US 11,889,782 B2
Systems and apparatuses for soil and seed monitoring
Michael Strnad, Delavan, IL (US); Timothy Kater, Bloomington, IL (US); Matthew Morgan, Dunlap, IL (US); and Dale M. Koch, Tremont, IL (US)
Assigned to Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Filed by Precision Planting, LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/831,753.
Application 16/831,753 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2018/053832, filed on Oct. 2, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/661,783, filed on Apr. 24, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/625,855, filed on Feb. 2, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/567,135, filed on Oct. 2, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0221632 A1, Jul. 16, 2020
Int. Cl. A01C 5/06 (2006.01); A01C 7/20 (2006.01); A01B 61/04 (2006.01); A01B 49/06 (2006.01); A01B 61/00 (2006.01); G01N 33/24 (2006.01); A01C 14/00 (2006.01); A01B 79/02 (2006.01); A01C 21/00 (2006.01); A01B 79/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01C 5/068 (2013.01) [A01B 49/06 (2013.01); A01B 61/00 (2013.01); A01B 61/04 (2013.01); A01B 61/042 (2013.01); A01B 79/02 (2013.01); A01C 7/201 (2013.01); A01C 14/00 (2013.01); A01C 21/00 (2013.01); G01N 33/24 (2013.01); G01N 33/246 (2013.01); A01B 79/005 (2013.01); G01N 2033/245 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A soil apparatus comprising:
a base portion that is configured to contact soil in a trench to press seed in the trench to improve seed to soil contact in soil of an agricultural field;
a mounting portion connected to the base portion, the mounting portion configured to attach to an agricultural implement;
wherein the mounting portion includes a force relief having an internal opening that is disposed within the mounting portion to transfer applied force from the base portion to the mounting portion to prevent damage to the base portion if the soil apparatus is engaged in soil while the agricultural implement is driven in a reverse direction, wherein the mounting portion and the base portion are separate components, wherein the internal opening of the force relief is a circular hole extending horizontally through a width of the mounting portion that extends across a width of the trench when in operation to allow the mounting portion to break to prevent damage to the base portion.