Abstract:
Hitch mount assembly for snow blades or other accessories or implements for pick-up trucks or off-road vehicles such as utility task vehicles. The assembly includes a receiver for mounting to the vehicle chassis and an implement assembly readily removably coupled to the receiver. The configuration of the receiver and implement assembly allows for selfalignment during the mounting operation. One or more over center latches draw the receiver and mounting assembly together.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Conventional snow blade mounts for four wheel drive vehicles such as pick-up trucks can weigh several hundred pounds, and generally include a chassis frame that can be permanently fixed to the vehicle chassis, usually behind the vehicle front bumper. A lift frame is then removably coupled to the chassis frame, and the snow blade is then coupled to the front end of the assembly via an A-frame and trip frame assembly. The A-frame with the snow blade attached is typically removable from the vehicle. Conventionally, the lift frame has been permanently mounted to the chassis frame (and therefore not readily removable from the vehicle), and the hydraulic pump used to operate the snow blade was located under the vehicle hood, and were driven using a belt drive driven by the vehicle engine. However, safety considerations now often dictate that the lift frame be removed when the plow is not in use. In addition, crash zones and barrier testing are altered by locating the electric/hydraulic pump under the vehicle hood in juxtaposition with the vehicle engine. Moreover, such a location is also no longer feasible since there is little room there to accommodate the pump, and since most vehicles today use a single serpentine belt, again eliminating the feasibility of driving the hydraulics with a belt driven by the vehicle engine. Accordingly, most snow blade mounts today locate the blade actuator drive assembly in front of the vehicle grill, slightly higher than the vehicle front bumper. This arrangement hinders air flow to the vehicle engine, often resulting in engine overheats.  
         [0002]     One drawback of conventional snow blade mounts is the difficulty in readily removing the lift frame assemblies from the vehicle chassis, especially in view of their weight. Conventional mounting systems utilize a pin arrangement, whereby the vehicle and mount assembly must be properly aligned prior to coupling the mount to the chassis with a pair of pins. This mounting and dismounting is difficult and tedious.  
         [0003]     Utility task vehicles or UTV&#39;s are versatile all-season three or four-wheeled motorized vehicles designed for off-road use. They are commonly used in the construction and utility industries, on golf courses and by towns and municipalities. Typically UTV&#39;s are generally designed to carry one or two passengers, and to carry or two large payloads. They generally are equipped with engines having maximum horsepower of about 35, particular 32 or less. Various utilitarian accessories or implements, such as snowplow blades, can be attached to the UTV. Although the relatively lightweight of the UTV allows for the use of small engines, the small engines limit the power capabilities; UTV&#39;s generally have a battery and battery recharging system having low amperage storage and low amperage recharging capability relative to a typically automobile.  
         [0004]     Such assemblies, however, are too large and too heavy for practical use with the relatively small UTV. One drawback of conventional snow blade mounts is the difficulty in readily removing the assemblies from the vehicle chassis, especially in view of their weight. The presence of an implement or accessory on a UTV can render the UTV useless. Accordingly, it is highly desirable that the blade be removed after use. However, since the mounting and dismounting operation can be cumbersome and time-consuming, the assemblies are often left on the UTV for the entire winter season.  
         [0005]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mount and lift assembly for a vehicle that is easily attachable and removable from the vehicle.  
         [0006]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a snow blade and lift assembly for a vehicle that is attached and removed from the vehicle using a self-aligning hitch mount devoid of conventional mounting pins.  
         [0007]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a utilitarian accessory mounting assembly for a UTV that is conveniently and easily attachable and removable from the vehicle.  
