Abstract:
A utility carrier that attaches to a hydraulically actuated hitch interface for a tractor, skid steer vehicle, or similar vehicle. The utility carrier has an L-shaped frame including a back panel and a floor. Couplers for releasable mounting of the carrier to a variety of hitch interfaces are mounted on the back panel. Corner posts, releasable to facilitate compact shipping, are used to releasably secure a front panel and two side panels to form, if desired, a closed area. The utility carrier can he lifted and tilted by the hydraulically actuated hitch interface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to a front-end carrier for a prime mover and, more specifically, to a carrier for attachment to the front end of a tractor, skid steer loader, or the like that can be used to transport a wide variety of equipment and materials and may be raised to selected heights by the hydraulic system of the prime mover. 
         [0002]    There currently exist a wide variety of carriers or loaders that are attached to the front end of a tractor, skid steer loader or the like. One common such device is a loader bucket that is used to load materials, such as grain, dirt, gravel and the like. Loader buckets are typically of sturdy, steel construction to provide sufficient strength so that the bucket can be used to dig into the ground, support a full load of dense material such as gravel, withstand scooping of the material from a pile, and be durable. Loader buckets have a limited volume so that a full load of dense material can still be lifted by the hydraulic system of the tractor. The bucket can be tilted below horizontal to provide an angle of attack for digging, above horizontal to prevent spillage of material in the bucket, and below horizontal to dump the contents of the bucket. In addition, the sides of the bucket loader are commonly closed, at least partially, so that material is retained in the bucket. However, the closed sides make it difficult or impossible to pick up and carry any object that would have a dimension larger than the loader bucket. 
         [0003]    Other front-end loading devices include a fork lift which engages primarily objects or material that are supported on a pallet. Typically, a pair of forwardly projected forks are used to engage the pallet whereupon the pallet and contents are lifted by the hydraulic system of the tractor. The range of motion of the fork lift is limited generally to a vertical plane and the geometry of the fork lift forks limits its use in supporting and lifting anything that is not of a suitable dimension and sufficiently rigid. 
         [0004]    United States Patent Appl. Publ. 2013/0025971 describes a front-end carrier for a tractor that has a deck and a back wall fastened together at approximately a right angle. Two yokes are fastened on the back wall for attaching the carrier to a front-end loader of a tractor. The carrier can be lifted and tilted by the front-end loader hydraulic controls. 
         [0005]    A number of loading devices are available commercially. These include so-called “carry-alls”, for example: the tractor carry-all sold by Reddick Equipment Co. (Williamston, N.C.), the HawkLine carry-all sold by Behlen Equipment (Columbus, Nebr.), and the King Kutter Carry All sold by Northern Tool+Equipment (Burnsville, Minn.), all of which have a pair of projecting forks; the PL-12 Carry-all sold by Leinbach Machinery (East Bend, N.C.) which has a horizontal frame for supporting loads; a tractor carry-all sold by Wheel Tractor (Kuiwen District Weifang City, Shandong Province, China) which has a horizontal platform and full-width front panel; the 3-pt. Hitch Hauler sold by Carry-On Trailer Corporation (Lavonia, Ga.), which has an open-walled box surrounding a closed floor; and the Universal Utility Carryall sold by Tractor Attachments Canada (Chilliwack, BC, Canada) which has a platform with post mounts for the addition of sides by an owner. 
         [0006]    There remains a need for a utility platform that can be mounted on the front end of a tractor, skid steer loader, or other prime mover that has a high carrying capacity, can support and carry objects and materials of large dimensions, can be lifted to provide access to elevated positions, and can be easily configured by a user for a wide variety of applications. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention consists of a utility carrier for mounting on a prime mover having a hydraulically actuated hitch interface. The carrier includes an L-shaped frame having an upright back panel and a four-sided floor. Mounting linkages are secured on the back panel for releasably mounting the carrier on the hydraulically actuated hitch interface of the prime mover, which may be a tractor, skid steer loader, or the like. A pair of removable corner posts are provided and are releasably mounted adjacent the corners of the floor opposite the back panel. A pair of removable side panels are releasably mounted for pivotal movement on the sides of the floor between a laid-down position and an upright position engaging a corresponding one of the corner posts and the upright panel. A front panel is mounted to the corner posts and the side of the floor opposite the upright panel. 
