Spreader assembly

Abstract

A spreader assembly for spreading sand or salt comprised of a molded, double-walled hopper having a bin portion and leg portions. The hopper has an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the inner wall has a front end section and opposing side sections. The end sections and the side sections define a media-holding chamber within the bin portion of the hopper. The chamber has a generally rectangular upper portion, a funnel-shaped lower portion and a bottom having an opening extending through the bin portion. The funnel-shaped lower portion of the chamber slopes toward the opening. The outer wall of the hopper defines the leg portions, and the leg portions are dimensioned to extend below the opening in the bin portion.

1 . A material spreading apparatus for mounting in a cargo bay of a truck, said apparatus comprising: 
 a molded, seamless hopper having a front end and a back end, said hopper having an inner wall that slopes downwardly toward an opening in the bottom of said hopper, said hopper further comprising downwardly extending columnar leg portions for supporting said opening above a surface on which said hopper rests;    an elongated conveyor device extending along said bottom of said hopper beneath said opening for conveying particulates from said opening toward said back end of said hopper;    a spinner assembly attached to said hopper at said back end disposed to receive particulates from said hopper and throwing said material over a distribution area.    
   
   
       2 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said conveyor device extends from said front end of said hopper to said back end of said hopper.  
   
   
       3 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said conveyor device is centrally located beneath said hopper and extends lengthwise to said hopper.  
   
   
       4 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said conveyor device is inclined downwardly toward said back end of said hopper.  
   
   
       5 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in claims  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein said conveyor device is an auger.  
   
   
       6 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in claims  2 ,  3 , or  4 , wherein said conveyor device is a conveyor belt.  
   
   
       7 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a trough extending along the bottom of said hopper and beneath said opening, said trough defining an elongated passage that is in communication with said opening and extends toward said back end of said hopper; and    an auger within said passage for conveying particulates in said hopper from said open end to said back end of said hopper.    
   
   
       8 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said hopper is double-walled and has an inner wall spaced from an outer wall.  
   
   
       9 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said hopper is rotationally molded.  
   
   
       10 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said inner wall of said hopper includes side portions that slope downwardly toward each other and toward said opening, and a front end portion that slopes downwardly toward said opening and toward said back end of said hopper.  
   
   
       11 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said opening is disposed closer to said back end of said hopper than to said front end of said hopper.  
   
   
       12 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said hopper includes a plurality of openings in the bottom of said hopper, said opening being disposed above said conveyor device.  
   
   
       13 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a movable gate member disposed in said hopper above said opening.  
   
   
       14 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an elongated deflector within said hopper extending along the length of said hopper, said deflector being disposed above said openings.  
   
   
       15 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising a vibrating element attached to deflector.  
   
   
       16 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said deflector is a V-shaped plate.  
   
   
       17 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a chute connecting the discharge end of said conveyor to said spinner assembly.  
   
   
       18 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said chute is releasable attachable to said hopper.  
   
   
       19 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said chute is fixedly attached to said spinner assembly.  
   
   
       20 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said columnar leg portions are generally rectangular in cross-section.  
   
   
       21 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising rings attached to said leg portions for attaching said hopper to said vehicle.  
   
   
       22 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said hopper includes an outer wall.  
   
   
       23 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said outer wall is formed to define said leg portions.  
   
   
       24 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said leg portions are rectangular in cross-section.  
   
   
       25 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 22 , wherein portions of said outer wall are molded to be parallel to said inner wall and portions of said outer wall form said leg portions.  
   
   
       26 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a first group of said leg portions are disposed along one side of said hopper and a second group of said leg portions are disposed to another side of said hopper, and a centrally located gap is formed beneath said hopper between said first group of leg portions and a second group of leg portions, said gap extending the length of said hopper.  
   
   
       27 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 26 , wherein said conveyor device is disposed in said gap.  
   
   
       28 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said conveyor device is an auger.  
   
   
       29 . A material spreading apparatus as defined in  claim 22 , wherein portions of said outer wall are molded to said inner wall to reinforce said hopper.  
   
   
       30 . In a spreader assembly for spreading sand or salt, a molded, double-walled hopper having a bin portion and leg portions, said hopper having an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein: 
 said inner wall has a front end section and opposing side sections, said end sections and said side sections defining a media-holding chamber within said bin portion of said hopper, said chamber having a generally rectangular upper portion, a funnel-shaped lower portion and a bottom having an opening extending through said bin portion, said funnel-shaped lower portion of said chamber sloping toward said opening; and    said outer wall of said hopper defines said leg portions and said leg portions are dimensioned to extend below the opening in said bin portion.    
   
   
       31 . A spreader assembly as defined in  claim 30 , wherein portions of said outer wall are parallel to said inner wall.  
   
   
       32 . A spreader assembly as defined in  claim 30 , wherein said leg portions are columnar in shape.  
   
   
       33 . A spreader assembly as defined in  claim 32 , wherein said leg portions are rectangular in cross-section.  
   
   
       34 . A spreader assembly as defined in  claim 31 , wherein portions of said outer wall are molded to said inner wall to provide structural reinforcing.  
   
   
       35 . A spreader assembly as defined in  claim 30 , wherein portions of said outer wall are molded to be parallel to said inner wall and portions of said outer wall form said leg portions.  
   
   
       36 . A spreader assembly as defined in  claim 30 , wherein a first group of said leg portions are disposed along one side of said hopper and a second group of said leg portions are disposed to another side of said hopper, and a centrally located gap is formed beneath said hopper between said first group of leg portions and a second group of leg portions, said gap extending the length of said hopper.  
   
   
       37 . A spreader assembly as defined in  claim 36 , wherein a conveyor device is attached to said hopper, said conveyor device being disposed in said gap and beneath said opening in said hopper, said conveyor device oriented in a direction to convey particulates exiting said open end toward a back end of said hopper.  
   
   
       38 . A spreader assembly as defined in  claim 37 , wherein said conveyor device is an auger.  
   
   
       39 . A spreader assembly as defined in  claim 37 , wherein said conveyor device is a conveyor belt.