         [0008]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a snow blade assembly for an UTV that is mounted and dismounted from the vehicle using a self-aligning hitch mount devoid of mounting pins.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The problems of the prior art have been overcome by the present invention, which provides a hitch mount assembly for snow blades or other accessories or implements for vehicles such as pick-up trucks and off-road vehicles such as utility task vehicles. The present invention includes an implement assembly readily removably coupled to the vehicle, such as in conjunction with a receiver that is mounted to the vehicle chassis or frame or is integrated therewith. The configuration of the receiver and implement assembly allows for self-alignment during the mounting operation. One or more over center latches draw the receiver and hitch mounting assembly together and lock them in place. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an implement mounting receiver assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the receiver of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of an implement mounting assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective side view of an implement mounting assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective side view the implement mounting assembly of  FIG. 4 , showing the over-center latch in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the over-center latch engaging the receiver in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view showing the over-center latch engaged in the receiver in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an over-center latch in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an implement mounting assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an implement mounting receiver assembly for use in conjunction with the implement mounting assembly of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of an implement mounting assembly in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an implement mounting receiver assembly for use in conjunction with the implement mounting assembly of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     Turning first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown generally the receiver assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is preferably made of durable, lightweight material, such as metal, steel, stainless steel, plastics or composites, for example, depending upon the relative strength required of each component. Vehicle mounted receiver  11  attaches to the vehicle chassis or frame, or is integrated therewith. Any Suitable means can be used to secure the receiver  11  to the vehicle, such as bolting or manufacturing integration (e.g., as a stamped component of the vehicle chassis or frame). For example, the receiver  11  can include a pair of brackets  8  with holes for coupling the receiver to the vehicle chassis, such as an existing frame  9  on a UTV. The design of the receiver  11  interface for attachment to the chassis will depend upon the identity (and thus design) of the particular chassis, and is well within the skill in the art. Because in the embodiment shown the receiver  11  is situated under the chassis and is not obtrusive, it optionally can be permanently affixed to the chassis, regardless of whether the snow plow blade or other accessories or working implements are attached or in use. Alternatively, the receiver can be located on the vehicle frame where it does not extend below the frame so as to provide adequate ground clearance. It is fixed and preferably has no moving parts; its main purpose being to provide a means of attachment of the follow-on components. It also can absorb and transfer any shock loads imposed on the snow blade (or other accessory) into the vehicle. It can be made of any rigid material suitable for the job, such as steel, metal, stainless steel, plastic or composites, for example.  
         [0023]     As best seen in  FIG. 1 , the receiver  11  is preferably shaped to taper towards its rear, uniformly tapering inwardly from its open front end towards the rear of the vehicle. It has an optional top plate  6 , with opposite vertically depending side guides  7   a  and  7   b  as shown. Alternatively, the dimensioned larger than the elongated member  14  so as not be be receivable by the slot.  
         [0024]     Further details will now be provided regarding the hitch mount of the present invention, with reference to  FIG. 3 . A semi-circular or arc-shaped male extension  20  extends from lift frame  25  and is adapted to be received by the receiver  11 . Due to the shape of the extension  20 , if the extension  20  is not perfectly aligned (horizontally) with the receiver cavity, it will self-align as it is brought into further position within the cavity due to physical contact with the sides  7   a  and/or  7   b . Although not required, stops  26  can be coupled to the lift frame  25  to assist in alignment. As seen in  FIG. 5 , preferably the stops  26  include a tapered portion  26   a  that extends outwardly away from the extension  20  in the plane of the extension  20 . The stops  26  function to urge the assembly towards the center of the receiver cavity during the alignment procedure.  
         [0025]     Attached at the end of the mounting implement assembly opposite the extension  20  is the working implement, such as a snow plow blade (although those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to mounting and dismounting of a blade). The blade can be conventional in design. The preferred blade is made of sheet metal, or is a sheet of steel bumped or rolled to a semi-round shape. The blade also can be in the form of an adjustable V-shaped blade. The blade is braced on the backside with a plurality of mounts providing a means of attachment (such as via springs  3 ) to the support frame and preferably an A-frame  30 . The A-frame can be pivotally coupled directly to the blade or working implement, or can be attached to the blade or working implement through an optional trip flame assembly. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that although the term “A-frame” is used herein, the frame need not be in the shape of an “A”. Male extension  20  is pivotally coupled to the A-frame by suitable means, allowing the extension  20  to pivot about a horizontal axis. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the free end of the extension  20  can be formed as two or more extensions rather than a single continuous end as shown. The hitch member  20  pivots about a horizontal axis, preferably about 20° from horizontal in each direction.  
         [0026]     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , an optional trip frame assembly is shown that includes half-ring or A-frame retainer supported on the top surface of the A-frame  30 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the half-ring can be designed having shapes other than that shown. The trip frame assembly preferably is connected to the blade via springs  3  (not shown). The trip frame assembly allows the blade to pivot forward, which allows it to trip over obstacles and absorb shock that would otherwise be transferred into the plow frame assembly and vehicle, which in extreme cases would cause substantial damage. If the trip frame assembly is eliminated, the blade can have a conventional trip edge as known in the art.  
         [0027]     Extending from the half-ring or retainer  36  is a notched plate  37 , also supported on the A-frame top surface, to set the blade angle. The plate  37  has a plurality of spaced notches  39  extending around the annular edge of the plate  37 . As the blade pivots, the notched plate  37  also pivots, and can be locked in place with locking mechanism  40  that, when properly aligned with a notch, inserts into that notch to prevent movement of the plate (and thus the blade) until it is retracted from the notch. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the locking mechanism can be operated manually.  
