Abstract:
A planter for the mechanized planting of sea oats in beach or other difficult planting areas. The planter includes a calibrator that automates the release of sea oat plants through various release tubes as the planter moves over a chosen planting area. The calibrator controls the release of each plant at re-selected distances. Growth agent is introduced through ancillary mechanisms either through the release tubes or just behind each tube. A plow in front of each release tube creates a furrow into which each plant is deposited, and a series of grates are strategically positioned to control the reflow of planting soil back into each furrow after release and to then smooth any remaining soil adjacent the filled in furrow. The planter is towed behind a tractor through nominal hitches, and a chair and planting support rack is provided for an operator positioned in the center of the planter.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of filing priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 and 37 C.F.R. §1.78 of the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/940,185 filed May 25, 2007, for a MECHANIZED PLANTER. All information disclosed in that prior application is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to planters. Particularly, the invention relates to mechanized planters. More particularly, the invention relates to mechanized planters for use on soft earth such as sand. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Various types of planters are used to plant new growth bulbs. Some planters may be handheld or performed by hand, some planters may be pulled behind animals or tractors, and some planters may be self propelled. All of the planters generally perform the same tasks: making a hole, placing a bulb in the hole, and filling the hole. The planters may also add growth agent to the hole prior to filling the hole. Based upon the geography of the planting region, different types of planters may be used. 
   Beaches provide a unique planting region. The ground, covered in sand, may be generally soft and easily plowable. However, additional limitations, such as weight, may be limited due to environmental concerns and performance. Consequently, most planting on beaches is performed by hand, where individuals walk the beach, dig holes, and place bulbs directly into the sand with a growth agent. As individual bulbs are placed in the sand, a planter then refills the holes with the sand removed from the hole. The process may be long and painstaking. 
   Sea oats may be used to protect the dunes on the beaches from further erosion. Real estate development and storms have destroyed large populations of sea oats, which serve as a beach barrier between the beach and beachside commerce and buildings such as hotels, stores and beach homes. In particular, increased damage due to weather damage, particularly hurricanes, has increased the need for planting. Weather damage, more than destroying the sea oats, also erodes the dunes, thus new planting is needed to rebuild to levels prior to weather damage. Generally, the planting includes teams of individuals, spacing out individual plants a certain distance from other sea oats. In order to increase the rate of planting in order to keep up with replacing and rebuilding dunes frequently damaged by weather, the number of teams and the number of planters on teams have been increased. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the invention provides a planter comprising a plow, a plurality of tubes and a grate. The plow is configured to dig a furrow into the ground, and each of the plurality of tubes is configured to deliver a plant into the furrow. A system of grates is configured to siphon ground cover into the furrow. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a the preferred embodiment of the sea oats planter; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective rear view in partial section of the preferred embodiment of the sea oats planter of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the sea oats planter of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is the other side view of the preferred embodiment of the sea oats planter of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective partial section, rear view of a part of the preferred embodiment of the sea oats planter of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of a second embodiment of the sea oats planter; 
       FIG. 7  is a rear view in partial section of the second embodiment of the sea oats planter of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the second embodiment of the sea oats planter of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective partial section, rear view of a part of the preferred embodiment of the sea oats planter of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 10  is an isolated, perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the calibrator for the sea oats planter of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 11  is an isolated, perspective view of another version of the alternative embodiment calibrator for the sea oats planter of  FIG. 6 ; and, 
       FIG. 12  is forward looking perspective view along the planting furrow during planting. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Turning now to the drawing figures,  FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a sea oats planter  10 . The sea oats planter  10  includes a support frame  12 , a tow hitch  14 , and two growth agent containers  16 . The support frame  12  also supports oats trays  18 , a seat  20 , and delivery tubes  22 . The rear of the support frame  12  supports, trailing leveling arm support  26 , leveling grates  28  and  30 , and filling grates  32 . A grated platform  34  provides the floor of the support frame  12 . 
   The support frame  12  is attached to a tow hitch  14  at the front of the support frame  12 . The tow hitch  14  may be configured to attach to a tractor, automotive vehicle, animal or other propulsion system, and my comprise a three-point support hitch so that some of the weight of the planer  10  is supported by a single hitch configuration to the extent that weight of the planter  10  is not distributed onto rear wheels  13 . While the hitch  14  is located at the same height as the frame  12 , the hitch  14  may be located at a height sufficient to attach to the propulsion system as is known. Moreover, while the hitch  14  in this embodiment is a hitch for a ball joint, any connection may be used to hitch the planter  10  to a propulsion system. 
