US 12,245,539 B2
Particulate material dispersing apparatus with shut-off adjustment plate
Jeffrey D. Kendall, Laurel, MD (US); Richard Sevrey, Bristol, IN (US); and Richard H. Chapman, Camillus, NY (US)
Assigned to Earthway Products, Inc., Bristol, IN (US)
Filed by Earthway Products, Inc., Bristol, IN (US)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/170,219.
Application 18/170,219 is a continuation of application No. 17/245,193, filed on Apr. 30, 2021.
Application 17/245,193 is a continuation of application No. 15/786,064, filed on Oct. 17, 2017, granted, now 10,993,368, issued on May 4, 2021.
Application 15/786,064 is a continuation of application No. 14/886,183, filed on Oct. 19, 2015, granted, now 9,820,430, issued on Nov. 21, 2017.
Application 14/886,183 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/875,056, filed on Oct. 5, 2015, granted, now 10,225,976, issued on Mar. 12, 2019.
Application 14/875,056 is a continuation of application No. 13/919,682, filed on Jun. 17, 2013, granted, now 9,198,345, issued on Dec. 1, 2015.
Application 13/919,682 is a continuation of application No. 13/661,620, filed on Oct. 26, 2012, granted, now 9,192,094, issued on Nov. 24, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/066,621, filed on Oct. 21, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/552,030, filed on Oct. 27, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2023/0189701 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. A01C 17/00 (2006.01); A01C 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC A01C 17/008 (2013.01) [A01C 15/02 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A particulate material dispersing apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a push handle mounted to the frame;
a pair of wheels attached to the frame;
a hopper mounted to the frame;
a shut-off adjustment plate attached to an outside bottom of the hopper and;
a dispersing mechanism disposed below the shut-off adjustment plate,
wherein the shut-off adjustment plate includes:
a plurality of spaced-apart exit openings to facilitate dispersing of the particulate material;
a pivot mechanism, the shut-off adjustment plate being rotatable about the pivot mechanism; and
at least one inner elongated curved slot and at least one outer elongated curved slot for attaching the shut-off adjustment plate to an outside bottom of the hopper,
wherein the inner elongated curved slot is radially between the pivot mechanism and at least one of the plurality of spaced-apart exit openings,
wherein at least two of the exit openings are shaped differently.