Patent ID: 6755735
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A one piece blow molded cover panel removably positionable in an access opening in a structure adjacent to a threshing region of an agricultural combine, the structure including an elongate upper edge facing away from the threshing region, an elongate lower edge opposite the upper edge and facing toward the threshing region, and spaced side edges extending between the upper edge and lower edge, defining and extending around the access opening, the access opening having a predetermined upward to downward extent between the upper and lower edge and a predetermined side to side extent between the side edges, the cover panel comprising an inner wall, an outer wall generally co-extending with the inner wall in spaced relation thereto defining at least one cavity therebetween, an elongate upper peripheral edge connecting the inner and outer walls and enclosing an upper periphery of the at least one cavity therebetween, an elongate lower peripheral edge connecting the inner and outer walls and enclosing a lower periphery of the at least one cavity therebetween, and elongate spaced, side peripheral edges connecting the inner and outer walls and enclosing opposite side peripheries of the at least one cavity, an inner lower lip extending downwardly from the inner wall and the lower peripheral edge along substantially the length thereof, and an outer upper lip extending upwardly from the outer wall and the upper peripheral edge along substantially the length thereof, the cover panel having an upward to downward extent as measured between the upper peripheral edge and the lower peripheral edge thereof only marginally smaller than the upward to downward extent of the access opening, and the panel having a sideward extent as measured between the side peripheral edges marginally smaller than the sideward extent of the access opening, such that the cover panel is insertable into the access opening in covering relation thereto with the inner wall facing the threshing region, the inner lower lip in abutting generally conforming relation to the lower edge of the structure along the length thereof and the outer upper lip in abutting relation to the upper edge of the structure such that crop material in the threshing region which strikes the inner wall will be prevented from contacting the lower edge of the structure.