Abstract:
The present invention is a seeder apparatus having a main body a plurality of equally spaced openings in the main body, measurement indicia incorporated onto the main body, and a recessed slot constructed and arranged on said bottom surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    A common problem amongst gardeners relates to the placement of seeds in a suitable position for growing. As much as persons try with measurement devices to ensure equal placement, there is invariably a degree of variation that many find unsuitable. Furthermore, prior attempts at presenting seed placement in a congruent manner results in greatly elongated planting times. The present invention addresses this difficulty. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In one embodiment, the present invention is a seeder apparatus comprising:
       a main body having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, a width surface, and a height surface;   a plurality of equally spaced openings in said main body;   measurement indicia incorporated onto said main body; and   a recessed slot constructed and arranged on said bottom surface.       
 
         [0007]    In one embodiment the main body is formed approximately 6 to 8 feet long, 1 to 2 inches wide and ½ to 1 inch tall. In one embodiment the plurality of equally spaced openings includes at least two adjacent rows of openings, whereby a first row has openings with a fixed and congruent radius and a second row has openings with a fixed and congruent radius different from said first row openings. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment the measurement indicia is on said height surface. 
         [0009]    Also contemplated is a method of planting seeds, said method comprising the steps of:
       providing an apparatus according to the invention described herein;   placing the apparatus on a plating surface;   providing seeds to be planted;   positioning said seeds in selected openings;   planting seeds through said openings into said planting surface.       
 
         [0015]    In one embodiment the method is further comprising the steps of: providing two apparatus according to the invention described herein with at least one connecting plate constructed and arranged to mate with said recessed slot; securing two seeder apparatus in an end to end arrangement by aligning said recessed slots along a single connecting plate; securing said connecting plate into a fixed position; continuing the method of of the invention at the step of positioning said secured two seeders on a planting surface. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment of the present invention the apparatus will have the same shade of yellow paint on both sides of the seeder where the numbers presently are. Thus will greatly enhance the visibility of the numbers themselves. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment of the present invention the apparatus will have the same number system in both sides of the seeder for reading or determining seed spacing for both sizes of seed ports. 
         [0018]    The present invention is contemplated as a system and tool that will make the home and hobby gardener task of planting vegetable, and/or herb seeds etc. much more quick, simpler, efficient and accurate. It will also make the gardening experience more pleasant . . . especially the sometimes laborious task of seed planting by taking away the lengthy back bending and indeed the overall unhealthy body ergonomics required to properly place, line-up and insert seeds into the proper horizontal and even vertical spacing&#39;s as required by the many seed varieties that are utilized. It&#39;s a very user friendly and efficiently designed new tool for the “new and constant gardener”. 
         [0019]    It is contemplated that a gardener can certainly cover a very large area very quickly and efficiently. Further the invention is suitable for covering a 5-10 acre area very effectively. 
         [0020]    The actual efficiency of the time it takes to place seed, one by one, by hand, is at least four times slower placing seed, any type of seed, than using the present invention. And, the time it takes to line up seed in proper even rows is also made much more efficient. Overall placement of seed from beginning to end of process, using the present invention is cut down to 25%, minimum, from the previous laborious method. 
         [0021]    In other words, what used to take say two hours to seed, takes only thirty minutes to do, and, at the same time having more accurately spaced seeds, straighter rows. This makes for more efficient usage of space in the garden layout in general. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  demonstrates placement of an apparatus according to the present invention by a user. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is demonstrative of top, side, and bottom views of a cedar according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial view of the left end from  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is in a March partial view from the center portion of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is in a large partial view of the right and from  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view demonstrating a connection system principal embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    As generally understood, the present invention relates to a system and method for effectively, and efficiently planting seeds by hand. Seeder  10  is positioned by a user  12 . Seeder  12  has a top surface  14 , side surface  16 , and bottom surface  18 . In one embodiment, seed guide  10  is constructed and arranged with at least one of large seed placement holes  20 , small seed placement holes  22 , or combinations thereof. In an embodiment utilizing large placement holes  20  dimension  24  is representative of the distance from one center point to an adjacent center point of adjacent holes  20 . Dimension  24  is contemplated at being between 0.5 and 1.5 inches. In a preferred embodiment, dimension  24  is approximately 1 inch. Dimension  26  is representative of the distance between one center point and an adjacent center point of small placement holes  22 . Dimension  22  is contemplated as being between about 0.25 and 0.75 inches. In a preferred embodiment, dimension  26  is 0.5 inches. In one embodiment, seeder  10  has printed indicia  16  on one side whereby said printed indicia provide spacing measurement indicators  28 . 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, the present invention encompasses a system whereby two or more seeders  10  are joined at connection joint surface  30 . A flathead screw  34  and thumb screw  36  interact with a recessed slot  38  constructed and arranged to join and secure seeder  10  in a continuous, connected arrangement. 
         [0030]    As best seen in  FIG. 6  connection plate  32  is positioned into recessed slot  38  formed in seeder  10 . Connection plate  32  is then secured to seeder  10  utilizing the aforementioned flathead screw  34  and, screw  36 . 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, seeder  10  is contemplated to be between six and 8 feet long, approximately 1 to 2 inches wide, and approximately ½ to 1 inch of depth. In another embodiment, seeder  10  is 8 feet long, 1 and ⅛ inches wide, and approximately ⅝ inches of depth. Measuring indicia  16  is utilized not only for seed spacing but further is utilized in measuring at least one of seed bed width, furrow width, furor depth, trench width, trench depth, alignment and measurement of potato eyes, seedlings, starter plants, combinations thereof and the like. 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, a user will select seeder  10 , position it as desired on the ground, or on any other surface in which seeds, (which includes seedlings, saplings, and the like) are to positioned and planted, and plant the desired seeds by inserting through selected seed placement holes using either large holes  20 , or small holes  22  as desired. 
         [0033]    In another embodiment, a user will connect two or more seeders  10  as demonstrated in  FIG. 6 , place on a surface for planting, select seeds for planting, and plant through either large holes  20  or small holes  22  as desired. 
         [0034]    Further contemplated in the present invention is a system utilizing seeder  10  in conjunction with a drip irrigation system whereby irrigation is provided at specific and precise points to maximize irrigation and minimize the waste of irrigating water. 
         [0035]    While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.