Abstract:
A roller for moving, rolling and unrolling rolls of sod. The roller is generally comprised of a top portion including a side shift actuator and at least one attachment member for attachment to a vehicle, preferably a skid steer. The roller also includes a rotary actuator with a shaft, slidably attached to the top portion. A main frame consisting of a top member, side member, base member and an end gate, extends down from the shaft of the rotary actuator. The end gate of the main frame is configured to pivot open and closed. The main frame is configured to rotate with the shaft.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of agriculture. More specifically, the invention comprises a device for lifting, transporting and unrolling rolls of sod. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Rolls of sod are often difficult to handle due to their weight and the fact that they must be unrolled precisely so that the unrolled sod covers the ground completely without gaps. Unrolling rolls of sod requires the user to load, unload, move and unroll the sod rolls. Sod rolls can weigh a ton or more and are difficult to handle due to the fact that they are round and can roll away on a slope. 
     Currently, sod rollers are used to unroll cylinders of sod which contain a central void. A current sod roller, typically mounted to the front of a skid-steer, has two arms which can grasp each side of the central void. A roll of sod is typically only unrolled in one direction. Therefore if the roll of sod is picked up such that unrolling the sod would mean that the skid-steer would have to be driven backwards the user must place the sod back on the ground and pick the roll up again from the opposite side. Current sod rollers are unable to rotate and fully secure rolls of sod. 
     Rolls of sod are transported on a truck such that the center of each roll is accessible from the side of the truck. Currently, in order to unload the truck the round bales or sod rolls must be manually or mechanically removed from the truck and placed on the ground prior to picking the sod rolls up again with a sod roller. 
     Therefore what is needed is a roller which can easily and quickly pick up, secure, shift, rotate and unroll a roll of sod, or another cylindrical roll such as a round bale of hay. The present invention achieves this objective, as well as others that are explained in the following description. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a roller for moving, rolling and unrolling rolls of sod. The roller is generally comprised of a top portion including a side shift actuator and at least one attachment member for attachment to a vehicle, preferably a skid steer. The roller also includes a rotary actuator, slidably attached to the top portion. A main frame consisting of a top member, side member, base member and an end gate, extends down from the shaft of the rotary actuator. The end gate of the main frame is configured to pivot open to accept a sod roll. The main frame is configured to rotate at the shaft. 
     By allowing for the main frame to rotate with the shaft the user can maneuver the base member into a central void of the roll of sod or in the direction in which the user would like to unroll the sod. Additionally, the latching mechanism of the main frame allows for the rolls of sod to be fully enclosed and secure within the main frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view, showing the present invention attached to a vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view, showing the present invention attached to a vehicle. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view, showing the present invention attached to a vehicle. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view, showing the present invention attached to a vehicle, loading a roll of sod. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view, showing the present invention attached to a vehicle, picking up and transporting a roll of sod. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view, showing the present invention unrolling a roll of sod. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view, showing the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view, showing the top portion of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view, showing the rotary actuator and the main frame of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view, showing the present invention with the end gate open. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view, showing the present invention shifted to one side. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view, showing a view from the back of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view, showing a top view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 10 
                 sod roll dispenser 
                 12 
                 end gate 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 attachment member 
                 16 
                 rotary actuator 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 side shift actuator 
                 20 
                 transport vehicle 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 side member 
                 24 
                 top member 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 base member 
                 28 
                 vehicle 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 top portion 
                 32 
                 main frame 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 motor portion 
                 36 
                 bearings 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 outer connector 
                 40 
                 rails 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 end gate actuator 
                 44 
                 end gate latch 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 shaft 
                 48 
                 connector 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 fastener 
                 52 
                 central hub 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 side shift connector 
                 56 
                 roll of sod 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 central void 
                 60 
                 arms 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 hinge 
                 64 
                 bearing housing 
               
               
                   
                 65 
                 arm 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the present invention in the preferred embodiment, attached to a vehicle  28 . The present invention is preferably attached to a tractor or skid steer such that front arms  60  enable the full operation of the present sod roll dispenser  10 . 
     Sod roll dispenser  10  has the ability to attach and detach from arms  60  of vehicle  28  and can be fully controlled by using the arms  60  of vehicle  28 . The specific manner in which vehicle  28  would attach to the sod roll dispenser  10  in order to power, maneuver and operate the sod roll dispenser  10  is known to one skilled in the art. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , sod roll dispenser  10  can be rolled up or down by utilizing arms  60  of vehicle  28  (arrows illustrate the rolling function). The rolling function allows the user to pitch the entire sod roll dispenser  10  up or down in order to better load, unload or maneuver a sod roll. End gate  12  of main frame  32  in  FIG. 2  is shown in an open position. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3  main frame  32  of sod roll dispenser  10  can rotate. Rotary actuator  16  controls rotation of main frame  32 , as discussed in further detail below. In the present illustration main frame  32  is rotated 90 degrees in order to prepare to accept a sod roll  16  (not shown). Arms  60  of vehicle  28 , are attached to top portion  30  of sod roll dispenser  10  at attachment members  14 . 
     In  FIG. 4  a transport vehicle  20  is shown loaded with a roll of sod  56 . While a roll of sod  56  is shown the sod roll dispenser  10  could be used to move any object with a central void  58 , such as a round bale of hay. The sod roll dispenser  10  can be shifted vertically, horizontally and angularly to enter the central void  58  of the roll of sod  56 . As shown, end gate  12  is open to accept roll of sod  56 . Base member  26  enters central void  58 , when properly aligned. 
