Abstract:
A three-point hitch faceplate having a set of skid steer receiver attachment points to permit an all-purpose agricultural tractor to operably connect to skid steer attachments so that the agricultural tractor can utilize off-the-shelf skid steer attachments.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority from my provisional application 60/437,076 filed Dec. 30, 2002 titled Three-point hitch faceplate. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to apparatus to allow a user to use specialty equipment available for skid steer loaders on a conventional vehicle such as an agricultural tractor with a three-point hitch. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   None 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   None 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Skid steer machines are known and widely used for many tasks. The skid steer machines are compact and lack any steerable wheels. In contrast to machines that have steerable wheels the skid steer maneuvers by stopping or slowing the rotation of one set of side wheels while allowing the other set of side wheels to rotate. The skid steer machines are extremely popular for use in special operations. As a result, a number of different attachments have been created to allow the skid steer machine to perform different tasks. For example, in one application a bucket is attached to the front of the skid steer machine and in another application a blade and in still other applications forks can be attached to allow the skid steer machine to be used as a fork loader. 
   One of the disadvantages of the skid steer machines is that the skid steer machines are relatively expensive and the equipment used with the skid steer machines is specialized. Consequently, the use of skid steer machines and attachments to skid steer machines is limited to specific industries. Since some skid steer activities are of a one time usage there has developed a market for rental of attachments for skid steer loaders. 
   A common source of power on a farm is a tractor which has a rear three-point hitch for attachment of farm equipment thereto. Agricultural tractors are well known and can be used as a source of power for various agricultural equipment. The three-point hitch on the tractors are suitable for attaching farm equipment thereto. Unfortunately, the farm tractors are not suitable for use with skid steer attachments. From time to time an owner of an agricultural tractor may need to perform a specific task which could be performed with an available attachment for a skid steer loader. The present invention provides a three-point hitch faceplate that mounts to the three-point tractor mounts to enable an operator to engage and operate any of the skid steer attachments using the tractor as a source of power. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A three-point hitch faceplate having a set of skid steer receiver attachment points to permit an all-purpose agricultural tractor with a three-point hitch to operably connect to off-the-shelf skid steer attachments so that the agricultural tractor can utilize off-the-shelf skid steer attachments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of my three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the three-point hitch faceplate of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of a drawbar attachment for the three-point hitch faceplate of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3A  shows an alternate embodiment of a hitch having a pivotable drawbar; 
       FIG. 4  is a trailer hitch attachment for the three-point hitch faceplate of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear view of the three-point hitch faceplate of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective of an alternate embodiment of a three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a hook for securing to the three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 7A  is an alternate embodiment of a hook and an extension for securing to a housing in the three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a loop type device for securing to the three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 8A  is a partial side view showing the housing and pin for locking an attachment to the three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a hitch; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective showing the three-point hitch faceplate mounted to the three-point hitch of a tractor; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective showing a pallet fork attached to the three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective showing a fork lift with lateral positionable arms secure to the three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective showing a number of different hitch members mounted to the three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 13  shows an alternate embodiment of the three-point hitch faceplate with a set of slots for holding a chain therein; 
       FIG. 13A  shows a back view of a portion of the three-point hitch faceplate located around the chain lock; 
       FIG. 13B  shows a side view of the three-point hitch faceplate with the lips of the chain lock extending outward from the three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 14  shows a front view of the three-point hitch faceplate with three receiver hitch housing on the bottom of the unit for mounting attachments therein; 
       FIG. 15  shows a back view of the three-point hitch faceplate of  FIG. 15 ; 
       FIG. 16  shows a mechanical positionable arm for securing to the three-point hitch faceplate and the tractor; 
       FIG. 17  shows a locking device for locking an attachment to the three-point hitch faceplate in the unlocked condition; 
       FIG. 18  shows the locking device of  FIG. 17  in a locked condition to secure an attachment to the three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a mechanically adjustable top link for securing to the three-point hitch on the tractor and the three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective of a tool for tearing a soil furrow for attachment to a three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective of a fifth wheel attachment for a three-point hitch faceplate; 
       FIG. 22  is a front view of a top link having both hydraulic and mechanical extension. 
