GB2221600A - Apparatus for sowing grass seed - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus (2) for sowing grass seed, which apparatus (2) comprises a spindle (4), a plurality of disc members (6) on the spindle (4), and attachment means (8) for attaching to operator means (10), the disc members (6) each comprising a plurality of teeth, and the disc members (6) being rotatable during use of the apparatus (2) such that the teeth press into soil and form pockets for the grass seed. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR SOWING GRASS SEED This invention relates to apparatus for sowing grass seed.

Grass seed can be sold with guaranteed very high levels of purity and rates of germination. Nevertheless, such grass seed will not germinate to the required level if it is not correctly sown. Packets of grass seed usually do not give sufficiently detailed information on the sowing method required. Other plants that are sold in packets such for example as flower seeds or bulbs usually contain information as to when sowing should be effected and how deep the seeds or bulbs should be sown. Such information is however not usually provided on packets of grass seed so that many persons have little or no knowledge of how correctly to sow grass seed. More specifically, many persons sow their own grass seed in their gardens simply by sprinkling the grass seed on the top of the ground and such grass seed often fails to germinate at anything like the required level.

Professional groundsmen know how to sow grass seed correctly but the ideal apparatus for sowing grass seed is not really available. More specifically, groundsmen in charge of sports grounS often sow grass seed at a depth of 0.5 inches (1.25cm) using a piece of apparatus known as a contravator which has blades which cut slots in the soil to be sown. The cutting of the slots is disadvantageous in that if the soil dries out, cracks in the ground can appear. This is unsightly and, even if the ground does not dry out, the slots cannot be used on some sports grounds. For example, the slots do not adversely affect play on football pitches but they do adversely affect play on bowling greens where the woods would tend to follow the slots.

There is a need for apparatus for sowing grass seed, which apparatus is able to be used by professional groundsmen and private individuals, and which apparatus does not suffer from the above mentioned disadvantage. It is an aim of the present invention to provide such apparatus.

Accordingly, this invention provides apparatus for sowing grass seed, which apparatus comprises a spindle, a plurality of disc members on the spindle, and attachment means for attaching to operator means, the disc members each comprising a plurality of teeth, and the disc members being rotate able during use of the apparatus such that the teeth press into soil and form pockets for the grass seed.

The apparatus of the present invention can be produced in different sizes and different weights to suit professional groundsmen covering relatively large areas on the one hand and to suit private individuals covering smaller areas on the other hand. Preferably, the apparatus is used manually with a user pushing on operator means in the form of a handle to cause the disc members to press into the soil, and with the various stokes of the apparatus being effected in different directions so that the formed pockets are not in any uniform manner. It is desirable to avoid rows of drills as spaces occur between drills since the grass only tends to grow satisfactorily in the drills and not between the drills.

Preferably, the teeth are of such a size and shape that they form pockets which are of a size just slightly bigger than the grass seed so that the grass seed can enter the pockets and lay therein in a flat condition for optimum germination. Grass seed tends to germinate better when it is lying flat. The teeth are preferably of such a size and shape that they form pockets which are approximately 5 mm long.

The teeth may be flat at their apexes. Such teeth having flat apexes are preferred for normal grass seed.

For fine grass seed, then the teeth may be pointed at their apexes so that the teeth then form very tiny holes in the surface of the soil. This is because very fine grass seed is sown much closer to the surface of soil than normal grass seed.

The disc members may be rotateable on the spindle.

In this case, the spindle may itself be rotate able or nonrotateable.

Alternatively, the disc members may be fixed to the spindle, the spindle then being mounted for rotation.

Preferably, alternate disc members are radially off-set with respect to each other. Such off-setting of the alternate disc members helps to avoid any uniformity in the provision of the pockets in the soil for receiving the grass seed. If desired however the disc members can all be aligned with each other.

The apparatus of the invention may include spacer members between the disc members. The spacer members may be sleeves which fit over the spindle.

The spindle is preferably mounted between the ends of a bracket. Other mounting arrangements for the spindle may however be employed.

The attachment means is advantageously mounted to the bracket.

The attachment means may be a sleeve for receiving the operator means.

The apparatus of the invention may also include the operator means attached to the attachment means.

Preferably, the operator means is a handle as mentioned above so that the apparatus is then manually operated. However, if desired, the apparatus may be fitted to power machinery for powered operation, in which case the operator means would be the power machinery. With a handle, the handle may be a collapsible handle so that the apparatus of the invention can more easily be carried and stored.

Thus, for example, a collapsible handle may enable the apparatus of the invention easily to fit in the boot of a car. The handle may be in two parts which are separable from each other. Alternatively, a telescopic handle may be employed. Since pressure is required on the handle to enable the teeth on the disc members satisfactorily to form the pockets in the soil, it will be apparent that the handle should be of a relatively rigid construction which enables the required pressure to be applied.

With the operator means in the form of a handle, the attachment means is advantageously off-set from the centre of the apparatus in order to give room for a user's foot to be placed on the apparatus.

The apparatus of the invention may include depth control means for controlling the depth of the pockets formed by the teeth on the disc members.

The depth control means may be a pair aS skids provided on the bracket. Alternatively, the depth control means may be abutments formed on the teeth of the disc members.

Any desired and suitable number of disc members may be employed on the spindle. The number of disc members employed will depend upon the size of the ground to be prepared for sowing. Usually, there will be at least five spaced apart disc members giving an overall treatment width of six inches (15 cm).

The apparatus of the invention may be produced in the form of an industrial model for use by professional groundsmen and it may also be produced in the form of a domestic model for use by private householders. The industrial model will usually be made to be heavier.