     End gate  12  shifts and latches into a closed position as shown in  FIG. 5 , enclosing and securing roll of sod  56 . Enclosing roll of sod  56  allows for easy transport without the risk of the roll of sod  56  falling off of sod roll dispenser  10 . Roll of sod  56  can be picked up into the air and fully rotated, as shown by the curved arrows. Typically, netting completely surrounds roll of sod  56 . The netting prevents the sod roll from unrolling in an untimely manner. By allowing the lifting and securing of the sod roll, the present sod roll dispenser  56  allows a single individual to easily and quickly cut the net and completely remove the net from roll of sod  56 . 
     When the user has roll of sod  56  in the desired position the user can lower roll of sod  56  onto the ground, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , by lowering arms  60  of vehicle  28 . As the user drives vehicle  28  forward, roll of sod  56  slowly releases sod onto the ground, until the sod is fully released from sod roll dispenser  10 . If the roll of sod  56  is positioned such that vehicle  28  would be required to drive backwards in order to unroll the sod, the present device  10  can rotate the roll of sod  56  180 degrees in order to unroll the sod in the necessary manner. 
     In  FIG. 7  a detailed depiction of the present sod roll dispenser  10  is shown. The sod roll dispenser  10  is generally comprised of top portion  30  (shown and described in  FIG. 8 ), rotary actuator  16  and main frame  32 . Sod roll dispenser  10  is shown in a closed position, where end gate  12  is closed against base member  26 . Base member  26  preferably is circular, so that a roll of sod may easily slide onto and off of base member  26 . Side member  22  is fixedly attached to base member  26  and top member  24 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , top portion  30 , is comprised of attachment members  14 , rails  40  and side shift actuator  18 . Attachment members  14  can be any means of attaching the sod roll dispenser  10  to a prior art vehicle, such as a skid steer, tractor or fork lift. In the preferred embodiment four attachment members  14  are shown connected together by rails  40  and outer connectors  38 . However, rails  40  could extend through and connect four attachment members  14 . There are preferably two sets of attachment members  14  which are each connected by an outer connector  38 . While one outer connector  38  is shown connecting both pairs of attachment members  14 , the reader can appreciate that any number of outer connectors  38  could be used to increase stability. The two pairs of attachment members  14  are connected to one another by two rails  40 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , main frame  32  is comprised of top member  24 , side member  22 , base member  26  and end gate  12 . Rotary actuator  16  is comprised of a motor portion  34 , bearings  36 , central hub  52  and shaft  46 . 
     Top member  24  is attached to rotary actuator  16  by a rotating shaft  46 . End gate actuator  42  is attached to shaft  46  and rotates with shaft  46 . End gate actuator  42  closes end gate  12  when it extends, in order to secure a sod roll. While end gate actuator  42  could be any means of actuating end gate  12 , a hydraulic cylinder is preferably used as end gate actuator  42 . End gate  12  pivots about hinge  62 . 
     Rotary actuator  16  can be any type of rotary actuator, such as an electric gear motor. However, in the preferred embodiment a hydraulic motor is used, which converts hydraulic pressure and flow into torque and angular displacement. Additionally, while hydraulic lines are not shown in the illustrations herein, one skilled in the art would recognize that in order to power and control a hydraulically powered sod roll dispenser  10 , hydraulic lines would be necessary. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , when end gate actuator  42  retracts, end gate latch  44  pivots upward and end gate  12  is pulled open. It is in this position that optional fastener  50  is visible. Fastener  50  can be any means of connecting with base member  26 . In the preferred embodiment fastener  50  is a circular tab that fits into the hollow end of base member  26  to ensure that main frame  32  is properly closed. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates the lateral shifting ability of sod roll dispenser  10 . Side shift actuator  18  operates by extending and retracting. Side shift actuator  18  is preferably a hydraulic cylinder. At a first end, side shift actuator  18  is attached to one pair of attachment members  14  by a first connector  54 , which remains fixed when arm  65  of side shift actuator  18  extends and retracts. At a second end side shift actuator  18  is attached to central hub  52  of rotary actuator  16  by a second connector  48 . When side shift actuator  18  extends or retracts, second connector  48  moves along with arm  65  of side shift actuator  18 . As second connector  48  shifts, rotary actuator  16  along with main frame  32  shifts. As rotary actuator  16  and main frame  32  shift, central hub  52  of rotary actuator  16  slides along rails  40 , which travel through the back of central hub  52 , thereby connecting top portion  30  to rotary actuator  16 . The side shifting operation allows the user to better position base member  26  towards the center of a roll of sod prior to loading. Additionally, when sod roller dispenser  10  is loaded with a roll of sod  56  (not shown) the shifting function allows the user to shift main frame  32  and therefore roll of sod  56  (not shown), such that the sod can be unrolled onto the ground in the desired position. 
       FIG. 12  shows a back view of the sod roll dispenser  10 . As illustrated rails  40  preferably pass through central hub  52  of rotary actuator  16  which extends slightly out from the back of bearing housing  64  of rotary actuator  16 . Additionally,  FIG. 13  shows a top view of the sod roll dispenser  10  which also shows the extension of central hub  52  from bearing housing  64  of rotary actuator  16 . 
     The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. As an example, main frame  32  could be a U shape with a latch door rather than a rectangular shape. Additionally, attachment members  14  can consist of more or less than four members. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.