Field of the I nvention

[1] This invention relates generally to a chem ical applicator system for safe-handling of chem ical preservative for replenishment of em bedded foundation wraps .

[2] This appl ication is related to co-pending PCT patent appl ication entitled "Em bedded foundation protection system" by the present Applicant, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference .

Backgrou nd of the I nvention

[3] Chem ical preservatives are used to preserve embedded foundations, such as of wood and telegraph poles and the like.

[4] For example, GB 937744 A (BU RT BOU LTON AND HAYWOOD LTD; WILLIAM EDWARD FINCH) 25 Septem ber 1963 [hereinafter referred to as Dl] discloses a method of wood preservation of utility poles using a liquid creosote wood preservative com position and bandage material wrapped thereabout. The bandage material has an inner absorbent pad such as of cotton and an exterior protective liner such as of polyethylene (PE) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

[5] Chem ical preservatives may be toxic and therefore safe handling thereof is desirous. It is especially desirous for a chem ical applicator system for application of chem ical preservatives for em bedded foundation protection without the operator com ing into contact therewith.

[6] Dl discloses that the creosote preparation may be fil led into a PE bag and sealed and inserted into an applicator gun, generally having the same operating principle as a motor car grease gun in that the gun comprises the usual plunger and spike. The bag of Dl bursts when com pressed and creosote preparation emerges from the gun .

[7] US 3295254 A (SCHOO NMAN MARTEN L) 03 January 1967 [hereinafter referred to as D2], not for foundation preservation however but for tree fertilisation, discloses apparatus for injecting liquid (aqueous nutrient) into trees . The apparatus of D2 com prises a hol low conduit nozzle having a threaded end which is hammered into a tree using an anvil and an adapter is screwed on.

[8] US 5273786 A (BROWN) 28 December 1993 [hereinafter referred to as D3] discloses an injector system for wood preservative for utility poles. The system of D3 comprises a plastics shell and mem brane with a pierceable ending having a ball and frangible seal. D3 also discloses a barrel and nose of a cap that the cartridge is inserted into and screwed together. A nose pierces the corresponding cartridge seal and dislodges the ball for slow release of a treatment liquid

[9] The present invention seeks to provide a chem ical appl icator system, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[10] It is to be understood that, if a ny prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute a n adm ission that the information forms part of the com mon general knowledge in the art, in Austral ia or any other country.

Summa ry of the Disclosure

[11] There is provided herein a chemical applicator system comprising an injector gun having a barrel and a replaceable chem ical preservative containing cartridge size d for insertion therein.

[12] The cartridge comprises an elongate body double-endedly with pierceable caps. The barrel comprises an internal distal cannula coaxially retained within the barrel which pierces a distal cap, and which is fl uidly connected to an injection tip to al low preservative to be delivered therefrom . The injection tip may comprise bayonet blades which are inserted via an upper edge of a subterranean foundation wrap. The barrel may be telescopic telescopic.

[13] As such, the safe handling of chemical preservative when replenishing su bterranean wraps may comprise inserting a full cartridge into the barrel . The injection tip may then be inserted to engage the upper edge of the subterranean wrap. The dista l cannula pierces the distal cap of the cartridge such that chem ical preservative flows therefrom via the injection tip to im pregnate/replenish the wrap with chem ical preservative.

[14] A proximal cannula m ay be inserted via a proximal end of the barrel for pressurisation or equal isation of the delivery cartridge.

[15] Once depleted, the barrel may be disassembled to remove the empty cartridge therefrom which may be replaced with another without com ing into contact with chemical preservative.

[16] The caps of the cartridge preferably com prise a self-healing/resealing material such as sil icon which seals in a fluid tight manner once the cannula is removed therefrom. As such, an em pty cartridge may be refilled for reuse. [17] In this way, a num ber of embedded wraps may be replenished quickly and easily using the present system without the operator com ing into contact with the wood preservative.

[18] None of the prior art documents teach or disclose a syste m having this modification of cartridge system for conveniently and safely delivering wood preservative using a double ended cartridge with or without telescopic engagement housing. Whilst a double ended pierceable mem brane cylindrical wood preservative ca rtridge is known from US 3367065 A (OSM OSE WOO D PRESERVI NG CO. OF AM ERICA, I NC.) 06 February 1968 [hereinafter referred to as D4], it is not obvious to use this arrangement in the systems of D1 -D3 with a receiving holder, let alone one with a cannula . M oreover, D1 operates on sim ilar principle to a grease- gun using a filled bag as a cartridge, and D2 -D3 utilise pressurised fl uids emanating from a single seal/closure and the skilled person would no depart or redesign these prior systems or find it obvious to do in arriving at present invention.

