Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A plant seed having a substantially continuous coating on the surface thereof, said coating comprising polymeric microgel particles, the binding forces at the interface between particles of the coating having a greater sensitivity to water than the binding forces which maintain the particles intact, whereby contact with water destroys the continuity of the coating by releasing the binding forces between adjacent microgel particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A plant seed having a substantially continuous coating on the surface thereof, said coating comprising polymeric microgel particles, the binding forces at the interface between particles of the coating having a greater sensitivity to water than the binding forces which maintain the particles intact, whereby contact with water destroys the continuity of the coating by releasing the binding forces between adjacent microgel particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A plant seed according to claim 1 selected from the group consisting of vegetable, crop and flower seeds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A plant seed according to claim 2 wherein the seed is a grain seed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A plant seed according to claim 2 wherein the seed is a soybean seed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A plant seed having a substantially continuous coating on the surface thereof, said coating comprising water insoluble but water swellable crosslinked polymeric colloidal particles, the binding forces at the interface between particles of the coating having a greater sensitivity to water than the binding forces which maintain the particles intact, whereby contact with water destroys the continuity of the coating by releasing the binding forces between adjacent particles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A plant seed having a substantially continuous coating on the surface thereof, said coating comprising water insoluble but water swellable crosslinked polymeric colloidal particles, the binding forces at the interface between particles of the coating having a greater sensitivity to water than the binding forces which maintain the particles intact, whereby contact with water destroys the continuity of the coating by releasing the binding forces between adjacent particles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A plant seed according to claim 5 wherein said particles have an average diameter of from about 0.01 micron to about 3 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A plant seed according to claim 1 wherein said microgel is derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid; methacrylic acid; hydroxy esters, amino substituted esters and amides of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and maleic acid; vinylpyridine and derivatives of vinylpyridine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A plant seed according to claim 1 wherein said microgel has a swellability of from about 300 to about 500%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A plant seed according to claim 1 wherein said coating contains at least one substance selected from the group consisting of fungicides, bactericides, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, growth promoters and hormones.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
66 words
The method of promoting healthy growth of plant seeds which comprises applying to the seeds a coating comprising polymeric microgel particles, the binding forces at the interface between particles of the coating having a greater sensitivity to water than the binding forces which maintain the particles intact, whereby contact with water destroys the continuity of the coating by releasing the binding forces between adjacent microgel particles.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
66 words
The method of promoting healthy growth of plant seeds which comprises applying to the seeds a coating comprising polymeric microgel particles, the binding forces at the interface between particles of the coating having a greater sensitivity to water than the binding forces which maintain the particles intact, whereby contact with water destroys the continuity of the coating by releasing the binding forces between adjacent microgel particles.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
70 words
The method of promoting healthy growth of plant seeds which comprises applying to the seeds a coating of water insoluble but water swellable crosslinked polymeric particles, the binding forces at the interface between particles of the coating having a greater sensitivity to water than the binding forces which maintain the particles intact, whereby contact with water destroys the continuity of the coating by releasing the binding forces between adjacent particles.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
70 words
The method of promoting healthy growth of plant seeds which comprises applying to the seeds a coating of water insoluble but water swellable crosslinked polymeric particles, the binding forces at the interface between particles of the coating having a greater sensitivity to water than the binding forces which maintain the particles intact, whereby contact with water destroys the continuity of the coating by releasing the binding forces between adjacent particles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said coating is from about 0.5 to about 10 mils in thickness.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said coating comprises a substance beneficial to said seeds.