Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Heimbuch

Thomas A. Heimbuch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6247417
    Abstract: An equidistant planting system for accurately placing seeds in a furrow thereby providing increased crop yields. The inventive device includes a rim member having a lower opening, a main disk rotatably positioned within the rim member, a plurality of feeder tubes attached to the main disk, a center disk secured to the main disk having a plurality of receiving channels that correspond with each of the feeder tubes, a plurality of first apertures extending through the center disk and the main disk adjacent each of the receiving channels, and a manifold having an end cutout rotatably positioned about the center disk. The manifold is fluidly connected to a seed tube and an air tube wherein the air tube provides pressurized air to the manifold which escapes through the first apertures creating a vertex within the distal portion of the receiving channels which retains the seeds in the proper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas A. Heimbuch
  • Patent number: 6173664
    Abstract: An equidistant planting system for accurately placing seeds in a furrow thereby providing increased crop yields. The inventive device includes a seed singulator device, a delivery tube extending from the singulator device, and a placement device connected to the delivery tube for dispersing the seed uniformly within the furrow. The placement device comprises a ring member, an opening within the lower portion of the ring member, a disk member rotatably positioned within the ring member, a mechanical drive for rotating the disk member, a cover attached to the ring member, a plurality of inner members attached to the disk member, and a corresponding plurality of guide members attached to the disk member adjacent the corresponding inner members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas A. Heimbuch
  • Patent number: 5778771
    Abstract: A vegetable topper is disclosed. In one embodiment, the topper includes a plurality of spaced rollers which are mounted on a pair of laterally spaced roller chain loops such that the rollers are able to freely spin relative to the roller chains. The rollers define a bed on which vegetables may be positioned and the flow of vegetables along the bed is generally perpendicular to the rotational axes of the rollers. A pair of laterally spaced traction members engage the lower surface of the rollers on the "upper" portion of the roller chain loops which define the bed such that the rollers of the bed are spun by relative movement between the roller chain loops and these belts. At least two cutter blades are disposed below the bed and cut vegetable tops which extend below a pair of adjacent rollers to provide a self-cleaning feature. A paddle wheel is disposed between these two cutter blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Thomas A. Heimbuch