         [0008]    The L-shaped frame includes a plurality of upright beams arranged side-to-side and a corresponding plurality of longitudinal beams, one each of which extends at a right angle from and is secured to the bottom end portion of a corresponding one of the upright beams. A plurality of transverse beams are secured in a spaced relation to the upright beams. 
         [0009]    The hydraulically actuated hitch interface may be any of the wide variety of hitch interfaces, for example a three-point hitch interface, a Euro-loader hitch interface, a skid steer loader interface, the so-called Deere interface, or a front-end loader interface. 
         [0010]    In a preferred embodiment, a mounting plate is secured to the upright panel and serves as a mounting site for the mounting linkages. 
         [0011]    In another preferred embodiment, the L-shaped frame consists of a plurality of upright steel box tubes arranged side-to-side and a corresponding plurality of longitudinal steel U-shaped channel members, one each of which extends at a right angle from and is secured to the bottom end portion of a corresponding one of the steel box tubes. 
         [0012]    In a further preferred embodiment, a first end portion of the longitudinal steel U-shaped channel members has material removed along the edges to create a pair of opposing slots. A lower end portion of the upright steel box tubes is positioned inside the first end portion of the each of the channel members so that opposing end surfaces of the box tube are adjacent the opposing slots. Weldments are used to secure the channel members to corresponding ones of said box tubes at least along the slots. 
         [0013]    While the carrier is intended primarily for attachment to a hydraulically actuated hitch interface at the front of a prime mover, it may also be attached to a hydraulically actuated hitch interface at the rear of a prime mover, such as to the common three-point hitch. 
         [0014]    These and other objects of the present invention will be noted by those skilled in the art upon a review of this specification, the associated drawings and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a utility carrier of the present invention mounted on a three-point hitch of a tractor. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the utility carrier of  FIG. 1  without front and side panels. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a utility carrier of the present invention mounted on a front loader structure of a tractor. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the underside of a utility carrier of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of horizontal support channels used in the fabrication of a utility carrier of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged rear perspective view of a utility carrier of the present invention showing the interconnection between vertical posts and horizontal supports. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of a support plate mounted on a back panel of a utility carrier of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of a utility carrier of the present invention showing mounting hardware secured to the support plate. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of a utility carrier of the present invention showing the interconnection of the utility carrier with an industry standard three-point hitch. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged side view of a U-frame associated with a three-point hitch. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of a utility carrier of the present invention showing an alternative three-point hitch apparatus. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of a utility carrier of the present invention showing an alternative coupler for mounting the carrier on a front-end loader apparatus. 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a side perspective view of a utility carrier of the present invention showing a second alternative coupler for mounting the carrier on a front-end loader apparatus. 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of a utility carrier of the present invention showing a corner post used to secure front and wall panels. 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged upper perspective of a box-shaped support for a corner post. 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged perspective view of the attachment of a side panel to the floor. 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a side view of a truck on which a plurality of the utility carriers of the present invention are being shipped. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 18 and 19  are side perspective views of a small farm utility vehicle being mounted on and carried on a utility carrier of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 20  is a front perspective view of a carrier of the present invention showing the mounting of an electrically actuated winch and a box for holding a battery for operating the winch. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    A front-end utility carrier for a prime mover of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , generally at  20 , where it is shown attached to a three-point hitch  22  at the front end of a tractor  24 . In its most basic conformation, the utility carrier  20  is generally L-shaped frame in cross-section, including a floor  26  and an upright back panel  28 . The floor  26  is preferably a square or rectangle with straight sides to facilitate the addition of a front panel  30 , a left side panel  32 , and/or a right side panel  34 . The leading edge  36  of the floor  26  preferably slopes downwardly to create a ramp that will assist in moving materials onto the carrier  20 . Tread-patterned steel may be used in the fabrication of the deck surface of floor  26  and leading edge  36  to improve the traction of these surfaces. 
