Device for filling sandbags from a source of sand

Abstract

A device for filling sandbags from a source of sand having a hopper with a front, a first side, a second side, a back, a top, and a bottom. A forwardly extending chute is connected to the hopper. The hopper has a top with an input opening and a bottom with a first outlet opening and a second outlet opening. A divider pivotally attached near the bottom of the hopper can be moved to direct sand to either of the outlet openings. The device for filling sandbags can replace the broadcast spreader on a traditional roadway sanding truck or, with an option adapter, be attached either to a pick-up truck or a trailer.

1 . A device for filling sandbags from a source of sand, which comprises: 
 a hopper, which comprises: 
 a front with said front having a top;  
 a first side;  
 a second side;  
 a back, said back being substantially parallel to said front, said back also having a top which is lower than the top of said front;  
 a top having an input opening; and  
 a bottom having a first outlet opening and a second outlet opening;  
   a forwardly extending chute attached to the front of said hopper said forwardly extending chute having a first side, a second side, and a top; and    a divider, said divider having a first end and a second end, with said divider being pivotally attached near a first end of said divider to said hopper near the bottom of said hopper between the first outlet opening and the second outlet opening.    
   
   
       2 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a means for attaching said forwardly extending chute and said hopper to a source of sand.    
   
   
       3 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a means for locking said forwardly extending chute and said hopper to a source of sand.    
   
   
       4 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a handle attached to said divider near the second end of said divider.    
   
   
       5 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a first upper projection attached to the first side of said forwardly extending chute near the top of said forwardly extending chute;    a first lower projection attached to the second side of said forwardly extending chute near the top of said forwardly extending chute, said first lower projection forming a channel with said first upper projection and the first side of said forwardly extending chute;    a second upper projection attached to the second side of said forwardly extending chute near the top of said forwardly extending chute; and    a second lower projection attached to the second side of said forwardly extending chute near the top of said forwardly extending chute, said second lower projection forming a channel with said second upper projection and the second side of said forwardly extending chute.    
   
   
       6 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       7 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a rear guard extending upward from the back of said hopper and containing an arcuate channel, wherein said handle extends rearward through the arcuate channel in said rear guard;    a first side guard extending upward from the first side of said hopper;    a second side guard extending upward from the second side of said hopper, said second side guard having a front and a rear and containing a channel extending from the front of said second side guard but not extending so far as the rear of said second side guard; and    a top guard extending forward from the back of said hopper between said first side guard and said second side guard.    
   
   
       8 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       9 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 7 , wherein: 
 all interior surfaces of said hopper and said forwardly extending chute slope continuously downward.    
   
   
       10 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       11 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       12 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       13 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       14 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 13  further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       15 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 all interior surfaces of said hopper and said forwardly extending chute slope continuously downward.    
   
   
       16 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 15  further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       17 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       18 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 17  further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       19 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       20 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 19  further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       21 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a rear guard extending upward from the back of said hopper and containing an arcuate channel, wherein said handle extends rearward through the arcuate channel in said rear guard;    a first side guard extending upward from the first side of said hopper;    a second side guard extending upward from the second side of said hopper, said second side guard having a front and a rear and containing a channel extending from the front of said second side guard but not extending so far as the rear of said second side guard; and    a top guard extending forward from the back of said hopper between said first side guard and said second side guard.    
   
   
       22 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 all interior surfaces of said hopper and said forwardly extending chute slope continuously downward.    
   
   
       23 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 22 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       24 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       25 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 all interior surfaces of said hopper and said forwardly extending chute slope continuously downward.    
   
   
       26 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       27 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       28 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first upper projection attached to the first side of said forwardly extending chute near the top of said forwardly extending chute;    a first lower projection attached to the second side of said forwardly extending chute near the top of said forwardly extending chute, said first lower projection forming a channel with said first upper projection and the first side of said forwardly extending chute;    a second upper projection attached to the second side of said forwardly extending chute near the top of said forwardly extending chute; and    a second lower projection attached to the second side of said forwardly extending chute near the top of said forwardly extending chute, said second lower projection forming a channel with said second upper projection and the second side of said forwardly extending chute.    
   
   
       29 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 28  further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       30 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 a rear guard extending upward from the back of said hopper;    a first side guard extending upward from the first side of said hopper;    a second side guard extending upward from the second side of said hopper, said second side guard having a front and a rear and containing a channel extending from the front of said second side guard but not extending so far as the rear of said second side guard; and    a top guard extending forward from the back of said hopper between said first side guard and said second side guard.    
   
   
       31 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 30  further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       32 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 30 , wherein: 
 all interior surfaces of said hopper and said forwardly extending chute slope continuously downward.    
   
   
       33 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       34 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 32 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       35 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 34  further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       36 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 30 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       37 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 36  further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       38 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 28 , wherein: 
 all interior surfaces of said hopper and said forwardly extending chute slope continuously downward.    
   
   
       39 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 38  further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       40 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 38 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       41 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 40  further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       42 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 28 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       43 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 42  further comprising: 
 an adapter, which comprises: 
 a first horizontal beam having a series of apertures near a first end;  
 a vertically oriented receiver near a second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a vertical beam having a series of apertures near a first end of the vertical beam with the first end of the vertical beam available for insertion into the receiver near the second end of the first horizontal beam;  
 a second horizontal beam having a first end and a second end with the second end of the second horizontal beam connected to the vertical beam; and  
 a U-shaped piece of angle iron attached to the first end of the second horizontal beam.  
   
   
   
       44 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a rear guard extending upward from the back of said hopper;    a first side guard extending upward from the first side of said hopper;    a second side guard extending upward from the second side of said hopper, said second side guard having a front and a rear and containing a channel extending from the front of said second side guard but not extending so far as the rear of said second side guard; and    a top guard extending forward from the back of said hopper between said first side guard and said second side guard.    
   
   
       45 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 44 , wherein: 
 all interior surfaces of said hopper and said forwardly extending chute slope continuously downward.    
   
   
       46 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 45 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       47 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 44 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       48 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 all interior surfaces of said hopper and said forwardly extending chute slope continuously downward.    
   
   
       49 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 48 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.    
   
   
       50 . The device for filling sandbags from a source of sand as recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first side of said hopper, the second side of said hopper, the front of said hopper, the back of said hopper, the bottom of said hopper, said forwardly extending chute, and said divider are powder coated.