Abstract:
A seed planting device. The seed planting device includes an elongated member defining a plurality of shallow depressions regularly spaced along one or more of the member&#39;s faces. Each depression defines a volume capable of receiving a seed. A practitioner uses one face or edge of the device to create an indentation in the soil. The practitioner then lifts the device and tilts it so that the seeds fall out of the shallow depressions into the indentation. The practitioner then covers the seeds with soil by filling in the indentation with loose earth or potting soil.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates generally to a device for planting seeds. More particularly, the invention is directed toward a hand-held device for simultaneously planting a number of seeds at regularly spaced intervals. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    Farmers and gardeners are aware that it is often necessary to ensure that seeds are planted in an orderly manner with regular spacing between each planted seed. As the seeds develop into plants and the plants grow, a certain minimal space between the planting sites of neighboring seeds helps to ensure that the root systems of neighboring plants do not become excessively interconnected; that each growing plant has uncompromised and exclusive access to the nutrients in its own area of soil or growth media; and that no plant&#39;s foliage blocks a neighboring plant&#39;s access to sunlight. 
         [0007]    In the field of large scale farming, mechanized planters have long been known and used to ensure the desired minimal distance between planted seeds. However, in the field of small scale gardening, there exists a long-felt need for an inexpensive, user-friendly device for ensuring the desired minimal distance between planted seeds. Such a device would also hopefully allow a practitioner to plant seeds quickly and to ensure that the practitioner was making optimal and efficient use to space. The optimal and efficient use to space is especially important in such situations as growing foodstuff plants in a planter; in such a situation, the practitioner has need of a way both to ensure the desired minimal distance between planted seeds and to plant as many seeds as possible in the designated space. Thus, the needed device should ensure the minimal distance between planted seeds while simultaneously preventing the practitioner from having more space between planted seeds than is necessary. Further, because of the different properties of varying plant species, the optimal distance between planted seeds may differ with each plant species. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A seed planting device is disclosed. The seed planting device includes a rod defining a number of shallow depressions regularly spaced along one or more of the rod&#39;s faces. Each depression defines a volume capable of receiving a seed. A practitioner uses one edge of the rod to create a narrow indentation or furrow in the soil. The practitioner then lifts the rod and tilts it so that the seeds fall out of the shallow depressions into the indentation. The practitioner then covers the seeds with soil by filling in the indentation with loose earth or potting soil. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the seed planting device, said embodiment having four longitudinal faces; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the seed planting device, said embodiment having three longitudinal faces; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a view of a practitioner using an embodiment of the device to create an indentation or furrow in the earth for receiving seeds at spaced localities; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a view of a practitioner tilting an embodiment of the device to cause seeds to fall into the indentation in the earth; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a view of a practitioner manually covering planted deposited seeds with loose soil; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the use of the device in a planter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    A seed planting device of the present invention is shown generally at  10  in  FIG. 1 . This device  10  is elongated and in an illustrated embodiment is square in cross-sectional outline. The device defines four longitudinal faces,  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  and  12   d , which extend along the length of the device. This length is approximately 36 inches in the preferred embodiment, although the length can vary as necessary or desired. The length is chosen such that the device can easily be manipulated, but long enough to assure that multiple seeds can be planted at one time, thus reducing the time necessary to plant a row. The adjacent longitudinal faces  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  and  12   d  form edges  13   a ,  13   b ,  13   c , and  13   d  respectively. These edges  13   a - d  can be used to form an indentation or furrow in the dirt as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
         [0017]    The device can be used in a regular garden and finds particular application in a planter  11  of the type shown in  FIG. 6  which includes a dirt-laden container  15  that is elevated above the ground on a support structure  17 . The height of the container or trough  15  is sufficient for a handicapped person in a wheelchair to roll his or her lap under the planter and tend to a planter garden. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 1  a plurality of shallow holes or depressions  20   a - e  are defined in at least one side of the device  10  and open on face  12   a . The depressions can be drilled into the device or can be fabricated therein if the device is manufactured from plastic. The depressions  20   a - e  are sized to receive various types of seeds at spaced locations along the length of the device face. Each of the depressions  20   a - e  is large and deep enough to contain a substantial portion of a seed. The spacing between depressions is chosen depending on the particular seed that is to be planted. For example: carrot seeds are planted 3-4 inches apart, and thus the holes are spaced by that amount; radish seeds are spaced between 1½ to 2 inches; beets are usually spaced approximately 4 inches; peas and beans are spaced approximately 4-5 inches apart. Similarly the holes are sized to receive seed. It will be noted in  FIG. 1  that alternate holes can be used for receiving seeds as is necessary where a greater spacing is desired between the planted seeds. 
         [0019]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , spaced depressions are also defined in the face  12   b . It will be noted that these depressions  22   a - f  are spaced lesser distances than the depressions  20   a - e  shown in the face  12   a . The presence of two sets of depressions of the same device allows the device to be used for planting different types of seeds, since as explained above some plant species require greater or lesser space between seeds than other plant species. Thus, the presence of two sets of apertures on the same device allows the same device to handle a greater variety of seeds. It will be recognized that, just as the length of the device can vary as necessary or desired, so too the total number of depressions can vary, based upon the length of the device and the desires space between depressions. In the preferred embodiment the depressions are approximately 0.25 inches in diameter and approximately 0.25 inches deep. It has been found that these depressions will accommodate most garden seeds. 
         [0020]    One embodiment  30  of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2  defines three longitudinal faces  32   a ,  32   b  and  32   c , which extend along the length of the device. Accordingly, this embodiment of the device is generally triangular in cross-sectional outline. The adjacent longitudinal faces  32   a ,  32   b  and  32   c  form edges  33   a ,  33   b , and  33   c , respectively. As the embodiment  30  is triangular in cross-sectional outline, whereas the embodiment  10  was square in cross-sectional outline, the adjacent faces  32   a ,  32   b  and  32   c  in the device  30  meet at more acute angles than the faces  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  and  12   d  in the device  10 . Thus, the edges  33   a ,  33   b , and  33   c  are sharper than the edges  13   a ,  13   b , and  13   c , and the edges  33   a ,  33   b , and  33   c  on the device  30  can more easily form deeper indentations or furrows than the edges  13   a ,  13   b , and  13   c  on the device  10 , if a deeper setting for a given type of seed is desired. In the preferred embodiment of the triangular cross-sectional device  30  shown in  FIG. 2 , the depressions are approximately 0.4-0.5 inches in diameter and about 0.3-0.4 inches deep. The spacing between adjacent depressions will preferably be about 3 inches, which will allow planting of seeds at 3-inch, 6-inch, or 9-inch intervals, depending upon whether every depression, every other depression or every third depression is used for the particular variety of seed to be planted. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a practitioner creates a narrow and shallow indentation or furrow in the soil by pressing the edge  13   b  of the device  10  into the soil. Then, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the practitioner rotates the device  10  so that the depressions  22   a - f  are oriented in the general direction of the previously formed indentation to allow the seeds  23  in the depressions  22   a - f  to fall into the furrow. If necessary, the practitioner then shakes the device  10 , causing the seeds  23  stored in the depression  22   a - f  to fall into the furrow. The practitioner then covers the seeds  23  by filling in the indentation with loose earth, potting soil, or a similar substance, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0022]    While the present invention has been illustrated by description of one embodiment, and while the illustrative embodiment has been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.