Portable quick hitching device

A portable quick hitching device connects to a vehicle equipped with a bucket or other attached implement. The base of the device is constructed so as to engage the lip of the bucket and to support a towing ball or wagon hitch pin. A brace attached to an opposing side of the bucket secures the base to the bucket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention targets a group of specialty tractors that include "skid 
steer" 4-wheel-drive fixed axle tractors such as "Bobcats" that are 
typically factory-outfitted with front loader "dirt buckets", conventional 
farm tractors that are optionally equipped with front loader buckets, and 
the larger articulated 4-wheel-drive gravel bucket loaders such as 
"Payloaders". These specialty machines are often used at construction 
sites and for various tasks on farms and ranches. One increasingly common 
use is for moving trailers and wagons around farm yards and construction 
sites. 
Of this group of machines, the typically smaller "skid steer" tractors that 
have the unique capability of "spot" turning by independently reversing 
direction of their left or right drive wheels are by far the most 
maneuverable and, as a result, the most popular for trailer and wagon 
moving. In this scenario, trailers and wagons are normally connected in 
some manner to a bolt hole located centrally in the forward or "lip" 
section of the tractors' bucket, thus enabling a connected trailer to be 
either "pulled" or "backed" with relative ease. It should also be noted 
that it is relatively easy to "back" 4-wheeled wagons connected to a skid 
steer tractor in this manner--a feat that is normally considered to be 
very difficult with any rear hitch configuration. 
There are, however, two problems commonly encountered when moving trailers 
with these tractors. First, most loader buckets manufactured before the 
early 1990's were not made with bolt holes in the hardened steel bucket 
lip. It is usually not possible to drill a hole in the heat treated bucket 
lip with readily available drills. A gas cutting torch can be used to burn 
a hole in the bucket lip, but it can be difficult to obtain a good quality 
hole suitable for secure fastening of a trailer towing ball. Further, the 
torch heat may reduce the temper of the surrounding steel, making this 
area vulnerable to subsequent stress, cracking and premature failure. 
Second, even when a factory hole is supplied with the bucket, it is often 
not practical to leave a trailer towing ball permanently installed on the 
bucket as the ball interferes with most normal uses for such a loader. 
Hence, when used frequently, it can become a time consuming and 
frustrating exercise to install and remove towing balls affixed via a 
conventional bolt. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is a portable hitching device designed to connect to vehicles 
that have a bucket loader such as utility vehicles, construction vehicles 
and farm vehicles including tractors. The hitching device consists of a 
base (a modified draw bar) configured to engage a bucket or other 
implement attached to a vehicle. The base provides on one end an aperture 
to support a towing ball or wagon hitch pin and on the other end an 
attachment to a brace. 
In one embodiment, the base consists of a flat rectangular steel plate. A 
piece of angle iron is welded across the face of the base, straddling the 
mid-section and creating a v-channel that conforms to the lip of the 
bucket. On one end, the base provides a hole through which the threaded 
shaft of a towing ball or a wagon hitch pin may be inserted. On the other 
end the base provides a hole for a chain coupling which connects a chain 
to the base. An adjustable chain binder is attached to the chain and to 
the back edge of the bucket opposite the front or lip edge on which the 
base is engaged. When the binder is in its open position the chain is 
loose and the base is loosely engaged to the bucket lip. When the binder 
is in its closed position, the chain is taut and the base is securely 
engaged to the bucket lip so that it can support the load of a trailer. 
In another embodiment, the base is bent. This bend orients the ball on the 
bucket lip at a different angle in reference to the bucket than the flat 
plate, straight base embodiment. Depending upon the bucket and the trailer 
to be towed, various angles in the base instead of a straight base may be 
provided for easier towing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 shows a base 12 and a chain assembly 14 of a hitching device 10 
(shown in full in FIGS. 4 and 5). Base 12 consists of a flat rectangular 
steel plate 16 and an angle iron 18. Chain assembly 14 includes a chain 
coupling 26 and a chain 28. Steel plate 16 has a first end 20 which 
contains an aperture 24 sized to fit a wagon hitch pin or a threaded shaft 
of a towing ball bolt (shown in FIG. 3). Steel plate 16 has a second end 
22 which is configured to receive chain assembly 14, specifically chain 
coupling 26. The structure of base 12 enables it to engage a bucket via 
angle iron 18 and to establish a secure connection to the bucket via chain 
assembly 14. This secure connection, in turn, enables base 12 to support 
the load of a trailer (not shown). The dimensions of steel plate 16 and 
the gauge of chain 28 must be sufficient to support the anticipated load 
of the trailer. The length of angle iron 18 exceeds the width of steel 
plate 16. FIG. 2 shows how angle iron 18 is cut to straddle steel plate 
16. It is then welded on three sides to form a permanent bond between 
angle iron 18 and steel plate 16. 
