Patent ID: 7261048

Claim:
A furrow opener apparatus adapted for attachment to a lateral frame member of an implement for travel over the ground in an operating travel direction, the apparatus comprising: a parallel link trailing arm comprising a front link adapted for substantially fixed attachment to the lateral frame member, a rear link, and upper and lower parallel arm members pivotally attached to the front and rear links such that the rear link is maintained substantially horizontal as the upper and lower arm members move up and down; front and rear furrow opener brackets attached to the rear link, and front and rear furrow openers attached to corresponding lower portions of the front and rear furrow opener brackets, the front and rear furrow openers operative to form corresponding front and rear furrows when bottom ends thereof are engaged in the ground; a packer wheel arm attached to the rear link and extending rearward and downward from the rear link, and a packer wheel rotatably mounted to a rear portion of the packer wheel arm such that the packer wheel is substantially aligned with one of the front furrow opener and the rear furrow opener; a bias device operative to exert a downward bias force on the trailing arm, front and rear furrow opener brackets, and packer wheel; wherein the front and rear furrow openers, the packer wheel, and the rear link are maintained in substantially rigid orientation with respect to each other when in a working mode; and wherein a vertical operating position of at least one of the front furrow opener and the rear furrow opener with respect to the packer wheel is adjustable to vary a depth of a corresponding furrow.