Planter hitch apparatus

An extendable apparatus for securing an agricultural implement to a hitch receiving member of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a first elongated tongue member having a first external surface and first and second ends, forming a first passageway and mounted to the implement;
• a second elongated tongue member having a second external surface and first and second ends, forming a second passageway and slidably mounted within the first passageway for movement between a retracted position where the first end of the second tongue member is proximate the first end of the first tongue member and an extended position wherein the first end of the second tongue member is proximate the second end of the first tongue member;
• a third elongated tongue member having a third external surface and first and second ends, forming a third passageway and slidably mounted within the second passageway for movement between a retracted position where the first end of the third tongue member is proximate the first end of the second tongue member and an extended position wherein the first end of the third tongue member is proximate the second end of the second tongue member;
• a first tongue cylinder including a first rod member mounted within a first base member and having a first distal end, the first base member mounted to the external surface of the first tongue member and first distal end secured proximate the second end and to the external surface of the second tongue member such that when the first rod member is extended the second tongue member is moved into the extended position and when the first rod member is retracted the second tongue member is moved into the retracted position;
• and
• a second tongue cylinder including a second rod member mounted within a second base member and having a second distal end, the second base member mounted within the second passageway and the second distal end secured proximate the first end of the second tongue member such that when the second rod member is extended the third tongue member moves into the extended position and when the second rod member is retracted the third tongue member is moved into the retracted position. An extendable apparatus for securing an agricultural implement to a hitch receiving member of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
• a first elongated tongue member having a first external surface and first and second ends, forming a first passageway and mounted to the implement;
• a second elongated tongue member having a second external surface and first and second ends, forming a second passageway and slidably mounted within the first passageway for movement between a retracted position where the first end of the second tongue member is proximate the first end of the first tongue member and an extended position wherein the first end of the second tongue member is proximate the second end of the first tongue member, the first and second tongue members being a first tongue pair;
• a third elongated tongue member having a third external surface and first and second ends, forming a third passageway and slidably mounted within the second passageway for movement between a retracted position where the first end of the third tongue member is proximate the first end of the second tongue member and an extended position wherein the first end of the third tongue member is proximate the second end of the second tongue member, the second and third tongue members being a second tongue pair;
• a first locking assembly mounted to one of the first tongue pair members and operable to lock the first tongue pair members in each of a retracted and an extended position;
• and
• a second locking assembly mounted to one of the second tongue pair members and operable to lock the second tongue pair members in each of a retracted and an extended position.

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first locking assembly includes first and second arm members, a first spring member and a first locking cylinder, the first and second arm members pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the external surface of the first tongue member and having first and second locking ends that extends past the second end of the first tongue member and toward the second tongue member, the first spring member secured proximate the first and second locking ends to pull the first and second locking ends toward the second tongue member, the first locking cylinder secured proximate the first and second locking ends such that when a first locking cylinder rod is extended, the first and second locking ends are forced away from the second tongue member, the second tongue member forming first and second slots proximate the first and second ends of the second tongue member, respectively, for receiving the first locking end when the second tongue member is in the retracted and extended positions, respectively, the second tongue member also forming third and fourth slots proximate the first and second ends of the second tongue member, respectively, for receiving the second locking end when the second tongue member is in the retracted and extended positions, respectively, and the second locking assembly includes third and fourth arm members, a second spring member and a second locking cylinder, the third and fourth arm members pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the external surface of the second tongue member and having third and fourth locking ends that extends past the second end of the second tongue member and toward the third tongue member, the second spring member secured proximate the third and fourth locking ends to pull the third and fourth locking ends toward the third tongue member, the second locking cylinder secured proximate the third and fourth locking ends such that when a second locking cylinder rod is extended, the third and fourth locking ends are forced away from the third tongue member, the third tongue member forming fifth and sixth slots proximate the first and second ends of the third tongue member, respectively, for receiving the third locking end when the third tongue member is in the retracted and extended positions, respectively, the third tongue member also forming seventh and eighth slots proximate the first and second ends of the third tongue member, respectively, for receiving the fourth locking end when the third tongue member is in the retracted and extended positions, respectively.