Abstract:
An adapter to facilitate attaching non-standard implements to a tractor equipped with a proprietary quick-connect hitch system. An elongated horizontal member, equipped with cylindrical end regions adapted for securing in hook regions of a quick-connect hitch system, carries a ball hitch or other similar universal hitch attachment mechanism. The novel adapter, therefore, allows attachment of implements having a ball hitch, a universal pin type hitch or other non-standard attachment mechanism to tractors equipped with quick-connect hitch systems. The novel adapter is rotatable around its major axis to allow two diverse hitches to be accommodated. For example, a ball-type hitch as well as another type connection my be selected by rotating the adapter 180° around its major axis.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
   The invention pertains to tractor hitches, and more particularly, to an adapter for attaching implements not equipped with a quick-connect hitch to a tractor having a quick-connect hitch system. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Tractors, large and small, are used to perform many tasks on a farm, in a yard, or in many other locations where their motive power is useful. Tractors typically perform their jobs by pulling, and sometimes powering, implements or attachments connected thereto. Indeed, the fundamental philosophy of a tractor is that one motive engine (i.e., tractor) may be used to pull many diverse implements, none of which need be self-propelled. 
   The first engine-powered farm tractors used steam and were introduced around 1868. These engines were built as small road locomotives and were operated by one man if the engine weighed less than 5 tons. They were used for general road haulage, in particular, in the logging industry. 
   Gasoline powered “traction engines” (later abbreviated “tractors”) appeared around 1887 and gradually replaced the role of horses or other draft animals in pulling farm implements. 
   Because of the number of different implements needing to be attached to a tractor at different times, hitch systems were developed to facilitate the interchange of implements. Eventually, quick-connect hitch systems that minimized the time necessary to swap implements emerged. However, such quick-connect hitch systems were typically proprietary, meaning that implements manufactured by one vendor were not easily attached to a tractor manufactured by a different vendor. In reality, when a new tractor is purchased, a complete suite of new implements is not necessarily also purchased. This means that implements requiring a different hitch system may be left behind, creating problems for the owner of the new tractor. 
   DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART  
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,472,9054, for TRACTOR HITCH, issued Jun. 14, 1949, to John C. Cass, shows a swinging drawbar for a tractor hitch. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,240, for HITCH ADAPTER FOR A TRACTOR, issued Jul. 20, 1982 to Ernest L. Anderson, shows a three-point hitch adapter for a tractor. The Anderson hitch may carry a trailer hitch ball. 
   U.S. Design Pat. No. 341,810 for THREE POINT TOW BAR HITCH, issued Nov. 30, 1993 to Clifford H. Cordia, shows a tractor hitch having a trailer hitch ball. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,753, for THREE-POINT HITCH, WHICH IS CONVERTIBLE TO A BALL HITCH, issued Feb. 18, 1992 to Clarence Granata, teaches another tractor hitch adapted to support a trailer hitch ball. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,644, for HYDRAULIC THREE-POINT HITCH, issued May 9, 2006 to Charles M. Adams, discloses another three point hitch tractor for supporting a trailer hitch ball. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,048,070, for QUICK COUPLER ASSEMBLY WITH DUAL HOOK MEMBERS, issued May 23, 2006 to Wayne William Powell, shows a quick-connect system for attaching an implement to a tractor or the like. 
   None of these patents, taken singly or in combination, are seen to anticipate or suggest the hitch adapter of the present invention. 
   It would, therefore, be desirable to provide an adapter allowing attachment of non-standard implements to a tractor having a proprietary quick-connect hitch system. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an adapter to facilitate attaching non-standard implements to a tractor equipped with a proprietary quick-connect hitch system. An elongated horizontal member is equipped with cylindrical end regions adapted for securing within the hook regions of a quick-connect hitch system. The elongated member carries a ball hitch or other similar attachment device. The novel adapter, therefore, allows attachment of implements having a ball hitch or other such attachment mechanism to tractors equipped only with a quick-connect hitch system. The novel adapter is rotatable around its major axis to allow two diverse hitch mechanisms to be accommodated. For example, a ball-type hitch, a universal pin type hitch, as well as another type of hitch connector, may be selected by rotating the adapter 180° around its major axis. 
