# US 5,699,635 A · Method and apparatus for feeding a liquid material to a tree

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- Number: US 5,699,635 A
- Document ID: US5699635A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/664,022
- Filed: 1996-05-28
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1995-05-26
- Assignees: Ikari Corporation; Masao Nitta
- Inventors: Masao Nitta
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5699635A

## CPC

- A01G 7/06: Treatment of growing trees or plants, e.g. for preventing decay of wood, for tingeing flowers or wood, for prolonging the life of plants
- A01G 29/00: Root feeders; Injecting fertilisers into the roots
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)

## Abstract

A method is provided for feeding a liquid material to a tree by using a liquid feeding apparatus which has a container body. A selected branch or root of the tree has bifurcated offshoots which are cut in a manner such that the bifurcated offshoots partially remain with the branch or root, and the liquid feeding apparatus is attached to the branch or root in a manner such that the remaining bifurcated offshoots are inserted into the container body. In this condition, the liquid material is supplied into the container body from a liquid storage tank while expelling air from the container body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for feeding a liquid material to a tree by using a liquid feeding apparatus which has a container body, the tree having a branching portion with bifurcated offshoots, the method comprising the steps of:
cutting the bifurcated offshoots in a manner such that they partially remain with the branching portion;
attaching the liquid feeding apparatus to the branching portion in a manner such that the remaining bifurcated offshoots are inserted into the container body; and
supplying the liquid material into the container body from a liquid storage tank while expelling air from the container body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid material is selected from the group consisting of an insecticide liquid, a nutritious liquid and water.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the branching portion of the tree is a branch which extends out from the trunk.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the branching portion of the tree is a root.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage tank is located above the liquid feeding apparatus.

### Claim 6

An apparatus for feeding a liquid material to a tree, comprising:
a container body;
an elastically flexible fixing hood connected to the container body for receiving a branching portion of the tree;
liquid supply means for supplying the liquid material into the container body;
vent means for expelling air from the container body; and
tightening means for elastically contracting the fixing hood to fix the container body to the branching portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the container body is transparent.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the tightening means is a tightening strap attached to the fixing hood.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the container body has an upwardly bulging portion to which the vent means is connected.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the bulging portion of the container body is continuous with a rounded corner portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the container body has a bottom wall which is downwardly inclined from the liquid supply means.