Abstract:
A connection system for a vehicle tool such as a plow, comprising: a vehicle structure unit adapted to be secured to an underside of a vehicle. A tool connector unit is adapted to be secured to a vehicle tool. A male and female connector system is between the vehicle structure unit and the tool connector unit for the mating engagement therebetween. A latch unit latches at least one male connector of the connector system into a corresponding female connector for releasable engagement, the latch unit comprising at least one biasing element to bias the latch unit into the releasable engagement. An interface connected to the latch unit for operating the latch unit in disengaging the male and female connector system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority on U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/528,885, filed on Aug. 30, 2011, incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0002]    The present application generally relates to a connection system and method for releasably connecting a tool to a vehicle for subsequent hauling or driving, such as the connection of a plow to a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
       [0003]    It is often desired to releasably connect tools to vehicles to perform specific occasional tasks. For instance, plows, such as snowplows, may be used on a temporary basis on a vehicle. However, if the vehicle is a domestic vehicle such as a pick-up truck or an all-terrain vehicle, it may be desired to disconnect the plow after use, as the plow may be cumbersome. 
         [0004]    Existing systems often require the user to move out of the vehicle to align the tool with the vehicle. The vehicle must then be driven forward to engage the tool to the vehicle, etc. The release of the tool from the vehicle may also be cumbersome, and may often require that the user step out of the vehicle and attend to the tool under the vehicle. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a connection system that simplifies the temporary connection of the vehicle tool to the vehicle. 
       SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0005]    It is therefore an aim of the present disclosure to provide a connection system for vehicle tools that addresses issues associated with the prior art. 
         [0006]    It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide a method for releasably connecting a tool to a vehicle. 
         [0007]    Therefore, in accordance with the present application, there is provided a connection system for a vehicle tool, comprising: a vehicle structure unit adapted to be secured to an underside of a vehicle; a tool connector unit adapted to be secured to a vehicle tool; a male and female connector system between the vehicle structure unit and the tool connector unit for the mating engagement therebetween; a latch unit latching at least one male connector of the connector system into a corresponding female connector for releasable engagement, the latch unit comprising at least one biasing element to bias the latch unit into the releasable engagement; and an interface connected to the latch unit for operating the latch unit in disengaging the male and female connector system. 
         [0008]    Further in accordance with the present application, there is provided an assembly of a plow and a connection system, comprising: a plow; and a connection system comprising: a vehicle structure unit adapted to be secured to an underside of a vehicle; a tool connector unit secured to the plow; a male and female connector system between the vehicle structure unit and the tool connector unit for the mating engagement therebetween; a latch unit latching at least one male connector of the connector system into a corresponding female connector for releasable engagement, the latch unit comprising at least one biasing element to bias the latch unit into the releasable engagement; and an interface connected to the latch unit for operating the latch unit in disengaging the male and female connector system. 
         [0009]    Still further in accordance with the present application, there is provided a method for connecting a vehicle tool to a vehicle, comprising: aligning a tool connector unit connected to the vehicle tool with a vehicle structure unit on the vehicle; manually raising the tool connector unit by handling an arm unit of the tool connector unit; moving the vehicle forward to cause the latching engagement of the tool connector unit with the vehicle structure unit; and releasing the arm unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connection system for a tool such as a plow; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the connection system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the connection system of  FIG. 1 , with latches in position for the disengagement of the vehicle tool; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the connection system of  FIG. 1 , with a vehicle structure unit moved out of engagement with a tool connector unit; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the connection system of  FIG. 1 , with a tool connector unit thereof in alignment with a vehicle structure unit thereof; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an assembly view of components of the connection system for vehicle tool of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is illustrated a connection system for a vehicle tool at  10 . The connection system for vehicle tool may be used with any appropriate type of vehicle, such as trucks, cars, all-terrain vehicles, etc. The vehicle tool may be any appropriate tool that is pushed (e.g., driven) or pulled (e.g., hauled) by the vehicle. For instance, the vehicle tool may be a plow, such as a snowplow. 
         [0017]    The connection system  10  has a vehicle structure unit  12  that may become an integral or temporary part of the vehicle, and a tool connector unit  13 . 
         [0018]    The vehicle structure unit  12  is the structural component of the connection system  10  and attaches to the vehicle or is integral with the vehicle. 
         [0019]    The tool connector unit  13  attaches to the tool, and is releasably connectable to the vehicle structure unit  12 . The tool connector unit  13  is therefore the interface between the vehicle structure unit  12  and the vehicle tool. 
