Patent ID: 7143704
Filing Date: 2006-12-05
Classification: A01C

Abstract:
1. A disc opener assembly mounted to a tool support member connected to a work vehicle for opening a seed trench in the ground upon which the vehicle moves, the opener assembly comprising: a disc member including a circumferential portion, a central portion and an edge, the circumferential portion including a flat doughnut shaped circumferential wall member having first and second oppositely facing and substantially parallel surfaces, the central portion including a recessed wall member and an intermediate linking member, the recessed wall member forming first and second oppositely facing and substantially parallel surfaces where the first surface of the recessed wall member faces in the same direction as the first surface of the circumferential wall member, the recessed wall member recessed so that the first surface of the recessed wall member is offset from the first surface of the circumferential wall member to form a recess, the intermediate linking member linking the recessed wall member to the circumferential wall member, the recessed wall member forming at least a first through hole; a gauge wheel supported adjacent and substantially flat up against at least a portion of the first surface of the circumferential wall member; and at least a first fastening member including a base member and an extending member, the extending member extending from the base member through the through hole and secured at a distal end to the support member, the base member restraining the recessed wall member to hold the disc member to the support member with the base member completely within the recess; wherein, the base member and the recessed wall member are dimensioned such that a gap is formed between the base member and the intermediate linking member when the base member restrains the recessed wall member; wherein, the gauge wheel can be positioned adjacent and substantially flat up against at least a portion of the edge.