Abstract:
A fertilizer tube system for efficiently dispensing and placing fertilizer within a furrow to minimize germination injury. The fertilizer tube system generally includes a fertilizer tube having an input opening at a lower end of the fertilizer tube and an output opening at an upper end of the fertilizer tube, a tab attached to the fertilizer tube between the input opening and the output opening, a guard scraper attached to a lower portion of the fertilizer tube, wherein the guard scraper is removably attachable within a slot of a planter shank.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a fertilizer applicator and more specifically it relates to a fertilizer tube system for efficiently dispensing and placing fertilizer within a furrow to minimize germination injury. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. 
     Liquid fertilizer applicators have been in use for years. Typically, the placement of liquid fertilizer in close proximity to seeds during the planting process is done to improve crop yields. Unfortunately, current liquid fertilizer applicators utilized in the farming industry sometimes directly apply liquid fertilizer to the seed which results in burning of the seed thereby increasing germination injury. 
     While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for efficiently dispensing and placing liquid fertilizer within a furrow to minimize germination injury. Conventional fertilizer applicators tend to directly apply the fertilizer upon the seed thereby increasing germination injury. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to a fertilizer applicator which includes a fertilizer tube having an input opening at a lower end of the fertilizer tube and an output opening at an upper end of the fertilizer tube, a tab attached to the fertilizer tube between the input opening and the output opening, a guard scraper attached to a lower portion of the fertilizer tube, wherein the guard scraper is removably attachable within a slot of a planter shank. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an upper right side perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an upper left side perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a right side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded upper left side perspective view of the present invention with respect to a planter shank. 
         FIG. 10  is an upper left side perspective view of the present invention partially positioned within the T-slot of the planter shank. 
         FIG. 11  is an upper left side perspective view of the guard scraper fully positioned in the T-slot of the planter shank and the tab bent over upon the planter shank. 
         FIG. 12  is an upper right side perspective view of the guard scraper fully positioned in the T-slot of the planter shank. 
         FIG. 13  is an upper left side perspective view of the present invention attached to the planter shank and with the disks attached to the planter shank. 
         FIG. 14  is a rear view of the present invention attached to the planter shank with a seed tube positioned above the guard scraper. 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of the present invention attached to the planter shank. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Overview 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1 through 15  illustrate a fertilizer tube system  10 , which comprises a fertilizer tube  30  having an input opening  31  at a lower end of the fertilizer tube  30  and an output opening  39  at an upper end of the fertilizer tube  30 , a tab  50  attached to the fertilizer tube  30  between the input opening  31  and the output opening  39 , a guard scraper  20  attached to a lower portion of the fertilizer tube  30 , wherein the guard scraper  20  is removably attachable within a slot of a planter shank  14 . The present invention is designed to be utilized in combination with a liquid fertilizer system used on a crop planter implement but may be utilized to dispense additional types of fertilizer such as non-liquid fertilizer. U.S. Pat. No. 7,096,805 (Liquid Fertilizer Application System) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,007 (Liquid Fertilizer Application System) both to Wiesenburger are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     The present invention may be utilized with any type of planter implement designed for planting a row crop such as, but not limited to, the KINZE 4000 Series Cast Iron Row Unit (e.g. the KINZE 4900 planter implement) manufactured by KINZE Manufacturing Inc. in Williamsburg, Iowa. The present invention may be utilized with respect to various other types of planter implements. 
     B. Fertilizer Tube 
     The fertilizer tube  30  is comprised of an elongated structure. The fertilizer tube  30  is not a straight structure as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 8  of the drawings. The fertilizer tube  30  has an input opening  31  at the upper end of the fertilizer tube  30  and an output opening  39  at the lower end of the fertilizer tube  30  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings. The input opening  31  receives liquid fertilizer from a liquid fertilizer system and the output opening  39  dispenses the liquid fertilizer into a seed furrow or near a seed furrow created by the disks  18  of the planter implement. The lower portion of the fertilizer tube  30  is positioned between a pair of disks  18  of the planter implement when the fertilizer tube  30  is attached to the planter shank  14  as illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15  of the drawings. 
     A coupler  40  fluidly connects the upper end of the fertilizer tube  30  to a fertilizer delivery tube  11  from the liquid fertilizer system of the planter implement. The coupler  40  is preferably comprised of a quick coupler  40  to allow for simple and easy connection of the fertilizer delivery tube  11  to the fertilizer tube  30 . 
     The fertilizer tube  30  preferably has a circular cross sectional area but may have different cross sectional shapes (e.g. rectangular, oval). The lumen of the fertilizer tube  30  may be consistently in width or differing in width along the length of the fertilizer tube  30 . The fertilizer tube  30  is preferably comprised of a continuous single tubular structure as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4  of the drawings. In particular, the fertilizer tube  30  is preferably constructed of a single piece of metal tubing that is bent to form the fertilizer tube  30 . The fertilizer tube  30  is preferably comprised of a rigid material such as, but not limited to, metal. 
