SEEDPACKAGE

Abstract: The invention relates to a bag-shaped container with a receiving capacity (3) for receiving seeds or the like and with a releasable marker section (8). Preferably the marker section (8) can be released from the remaining part of the container without additional tools, for example by a perforation (15).

Description: The invention relates to a package containing a dosage of seeds and a marker section. Know packages for receiving seeds mostly are provided with an external indication of the contents of the container. After such a package has been opened and the seeds are brought into the soil this indication on the package however can no longer be used. For indicating the kind of seed that has been planted additional marker plates, strips or the like are used. From GB-A-620 095 a seed package is known comprising a seed envelope attached to a rigid strip. After sowing the seeds the strip can be stuck into the soil while still carrying the envelope, the exposed surface of which is printed with particulars of the contents. From US-A-2.732.064 a seed package is known comprising a marker stick clampingly received in the package. In use the marker stick is released from the seed package itself. It is an object of the invention to provide a package of the type mentioned before that, after the seeds have been removed from the receiving capacity, can be used in an advantageous way. For this purpose the package according to the invention is characterized as set forth in the main claim. After the seeds have been transferred from the package into the soil the marker section can be released from the remaining section of the package and be pushed into the soil near the planted seeds. On the marker section the kind of seeds are indicated. The seal joint or adhesive joint can be manufactured simply during the fabrication of the package. Because the marker section and the seed receiving compartment are separated from each other it is avoided that seeds, remaining in the respective compartment, can fall out or can be put into the soil together with the marker section unintentionally. Further the marker section can be torn free simply from the remaining part of the package without the need for additional tools. The manufacturing of the package according to the invention is extremely simple. During a conventional manufacturing process of a package, whereby the circumferential walls are sealed, the marker section can be formed by providing an additional seal joint. The marker section has a large stiffness such that sticking it in the soil does not render any problems. An embodiment is possible in which the marker strip and the respective compartment are shaped integrally. Providing the marker strip between both sheets of the marker section already can be carried out before providing the seal joins during the manufacturing of the package. Moreover it is possible that the marker section, after shaping the seed receiving compartment, is attached to the remaining package section. For simplifying the application of the marker section into the soil it is preferred that the marker strip at its one end ends in a point. Hereby it is possible that the wall portions of the marker section at the respective locations have a corresponding shape. Hereafter the invention will be elucidated by means of the drawing in which an embodiment of the container (or package) according to the invention is illustrated. Figure 1 shows a frontal view of an embodiment of the container according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows a section according to II - II in figure 1. The bag-shaped container shown in figures 1 and 2 comprises a receiving capacity 3 limited by two wall portions 1 and 2 for receiving seed or the like. For defining the receiving capacity 3 the wall portions 1 and 2 are interconnected at their edges by joints, such as adhesive joints or seal joints 4 until 7. The container is provided with a marker section 8 that at the joint 7 adjoins the receiving capacity 3. As appears clearly from figure 2 this marker section 8 basically comprises two interconnected wall portions 9 and 10 that each form an integral continuation of the corresponding wall portions 1 and 2 of the receiving capacity 3. While enclosing a strip-like reinforcement part 11 the wall portions 9 and 10 are at their circumferential edges interconnected by the joint 7 and the joints 12 until 14. It is also possible however that the reinforcement part is as big as the marker section such that their side edges substantially coincide. As appears clearly the joint 7 constitutes the division between the section of the container comprising the receiving capacity 3 and the marker section 8. For simplifying the removal of the marker section 8 from the remaining part of the container perforations 15 are provided in the joint 7. The width of these perforations 15 is less than the width of the joint 7 such that the receiving capacity 3 remains closed notwithstanding the perforations 15. Instead of the application of perforations 15 it is of course possible too, that different methods known per se are applied for releasing the marker section 8 from the remaining part of the container. It is also possible, that the marker section 8 has to be cut loose from the remaining part. Figure 2 illustrates clearly that the reinforcement part 11 is shaped strip-like. Appropriate materials for the reinforcement part are among others metal, wood or plastic material. At its lower end the reinforcement part 11 comprises a sharp point 16 such that the marker section 8, after being released from the remaining part of the container, can be pushed easily into the soil or the like. As appears clearly from figure 1 the wall portions 9 and 10 comprise near to the sharp point 16 of the reinforcement part 11 a corresponding tapering shape. However this is not necessary. The invention is not limited to the embodiment described before but can be varied widely within the scope of the invention.

Claims: Package containing a dosage of seeds and a marker section, characterized in that the package is made from two sheets (1, 2) and comprises a seal joint or an adhesive joint (7) dividing the package in two compartments (3, 8) containing the seeds and a stiff marker strip (11), respectively, the joint (7) being provided with perforations (15) such that upon separation along said perforations (15) the compartment (3) containing the seeds and the marker strip (11) compartment (8) are left as two independent sealed compartments, Package accordint to claim 1, characterized in that the marker strip (11) at its one end ends in a point (16). Package according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the marker strip (11) is fabricated from metal, wood or plastic material. Package according to one of the claims 1-3, characterized in that the marker strip (11) and the respective compartment (8) are shaped integrally.

Inventors: VAN INGEN SCHENAU, HENDRICUS CORNELUS
Applicants: ROYAL SLUIS KONINKLIJKE ZAAIZAADBEDRIJVEN GEBROEDERS SLUIS B.V.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65D77
IPC codes: B65D75, B65D33