Seed boot extension
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsJohn D. Long, Richard W. Hook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible seed boot extension fabricated from an ultra-high molecular polyethylene sheet and releasably held in position by a slot and retaining lug so that seed bounce and soil coverage variations are reduced while desired seed flow from the boot to the furrow is unrestricted. The length of the extension is sufficient to prevent seed from bouncing out of the furrow and yet short enough that normal press wheel operation remains unimpeded. The extension, which is constantly in contact with the soil, and is flexible and smooth to easily ride over objects and resist breakage soil build-up.
Claims14
In an opener assembly adapted for forward movement through the soil and having a seed boot with a seed path for directing seeds downwardly and rearwardly into a furrow, structure for preventing bouncing of the seeds in the furrow as the seeds are directed therein, comprising:
- a flexible strap with first and second ends;
- and
- means for supporting the first end of the strap from the seed boot adjacent the seed path with the second end extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom into the furrow above the seeds which are directed into the furrow;
- and
- wherein the means for supporting the first end includes means for releasably securing the strap to the seed boot independently of separate fasteners.
In an opener assembly adapted for forward movement through the soil and having a seed boot with a seed path for directing seeds downwardly and rearwardly into a furrow, and structure for covering the seeds in the furrow with a layer of soil, structure for preventing bouncing of the seeds in the furrow as the seeds are directed therein, comprising:
- a flexible, continuous narrow strip of material with leading and trailing ends;
- and
- means for supporting the leading end of the strip from the seed boot adjacent the lower, aft portion of the seed path with the trailing end extending downwardly and flexing rearwardly into the furrow above the seeds which are directed into the furrow and below the top surface of the layer of soil.
In an opener assembly with an angled single disk opener adapted for forward movement through the soil and having an upright seed boot adjacent the disk with a seed path terminating above the lower extremity of the disk for directing seeds into a furrow formed by the disk, structure for preventing bouncing of the seeds in the furrow as the seeds are directed therein, comprising:
- a flexible, continuous narrow strip of material with side edges and leading and trailing ends;
- and
- means for supporting the leading end of the strip adjacent the lower end of the seed boot with one of the edges extending along one side of the disk, a substantial portion of the strip when viewed from a direction transverse to the forward direction lying within the outer circumference of the disk, and with the trailing end extending downwardly and flexing rearwardly into the furrow above the seeds directed into the furrow.
In an opener assembly with an angled single disk opener adapted for forward movement through the soil and having an upright seed boot adjacent the disk with a seed path terminating above the lower extremity of the disk for directing seeds into a furrow formed by the disk, structure for preventing bouncing of the seeds in the furrow as the seeds are directed therein, comprising:
- a flexible, narrow strip of material with side edges and leading and trailing ends;
- and
- means for supporting the leading end of the strip adjacent the lower end of the seed boot with one of the edges in contact with one side of the disk and with the trailing end extending downwardly and flexing rearwardly into the furrow above the seeds directed into the furrow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.