   The support frame  12  is configured to stabilize the planter  10  and includes the platform  34  which supports the operator portion of the planter  10 . The operator sits on the bench seat  20  and faces toward the rear of the planter  10  so that the operator may place the sea oats into the delivery tubes  22 . The sea oats are typically stored on trays in tray support platforms  18  that are positioned conveniently to the operator, such as on left or right ancillary positioned wire mesh support platforms (see  FIG. 6 ) or on inclined supports (see  FIG. 3 ) until the operator places the sea oats into the delivery tubes  22 . While two workable configurations are shown herein, the support platforms  18  may be placed in any configuration so that the operator may easily access and place the oats into the tubes  22 . 
   As the planter  10  travels forward, the operator loads oats into the tubes  22  and after the oats have been dropped into the ground (as described below), the operator reloads the tubes  22  with oats. Growth agent from the growth agent container  16  mixes in the delivery tubes  22  with the oats prior to the oats being dropped into the ground. This mixing enables the oats to be planted with growth agent in the hole where the oat is planted. 
   In the rear of the planter  10 , filling grates  32  siphon sand into the furrow created by a plow  33  located under the growth agent container  16  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). As the planter  10  is pulled forward, the furrow extends from under the planter  10 . The filling grates  32  allow sand to fill into the furrow to set the sea oats in the sand in a “feathering” fashion. As described below with reference to  FIG. 12 , the feather filling of the filling grates  32  stops sand from immediately rushing into the furrow which may knock the sea oats under the sand. Leveling grates  28  and  30  are located on the leveling arm  26  behind the filling grates  32  and are utilized to push any remaining sand that has not fallen back into the furrow behind the filling grates  32  into the furrow to level the sand behind the planter  10 . The leveling grates  28  and  30  are spaced such that sand which may pile up between adjacent filling grates  32  will be leveled back into the furrow. The outer leveling grates  30  include a single vane for pushing sand inward, while the inside leveling grates  28  include a pair of vanes configured to push sand from the ridges into adjacent furrows. As may be understood, a single vane for each furrow might be utilized to level sand, or the filling grates might be omitted altogether depending upon the type of soil into which the oats are planted. 
   The vanes of the leveling grates  28  and  30  and the filling grates  32  may also be oriented at an angle relative to the direction of travel of the planter  10 . At low degrees of angle, the grates  28 ,  30 , and  32  move less sand, and at higher degrees of angle, the grates  28 ,  30 , and  32  move more sand. As would be expected, at higher degrees of angle, the grates  28 ,  30 , and  32  increase the drag of the planter  10 , and in sand that is very soft and allows for deep penetration of the planter  10  into the ground, the angles of the vanes may be set at small degrees relative to the direction of travel because the sand is more likely to fill in based on the fluidity of the sand. 
   A distance calibrator  24  determines how far the planter  10  has moved and determines the frequency of planting of each individual sea oat. Measuring the distance allows the planter  10  to automatically release the oats into the ground so that the placement of the oats is not dependent on the time it takes the operator to place the oats in the tubes  22 , but maintains a regulated planting distance. Generally, it may be beneficial to place the oats about 18 inches apart in the furrows. This spaces the oats out a distance that is beneficial for proper growth and efficient in stopping erosion. Similarly, the distance between adjacent tubes  22  on the planter  10  is also spaced about 18 inches apart for the same purpose, but may be adjusted via clamps  23  to any desirable width. 
   While the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5  includes four tubes  22 , the number of tubes  22  may be varied, and may be a function of the width of the planter  10  and the working area for the operator. In addition, the upper ends of the tubes  22  may be oriented around the operator instead of in a straight line with the lower portion of the tubes  22  positioned behind the plow so that the sea oats drop into the furrows. 
     FIG. 2  shows a sectional rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the sea oats planter of  FIG. 1 . The trailing leveling arm support  26  and the leveling grates  28  and  30  have been removed from the planter  10 . Bench seat  20  and tray supports  18  are positioned to allow visibility to the rear, and the open view of the planter  10  allows for an operator to view the ground behind the planter  10 . The tubes  22  extend vertically from the operator&#39;s level to the ground, but may be conveniently positioned by moving clamps  23  (see  FIG. 5 ). The platform  34 , which supports the bench seat  20 , also supports the growth agent container  16  and tray supports  18  through the support frame  12 . Therefore, as shown, the growth agent containers  16  are supported above the delivery tubes  22  so that gravity may supply the growth agent to the tubes. In addition, the tray supports  18  are supported above and just in front of the growth agent hopper  17  so that the operator is positioned ergonomically to obtain and load the oats into the tubes  22 . 