   It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an adapter apparatus retainable by a quick-connect hitch system of a tractor. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide an adapter apparatus bearing a ball hitch, a universal pin type hitch or other such hitch mechanism. 
   It is an additional object of the invention to provide an adapter apparatus that may quickly be attached to, or removed from, a tractor. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide an adapter apparatus that may be attached to the quick-connect hitch system in at least two orientations allowing at least two different types of hitch connections to be provided. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1   a  is a perspective, pictorial view of a quick-connect hitch system (or “hitch”) of the prior art; 
       FIG. 1   b  is a detailed, perspective, pictorial view of a portion of the quick-connect hitch system of  FIG. 1   a;    
       FIG. 2  is a perspective, pictorial view of the hitch of  FIG. 1   a  with an implement connected thereto; 
       FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are left-hand and right-hand perspective, pictorial views, respectively, of the adapter mechanism of the present invention connected to the hitch of  FIG. 1   a ; and 
       FIG. 3   c  is a left-hand perspective, pictorial view of the adapter mechanism of the present invention installed in an inverted (i.e., rotated) orientation with respect to the orientation of  FIG. 3   a.    
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The present invention provides a hitch adapter, allowing attachment of non-standard implements to a standard quick-connect hitch installed on a tractor. 
   Quick-connect hitch mechanisms are well known to those of skill in the art. Typically, such mechanisms are proprietary, thereby limiting the range of attachable implements to those provided by the vendor of the particular quick-connect hitch mechanism. Unfortunately, the owner of a tractor equipped with such a quick-connect hitch system cannot easily attach implements from other vendors, homemade implements, or even implements from a previous generation of implements from the vendor of the quick-connect hitch mechanism. 
   One such quick-connect hitch mechanism is provided by Deere &amp; Company of Moline Ill., under the trade name Quick-Attach iMatch™. While the Deere &amp; Company Quick-Attach iMatch™ system is chosen for purposes of disclosure, it will be recognized by those of skill in the art that other comparable quick-connect systems exist, and that the principles of the present invention may readily be applied thereto. Therefore, the invention is not considered limited to any particular quick-connect hitch system. Rather, the invention covers any and all such quick-connect hitch systems. 
   The Deere &amp; Company Quick-Attach iMatch™ system converts three-point hitch systems to fixed hooks with attaching points. This allows a tractor operator to back his or her tractor up to an implement, connect a power takeoff (PTO) shaft (when required), and move off with the implement attached. This allows for quickly swapping implements. However, as previously mentioned, many implements are not compatible with quick-connect hitch systems. The novel adapter of the present invention overcomes this limitation by being compatible with both quick-connect hitch systems and numerous non-standard implements that a user may wish to attach to a tractor. 
   Referring first to  FIG. 1   a , there is shown a perspective, schematic view of a quick-connect hitch system of the prior art, generally at reference number  100 . Hitch system  100  is utilized at the rear portion of a conventional tractor, not shown. A horizontal cross member  102  supports downward extending side members  104   a  and  104   b , respectively disposed at the proximal and distal ends thereof. Hooks  106   a ,  106   b  are disposed at the lower ends of downward extending side members  104   a ,  104   b , respectively. Referring now also to  FIG. 1   b , there is shown a detailed view of a portion of the hitch of  FIG. 1   a.    
   Hooks  106   a ,  106   b  are adapted to receive a support member of an implement, not shown, being attached to hitch  100 . An upper hook  108  may be attached centrally on horizontal member  102 . The combination of hooks  106   a ,  106   b , and  108  allow a three-point attachment of an implement. 
   Keepers  110   a ,  110   b  pivotally attached to downward-extending members  104   a ,  104   b , respectively, may be provided to retain a support member, not shown, within hooks  106   a ,  106   b.    
