Implement attachment apparatus and method

An implement attachment apparatus is provided for use with a lawn and garden tractor and an implement. The implement has first and second attachment brackets having first and second holes and first and second slots respectively. The lawn and garden tractor includes a frame having first and second surfaces with first and second openings respectively. The tractor also includes a plurality of wheels operatively connected to the frame, an engine for use in providing locomotion to the plurality of wheels and, first and second extension members extending from the first and second surfaces of the frame. The implement attachment apparatus includes first and second pins as well as securing apparatus for securing the first and second pins in place. The first and second slots of the implement receive the first and second extension members respectively. The first and second holes of the implement and the first and second openings of the frame selectively receive the first and second pins respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of Invention
 This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses for attaching
 implements to a vehicle, and more specifically to methods and apparatuses
 for attaching implements to a lawn and garden tractor without the need for
 tools.
 2. Description of the Related Art
 It is well known to provide implements that can be attached to lawn and
 garden tractors. A vast range of implements including grass bags, plows,
 snow blowers, bumpers, etc. are commonly used. The implements may be
 attached at various places such as the front, the back, and the midsection
 of the lawn and garden tractor.
 A problem well known in the art deals with the difficulty involved in
 attaching and detaching such implements. Typically, tools, such as
 wrenches, screw drivers, socket sets, hammers and the like, are required
 to secure the particular implement to the tractor. While such methods are
 effective, they require considerable time and energy.
 The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for quickly and
 easily attaching and detaching implements without need of tools. The
 difficulties inherit in the art are therefore overcome in a way that is
 simple and efficient while providing better and more advantageous results.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 According to one aspect of this invention, a lawn and garden tractor and
 implement are provided. An implement attachment apparatus is used to
 attach the implement to the lawn and garden tractor. The lawn and garden
 tractor includes a frame having first and second surfaces that are
 laterally spaced with first and second openings respectively, a plurality
 of wheels operatively connected to the frame, an engine operatively
 mounted to the frame for use in providing locomotion to at least one of
 the plurality of wheels, and a pair of extension members extending from
 the first and second surfaces of the frame. The implement includes a main
 body portion and first and second laterally spaced attachment brackets
 operatively connected to the main body and having first and second holes
 and first and second slots respectively. The first and second slots are
 adapted to receive the first and second extension members respectively.
 The implement attachment apparatus includes first and second pins and
 securing means for securing the first and second pins in place. The first
 and second holes in the implement and the first and second openings in the
 frame receive the first and second pins respectively.
 According to another aspect of this invention, a method of attaching the
 implement to the lawn and garden tractor is provided. First the implement
 is positioned such that the first slot receives the first extension member
 and the second slot receives the second extension member. Then the
 implement is pivoted about the first and second extension members until
 the first hole in the implement is oriented concentrically with the first
 opening in the frame and the second hole in the implement is oriented
 concentrically with the second opening in the frame. Next, the first pin
 is inserted within the first hole in the implement and the first opening
 in the frame. Similarly, the second pin is inserted within the second hole
 in the implement and the second opening in the frame. Finally, the first
 and second pins are secured into place using cotter pins that fit within
 pin holes in the first and second pins.
 According to still another aspect of this invention, another embodiment for
 attaching an implement to a lawn and garden tractor is provided. The lawn
 and garden tractor includes a frame having first, second and third
 surfaces. The third surface has an opening and the first and second
 surfaces are laterally spaced. The lawn and garden tractor also includes a
 plurality of wheels operatively connected to the frame, an engine
 operatively mounted to the frame for use in providing locomotion to at
 least one of the plurality of wheels, and first and second extension
 members extending from the first and second surfaces of the frame. The
 implement includes a main body portion and first, second and third
 attachment brackets operatively connected to the main body. The first and
 second attachment brackets are laterally spaced and have first and second
 slots respectively. The slots are adapted to receive the first and second
 extension members respectively. The third attachment bracket has a hole.