         [0028]     Receiver  11  includes generally longitudinally extending (in the direction from the vehicle front to the vehicle rear) side guide members  7   a ,  7   b  as discussed above, which help ensure proper alignment of the hitch assembly. The spacing or volume or distance between these guide members is configured to accommodate the male hitch extension  20  pivotally coupled to the frame. Thus, in the embodiment shown, the hitch member  20  is semi-circular and expands in the direction towards the implement (and away from the vehicle). Similarly, sides  7   a ,  7   b  are configured and placed such that the receiver volume is tapered, with its end farthest from the entry point of the mount being shorter than the end closest to the entry point. The sides  7   a ,  7   b  thus act as a track for receiving and aligning hitch  20 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that two or more receivers  11  can be used, in which case two or more hitch members would be used.  
         [0029]     Pivotally coupled to mount assembly are a pair of spaced over-center latches  28 , which in the embodiment shown, are located at the lateral side edges of the assembly. Preferably the latches are actuated independently. Each latch  28  has a handle  21  for actuation of the latch. The handle  21  is pivotally connected to member  17  by suitable means such as a pin or a nut and bolt assembly  19 . Actuation of the handle  21  in the direction of arrow  48  in  FIG. 6  laterally away from the A-frame causes the member  17  to pivot about a vertical axis defined by the assembly  19 , thus causing member  15  to slide in the slot  13  and pull the receiver  11  and the mounting assembly together, securing the assembly to the vehicle. This actuation preferably causes member  15  to seat within the concave cavity of the slotted member  12 . Preferably the latch has a range of from about 2 to about 4 inches; the member  15  extending laterally a maximum of about 4 inches when in the disengaged position and two inches when engaged. Because an over-center latch is used, most of the force to draw the receiver and hitch mounting assembly together is required up through the latch reaching its center position. Accordingly, once the latch has passed its center position (as in the left-hand latch  28  of  FIG. 3 ), the latch is effectively in a locked state. Similarly, to unlock the latch  28 , force is thus required to cause the latch to again pass through its center position and release the member  15  from behind the slot  13 . skilled in the art will appreciate that more than one pin (and thus more than one aperture) can be provided to lock the assembly in place.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate a still further embodiment of a pin attachment system. In this embodiment, the each of the guides  26  is provided with an aperture  55 ′. (only one shown). Corresponding apertures  57 ′ are provided on the sides  7   a ,  7   b  of the receiver  11  ( FIG. 11 ). When the male extension  20  is properly engaged in the receiver  11 , each aperture  55 ′ aligns with a respective aperture  57 ′ of the receiver. Pins  56 ′ can then be inserted to lock the assembly in place. The pins  56 ′ can be chamfered to assist in insertion into the apertures upon alignment. The pins also can be spring-loaded to automatically insert into the apertures upon alignment.  
         [0031]     The preferred method for attaching the hitch mounting assembly to the vehicle will now be described. The vehicle is positioned close to the hitch mounting assembly, and the vehicle is driven toward the assembly. The free end of the hitch extension member  20  enters the cavity of the receiver  11  and self-aligns therein in view of the corresponding shapes of the receiver  11  and hitch member  20 . Once the member  20  is fully within the cavity of the receiver, the latches  28  can be actuated to draw the receiver and mounting assembly together and complete the attachment. Where the working implement coupled to the assembly is a blade., the blade can be raised and lowered in a conventional manner, such as via chain  41  ( FIG. 3 ) extending from the frame of the mount assembly to the lift assembly  25  as shown.  
         [0032]     To remove the hitch mounting assembly from the vehicle chassis, the latches  28  are released and the vehicle is driven away from the mounting assembly.  
         [0033]     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that although the foregoing illustrates a front-mounted assembly, mounting the same to the rear of the vehicle is within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0034]     It is within the scope of the present invention to use other over-center latch devices, such as that shown in  FIG. 7 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the extension  14 A is oval-shaped, and is therefore adapted to engage and draw a pin or other member extending vertically on the receiver  11 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that regardless of the type of over-center latch used, the parts can be reversed such that the latch can be positioned on the received and the pin or other mechanism that is engaged by the latch can be positioned on the mounting assembly.  
         [0035]     Turning now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated that uses a pin connection instead of over-center latches. Thus, male extension  20 ′ includes aperture  55 , preferably centrally located relative to the the lateral edges of the lift frame  25 . A pin  56  is dimensioned to slidingly fit in aperture  55 . The pin  56  can be chamfererd to assist in aligning it in the appropriate apetures. Receiver  11 ′ includes in its top plate  6  a corresponding aperture  57 . The aperture  57  is suitably positioned on top plate  6  so that when the male extension  20 ′ is properly aligned in the receiver cavity, aperture  57  is vertically aligned with aperture  55  in the male extension  20 ′. Pin  56  is then inserted into the apertures to lock the male extension  20 ′ in place. Preferably the pin  56  is inserted from the top, through an aligned aperture in the frame  9  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The pin can be spring-loaded so that it automatically inserts into the aperture upon alignment. Those