   Upon the delivery of each oat down delivery tubes  22 , growth agent containers  16  dispense growth agent gelatin through hoses  36  adjacent to each planted oat. The hoses  36  extend from the grown agent container  16  to a deliver release slot or cutouts  38  so that upon actuation of a release bar, growth agent may be released into the furrow adjacent to the deposited oat. The growth agent release bar  39  includes a pivoting flap (not shown) covering the bottom of the each hose  36 . An arm  40  rotates in response to the compression of a cable  70  thereby rotating bar  39  and opening the flap to delivery growth agent. 
   Similarly, release bar  41  includes a tongue  42  configured to slide laterally in and out of the tubes  22  in response to the distance calibrator  24 , as will further discussed. The distance calibrator  24  actuates the release bar  41  after the planter  10  has traveled a particular distance, thus pulling the tongues  42  of the release bar  41  out of the tubes  22  and dropping the oats down to the ground through cutouts  38 . The growth agent release via the bottom of tube  36  is timed to coincide with the drop of the oat. 
   After the oats have dropped, cutouts  38  in the tubes  22  release the oats upright in the ground. The cutouts  38  are formed by removing a portion of the tube  22 , as shown such that the oats to leave the cutouts  38  in upright fashion. The oats are generally around 8-12 inches tall, so the cutout  38  should be sized to generally allow for the oats to exit the tubes  22  without bending. 
   Filling grates  32  siphon sand into the furrow, and may be formed from a material that has holes such as expanded metal. Expanded metal is suitable because it allows sand to slowly fall back into the furrow through the holes. As the planter  10  moves forward, the ground dug up in front of the tubes  22  with the small plow member  33  may fall through the holes in the grates  32  and around the ends of the grates  32 . Thus, as the planter  10  moves forward, the relief between the created furrow and the adjoining ridge is gradually smoothed. The gradual decrease in depth helps maintain the planted oat upright in the ground by reducing the force of the displayed ground returning into the furrow. The speed at which the furrows fills, and the change in grade from the cutouts  38  is determined by the speed of the planter  10 , the size of the filling holes, the angle of the grates  32  relative to the direction of travel, the length of the grates  32 , and other factors. Depending on the type of ground where the planter  10  is used, these characteristics of the filling grates  32  will by necessity be changed. The grates  32  may be formed from other materials, which may have suitable holes, slots or other shapes formed in them. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 3 , the presented side view of the sea oats planter of  FIG. 1  shows more clearly the items already discussed; namely, seat  20 , a frame  12 , a platform  34 , a hitch  14 , trays supports  18 , delivery tubes  22 , and growth agent hopper  17 , and growth agent container  16 . Additionally, the planter  10  includes growth agent hoses  36 , a release bar  41 , a distance calibrator  24 , and filling grates  32 . Plows  33 , located in front of the tubes  22 , digs a furrow in the ground, and leveling grates  28 , 30  attached to the support frame  12  by a leveling grate arm  26 , are adjustable in height and angle through the leveling grate posts  29 . 
   In operation, as the planter  10  of  FIG. 3  progresses, the plows  33  dig a furrow into the ground. The seedling to be planted are placed into the tubes  22  by an operator located on the seat  20 . The seedling is dropped into the ground when the distance calibrator  24  actuates the release bar  41 , and grates  32  and  28 , 30  fill and level the ground behind the planter  10 . 
   The plows  33  are located on the front of each tube  22 , but follow a leveling plate or skid pad. Skid  72  serves to level the ground just before a furrow is created by plow  33 , and also is useful to remove larger debris in the path of the planned furrow so that the delivery tube and following grates do not become fouled with debris. Each plow  33  digs a small furrow in front of their respective tubes  22 . Thus, in between adjacent plows, the ground is raised into ridges. The filling and leveling grates  32  and  28 , 30  level the ground between the furrows dug by the plows and the ridges between the plows. While the method of digging the holes for the sea oats may be a plow in one embodiment, additional embodiments may include methods of digging individual holes using other means, such as hydraulic or other mechanical means. 
