Patent ID: 7669539

Claim:
A seed meter, comprising: an input port configured to receive a supply of seeds and an output port configured to deliver the supply of seeds for dispensing to a planting area; a seed disk configured to receive the supply of seeds from the input port and deliver the supply of seeds to the output port at a substantially uniform rate, the seed disk having a seed side where seeds flow from the input port, and a vacuum side opposite the seed side; a first housing portion surrounding a first portion of the seed disk in a fixed relationship to direct the supply of seeds against the seed disk, the first housing portion partially defining a housing for receiving the seed disk therein; and a second housing portion pivotably connected to the first housing portion and configured to move between a first position wherein the second housing portion extends about the seed disk and further defines a portion of the housing so as to operate in concert with the first housing portion to direct the supply of seeds against the seed side of seed disk and a second position providing access to at least a portion of the second portion of the seed disk including the lowest most portion of the seed side through the housing.