FIG. 2 shows a side view of base 12 and chain assembly 14. First end 20 of 
steel plate 16 contains aperture 24; second end 22 of steel plate 16 
contains a hole 30. Chain coupling 26 consists of a ring 32 and a fastener 
having a wing nut 34 and a screw (hidden) which fits through hole 30. 
Angle iron 18 has a top portion 36 which is attached to steel plate 16. 
The intersection of steel plate 16 and angle iron 18 forms a v-channel 38. 
Resulting v-channel 38 fits over a lip of a commercially available bucket 
to engage base 12 and v-channel 38 to the bucket. Chain coupling ring 32 
connects to chain 28 and hole 30 of steel plate 16. Wing nut 34 tightens 
ring 32 to steel plate 16. Chain 28 is thus securely attached to base 12 
to facilitate the forming of a secure connection to a bucket (see FIG. 5). 
The use of chain coupling 26 enables chain 28 to be detached from base 12 
quickly and easily, making it more convenient for disassembly and 
transport of portable hitching device 10. Further, chain 26 may be used 
for other purposes when not attached to base 12. However, it would be 
possible to form a permanent attachment between base 12 and chain 26 by 
welding them together as shown in FIGS. 6-8 and discussed later. Other 
means of attaching chain 26 to base 12 are also available. 
By using angle iron 18, the intersection between steel plate 16 and angle 
iron 18 forms groove 38 which conforms to the shape of lip of a bucket. 
However, other shapes for a groove may be required or used depending on 
the particular characteristics of the bucket lip. In this case, a 
different form may be welded to a steel plate to form an arm which 
together with the steel plate creates a groove conforming to the required 
shape. Alternatively, the base may consist of a modified steel plate 
machined with a groove having the required shape. 
FIG. 3 shows base 12 with a ball 40 which includes a spherical portion 42, 
a neck portion 44, a base portion 46, and a threaded shaft 48. Ball 40 
fits through aperture 24 of steel plate 16 via threaded shaft 48. Nut 50 
threads onto threaded shaft 48 and sandwiches steel plate 16 between base 
portion 46 and nut 50. Ball 40 enables hitching device 10 to connect to a 
standard trailer (not shown). 
Base 12 provides the functionality conventionally attributed to a draw bar 
attached to the rear of a vehicle. Workers skilled in the art will 
recognize that mounts other than base 12 can be used with this invention 
to support a connection, such as a towing ball or a wagon hitch pin, to a 
trailer. While the connection may be supported via hole 24 in base 12 as 
described in this preferred embodiment, it is also possible to weld a 
towing ball or wagon hitch pin to the mount, thereby forming a more 
permanent connection. Other means of supplying a connection on base 12 are 
also available. 
The mount should incorporate structure enabling it to be set in place such 
that it securely engages a bucket or other frame when an attached brace is 
tightened. However, the location on the mount of the connection to the 
trailer can be varied from that shown in FIG. 1; the connection need not 
have any particular orientation with respect to a groove in the mount or 
the attachment to the brace. Likewise, the locations of the groove and the 
attachment to the brace can be altered to suit particular requirements of 
an implementation. Further, a variety of materials may be used for the 
mount including a steel plate and an angle iron. The choice of materials, 
however, must account for an anticipated load from the trailer and from 
the brace acting together with the bucket. 
FIG. 4 presents a side-sectional view of a bucket 52 to which hitching 
device 10 is attached in a loosely engaged position. Bucket 52 includes a 
first side 54 and a second side 56, a curved base 58 in between the first 
and second sides, a front lip 60 and a back edge 62. The bucket as shown 
in FIG. 4 is in loaded, material carrying position where first side 54 is 
in a front side position and second side 56 is in a back side position. 
The bucket is rotatable to a loading position and then to an unloading 
position. The loading position, as is shown in FIG. 8, is for loading 
material into the bucket using the front lip where the first side is 
approximately horizontal to the ground. When the bucket is in a loading 
position, the first side 54 is in a bottom side position and the second 
side 56 is in a top side position. If the operator continued to rotate the 
bucket, the bucket would move into the unloading position where the from 
lip 60 is facing the ground. Typically, the bucket is in either the 
loaded, material carrying position or the loading position, or somewhere 
in between, when the bucket is used to move trailers or wagons. 
