Patent Publication Number: US-2013236271-A1

Title: Hay Bale Spear Implement

Description:
FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates generally to an implement to secure hay bales for transportation from one location to another. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this disclosure is related to an improved hay bale spear designed to accommodate bales of different sizes and dimensions and to secure multiple bales simultaneously. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Grasses form the basis of the diet for all grazing animals. Fields of growing grasses, legumes, and occasionally grain crops are commonly cut during the growing season, allowed to dry, and stored as hay for use as animal fodder during the winter. The haymaking process consists of the steps of cutting, drying, processing, and storing hay. Hay is typically cut and allowed to dry in the field before it is gathered and baled for storage, handling, and transportation. 
     Hay balers produce bales of various shapes and dimensions. Small rectangular bales are typically 14 or 16 inches in height and 18 inches deep. The length of these small rectangular bales varies based on the particular baler. Small rectangular bales can be handled by one person without the need for transportation equipment. Thus, small rectangular bales may be preferred by farmers or ranchers with small numbers of livestock. However, due to the small ratio of volume to surface area as compared to larger bales, small rectangular bales are commonly stored in a shelter to avoid moisture that may cause the hay to mold or rot, rendering the hay unusable. 
     Accordingly, many farmers and ranchers, especially those producing hay for large herds or for sale, have transitioned to balers that produce large hay bales. These large, densely packed hay bales maximize the amount of hay that is protected from the environment and are therefore commonly stored outdoors. Large bales, too, come in various shapes and dimensions. Large rectangular bales vary from 3 to 4 feet in both height and depth and from 3 to 9 feet in length. Large round bales vary from 2.5 to 6 feet in diameter and from 3 to more than 5 feet in width. While large rectangular and round hay bales are convenient in that they greatly reduce the number of bales that are produced and handled and allow for outdoor storage, they also create the need for machinery to transport the bales, because, depending on the size of the bale, the type of hay, and the moisture content, large bales may weigh over 2,000 pounds. 
     Farmers often use buckets attached to tractors or loaders to transport large hay bales. Generally, these types of buckets require a person other than the person operating the equipment to guide the bale to a proper position on or within the bucket. However, a bucket may not properly secure large bales, leading to a risk of property damage and personal injury. Accordingly, various bale spears, attachable to loaders and tractors, have been developed to penetrate hay bales and support the bale as it is transported to a desired location. While these spears allow the operator of the loader or tractor alone to approach a hay bale, insert the spear, and securely transport the bale to a desired location, existing hay bale spears are dedicated to transporting either a single large round bale or single large rectangular bale and cannot be utilized to transport various sizes of round and rectangular bales or to transport multiple round bales simultaneously. There is therefore a need in the art to overcome these deficiencies. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of an improved hay bale spear implement in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an improved hay bale spear implement in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an improved hay bale spear implement in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an improved hay bale spear implement in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an improved hay bale spear implement depicting an orientation in which two large round bales are simultaneously supported by the implement in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of an improved hay bale spear implement depicting an orientation in which a single large round bale is supported by the implement in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of an improved hay bale spear implement depicting an orientation in which a large rectangular bale is supported by the implement in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an improved hay bale spear implement in which the spears and spikes can be positioned in a user-customizable manner along the length of the implement in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments, described in more detail below, provide a description of an improved hay bale spear apparatus configured to secure one or more large hay bales of various sizes. The detailed description will present information to enable one of ordinary skill in the art of agricultural implements to understand the disclosed apparatus. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of an improved hay bale spear implement in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In the depicted embodiment, three bale spears  102  and four support spikes  104  extend outwardly from the frame  106  of the implement. The spears  102  typically range from 30 to 50 inches in length and from 1½ to 2 inches in diameter at their base  102   b.  Although the spears  102  are depicted as substantially uniform in cross-section along their length (tapering only very near point  102   a  in the depicted embodiment), the spears may also be tapered along their entire length or some substantial portion thereof from the base  102   b  to the point  102   a.  The spears  102  extend deep into a hay bale and serve as the primary means of supporting the weight of the hay bale. The shorter support spikes  104  typically range from 12 to 24 inches in length and from 1½ to 2 inches in diameter at their base  104   b.  Like the spears  102 , the support spikes  104  may have a substantially uniform cross-section (tapering only very near the point  104   a ) or may be tapered along their entire length or some substantial portion thereof from the base  104   b  to the point  104   a.  The support spikes  104 , although shorter than the spears  102 , extend into a hay bale and serve to stabilize the bale on the spear  102 . For example, the support spikes  104  may prevent the rotation of a large round bale about a spear  102  penetrating the bale as the bale is transported. 
