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US 6,662,736 B1Granted
Seed planter
OwnerPatrick R. Lowe, Ray H. Grummeinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seeding device for tilling the ground and distributing seed. The device includes a handle having a bracket with a seed container, the tilling plate and tilling tines mounted on the bracket. A seed distributor is provided to distribute seed over the ground. The seed distributor includes a plunger with a distribution plate. To use the seeding device, the user first inserts the tilling tines into the ground which moves the plunger upward toward the seed container and then removes the seeding device from the ground. The down and up movement moves seed from the seed container to the ground or the distribution plate. Seed on the distribution plate is moved off of the plate then moves the plunger into the extended position.
Claims20
A seeding device for manually tilling and seeding ground which comprises:
- (a) a handle having opposed first and second ends forming a longitudinal axis of the device;
- (b) a seed container having opposed first and second ends forming an inner chamber configured to hold seed with an opening in the second end of the seed container to allow seed to flow from the seed container, and removably mounted on the second end of the handle;
- (c) tilling tines mounted adjacent the second end of the seed container and extending outward away from the seed container in a direction opposite the handle;
- (d) a plunger having opposed first and second ends and mounted through the second end of the seed container such that the first end of the plunger is positioned completely within the inner chamber of the seed container and does not extend out of the inner chamber and the second end of the plunger is positioned outside of the seed container and extends outward away from the second end of the seed container adjacent the tilling tines in the direction opposite the handle, and spaced apart from the opening in the second end of the seed container;
- (e) a distribution plate mounted on the second end of the plunger and spaced apart from the opening in the second end of the seed container, so that the distribution plate does not interfere with the flow of seed from the seed container through the opening in the second end of the seed container;
- and
- (f) resilient member spaced between the distribution plate and the second end of the seed container for biasing the plunger into a fully extended position.
4 more elements
A seeding device for manually tilling and seeding ground which comprises:
- (a) a handle having opposed first and second ends forming a longitudinal axis of the device;
- (b) a bracket having opposed first and second ends and mounted at the first end to the second end of the handle;
- (c) a seed container having opposed first and second ends and configured to hold seed with an opening in the second end to allow seed to flow from the seed container and removably mounted on the bracket such that the second end of the container is adjacent the second end of the bracket;
- (d) tilling tines mounted on the second end of the bracket and extending outward from the bracket in a direction opposite the seed container;
- (e) a plunger having opposed first and second ends and mounted adjacent the second end of the bracket such that the first end of the plunger is positioned in the seed container and the second end of the plunger is positioned outside the seed container and extends outward away from the second end of the bracket in the direction opposite the seed container, and spaced apart from the opening in the second end of the seed container;
- (f) a distribution plate mounted on the second end of the plunger and spaced apart from the opening in the second end of the seed container, so that the distribution plate does not interfere with the flow of seed from the seed container through the opening in the second end of the seed container;
- and
- (g) a resilient member spaced between the distribution plate and the second end of the bracket for biasing the plunger into a fully extended position.
5 more elements
A method for tilling and seeding ground which comprises the steps of:
- a) providing a seeding device having a handle with opposed first and second ends forming a longitudinal axis of the device;
- a seed container having opposed first and second ends forming an inner chamber configured to hold seed with an opening in the second end of the seed container to allow seed to flow from the seed container, and removably mounted on the second end of the handle;
- tilling tines mounted adjacent the second end of the seed container and extending outward away from the seed container in a direction opposite the handle;
- a plunger having opposed first and second ends and mounted adjacent the second end of the seed container such that the first end of the plunger is positioned completely within the inner chamber of the seed container and does not extend out of the inner chamber and the second end of the plunger is positioned outside of the seed container and extends outward away from the second end of the seed container adjacent the tilling tines in the direction opposite the handle, and spaced apart from the opening in the second end of the seed container;
- a distribution plate mounted on the second end of the plunger and spaced apart from the opening in the second end of the seed container, so that the distribution plate does not interfere with the flow of seed from the seed container through the opening in the second end of the seed container;
- and a resilient member spaced between the distribution plate and the second end of the seed container for biasing the plunger into a fully extended position;
- b) removing the seed container from the handle;
- c) filling the inner chamber of the seed container with seed;
- d) removably mounting the seed container on the handle;
- e) grasping the first end of the handle;
- f) moving the seeding device toward the ground such that the second end of the plunger contacts the ground and is retracted toward the seed container and such that the tilling tines enter the ground wherein as the seeding device is moved toward the ground, seed in the inner chamber of the seed container moves through the opening in the seed container and contacts the distribution plate;
- and
- g) moving the seeding device away from the ground such that the tilling tines are removed from the ground and the plunger is moved to the fully extended position by the resilient member, wherein as the seeding device is moved away from the ground, seed in the inner chamber of the seed container moves through the opening of the seed container and wherein seed contacting the distribution plate is distributed onto the ground.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.