Fluid Application Device and Method
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.
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.
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 SUMMARYThe 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The lower portion of
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.
In the second state illustrated in
In
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
Although
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
In
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.
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.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 14, 2015
Publication Date: May 7, 2015
Inventors: Adam C. Ellsworth (Gaithersburg, MD), Daniel T. Ellsworth (Ruckersville, VA)
Application Number: 14/596,294
International Classification: A01M 21/04 (20060101); B05C 17/005 (20060101);