IMPLEMENT ATTACHMENT MECHANISM AND METHOD

Abstract: A method for attaching an implement (12) to a vehicle (10) is provided. This method includes the steps of providing a vehicle having a hitch (22) and lifting means (18) for use in lifting the hitch and providing an implement having a first rod (30) and a first pin hole (35). The remaining steps include, positioning an engagement end (34) of a first pin (33) to extend through a first pin opening (38) in the hitch, inserting the first rod of the implement into a first rod slot (28) in the hitch, lifting the hitch and the implement thereby causing the implement to pivot about the first rod and, engaging the first pin within the first pin hole in the implement. Preferably, when the implement pivots about the first rod, the engagement end of the first pin is forced to slide along a first ramped area (13) on the implement. A method of removing the implement from the vehicle includes the steps of, lowering the hitch and the implement to the ground, disengaging the first pin from the first pin hole in the implement and, moving the hitch away from the implement thereby removing the first rod from the first rod slot.

Description: IMPLEMENT ATTACHMENT MECHANISM AND METHOD Technical Field This invention pertains to the art ot methods and apparatuses for attaching implements to vehicles, and more specifically to methods and apparatuses for attaching implements to the front of a lawn and garden tractor. Background Art It is well known in the art to attach implements to the front of a lawn and garden tractor. The implements can be of any type such as a snow plow, a snow blower, or the like. Some implements must be driven by the lawn tractor (such as a snow blower) while other implements must only be carried by the lawn tractor (such as a snow plow) Known implement attachment mechanisms have proven to be functional for their intended purpose. A problem known in the art, however, relates to the difficulty in attaching an implement to a lawn tractor. Typically once the lawn tractor has been properly positioned with respect to the implement, the operator must get off the lawn tractor and manually perform several functions. These functions may include the insertion of connection pins that lock the implement to the lawn tractor, for example. In addition, the operator may have to adjust the position of the implement before such connection pins can be properly inserted. All such manual labor is cumbersome and time consuming. What is needed is an easier way of attaching implements to a lawn tractor. The present invention provides methods and apparatuses that meet this need. The difficulties inherit in the art are therefore overcome in a way that is simple and efficient, while providing better and more advantageous results. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and wherein: FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of a lawn tractor using the implement attachment mechanism of this invention to attach an implement. FIGURE 2 is an assembly drawing of the hitch and bracket assembly of this invention. FIGURE 3 is a perspective side view of the first side plate shown without the pin brace. FIGURE 4 is a perspective back view of the implement showing the ramped area, the rod and the pin hole. FIGURE 5 is an exploded side view of the pin showing a beveled engagement end. FIGURE 6 is an exploded side view of the pin showing a spherical engagement end. 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, FIGURE 1 shows a lawn tractor 10 using the implement attachment mechanism 20 of this invention to attach to an implement 12. It should be noted that although this embodiment is directed to a lawn tractor the invention is applicable to other vehicles and other applications as well. It should also be noted that the implement 12 can be any type of implement chosen with sound engineering judgement. For example, the implement may be a snow blower (as shown in FIGURE 1), a snow plow or the like. If the implement 12 must be driven by the lawn tractor 10 (such as a snow blower) it will include a drive shaft 17. The operation of the implement 12 is considered well known and thus will not be discussed further. With continuing reference to FIGURE 1 , the lawn tractor 10 has a frame 14, a bracket assembly 16 operatively connected to the frame 14 and lifting means 18 for selectively lifting the bracket assembly 16. The lifting means 18 can be of any type commonly known in the art that can both raise and lower the bracket assembly 16 and may include a lift lever 36 whereby the operator can operate the lifting means 18. The lawn tractor 10 may also have a PTO shaft 11 for use in operating the implement 12. The PTO shaft 11 is only required if the implement 12 must be driven. With reference now to FIGURES 1-4, the implement attachment mechanism 20 includes a hitch 22 that is operatively connected to the bracket assembly 16 by any means commonly known in the art, such as using a pivot bolt 24. The hitch 22 has first and second side plates, 25, 26 and a mid-section 27. Each side plate 25, 26 has a rod slot 28, 29 for receiving a rod 30 as will be discussed further below. Each side plate 2 , 26 also has a pin brace 31 fixedly attached and having a pair of brace holes 43 for use in supporting later to be described pins 33. FIGURE 3 shows that behind the pin brace 31 a pin opening 38 is located in the first side plate 25 for selectively receiving the pin 33. The second