   When the planter  10  is attached to a propulsion system, the hitch  14  provides the link between the planter  10  and the propulsion system. In operation, the weight of the planter  10  is primarily supported on the plows  33 , but the hitch  14 , as well as the grates  32  and  28 , 30 , and the rear wheels  13  also support portions of the weight. When most of the weight is supported on the plows  33 , the plows  33  have more force to dig the furrows. By locating the growth agent containers  16  and the mechanisms of the planter close to the plows  33 , most of the weight may be directed to the plows  33 . In addition, the weight of the operator may also be situated relatively close to or directly over the plows  33 . Positioning these weighty elements near the plows also helps to maximize the downward force on the plows  33  while minimizing torque on the plows  33  generated by the weight of the planter  10  itself. Obviously, in cases in which hitch  14  is a three point configuration, the operator of the tractor can also vary the downward pressure by adjusting the lifting angle of the hitch  14 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  show more clearly the operation and interaction of the calibrator  24  and its ancillary elements to deliver sea oats into the ground along with growth agent. As shown in  FIG. 3 , calibrator  24  is supported by tractor roll bar or other support frame having sufficient height to position calibration tire  77  upon tractor rear tire  78 . Steel peg or post  79  is welded onto the rim of tire  77  and during rotation contacts actuation arm  80  connected to hydraulic cylinder  82 . As the peg  79  advances, peg  79  contacts a resilient member at the bottom of arm  80  and raises arm  80  up until pin  79  transits below the resilient member. Upon contact with the arm  80 , arm  80  raises up and forces lower piston rod  84  into cylinder  82 . Hydraulic fluid is thereby forced into hydraulic line  86  connected to a hydraulic cylinder  87 , inversely corresponding to the position of cylinder  82 . The two cylinders  80 , 87  are configured to move in reverse synchronization with one another so that as cylinder  82  is compressed, arm  88  on cylinder  87  is extended in identical reverse manner as to arm  84 . Arm  88 , in turn, is connected to release bar  41  and pushes bar  41  toward the rear of the planter  10  in response to actuation of cylinder  87  (see  FIG. 10 ). Therefore, release bar  41  is actuated as peg  79  rotates around the center of wheel  77 , moving it back and forth and releasing sea oats in tube  22  when the release bar&#39;s tongue inside the tube  22  is retracted. A biasing spring  52  is also connected to the release bar  41  from frame  12  to bias bar  41  toward the front of the planter  10  and to assist in resetting cylinder  82  into an uncompressed state so that the cycle may repeat. As may be understood, a single peg  79  on wheel  77  creates a planting period equal to one rotation (i.e. the circumference) distance of the wheel  77 . By adding additional pegs to wheel  77 , the period of planting may decreased. Alternatively, a larger wheel  77  might be utilized to increase the planting period. Disengagement of the calibrator  24  occurs by raising support arm  81  so that wheel  77  no longer contacts tractor wheel  78 . Lowering wheel  77  such that it engages wheel  78  begins the planting process. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 4 , which shows the same view as  FIG. 3 , but from the opposite side of planter  10 , it may be seen that calibrator  24  also controls the release of growth agent adjacent to each planted sea oat. Support bracket  91  connected to bracket  81  supports a pivoting “L” shaped member  92 . The upper portion of  92  is connected to a cable  70  and the lower portion of  92  extends towards wheel  77  into the path of peg  77 . As peg  79  transits across and contacts the lower portion of  92 ,  92  pivots and pulls the cable wire within  70  toward the front of the planter  10 . This movement causes a corresponding movement of rotating arm  40  such that bar or rod  39  rotates clockwise, and pivots the flaps biased against the bottoms of delivery hoses  36  downward to open hoses  36  and release growth agent. A spring (not shown), is connected to either the arm  40  or the pivot member  92 , or both, to basis the flaps against the bottom of the delivery hose  36 , thereby retaining the growth agent in the tube until the next sea oat release. 
   As shown in isolation in  FIG. 5 , during planting, the lower tires  13  rest on the ground supporting the planter  10  along with the other supporting elements such as the plow  33 , tow hitch  14 , and leveling gates  32 . The calibrator  24  actuates the release bar  41  to drop sea oats down tube  22  as discussed. The release bar  41  returns to its original position when the off-axis peg  79  continue to rotate and drop below the lowest portion of the vertical posts  48 . The bias members  52  (a spring on each side) pull the release bar  41  forward to re-insert the tongues  42  into the tubes pending another rotation of the calibrator wheel  77 . Circular guides  51  ride on angled guides that act as retaining rails and support the weight of the release bar as it moves forward and backward to drop the seedlings. 
     FIG. 6  shows an alternative embodiment of the sea oats planter  10 . The main structural elements are the same, and all of the active elements of the planter shown in  FIG. 1  are present in the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . However, one will note that the seat  20  has been repositioned closer to the hitch  14  and is a more comfortable padded, individual seat, and tray holders  18  have been repositioned to the right and left of the seat  20 , but still within easy reach for loading. As in the preferred embodiment, a calibrator  24  measures the distance traveled by the planter to control the delivery of sea oats and growth agent, but the calibrator has been repositioned above, but in selective contact with the rear tires  13 . 
