SEED BOUNCE FLAP FOR AGRICULTURAL SEEDER

• US 20160192582A1
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emilie Downs
• Original Assignee: Matthew P. Hagny
• Inventors: Hagny, Matthew P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,668,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/06 Machines for making or covering drills or furrows for sowing or planting
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/20 Parts of seeders for conducting and depositing seed

Abstract

A seed bounce flap for an agricultural seeder is provided for preventing bouncing of seeds in a furrow created by a furrow opener assembly with a seed channel defined by a rearwardly angled seed tube and seed boot. The seed bounce flap has a first mounting portion attached to an upper wall of the seed boot and a second flexible portion extending generally downwardly from the first portion. The second portion of the seed bounce flap is angled relative to the first portion so that the second portion is more vertical than the first portion. The seed bounce flap is flexible in a fore-and-aft direction and has tapering right and left sides that converge toward each other at a lower end of the seed bounce flap to conform to the shape of the furrow. The seed bounce flap can be made of an injection molded plastic material.

Claims

1. An opener assembly for an agricultural seeder, comprising:

a seed boot with a seed channel for directing seeds downwardly and rearwardly into a furrow, the seed boot having an upper wall defining an upper boundary of the seed channel;

a flexible seed bounce flap attached to said seed boot for preventing bouncing of seeds out of the furrow as the seeds are directed therein, said seed bounce flap having a first portion engaged with said upper wall of the seed boot and a second portion extending generally downwardly from said first portion, said second portion being angled relative to said first portion so that said second portion is more vertical than said first portion.

2. The opener assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second portion extends at an angle of approximately 160 degrees relative to said first portion when said seed bounce flap is in a relaxed condition.

3. The opener assembly according to claim 1, wherein said seed bounce flap comprises an injection molded plastic material.

4. The opener assembly according to claim 1, wherein said upper wall of said seed boot and said first portion of said seed bounce flap both extend at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to horizontal.

5. The opener assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second portion has a front side, a rear side, and right and left sides, and wherein said right and left sides converge toward each other at a lower end portion of the seed bounce flap to conform to the shape of the furrow.

6. The opener assembly according to claim 5, wherein said second portion has a first dimension between said front and rear sides that is substantially thinner than a second dimension between said right and left sides to provide a structure with greater flexibility in a fore-and-aft direction than in a side-to-side direction.

7. The opener assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first portion of said seed bounce flap is thicker than said second portion.

8. The opener assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second portion has a thickness in a fore-and-aft direction that tapers from a thicker upper end of said second portion to a thinner lower end thereof.

9. The opener assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first portion has a mounting hole formed therein, and further comprising a threaded fastener extending through said mounting hole into a corresponding hole in said seed boot to secure said seed bounce flap to said seed boot.

10. A seed bounce flap for use in an agricultural seeder, comprising:

a first mounting portion comprising a mounting surface adapted to engage an upper wall of a seed boot; and

a second flexible portion having a proximal end adjacent to said first mounting portion and a distal end, said second portion having a front side, a rear side, and right and left sides, said second portion having a first dimension between said front and rear sides that is substantially thinner than a second dimension between said right and left sides to provide greater flexibility in a fore-and-aft direction than in a side-to-side direction;

wherein said mounting surface of said first mounting portion and said front side of said second flexible portion are angled relative to each other to cause said front side to be more vertical than said mounting surface while in use.

11. The seed bounce flap according to claim 10, wherein said mounting surface and said front side are angled approximately 160 degrees relative to each other.

12. The seed bounce flap according to claim 10, wherein said right and left sides converge toward each other at a distal end of the seed bounce flap from said first mounting portion.

13. The seed bounce flap according to claim 10, wherein said first mounting portion of said seed bounce flap is thicker in a fore-and-aft direction than said second flexible portion.

14. The seed bounce flap according to claim 10, wherein said second flexible portion has a thickness that tapers from a thicker upper end adjacent to said first mounting portion to a thinner lower end distal from said first mounting portion.

15. The seed bounce flap according to claim 10, wherein said first mounting portion has a mounting hole formed therein.