Integrated Hitch System for Off Road Equipment
A integrated hitch system for off road equipment is provided that includes various styles of non receiver stile hitches (30) (32), combinations of a receiver hitch (14), plate (24), opening (28) and tool (18) attached to the front (20) or rear (22) of an off road machine (12) making a positive and secure connection between a trailer and off road machine (12) for towing purposes.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/440059 filed Feb. 7, 2011, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an apparatus and method for integrating a hitch system for off road equipment, especially, an apparatus and method suitable for off road equipment that generally does not achieve highway speeds.
Trailers are used today for many purposes such as construction, agriculture and recreation. Trailers can be part of the form of portable machines, buildings and other portable devices. Trailer hitches are commonly configured for use on trucks and other vehicles that achieve highway speeds. Vehicles that achieve highway speeds are typically not used and underperform when they are used in off road situations.
Often trailers used and stored on off road sites have to be moved. On construction and agriculture sites this happens quiet frequently. Usually on these sites, off road equipment is immediately available and better suited to navigate the off road terrain and lack of space for maneuvering a truck or automobile.
The problem with off road equipment is that it is not entirely effective in moving a trailer. There is not a positive connection point to accomplish this purpose on off road equipment such as skid loaders, graters and excavators.
As such, there is a need for an integrated hitch system for off road equipment that makes a positive and secure connection between a trailer and off road equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect, an integrated hitch system for off road equipment is provided that includes an off road machine with at least one tool holder, the tool holder configured to interchangeably attach thereto at least a first of a plurality of tools; and a hitch attachment tool attached to the tool holder.
In one embodiment, the first tool includes one of a fork, a blade, and a bucket.
In one embodiment, the hitch attachment tool comprises a hitch receiver and a corresponding trailer hitch.
In one embodiment, the off road machine is one of a skid loader, an excavator, and a utility tractor.
In one embodiment, the hitch attachment tool is integral with the first tool.
In one embodiment, the off road machine is one of a skid loader, an excavator, and a utility tractor, and the first tool is one of a fork, a blade, and a bucket, and the hitch attachment tool is integral with the first tool.
In one embodiment, the machine includes controls for operating the first tool and the hitch attachment tool is integral with the first tool such that an operator of the machine may lower and raise the hitch attachment tool using the controls.
In one embodiment, the hitch attachment tool is pivotally attached to the tool holder, allowing the hitch attachment tool to pivot between an open and retracted position.
In one embodiment, the hitch attachment tool comprises a pivoting member that pivots between an open and closed position, wherein in the open position the pivoting member allows a trailer to be attached to a trailer ball and in the closed position the pivoting member secures the trailer to the trailer ball.
In one embodiment, the pivoting member is operable by a user with a controller associated with the machine.
In one aspect, an integrated hitch system for off road equipment is provided that includes an off road machine with at least one tool holder, the tool holder configured to interchangeably attach thereto at least a first of a plurality of tools; and a hitch attachment tool attached to the tool holder, wherein the off road machine is one of a skid loader, an excavator, and a utility tractor, and the first tool is one of a fork, a blade, and a bucket, and the hitch attachment tool is attached directly to the first tool, wherein the machine comprises controls for operating the first tool and wherein hitch attachment tool is integral with the first tool such that an operator of the machine may lower and raise the hitch attachment tool using the controls, and wherein the hitch attachment tool comprises a pivoting member that pivots controllable between an open and closed position, wherein in the open position the pivoting member allows a trailer to be attached to a trailer ball and in the closed position the pivoting member secures the trailer to the trailer ball.
Additional aspects of the present invention will be apparent in view of the description which follows.
In order that the invention or inventions disclosed herein may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, preferred embodiments of the invention(s) will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Generally, the device of the present application is a permanently housed integrated hitch system that does not interfere with an interchangeable tool holder 16 or other part of a machine 12 thus increasing an off road machine's 12 productivity. The device can be positioned on the front or rear of a machine 12 in many various locations to haul trailers.
The off road machine may be a skid loader, excavator, small utility tractor loader or similar lifting type apparatus, but not limited to being actually attached to the lifting part of a machine.
Interchangeable tool holders 16 are a common component of many off road machines 12. The purpose of the interchangeable tool holder 16 is to make it more convenient for the operator to change tools such as forks, buckets and blades that interchangeably attach to tool holder 16. The integrated hitch system makes use of interchangeable tool holder 16 to create a positive and secure connection between a trailer and an off road machine 12.
The purpose of one embodiment of the invention is to utilize the visibility and versatility of a machine 12, like a skid loader and the available assortment of attachment tools 18 already on the market. One installs a tool 18 when needed and conveniently remove the tool 18 when not needed. Additionally, a multitude of currently available trailers or implements, of all sorts, can be moved by an off road machine 12 utilizing this integrated hitch system.
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There are many materials and configurations that can be used in constructing the devices disclosed herein by those skilled in the art including various materials, positions on the machine 12 and dimensions. In addition, it is clear that an almost infinite number of minor variations to the form and function of the disclosed invention could be made and also still be within the scope of the invention.
While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, from a reading of the disclosure, that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An integrated hitch system for off road equipment comprising:
- an off road machine with at least one tool holder, the tool holder configured to interchangeably attach thereto at least a first of a plurality of tools; and
- a hitch attachment tool attached to the tool holder.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first tool includes a fork.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first tool includes a blade.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first tool includes a bucket.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the hitch attachment tool comprises a hitch receiver and a corresponding trailer hitch.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the off road machine is one of a skid loader, an excavator, and a utility tractor.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the hitch attachment tool is integral with the first tool.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the off road machine is one of a skid loader, an excavator, and a utility tractor, and the first tool is one of a fork, a blade, and a bucket, and the hitch attachment tool is integral with the first tool.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the machine comprises controls for operating the first tool and wherein hitch attachment tool is integral with the first tool such that an operator of the machine may lower and raise the hitch attachment tool using the controls.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the hitch attachment tool is pivotally attached to the tool holder, allowing the hitch attachment tool to pivot between an open and retracted position.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the hitch attachment tool comprises a pivoting member that pivots between an open and closed position, wherein in the open position the pivoting member allows a trailer to be attached to a trailer ball and in the closed position the pivoting member secures the trailer to the trailer ball.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the pivoting member is operable by a user with a controller associated with the machine.
13. An integrated hitch system for off road equipment comprising:
- an off road machine with at least one tool holder, the tool holder configured to interchangeably attach thereto at least a first of a plurality of tools; and
- a hitch attachment tool attached to the tool holder, wherein the off road machine is one of a skid loader, an excavator, and a utility tractor, and the first tool is one of a fork, a blade, and a bucket, and the hitch attachment tool is attached directly to the first tool, wherein the machine comprises controls for operating the first tool and wherein hitch attachment tool is integral with the first tool such that an operator of the machine may lower and raise the hitch attachment tool using the controls, and wherein the hitch attachment tool comprises a pivoting member that pivots controllable between an open and closed position, wherein in the open position the pivoting member allows a trailer to be attached to a trailer ball and in the closed position the pivoting member secures the trailer to the trailer ball.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 7, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 9, 2012
Inventor: Andrew Murray (Columbia, SD)
Application Number: 13/367,468
International Classification: E02F 9/00 (20060101); E02F 3/96 (20060101);