[19] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Descri ption of the Drawi ngs

[20] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fal l within the scope of the present invention, preferred em bodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of exam ple only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[21] Figure 1 shows a perspective exposure representation of a chem ical applicator system in accordance with an embodiment;

[22] Figure 2 il lustrates a hand pum p pressuriser in accordance with an embodiment;

[23] Figure 3 shows a top view an injector gun of the system;

[24] Figure 4 shows a side view of an injector gun of the system ;

[25] Figures 5 a 6 ill ustrate util isation of the system for impreg nating/replenishing a subterranean foundation wrap;

[26] Figure 7 - 9 show a mounting block of a n injection tip of the system in accordance with an em bodiment;

[27] Figures 10 - 13 ill ustrate bayonet delivery blades in accordance an embodiment;

[28] Figures 14 and 15 ill ustrate perspective and cross-sectional views respectively of a proximal barrel cap of the system in accordance with an em bodiment;

[29] Figure 16 and 17 show perspective and cross -sectional views respectively of a proximal barrel collar in accordance an embodi ment; [30] Figures 18 - 19 ill ustrate telescopic barrel portions in accordance with an embodiment;

[31] Figures 20 and 21 show perspective and cross-sectional views respectively of a distal barrel col lar in accordance with an em bodiment; and

[32] Figures 22 and 23 show cross-sectional and perspective views respectively of a self sealing cartridge cap in accordance with an embodiment.

Description of E m bodiments

[33] Figure 1 shows a chem ical applicator system 100 com prising injector gun 101. The injector gun 101 comprises a barrel 103 and a replaceable cartridge 104 sized for insertion therein.

[34] The cartridge 104 comprises an elongate body 105 double -endedly sealed with pierceable caps 106.

[35] The body 105 may com prise PET ( Polyethylene terephthalate) thermoplastic polymer resin which is therefore resistant to hydrocarbon preservative solution, such as copper naphthenate, thereby allowing for long storage l ife thereof. The body 105 may further be transparent so as to visually gauge the volume of chemical preservative therein. The barrel 103 may be similarly transparent. The caps 106 may com prise silicon.

[36] The barrel 103 com prises a cannula 107 coaxial ly retained within a distal end of the barrel 103. The cannula 107 pierces through a distal pierceable cap 106 of the cartridge 104 for the delivery of the chemical preservative therefrom.

[37] The barrel 103 may comprise a telescopic arrangement of barrel portions 108. In the embodiment shown, a proximal barrel portion 108 may be a relatively larger diameter female portion which slidably receives relatively smal ler diameter male portion 108 therein. O-rings 134 may sealably interface between the portions 108. Figure 18 illustrates the barrel portion 108 comprising recesses 135 thereabout at a proximal end thereof to seat the O- rings 134 therein.

[38] The injector gu n 101 may com prise a distal col lar 109 which coaxially receives the barrel portion 108 therein. The distal collar 109 may define an outlet 110 from which the chem ical preservative flows from the distal cannula 107.

[39] In em bodiments, a bayonet 111 may be affixed from the distal collar 109. The bayonet 111 may com prise a resiliently flexible stem 112 such as of metal which interfaces an injection tip 113 at a distal end thereof. A hose 136 (shown in Figure 6) may interface the outlet 110 and the injection tip 113. The flexible stem 112 may bend to aid the insertion of the injection tip 113 into an edge of the subterranean wrap. Furthermore, the flexible stem 112 may allow the barrel 103 to stand away from the embedded structure.

[40] With reference to Figure 20, the distal collar 109 may com prise a recess 137 which seats a proximal end of the stem 112 in a fl ush manner. With reference to Figure 21, screw holes 138 may be provided within the recess 137 for affixation of the proximal end of the stem 112. Figure 21 further shows the distal collar 109 being cannulated for the flow of chem ical preservative therethrough and comprising a barrel recess 140 for receiving a distal end of the barrel 103 therein which leads via the channel 139 to the outlet 110.

