A portable granular material spreader including an enclosure adapted to dispense granular material through an outlet, and a pressurized air source. A chamber has first, second, and third passageways, and containing a distributor therein, the first passageway in fluid communication with the outlet to receive the granular material by virtue of gravity from the outlet with the distributor controlling a flow rate of the granular material in the chamber, the second passageway in fluid communication with the pressurized air source, and the third passageway for discharging the granular material entrained in pressurized air from the pressurized air source. A conduit being in fluid communication with the second passageway and the enclosure, the conduit end being sufficiently distal from the outlet to not result in aerating the granular material proximate the outlet while preventing a reverse flow of the granular material at the outlet during operation of the spreader.

A backpack sprayer has a carrying arrangement, on which a container for spraying agent is arranged. The container has a filling opening which can be closed by way of a lid. The carrying arrangement has a set-down position, in which the carrying arrangement is set down on a planar, horizontal set-down surface. The spraying agent region of the container is the region which is provided for spraying agent and extends as far as a maximum permissible filling height (max). The spraying agent region has a greatest horizontal inner cross-sectional area (A) in the set-down position. In order to allow simple filling of spraying agent and simple cleaning of the container, it is provided that the container can be opened at the filling opening over at least 60% of its greatest inner cross-sectional area (A).

A portable backpack feeder apparatus including a granular-material container having a filling opening and a gravity-flow opening and flow sleeve extending from the gravity-flow opening of the container to an outflow opening, the flow sleeve being flexible along its length for manual flow control and for positioning and aiming the outflow opening.

A snow melting device that combines both a heating element and a compound for dissolving snow is provided. The snow melting device comprises a container including a snow melting compound, and a conduit with a first end connected to the container, and a second end connected to a distribution mechanism. The distribution mechanism includes a housing with an open first axial end and a second axial end connected to the conduit. A motor is positioned adjacent to the second axial end of the housing, drives a pump that is connected to the conduit and provides the snow melting compound to the distribution mechanism that includes a fan and a heating element. The fan atomizes the snow melting compound and sprays it out of the first axial end of the housing.

A portable granular material spreader including an enclosure adapted to dispense granular material through an outlet, and a pressurized air source. A chamber has first, second, and third passageways, and containing a distributor therein, the first passageway in fluid communication with the outlet to receive the granular material by virtue of gravity from the outlet with the distributor controlling a flow rate of the granular material in the chamber, the second passageway in fluid communication with the pressurized air source, and the third passageway for discharging the granular material entrained in pressurized air from the pressurized air source. A conduit being in fluid communication with the second passageway and the enclosure, the conduit end being sufficiently distal from the outlet to not result in aerating the granular material proximate the outlet while preventing a reverse flow of the granular material at the outlet during operation of the spreader.