       FIG. 23  is a partial section view of an extendible link; 
       FIG. 24  is a perspective view of an attachment for a three-point hitch which includes a hydraulic ram for tilting the faceplate; 
       FIG. 25  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a tilting mechanism for the faceplate attachment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a faceplate for attachment to the front end of tractor loader. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  shows a side view of the three-point hitch faceplate  10  and  FIG. 5  shows a rear view of the three-point hitch faceplate  10 , which is made of metal. The three-point hitch faceplate  10  comprises a rigid rectangular shaped member  11  having a front face  11   a , a rear face  11   b  and a rearward extending top lip  12  to form mating engagement with a conventional skid steer attachment and a bottom angled lip  11   c  that engages a locking mechanism to hold an attachment on the three-point hitch faceplate  10 . Mounted on the rear face  11   b  of faceplate  11  is a first connecting member  52  and a second connecting member  50  with connecting members  52  and  50  laterally spaced from each other and secured to the back side  11   b  of rigid member  11 . The first connecting member  52  is connectable to a first tractor mount (not shown) through a pin  53  and the second connecting member  50  is connectable to a second tractor mount (not shown) through a pin  51 . A third connecting member  13  is secured to the back side  11   b  of rigid member  11  with the third connecting member spaced from a straight line connecting the first connecting member  50  and second connecting member  52  to thereby form a portion of a three-point engagement with the rigid plate  11 . 
   In the present embodiment a two way hydraulic cylinder  20 , which is extendible and contractable, has a first end  21  for connecting to third tractor mount and a second end  22 , pivotally connected to the third connecting member  13  to thereby form an extendible link between the third tractor mount (not shown) and the third connecting member  13  to allow a user to position the rigid member  11  for attachment to a skid steer attachment. 
   The use of an extendible link, in this case a hydraulic cylinder, allows one to move the top lip  12  back and forth to enable one to engage the lip  12  with a skid steer attachment without having to move the tractor. Thus the hydraulic cylinder  20  allows one to provide additional motion to the conventional motion of a three-point hitch. As a result an operator can manipulate the three-point hitch faceplate  10  to enable one to pick up and engage skid steer attachment. A set of spaced apart openings  38  and  39  are positioned in member  11  so as to allow skid steer attachment links (not shown) to penetrate through the rigid member  11  so that the skid steer attachment can be locked on the faceplate  10  by extending a pin through the links. Although pin fasteners are shown, other means of locking the attachment to the three-point hitch faceplate can be used. 
   The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5  allows one to use a conventional agricultural tractor with a three-point tractor mount to operate skid steer attachments. 
   While the present invention comprises a three-point hitch faceplate  11  to enable an operator to use skid steer attachments on a tractor with a three-point hitch it also allows an operator to use the three-point hitch faceplate  11  for securement of a trailer hitch or a drawbar. 
     FIG. 2  shows a front view of rigid member  11  having a first box member  30 , a second box member  35 , a third box member  36  and a fourth box member  37  which are secured to plate  11  through welding or the like. Each of the box members can receive a conventional ball hitch or receiver hitch, which can be temporarily secured thereto to enable the tractor to be used for towing. 
     FIG. 1  shows the ball hitch  25  includes a member  26  for mating insertion with any of the box members. Member  26  includes a through hole  26   a  that allows one to insert pin  28  there through and latch the pin with key  29 . For example, member  26  is inserted into box member  30  and the holes  26   a  and  31  are aligned and the pin  28  is inserted thereto and latched with key  29  to maintain the trailer hitch  25  in position. The operator can now use ball  27  on the ball hitch  25  to move a towable vehicle from one location to another. 
     FIG. 3  shows an alternate towing attachment comprising a U-shaped drawbar  65  having a set of holes  67  for equipment mounting. Located at one end is a member  63  having an opening  64  and located at the other end is a member  61  having an opening  62 . The members  61  and  63  are so spaced so that they can be engaged with box members  35  and  36  to thereby provide a quick mount horizontal drawbar on the unit. 
   While the drawbar  65  is shown as a quick connect unit the drawbar could be welded or bolted to a separate three-point hitch faceplate which would allow one to convert a conventional three-point hitch on an agricultural tractor to a drawbar hitch through the use of the three-point hitch faceplate. 
     FIG. 3A  shows an alternate embodiment of a hitch having a pivotable drawbar  65 A that is rotatably supported in link  63 A by extension  65 C and on the other end by extension  66 A by extension  65 D. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A  the members  63 A and  66 A are attached to the three-point hitch faceplate. 
