Extension for reducing seed bounce

• US 5,918,557 A
• Filed: 06/23/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul E. Schaffert
• Original Assignee: Paul E. Schaffert
• Inventors: Schaffert, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US08/881,176
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 111/150, 111/167, 111/170, 111/189, 111/197, 111/154, 111/155, 111/149, 111/157, 111/163, 111/164, 111/168, 111/190, 111/200, 403/298, 403/359, 403/375, 403/104, 403/374
• US Class Current: 111/150
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/062 Devices for making drills or furrows
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/068 Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/201 Mounting of the seeding tools

Abstract

An extension for use with a furrow opener is disclosed for properly placing seeds in a furrow. The extension attaches to the furrow opener to help direct bouncing seeds into the vertex in the bottom portion of the furrow. The extension comprises an elongated flexible body member defining a general arcuate shape, and also defines an upper segment and a lower segment. The upper segment defines an attachment structure for releasable engagement to the furrow opener. The lower segment depends downwardly and rearwardly from the furrow opener and extends into the furrow. The lower segment has a width dimension decreasing continuously along its length, the width dimension substantially equal to but less than the width of the furrow along the length of the extension. The extension does not contact the furrow. The lower segment terminates at a trailing end, which is spaced above the centrally located bottom portion of the furrow.

Claims

1. An extension for properly placing seeds in a furrow for use with a furrow opener for creating a seed furrow and for placing the seeds within said seed furrow, the seed furrow having a centrally located bottom portion and upwardly and outwardly extending sidewalls, and the sidewalls intersecting at a vertex in the bottom portion, said extension comprising:

a. an elongated flexible body member defining a general arcuate shape which provides a generally downwardly and rearwardly sweeping orientation, and also defining a upper segment and a lower segment;

b. said upper segment defining an elongated aperture for use in attachment to the furrow opener;

c. said lower segment configured to depend downwardly and rearwardly, from the furrow opener and extending into the furrow, and said lower segment having a width dimension decreasing along its length; and

d. said lower segment terminating at a trailing end, said trailing end aligned with the centrally located bottom portion of the furrow.

2. An extension as defined in claim 1, wherein the furrow opener is a planter having a seed tube, with the extension attachable to the seed tube.

3. An extension as defined in claim 1, wherein the furrow opener is a drill having a scraper, with the extension attachable to the scraper.

4. An extension for properly placing seeds in a furrow for use with a seed planter having a furrow opener for creating a seed furrow, a seed tube for placing seeds within said seed furrow, the seed furrow having a centrally located bottom portion and upwardly and outwardly extending sidewalls, and the sidewalls intersecting at the vertex of the bottom portion;

said seed tube extension comprising;

a. an elongated flexible body member defining an upper segment and a lower segment;

b. said upper segment defining an attachment structure for use in attaching to the seed planter, said extension extending beyond the seed planter when attached thereto;

c. said lower segment configured to depend downwardly and rearwardly from the seed planter and into the furrow, and the extension having a width dimension decreasing along its length; and

d. said lower segment terminating at a trailing end, said trailing end configured to be spaced in line with the centrally located bottom portion of the furrow.

5. An extension as defined in claim 4, wherein said attachment structure further comprises an elongated aperture and a releasable fastener to insert through the aperture to secure said extension to the seed planter.

6. An extension as defined in claim 4, wherein the seed planter has a seed tube, with the extension attachable to the seed tube.

7. An extension as defined in claim 4, wherein the seed planter is a drill having a scraper, with the extension attachable to the scraper.

8. An extension for properly placing seeds in a furrow for use with a drill having a furrow opener for creating a seed furrow having at least one disk blade, a chute for dropping the seeds into said seed furrow, and a closing device for closing said seed furrow, a scraper apparatus attached to the furrow opener for cleaning the disk blade, and the seed furrow having a centrally located bottom portion and upwardly and outwardly extending sidewalls defining a maximum width dimension, and the sidewalls intersecting at the vertex of the bottom portion and defining a minimum width dimension, the extension comprising:

a. an elongated flexible body member defining a general arcuate shape, and also defining an upper segment and a lower segment;

b. said upper segment defining an attachment structure for releasable engagement to the scraper apparatus, said extension configured to extend beyond the disk blade;

c. said lower segment configured to depend downwardly and rearwardly from the furrow opener and to extend into the furrow, and having a width dimension decreasing along its length; and

d. said lower segment terminating at a trailing end, said trailing end aligned with the centrally located bottom portion of the furrow.

9. An extension as defined in claim 8, wherein the scraper apparatus defines an elongated aperture, said attachment structure further comprises:

a. an elongated aperture formed in said upper segment of said extension; and

b. a releasable fastener for positioning through the aperture on the scraper apparatus and said aperture on said extension to releasably fix the extension to the scraper apparatus.