[41] The injection tip 113 may com prise a mounting block 114 as is illustrated in Figure 7 - 9 which may engage a pair of blades 115 as shown in Figures 10 - 13. The blades 115 are pressed together, each being slightly convex along a longitudinal axis thereof (such as by approximately .03 mm each as is ill ustrated in Figures 12 and 13 ) so as to provide a relatively thin construction for insertion into an embedded foundation wrap yet allow spacing of approximately 0.6 m m between thereon to al low the chemical preservative to run/seep therealong for del ivery from a distal end of the blades 115.

[42] Each blade 115 may com prise a length of approximately 5 inches and a width of 0.625 inches.

[43] With reference to figure 7, the mounting block 114 may com prise a recess 116 for seating a distal end of the stem 112 therein in a fl ush manner. The block 114 may further com prise an inlet 118 which interfaces the delivery hose 136 leading from the outlet 110. The block 118 may comprise a channel therethrough fluidly interfacing the inlet 118 with an outlet 117 at an opposite end thereof.

[44] Figure 10 ill ustrates a first of the blades 113 being straight and Figure 11 ill ustrates a second of the blades 115 comprising an a ngled base 119. The angled base 119 may sit against the distal face 145 of the block 114 as is il lustrated in Figure 1 such that the outlet 117 locates between the blades 115 such that chem ical preservative flowing therefrom flows between the blades 115 for delivery as described above.

[45] In embodiments, a further cannula may be inserted through a proximal end of the barrel 103 so as to pierce the proximal delivery cap 106 of the cartridge 104 retained therein for pressurisation or equalisation .

[46] The injector gun 101 may comprise a proximal delivery collar 120 interfacing the proximal barrel portion 108 as shown in Figure 1. Figure 17 il lustrates a cross-section of the delivery collar 120 which may com prise a barrel engaging recess 121 of approximately 1.75 inches in diameter and a stopper engaging recess 122 at an opposite proximal end thereof. [47] A stopper 123 as is shown in Figures 14 and 15 may comprise a male portion 124 which locates within the stopper engaging recess 122 of the collar 120. The stopper 123 may be cannulated as shown in Figure 15 for the insertion of a proximal cannula therethrough to pierce the proximal cap 106 of the cartridge 104.

[48] Figure 2 shows a hand pum p 125 com prising a bel low 126 which draws in air via an entrance 127 for expulsion from a cannula 128. As such, the cannula 128 of the hand pum p 125 may be inserted via the stopper 123 through the proximal cap 106 of the cartridge 104 and operated so as to pressurise the cartridge 104 to force the c hemical preservative therein out via the distal cannula 107 for delivery.

[49] In alternative embodiments, as opposed to using a hand pum p, the proximal cannula 128 may sim ply allow for atmospheric equalisation such that the chem ical preservative therein flows from the cartridge 104 by gravity feed.

[50] Figures 5 and 6 ill ustrate the utilisation of the system 100.

[51] There is shown a structure 129 such as a telegraph pole comprising an embedded subterranean wrap 130 about a foundation 131 thereof. With reference to Fig ure 6, the wrap 130 may com prise absorbent pad 132 and an outer protective layer 133.

[52] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the insertion of the bayonet blades 115 into the absorbent pad 132 or between the absorbent pad 132 and the foundation 131.

[53] The injector gun 101 is poised vertically such that the chem ical preservative within the cartridge 104 flows from the cartridge 104 via the del ivery hose 136 to between the blades 115 of the injection tip 113 to replenish/impregnate the wrap 130 with chem ical preservative in the aforedescribed manner.

[54] The elongate bayonet blades 115 may hold the injector gun 101 upright which may therefore be left in place until such time that the chem ical preservative has flowed into the wrap 130.

[55] In embodiments, the hand pump 125 may be used to pressurise the cartridge 104 for increased flow.

[56] Figure 22 and 23 shows an em bodiment of the end cap 106 of the cartridge 104 com prising a collar 141 having a recess 142 therein for receiving an end of the body 105 o f the cartridge 104 therein. An opposite side of the collar 141 may com prise an annular recess 143 within which a n annular pierceable disc 144 may be replaceably retained. As such, the pierceable disc 144 may be replaced when required, allowing for the further re -use of the body 105 and the collars 141 of the cartridge 104. [57] The foregoing description, for purposes of expla nation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough u nderstanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skil led in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific em bodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of ill ustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to lim it the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best util ize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the fol lowing claims and their equivalents define the scope of the inventi on.