Patent ID: 9480198
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: A01B

Claim Text:
1. A drawbar hitch mechanism for use in establishing a draft connection between the pulling vehicle and a pull-type implement, the drawbar hitch mechanism having a fore-and-aft extending elongated receiver, a gearbox assembly coupled to a rearward end of the elongated receiver and a tongue assembly attached to the gearbox assembly, the gearbox assembly pivotably connecting the receiver and the tongue assembly for left and right pivoting movement about an upright axis of the gearbox assembly, wherein the drawbar hitch mechanism comprises: a first pivot mechanism coupling the elongated receiver with the gearbox assembly that enables side-to-side movement of the pull-type implement relative to the pulling vehicle about a longitudinal axis of the receiver, wherein the first pivot mechanism comprises a bracket fixed to the gearbox assembly with transverse members pivotably connected to a pivot bar on the elongated receiver; a draft arm configured to disperse draft loads between the tongue assembly and the receiver, the draft arm attached to the tongue assembly; and a second pivot mechanism, the second pivot mechanism comprising a downward-reaching leg extending from the bracket such that the second pivot mechanism moves in side-to-side movement about the longitudinal axis during pivoting of said first pivot mechanism, the second pivot mechanism also comprising a forward reaching tang on the draft arm pivotably coupled with the downward-reaching leg and oriented such that the second pivot mechanism is configured to pivot about the upright axis such that the second pivot mechanism also enables pivoting movement of the tongue assembly relative the elongate receiver about the upright axis and such that the draft arm pivots in the side-to-side movement about the longitudinal axis with the first pivot mechanism, the upright axis being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first pivot mechanism, and wherein the downward-reaching leg extends downward so that a distal end of the downward-reaching leg to which the tang is connected is below the longitudinal axis.