 The implement attachment apparatus includes a first pin and securing means
 for securing the first pin in place. The hole in the third attachment
 bracket and the opening in the third surface receive the first pin.
 According to yet another aspect of this invention, a method of attaching
 the implement just described is provided. First, the implement is
 positioned such that the first slot receives the first extension member
 and the second slot receives the second extension member. Then, the
 implement is pivoted about the first and second extension members until
 the hole in the third attachment bracket is oriented concentrically with
 the opening in the third surface. Next, the first pin is inserted within
 the hole and the opening. Finally, the first pin is secured into place.
 One advantage of the present invention is that it is easy to manufacture
 and can be made economically.
 Another advantage of the present invention is that implements can be
 attached and detached without the use of tools.
 Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent
 to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and
 understanding of the following detailed specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of
 illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for
 purposes of limiting the same, FIGS. 1-2 shows a lawn and garden tractor
 10 that is equipped with an implement attachment apparatus 50 according to
 this invention. The implement attachment apparatus 50 is used in
 selectively attaching and detaching an implement 70. This preferred
 embodiment is directed to a lawn and garden tractor but the invention is
 applicable to other mowers, other vehicles, and other applications as
 well. It should be noted that the implement attachment apparatus 50 is
 intended for use with any appropriately equipped implement 70 such as
 bumpers, plows, grass bags, mowers, buckets, snow plows, etc. It should
 also be noted that the implement attachment apparatus 50 is useful with
 any appropriately equipped portion of the lawn and garden tractor 10.
 Different specific embodiments will be described below.
 With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-2, the lawn and garden tractor 10 as
 shown includes a frame 12 having front and back ends 26, 34, an operator
 seat 14 and a steering mechanism 16 for steering front wheels 18. An
 engine 20, mounted to the frame 12, is used to drive back wheels 22 and to
 rotate one or more cutting blades (not shown) within a mower deck 24. The
 mower deck 24 is supported from the frame 12. The operation of the cutting
 blades is well known in the art and thus will not be discussed further in
 this specification.
 With reference now to FIGS. 1-2 and 6, the implement attachment apparatus
 50 includes one or more pins 52. These pins 52 may be formed of any
 material chosen with sound engineering judgment and may be shaped as
 desired. Preferably, the pins 52 are cylindrically shaped. Securing means
 56 may be used to secure the pins 52 in place once they have been properly
 inserted. The securing means 56 can be of any type chosen with sound
 engineering judgment but in this preferred embodiment includes cotter pins
 58 that fit within pin holes 60 as is commonly known in the art.
 With reference now to FIGS. 1-3 and 7-8, a first embodiment will now be
 discussed. In this first embodiment, the implement 70 is a front bumper 72
 that is selectively attachable to the front end 26 of the frame 12. The
 front end 26 has first and second surfaces 27, 28 each having first and
 second openings 29, 30 respectively. The first and second openings 29, 30
 are shaped to receive the previously described pins 52. As shown, the
 first and second surfaces 27, 28 are substantially parallel and laterally
 spaced a distance D1. First and second extension members 31, 32 extend
 outwardly from the first and second surfaces 27, 28 respectively.
 Preferably the first and second extension members 31, 32 are substantially
 collinear and circular in cross section to permit the implement 70 to
 easily pivot about the first and second extension members 31, 32. It is
 also preferred that the first and second extension members 31, 32 have
 heads 33 that assist in maintaining the implement 70 in operative
 connection with the frame 12. As shown in FIG. 8, the extension members
 31, 32 extend out from the surfaces 27, 28 a distance T1 before the heads
 33 are positioned.
