Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a new and simplified device for controlling residual agricultural products. In particular, the device is useful for folding over corn stalk stubble or other stubble which may be protruding from the surface of the earth. The end of the flattening shoe which contacts the corn stubble is provided with an angled or radius section which insures that the flattening shoe will not dig into the earth as it is advanced by the vehicle and, if the device should become unattached, it will not damage tires that are immediately following.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/456,292 and filed on Nov. 3, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Following and during the harvesting of corn and cutting of the corn stalks, a stubble remains attached to the soil and will frequently extend 4 to 6 inches above the surface of the earth. The presence of stubble extending upwardly from the earth has been a significant problem for the tires of tractors and combines passing there over in that it can damage the tires or reduce the serviceable life of the tractor tires. This is especially true of some newer varieties of corn which produce larger yields but also have stalks which are stiffer than a typical corn stalk of, say, ten years ago or earlier. Additionally, as pointed out in U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,078 corn stalk stubble cures in the field all winter thereby resulting in an extremely stiff stalk by the time of spring planting. The aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,078 discloses one type of apparatus for folding over corn stalk stubble. Another prior art device for folding over stubble is one sold under the name Stalk Stomper, by May Wes Manufacturing, Hutchinson, Minn. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is directed to a new and simplified device for controlling residual agricultural products. In particular, the device is useful for folding over corn stalk stubble or other stubble which may be protruding from the surface of the earth. In contrast to the prior art which discloses apparatus having a large number of components and/or complex features, the device of the present invention has significantly fewer components than prior art apparatus for folding over agricultural products such as corn stalk stubble. Some prior art apparatus includes a complex arrangement of supporting members and chains while others include pivotally mounted stomping shoes with compression springs for urging the shoes downwardly to maintain pressure on the stubble. In contrast, the device of the present invention does not require a separate coil spring for urging the flattening shoe against the corn stalk stubble. Additionally, the end of the flattening shoe which contacts the corn stubble is provided with an angled or radius section which insures that the flattening shoe will not dig into the earth as it is advanced by the vehicle and, if the device should become unattached, it will not damage tires that are immediately following. 
         [0004]    The present invention has three basic components, namely a shoe for contacting and bending over the stubble, a connecting spring strap engaged to the tractor or combine and a mounting bracket to connect the flat spring to the vehicle. The spring strap, in addition, to provide support for the flattening shoe, is designed to urge the shoe downwardly to maintain pressure on the stubble being bent over. 
     
    
     
       IN THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view looking in the direction as viewed with the tractor and the flattening shoe approaching toward the viewer. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a side view showing the device of the present invention in position to be attached to the frame of a tractor. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of an additional feature of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of an additional feature of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a mounting bracket that can be used with the device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the opposite side of the bracket of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of a mounting bracket that can be used with the device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of a mounting bracket that can be used with the device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the bracket shown in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the bracket of  FIG. 6  shown mounted on a vehicle. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a top view of a mounting bracket that can be used with the device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of the bracket of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a side elevation view of a mounting bracket that can be used with the device of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 15  is a front elevation view of the mounting bracket of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 16  is a partial top view of the mounting bracket of  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The present invention is directed to a device for controlling residual agricultural products. In particular, the device is useful for flattening corn stalks and other agricultural products that are present in a form field after the crop has been harvested. Such residual agricultural products are very strong, especially if left in place over the winter, and can cause damage to farm equipment and the tires associated with such farm equipment. The device of the present invention can be used to flatten the residual agricultural products during the harvesting of the crop or, if the stalks are left in the field, while preparing the field for planting. The features of the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the attached drawings in connection with the following description. 
         [0022]    Referring to the drawings, the device  1  of the present invention includes a flattening shoe  10  and a steel spring strap  20  engaged to and supporting the shoe  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the end of the spring strap  20  spaced from the shoe  10  may be bolted or otherwise fastened to a head or other structural member  40  of a vehicle such as a combine or tractor. Such structural member  40  may be raised and lowered. The spring strap can also be attached to a pivot bracket that allows the shoe to be pivoted to different locations with respect to the vehicle when the shoe is not being utilized to engage agricultural products. 
