GB2258793A

GB2258793A - A horticultural tool.

Info

Publication number: GB2258793A
Application number: GB9112079A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry James Vincent Hewson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-06-05
Filing date: 1991-06-05
Publication date: 1993-02-24
Also published as: GB9112079D0

Abstract

A tool for planting seeds has a dibber 2 at one end of a staff 1. The staff has an internal seed guide channel 16 which leads to an end 4 of the staff. A hole is made in the ground with the dibber and the staff is then reversed and the end 4 of the staff is introduced in to the hole. A seed placed in the guide channel 16 through an opening 15 will then drop to the bottom of the hole. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: HORTICULTURAL TOOL The invention relates to horticultural tools. In particular, the invention provides an instrument to aid the planting process for discrete seeds or the like.

BACKGROUND It is well known to use the pointed end of an iron rod for making holes in the soil into which seeds are planted.

Such a rod is often called a dibber, and generally it requires the operator to bend over or kneel to make the hole. This operation can cause fatigue and back pain especially in the elderly. The placing of a seed in the hole made in the soil by a dibber may also create backstress and pain.

Additionally, the ideal depth for planting seeds is not easily controlled with known dibbers and even the making of the hole may be difficult in dry or hard soil.

OBJECTIVE It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide a tool which overcomes, at least in part, some or all of the problems encountered with known dibbers used for planting discrete seeds or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a horticultural tool comprising: a dibble at one end of the staff having a seed guide channel extending from the other end of the staff along a section of the staff to at least as far as a seed feeder port; and a hole location means adjacent to the said other end of the staff.

Preferably, a cross beam is mounted on the staff so that pressure may be exerted on the dibble to create the hole.

A depth gauge may be adjustably mounted on the staff adjacent the dibble to control the depth of the hole,in the soil.

Measuring means may also be provided on the staff adjacent to the dibble so that in use, the spacing between holes may be measured to a desired distance.

The dibble may be smooth-sided or provided with flutes which disturb the side walls of the hole upon withdrawal of the dibble so that some loose earth falls to the bottom of the hole so providing a suitable bed for the seed. The dibble may also be selected from a range of shapes having different conical angles of the side walls and/or different radiusing of the tip of the dibble.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a horticultural tool for making holes in soil and for delivering a seed to the hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing.

The horticultural tool comprises a right circular cylindrical hollow staff 1 having a dibble 2 screwed into an internally threaded end 3 of the staff. At the other end 4 of the staff 1 a transparent disc 5 is mounted on the externally threaded part between retaining rings 6 and 7.

A collar 8 which is a slide fit on the staff 1 is secured thereto by a pin (not shown) located through a suitable one of the holes 9 in the collar 8 and a suitable aligned hole of a set of holes 10 in the staff 1. A cross beam 11 screwed onto the collar 8 extends laterally relative to the staff 1 and is offset on the staff 1 so that the edged 12, 13 and 14 are at preset measured distances from the axis of the dibble 2. A seed feeder port 15 is located in the staff 1 to communicate with a seed guide channel 16 which extends to the end 4 of the staff 1.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION In operation the tip of the dibble 2 is placed on the soil and the staff is held substantially upright whilst pressure is brought to bear on the tip of the dibble by placing a foot on the cross beam 11 and applying weight. The depth to which the dibble 2 enters the soil is determined by the underside 17 of the crossbeam 11 bearing against the soil.

Therefore the depth of the hole is preset by setting the distance between the tip of the dibble 2 and the underside 17 of the beam 11 to the desired depth for the seeds to be planted. The spacing between the holes 9 on the collar 8 and the holes 10 in the staff 1 may differ. For example, if the three holes 9 are one inch apart and the three holes 10 are 1.5 inches apart the distance of the end of the dibble 2 from the underside 17 of the bema 11 may be varied over a range of 3 inches by half inch intervals by securing a pin (not shown) through the relevant pair of aligned holes 9 and 10. Although the dibble as shown is substantially conical with a rounded tip it will be appreciated that the tip may be pointed and that the conical angle may be selected from a set of dibbles each with differing angles by screwing the appropriate dibble onto the internally threaded end of the staff 1.The dibble may also be provided with fluted sides and partially rotated as it is withdrawn from the soil so that some of the earth from the sides of the hole is dislodged to form a suitable bed at the base of the hole for a seed.

The seed is introduced into the hole in the soil by inverting the staff 1 so that the end 4 is aligned with the hole. The disc 5 is transparent so that the. hole is the soil may be seen during the alignment process. The end 4 enters the hole in the soil but is prevented by the soil bearing against surface 18 from entering to any great extent. It will be appreciated that by reversing the position of the retaining rings 6 and 7 the depth to which the end 4 enters the soil may be varied.

Whilst the end 4 and the hole are aligned a seed is introduced into the channel 16 of the staff 1 through the port 15. The seed fall under gravity into the hole which may then be suitably in-filled after the tool has been lifted clear.

The spacing between holes may be measured by using a suitable one of the distances between the edges 12, 13 and 14 of the beam 11 and the axis of the dibble as a preset measure from the adjacent hole.

Preferably the staff is between 4-6 foot long so that the user is not required to stoop during the planting operation.

Claims

1. A horticultural too camp rising a dibble at one end of a staff, the staff having a seed guide channel extending from the other end of the staff along a section of the staff to at least as far as a s. feeder port, and a hole location means adjacent to the other end of the staff, the location means beinq adapted to locate the other end of the staff relative to a hole tuado ity the dibber.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seed feeder port is formed by an opening through the wall of the staff so that a seed can be iiltrodused through the port to the guide channel.

3. A tool as claimed i'n Olaitit I or Claim 2, wherein the staff is a tube.

4, A tool as claimed tn any preceding claim, wherein a cross beam is mounted on the staff so that pressure may be exerted on the cross beam to force the dibble into the ground to create a hole.

5, A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a depth gauge is adjustably mounted on the staff adjacent the dibble to control the depth to which the dibble can enter the ground.

6, A tool as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the cross beam forms a depth gauge and is adjustable mounted on the staff adjacent the dibble to control the depth to which the dibble can enter the ground.

7. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein lateral distance measuring means are provided on the staff adjacent to the dibble so that in use, the spacing between holes may be measured to a desired distance.

8. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dibble is provided with flutes.

9. A tool as claimed in in any1preceding claim wherein the dibble is removably attached t the shaft.

10. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hole location means is formed hy an open end of the say and by a radially extending-plate surrounding the open end and spaced therefrom along the length of the staff.

11. A tool as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the plate is transparent.

12. A horticultural tool substentially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.