     FIG. 4  shows an alternate ball hitch  70  wherein the ball hitch  70  includes a brace member  72  having an end for engaging an upper box member such as box member  37  and a lower member having an end for engaging a lower box member such as box member  30 . The use of pins  76  and  73  allows one to lock the ends of the members to their respective box members. Thus in this embodiment one can provide for a reinforced ball hitch to handle a greater torque load since the ball hitch  70  is supported on two positions. 
   A feature of the tow hitches shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  is that they can be quickly attached to the three-point hitch faceplate  11  so an operator can perform different tasks without having to remove the three-point hitch faceplate. In addition, the three-point hitch of the tractor can be converted to a drawbar towing attachment or a ball towing attachment and still be operated through the three-point hitch. 
     FIG. 6  is a perspective of an alternate embodiment of a three-point hitch faceplate  80  having multiple attachment points  35 ,  30 ,  36  and  37  to enable attachment of articles at any of a number of different attaching points. The rigid plate  80  has a triangular lip  80   b  and  80   c  for engaging with a skid steer attachment. 
     FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a hook  81  having an extension  82  for securing to the housing in the three-point hitch faceplate with the hook  81  including a first lip  85  with a second lip  83  spaced therefrom with a toggle  84  pivotally mounted to assist in retaining objects carried by hook  81 . 
     FIG. 7A  is an alternate embodiment of a hook  81   a  an extension  82   a  for securing to the housing in the three-point hitch faceplate with the hook  81   a  including a first lip  85   a  with a second lip  83   a  spaced therefrom with a pin  84   a  slideably mounted to assist in retaining objects carried by the hook. 
     FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a loop type attachment device  86  for securing to the three-point hitch faceplate with the attachment device having a bar  89  having an extension  87  for engagement with the housing on the faceplate. An opening  88  extends through extension  86  to permit one to lock the attachment device  86  in position. Articles can be secured to bar  89  by passing through the opening  90  therein. 
     FIG. 8A  is a partial side view showing the type of open box housing  92  on a three-point hitch faceplate  91  with the box housing having an opening  97  with a square cross section for receiving an extension from an attachment device. A first hole  93  extends through the housing  92  in one direction and a second hole  94  extends through the housing in a different direction and is shown with a pin  95  for locking an attachment extension to the three-point hitch faceplate with the pin  95  including a cotter pin  96  to maintain the pin  95  in the housing  92 . 
     FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a hitch comprising an extension  87 A. 
     FIG. 9  is a perspective showing a portion of the rear of an agricultural tractor  100  with the three-point hitch faceplate  101  mounted to the three-point hitch of a tractor through a set of upward extending bars  102  that are pinned to a connector  103  that attaches on one end to the three-point hitch of the tractor and on the other end to the arms  102  through a pin  104  that extends through the bars  102 . The faceplate  101  is shown with a set of housings  101   a  located along the bottom of the faceplate  101 . 
     FIG. 10  is a perspective showing a fork lift  104   a  attached to the three-point hitch faceplate  106  with the fork lift having an upright member  105  and a set of three tines  107 ,  108  and  109  for lifting items including hay bales or the like. 
     FIG. 11  is a perspective showing a fork lift  110  mounted on tractor  100  with the fork lift having lateral positionable arms  111  and  112  which are secured directly to the three-point hitch faceplate  106  by frame  113 . 
     FIG. 12  is a perspective showing a three-point hitch faceplate  113  having a first ball hitch  117  mounted thereon and a second ball hitch  116  mounted thereon. A further attachment  115  includes a hook  115   a . Thus the embodiment of  FIG. 12  provides for multiple attachment points with multiple types of attachment members. 
     FIG. 13  shows an alternate embodiment of the three-point hitch faceplate  120  mounted on tractor  100  with a set of keyhole slots  120   a  for holding a chain therein. A chain is placed through the large opening in the top and the links passed down into the lower portion of the keyhole slot to enable an adjacent link to engage the sides of the faceplate  120 . An opening  120   d  permits insertion of a chain, cable or the like through faceplate  120 . In order to provide for smooth passage therethrough a set of rollers could be positioned on the edge of the opening to allow passage therearound. 