         [0035]    Back panel  28  includes four vertical posts  38   a - d  and three horizontal bars  40   a - c  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) that are interconnected, for example by weldments, to form a rigid frame. In a preferred embodiment, the floor  26  is supported on four horizontal supports  42   a - d  ( FIG. 4 ) that are each secured to a corresponding one of the vertical posts  38   a - d  and extend forwardly to where they are secured to a front perimeter frame member  44 . The vertical posts  38   a - d  are preferably made of steel box tubes, while the horizontal bars  40   a - c  and the horizontal supports  42   a - d  are preferably made of open steel channels having a substantially U-shape in transverse cross section. 
         [0036]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the floor  26  and back panel  28  meet at a right angle and are secured to each other along their shared edge by weldments. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the floor  26  curves upwardly in the vicinity of the back panel  28 , transitioning from a horizontal to vertical orientation and is secured at least to the vertical posts  38   a - d  by weldments or the like. To accommodate the curved floor  26  as shown in  FIG. 3 , the horizontal supports  42   a - d  have curved side walls  46 , as best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , corresponding to the curvature of the floor  26  to provide support to the curved portion of the floor  26 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 5 and 6  also show the configuration of the rearward ends of the horizontal supports  42   a - d  that assist in fabrication of the utility carrier  20  and strengthen the connection between the horizontal supports  42   a - d  to the corresponding ones of the vertical posts  38   a - d . Specifically, material is removed from the lower corners creating slots  48   a  and  48   b  at the rearward end of each of the horizontal supports  42   a - d . During fabrication, the vertical post  38  is inserted inside the rearward end portion of a corresponding one of the horizontal supports  42  and the parts are welded to each other along the edges of the horizontal support  42  adjacent the vertical post  38  ( FIG. 6 ). A preferred feature is the creation of a concave curve  50   a  and  50   b  in the upwardly extended side wall portions of each of the horizontal supports  42   a - d . These curves remove material from the horizontal supports  42   a - d , thereby reducing the weight of the utility carrier  20 , and also provide a stronger securement of the horizontal supports  42   a - d  to the vertical posts  38   a - d  when weldments are applied bridging the curves  50  and the side wall of the vertical posts  38   a - d.    
         [0038]    Flexibility in the attachment of the utility carrier  20  to a variety of prime movers and a variety of mounts or hitches, is provided in a preferred embodiment by a support plate  52  secured to the back side of the back panel  28  by weldments or the like ( FIG. 7 ). A plurality of holes  54  and slots  56  are formed in the support plate  52  to provide means for attaching mounting hardware suitable for a variety of mounts and hitches. For example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , mounting hardware for a the industry standard three-point hitch are bolted to the support plate  52 , consisting of a left side pin support  58  and right side pin support  60  for the hitch lifting arms and a center pin support  62  for the top link. Also shown bolted to the support plate  52  is mounting hardware for connection to a common front-end loader arrangement, including right side upper and lower attachment arms  64  and right side upper and lower attachment arms  66 . In alternative embodiments, for example as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the mounting hardware  58 - 66  may be directly secured to the back panel  28 . Note that in  FIG. 10 , an alternative three-point hitch mount is shown, including a U-frame  68 . Another common alternative three-point hitch mount is shown generally at  70  in  FIG. 11  wherein mounting plates  72  have been secured to the back panel  28 . 
         [0039]    Alternative mounting systems for front-end loaders are shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . In  FIG. 12 , a skid steer-type coupler  74  is secured to the support plate  52  and is used to assist in coupling the utility carrier  20  to the front-end loader apparatus of a tractor (not shown). In  FIG. 13 , a pair of mounting brackets  76  are secured to the support plate  52  and are used to assist in coupling the utility carrier  20  to the front-end loader apparatus of a tractor (not shown). 