     The spears  102  and support spikes  104  may be secured to the frame  106  in a variety of manners. In one embodiment, the base of a spear  102  or support spike  104  may be permanently welded to the frame  106 . In one embodiment, a threaded portion of the base of a spear  102  or support spike  104  may be threadedly engaged in a threaded socket in the frame  106 . In another embodiment, a threaded portion of the base of a spear  102  or support spike  104  may extend through a hole in the frame  106  with the spear  102  or support spike  104  secured to the frame  106  by means of a nut and washer attached on the opposite side of the frame  106 . In another embodiment, a sleeve may be welded into a socket of the frame  106  and a spear  102  or support spike  104  may be secured in the sleeve by means of a cross-bolt extending radially through the sleeve and the spear  102  or support spike  104 . Thus, in various embodiments, the spears  102  and support spikes  104  are easily removable from the frame  106 . As such, spears  102  and support spikes  104  of the proper dimensions for a particular task can be quickly installed and damaged spears  102  and spikes  104  can be replaced. Additional means of securing the spears  102  and support spikes  104  to the frame  106  will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Also illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an attachment device  108  for securing the hay bale spear implement to a vehicle such as a tractor or loader. In one embodiment, the attachment device  108  is a Skid Steer Quick Attach device which, as is known by those skilled in the art, is quickly attachable and detachable to a corresponding fitting on a vehicle. In another embodiment, as will be described in greater detail below, different attachment devices  108  may be easily installed and removed from the frame  106  such that the implement can be utilized with various vehicles. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 4  collectively, a side view, front view, and perspective view, respectively, of the hay bale spear implement of  FIG. 1  are depicted. As is illustrated, the spears  102  extend outwardly from an upper horizontal member  202  of the frame  106 , and the support spikes  104  extend outwardly from a lower horizontal member  204  of the frame  106 . In the depicted embodiment, each of the three spears  102  is flanked below by two adjacent support spikes  104 . As will be described in greater detail below, this configuration enables the implement to be utilized to support a variety of shapes and sizes of hay bales. 
     Attaching the upper horizontal member  202  to the lower horizontal member  204  and providing rigidity to the frame  106  are several vertical members  206 . The frame members  202 ,  204 , and  206  can be fastened together in a variety of manners. In one embodiment, the frame members are welded together at each connection point. In another embodiment, a plate may span the joint between two adjoining frame members and may be bolted to the respective frame members on each side of the joint. In another embodiment, the frame  106  may be constructed (e.g., cast) as a single component, in which case no joining of the frame members would be necessary. Although the peripheral frame members are depicted as connecting at a perpendicular joint, they may also be connected at a mitered joint. That is, upper horizontal member  202  and lower horizontal member  204  may join outer vertical members  206  at a 45 degree angle. 