FIG. 4 shows hitching device 10, which includes base 12, chain assembly 14, 
and a chain binder 64, attached to bucket 52. Chain binder 64 includes a 
first hook 65, a first attachment chain 66, a first adjustment screw 67 
with an eyelet 68, a binder body 69 with a first screw receiver 70 
attached to a U-shaped handle receiver 71, a handle 72, a second screw 
receiver 73, a second adjustment screw 74 with an eyelet 75, a second 
attachment chain 76, and a second hook 77. 
Handle 72 has a handle portion 80 and a U-shaped portion 82. U-shaped 
portion 82 is for receiving second adjustment screw 73 when chain binder 
64 is rotated to a closed position. Similarly, U-shaped handle receiver 71 
is for receiving handle 72 when chain binder 64 is rotated to a closed 
position. 
The chain assembly 14 may be adjusted by attaching hook 65 to different 
links on chain 28, however this is not a fine adjustment mechanism and 
smaller incremental adjustments may be needed. Each of the adjustment 
screws 67 and 74 allow for minor adjustments to better facilitate 
tightening when chain binder 64 is rotated into a closed position since a 
secure snug fit of the hitching device is required. 
V-channel 38, comprising the intersection of the angle iron 18 and steel 
plate 16, fits over lip 60 of bucket 52. Chain coupling 26, inserted 
through hole 30 of steel plate 16 connects to chain 28. First hook 65 of 
chain binder 64 connects to chain 28. Chain binder 64 and chain assembly 
26 provide a brace to secure base 12 to first side 54 of bucket 52. Second 
hook 77 of chain binder 64 fits over edge 62 of bucket 52. When chain 
binder handle 72 is rotated to an open position, chain 28 hangs loosely 
and base 12 loosely engages lip 60 of bucket 52. 
FIG. 4 highlights the portability of the present invention. Hitching device 
10 is positioned over bucket 52 with three loose engagement points: 1) 
v-channel 38 and lip 60; 2) chain 28 and first hook 65; and, 3) second 
hook 77 and edge 62. These three engagement points facilitate quick 
positioning and removal of hitching device 10. 
The portable nature of the invention suggests its use on other types of 
implements or frames that may be attached to a vehicle. Such an attached 
implement must have a first side and a second side opposing the first 
side. A mount may be designed with a groove that fits over an edge of the 
first side such that the mount is constrained from moving toward the 
second side. The orientation of these sides with respect to the vehicle is 
not significant. For example, in the preferred embodiment the back side of 
the bucket normally would be positioned toward the vehicle with the front 
side away from the vehicle. However, the invention does not require this 
orientation; it applies equally well when the positions of the sides are 
reversed. However, the brace, in securing the mount to the first side of 
the attached implement, should provide sufficient force to enable the 
mount to support the load of the trailer. Likewise, the sides of the 
implement must be sufficiently strong to bear the load of the trailer and 
of the brace. 
FIG. 5 presents a side-sectional view of bucket 52 with the hitching device 
in a securely engaged position. In FIG. 5, chain binder handle 72 is 
rotated to a closed position. When switching from the open position to the 
closed position, chain binder body 69 contracts in length as U-shaped 
handle receiver 71 receives U-shaped handle portion 82 and as U-shaped 
handle portion 82 receives second screw receiver 73. As a result, chain 28 
is now securely attached to first hook 65 and is taut across bucket 52. 
Adjustment screws 67 and 74 modify the length of body 69 such that the 
tension established when chain binder handle is in the closed position is 
sufficient to secure base 12 to first side 54. 
Base 12 is now securely engaged to lip 60 of bucket 52. Second hook 77 of 
chain binder 64 is likewise securely engaged to edge 62 of bucket 52. In 
this securely engaged position, hitching device 10 provides a stable base 
12 so that towing ball 40, when attached via nut 50, can support the load 
of a trailer (not shown). 
Alternative implementations for a brace may be used with the present 
invention. For instance, an adjustable chain binder may be replaced by a 
chain tightening device that consists of a threaded shaft enclosed within 
a covering cylinder (not shown). Essentially, such a device operates as a 
large adjustment screw: the cylinder rotates in one direction to tighten 
the device and in the opposite direction to loosen the device. Depending 
upon the distance between a first side and a second side of an attached 
implement, it may not be necessary to use a chain at all. The chain binder 
may extend from a mount on the first side to the second side. For lighter 
trailers, it may be possible to use materials other than a steel chain for 
connecting the mount to the second side of the attached implement. 
An alternative embodiment of a base is shown in FIGS. 6-8 as base 112. FIG. 
6 shows base 112 connected to a chain assembly 114. Base 112 consists of a 
bent rectangular plate 116 and an angle iron 118. Chain assembly 114 
includes a chain coupling 126 and a chain 128. Plate 116 has a first end 
120 which contains an aperture 124 sized to fit a wagon hitch pin or a 
threaded shaft of a towing ball bolt as previously disclosed in FIG. 3. 
