The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 14, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
Eric Johnson, Salina, KS (US);
Roy E Applequist, Salina, KS (US);
Great Plains Manufacturing, Incorporated, Assaria, KS (US);
Abstract
A seed firming wheel attachment is disposed behind the paired discs of an opener to gently press deposited seeds down into the bottom of a V-shaped trench formed by the discs. An improved bearing assembly couples the wheel of the attachment to its support arm in such a manner that one side face of the upright wheel is left completely smooth and flat without projecting nuts or other structures that would tend to accumulate mud and trash. The solid, unbroken expanse of the smooth side face also serves to shield the bearing assembly against exposure to the elements from that side of the wheel. A specially configured inner race of the bearing assembly has a shaft portion that extends from the opposite side of the wheel to serve as a spacer between the wheel and its support arm, a receiver for the threaded fastening bolt of the assembly, and a sealing surface for a second, resilient, annular seal of the assembly against the elements.