Rotary tool for spreading particulate materials and method of using the same

Abstract

A rotary tool for spreading mulch outwardly from a mound of the same. The tool has an elongated shaft with a rotatable body mounted proximate a first end thereof. The body has a peripheral edge with a plurality of flexible fingers radiating outwardly and downwardly therefrom. The fingers may be individually securable to the body. In a second embodiment, a ring is detachably mounted to the body and the fingers are on the ring. When the tool is activated, the fingers engage the mulch mound and cause pieces of mulch to be flicked outwardly away from the body. The tool may also be used as a shovel-type device when the motor is not activated and the mulch can then be carried on the upper surface of the body.

1 . A rotary tool for spreading a pile of mulch, the tool comprising: 
 a body having a center axis, a lower surface and an upper surface; said body being rotatable about the center axis;    a ring detachably connected to body; and    a plurality of ground-engaging fingers radiating outwardly from the ring, whereby said upper surface of the body and said fingers are adapted to engage and spread mulch outwardly from the pile in a 360-degree-spread pattern when the body is rotated.    
   
   
       2 . The rotary tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the ring has an inner edge of a first circumference and a peripheral edge of a second and larger circumference, and a wall extending between the inner edge and the peripheral edge; and wherein the wall slopes downwardly and outwardly away from the inner edge and toward the peripheral edge.  
   
   
       3 . The rotary tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the body is substantially convex in cross-sectional shape and has a radius of curvature, and wherein the wall of the ring is complementary sloped to the radius of curvature of at least a portion of the ring.  
   
   
       4 . The rotary tool as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fingers extend outwardly and downwardly away from the peripheral edge of the ring and are adapted to engage the ground.  
   
   
       5 . The rotary tool as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the fingers extend from the peripheral edge of the ring for a distance of between two to three inches.  
   
   
       6 . The rotary tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fingers are integrally formed with the ring.  
   
   
       7 . The rotary tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fingers are flexible.  
   
   
       8 . The rotary tool as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fingers are manufactured from one of rubber, plastic, metal and composite materials and are flexible enough to bend but are rigid enough to lift and spread mulch particles.  
   
   
       9 . The rotary tool as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a shield that is secured to the tool so as to restrict the mulch scatter pattern from the tool to less than 360 degrees.  
   
   
       10 . A rotary tool for spreading a pile of mulch; said tool comprising: 
 a body having a center axis, a lower surface and an upper surface; said body being rotatable about the center axis;    a plurality of ground-engaging fingers that radiate outwardly from a ring, whereby said upper surface of the body and said fingers are adapted to engage and spread mulch outwardly from the pile in a 360-degree-spread pattern when the body is rotated; and wherein each of the fingers is individually connected to the body.    
   
   
       11 . The rotary tool as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the body includes a plurality of apertures defined in the upper surface of the body and disposed proximate a peripheral edge thereof; and wherein each of the individual fingers is secured into one of the apertures in the body.  
   
   
       12 . The rotary tool as defined in  claim 11 , wherein a portion of the peripheral edge curves inwardly for a short distance beneath the lower surface of the body to form an annular seat.  
   
   
       13 . The rotary tool as defined in  claim 12 , wherein each individual finger includes a bulbous head and an elongated shaft; and wherein each of the bulbous heads of the fingers is interlockingly received through one of the apertures in the upper surface and rests in the annular seat.  
   
   
       14 . The rotary tool as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the shafts of the fingers radiate outwardly and downwardly away from the peripheral edge of the body.