     The fertilizer tube  30  is comprised of a first segment  38  on the lower portion of the fertilizer tube  30 , a second segment  36  extending from the first segment  38 , a third segment  34  extending from the second segment  36  and a fourth segment  32  extending from the third segment  34 . Each segment is defined by a bend or corner in the fertilizer tube  30  redirecting the fertilizer tube  30 . Each segment is preferably comprised of a substantially straight structure having an independent longitudinal axis that doesn&#39;t align with any of the other segments&#39; axis. 
     The first segment  38  of the fertilizer tube  30  is attached to a front edge  22  of the guard scraper  20  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings. A portion of the first segment  38  extends upwardly past the front edge  22  of the guard scraper  20  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The output opening  39  is within a lower distal end of the first segment  38 . The lower end and the output opening  39  within the lower end of the first segment  38  are positioned near the lower end of the guard scraper  20  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4  of the drawings. The first segment  38  is further preferably parallel to and adjacent to the front edge  22  of the guard scraper  20  as further illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings. The first segment  38  may be attached to the guard scraper  20  by welding or other attachment means. When in use, the fertilizer tube  30  will be positioned in front of the guard scraper  20  with the front edge  22  angled downwardly and rearwardly as best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . A portion of the first segment  38  of the fertilizer tube  30  will wear from engaging the earth over time. The exterior width of the first segment  38  is preferably approximately the same width as the main body portion of the guard scraper  20  as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  of the drawings. 
     The second segment  36  extends upwardly from the first segment  38  at an angle A as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings. The angle A is preferably approximately 153 degrees but may vary. It is preferable that the second segment  36  is parallel to a vertical plane comprised of a plane that is parallel to the forward path of movement of the planter implement that is vertically aligned. It is further preferable that both the first segment  38  and the second segment  36  are parallel with respect to the vertical plane as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 8  of the drawings. The second segment  36  is preferably comprised of a straight segment extending from a first corner between the second segment  36  and the first segment  38  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings. The second segment  36  has a longitudinal axis that is more vertically orientated than the first segment  38  when the fertilizer tube  30  is attached to the planter shank  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. The second segment  36  is comprised of a substantially straight structure that is substantially parallel to a leading edge of the planter shank  14  and positioned in front of the leading edge of the planter shank  14  when installed as illustrated in  FIG. 12  of the drawings. 
     The fertilizer tube  30  is further comprised of a third segment  34  that extends substantially horizontally from the second segment  36  and a fourth segment  32  that extends upwardly from the third segment  34 . The third segment  34  extends outwardly to the right of the second segment  36  at a second angle B as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  of the drawings. The angle B is preferably approximately 85 degrees but may vary. The third segment  34  may extend horizontally to the right at a slight downward angle as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  of the drawings. The third segment  34  is preferably substantially transverse with respect to the vertical plane discussed previously. The third segment  34  extends outwardly and away from the planter shank  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 15  of the drawings. 
     The fourth segment  32  of the fertilizer tube  30  extends upwardly from the third segment  34  (opposite the end connected to the second segment  36 ) at an angle C measured with respect to the second segment  36  and the fourth segment  32  parallel to the vertical plane as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings. The angle C is preferably approximately 136 degrees but may vary. The fourth segment  32  of the fertilizer tube  30  also preferably extends outwardly and upwardly away from the end of the third segment  34  as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  of the drawings. The fourth segment  32  extends at an angle D away from the third segment  34 , wherein angle D is measured with respect to the axis of the second segment  36  and the axis of the fourth segment  32 . The angle D is preferably approximately 24 degrees by may vary. The fourth segment  32  also extends at an angle E with respect to the axis of the third segment  34  as shown in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. The angle E is approximately 109 degrees but may vary. 
     The first segment  38 , the second segment  36  and the fourth segment  32  are each preferably longer than the third segment  34  as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4  of the drawings. The second segment  36  is approximately 2.5 inches in length. The first segment  38  is approximately the same length as the fourth segment  32  with both segments being approximately 7 inches in length. The second segment  36  is approximately 8 inches in length. It can be appreciated that the lengths for the segments of the fertilizer tube  30  may vary to accommodate different types of planters. 
     C. Guard Scraper 
     The guard scraper  20  is attached to a lower portion of the fertilizer tube  30  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4  of the drawings. The guard scraper  20  is adapted to be removably attachable within a slot of a planter shank  14  of a planter implement. The guard scraper  20  may be comprised of any scraper that is removably attachable to a planter shank  14  of a planter implement such as, but not limited to, the KINZE scraper (Part Number GB0504) designed for the KINZE 4000 Series Cast Iron Row Unit (e.g. the KINZE 4900 planter implement) and manufactured by KINZE Manufacturing Inc.  FIGS. 1 through 12  illustrate an exemplary guard scraper  20  that is based on the design of the KINZE scraper (Part Number GB0504) that fits within the slot  16  of the planter shank  14  extending from the planter frame  12  of the planter implement. 
