Abstract: Described is a high-speed transplanting mechanism that includes an angle-adjusting device about an angle of a duckbill entering soil, the mechanism comprising a rear arm, a front arm, a restoring spring, a control wire, a control wire sleeve and a control adjuster. The front arm is hinged on the mounting base of the planting device, the rear arm is hinged on the duckbill planting device, and the another end of the rear arm and the front arm are axial sliding connection. The control adjuster comprises an adjuster body and a handle fixed on the adjuster body. The restoring spring is positioned between the first limit plate on the rear arm and the second limit plate on the front arm. The end of the control wire is fixed on the second limit plate and, in turn, the other end of the control wire passes through the first limit plate, the restoring spring, the second limit plate and the control wire sleeve, and finally fixed to the adjuster body.

Abstract: An expandable multi-compartment luggage having a second luggage bag hingeably attached to the first luggage bag. The second luggage bag having an upper portion and a collapsible lower portion. The collapsible lower portion being moveable between a collapsed position to an expanded position defining a lower interior compartment. The luggage also including a dividing wall disposed between the upper and lower portions of the second luggage bag, and which is movable from a closed position dividing the upper interior compartment of the second luggage bag and the lower interior compartment of the second luggage bag and an open position with the upper interior compartment of the second luggage bag being in communication with the lower interior compartment of the second luggage bag.

Abstract: A device for use in cutting plugs of submerged substrate and particularly seagrass plugs for the purpose of transplanting using a corresponding transport receptacle and method. The device utilizes a hollow cutting member with a serrated bottom edge capable of being placed over a targeted area and forced into the submerged substrate, created vacuum pressure in the hollow cutting member, and compressed air injected between the exterior of the hollow cutting member and the submerged substrate to accomplish cutting of a submerged substrate unit. Vacuum pressure in the hollow cutting member is released to transfer the collected unit to the corresponding transport receptacle with a removable bottom. A corresponding method for transplanting a collected seagrass plug is further accomplished by creating a hole at recipient site using the device and removing the transport receptacle's removable bottom to release the plug into the created hole.

Abstract: A multi-purpose garden tool (10) including a pair of blade assemblies (20)(20′) wherein, each blade assembly (20) includes a handle portion (21), a shank portion (22) and a contoured blade portion (23) wherein, the shank portions (22)(22′) are pivotally secured to one another as at (28); and, wherein each of the contoured blade portions (23)(23′) define one-half of a hollow frustro-conical configuration and the rear edges (24)(24′) of the blade portions (23)(23′) and the interior faces of the shank portions (22) (22′) are sharpened to function as scissors.

Abstract: Expandable stinger planting is described in which stinger probes on a boom end mounted frame are positioned for ground penetration on a boom type vehicle. Bottom ends of the probes are shifted between a closed plant receiving, ground penetrating positions; and open positions with bottom ends open to form a plant discharge opening. A receptacle within the probes is open to the plant discharge opening, and receives plants from a magazine. Plants move by a feeder device in the magazine to a release station, where successive plants may be discharged into the plant receiving receptacle. The plant magazine and plant release station are positioned above the plant receiving receptacle such that a plant moved to the release station may drop into the receiving receptacle, to be discharged through the discharge opening. Packers may be provided on the frame to press planting media about the plants.

Abstract: An expandable stinger planter is described which includes a base frame and a pivot frame mounted to the base frame for pivotal movement thereon about multiple pivot axes. A stinger comprised of a pair of elongated probes is mounted to the pivot frame and extending to bottom ends. A stinger mounting frame is operatively positioned between the pivot frame and at least one of the elongated probes. An actuator on the stinger mounting frame is operable to shift the bottom ends between a closed position and an open wherein the bottom ends are opened and form a plant discharge opening. An internal plant receiving receptacle within the probes is open to the plant discharge opening at the open position whereby a plant placed in the plant receiving receptacle may be discharged through the plant discharge opening.

Abstract: An expandable stinger planter is described for attachment to an excavator type boom. The planter includes a frame arrangement that may be releasably secured to the boom, with a stinger depending therefrom. The boom may be selectively operated to drive the probes deep into the ground. The stinger includes a pair of elongated probes that have bottom ends configured to be opened and closed by operation of an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is selectively operable to shift the probes relative to one another between a closed position wherein the bottom ends are closed together, and an open position wherein the bottom ends are spaced apart from one another to form a plant discharge opening. The probes form an upwardly open internal plant receiving receptacle that is open to the plant discharge opening at the open position whereby a plant placed in the plant receiving receptacle may be discharged through the plant discharge opening as the probes are lifted by the boom.