         [0040]    Corner posts  78  are used to support the front panel  30 , the left side panel  32  and the right side panel  34  ( FIG. 1 ). The corner posts  78  are inserted inside a box-shaped support  80  that is secured to the front corner of the floor  26 . In a preferred embodiment, a bolt and nut combination  82  is used to secure the corner post  78  inside the support  80  ( FIGS. 14 and 15 ). 
         [0041]    The side panels  32  and  34  are mounted on the utility carrier for pivotal movement between a lowered, substantially horizontal position ( FIG. 15 ) and a raised, substantially vertical position ( FIG. 16 ). Pivotal mounting is achieved through the use of a plurality of pins and barrels mounted on the utility carrier  20  and the panel  32 ,  34  and vice versa. In other words, the pins may be on the carrier  20  and the barrels may be on the panel  32 ,  34  or, alternatively, the pins may be on the panel  32 ,  34  and the barrels may be on the carrier  20 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , three barrels  84   a - c  are mounted on the panel  32 ,  34  and three corresponding pins  86   a - c  are mounted on the carrier  20 . It is preferred that the outer pins  86   a - c  be either of different lengths or mounted different distance from the corresponding barrels  84   a - c  so that not all of the pins  86   a - c  have to be initially aligned with their corresponding barrels  84   a - c  simultaneously. For example, center pin  86   b  might be mounted relatively closer to corresponding barrel  84   b  so that it will be first inserted into the  84   b  before the other pins  86   a  and  86   c  contact the corresponding barrels  84   a  and  84   c . As the side panel  32 ,  34  is slidably moved to further insert pin  86   b  in barrel  84   b , one of the outer pins, say pin  86   c  is placed to next come into contact with its corresponding barrel  84   c  and can readily be aligned for insertion. Upon further sliding movement, the remaining pin  86   a  will engage with and allow insertion into corresponding barrel  84   a  to complete the mounting of the panel  32 ,  34 . In this way mounting of the panel  32 ,  34  is made much easier than requiring initial alignment or engagement of all three pins  86   a - c  and barrels  84   a - c  simultaneously. 
         [0042]    The side panels  32 ,  34  have a novel system that prevents opening of the hinges except when the panel  32 ,  34  is close to vertical. A pair of C-shaped stops  88   a  and  88   b  are provided and one each is secured to a corresponding one of the bottom end corners of the panels  32 ,  34  just beyond the outside pins  86   a  and  86   b . The stop  88  has an opening that is open toward the interior side of the panel  32 ,  34 . When the panel  32 ,  34  is in a nearly vertical orientation, preferably between about 12 and 20 degrees from vertical, as illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the opening of the stop  88  is aligned with the pin  86   a  and so the panel  32  can be moved to the left or right along the axis of the pins to release it from the carrier  20 . If the panel  32 ,  34  is not within the present angle of orientation, the opening in the stop will not align with the outside pins  86   a  and  86   b  (see  FIG. 15 ) and the stop will prevent right or left movement of the panel  34  and so the panel  34  will be retained mounted on the carrier  20 . The stops  88  thus prevent accidental dismounting of the panel  32 ,  34  unless it is within the present angle of orientation. 
         [0043]    Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 14 , the top of the corner post  78  includes a releasable latch  90  in which is received and releasably retained a latch bar  92  located at the top corners of the panel  32 ,  34 . Accordingly, when the panel  32 ,  34  is raised to a vertical orientation, the latch bar  92  is captured in the releasable latch  90  and is thus secured to the corner post  78  and held in the vertical orientation. Because the releasable latch  90  is located outside the perimeter of the panel  32 ,  34 , it prevents movement of the panel  32 ,  34  away from hinged attachment to the carrier  20  even though the stops  88  are aligned to permit such movement. The stops  88  act to prevent dislodgment of the panel  32 ,  34  unless it is within the preset angle of orientation without the use of any type of removable retainer or fastener, thus easting operation. The position that allows removal of the side panels  32 ,  34  is by nature unstable, so the latch  90  keeps the side panel upright, but is not needed to prevent dislodgement of the panel  32 ,  34  from the floor  26 . The releasable latch  90  prevents the side panels  32 ,  34  from unwanted opening or folding from the upright to the laid-down position. A similar releasable latch  94  is mounted on the side of the back panel  28  to similarly retain the other side of the panel  32 ,  34 . 