   In the second embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the distance calibrator  24  rests upon the lower pair of tires  13  rolling on the ground, which in turn rotate an upper tire  43  located above the lower pair of tires  13 . The lower tires  13  rotate in the direction of movement, but bear upon and rotate the upper tire  43  in the opposite direction. As with the preferred embodiment in  FIG. 1 , an off-axis steel bar or peg  46  (See  FIGS. 8-11 ) actuates the release bar  41 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the configuration includes lower and upper supports  44  and  47 , with the lower pair of tires  13  being supported by the lower support  47  and the upper tire  43  is supported by the upper support  44 . Both the lower and upper supports  47  and  44  are coupled to the frame  12  of the planter  10 . The release bar  41  includes vertical posts  48 , a horizontal rectangular frame member  49 , tongues  42 , a circular guide  51 , and bias members  52 . 
   The calibrator  24  works principally in the same manner as with the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 . As the pegs  46  rotate responsive to the counter rotating motion of tire  43  in contact with lower tires  13 , each peg contacts and bears against the lower portion of vertical posts  48 . The lower portion of the posts  48  is a resilient piece of rubber or like material that absorbs and translates the rotary motion of tire  43  into a rearward directed pulling force upon posts  48 . As each post is pulled rearward, in tandem, release bar  41  is moved rearward to retract tongues  42  from within tubes  22 , thereby releasing any sea oats loaded in tubes  22 . As each peg  46  proceeds along the rotational path of wheel  43 , contact with the lower resilient portion of post  48  is lost allowing springs  52  to pull the release bar  41  back into its recessed, standard position with each tongue inserted into and blocking each tube  22 . The cycle repeats itself to the extent that peg  46  again encounters post  48 . 
   Regarding the introduction of growth agent in this second embodiment, growth agent may be introduced in the same manner as previously described in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , except that cable actuation may be initiated by the release bar  41  instead of the calibrator wheel  43 . Also, growth agent hoses may simply be routed to each sea oats delivery tube  22  and metered out at constant and continuous amounts within the tube and accumulate at the tongue  42  of the release bar within each tube  22 . As a plant slides down each tube  22 , growth agent is picked up by the root ball of each plant and deposited along with each release of a plant. Alternatively, a combination of each of these methods may be utilized in which each grown agent hose  36  from its tank  16  simple ends in a valve adjacent to each cutout portion  38  of each tube  22 . Each valve can be manually opened and a continuous stream of growth agent may be delivered within each furrow along with each plant as planting progresses. 
   In other embodiments, other distance calibrators may be used to determine distance traveled, and may actuate the release of the oats by other means. For example, electronic means may be used to measure distance and valves may be used for releasing the oats. Additionally, other mechanical means may be used to actuate and release the oats. The shown configurations are generally preferred due to their relative simplicity, but the embodiment in  FIG. 1  is primarily preferred. 
     FIG. 12  shows a variation on the calibrator configuration shown in  FIG. 11 . The lower tires  13  now include a set of radially protruding tines. The tines  54  are positioned to dig into the ground, and help the tires  13  from slipping on the ground without rotating. Thus, for softer ground such as sand, the tines  54  allow the calibrator to continue to measure distance accurately. The remaining configuration and motion of the calibrator  24  is as discussed previously. The distance calibrator  24  rests on the ridge between formed furrows, and thus is vertically above the plows  33 . The grates  32  and  28 , 30  are at a height between the plows  33  and the distance calibrator  24  to level the ground to a level between the depth of the furrows and the height of the ridge. This leveling occurs in the non-tined version as well. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 12  showing interaction of the filling tube  22  with the soil, the applicable parts include the filling grate  32 , leveling grates  28 , 30  and partial views of delivery tubes  22 , and leveling grate posts  29 . A forward portion of a furrow  58  and a rear portion of a furrow  59  show a relative change in grade and depth of the furrow along the grates  32  and  28 , 30 . The filling grate  32  has two different types of holes to siphon the ground into the furrow. A slotted portion  61  has long slots cut into the grate  32 , and expanded metal portion  62  extends behind the slotted portion. As ground initially tumbles into the furrow through the slotted portion  61 , the seedling is set in the ground by falling into the forward portion  58  of the furrow. The remaining ground falls into the furrow in the rear portion of the furrow  59  through the expanded metal portion  62 . The leveling grates  28 , 30  located rear of the filling grates  32 , take any extra ground fill that is either built up from collapsing into the furrow too quickly or from not dropping into the furrow at all and remaining on the ridge, and flattens the furrow and ridge to an equal height without disturbing the planted sea oat. 
   As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, various modifications can be made within the scope of the aforesaid description. Such modifications being within the ability of one skilled in the art form a part of the present invention and are embraced by the claims below.