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:
Feb. 15, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 04, 1998
John Kinkead, St, Paul, MN (US);
George B Kinkead, Mendota Heights, MN (US);
Scott Kinkead, St. Paul, MN (US);
Matthew A Donner, St. Anthony, MN (US);
Turfco Manufacturing, Inc., Menneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
The seeder apparatus includes a material hopper for dispensing material onto a conveyor to be moved thereby to an entry nip between a rotary brush and the conveyor for propelling the material downwardly at the discharge end. In one embodiment, a metering gate extends vertically in its closed position relative to the conveyor, with the metering gate controlling the rate of dispensation of seed or other material being moved to the entry nip. A shield assembly is provided to minimize the effects of wind on the trajectory of seed or other material being propelled to the ground by the brush and conveyor. In preferred forms, a separate seed hopper is mounted to the top dresser, and in a second embodiment, either seed from the seed hopper and/or dressing material from the top dresser hopper may be moved by the conveyor to the entry nip. In other embodiments, a terrain opening element in the form of a spiking roller is provided to puncture the terrain before top dressing and/or seeds are dispensed, and a brush element in the form of a pull brush is provided to move seed and any top dressing supported on grass blades downward in the terrain.