Salt wetting apparatus and brine applicator

Abstract

In one embodiment, a conventional pickup truck is equipped with a tailgate spreader and a salt wetting apparatus. In another embodiment, a conventional pickup truck is equipped with a tailgate spreader and a brine dispensing apparatus. In yet another embodiment, a conventional pickup truck is equipped with a tailgate spreader, a salt wetting apparatus, and a brine dispensing apparatus.

1 . A salt wetting apparatus for use with an associated conventional pick-up truck comprising a bed and a tailgate, comprising:
 a container that: (1) is suitable to be supported on the bed of the associated conventional pick-up truck; and, (2) is suitable to hold a salt wetting liquid;   a tailgate spreader that: (1) is suitable to be supported to the associated conventional pick-up truck juxtaposed to the tailgate; (2) comprises a hopper that is suitable to hold granular salt; (3) comprises a rotatable spreader element that is rotatable to direct the granular salt from the rotatable spreader element to a ground surface; and, (4) is suitable to dispense the granular salt from the hopper onto the rotatable spreader element;   a pump that is operable to pump the salt wetting liquid from the container through a conduit to the rotatable spreader element;   wherein the pump and tailgate spreader are operable to apply the salt wetting liquid to the granular salt, forming a wetted salt material, as the granular salt is on or near the rotatable spreader element; and,   wherein the rotatable spreader element is rotatable to direct the wetted salt material to the ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The salt wetting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the conduit comprises a nozzle that allows the exiting salt wetting liquid's distribution pattern to be controlled. 
     
     
         3 . The salt wetting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the salt wetting liquid is water. 
     
     
         4 . The salt wetting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the salt wetting liquid is a salt-water brine. 
     
     
         5 . The salt wetting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the associated conventional pick-up truck comprises a trailer hitch receiver and the tailgate spreader comprises a hitch extension that is suitable to be received in the trailer hitch receiver to secure the tailgate spreader to the associated conventional pick-up truck. 
     
     
         6 . The salt wetting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tailgate spreader comprises a guide surface that: (1) is affixed substantially perpendicular to a rotational plane of the rotatable spreader element; and, (2) is suitable to direct the wetted salt material to the ground surface or back to the rotatable spreader element. 
     
     
         7 . A brine dispensing apparatus for use with an associated conventional pick-up truck comprising a bed and a tailgate, comprising:
 a container that: (1) is suitable to be supported on the bed of the associated conventional pick-up truck; and, (2) is suitable to hold a salt-water brine;   a tailgate spreader that: (1) is suitable to be supported to the associated conventional pick-up truck juxtaposed to the tailgate; (2) comprises a hopper that is suitable to hold granular salt; (3) comprises a rotatable spreader element that is rotatable to direct the granular salt from the rotatable spreader element to a ground surface; and, (4) is suitable to dispense the granular salt from the hopper onto the rotatable spreader element;   a brine applicator that: (1) is supported to one of the associated conventional pick-up truck and the tailgate spreader; and, (2) comprises a brine dispensing element; and,   a pump that is operable to pump the salt-water brine from the container, through a conduit, and through the dispensing element to the ground surface.   
     
     
         8 . The brine dispensing apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the brine applicator comprises a brine dispensing support that is attached to the tailgate spreader. 
     
     
         9 . The brine dispensing apparatus of  claim 8  wherein:
 the tailgate spreader comprises a spreader frame; and, 
 the brine dispensing support comprises an attachment surface that detachable mates with the spreader frame. 
 
     
     
         10 . The brine dispensing apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the brine applicator comprises:
 a dispensing tube that transfers the salt-water brine from the conduit to the dispensing element; and, 
 a spray guard that extends substantially parallel to the dispensing tube and that directs salt-water brine towards intended locations and away from undesirable locations. 
 
     
     
         11 . The brine dispensing apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the brine applicator comprises a flow regulator to control the flow of salt-water brine through the brine dispensing element. 
     
     
         12 . The brine dispensing apparatus of  claim 7  wherein:
 the brine applicator comprises a dispensing tube that transfers the salt-water brine from the conduit to the dispensing element; and, 
 the brine dispensing element is position adjustable with respect to the dispensing tube to change the angle of the brine dispensing element with respect to the ground surface. 
 
     
     
         13 . A salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus for use with an associated conventional pick-up truck comprising a bed and a tailgate, comprising:
 a first container that: (1) is suitable to be supported on the bed of the associated conventional pick-up truck; and, (2) is suitable to hold a salt wetting liquid;   a second container that: (1) is suitable to be supported on the bed of the associated conventional pick-up truck; and, (2) is suitable to hold a salt-water brine;   a tailgate spreader that: (1) is suitable to be supported to the associated conventional pick-up truck juxtaposed to the tailgate; (2) comprises a hopper that is suitable to hold granular salt; (3) comprises a rotatable spreader element that is rotatable to direct the granular salt from the rotatable spreader element to a ground surface; and, (4) is suitable to dispense the granular salt from the hopper onto the rotatable spreader element;   a first pump that is operable to pump the salt wetting liquid from the container through a first conduit to the rotatable spreader element;   a brine applicator that: (1) is supported to the tailgate spreader; and, (2) comprises a brine dispensing element;   a second pump that is operable to pump the salt-water brine from the container, through a second conduit, and through the dispensing element to the ground surface;   wherein the first pump and tailgate spreader are operable to apply the salt wetting liquid to the granular salt, forming a wetted salt material, as the granular salt is on or near the rotatable spreader element; and,   wherein the rotatable spreader element is rotatable to direct the wetted salt material to the ground surface.   
     
     
         14 . The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the first conduit comprises a nozzle that allows the exiting salt wetting liquid's distribution pattern to be controlled. 
     
     
         15 . The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the associated conventional pick-up truck comprises a trailer hitch receiver and the tailgate spreader comprises a hitch extension that is suitable to be received in the trailer hitch receiver to secure the tailgate spreader to the associated conventional pick-up truck. 
     
     
         16 . The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the tailgate spreader comprises a guide surface that: (1) is affixed substantially perpendicular to a rotational plane of the rotatable spreader element; and, (2) is suitable to direct the wetted salt material to the ground surface or back to the rotatable spreader element. 
     
     
         17 . The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of  claim 13  wherein:
 the tailgate spreader comprises a spreader frame; 
 the brine applicator comprises a brine dispensing support; and, 
 the brine dispensing support comprises an attachment surface that detachable mates with the spreader frame. 
 
     
     
         18 . The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the brine applicator comprises:
 a dispensing tube that transfers the salt-water brine from the conduit to the dispensing element; and, 
 a spray guard that extends substantially parallel to the dispensing tube and that directs salt-water brine towards intended locations and away from undesirable locations. 
 
     
     
         19 . The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the brine applicator comprises a flow regulator to control the flow of salt-water brine through the brine dispensing element. 
     
     
         20 . The salt wetting apparatus and brine dispensing apparatus of  claim 13  wherein:
 the brine applicator comprises a dispensing tube that transfers the salt-water brine from the conduit to the dispensing element; and, 
 the brine dispensing element is position adjustable with respect to the dispensing tube to change the angle of the brine dispensing element with respect to the ground surface.