   Referring now also to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective, pictorial view showing hitch  100  retaining an implement using hooks  106   a ,  106   b , and  108 . The implement, not specifically identified, is equipped with a compatible hitch apparatus for attachment to hitch  100 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , there is shown left- and right-side pictorial perspective views, respectively, of the hitch adapter assembly of the present invention, generally at reference number  200 . A longitudinal, elongated horizontal member  202  has cylindrical end sections  204   a ,  204   b  disposed at proximal and distal ends thereof, respectively. Elongated horizontal member  202  is shown as a angle iron shaped bar having a rectangular cross-section for purposes of disclosure. However, it will be recognized that elongated horizontal member  202  may have any suitable cross-sectional shape. Consequently, the invention is not limited to any particular shape or form factor for elongated horizontal member  202 . Rather, the invention includes elongated horizontal members of any cross-sectional shape or form factor. 
   Bushings  206   a ,  206   b  are disposed on respective ones of cylindrical end sections  204   a ,  204   b . Bushings  206   a ,  206   a  have outside diameters adapted to fit snugly within hooks  206   a ,  206   b  of hitch  100 . 
   An anti-rotation plate  208  is disposed substantially perpendicularly to, and rigidly affixed to, elongated horizontal member  202 , proximate a distal end thereof. Anti-rotation plate  208  has arcuate openings  210   a ,  210   b  disposed at its proximal and distal ends, respectively. Arcuate opening  210   b  engages a pin  212  placed in a throughbore, not specifically identified, in downward-extending side member  104   a . Pin  212  is retained in the throughbore by a retaining clip  214 . Suitable retaining pins are believed to be known to those of skill in the art and are not further described herein. It will be recognized that any suitable retaining clip or other similar structure may be used to retain pin  212 . 
   It will also be recognized that non-arcuate openings may also be used to replace arcuate openings  210   a ,  210   b . For example, square or rectangular openings may be used to engage pin  212 . 
   Respective cylindrical ends  204   a ,  204   b  are retained by additional retaining clips  216   a ,  216   b , respectively. Retaining clips suitable for use are believed to be well known to those of skill in the art and are not further described herein. 
   A hitch mounting plate  218  is disposed on horizontal member  202  proximate a central region thereof. Mounting plate  218  is disposed substantially perpendicularly to horizontal member  202 , and has a major axis bisected by a major axis of elongated horizontal member  202 . Hitch mounting plate  218  is adapted to receive ball hitch  220 . Ball hitch  220  is intended to be representative of any hitch mechanism useful for attaching to a tractor any implement without a quick-connect hitch arrangement. 
   As may readily be seen, the novel adapter assembly  200  of the invention is symmetrical. Therefore, adapter assembly  200  may be attached to hitch  100  in either of two orientations. Referring now to  FIG. 3   c , there is shown a left side, perspective, pictorial view of adapter assembly  200  attached to hitch  100  in an inverted position relative to its attachment as shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b . Such reversibility allows two diverse hitches, for example two different size ball hitches, or a ball hitch and a universal pin type hitch to be attached at opposite ends and on opposing surfaces of hitch mounting plate  218 . Merely reversing adapter assembly  200  allows selecting between the two hitch styles. 
   In operation, adapter assembly  200  is seated in hooks  106   a ,  106   b , and retained therein by keepers  110  ( FIG. 1   b ). Horizontal member  202  is rotated until a selected one of arcuate openings  110   a ,  110   b  is properly aligned with a throughbore in hitch assembly  100 . Pin  212 , in combination with retaining clip  214 , may then be used to secure anti-rotation plate  208  to downward-extending side member  104   b . Retaining clips  216   a ,  216   b  may then be inserted to prevent side-to-side movement of horizontal member  202 . 
   It will be recognized that anti-rotation plate  208  may be placed proximate either the distal or the proximal end of elongated horizontal member  202 . 
   Different diameter bushings  206   a ,  206   b  may be provided to allow adapter assembly  200  to function properly with multiple quick-connect hitch systems. 
   It will also be recognized that in alternate embodiments, bushings  206   a ,  206   b  may be eliminated. In such embodiments, the outside diameter of cylindrical ends  204   a ,  204   b  must have an outside diameter compatible with hooks  106   a ,  106   b  with which the resultant adapter assembly  200  is intended to operate. 
   Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
   Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.