Abstract: A portable distributor for particles, especially of grass seed and fertilizer, has a platform connected to a strap which goes over the shoulder of the individual carrying the distributor. The platform has a turn crank for rotating a set of gears connected to a shaft that rotates a circular finned spreader. The spreader is located over a slot in the platform through which the particles fall and are distributed in a circular pattern. The gears and other movable parts of the distributor are contained within a cover between the platform and spreader so that it caps the gears and a portion of a plate that adjusts the width of the slot. The cover prevents the gears to be clogged by the particles being distributed and also enhances safety by preventing the individual operating the crank and carrying the distributor from engaging the gearing with his or her hands or clothing.

Abstract: A motorized fertilizer dispenser includes a frustoconical housing having an open upper end in communication with a hollow interior. At a lower end is a dispersal opening. A rotatable sifting blade is positioned within the housing interior and adjacent the dispersal opening. A rotary disc having a plurality of radial blades positioned thereon is situated immediately beneath the dispersal opening. A motor operates both the sifting blade and dispersal disc whereby a desired amount of fertilizer is dropped onto the disc and projected outwardly to a target area.

Abstract: A material dispenser that may be used with a snow removal machine is comprised of a container, broadcaster actuator, and broadcaster in one embodiment. The material dispenser allows the operator to broadcast dry treatment material from a container mounted to the snow removal machine regardless of whether the precipitation engaging member of the snow removal machine is operating. The broadcaster actuator operates to cause the treatment material to be placed on or adjacent the path of the snow removal machine. The broadcast actuator may be positioned on a handle member of the snow removal machine so that it is convenient for the operator to engage the broadcast actuator while operating the snow removal machine or when the precipitation engaging member is not removing precipitation. A slide gate may be used to throttle the volume of treatment material exiting the container, and a slide gate actuator may be remotely mounted.

Abstract: A broadcast spreader includes a directional control assembly that defines a pathway for granular material from the hopper to a rotating fan, resulting in the distribution of the granular material in a predetermined distribution pattern, wherein rotation of a first (or rotating) plate of the directional control assembly relative to the hopper causes a clockwise or counterclockwise shifting of the pathway for the granular material, thus altering the direction of the predetermined distribution pattern. Furthermore, the directional assembly includes a second (or shutter) plate that is secured to the first plate, the slidable movement of the second plate relative to the first plate regulating flow of granular material from the hopper to the fan.

Abstract: A portable particulate spreader comprising a container having a closed end, an open end and a storage chamber for holding particulate matter therein is disclosed. A first handle is attached to a side of the container proximate the closed end. A second handle is attached, preferably pivotally, to the same side, approximately midway between the closed end and the open end, allowing a person to conveniently grasp the spreader in either a vertical position for carrying or a horizontal position for use. An impeller at the open end disperses the particulate outwardly and downwardly from the spreader.

Abstract: A portable particulate spreader comprising a container having a closed end, an open end and a storage chamber for holding particulate materials therein. A first strap handle is affixed to a side of the container adjacent the closed end. A second strap handle is pivotally affixed to same side of the container approximately midway between closed end and open end, so that a person can grasp the strap handles with both hands and toss particulate materials out of open end. The container further includes an agitation assembly for automatically agitating particulate materials within the container, so as to prevent particulate materials from sticking together. A dispensing assembly is for automatically dispensing particulate materials out of open end of the container.

Abstract: A portable seed spreader for distribution of bulky and irregular size seeds over a local area. The spreader includes a U-shaped frame that carries a housing having a first seed bin and a second seed bin. A first transverse shaft is mounted to legs of the frame and extends through the first seed bin. The first shaft carries agitators for mixing and stirring the seeds in the first seed bin. Discharge slots are located in a bottom wall of the first seed bin. A second transverse shaft is mounted on the frame and extends beneath the bottom wall of the first seed bin. The second transverse shaft carries picker wheels that extend through the discharge slots into the first seed bin to pick seeds therefrom and draw them through the discharge slot. The shafts are connected so that rotation of one transverse shaft as by a hand crank, an electric motor or a wheeled mechanism, results in rotation of the other.

Abstract: A hand held spreader having the bottom-face of the hopper portion at an angle with respect of the horizontal and having the handle for holding the device disposed directly below the hopper and so directly below the weight of the hopper; the handle is angled so as to afford an in-line action between the trigger of the handle and the slide of a dispensing mechanism, thus avoiding any requirement or a linkage between the trigger and the slide mechanism. Also the gear-box portion of the device is of a simple clam-shell design that allows the rotary drive shaft of the device to be removably supported on opposite sides of its load bearing section by means of bearing supports on both sides of at least one of the gears. The supports are part of the separate halves of the housing itself, thus avoiding the need for additional or separate bearing structures.

Abstract: A hand held granular material spreading device including a housing with holding storage chamber for a flowable dry material where the chamber is located over a horizontally rotating impeller where there is an opening from the chamber to the impeller whereby rotation of the impeller spreads the material over an area forward of the location of the device. A valve member,,is provided in the opening from the storage chamber to the impeller and an opening is defined by the valve member and is determined by a linkage arrangement which is operated by a lever device which is rotated to adjust the position of the valve member in the opening. Stops can be provided for positioning the lever member to allow the retention of the position of the valve member without continuous pressure on the lever member.

Abstract: A hand held spreading device is disclosed for broadcast spreading material via a rotating impeller. The device has an actuating assemly including an actuating member and a dual spring arrangement interconnected with the actuating member. One of the springs causes material to be discharged onto the impeller in response to movement of the actuating member and prevents damage of the device resulting from excessive movement of the actuating member. The second spring biases the actuating member to move to an idle position in which no material is discharged onto the impeller and causes the actuating member to return to this idle position after movement thereof.

Abstract: A portable hand-held material broadcasting device having a housing with a manually engageable handle and providing a storage chamber for flowable granular material superimposed over a normally horizontally rotating impeller for gravitational flow of material from the chamber to the impeller, a valve member movable to regulate the material flow and having closed, intermediate and full open positions, a manually displaceable actuating member positioned adjacent the handle and having a connection to the valve member for displacement thereof, and a manually adjustable cam member for limiting the opening movement of the valve member and corresponding position of the actuating member for setting the rate of flow of the material, the improvement of the invention including a stop mounted on the handle and positioned to engage and support the actuating member when moved to its full open position, and a special connection being made between the actuator member and the valve member to permit forced displacement of the a

Abstract: A portable hand held device for distributing granular material including a hopper for holding the material, a support base for the hopper, a distributor wheel having circumferentially spaced outwardly opening compartments suspended beneath the base under the discharge of the hopper, a hand crank operated drive assembly mounted on the base coupled with the distributor wheel turning the wheel, an arcuate shield or side wall suspended from the base around the portion of the distributor wheel in the vicinity of the discharge of the hopper into the wheel, and a shutter slide mounted between the distributor wheel and the hopper discharge for adjusting the rate of flow from the hopper into each compartment of the distributor wheel.