Plate 116 also has a second end 122 which is configured to receive chain 
coupling 126. 
The length of angle iron 118 exceeds the width of plate 116. Angle iron 118 
is cut to straddle plate 116. The angle iron is then welded on three sides 
to form a permanent bond between angle iron 118 and plate 116. 
FIG. 7 shows a side view of base 112 and chain assembly 114. First end 120 
of plate 116 contains aperture 124; while second end 122 of plate 116 
contains first and second holes 130A and 130B. Typically, holes 130A and 
130B are drilled substantially through the second end 122 of plate 116. 
Holes 130A and 130B are sufficiently apart for receiving opposing ends 
131A and 131B of link 133. Ends 131A and 131B are then fastened into holes 
130A and 130B such that link 133 is rigidly and permanently attached to 
plate 116. The fastening of ends 131A and 131B may be done by any standard 
means of connection known in the art, such as welding. 
Chain coupling 126 consists of link 133 as welded to plate 116. A standard 
link on chain 128 is connected to link 133. 
Angle iron 118 has a top portion 136A and a bottom portion 136B. In some 
embodiments, bottom portion 136B may be of larger dimension than top 
portion 136A for defining a larger V-channel 138 to better secure the 
bucket to the base. 
Plate 116 is bent about its midsection thereby forming a first section 135 
and a second section 137. Second section 137 is not planar with first 
section 135. The reason for the bend in plate 116 which results in 
non-planar sections 135 and 137 is many times the vehicle operator desires 
to tow a trailer or wagon with the bucket in its loading position. The 
reason for a preference of this position is that lip 60 is often nearest 
the ground in this position which is typically where the trailer hitch is 
located. This position is more clearly displayed in FIG. 8. 
FIG. 8 shows a side sectional view of a bucket 152 to which hitching device 
110 is attached in a loosely engaged position. Hitching device 110 
includes base 112, chain assembly 114, and an alternative embodiment of a 
chain binder shown here as a chain binder 264. Various parts of bucket 152 
are similarly numbered in accordance with similar parts on bucket 52. 
Chain binder 264 includes a first hook 265, a first attachment chain 266, a 
connector 270 with a link receiver 271, a handle 272, a U-link 273, a 
connector 274, a second attachment chain 276, and a second hook 277. 
Handle 272 has a U-shaped end for receiving connector 270 when the handle 
is in a closed position, while U-link 273 is U-shaped to accomodate the 
rotation of handle 272. 
U-link 273 is shown partially cut away to show its connection with 
connector 274. Connector 274 is typically an eyelet with a threaded shaft. 
U-link 273 has an aperture in its end for receiving the threaded shaft on 
connector 274. A nut is fastened on to the threaded shaft to fix connector 
274 to U-link 273. 
Bucket 152, as shown in FIG. 8, is rotated in comparison to the bucket 
shown in FIGS. 4-5 so that the bucket is shown in a standard loading 
position as previously discussed. The ground is approximately parallel to 
the front side 154 when the bucket would be in this standard fully lowered 
position where material such as dirt can be picked up. The open portion of 
the bucket would face forward away from the vehicle when in this position. 
In more detail, this position results in lip 160 and first side 154 of the 
bucket being both generally parallel to the ground. To tow from this 
position, a bent plate such as base 112 which includes plate 116 would be 
used because the bend in the plate positions hitching device 110 such that 
plate 112 is generally horizontal to the ground while the ball is 
generally vertical from the ground. This positioning allows for easier and 
safer towing. Also, many trailers contain hitches that are very near the 
ground and therefore required the hitch to be very near the ground as is 
the case when the bucket is rotated into this standard loading position. 
In contrast, the hitching device 10 as is shown in FIGS. 4-5, shows the 
hitching device where base 12 would be generally parallel to the ground if 
the ground were positioned under curved base 58 of the bucket. Typically 
this position results in the front lip of the bucket being raised from the 
ground due to the curved base 58. 
The portable hitching device of the present invention is extremely useful 
as it typically can be installed in less than 10 seconds. Further, it 
enables utility vehicles to move all types of trailers with relative ease. 
For instance, as a direct result of the good visibility and 
maneuverability of a skid-steer loader, it becomes relatively easy for 
even an inexperienced skid-steer operator to back up a 4-wheeled wagon--a 
feat that can usually only be accomplished with highly experienced 
operators on other tow vehicles and, even then, with considerable 
difficulty. 
Although the present invention has been described with reference to 
preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that 
changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit 
and scope of the invention.