     FIG. 13A  shows a back view of a portion of the three-point hitch faceplate  120  located around the chain lock  120   a  with flanges  120   b  and  120   c  protruding outward from the elongated portion of the keyhole opening  120   a . To appreciate the flanges, reference should be made to  FIG. 13B  which shows a side view of the three-point hitch faceplate with the lips or flanges  120   b  projecting outward from the backside of three-point hitch faceplate  120 . 
     FIG. 14  shows a front view of the three-point hitch faceplate with three housing units  123 ,  124  and  125  on the bottom of the unit for mounting attachments therein and a hardened blade  126  extending along the bottom to permit the use of the faceplate as a leveling tool. A set of spaced apart extension arms extend upward from faceplate  122 . 
     FIG. 15  shows a back view of the three-point hitch faceplate  122  revealing stiffening members  127  and  128  extending transverse to the faceplate  122  as well as housings  123 ,  124 , and  125 . Located transversely to members  127  are lateral stiffing members and 
     FIG. 16  shows a side view of three-point hitch faceplate  122  with the plurality of opening  127   c  therein to permit mounting of the faceplate to a variety of three-point tractor hitches. 
     FIG. 17  shows a locking device  130  for locking a skid steer attachment to the three-point hitch faceplate in the unlocked condition. The mechanism includes a member  131  that slidingly extends in housing  132  and can be retracted or extended therein by partial rotation of handle  135  which rotates link  136  to compress spring  133  and force member  131  downward and through housing  132 . 
     FIG. 18  shows the locking device of  FIG. 17  in a locked condition to secure an attachment to the three-point hitch faceplate. In the locked condition the member  131  is extended into housing  132  which cause the member  131  to extend outward of the bottom of the faceplate (not shown) as the lever  135  is rotated clockwise to compress spring  133 . 
   The use of locking mechanism on both side of the faceplate holds the bottom of the skid steer attachment securely against the three-point hitch faceplate and keeps the attachment from slipping at the bottom and also keeps the top of the attachment against a top retainer bar located on top of the three-point hitch faceplate. The lever operated mechanism is hingedly attached to the three-point hitch faceplate on the top to permit engagement or disengagement of an attachment to the three-point hitch faceplate. As an alternate embodiment one could have an extension to permit an operator to lock or unlock the mechanism from the seat of the tractor. Also a hydraulic or relay type mechanism could be used to lock or unlock a skid steer attachment to the three-point hitch faceplate. 
   While the three-point hitch faceplate has been described secured to the three-point hitch of a tractor the, three-point hitch faceplate could be also secured to a front end loader and could also be configured to other vehicles such as truck, car, four wheel or other utility vehicle. 
     FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a mechanically adjustable link  140  having a first end  141  and a second end  142  each having an eye therein. Located intermediate is a first member  143  that slides over bar  144  and can be locked in position through hole  146  in member  143  and holes  147  in member  144 . A lever arm  149  with a link  150  permits one to extend or retract members  143  and  144  with respect to each other. The mechanical link is suitable for securing to the top link of three-point hitch on the tractor and the three-point hitch faceplate. 
     FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a furrow device  160  having a top member  165  for engaging a housing member in a faceplate, and three lower member  162 ,  163  and  164  for engaging lower housing in the three-point hitch faceplate. A tine  161  extends downward at an angle to the horizontal to enable one to tear up the soil as the furrow device is pulled forward. 
     FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a fifth wheel attachment  170  for mounting on a three-point hitch faceplate with the fifth wheel attachment having the top member  172  supported by extensions  180  and  181  that extend into housing on the three-point hitch faceplate of the present invention. 
     FIG. 22  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a top link  150  for use with the present invention. Top link  150  includes a two way hydraulic cylinder having hydraulic ports  152  and  153 . Located at one end of link  150  is a swivelable eye  157  and located at the other end is an extension rod  154  having a female thread for receiving the male thread  156  formed on the shaft of swivelable eye  155 . The rotation of eye  155  provides for the static lengthening or shorting of the link  150  while the hydraulic ports provide means for on-the-go extension and contraction of the top linkage  150 . 
   A feature of the present invention is that the three-point hitch faceplate can be used with a number of different receiver style attachments including but not limited to trailer hitch, draw bar, bale forks, pallet forks, ground ripper, lift boom, tool box, utility box, three-point auxiliary hitch, winch and wood splitter. 
