Kinze built toolbars and bought row units from some Deere dealer. When Deere figured out what was happening they cut off Kinze's supply of units. Kinze built a nearly exact copy. Deere sued butKinze was building his copy before Deere filed for any patent protection. In the end since Kinze's production was already running the court found that Deere's patent filing was too late and so Kinzenbaugh could keep making his own row units. Deere was not on the ball as they were making and selling the units before trying to patent anything. In the end Deere had to pay Kinze in a countersuit and that set Kinzenbaugh up bigtime.

The finger pickup originol idea was ptented by Keeton. The Kinze brush meter was also patented by Keeton not by some White engineer.

BTW just because at work I have to deal with some real a__ customers, if anyone wants to know Kinze NEVER settles out of court. So if a guy thinks he should get an extra year of warranty just because he dosn't know how to properly operate a planter he'll be in for a real surprise.

You almost can't believe that any farmer would be like that but they are out there.