Apparatuses and techniques for subterraneous placement of one or more items

Abstract

Apparatuses and techniques for subterranean placement or positioning of one or more items are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus is configured to form a hole in the ground and subsequently provide a pathway for positioning one or more items in the hole. In one form, the items that may subterraneously placed or positioned using the apparatus may include agricultural products such as seeds or delivery vehicles that include one or more fertilizers or pesticides or combinations of these materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first member including a first elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end, the first elongate body including an elongate bore and an opening positioned between the proximal and distal ends and communicating with the elongate bore;   a second member including a second elongate body extending between a proximal end and a distal end; and   wherein the second member is proximally movable along the longitudinal axis in the elongate bore of the first member from a first position where the distal end of the second member is positioned distally of the distal end of the first member to a second position where the distal end of the second member is positioned proximally of the opening, and wherein the second member is rotatable relative to the first member about the longitudinal axis when the second member is in at least two different positions along the longitudinal axis relative to the first member.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second elongate body of the second member includes a conically shaped tip at the distal end. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first member includes a handle portion at the proximal end, the handle portion extending transversely to the first elongate body. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking arrangement configured to axially restrain the first and second members relative to one another when the second member is in the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the locking arrangement includes a latching member positioned on the second member and a flange positioned on the first member. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the latching member is rotatably movable between a locked position where a portion of the latching member is positioned under and axially restrained by a portion of the flange and an unlocked position where the portion of the latching member is unrestrained by the latching flange. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the latching member includes a pair of oppositely positioned concave surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the flange includes a first portion laterally spaced apart from a second portion, the first and second portions each including a convexly curved portion corresponding in size and shape to the concave surfaces of the latching member. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the flange is positioned on a proximal facing surface of the first member. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , furthering comprising a platform extending transversely from a first side of the first elongate body of the first member. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a mounting portion positioned on a second side of the first elongate body of the first member, the mounting portion being configured to engage with a dispensing unit. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting portion includes a passage extending into communication with the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a dispensing unit engaged with the mounting portion and configured to dispense one or more items into the passage. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more items is movable through the opening and into the elongate bore of the first member when the second member is in the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the dispensing unit includes a number of pesticide-containing capsules. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a release member configured to selectively control release of the number of pesticide-containing capsules from the dispensing unit. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a dispensing unit including a number of capsules contained therein, each of the number of capsules including a shell wall encapsulating a pesticide composition and including a gelatin material. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the dispensing unit is configured to dispense one or more of the number of capsules into the elongate bore of the first member when the second member is in the second position. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first member including an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the elongate body including a lateral opening through a side thereof offset from the longitudinal axis and an elongate bore communicating with the lateral opening and extending between a proximal opening at the proximal end and a distal opening at the distal end, the elongate bore including a first portion extending proximally from a proximal side of the lateral opening to the proximal opening and a second portion extending distally from a distal side of the lateral opening to the distal opening;   a second member axially movable in the elongate bore of the first member between a first position where passage of one or more items into the elongate bore from the lateral opening is prevented and a second position where passage of the one or more items into the elongate bore from the lateral opening is permitted; and   wherein the second portion of the elongate bore is configured to direct the one or more items from the lateral opening through the distal opening for subterranean placement into a hole at least partially formed by a distal tip of the second member extending past a distal end of the first member.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a dispensing unit coupled with the delivery pathway, the dispensing unit including a number of capsules each including a shell wall encapsulating a pesticide composition and including a gelatin material. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the pesticide composition includes a fumigant. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the fumigant is 1,3-dichloropropene. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the dispensing unit is configured to dispense the one or more items into the elongate bore when at least a portion of the second member is positioned in the elongate bore. 
     
     
         24 . A method for subterranean placement of at least one item in a hole, comprising:
 inserting a leading end of an apparatus into ground to form the hole, the apparatus including an inner member axially movable in an outer member,   withdrawing the inner member from the hole; and   passing the at least one item through the outer member into the hole with at least a portion of the inner member remaining in the outer member.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one item includes a number of capsules each including a shell wall encapsulating a pesticide composition and including a gelatin material. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the pesticide composition includes a fumigant. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the fumigant is 1,3-dichloropropene. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein inserting the leading end of the apparatus into ground is performed with a tapered end of the inner member extending from an end of the outer member, and includes contacting the tapered end of the inner member with ground before contacting the end of the outer member with ground. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein passing the at least one item through the outer member into the hole is performed with a portion of the outer member remaining in the hole.