         [0020]    In  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an example of a vehicle tool in plow  14 . The plow  14  is of the type that is pushed by a vehicle to plow away loose matter, such as snow, gravel, etc. 
         [0021]    To provide context, the plow  14  is secured to the tool connector unit  13  by a pair of structural members  15  or any appropriate structural configuration. An interface  16  interrelates the plow  14  to the structural member  15 . The interface  16  may be a pivot mount by which the plow  14  is pivotally mounted to the structural member  15 . The pivot mount is one possible configuration among others for the connection between the plow  14  and the structural members  15 . For instance, there may be a rigid connection (i.e., no degree of freedom) between the structural members  15  and the tool. Moreover, it is observed from  FIG. 1  that a biasing unit(s) may be used as well to ensure the plow  14  maintains a given orientation when possible. As mentioned previously, any appropriate vehicle tool may be used with the connection system  10 , and the description of the plow  14  given above is for illustrative purposes only. 
         [0022]    Referring concurrently to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vehicle structure unit  12  is shown in greater detail. The vehicle structure unit  12  consists of a body  20 . In an illustrated embodiment, the body  20  is a rigid plate having a top planar surface. However, any other appropriate shape for the body  20  is considered, for instance to customize the vehicle structure unit  12  to an underside of a vehicle. The vehicle structure unit  12  is illustrated as supporting four different U-bolts, i.e., U-clamps. Therefore, by way of the U-bolts  21 , the vehicle structure unit  12  may be secured to an undersurface of the vehicle. Accordingly, once U-bolts  21  secure the body  20  to the vehicle, the vehicle structure unit  12  is integral with the vehicle. The U-bolts  21  typically connect to the structural parts of the vehicle, such as the chassis. It is understood that any other appropriate configuration or connection means may be used to secured the vehicle structure unit  12  to the vehicle. For instance, the vehicle structure unit  12  may be bolted directly to the vehicle or welded directly thereto, among numerous other possible configurations. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the vehicle structure unit  12  features a pair of brackets  22  (one of which is shown). The brackets  22  each have a portion that projects downwardly from the body  20 , upon which portion is a male connector  23 . The male connector  23  may be a pin, a bolt, or any other projecting component. The pin may be molded or cast directly with the bracket  22 , may be bolted thereto, welded thereto, etc. In any selected embodiment, the brackets  22  and the male connectors  23  of the vehicle structure unit  12  must have the necessary strength to sustain the forces applied thereon by the driving/hauling of the vehicle tool. The male connectors  23  may be opposed ends of a single rod, etc. The male connectors  23  may have a circular section as illustrated, or any other appropriate sectional shape. 
         [0024]    Referring concurrently to  FIGS. 1-3 , the tool connector unit  13  is shown having a structural base  30 . The structural base  30  is connected to the vehicle tool. In the illustrated embodiment, the structural base  30  is integral with the vehicle tool. More specifically, the structural base is a bar that is connected to the free ends of both the structural members  15  of the vehicle tool. Female connectors  31  are positioned at opposed ends of the bar and are thus part of the structural base  30 . The female connectors  31  are laterally oriented U-shaped plates, each defining a slot  32  oriented away from the tooling end of the vehicle tool. 
         [0025]    A latch  33  is pivotally mounted to the structural base  30 . The latch  33  therefore moves between the position of  FIG. 3 , in which the latch  33  is away from the slots  32  to allow entry and exit of the male connectors  23 . The other position of the latch  33  is shown at  FIG. 2 , in which the latch  33  maintains the male connectors  23  captive therein. A push bar  34  may interrelate the latches  33  such that they move concurrently. Therefore, in an embodiment, the latches  33  may move concurrently in their pivoting motion relative to the structural base  30 . Other configurations are possible, for instance with the latches  33  moving independently from one another. The latches  33  are shaped and oriented to expose a contact surface or contact edge (i.e., a ramp surface or ramp edge, sliding surface/edge) to the incoming male connectors  23 . Hence, when the male connectors  23  contact the contact surfaces of the latches  33 , the latches  33  move away to the position of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0026]    A biasing unit  35 , partially visible in  FIG. 3 , biases the latches  33  to the position of  FIG. 2 , namely the position by which the slots  32  are closed off by the latches. The biasing unit  35  may be a helical spring, a leaf spring, or any other appropriate biasing component. Moreover, the tool connector unit  13  may feature more than one biasing unit  35 , for instance to increase biasing forces or if the latches  33  are independent. 
