that it can be cut, sawed, drilled, tapped, and threaded using ordinary wood and metal working tools.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-10-29 | 1994-04-30 | 1994-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-29 | 1998-04-30 | 1998-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-29 | 2002-04-30 | 2002-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |