With Specific Means To Facilitate Connection To, Or Disconnection From, Vehicle Patents (Class 37/231)
  • Patent number: 4817728
    Abstract: Implements designed for attachment to a lawn and garden tractor include elongate attaching frames having the implement tool connected to first ends of the frames and transport wheels located so that the weight of the implement is distributed approximately half on opposite sides of the wheel axes so that the implement may be easily pushed about on the wheels during mounting and dismounting the implement to and from the tractor frame. Attachment brackets and lift links of the implements are engageable with attachment pins and lift crank arms of the tractor without necessitating any lifting of the implement. Also with driven implements, the drive belts are arranged on or stored with the implements so that the tractor drive may be easily and correctly connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Steven L. Schmid, Larry D. Hining, Frank K. O'Toole
  • Patent number: 4817307
    Abstract: A bumper mounting assembly for a vehicle of the type having a frame, a snowplow blade mounting device mounted on the frame, and a bumper comprising a pair of outer sections and a center section. The bumper sections each have a similar contour, and the outer sections each have an inboard and an outboard end and the center section has a pair of outboard ends. The bumper mounting assembly comprises a pair of mounting brackets which generally are mirror images of each other. Each bracket is an integral one-piece member and includes a plate and first and second bars which extend outwardly in opposite directions from and are generally offset from each other by the plate. Each bar has a contour generally similar to the contour of the bumper sections, and the second bar and the plate define a recess in the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Inventor: David L. Hardgrove
  • Patent number: 4813164
    Abstract: A simple apparatus is disclosed for mounting a large highway plow on the bucket of a front-end loader. The mounting assembly comprises a main frame member that has affixed to it two plow connectors projecting forward toward the plow and two parallel, "U"-shaped struts projecting backward toward the loader. The open ends of the "U"-shaped struts are connected to each other by reinforcing bars and thereby form a receiving slot for the bottom edge of the loader's bucket.In operation, the plow connectors are positioned adjacent standard "ear" brackets of the plow and "cotter pin" securing rods pass through the connectors and ears, attaching the mounting assembly to the plow. To mount the plow and assembly onto the loader's bucket, the operator simply drives the lower edge of the bucket up the receiving slot of the assembly until the edge abuts the main frame. Two plow chains, affixed to the plow, are then secured to grab hooks on either side of the top edge of the bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Hubco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Morrell
  • Patent number: 4790085
    Abstract: The thrust coupling has a thrust frame formed of three tubular sections which is mounted on the underside of a vehicle. The front of the thrust frame is suspended by chains from the front of the vehicle and can be raised and lowered by hydraulic cylinders connected to cross arms attached to the chains. The rear of the thrust frame is connected by a parallelogram arrangement of links in which a shock absorber is connected to dampen motion of the parallelogram arrangement of links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Rossman Research
    Inventor: Michael Rossman
  • Patent number: 4776115
    Abstract: A snow plow blocking unit for fastening and removing a snow plow from a truck or other vehicle, the snow plow of the type having a connecting bracket that attaches to the truck or other vehicle. The snow plow blocking unit includes a platform, a raising and lowering apparatus for raising and lowering the platform, a sideward moving apparatus for moving the platform in a lateral direction, and a stop positioned forwardly and at a predetermined distance of the platform. The stop cooperates with the truck or other vehicle whereby the truck or other vehicle is positioned a distance from the platform so that when the snow plow is detached from the truck or other vehicle the connecting bracket of the snow plow is received on the platform by adjusting the raising and lowering apparatus and the sideward moving apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Inventors: Ronald P. Nicodemus, Thomas Knecht
  • Patent number: 4769933
    Abstract: A snowplow assembly for a payloader that has a bucket is provided and consists of an elongated snowplow blade attached to the bucket via a pair of push arm frame units that are each connected to one of a pair of quick connect block units that are each connected to one of a pair of quick connect pin units. The snowplow blade extends in front of the bucket with an increased surface for fast removal of snow from the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Inventor: Vincent Dejana
  • Patent number: 4744159
    Abstract: The mechanism comprises in combination an upstanding frame mounted to the front of the chassis of a land vehicle and adapted to mount a front plow assembly, and a side frame mounted to the side chassis of the land vehicle for mounting a side wing plow. Both the front and side frames include a sub-frame pivotally mounted to the lower portion of the upstanding frame, hydraulic means for moving the sub-frame in an arc between a retracted and an extended position. The sub-frame has a free end mounting an engagement member remote from the pivot axis and adapted to engage a sub-frame on a plow assembly frame. The sub-frame on the plow assembly includes a hook member open downwardly and adapted to receive the engagement member of the free end of the first sub-frame and locking means associated with the first and second sub-frames for locking the first and second sub-frames together when the engagement member is engaged within the hook member and the pivoted sub-frame is in a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Tenco Machinery Ltd.
    Inventor: Bertrand Houle
  • Patent number: 4663922
    Abstract: Quick attachment of crop handling headers to harvesters employs one or more wedge locks, utilizing the mechanical forces thereof to, in turn, tightly and firmly wedge an elongated tongue portion of the header into mating relationship with a header-supporting channel member on the harvester. For fast and easy attachment and release, reciprocable wedge-like latches are jammed into corresponding keepers with progressively increased tightness through use of reciprocable latch shifters readily accessible to the operator at ground level exteriorly of the ends of the header support. An exceptionally strong joint is effected as the latches and their keepers jam the tongue into the channel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Hesston Corporation
    Inventors: J. Dale Anderson, Kenneth R. McMillen, Arnold E. Goertz
  • Patent number: 4625988
    Abstract: The present invention provides a quick hitch for connecting a prime mover to an implement to be used with the prime mover. The prime mover has a male assembly which can be quickly and easily hitched and unhitched to the female assembly of the implement. The male and female assemblies matingly receive one another and a locking mechanism on the female assembly maintains the two assemblies in a locked relationship. The prime mover is driven towards said implement until said male and female assemblies matingly engage one another, thereby engaging the locking mechanism and hitching the implement to the prime mover. To unhitch the male and female assemblies, the locking mechanism is moved to the unlocked position and the prime mover is driven away from the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Henke Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Reinhold D. Witchey, James M. Green
  • Patent number: 4619060
    Abstract: Coupling for a plow comprising, a pair of mounting tabs which are fixed to the rearward ends of a pair of arms which form part of a supporting frame for a plow. Each tab comprises a flat plate which includes an opening at the rear edge, a first slot which extends forwardly from the opening and which terminates in a forward edge and a second slot which extends rearwardly from the forward end of the first slot and which terminates in a rearward edge. The opening is adapted to receive a connecting pin of a push beam which is attached to the plow vehicle. The first slot is adapted to receive the pin, so that the pin rests against the forward edge when the plow is pushed forwardly by the plow vehicle. The second slot is adapted to receive the pin from the first slot so that the pin rests against the rearward edge when the plow is being pulled rearwardly by the plow vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Inventor: Leland P. Knowlton
  • Patent number: 4615130
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a snowplow blade to be attached to a small all terrain vehicle. The snowplow blade comprises a lower portion constituted by a rubber sheet, the bottom edge of which is urged forwardly by a ground-engaging bar biased forwardly by springs. The rubber sheet and the ground engaging bars are free to yield rearwardly against the springs, when sufficient resistance is encountered. The invention also pertains to an attachment for connecting the snowplow blade to a vehicle. The attachment is constituted by a frame having a main point of connection with the vehicle at the rear end thereof, the front end of the frame being suspended from the chassis of the vehicle. Also described is a removable scraping edge mounted to the lower edge of the rubber sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Inventor: Gerald Racicot
  • Patent number: 4470211
    Abstract: The thrust coupling has a thrust frame which can be readily coupled to the underside of a vehicle. The thrust frame is pivotally mounted on a hitching device on the rear of the vehicle and is suspended at the front of the vehicle via chains. In addition, an adjustable guide rod is provided to effect centering of the thrust frame at the front of the vehicle. The thrust frame can be raised and lowered at the front end of the vehicle via the chains and can be laterally centered via the guide rod. Vertical motion of the thrust frame at the front end can be effected from the driver's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Inventor: Michael Rossmann
  • Patent number: 4462172
    Abstract: An apparatus for detachably connecting a tool component to a frame component which is in turn adapted to be adjustably mounted on a vehicle. One of the components is provided with notched members for receiving engagement members on the other component. Contact members on one component are arranged to compressively engage resiliently compressible pads on the other component during entry of the engagement members into the notched members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Assignee: Valley Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Caron
  • Patent number: 4439939
    Abstract: A snow plow especially suitable for use with small vehicles, such as cars, is disclosed. The snow plow features a hydraulic system for controlling movement of the plow from side to side as well as for elevating the plow. The snow plow of the present invention also includes a coupling system which permits the plow to be quickly coupled to the vehicle for snow plowing and quick removal of the plow when the vehicle is to be used for its conventional purposes. The hydraulic system may be mounted either on the plow support frame or to the subframe assembly which is attached to the underside of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Inventor: James R. Blau
  • Patent number: 4369590
    Abstract: Scraper apparatus for being carried at the rear of a vehicle such as a light truck or the like includes an attachment frame adapted for being carried by the vehicle beneath its chassis thereof at the rear of the vehicle. A blade-carrying frame for carrying the blade at the rear of the vehicle is pivotally and detachably securable to the attachment frame at the rear of the vehicle by use of a securement frame or unit providing telescoping interengagement with the attachment frame, and pivotal interengagement with the blade-carrying frame to define a transverse pivot axis to permit pivoting of the blade-carrying frame upon the axis relative to the vehicle. A winch selectively raises or lowers the pivot-remote end of the blade-carrying frame under remote operator control. The blade is pivotally secured to the blade-carrying frame by a sleeve in which is rotatably journalled a shaft secured to the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1983
    Inventor: Michael E. Miller
  • Patent number: 4354321
    Abstract: A snow attachment, as a blade, which may be selectively and readily positioned and secured onto a conventional road grader to permit the latter to provide multi-functional seasonal purposes. The snow blade, which is added to the front of the grader, is operated by hydraulically controlled power arms which normally serve lowering and lifting purposes for a conventional, but now-removed, known scarifier blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Inventor: Floyd V. Weatherholt
  • Patent number: 4342163
    Abstract: A novel structure is provided for joining a frame member for carrying a snowplow blade or the like to a vehicle-mounted lift frame or the like. At least one mounting bracket is rigidly attached to the lift frame and includes a pair of parallel, generally vertical walls supporting a generally horizontal mounting rod therebetween. A cooperating mounting ear is provided on the blade-carrying frame and is of lesser width than the space between the parallel walls of the mounting bracket. This mounting ear presents a slot of predetermined depth which is rotatably engageable with the mounting rod to define a rotatable joint. A retaining pin is insertable through the mounting bracket vertically above the mounting rod and substantially parallel therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1982
    Assignee: Swenson Spreader Company
    Inventor: Ralph W. Hoekstra