     FIG. 23  is a partial section exploded view of an extendible link  150  that includes multiple mechanical adjustments including rotational adjustment and linear extension adjustment. Link  150  includes a swivelable eye  151  that connects to housing  152  that contains female threads  152   a  that allow one to rotationally fasten housing  152  to male threaded member  153  that extends from member  154 . Member  154  slidingly fits in and engages an outer housing enabling one to place pin  156  into any of holes  155  in order to lock the link  150  at a selected length. Similarly, a male threaded member  158  having a swivelable eye  157  forms threaded engagement with a threaded recess (not shown) in housing  159 . 
     FIG. 24  shows a perspective view of a three-point hitch faceplate frame  180  for connecting to a three-point hitch and to a faceplate  185  of the present invention. Frame  180  includes a top opening  182  for connecting to the top link of the tractor three-point hitch and bottom shafts  183  and  184  for pivotally connecting to the lower members of the tractor three-point hitch. The faceplate  185  includes a first connecting member  185   a  located proximal a first end of the faceplate  185  and a second mounting member  185   b  located proximal the opposite end of the faceplate  185 . The faceplate  185  is pivotable mounted at the first connecting member  185   a  by shaft  189  and at the second mounting member  185   b  by shaft  190 . A hydraulic cylinder  186  having one end  187  connected to the frame  181  and a second end  188  connected to the faceplate  185  allows one to pivot the faceplate  185  through hydraulic cylinder controls (not shown). The incorporation of the frame with a hydraulic link  186  allows one to include the tilt feature of the faceplate in a separate frame rather than as part of a separate top link between the faceplate and the top member of the tractor three-point hitch. 
     FIG. 25  shows a side view of an alternate embodiment  180  of a frame having separate means for tilting the faceplate  169 . Frame  160  includes a rigid member  161  having a lower pivot connection  171  on one end and an upper pivot connection  168  on the opposite end. A link  162  has one end that pivotally connects to link  163  through a pivot pin  167  and the other end that pivotally connects to member  161  through pivot pin  168 . 
     FIG. 26  shows a partial perspective view of an alternate embodiment of my three-point hitch faceplate for use on either the front end of a tractor loader or on a three-point hitch of a tractor. Faceplate  200  includes a set of vertical flanges  220 ,  221 ,  210  and  211 . Flange  210  has a set of openings  210   a  and  210   b  and flange  211  has a set of laterally aligned  10 , openings  211   a  and  211   b . Similarly, flange  221  has a set of openings  221   a  and  221   b  and flange  220  has a set of laterally aligned openings  220   a  and  220   b.    
   A portion of the front end loader  201  is shown with a hydraulic cylinder  202  and a hydraulic cylinder  203  for lifting and lower front end loader  201 . Located on one side of loader  201  is an extension  207  having an opening  207   a  that can be aligned with openings  210   b  and  211   b  to enable a pivot pin (not shown) to be extended therethrough. Similarly, on the other side of loader  201  is an extension  206  having an opening  206   a  that can be aligned with openings  220   b  and  221   b  to enable a pivot pin (not shown) to be extended therethrough. A cross member  205  separates and holds extensions  206  and  207  in position. The pivotal connections of extensions to the faceplate  200  allows faceplate  200  to pivot with respect to an axis through the openings  206   a  in the arm  206  and the opening  207   a  in arm  207 . 
   Located on top of extension  207  is a first two way hydraulic cylinder  230  having an extension arm  230   a  and an eye end  230   b  for alignment with the opening  210   a  and  211   a  to enable a pivot pin (not shown) to be extended therethrough to form a pivoting connection to the faceplate flanges. Similarly, located on top of extension  206  is a two way hydraulic cylinder  231  having an extension arm  231   a  and an eye end  231   b  for alignment with the opening  220   a  and  221   a  to enable a pivot pin (not shown) to be extended therethrough to form a pivoting connection to the faceplate flanges. This feature allows my faceplate to be pivotally attached to the front end of a tractor. loader. 
   A central flange  240  and  241  are included to enable one to use a tractor loader with a single hydraulic cylinder in instead of the two lateral cylinders  230  and  231 . In addition, one can mount the three-point hitch face plate  200  on the three-point hitch of a tractor using the central flanges  240  and  241 . Thus a feature of the embodiment of  FIG. 26  is that the faceplate  200  is a universal faceplate that can be mounted on either the front or rear of a tractor.