     The fertilizer tube  30  is attached to a lower leading edge of the guard scraper  20  by welding or other attachment means (e.g. fasteners). The guard scraper  20  includes a front edge  22 , a rear portion  24  and a mounting portion  26 , wherein the fertilizer tube  30  is attached to the front edge  22  of the guard scraper  20 . The rear portion  24  of the guard scraper  20  is comprised of a flanged structure extending outwardly on opposing sides of a body portion of the guard scraper  20  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 5  of the drawings. The rear portion  24  of the guard scraper  20  is broader in width than the main body portion of the guard scraper  20  and the fertilizer tube  30 . 
     The slot within the planter shank  14  is comprised of a T-slot  16  as illustrated in  FIG. 9  of the drawings. The mounting portion  26  of the guard scraper  20  is comprised of a T-shaped structure that has a similar shape and size to the T-slot  16  within the planter shank  14 . The mounting portion  26  of the guard scraper  20  preferably snugly fits within the T-slot  16  of the planter shank  14  and is retained within the T-slot  16  when the disks  18  are attached to the planter shank  14  with a fastener extending through the mounting aperture  15  of the planter shank  14 . 
     D. Tab 
     The tab  50  is attached to a central portion of the fertilizer tube  30  between the input opening  31  and the output opening  39 . The tab  50  is comprised of a bendable material such as a bendable metal material to allow an installer the ability to bend the tab  50  adjacent to the side of the planter shank  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 11  of the drawings. It is preferable that the tab  50  is attached to an upper portion of the second segment  36  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4  of the drawings. It is further preferable that the tab  50  is welded to the fertilizer tube  30  and the tab  50  is attached to at least a quarter of the circumference of the fertilizer tube  30 . The tab  50  is further preferably comprised of a flat structure but may have a non-flat structure. 
     The tab  50  has an initial position as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 9  of the drawings and a final position as illustrated in  FIG. 11  of the drawings. The initial position of the tab  50  exists before the fertilizer tube  30  is attached to the planter shank  14  and the final position of the tab  50  exists after the fertilizer tube  30  is attached to the planter shank  14 . 
     The tab  50  extends transversely with respect to a plane that is parallel to a main body of the guard scraper  20  extending from front to back of the guard scraper  20  when the tab  50  is in the initial position as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6  of the drawings. The initial position of the tab  50  allows for the fertilizer tube  30  to be installed upon the planter shank  14  without interfering with the alignment of the fertilizer tube  30  in front of the planter shank  14  as shown in  FIGS. 9 through 11  of the drawings. The tab  50  is preferably approximately ninety-degrees with respect to the plane when the tab  50  is in the initial position but may have different transverse angles. 
     The tab  50  is bent approximately ninety-degrees after the fertilizer tube  30  is in the desired position with respect to the planter shank  14  to be positioned adjacent to the side of the planter shank  14  as shown in  FIG. 11  of the drawings. It is preferable that over fifty-percent of the total length and/or surface area of the tab  50  is substantially parallel to the plane when the tab  50  is in the final position. The tab  50  wraps around the leading edge of the planter shank  14  as further illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
     E. Operation of Preferred Embodiment 
     In use, a fertilizer tube  30  system  10  is attached to each planter shank  14  of a planter implement. To assemble fertilizer tube  30  system  10  to the planter implement, the user positions the mounting portion  26  of the guard scraper  20  within the receiver slot  16  of the planter shank  14  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  of the drawings. The user aligns the guard scraper  20 , the first segment  38  and the second segment  36  to be aligned with the main body of the planter shank  14  as shown in  FIG. 11  of the drawings. After everything is properly aligned, the user bends the tab  50  about the planter shank  14  to prevent movement of the fertilizer tube  30  and to provide support to the upper portion of the fertilizer tube  30 . The user then uses a coupler  40  to connect the fertilizer tube  30  to a fertilizer delivery tube  11  as shown in  FIGS. 12 through 15  of the drawings. Each fertilizer delivery tube  11  comes from a fertilizer reservoir or manifold and supplies the fertilizer to each fertilizer tube  30  system  10 . 
     As the planter implement is pulled through the soil, the disks  18  create a V-shaped furrow in the soil which is well-known in the art of planters. The output opening  39  of the fertilizer tube  30  emits the liquid fertilizer onto the lower surface of the furrow in front of the seed tube  13  in preparation for the disbursement of the seed from the seed tube  13 . The seed is then dispensed from the seed tube  13  and placed above the fertilizer within the furrow. The furrow is finally covered with soil to allow the seed to grow. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described above. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.