         [0023]    The shoe includes a body section  12  having a pair of parallel spaced apart edges  13  extending to a curled toe  14 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the curled toe  14  extends to an end  15 . As the shoe extends from the body section  12  to form curved leading end or toe  14  towards the end  15 , it narrows down so that the width of the end  15  is significantly shorter than the distance between the edges  13  on the body section  12 . This may be seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    As may be seen in  FIG. 2 , the shoe  10  has a generally flat portion  16  extending toward the spring strap  20  and in a direction toward the tractor. The flat portion  16 , which is intended to contact the ground, is followed by a short arcuate section  17  and finally by a flat section  18  forming the engagement end with the spring strap  20  which is engaged to the vehicle, such as a tractor or combine. For example, the flat section  16  could be on the order of from about 2 to about 8 in length, the curve section  17  could be on the order of from about 1½ to about 4 inches in length and the flat engagement end section could be on the order of from about 3 to about 8 inches in length. As can be seen in  FIG. 1  the flat engagement section  18  extends to an end edge  19  which has a length on the order of from about 2 to about 3 inches. Edge portions  19 A and  19 B, each disposed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from the respective edges  13 , join the end edge  19  with the respective side edges  13 . The flat portion  16  and arcuate section  17  are disposed for engaging the residual agricultural products, such as corn stalk stubble. The shoe  10  is usually formed of steel having a thickness from about ⅛ of an inch to about ¾ of an inch. 
         [0025]    Welded or otherwise attached to the surface of the shoe  10  opposite the surface intended to contact the ground are a pair of spaced apart support members  22 . The space between the support members  22  is such as to snuggly receive therebetween the spring strap  20 . As may be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  a wedge member  24  having a face  25  disposed at an angle in the range of from about 20° to about 30° is positioned between the support members  22  and rests on the surface of the flat section  18 . The wedge increases in thickness as it moves away from such end  19 . The wedge  24 , the shoe  10  and the spring strap each have a hole for receiving a bolt  27  for connecting the shoe  10  to the spring strap  20 . 
         [0026]    It will be appreciated that the flat portion  16  and the arcuate section  17  of the shoe are intended to engage and bend over the stalk stubble. The curled end  14 , by virtue of its curved orientation, will not dig into the ground as it is moved along by the vehicle or when the tractor or combine is placed in reverse motion. In addition, the curved shape of the leading edge  14  will prevent this portion of the shoe  10  from damaging the tires of the vehicle if the device is displaced from the vehicle. The curved shape of the leading edge  14  also allows the device  10  to bend over stalk stubble if the vehicle is moving in the opposite or reverse direction. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows an edge view of the spring strap  20  and its various sections. The strap is preferably on the order of from about ⅛ to about ½ inch in thickness and has a preferred width of from about 1 to about 4. The spring strap is preferably made from spring steel. The design of the strap  20  with its curves is such as to provide a spring action to hold the shoe snuggly but resiliently against the surface of the ground as the shoe is being moved there along to fold over the stubble. As such the strap  20  extends from a connection end  32  followed by a generally straight section  33  having a length on the order of 9 inches plus or minus 1 inch. The straight section  33  merges to an enlarged curved section  35  having a radius on the order of 12 inches, plus or minus 1 inch, followed by a smaller curved section  37  disposed at a radius of 3 inches, plus or minus ½ inch. The smaller curved section  37  leads to a flat vehicle connecting end portion  38 . The connecting end portion  38  is provided with an aperture  39  for receiving bolts for fastening the connecting end portion  38  to a structural member  40  of a vehicle such as a tractor or combine. 
         [0028]    A device  1  of the present invention is easily attached to a vehicle such as a tractor or combine as it weighs only about 35 pounds and can be readily handled by a single person. The device is usually positioned on the front of the vehicle and bends over the stalk stubble before the vehicle encounters the stubble. The device can, however, also be positioned to engage and bend over the stalk stubble after the vehicle has moved over the stubble. Additionally, because of the fact that so few parts are needed for the device of the present invention compared to the prior art, it is much less expensive than other devices for flattening residual agricultural products such as corn stalk stubble. 