         [0044]    The front panel  30  is releasably attached at each end to the tops and bottoms of the corner posts  78  by spring-loaded pins  79  and  81  ( FIG. 3 ). The pins  79 ,  81  are spring-biased to hold the shaft of the pins  79 ,  81  in corresponding retainers of the corner posts  78  unless an operator raises the pins  79 ,  81  to release the front panel  30  from the corner posts  78 . 
         [0045]    One of the important implications of the L-shape of the utility carrier  20  in its simplest conformation is that multiple carriers  20  can be stacked for efficient storage and shipping ( FIG. 17 ). In addition, the panels  32  and  34 , corner posts  78 , and any other pieces or hardware needed by a purchaser to assemble the carrier  20  can be captured on the L-shaped carrier  20  so that each shipping unit is complete and individual units can be separated and delivered simply by lifting from the top of the stack. Preferably, the width of the carrier  20  would be within the carrying confines of trucks used to transport the carriers  20  for sale. 
         [0046]    Utility carriers of the present invention have a wide variety of uses. One use is to assist in balancing the weight distribution of a tractor or other prime mover to which the carrier is attached. For example, when a tractor, particularly a wheeled tractor, is drawing an implement a considerable down force is frequently transferred to the rear of the tractor. If the down force is excessive, it can cause the front wheels of the tractor to become unweighted and may adversely affect steering of the tractor. By using a carrier of the present invention, possibly with added weight, additional down force can be applied to the front wheels of the tractor. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier  20  is engineered to have a safe carrying capacity of about 3,000 pounds, an amount that is commonly used to counterweight a 200 HP tractor. 
         [0047]    Another use of the utility carriers of the present invention is in the transport of tools and the like often needed by an operator of a tractor or other prime mover to which the carrier is attached in the course of work where they will always be in ready access. For example, hand tools for effecting repairs can be carried on the utility carrier, powered tools such as impact wrenches and an associated air compressor can be transported on the carrier, a vice can be mounted on the carrier, for example on the back panel at a desired working height, an electric winch  104  and a battery box  106  for holding a battery may be mounted on the back panel  28  ( FIG. 20 ) so that the winch  104  can be used for dislodging objects, such as tree trunks, and moving objects onto the carrier. One particularly important application of the carriers of the present invention is the ability to load, carry, transport and unload small farm utility vehicles, such as the Gator™ vehicle sold by John Deere or the Brutus™ vehicle sold by Polaris. Farmers are often operating alone and require transportation to and from a remote field location where a tractor is being used. By using the utility carriers of the present invention, a farmer can transport a farm utility vehicle to the remote location and use it as a much quicker and efficient form of transportation to and from the remote location than having to use the tractor itself. The value is particularly noticed if there is a mechanical problem with the tractor such that it cannot be used for on-the-road transportation.  FIGS. 18 and 19  show a farm utility vehicle  100  mounted on a utility carrier  20  for transport by the tractor. Note the use of tie-downs  102  to secure the farm utility vehicle  100  to the carrier  20  and that the carrier  20  is preferably of a size to wholly contain within its perimeter the vehicle  20  such that the front and side panels  30 ,  32 ,  34  can be used as well. 
         [0048]    Another advantage of the utility carriers of the present invention is the ability to raise the carrier  20  to an elevated position. Objects and materials can be raised in this way, for example for storage on an elevated shelf or platform. Of course the carrier  20  could likewise be used to move such stored objects or materials from the elevated position to the ground. The carrier  20  may also be raised to an elevated position to provide an elevated working platform for users, for example to trim trees, repair elevated portions of building, and the like. Preferably the front panel  30  and both side panels  32 ,  34  would be mounted and secured to provide a work platform that meets OSHA requirements ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0049]    The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present inventions. The foregoing embodiments and the methods described herein may vary based on the ability, experience, and preference of those skilled in the art. Merely listing the steps of the method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method. The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the claims are so limited. Those skilled in the art that have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.