Liquid dispenser for seed planter

• US 5,730,074 A
• Filed: 06/07/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Farmer Fabrications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Farmer Fabrications, Inc.
• Inventors: Peter, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US08/661,401
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 111/73, 111/34, 111/187, 111/186, 111/170, 111/80, 111/197, 111/118, 111/127, 111/189, 239/159
• US Class Current: 111/118
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/025 Continuous injection tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/06 Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus

Abstract

The present invention is a planter which embeds planted seeds into the ground and then dispenses liquid in the vicinity of the embedded seeds. The planter includes a flexible arm which drags upon the ground and presses the deposited seeds into the ground and a rigid tube which is attached to the flexible arm. A flexible hose extends from a liquid supply tank and is telescopingly received within the rigid conduit for communicating the liquid from the supply tank to the embedded seed. The resulting planted seeds are thereby embedded and substantially free of surrounding air pockets, and provided with liquid after being embedded to provide proper germination and growth.

Claims

1. A seed planter comprising:

a chute for depositing seeds in the ground, said chute being in communication with a supply of seeds,

a firmer disposed adjacent said chute for embedding seeds into the ground, said timer arranged to follow seeds deposited by said chute and press the deposited seeds into the ground; and

a liquid dispenser disposed adjacent said firmer with a conduit attached to said firmer to communicate liquid from a liquid supply to the vicinity of the deposited seeds.

2. The planter of claim 1, wherein said conduit includes a rigid tube adapted to telescopingly receive a flexible hose, said flexible hose in communication with said liquid supply.

3. The planter of claim 2, wherein said rigid tube is manufactured from stainless steel.

4. The planter of claim 2, wherein said rigid tube is contoured and sized to be congruent with the contour of said firmer.

5. The planter of claim 1 wherein said conduit is attached to said firmer by at least one bracket.

6. The seed planter of claim 1, wherein said liquid dispenser is separate from and attached to said firmer.

7. The seed planter of claim 1, wherein said liquid dispenser includes a hose, said hose attached to said firmer by at least one clamp.

8. A seed embedding and liquid supply device comprising:

an elastically deformable arm arranged to drag on the ground behind planted seeds, said arm having an end contacting said planted seeds and pressing said seeds into said ground; and

a conduit attached to said deformable arm and having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being in fluid communication with a supply of liquid, said outlet being arranged to deposit liquid in the vicinity of said arm end.

9. The seed embedding and liquid supply device of claim 8, wherein said conduit includes a rigid tube sized to telescopingly receive a flexible tube, said flexible tube in fluid communication with said supply of liquid, said rigid tube being attached to said deformable arm.

10. The seed embedding and liquid supply device of claim 8, wherein said conduit is attached to said deformable arm by at least one bracket.

11. The seed embedding and liquid supply device of claim 8, wherein said conduit is attached to said deformable arm by at least one metal stud, said metal stud protruding through said deformable arm and being welded to said conduit.

12. The seed embedding and liquid supply device of claim 8, wherein said conduit is contoured and sized to be congruent with the contour of said deformable arm.

13. A liquid dispensing device for use in connection with a seed firmer, the seed firmer being an elastically deformable arm attached to a seed planter, the seed firmer having an end dragging on the ground and embedding seeds after the seeds are deposited into the ground by the planter, said liquid dispensing device comprising:

a conduit attached to the seed firmer and having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being in fluid communication with a supply of liquid, said outlet being arranged to dispense said liquid in the vicinity of the firmer end; and

means for attaching the conduit to said seed firmer.

14. The liquid dispensing device of claim 13, wherein said conduit includes a rigid tube, said rigid tube sized to telescopingly receive a flexible tube in fluid communication with said supply of liquid.

15. The liquid dispensing device of claim 14, wherein said rigid tube is manufactured from stainless steel.

16. The liquid dispensing device of claim 13, wherein said means for attaching includes at least one bracket.

17. The liquid dispensing device of claim 13, wherein said conduit is attached to said firmer by at least one metal stud, said metal stud protruding through said firmer and being welded to said conduit.

18. The liquid dispensing device of claim 13, wherein said conduit is contoured and sized to be congruent with the contour of the seed firmer.