 With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-3 and 7-8, the front bumper 72
 includes a main body portion 73 operatively connected to first and second
 attachment brackets 74, 75. The first and second attachment brackets 74,
 75 have first and second holes 76, 77 and first and second slots 78, 79
 respectively. The holes 76, 77 are shaped to receive the previously
 described pins 52 and the slots 78, 79 are shaped to receive the
 previously described extension members 31, 32. It should be noted that
 though the slots 78, 79 are positioned at the distal ends of the
 attachment brackets 74, 75 and the holes 76, 77 are positioned between the
 main body portion 73 and the slots 78, 79, this particular arrangement is
 not necessary for this invention. It is also here contemplated that the
 slots 78, 79 could be positioned between the main body portion 73 and the
 holes 76, 77. The slots 78, 79 may be shaped and oriented in any manner
 chosen with sound engineering judgment. The orientation of the slots 78,
 79 may be at an angle A with respect to a centerline CL of the attachment
 brackets 74, 75. Preferably angle A is between 5.degree. and 60.degree..
 The slots 78, 79 may have a linear shape or a curvilinear shape. As shown
 in FIG. 7, the brackets 74, 75 have a thickness T2 in the area of the
 slots 78, 79. The inside surfaces of the first and second attachment
 brackets 74, 75 are preferably substantially parallel and are laterally
 spaced a distance D2 where distance D2 is substantially equal to distance
 D1. This provides for a snug fit of the implement 70 (in this case the
 front bumper 72) to the frame 12 (in this case the front end 26 of the
 frame 12).
 Still referring to FIGS. 1-3 and 7-8, a method for attaching the front
 bumper 72 to the front end 26 of the frame 12 will now be discussed. First
 the inside surfaces of the first and second attachment brackets 74, 75 are
 positioned along the first and second surfaces 27, 28 of the frame 12
 respectively. The front bumper 72 is then urged along the frame 12 till
 the first and second slots 78, 79 engage the first and second extension
 members 31, 32 respectively. By engage it is meant that the extension
 members 31, 32 are fully received within the first and second slots 78, 79
 respectively. Preferably, the thickness T2 is less than or equal to the
 distance T1. When this is true, the attachment brackets 74, 75 fit between
 the heads 33 of the extension members 31, 32 and the first and second
 surfaces 27, 28 of the frame 12 and the heads 33 of the extension members
 31, 32 extend outwardly beyond the first and second slots 78, 79. In this
 way, the heads 33 help to secure the implement 70 to the frame 12.
 With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-3 and 7-8, the front bumper 72 is then
 pivoted about the first and second extension members 31, 32 until the
 first and second holes 76, 77 in the first and second attachment brackets
 74, 75 are positioned concentrically with the first and second openings
 29, 30 in the frame 12 respectively. This pivoting of the front bumper 72
 may be either in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, as shown in
 FIGS. 1-2, as preferred by the operator. One of the pins 52 is then
 inserted through the first hole 76 and the first opening 29. Similarly,
 another pin 52 is inserted through the second hole 77 and the second
 opening 30. Finally, the pins 52 are secured in place preferably by
 inserting the cotter pins 58 within the pin holes 60.
 With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-3 and 7-8, to detach the front bumper
 72 from the front end 26 of the frame 12, the cotter pins 58 are first
 removed from the pins 52. The first pin 52 is then removed from the first
 hole 76 and first opening 29. The second pin 52 is similarly removed from
 the second hole 77 and the second opening 30. Finally, the front bumper 72
 is removed from the frame 12.
 With reference now to FIGS. 1-2, 4-5 and 9-10, a second embodiment will now
 be discussed. In this second embodiment, the implement 70 is a grass bag
 80 that is selectively attachable to the back end 34 of the frame 12. The
 back end 34 has first, second, and third surfaces 35, 36, 37. The third
 surface 37 has an opening 38 shaped to receive one of the previously
 described pins 52. As shown, the first and second outer surfaces 35, 36
 are substantially parallel and laterally spaced a distance D3. The third
 surface 37 can be oriented with respect to the other surfaces 35, 36 in
 any manner chosen with sound engineering judgment. In the preferred
 embodiment shown, the third surface 37 is oriented at a substantially
 right angle with respect to the first and second surfaces 35, 36. First
 and second extension members 31, 32 extend from the first and second
 surfaces 35, 36 respectively. Preferably the first and second extension
 members 31, 32 are shaped and oriented as the previously described
 extension members on the front end 26 of the frame 12. Thus, the extension
 members 31, 32 extend outward from the surfaces 35,36 a distance T1 before
 heads 33 are positioned.
