SUPPORTING DEVICE

• US 20140209001A1
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schaffert Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Schaffert Manufacturing Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Schaffert, Paul E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,736,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/200
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/06 Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/201 Mounting of the seeding tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49817 with other than ancillary treating or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A supporting device for supporting a furrow device and/or for connecting the same to a seed tube of a seed planting unit is described. The supporting device may include a connection element and an alignment element joined to the connection element. The connection element may include a connection feature and a stand feature. The connection feature may be configured to attach the furrow device to the supporting device. The stand feature may be configured to position the furrow device at a desired angle relative to the furrow. The alignment element may include an alignment feature and a positioning feature. The alignment feature may be configured to axially align a longitudinal axis of the supporting device with a longitudinal axis of the seed tube. The positioning feature may be configured to position the furrow device at a desired location along a longitudinal dimension of the seed tube.

Claims

1. A supporting device for operably connecting a furrow device to a seed tube of a planting unit for planting seeds into a furrow, the supporting device comprising:

a connection element, the connection element including a connection feature configured to attach the furrow device to the supporting device and a stand feature to position the furrow device at a desired angle relative to the furrow; and

an alignment element joined to the connection element, the alignment element including an alignment feature configured to axially align a longitudinal axis of the supporting device with a longitudinal axis of the seed tube and a positioning feature to position the furrow device at a desired location along a longitudinal dimension of the seed tube.

2. The supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the connection element comprises an elongated body.

3. The supporting device according to claim 2, wherein the elongated body comprises a plate including a width dimension similar to or substantially the same as a width of the furrow device joined to the supporting device.

4. The supporting device according to claim 2, wherein the connection feature comprises at least one aperture formed in the elongated body.

5. The supporting device according to claim 1, the connection element further comprising an alignment feature configured to reduce axial shift of the furrow device relative to the seed tube along the longitudinal dimension of the seed tube.

6. The supporting device according to claim 5, wherein the alignment feature of the connection element comprises at least one flange-like extension at an upper end of the elongated body, and the at least one flange-like extension abuts a portion of a housing of a seed sensor assembly joined to the seed tube.

7. The supporting device according to claim 5, wherein the alignment feature of the connection element comprises a recess at an upper end of the elongated body, and the recess abuts a portion of a fastener of a seed sensor assembly joined to the seed tube.

8. The supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the alignment feature of the alignment element comprises two side walls, each positioned along at least a portion of a longitudinal side edge of the connection element.

9. The supporting device according to claim 8, wherein the side walls extend substantially perpendicularly to the connection element.

10. The supporting device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the side walls includes at least one of a top sidewall portion or a bottom sidewall portion.

11. The supporting device according to claim 10, wherein the top sidewall portion comprises a profiled top edge, and at least a portion of the top sidewall portion extends above a top surface of the furrow device joined to the supporting device.

12. The supporting device according to claim 10, wherein the top sidewall portion comprises a securing structure for receiving at least a portion of a securing mechanism that secures the furrow device and/or the supporting device to the seed tube.

13. The supporting device according to claim 12, wherein the securing structure comprises a recess formed along a top edge of the top sidewall portion.

14. The supporting device according to claim 12, wherein the securing mechanism comprises at least one zip tie.

15. The supporting device according to claim 10, wherein the positioning feature comprises a recess formed along a bottom edge of the bottom sidewall portion or a slanted edge portion at a corner of the bottom sidewall portion.

16. The supporting device according to claim 15, wherein the positioning feature receives and/or engages a portion of a fastener of a seed sensor assembly that is joined to the seed tube.

17. The supporting device according to claims 1, wherein the positioning feature is positioned axially beyond a recess formed at an upper end of the connection element along a longitudinal dimension of the connection element.

18. The supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the stand feature comprises at least one plate or flange-like extension extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the connection element.

19. The supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the stand feature comprises a first plate or flange-like extension extending downwardly from the connection element at a first distance and a second plate or flange-like extension extending downwardly from the connection element at a second distance different from the first distance, the first plate or flange-like extension and the second plate or flange-like extension spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the supporting device.

20. The supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the furrow device comprises a seed follower.

21. The supporting device according to claim 20, wherein the seed follower includes a connection portion for connecting the seed follower to the supporting device and an engaging portion for controlling seed placement in a furrow.

22. The supporting device according to claim 21, wherein the engaging portion of the seed follower comprises a width dimension greater than a width dimension of the connection portion of the seed follower.

23. The supporting device according to claim 21, wherein the engaging portion of the seed follower comprises a width dimension less than a width dimension of the connection portion of the seed follower.

24. The supporting device according to claim 23, wherein the engaging portion of the seed follower comprises a raised elevation compared to the connection portion of the seed follower.

25. A furrow device assembly, comprising:

a furrow device; and

a supporting device for operably connecting the furrow device to a seed tube of a planting unit, the supporting device comprising a connection element and an alignment element joined to the connection element, the connection element including a connection feature configured to attach the furrow device to the supporting device and a stand feature to position the furrow device at a desired angle relative to the furrow, and the alignment element including an alignment feature configured to axially align a longitudinal axis of the supporting device with a longitudinal axis of the seed tube and a positioning feature to position the furrow device at a desired location along a longitudinal dimension of the seed tube.

26. The furrow device assembly according to claim 25, wherein the furrow device comprises a plurality of apertures, the connection feature of the supporting device comprises one or more apertures, at least one of the one or more apertures of the connection feature selectively align with at least one of the plurality of apertures of the furrow device for receiving at least one fastener for attaching the furrow device to the supporting device.

27. The furrow device assembly according to claim 25, wherein the alignment feature of the alignment element comprises a pair of side walls, portions of the side walls and the connection element define a first bracket for receiving a portion of the furrow device therein, and portions of the side walls and the connection element define a second bracket for placing over a portion of a seed tube.

28. The furrow device assembly according to claim 27, the second bracket is placed over a seed sensor assembly attached to the seed tube.

29. The furrow device assembly according to claim 25, wherein the furrow device comprises a seed follower.

30. A method for connecting a furrow device to a seed tube of a planting unit, comprising the steps of:

attaching the furrow device to a supporting device so that a portion of the furrow device is received within a first bracket of the supporting device;

placing the supporting device on a portion of the seed tube so that a portion of the seed tube is received within a second bracket of the supporting device; and

securing the furrow device and the supporting device to the seed tube.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of securing the furrow device and the supporting device to the seed tube comprises securing a seed follower and the supporting device to the seed tube using at least one elongated member, and the at least one elongated member preferably comprises at least one zip tie.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising unsecuring the furrow device from the supporting device, selectively repositioning the furrow device relative to the supporting device along a longitudinal axis of the supporting device, and re-attaching the furrow device to the supporting device.