Hopper spreader/sprayer apparatus

A hopper spreader apparatus for use with a vehicle, said hopper spreader apparatus comprising:

• a hopper for containing dry, free flow material to be dispensed, said hopper having a discharge outlet for dispensing the material, said hopper being molded as a unitary structure to include a hollow wall extending around the entire periphery of said hopper, said hollow wall of said hopper providing a liquid storage space for containing within said hollow wall of said hopper a liquid to be dispensed, the liquid storage space extending around the entire periphery of said hopper, and the hollow wall being closed around the periphery of said hopper at the bottom of the hopper to allow liquid to be retained in said liquid storage space;
• a spinner located adjacent to said discharge outlet for receiving free flow material discharged from said hopper and spreading the material over a large distribution area;
• a coupling mechanism for coupling the hopper to the vehicle;
• a liquid distribution device;
• a flow control apparatus coupling said liquid distribution device to the liquid storage space, said flow control apparatus operable to allow liquid from said liquid storage space to be dispensed in a spray pattern defined by said liquid distribution device;
• and
• a control unit for controlling operating parameters of at least said spinner;
• wherein the control unit includes a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting control signals and a radio frequency receiver responsive to the control signals for controlling operating parameters of said spinner.

A portable hopper spreader apparatus adapted to be pushed by hand by a user, said hopper spreader apparatus comprising:

• a hopper for containing dry, free flow material to be dispensed, said hopper having a discharge outlet for dispensing the material, said hopper being made of a rigid plastic material and being molded as a unitary structure to include a hollow wall defined by inner and outer walls of said hopper extending around the entire periphery of said hopper, said inner and outer walls of said hopper hollow wall being molded to be spaced apart from one another to provide a hollow space between said outer wall of said hopper and said inner wall of said hopper, said hollow wall of said hopper providing a liquid storage space for containing within said hollow wall of said hopper a liquid to be dispensed, the liquid storage space extending around the entire periphery of said hopper, and the hollow wall being closed around the periphery of said hopper at the bottom of the hopper to allow liquid to be retained in said liquid storage space;
• a spinner located adjacent to said discharge outlet for receiving free flow material discharged from said hopper and spreading the material over a large distribution area;
• a liquid distribution device;
• a flow control apparatus coupling said liquid distribution device to the liquid storage space, said flow control apparatus operable to allow liquid from said liquid storage space to be dispensed in a spray pattern defined by said liquid distribution device;
• and
• a set of wheels mounted on the bottom on the hopper for supporting the hopper spreader apparatus on a surface, allowing the hopper spreader apparatus to be pushed manually along said surface by a user.

A combined hopper spreader/sprayer apparatus for dispensing dry, free flow material and liquid material, said hopper spreader/sprayer apparatus comprising:

• a hopper spreader apparatus including
• a hopper for containing the dry, free flow material to be dispensed, said hopper having a discharge outlet for dispensing the material, said hopper being molded as a unitary structure to include a hollow wall extending around the entire periphery of said hopper, said inner and outer walls of said hopper being molded to be spaced apart from one another to provide a hollow space between said outer wall of said hopper and said inner wall of said hopper, said hollow wall of said hopper providing a liquid storage space for containing within said hollow wall of said hopper a liquid to be dispensed, the liquid storage space extending around the entire periphery of said hopper, and the hollow wall being closed around the periphery of said hopper at the bottom of the hopper to allow liquid to be retained in said liquid storage space,
• the hopper further including a hitch adapter receivable by a hitch of a vehicle, allowing the hopper spreader apparatus to be towed by the vehicle or to be mounted directly on and carried by the vehicle;
• a spinner located adjacent to said discharge outlet for receiving free flow material discharged from said hopper and spreading the material over a large distribution area;
• and
• a discharge mechanism interposed between said discharge outlet and said spinner;
• a sprayer apparatus including
• a liquid distribution device,
• a flow control apparatus coupling said liquid distribution device to the liquid storage space, said flow control apparatus operable to allow liquid from the liquid storage space to be dispensed in a spray pattern defined by said liquid distribution device;
• and
• a wheel assembly including
• a set of wheels and mounting members removably installing said set of wheels on said hopper for supporting the hopper spreader apparatus on a surface, allowing the hopper spreader/sprayer apparatus to be towed by the vehicle or pushed manually along said surface when said set of wheels is installed on said hopper, said mounting members allowing said set of wheels to be removed from said hopper to allow the hopper spreader apparatus to be directly mounted on and carried by the vehicle.