         [0027]    An interface, in the form of an arm unit  36 , is integrally connected to the push bar  34  and may be used to displace the latch  33  away from the biased position of  FIG. 2 . In the illustrated embodiment, the arm unit  36  features a telescopic arm  37 . The telescopic arm  37  projects laterally from the tool connector unit  13 . The telescopic arm  37  is manually handled by the user to operate the connection system  10 . The telescopic arm  37  is in a telescopic relation with a square-section tube  38 , although other sectional shapes are possible as well. The tube  38  is fixedly secured to the push bar  34 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , a pin  39  may be used with appropriate holes in both the telescopic arm  37  and tube  38 , so as to adjust the length by which the telescopic arm  37  projects out of the housing  38 . While the telescopic arm  37  is inserted in the tube  38  in the illustrated embodiment, other configurations are also possible. 
         [0028]    Now that the various components of the connection system  10  have been described, an installation of the vehicle tool to the vehicle is set forth. 
         [0029]    Firstly, the vehicle structure unit  12  must be secured appropriately to the vehicle or must be integral with the vehicle. This is typically done, for instance, before the vehicle tool is used for the first time. The vehicle structure unit  12  may be permanently secured to the vehicle, or may be removed once the vehicle tool is no longer required, for instance after a season, in the event that the vehicle tool is of the seasonal-use type (e.g., snowplow). The tool connector unit  13  is connected to the vehicle tool for the method of installation of the tool to be performed. 
         [0030]    The vehicle and the vehicle tool are then aligned with one another. In the illustrated example,  FIG. 5  shows a suitable alignment, with the vehicle being illustrated by the vehicle structure unit  12  on the left-hand side of the page. The vehicle then moves towards the tool connector unit  13 , with a forward movement of the vehicle being in a direction generally collinear with a longitudinal axis of the structural members  15 . The vehicle is stopped when in close proximity to the tool connector unit  13 . 
         [0031]    The telescopic arm  37  is arranged so as to project laterally beyond a side of the vehicle, such that it may be manually handled from the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle bends over to grasp the telescopic arm  37  and subsequently raises the tool connector unit  13 . It may be required that the vehicle roll over the telescopic arm  37  once aligned as described above. Alternatively, the telescopic arm  37  may be installed once the vehicle is in close proximity to the tool connector unit  13 . In the latter case, all necessary precautions must be taken to ensure that the installation is performed safely (e.g., vehicle turned off, park brake actuated, etc.). The illustrated arm  37  is on the right-hand side of the vehicle, and may thus be used with an all-terrain vehicle, etc. For standard left-driving side vehicles, the arm  37  may project on the left-hand side instead. Moreover, as some vehicles are higher above the ground (e.g., pick-up truck), the arm  37  may have an upwardly-projecting component to be readily grasped by the driver of the vehicle from the driver&#39;s seat. 
         [0032]    In raising the tool connector unit  13 , its female connectors  31  are generally aligned with the male connectors  23  of the vehicle structure unit  12 . The vehicle is at that point driven forward further, whereby the male connectors  23  contact the latches  33 . The latches  33  therefore latch away from the position of  FIG. 2  by this engaging action, making way for the male connectors  23  to fit inside the slots  32 . The biasing unit  35  then biases the push bar  34  and latches  33  back to the position of  FIG. 2 , whereby the male connectors  23  are held captive in the female connectors  31 . At that point, the vehicle tool may be used. The tool connector unit  13  is connected to the vehicle structure unit  12  in the manner shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0033]    In order to release the tool from the vehicle, the user applies a force A on the arm unit  36 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In doing so, the latches  33  move out of the way of the slots  32 . The pivoting motion is illustrated by arrow B. 
         [0034]    The vehicle is then moved in the opposite direction, as shown by arrows C in  FIG. 4 . In moving away from the vehicle tool, the male connectors  23  move out of the slots  32 , and the tool connector unit  13  falls to the ground. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , once the force on the arm unit  36  is released, the latches  33  are biased back to the latched position illustrated in  FIG. 5 , but with the vehicle structure unit  12  separated therefrom. 
         [0036]    It is pointed out that the latching mechanism may be part of the vehicle structure unit  12  instead of the tool connector unit  13 . In such a case, an alternate way to raise the tool connector unit  13  would be required, for the vertical alignment of the vehicle structure unit  12  with the tool connector unit  13 . For instance, the arm  37  could be connected to other parts of the structural base  30 .