The apparatus of the invention may be made from any suitable and appropriate materials. Thus, for example, the disc members may be made from a metal such for example as mild steel or stainless steel. With metal disc members, they can be stamped to the required shape. The handle may be made from a metal, wood or a plastics material.

Snbodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of first apparatus for sowing grass seed; Fingure 2 is a side view of a disc member; Figure 3 is a front view of the disc member shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side view o;t' a spacer member; Figure 5 is a front view of the spacer member shown in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a side view of part of second apparatus for sowing grass seed.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown apparatus 2 for sowing grass seed. The apparatus 2 comprises a spindle 4 and twelve disc members 6 which are mounted on the spindle 4.

The apparatus 2 also comprises attachment means in the form of a sleeve 8 for receiving operator means in the form of a handle 10.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the disc members 6 each comprise a plurality of teeth 12. The teeth 12 are flat at their apexes 14. The disc members 6 each have a central aperture 16 for enabling the disc members 6 to be mounted on the spindle 4 as shown in Figure 1.

The disc members 6 are separated by spacer members in the form of sleeves 18. The sleeves 18 have a central bore 20 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 so that the sleeves 18 can fit over the spindle 4 as shown in Figure 1. The disc members 6 are welded to the sleeves 18 such that alternate disc members 6 are off-set with respect to each other.

The disc members 6 and the sleeves 18 rotate during use of the apparatus 2 about the spindle 4.

The spindle 4 is mounted between the ends 22 of a bracket 24. The bracket 24 has a central portion 26 which can be sufficiently wide to enable a person using the apparatus 2 to place one of their feet on the central portion 26. This can help to give extra pressure which may be required to get the teeth 12 to penetrate sufficiently far into the soil to form the pockets of the required depth. For example, extra pressure may be required if the soil is too dry. Usually, the apparatus 2 will only be used on damp ground and, if sufficient rain has not fallen, then the ground may be dampened where desired, for example using a hose pipe.

A pair of split pins 28 pass through apertures 30 in the ends of the spindle 4 to locate the spindle 4 in apertures 32 in the ends 22 of the bracket 24.

The handle 10 may be a one piece handle such for example as a broom pole. If desired, the handle 10 may be in two or more parts for ease of carrying and storing the apparatus 2. The sleeve member 8 which receives the handle 10 is welded to the central portion 26 of the bracket 24 by a weld 34 but other means of attaching the sleeve 8 to the central portion 26 may be employed.

In Figure 6, there is shown part of modified apparatus for sowing grass seed. In the modified apparatus, the ends 22 of the bracket 24 are each provided with depth control means in the form of a skid 36. The skid 36 is able to slide along the ground and so limit the depth of penetration of the teeth 12 into the ground.

The apparatus 2 of the present invention may be used to give a good germination rate in grass seed which is much superior to just scattering grass seed on the soil and possibily just stamping or brushing the grass seed into the soil. The apparatus 2 can be used for reseeding small areas or it can be used for newly seeding large areas.

The apparatus 2 can be used in a simple and speedy manner and generally, the seeding of grass areas can be accomplished much faster than is currently done by professional groundsmen using existing equipment to give required satisfactory results. Once the apparatus 2 has been used, preferably with random reciprocating strokes over a desired area, then the area can be sown with the grass seed, for example by hand sprinkling. Then the grass seed can be brushed into the pockets and, if desired, the soil lightly raked and/or compressed.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the teeth 12 may have pointed apexes. Also, the disc members 6 may be fixed with respect to the spindle 4, in which case the spindle 4 will be mounted for rotation. The illustrated apparatus 2 has twelve disc members 6 and it is most suitable for use by professional greenkeepers and persons with large gardens.

The apparatus 2 may have less disc members 6, for example six disc members 6, for normal domestic use. If the apparatus 2 has more than twelve disc members 6, for example twenty four, thirty six or forty eight disc members 6, then the apparatus 2 will usually form part of a power operated tool and the handle 10 will not be used. The sleeve 8 can be off-set along the central portion 26 of the bracket 28 to give a user more room to place his or her foot. The apparatus 2 can then be turned through 1800 to suit right or left footed users.

The split pins may be dispensed with, in which case the spindle 4 may terminate inside the ends 22 of the bracket 24 and the spindle 4 may rotate in bushes, for example phosphor bronze bushes. The bushes may have grease nipples. The spindle 4 may also be of a larger diameter than shown.

Claims (17)

1. Apparatus for sowing grass seed, which apparatus comprises a spindle, a plurality of disc members on the spindle, and attachment means for attaching to operator means, the disc members each comprising a plurality of teeth, and the disc members being rotateable during use of the apparatus such that the teeth press into soil and form pockets for the grass seed.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the teeth are of such a size and shape that they form pockets which are of a size just slightly bigger than the grass seed.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the teeth are of such a size and shape that they form pockets which are approximately 5mm long.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the teeth are flat at their apexes.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the disc members are rotateable on the spindle.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the disc members are fixed to the spindle, the spindle then being mounted for rotation.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which alternate disc members are radially off-set with respect to each other.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including spacer members between the disc members.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the spindle is mounted between the ends of a bracket.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the attachment means is mounted to the bracket.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the attachment means is a sleeve for receiving the operator means.

12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including the operator means attached to the attachment means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the operator means is a handle.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the attachment means is off-set from the centre of the apparatus

15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including depth control means for controlling the depth of the pockets formed by the teeth on the disc members.

16. Apparatus according to claim 9 and claim 15 in which the depth control means is a pair of skids provided on the bracket.

17. Apparatus for sowing grass seed, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.