US1235139A - Seed-dropper. - Google Patents

Description

.I. M. HEFNER.

SEED DROPPER APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1915-.

1,235,1 39. Patented July 31, 1917.

A Witnesses Inventor %vzwm I by Attorneys JOHN M. HEFNER, OF REDWATER, TEXAS.

SEED-DROPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed May 12, 1916. Serial No. 97,101.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. Hnrnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Redwater, in the county of Bowie and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Seed-Dropper, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to seed droppers designed to be actuated by hand and primarily intended for dropping peas between hills of corn although it is to be understood that the device can be used for dropping peas or other like seeds wherever desired.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is light and can therefore, be easily handled with one hand, which will keep the peas agitated and thus prevent choking, and which can be adjusted to release a desired number at a time.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section on line A-B Fig. 1.

Fig. at is a section on line CD Fig. 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the main strip of the dropper, the same being provided on one side with a seed container 2 which has an inclined bottom leading to an opening 3 formed in the strip 1 at a point somewhat removed from the lower end of the strip. A guide sleeve 5 is carried by the upper portion of the strip 1.

One side of the strip is recessed longitudinally as at 6 to form end shoulders or abutments 7.

Slidably mounted within the sleeve 5 is a movable strip 8 which also extends through a guard strap 9 provided at the lower end of the container 2 and which strap bridges over the opening 3. Formed in the lower end portion of this strip 8 is an opening 10 and when the strip 8 is raised to the upper l1m1t of its movement relative to the strip 1, this opening will be brought into register with the opening 3 and will be sealed by the strap or guard 9. When, however, strip 8 is moved downwardly to the other limit of its movement, the lower portion of the opening 10 will become exposed below the strap 9 so that the contents of the opening will be free to discharge into a small boot 11 secured to the strip 1 and extending across the lower portion of the strap 9. This boot is preferably open at the top and bottom, and is inclined, the boot constituting a housing for the lower end of the strip 8 when thrust downwardly.

The upper end portion of strip 8 is enlarged to provide a shoulder 12 adapted to move against the end of the strip 1 and thus limit the downward movement of the strip 8. A grip or handle 13 is attached to the upper end portion of the strip 8 and is adapted to be grasped by the hand used in manipulating the dropper.

The side strip 8 is provided with a longitudinal slot 15 and adjustably mounted within the slot is a bolt 16 the head 17 of which is seated within the recess 6 in the strip 1. This bolt can be adjusted longitudinally of the strip 8. By means of a nut 18, the bolt 15 can be fastened in any position to which it may be adjusted within the slot 15.

In using the device the container 2 is partly or entirely filled with the peas or other seeds to be planted and the device is carried from place to place by means of the handle 13. The weight of the container 2 and its contents will be sufficient to hold the strip fixed with the upper end of recess 6 bearing against the bolt head 17 and with the opening 3 in register with the opening 10. Thus it is impossible for seeds to escape downwardly from the container. When it is desired to drop seeds the blunt end of strip 1 is placed upon the ground and the handle is thrust downwardly. This will cause the opening 10 with the seeds therein to move downwardly so as to discharge the contents of the opening into the boot 11, whereupon the seeds will gravitate from the boot and onto the grotmd. Obviously by adjusting the bolt 16 the movement of strip 8 relative to strip 1 can be regulated and, con

sequently, the number of seeds discharged into the boot can be varied. When the movably connected parts are brought to their respective limits of movement, they Will jar the container 2 to such an extent that the contents thereof will be agitated, and consequently, there Will be no clogging of the device.

-What is claimed is A seed dropper including slidably connected strips, there being a longitudinal recess in one side of one of the strips and a longitudinal slot in the other strip and normally communicating with the recess, a stop adjustably mounted Within the slot and proj ecting into the recess for limiting the relative movement of the strips, a handle on one of the strips, a seed container upon the other strip and having an outlet opening, there being an opening in the handle carrying strip normally registering with said outlet opening, means normally housing the opening in the handle carrying strip for preventing the escape of seeds therefrom, and a boot carried by the container strip, said strips being shiftable relative to each other to bring the apertured portion of the handle strip into the boot.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN M. HEFNER.

Witnesses:

H. F. ENDsLEY, Gr. S. BARHMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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