Planting – Liquid or gas soil treatment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-05
2001-04-24
Novosad, Christopher J. (Department: 3671)
Planting
Liquid or gas soil treatment
C111S187000, C111S189000, C111S197000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220191
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to seed planters, and more particularly relates to seed planters having mechanisms for dispensing liquid to the planted seeds.
2. Description of the Related Art
A seed planter is a common agricultural tool which is used to quickly and effectively dispense seeds in a field for germination and growth. A seed planter is typically drawn by a vehicle such as a tractor, and provided with means for creating a furrow in the field, depositing the seeds, and backfilling the furrow such that the seeds are underground. In order to promote proper germination and growth of the seeds, it is desirable for the seeds to be packed into the ground, without surrounding air pockets, and for the seeds to be provided with appropriate amounts of nutrients and other substances. Such substances typically include fertilizer, water, and insecticide in liquid form.
One prior seed planter device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,340 (Benzel) and discloses a seed planter having a furrow or groove making and seed delivery device that is used in conjunction with a second groove making device that delivers soil-treating materials to one side of and somewhat spatially removed from the seed row. Once the seeds and the soil-treatment materials are in place, a press wheel in a conventional manner packs soil into the seed and soil-treatment grooves. One component lacking from this design is a seed firmer device which firmly embeds the seeds into the ground during the planting process prior to packing the furrow or groove with soil. This design results in air pockets that form around seeds that are not firmly embedded in the soil when packing the soil in a conventional manner. Another shortcoming of this design is that fertilizer and/or other seed growth enhancing substances are not delivered directly to the seed, but rather spatially removed from the seed.
Other prior art devices have attempted various ways to remove air pockets from around the seeds, and to provide proper amounts of liquid, growth enhancing substances. For example, one known device is a planter which first digs a furrow, then deposits fertilizer, then partially backfills the furrow, then plants the seed, and then supplies additional fertilizer directly on the seed before backfilling the remaining portion of the furrow. However, such a device, much like the Benzel device, does not embed the seed before supplying fertilizer or other substances. Moreover, the shoe which partially backfills the furrow before depositing the seed may push the fertilizer rather than bury the fertilizer underground and therefore not provide the seeds with adequate fertilization.
Another similar device includes a resilient seed finning attachment, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,318 (Keeton), which is attached to a planting machine and which drags on the ground after the seed is planted to press the seed into the soil. In this manner, substantially all air pockets are removed from around the seed and proper germination is promoted. However, such a device does not provide fertilizer or other liquid to the embedded seeds.
An additional known apparatus employs a fertilizer tube attached to a fertilizer knife which digs a trench and deposits fertilizer before the seeds are planted. Drawbacks to such an arrangement are that fertilizer is deposited before the seeds are planted and the seeds are not firmly embedded into the ground to prevent air pockets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a seed planter which includes both a mechanism for firmly embedding the seed into the soil, and for providing liquid substances directly to the embedded seed. The present invention therefore serves the dual functions of removing air pockets from the planted seed, and thereby promoting proper germination, and also supplying appropriate amounts of liquid substances such as fertilizer, water, and insecticide to the embedded seed for effective and enhanced growth.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a seed planter which includes a supply of seeds, and a mechanism for depositing the seeds into the soil. A seed embedding mechanism is attached to the planter and arranged to follow the planted seeds and firmly embed the seeds into the soil. A liquid dispenser is attached to the seed planter effectively after the embedding mechanism to communicate liquid from a liquid supply to the vicinity of the embedded seeds.
One advantage of the present invention is that liquid is supplied to the seeds after the seeds are embedded. The liquid is therefore not pulled or pushed away from the embedded seed by the embedding device and undesirable “balling up” of dirt, fertilizer, etc. is avoided. In this manner, liquid growth enhancing substances are most effectively utilized by the embedded seed.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the seed is first embedded into the soil so that air pockets do not exist in the area surrounding the planted seed.
The present invention provides, in one form thereof, a seed planter comprising a chute for depositing seeds into the ground, a firmer for embedding the seeds into the ground, and a liquid dispenser to communicate liquid to the embedded seeds. The chute for depositing seeds into the ground is in communication with a supply of seeds, and the firmer for embedding the seeds is attached to the planter and arranged to follow the planted seeds and press the planted seeds into the ground. The liquid dispenser is also attached to the planter and is in communication with a supply of liquid for communicating the liquid from the supply to the vicinity of the embedded seeds.
The present invention, in another form thereof, provides a seed embedding and liquid dispensing device for attachment to a seed planter comprising an elastically deformable arm, and a conduit attached to the deformable arm arranged to deposit liquid in the vicinity of the embedded seed. The elastically deformable arm is arranged to drag on the ground after a seed is planted and press the planted seed into the ground. In the alternative, a relatively rigid arm could be used in conjunction with a spring, or other deflectable structure, to provide a force sufficient to embed seeds into the ground during planting operation. The particular nature of the firmer arm is not critical, it is merely a device to which the liquid dispensing apparatus is attached, or in which it is formed, so as to position the liquid dispensing outlet adjacent planted seeds for direct delivery of various liquids. The conduit or passage includes an inlet and an outlet through which a flexible hose extends, the hose having an inlet in fluid communication with the liquid supply and an outlet arranged to deposit liquid in the vicinity of the embedded seed.
The present invention, in another form thereof, provides a liquid dispensing device for use in connection with a seed firmer, wherein the seed firmer includes an elastically deformable arm attached to a seed planter. The seed firmer drags on the ground and embeds the seeds after the seeds are deposited into the ground. The liquid dispensing device comprises a conduit attached to the seed firmer and through which a flexible hose having an inlet and an outlet extends, the hose inlet in fluid communication with a supply of liquid and the hose outlet arranged to dispense the liquid in the vicinity of the embedded seeds. The conduit may be integral to the firmer or attached thereto by the use of fasteners and brackets or weld studs, adhesives or by other conventional means. Further, the firmer may be provided with multiple conduits for the dispensing of different liquids or a single liquid supplied from different sources.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2159652 (1939-05-01), Brunner
patent: 3512489 (1970-05-01), Coldren et al.
patent: 4580506 (1986-04-01), Fleischer et al.
patent: 4580507 (1986-04-01), Dreyer et al.
patent: 4592294 (1986-06-01), Dietrich, Sr. et al.
patent: 4759301 (1988-07-01), Thomas
patent: 4762075 (1988-08-01), Halford
patent: 4932340 (1990-06-01),
Baker & Daniels
Novosad Christopher J.
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