     In one embodiment, frame members  202 ,  204 , and  206  may be composed of metal tubing of various alloys. For example, the frame members may be composed of 3 inch square metal tubing. In another embodiment, frame members  202 ,  204 , and  206  may be composed of structurally rigid polymers or composites. In a further embodiment, the frame  106  may be constructed as a single plate to which the spears  102  and support spikes  104  may be attached. Additional materials and means of constructing the frame  106  of the hay bale spear implement will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     On the back side of the implement (i.e., the side opposite the protruding spears and support spikes), a backer plate  302  is removably fastened to one or more frame members  202 ,  204 , and  206 . In one embodiment, the backer plate  302  may be removably fastened to the one or more frame members by bolting the backer plate  302  to the one or more frame members. In one embodiment, the backer plate  302  is constructed of sheet metal. However, the backer plate can be constructed of any material that is securely attachable to the frame  106  and is capable of supporting the attachment device  108 . As noted above, various attachment devices  108  may be available to allow the implement to be utilized with different vehicles. By way of example, a particular backer plate  302  may comprise a Skid Steer Quick Attach attachment device  108  that attaches directly to a corresponding attachment of a vehicle. Another backer plate  302  may comprise a clamping attachment device  108  that attaches to the cutting edge of a bucket to allow the implement to be utilized without removing the bucket from a vehicle. Additional vendor-specific and custom attachment devices  108  can each be affixed to different backer plates  302 . Thus, transitioning between different attachment devices  108  may be accomplished by removing a first backer plate  302  having a first attachment device  108  from the frame  106  and installing a second backer plate  302  having a second attachment device to the frame  106 . In one embodiment, an attachment device may be painted a different color from the backer plate and frame members such that the attachment device is easily visible to an operator of a vehicle to allow the operator to quickly attach the attachment device to a corresponding attachment device of the vehicle. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, the layout of the spears  102  and the support spikes  104  enables the hay bale spear implement to support two large round hay bales simultaneously. As described herein, the ability to simultaneously support two large round bales refers to the ability to support two large round hay bales of up to six feet in diameter. As illustrated, outer spear  102 - 1  is inserted near the center of a first large round hay bale  502  and outer spear  102 - 3  is inserted near the center of a second large round hay bale  504 . With the bales supported on the spears  102 - 1  and  102 - 3  in this manner, support spikes  104 - 1  and  104 - 2  secure the first bale  502  with respect to spear  102 - 1  and support spikes  104 - 3  and  104 - 4  secure the second bale  504  with respect to spear  102 - 3 . That is, the support spikes  104  prevent rotation of the bales about the spears  102  as the bales are transported. Thus, the unique layout of the spears  102  and support spikes  104  enables a user of the implement to retrieve a first round bale  502  using an outer spear  102 - 1  and the two adjacent support spikes  104 - 1  and  104 - 2  and then to retrieve a second round bale  504  using the opposite outer spear  102 - 3  and its adjacent support spikes  104 - 3  and  104 - 4 . In the depicted dual round bale configuration, the center spear  102 - 2  is not utilized. By enabling a user of the implement to support two large round hay bales simultaneously, the improved hay bale spear implement greatly increases the efficiency with which large hay bales can be transported from one location to another. 
     While the improved hay bale spear implement provides the ability to support two large round hay bales simultaneously, it will often be desirable to transport a single large round hay bale. Although securing a large round bale on each of the outer spears  102 - 1  and  102 - 3  as depicted in  FIG. 5  provides a secure means of transporting two bales because the weight of the bales is balanced, the torque created by the weight of a single large round bale supported by an outer spear  102  may make such an orientation unacceptable for transporting a single bale, especially over long distances and/or rough terrain. Accordingly, the arrangement of spears  102  and support spikes  104  also provides a means for securely supporting a single large round hay bale for transport. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a balanced single round hay bale support orientation according to one embodiment of the improved hay bale spear implement is depicted. As illustrated, the center spear  102 - 2  is inserted near the center of the large round hay bale  602 . Center support spikes  104 - 2  and  104 - 3  secure the bale  602  on the spear  102 - 2 . According to the depicted orientation, outer spears  102 - 1  and  102 - 3  and outer support spikes  104 - 1  and  104 - 4  are not utilized. Thus, in addition to providing the capability of transporting two large round hay bales, the layout of the spears  102  and support spikes  104  additionally provides a balanced means for transporting a single large round hay bale. 
