GB2301761A

GB2301761A - Planter for large seed

Info

Publication number: GB2301761A
Application number: GB9511623A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Bertram Powell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-06-08
Filing date: 1995-06-08
Publication date: 1996-12-18
Also published as: GB9511623D0

Abstract

The planter is operated in two stages. First the central dibble 2 is pressed into the ground, moving through the sleeve 3, to form a hole in the soil, next the dibble 2 is moved back through the sleeve 3 to provide a space 4 which is loaded with a seed 8. The seed 8 can then be urged into the hole formed by the dibble 2 by movement of the dibble 2 through the sleeve 3, to a depth indicated by graduations 10 on the shaft of the dibble 2. Resilient retaining means may be provided to hold the seed in the planter.

Description

PLANTER FOR LARGE SEED This invention relates to a planter for large seed such as acorn, chestnut, pea. bean, bulb, onion, hazel or potato, hereinafter called seed.

The planting operation consists firstly of making a hole of a suitable size and secondly pushing seed to the base of the hole.

According to the present invention the planter consists of a central dibble which is manually used to make a suitable hole and a coaxial part, hereinafter called a charger, the charger having axial movement with respect to the planter and dibble, and there is frictional resistance and/or a mechanical stop between planter and charger, and when the charger is loaded with seed, the frictional resistance and/or mechanical stop is manually overcome or avoided, and the seed is lightly retained within the charger until the planter is correctly positioned, and the dibble is used to push seed out of the charger.

The planter can be long enough to enable the person using the planter to remain in a standing position throughout the planting operation.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figures 1 to 4 show a series of cross sections of the planter in the shape of a walking stick, (the middle portion being cut away to reduce the figures to a convenient size), in various positions; Figure 5 shows a cross section of part of a variant of planter, dibble and charger; Figure 6 shows an elevation of the end of dibble and charger of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a cross section of part of a further variant of planter, dibble and charger; Figure 8 shows an elevation of the end of dibble and charger of Figure 7; Figure 9 shows a part elevation of a variant of Figure 7, where the planter and charger are positioned so that the dibble is fully extended.

Referring to Figure 1, planter 1 and dibble 2 are coaxial with charger 3, and provide maximum space 4 within charger 3. Planter 1 and charger 3 are a good fit and have frictional contact.

Referring to Figure 2, downward pressure on planter 1 forces dibble 2 into soil and makes hole 5, the depth of which is determined by charger 3 abutting planter shoulder 6.

Referring to Figure 3, charger 3 has been manually moved until it abuts planter shoulder 7 and creates space 4, seed 8 has been manually pushed into space 4 and has been lightly retained therein by flexible legs 9 on charger 3.

Referring to Figure 4, planter 1 has been pushed gently down until dibble 2 has pushed seed 8 to the bottom of hole 5. Marks 10 on planter 1 give an indication of the correct depth to which dibble 2 should be pushed down so as to avoid crushing seed 8.

Referring to figures 5 and 6, friction between planter 1 and charger 3 is created by an annulus of material 11 which is fixed onto planter 1.

Seed 8 is lightly held by flexible legs 9 of charger 3. The relationship between planter 1 and charger 3 when pushing seed 8 to base of hole 5 (Figure 4) is made easier to check by marks 10 on planter 1. Charger 3 may be made from a thermo-setting plastic that is moulded with flexible legs 9 having small projections 12 to lightly hold seed 8. A shoulder 13 is formed by heating this area of charger 3 after it has passed over material 11, and charger 3 is thereby permanently fitted to planter 1. Contact between shoulder 13 and material 11 corresponds to contact between charger 3 and abutment 7 of Figure 3. Contact between shoulder 13 and clip 14 corresponds to contact between charger 3 and abutment 6 of Figure 2. Moveable clip 14 fits into an appropriate groove 15. Various grooves 15 (not shown) could be provided to give suitably deep holes for different types of seed 8.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, friction between planter 1 and charger 3 is created by a good fit, alternatively, this friction may be produced by making charger 3 from flexible material such as plastic tube which is slightly curved in the unrestricted state. Screw 16 is fixed in planter 1 through a vertical elongated slot 17 in charger 3. The ends of slot 17 correspond to abutments 6 and 7 in Figures 1 to 4, and determine the depth of hole 5, Figure 2, and the size of space 4. A flexible washer 18 with fingers 19 to lightly hold seed 8, is fixed to the bottom of charger 3 by retainer 20.

Referring to Figure 9, elongated slot 17 is an alternative helical form, and has a notch 21 at the bottom end of charger 3. The engagement of screw 16 and notch 21 prevents axial movement between planter 1 and charger 3, and to create space 4 of Figure 7, it is necessary to manually disengage screw 16 from notch 21. Unintentional movement of charger 3 on planter 1 is thereby avoided when the planter is being used as a simple stick.

Claims

1. A planter for seed which has a central dibble and a coaxial charger and where the dibble can be used to make a suitably sized hole in the soil, and where the charger can move axially with respect to the planter and dibble, and when the charger is so moved, space is produced within the charger which is suitable for introduction and retention of seed, and there is frictional resistance and/or a mechanical stop which inhibits or prevents movement of charger with respect to p]anter when the planter is being used as a simple stick, and where the planter with charger containing seed can be moved to a point above the hole made by the dibble, and by pressing the planter onto the soil the dibble will push seed into the hole.

2. A planter as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the planter is long enough to enable the person using the planter to remain in a standing position throughout the planting operation.

3. A planter as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the mechanical stop prevents axial movement of the charger without a prior radial movement of the charger about the axis of the planter.

4. A planter as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the retention of seed in the charger is by flexible legs on the charger.

5. A planter as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the retention of seed is by a flexible washer fixed to the end of the charger.

6. A planter as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the depth to which the dibble will push seed into the hole is shown by marks on the planter.

7. A planter substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawing.

7. A planter substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A planter for seed which has a central dibble and a coaxial charger and where the dibble can be used to make a suitably sized hole in the soil, and where the charger can move axially with respect to the planter and dibble, and when the charger is so moved, space is produced within the charger which is suitable for introduction and retention of seed, and there is frictional resistance and/or a mechanical stop which inhibits or prevents movement of charger with respect to planter when the planter is being used as a simple stick, and where the planter with charger containing seed can be moved to a point above the hole made by the dibble, and by pressing the planter onto the soil the dibble will push seed into the hole.