Abstract: A method of making a nonwoven composite material. The method includes the steps of: providing a hydraulically entangled web containing a fibrous component and a nonwoven layer of substantially continuous filaments; applying a bonding material to at least one side of said web; and creping said at least one side of the hydraulically entangled web. The bonder material may be an aqueous mixture including a curable latex polymer, a pigment, and a cure promoter. Also disclosed is a nonwoven composite material made of a hydraulically entangled web including a fibrous component; a nonwoven layer of substantially continuous filaments; and regions containing bonder material covering at least a portion of at least one side of the composite material, wherein at least one side of the web has been creped.

Abstract: A hole digger is provided including a post and a hole digging attachment mounted to the post and having a closed bottom face and a tapered periphery.

Abstract: A planting hole forming apparatus includes a central shaft having a longitudinal axis, a bottom leading end and an upper trailing end, and a discontinuous flighting comprising a plurality of flighting sections spiraling around the central shaft at spaced locations along the shaft adjacent the bottom leading end. Some form of drive mechanism, for example a hand-held drill, is used to rotate the central shaft about its longitudinal axis to thereby form the planting hole. The drive mechanism is chosen to accommodate the size of the central shaft and to supply the necessary torque to rotate the central shaft sufficiently to form the planting hole. The structure of the flighting sections is such that while the planting hole is being formed the soil is simultaneously pulverized with a substantial portion of the pulverized soil being left in the hole.

Abstract: The method of planting potted nursery plants includes providing a planting tool having a punch head corresponding to the shape of the potted plant to be planted and then inserting the punch head into the ground and displacing soil for forming a cavity having the shape of the punch head and potting soil of the potted plant. The potted plant is then inserted into the sized hole in the ground without the need of any filling soil around the plant. The planting tool includes a cross member having a handle extending from an upwardly extending arm and the punch head extending from the downwardly extending arm. A step member extends through oppositely extending horizontal arms and telescopically holds a measuring member. T shaped holders are provided on the handle for holding punch heads of different sizes and shapes.

Abstract: A manual plant setting device that enables a gardener to set plants into the ground from a standing position without the need to bend or stoop, having a base plate with a short spud extending downwardly therefrom to be pressed into the soil to form a hole to receive the root ball of a plant to be set in the ground, an elongate plant guide, connected at one end to the base plate offset from the spud and extending upwardly from the base plate, in which a plant is placed and allowed to slide smoothly down the plant guide to the hole prepared to receive the root ball, and a handle interconnected to the opposite end of the plant guide for holding and manipulating the device. In the method of the invention the spud is pressed into the soil to form a hole, a plant is placed in the plant guide and allowed to slide smoothly down the plant guide and into the prepared hole, and the spud is used to place and lightly tamp soil around the root ball of the plant.

Abstract: Apparatus for planting seedlings, especially tree seedlings is described. A plant (32) is held in space (26) between two plates (23) and (24) whose lower edges are in mutual contact and form a cutting edge (25) which on downward movement penetrates the ground and an opening of its lower edges forms an excavation in which the plant is supported by means (33) and (34) while the plates are upwardly retracted.

Abstract: Device for automatic positioning of plants is provided with a vertical positioner element conical at the top and cylindrical at the bottom wherein is introduced by known means the plant with its earth ball. The earth ball is located in the cylindrical portion while the plant itself is in the conical portion which is upwardly tapered. An insufflation head is provided with a seal adjusted to the positioner element and permitting the injection of air or a gas when the assembly, including the positioner element and the insufflation head, is above a hole which has been previously made in a receiver element where the planting is to take place. The device facilitates and automates the setting in place of plants of all kinds while preserving their integrity owing to the use of non-mechanical handling means.

Abstract: A setting machine for transplanting plugged seedlings of vegetables along predetermined transplantation ridges in a field used in combination with seedling culture trays made of synthetic resin and formed with cells as through-holes. The setting machine includes a taking-out device for supporting the seedling culture trays and for selectively taking the seedlings out of open bottoms of the cells successively. The taking-out device includes a selecting member adapted to be two-dimensionally positioned in a plane in parallel with the bottom surface of the seedling culture tray, and formed with selecting holes to be aligned with the cells of the seedling culture tray. The setting machine further includes a transfer device for forcibly transferring the seedlings taken out of the cells to a predetermined position by the action of negative pressure, and a transplanting device for transplanting the seedlings into the ground along predetermined transplantation ridges.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclcosed for cultivating soil and turf by utilization of pressurized liquid injected into the soil and turf. A roller assembly (33) is provided for applying mechanical pressure to the turf after cultivation. Further, a means for setting a first speed in a transport mode and a second speed in a cultivating mode is provided. The apparatus is designed to be bidirectional to allow the apparatus to be used in both a forward and reverse direction. The flow of the pressurized liquid is controlled to be at intervals of from about 0.010 to 0.065 seconds and at pressures from about 2,300 psi to about 5,500 psi through nozzles having diameters of from about 0.033 to about 0.090 inches. The apparatus (10) utilizes a water hammer effect to effect the flow of pressurized liquid out of the nozzles 55 and has found a relationship in the pressure and pounds per square inch of the cross-sectional area of the bore of the manifold to the accumulated area of the output ports of the nozzles.