     In addition to providing the ability to transport either a single round bale or two round bales, the layout of the spears  102  and support spikes  104  additionally enables the implement to be utilized to transport large rectangular hay bales of various sizes. The insertion of one or more spikes near the center of a large rectangular hay bale will not adequately support the weight of the bale. Such a configuration may lead to the unsupported ends of the bale sagging as the bale is transported and may result in the bale falling apart. As such, existing bale spears designed to support a single large round bale are incapable of securely transporting a large rectangular bale. In order to securely support a large rectangular hay bale, an implement must provide multiple spears and spikes to span the length of the bale. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the arrangement of spears  102  and support spikes  104  spans the length of even the largest rectangular bales, enabling the implement to transport large rectangular bales of various sizes. As illustrated, the spikes  102  and spears  104  are inserted along the length of the rectangular bale  702 . In the depicted orientation, based on the size of bale  702 , each of the spears  102  and spikes  104  is utilized. For smaller rectangular bales, not all spears  102  and support spikes  104  will be utilized. However, regardless of the size of the rectangular bale, the bale is supported by inserting as many of the spears  102  and support spikes  104  as is practical along the length of the bale. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the improved hay bale spear implement can be utilized to transport a single large round hay bale, two large round hay bales, and large rectangular hay bales of various sizes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in an alternate embodiment, a hay bale spear implement avows for a user-customizable arrangement of spears  102  and support spikes  104 . As illustrated, upper horizontal frame member  202  comprises a spear insertion channel  802  and lower horizontal frame member  204  comprises a support spike insertion channel  804 . In one embodiment, the spear insertion channel  802  and support spike insertion channel  801  extend through the upper horizontal frame member  202  and the lower horizontal frame member  204 , respectively. In the depicted embodiment, spears  102  may be positioned at any location along the spear insertion channel  802 . In one embodiment, a threaded portion of the base of a spear  102  may protrude through the spear insertion channel  802  to the back side of the upper horizontal frame member  202 . In such an embodiment, the spear  102  may be secured in a particular location along the spear insertion channel  802  by means of a fastener threaded onto the protruding portion of the spear  102 , compressing the upper horizontal frame member  202  between the fastener on the back side of the frame member and a face of the spear  102  on the front side of the frame member. Thus, any number of spears  102  of desired sizes may be positioned at desired locations along the spear insertion channel  802 . In the same manner, support spikes  104  may be positioned along the support spike insertion channel  804 . Although the depicted embodiment illustrates channels along which spears  102  and support spikes  104  may be positioned, in an alternate embodiment, a user-customizable implement may comprise multiple sockets in lieu of insertion channels) along the lengths of the upper horizontal frame member  202  and lower horizontal frame member  204  in which spears  102  and support spikes  104  may be inserted. For example, the sockets may be situated every 2-4 inches along the upper horizontal frame member  202  and lower horizontal frame member  204  to receive spears  102  and support spikes  104 . Such an embodiment would similarly provide a user with the ability to customize the position of spears  102  and support spikes  104  by inserting them in the desired sockets. 
     The described user-customizable arrangement provides a user of the implement with great flexibility in determining the orientation of spears  102  and support spikes  104  on the implement. Consequently, a user of the implement may customize the orientation of spears  102  and support spikes  104  according to the particular bale or bales to be transported. 
     In the foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structure and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the disclosed embodiments. References to numbers without subscripts or suffixes are understood to reference all instances of subscripts and suffixes corresponding to the referenced number. Moreover, the language used in this disclosure has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter, resort to the claims being necessary to determine such inventive subject matter. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one disclosed embodiment, and multiple references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” should not be understood as necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
     It is also to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other and illustrative process steps may be performed in an order different than shown. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention therefore should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.