side plate 26 is similarly constructed. With reference now to FIGURES 1 and 4, the implement attachment mechanism 20 also includes the rod 30 that is fixedly mounted to a first side 40 of the implement 12. The implement 12 also has a second side 41. The rod 30 is selectively received within the rod slot 28 of the first side plate 25. Another rod (not shown) is similarly received within the rod slot 29 of the second side plate 26. A pin hole 35 is located on the first side 40 of the implement 12 for selective reception of one of the pins 33. The implement 12 also has a ramped area 13 that is used to ease the insertion of the pin 33 into the pin hole 35 on the implement 12. The ramped area 13 is a surface operatively connecting the first and second sides 40, 41 of the implement 12. It should be noted that the ramped area 13 is angled with respect to the first and second sides 40, 41. By angled it is meant that the ramped area 13 is not parallel to either the first side 40 or the second side 41. A second ramped area (not shown) is also preferably used and is similarly formed on the opposite end of the implement 12. With reference now to FIGURES 1-6, the pins 33 can be of any type chosen with sound engineering judgement. In this embodiment, each pin 33 is a "J" shaped pin having an engagement end 34 that is operatively received within the pin openings 38 in the hitch 22 and the pin holes 35 in the implement 12. Preferably a spring 45 is used to bias each pin 33 toward the first pin opening 38. As indicated in FIGURE 2, each spring 45 preferably receives a pin 33 and preferably is positioned between each pin brace 31 and each side plate 25, 26 of the hitch 22. The engagement end 34 of the pin 33 may be of any shape chosen with sound engineering judgement. The engagement end 34 may have, for example, a beveled design. FIGURE 5 shows a beveled design including a beveled surface 47 that forms an angle A with the axis of the pin 33. In this case, it is preferred that the ramped area 13 be angled with respect to the first side 40 of the implement 12 at the same angle as the bevel of the engagement end 34. Thus, for example, if the angle A is 45°, it is preferred that the ramped area 13 be angled at 45° with respect to the first side 40 of the implement 12. In another embodiment, shown in FIGURE 6, the engagement end 34 may be spherically shaped. In this case, the angle of the ramped area 13 can be any angle chosen with sound engineering judgement. With continuing reference to FIGURES 1-6, the manner in which the implement 12 is attached to the lawn tractor 10 will now be described. It should be noted that the pins 33 must be pre -positioned on the pin brace 31 such that the engagement ends 34 are extended through the pin openings 38 in the first and second end plates 25, 26. This is the condition shown in FIGURE 1. First, the operator moves (preferably by driving) the lawn tractor 10 toward the implement 12 until the rods 30 are inserted into the rod slots 28, 29 of the hitch 22. Next, the operator uses the lifting means 18 to lift the hitch 22 and thus the implement 12. As the implement 12 is lifted it pivots in a clockwise direction (as shown in FIGURE 1) about the rods 30. This forces the engagement ends 34 of the pins 33 to contact the ramped area 13 on the implement 12. The engagement ends 34 easily slide along the ramped areas 13 and are directed toward the pin holes 35 through which they are received. In this way the implement is "locked" to the hitch 22. If the implement 12 must be driven the operator would then couple the PTO shaft 11 to the drive shaft 17 of the implement 12. Still referring to FIGURES 1-6, to remove the implement 12, the operator would first lower the implement 12 to the ground with the lifting means 18. Then the pins 33 are disengaged from the pin holes 35 on the implement 12. If the implement 12 is a driven type implement, the operator would also de-couple the PTO shaft 11 from the drive shaft 17. Next, the lawn tractor 10 and thus the hitch 22 is moved away from the implement 12. This movement removes the rods 30 from the rod slots 25, 26. 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. Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed:

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. An implement attachment mechanism (20) including a first pin (33) having an engagement end (34), a vehicle (10) having a hitch (22) and lifting means (18) for use in lifting the hitch, and an implement (12), the implement attachment mechanism being characterized by: said hitch having a first rod slot (28) and a first pin opening (38) that selectively receives said first pin; and, said implement including, A) a first rod (30) that is selectively received within said first rod slot; B) a first pin hole (35) that selectively receives said first pin; and, C) a first ramp area (13), said engagement end of said first pin sliding along said first ramp area as said implement is lifted by said lifting means. 2. The implement attachment mechanism of claim 1 wherein said first pin hole (35) is in a first side (25) of said implement (12), said first ramp area (12) being angled with respect to said first side. 3. The implement attachment mechanism of claim 2 wherein said engagement end (34) of said pin is beveled, said first ramp area being angled at the same angle as said beveled engagement end. 4. The implement attachment mechanism of claim 2 wherein said vehicle further comprises: a pin brace (31) fixedly connected to said hitch, said pin brace having a pair of brace holes (43) for use in supporting said first pin to said hitch (22); and, a first spring (45) for use in biasing said first pin (33) toward said first pin opening (38), said first spring receiving said first pin, said first spring being positioned between said pin brace and said hitch. 