	US 11,991,949 B2
	Systems and apparatuses for soil and seed monitoring
Michael Strnad, Delavan, IL (US); and Timothy Kater, Bloomington, IL (US)
Assigned to Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Appl. No. 16/651,324
Filed by Precision Planting, LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
PCT Filed Oct. 2, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/053832 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 26, 2020, PCT Pub. No. WO2019/070617, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 11, 2019.
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 2020/0225206 A1, Jul. 16, 2020
Int. Cl. A01C 5/06 (2006.01); A01B 49/06 (2006.01); A01B 61/00 (2006.01); A01B 61/04 (2006.01); A01B 79/02 (2006.01); A01C 7/20 (2006.01); A01C 14/00 (2006.01); A01C 21/00 (2006.01); G01N 33/24 (2006.01); A01B 79/00 (2006.01); A01C 7/08 (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 7/205 (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); A01C 7/08 (2013.01); G01N 2033/245 (2013.01)]

26 Claims

1. A soil apparatus comprising:

a lower base portion of a base to firm seed in a trench that is formed in an agricultural field;

an upper base portion of the base having a protruding region disposed to extend at an end of the upper base portion; and

a neck portion adapted for releasably attaching to a row unit of an implement, wherein the neck portion has first and second protrusions to insert into the lower base portion and then lock when the protruding region of the upper base portion is inserted into the lower base portion and this protruding region of the upper base portion presses the first and second protrusions into the lower base portion to lock the neck portion to the upper base portion and the lower base portion.