Adjustable flow rate bead dispenser

Abstract

A bead dispenser 10 for use with a line striper controls the amount of beads being dispensed onto a thermal (or other) stripe or marking, minimizing waste by not dropping excessive beads. The bead box 12 is capable of dropping six to ten pounds of beads per one hundred square feet. An adjustable lever 14 with a spring plunger 16 allows the user to choose the glass bead flow rate by simply moving adjuster to one of four settings 18. The adjustable lever 14 is attached to an offset shaft 20 that applies tension to the polyurethane flap 22 when rotated.

1 . A bead dispenser for use with a line striper, said bead dispenser comprising:
 a bead box having a bottom with an opening therein;   a flexible flap in said bottom for selectively occluding said opening;   an offset shaft rotatably mounted on said box adjacent said flap; and   an adjustable lever attached to said shaft to allow rotation of said shaft to vary the pressure of said shaft on said flap in order to vary the flow rate of beads through said opening.   
     
     
         2 . The bead dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said lever comprises a spring plunger and a plurality of settings which allows the user to choose the glass bead flow rate by moving said lever.