 With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-2, 4-5 and 9-10, the grass bag 80
 includes a main body portion 81 operatively connected to first, second and
 third attachment brackets 82, 83, 84. The first and second attachment
 brackets 82, 83 have first and second slots 85, 86 respectively and the
 third attachment bracket 84 has a hole 87. The hole 87 is shaped to
 receive one of the previously described pins 52 and the slots 85, 86 are
 shaped to receive the previously described extension members 31, 32. The
 shape, orientation and position of the slots 85, 86 can vary as the slots
 78, 79 discussed above. The inside surfaces of the first and second
 attachment brackets 82, 83 are preferably substantially parallel and are
 laterally spaced a distance D4 where distance D4 is substantially equal to
 distance D3. This provides for a snug fit of the implement 70 (in this
 case the grass bag 80) to the frame 12 (in this case the back end 34 of
 the frame 12). As shown in FIG. 9, the brackets 82,83 have a thickness T2
 in the area of the slots 85, 86. The third attachment bracket 84 can be
 oriented with respect to the first and second attachment brackets 82, 83
 in any manner chosen with sound engineering judgment. In the preferred
 embodiment shown, the third attachment bracket 84 is oriented at a
 substantially right angle with respect to the first and second attachment
 brackets 82, 83. It is most preferred that the third attachment bracket 84
 be oriented to be substantially parallel to the third surface 37 of the
 frame 12 when the grass bag 80 is to be attached to the lawn and garden
 tractor 10.
 Still referring to FIGS. 1-2, 4-5 and 9-10, a method for attaching the
 grass bag 80 to the back end 34 of the frame 12 will now be discussed.
 First the inside surfaces of the first and second attachment brackets 82,
 83 are positioned along the first and second surfaces 35, 36 of the frame
 12. The grass bag 80 is then urged along the frame 12 till the first and
 second slots 85, 86 engage the first and second extension members 31, 32
 respectively. Preferably, the thickness T2 is less than or equal to the
 distance T1. When this is true, the attachment brackets 82,83 fit between
 the heads 33 of the extension members 31, 32 and the surfaces 35, 36 of
 the frame 12 and the heads 33 of the extension members 31, 32 extend
 outwardly beyond the first and second slots 85, 86. In this way, the heads
 33 help to secure the implement 80 to the frame 12. The grass bag 80 is
 then pivoted about the first and second extension members 31, 32 until the
 hole 87 in the third attachment bracket 84 is positioned concentrically
 with the opening 38 in the frame 12. The pin 52 is then inserted through
 the hole 87 and the opening 38. The pin 52 may be secured in place by
 inserting a cotter pin 58 within the pin hole 60. It should be noted that
 additional assembly may be required to fully connect the grass bag 80 to
 the lawn and garden tractor 10. In particular, it may be necessary to
 attach a chute 89 of the grass bag 80 to a discharge portion 25 of the
 mower deck 24. This attachment may be by any means known in the art.
 With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-2, 4-5 and 9-10, to detach the grass
 bag 80 from the back end 34 of the frame 12, the chute 89 is detached from
 the discharge portion 25 of the mower deck 24. Next, the cotter pin 58 is
 removed from the pin 52 and the pin 52 is then removed from the hole 87
 and opening 38. Finally, the grass bag 80 is removed from the frame 12.
 The preferred embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be
 apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods may
 incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general
 scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications
 and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended
 claims or the equivalents thereof.