Container for segregating and blending multiple seed types

Abstract

A container is disclosed which segregates at least two types of seed during storage and blends the at least two types of seed together when emptied from the container. A method is disclosed for blending at least two types of seed together.

1 . An apparatus for holding and delivering seed, the apparatus including:
 a container having a first compartment and a second compartment, the first compartment storing a first type of seed and the second compartment storing a second type of seed; and   a gate moveably coupled to the container, the gate being readily moveable back and forth between:
 a first closed position preventing the first type of seed from emptying from the first compartment and preventing the second type of see from emptying from the second compartment; and 
 a first open position permitting the first type of seed to empty from the first compartment and at the same time permitting the second type of seed to empty from the second compartment, the first compartment and the second compartment segregating the first type of seed from the second type of seed until the first type of seed and the second type of seed are emptied from the first compartment and the second compartment, respectively. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second container, the second container being removably coupled to the container and including the second compartment such that the second compartment is removable relative to the first compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second container includes an upper portion, the upper portion of the second container located relative to the first container with a plurality of support bars, the support bars coupling the upper portion of the second container to the first container. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a lid, the lid configured to be coupled to the upper portion of the second container in order to limit access to the second compartment, the lid including identifying indicia of the second type of seed. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the identifying indicia is a color of the lid. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the lid permits visual inspection of the second seed in the second compartment from an exterior of the second container. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first type of seed exits the first compartment through a lower portion of the first compartment and the second type of seed exits the second compartment through a lower portion of the second compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first type of seed exits the first compartment and the second type of seed exits the second compartment in a generally constant ratio. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the generally constant ratio is about  95  to  5 . 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a region for receiving a tool for moving the apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gate is in contact with both the first type of seed in the first compartment and the second type of seed in the second compartment when the gate is in a closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gate translates relative to the container to move to the first open position from a closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gate is moveable to a second open position, a first ratio of the first type of seed being emptied from the first compartment to the second type of seed being emptied from the second compartment when the gate is in the first open position is generally equal to a second ratio of the first type of seed being emptied from the first compartment to the second type of seed being emptied from the second compartment when the gate is in the second open position. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the ratio of the first type of seed being emptied from the first compartment to the second type of seed being emptied from the second compartment when the gate is generally constant at all positions of the gate between the first open position and the second open position. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for holding and delivering seed, the apparatus including:
 a container having a first compartment and a second compartment, the first compartment storing a first type of seed and the second compartment storing a second type of seed; and   a gate moveably coupled to the container, the gate being non-destructively moveable to:
 a first closed position preventing the first type of seed to empty from the first compartment and preventing the second type of seed to empty from second compartment; and 
 a first open position permitting the first type of seed to empty from the first compartment and at the same time permitting the second type of seed to empty from the second compartment, the first compartment and the second compartment segregating the first type of seed from the second type of seed until the first type of seed and the second type of seed are emptied from the first compartment and the second compartment, respectively. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the respective seed types for each of the multiple compartments empty through at least one opening in a lower portion of the respective compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one opening for each of the multiple compartments defines a cross sectional area for the respective compartment, a ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the multiple compartments are defined in order to release a predetermined ratio of the types of seeds. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the generally constant ratio is a ratio of the first type of seed to the second type of seed and the generally constant ratio is 95:5. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus includes a region for receiving a tool for moving the apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the gate is in contact with both the first type of seed in the first compartment and the second type of seed in the second compartment when the gate is in the first closed position.