Abstract: A hard material pointed bottom tool is presented having a top handle and a stand-on side extension enabling body weight through a user's foot to drive the pointed bottom end into the ground for repeatedly providing seed receiving planting holes. The stand-on side extension also serves as a depth limiting gauge for the tool driven ground seed planting holes. An additional refigurement includes lower bottom thread- on pointed ends replaceable as desired with ends of different lengths for seed planting hole depth suitable to the seeds being planted and, in addition, having bottom replaceable ends of different harder material such as tempered steel in place of other material in the balance of the tool.

Abstract: A seedling planter utilizes support wheels located on a main frame near the rear of the planter. The support wheels are pivotable relative to the frame, thereby allowing the force exerted by a set of intermediate packing wheels to be varied. The seedling planter was a novel planting assembly which incorporates two primary structural members; a first planting assembly piece or link which is connected to the frame, and a planting arm which is pivotally connected to the first piece. The first piece is movable to vary the height of the pivot axis about which the planting arm rotates. The planting assembly also includes a soil height level detection subsystem to automatically control downward extension of the first planting assembly piece. The planting arm is thus positioned at a desired predetermined height above the soil as it is rotated into the ground to provide consistent planting depth. A cam-operated seedling holder clamps the seedlings along the rear edge of the planting arm.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism (20) for a ground-engaging tool is arranged as a swinging parallelogram such that the tool has varying components of velocity in the horizontal and vertical directions. The mechanism is synchronized such that the tool has a rearwardly-directed velocity component substantially equal to the forward ground speed of the frame, when the tool is in the vicinity of its bottom dead center position. Hence, the tool has a substantially-zero net horizontal velocity as it engages the ground. The tool may include a burner head (25) and/or an injector mechanism (26) for planting a pneumatically-delivered seed-vermiculite mixture through a sheet of imperforate plastic mulch.

Abstract: An apparatus for transplanting seedlings from a nursery pan to vegetable beds or flower beds as the case may be. The apparatus automatically takes up seedlings from the nursery pan individually pot by pot, and prior to implanting them, levelling a soil around the bed, digging holes in the bed to implant the seedlings therein, and compacting the soil around the root portions of the implanted seedlings.

Abstract: In a planting device for attaching to an agricultural vehicle a planting slide is mounted on a frame for reciprocating sliding motion horizontally in the direction of travel of the vehicle under the influence of a hydraulically operable pressure cylinder. A support plate is mounted on the slide for sliding adjustment vertically, upwards and downwards, and a hollow, funnel-shaped planting spade is pivotally mounted on the support plate on an axis which extends transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle.The tip of the spade is held in a forwardly directed pivoted rest position by means of a pre-stressed spring, but upon rearward pivotting of the spade, as occurs in operation when the support plate slides down so that the spade penetrates the ground, a control valve having a stem articulated to the spade activates the pressure cylinder to push the slide rearwards on the slide.

Abstract: The machine is adapted to transplant plants in bare soils or covered by a plastic film, in which case the plastic film is applied by the machine itself which is provided with at least one multiple-arm device pivoted along a horizontal axis and having, at each arm, an openable cup articulated thereto. The plant to be transplanted is placed within the cup connected to the multiple-arm device, which is driven synchronously with respect to the motion of the machine. The cup is sunk into the ground, opening the film if present and the soil, while upon control of a cam said cup opens and transplants the plant. The machine furthermore comprises elements for ridging the soil around the plant, after it same has been transplanted, for preparing the soil in front of the transplanting region and for fixing the edges of a possible plastic film.

Abstract: A device for use in planting seeds and bulbs is disclosed which allows planting in untilled soil with a simple prodding-type motion to both make a hole and to plant the seed in the hole. The device is capable of operation on hills or in almost any other type of terrain, and thus greatly reduces the labor needed to plant seeds and bulbs. It may be used with a conveyor system to continuously supply seed to the device to enable rapid, efficient planting of seed.

Abstract: An expandable stinger planter is described for attachment to an excavator type boom. The planter includes a frame arrangement that may be releasably secured to the boom, with a stinger depending therefrom. The boom may be selectively operated to drive the probes deep into the ground. The stinger includes a pair of elongated probes that have bottom ends configured to be opened and closed by operation of an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is selectively operable to shift the probes relative to one another between a closed position wherein the bottom ends are closed together, and an open position wherein the bottom ends are spaced apart from one another to form a plant discharge opening. The probes form an upwardly open internal plant receiving receptacle that is open to the plant discharge opening at the open position whereby a plant placed in the plant receiving receptacle may be discharged through the plant discharge opening as the probes are lifted by the boom.