A drawbar protector comprising a generally rectangular plate which is positioned on the upper rearward end of a tractor drawbar so that wear on the drawbar is prevented. If the protector plate becomes excessively worn, it is easily replaced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a drawbar protector and more particularly to a protector which may be secured to and positioned on the upper surface of a tractor drawbar to prevent wearing of the drawbar.

2. Description of the Related Art

The upper surface of a tractor drawbar may become worn especially when the tractor is pulling an implement such as a grain cart or manure spreader which transfers a considerable amount of weight to the drawbar so that the tongue of the implement wears on the upper rearward surface of the drawbar. The worn appearance of a drawbar not only detracts from the aesthetic qualities of the tractor but also indicates that the tractor may have been operated much longer than the hour meter on the tractor indicates. The cost of replacing a worn drawbar is extremely expensive and is time consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tractor drawbar protector is described which is comprised of a generally rectangular metal plate having a forward end, a rearward end, an upper surface, a lower surface and opposite sides. The protector plate has a hitch pin opening formed therein forwardly of its rearward end which is designed to register with the hitch pin opening in the tractor drawbar. The protector plate has a pair of bolt openings formed therein forwardly of the hitch pin opening and are adapted to register with openings formed in the drawbar. Bolts are extended downwardly through the bolt openings in the protector plate and through the openings in the drawbar and are secured in place through the use of nuts. In use, wear is experienced on the protector plate rather than on the drawbar itself.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a drawbar protector for a tractor drawbar.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metal plate which may be secured to the upper surface of the rearward end of a tractor drawbar so that the plate will experience wear rather than the drawbar itself.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drawbar protector which may be easily fabricated to match the drawbar upon which it is to be attached.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drawbar protector which is easily and quickly secured to the upper rearward end of a tractor drawbar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the drawings, the numeral10refers to a conventional tractor having a rearwardly extending drawbar12of conventional design. Drawbar12will be described as having a forward end14, a rearward end16, an upper surface18, a lower surface20and opposite sides22and24. Drawbar12includes a hitch pin opening26formed therein forwardly of its rearward end16. Drawbar12usually has a pair of openings28and30formed therein forwardly of the hitch pin opening26. If the openings28and30are not present in the drawbar12, it will be necessary to drill the same in the drawbar.

In the drawings, it can be seen that a hitch pin32is utilized to secure the clevis elements34and36of tongue38which extends forwardly from an implement, trailer, manure spreader, etc.40to the drawbar12. The drawbar protector plate of this invention is designated with the reference numeral42and will be described as having a forward end44, a rearward end46, an upper surface48, a lower surface50and opposite sides52and54. In the embodiment1illustrated in the drawings, the plate42has a width of three inches, a length of nine and one-half inches and a thickness of one-half inch. Preferably, plate42is comprised of a steel material with the steel being heat-treated. The dimensions of the plate42will be dependent upon the particular drawbar to which it is attached.

Protector plate42has a hitch pin opening56formed therein which registers with hitch pin opening26in drawbar12and has bolt openings58and60formed therein which register with openings28and30of drawbar12. Plate12is positioned on the upper surface18of drawbar12with the bolts62and64being extended through bolt openings58and60respectively and through openings28and30of drawbar12respectively. Nuts66and68are threaded onto bolts62and64respectively to secure the protector plate42to the drawbar12.

In use, the upper clevis element34of the tongue38will rest upon the upper rearward surface of the protector plate42rather than the drawbar12so that the wear which would normally be experienced by the drawbar12is experienced by the protector plate42. If the plate42becomes excessively worn, the plate is easily replaced with a new plate.

Thus it can be seen that a novel drawbar protector plate has been provided which prevents excessive wear on the drawbar12which would normally detract from the appearance of the tractor and would indicate that the tractor has perhaps more hours on it than the hour meter indicates.