5. An implement attachment mechanism (20) including first and second pins (33, 33) each having an engagement end (34, 34), a vehicle (10) having a hitch (22) and lifting means (18) for use in lifting the hitch, and an implement (12), the implement attachment mechanism being characterized by: said first and second pins being J shaped; said vehicle including a bracket assembly (16) operatively connected to a frame (14) of the vehicle, said hitch being operatively connected to said bracket assembly; said hitch (22) having a first side plate (25) with a first rod slot (28), a first pin brace (31) with a pair of brace holes (43) for receiving said first pin, a first spring (45) for receiving said first pin, and a first pin opening (38) that selectively receives said first pin, said hitch also having a second side plate (26) with a second rod slot (29), a second pin brace (31) with a pair of brace holes (43) for receiving said second pin, a second spring (45) for receiving said second pin, and a second pin opening (38) that selectively receives said second pin; and, said implement (22) including, A) first and second rods (30, 30) that are selectively received within said first and second rod slots (28, 29) respectively; B) first and second pin holes (35, 35) that selectively receive said first and second pins; and, C) first and second ramp areas (13, 13), said engagement ends of said first and second pins sliding along said first and second ramp areas respectively as said implement is lifted by said lifting means. 6. The implement attachment mechanism of claim 5 wherein said first and second engagement ends (34, 34) of said first and second pins have a beveled design, said first and second ramp areas being angled at the same angle as said beveled engagement ends. 7. A method for attaching an implement to a vehicle including the step of providing a vehicle (10) having a hitch (22) and lifting means (18) for use in lifting the hitch, the method being characterized by the steps of: providing an implement (12) having a first rod (30) and a first pin hole (35); positioning an engagement end (34) of a first pin (33) to extend through a first pin opening (38) in the hitch; inserting the first rod of the implement into a first rod slot (28) in the hitch; lifting the hitch and the implement thereby causing the implement to pivot about the first rod (30); and, engaging the first pin (33) within the first pin hole (35) in the implement. 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of removing the implement (12) from the vehicle, this step comprising the steps of: lowering the hitch (22) and the implement to the ground; disengaging the first pin (33) from the first pin hole (35) in the implement; and, moving the hitch (22) away from the implement thereby removing the first rod (30) from the first rod slot (28). 9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of: coupling a PTO shaft (11) from the vehicle to a drive shaft (17) of the implement. 10. The method of claim 7 wherein, the step of lifting the hitch and the implement thereby causing the implement to pivot about the first rod, comprises the step of: forcing the engagement end (34) of the first pin to slide along a first ramped area (13) on the implement. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein, the step of positioning an engagement end of a first pin to extend through a first pin opening in the hitch, comprises the steps of: connecting the first pin (33) to the hitch with a first pin brace (31); and, biasing the first pin to extend through the first pin opening in the hitch. 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: providing the implement with a second rod (30) and a second pin hole (35); positioning an engagement end of a second pin (33) to extend through a second pin opening (38) in the hitch, this step comprising the steps of connecting the second pin to the hitch with a second pin brace (31) and, biasing the second pin to extend through the second pin opening in the hitch; inserting the second rod of the implement into a second rod slot (29) in the hitch; lifting the hitch and the implement thereby causing the implement to pivot about the second rod (30), this step comprising the step of forcing the engagement end (34) of the second pin to slide along a second ramped area (13) on the implement; and, engaging the second pin within the second pin hole in the implement. 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of removing the implement from the vehicle, this step comprising the steps of: lowering the hitch and the implement to the ground; disengaging the first and second pins (33, 33) from the first and second pin holes (35, 35) respectively in the implement; and, moving the hitch away from the implement thereby removing the first and second rods (30, 30) from the first and second rod slots (28, 29) respectively.

Inventors: CARVER BRIAN R, DILGARD TIM, CARVER, BRIAN, R., DILGARD, TIM
Applicants: CARVER BRIAN R, DILGARD TIM, CARVER, BRIAN, R., DILGARD, TIM
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A01B59
IPC codes: A01B59