1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to a manually operated tool for depositing grain or pelletized material below the surface of the earth.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
Prior patents generally disclose manually transported and operated tools of generally elongated cylindrical configuration for depositing pellets or pelletized material, such a fertilizer for trees, shrubs, or the like, or for depositing rodent poison, such as gopher poison, in gopher runs below the surface of the earth.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,370,744 is an example of a fertilizer dispenser which comprises an elongated upright cylindrical housing provided with a reduced diameter lower end portion containing a valve mechanism manually operated by a plunger coextensive with the length of the fertilizer containing housing. Downward movement of the housing forces its depending cone-shaped end portion into the surface of the earth against the force of the surrounding lift spring so that after the plunger has operated the valve to load the cone-shaped end with a charge of the fertilizer, the cone-shaped valve may be lifted by the plunger to deposit the charge of fertilizer in the conical hole formed in the surface of the earth.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,474 discloses an elongated cylindrical tool having a barrel with a reduced diameter lower end portion terminating in a cone-shape normally plugged by a valve cone member on the depending end of a plunger extending longitudinally through the barrel and connected at its upper end with a handle for manually reciprocating the plunger. A laterally projecting tube forms a poison containing chamber filled by a container overlying the lateral end of the tube which deposits a predetermined charge of poison in a measuring chamber normally disposed above an enlarged cylindrical portion of the plunger. The depending end of the barrel is manually forced into the earth to locate a gopher run and the handle and plunger are manually lifted relative to the housing to open the cone-shaped end and deposit the measured quantity of poison in the gopher run by upward movement of the plunger enlarged cylindrical portion moving through and lifting bait out of the measuring chamber to fall by gravity out of the lower barrel portion.
This invention is distinctive over these patents by forming the lower end portion of an earth penetrating housing as a separate piece moved upward with respect to a central stem, in response to downward movement of the housing into the earth. A portion of the stem projects out of the depending end of the earth engaging housing while a housing contained sliding sleeve simultaneously measures a predetermined quantity of bait or pellet material into a receiving chamber incapable, by the manner of construction, of receiving any additional material by repeated insertions of the tool into the surface of the earth before the initial charge in the measuring chamber has been discharged. This device is incapable of accidentally discharging any poisoned material when not in use thus providing a spill free safe handling tool.