         [0029]    A protective layer  45  can be positioned on the flat portion  16  and the arcuate section  17  of the shoe. A protective layer  49  can also be positioned on the straight section  33  of the spring strap  20 . The protective layers  45 ,  49  can be made of a material that protects the shoe and spring strap from abrasion from the residual agricultural products. The protective layer  45 ,  49  can also be made of a material that assists in having the shoe and spring strap slide over the residual agricultural products. An example of a material that works particularly well for the protective layer is ultra high molecular weight plastic such as polyethylene and nylon. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows additional features that can be used with the device of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the shoe  60  is essentially the same as the shoe  10  previously described. The shoe  60  varies in that the shoe has a curved section  71  with a substantially constant radius of curvature from the end  72  where the shoe is secured to the spring strap to the beginning of the curled toe  73  adjacent the end  74 . The constant radius curved section  71  has a radius of 9 to 15 inches, and a length from about 6 to about 15 inches. The total length of the shoe is from about 15 to about 30 inches and the width is from about 6 to about 15 inches. The preferred length of the shoe is from about 18 to 22 inches and the preferred width is from about 9 to about 12 inches. Also an L-shaped bracket  63  is welded or secured to the shoe. The L-shaped bracket is used to mount a spring strap  70  to the shoe. A flange  65  is positioned on each side of the L-shaped bracket  63  to snuggly receive the spring strap. A hole  67  is provided in the L-shaped bracket to receive a bolt  69  for securing the spring strap  70  to the shoe  60 . The spring strap  70  is similar to the previously described spring strap  20 . The spring strap  70  has a first hole  76  and a second hole  77  for mounting the spring strap to the shoe  60  in the manner previously described. The holes  76  and  77  disposed between the end  72  of the spring strap and the curved section  71 . The first hole  76  provides a mounting point for the spring strap  70  that applies the most biasing force on the shoe  60  in a direction towards the residual agricultural products. The second hole  77  is closer to the end  72  and proves less biasing force on the shoe  60 . Additional holes can be provided on the spring strap if it is desired to provide more adjustability for the biasing force that the spring strap provided to the shoe. The first and second holes  76  and  77  are positioned in the spring strap so that a portion of the spring strap extends over the shoe  60 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows another feature that can be used with the stalk bending device. The spring strap  70  has a second curved section  79  that is positioned between the curved section  71  and the first hole  76 . The second curved section provides additional spring force that assists in biasing the shoe  60  in a direction towards the residual agricultural products. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  shows additional features that can be used with the device of the present invention. The device shown in this figure is essentially the same as the device shown in  FIG. 4 . The mounting of the spring strap  80  to the vehicle  85  has been modified. The mounting location  87  on the vehicle  85  has been moved to a vertical orientation which results in a greater curvature for the curved section  83 . The increased curvature for the spring strap  80  increases the biasing force that the spring strap places on the shoe  60 . In addition, one or more holes  86  can be provided on the spring strap to secure the spring strap to the vehicle  85 . If multiple holes  86  are provided in the spring stop the position of the spring strap with respect to the vehicle can be adjusted. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8  show additional features that can be used with the device of the present invention. As show in  FIG. 6  pivot bracket  100  is mounted on the vehicle  105 . The pivot bracket has a mounting surface  107  for securing the spring strap  20 ,  70 ,  80  to the vehicle. The pivot bracket has a side wall  109  that extends from the mounting surface in a direction toward the vehicle  105 . The sidewall  109  has a first section  108  and a second section  110 . A mounting flange  111  is positioned on the end of the sidewall  109  that is spaced apart from the mounting surface  107  for the spring strap. The mounting flange is used to removably secure the pivot bracket  100  to the vehicle  105 . A hinge  115  is positioned on the sidewall  109  between the first section  108  and the second section  110 . The hinge allows the sidewall to pivot to move the device in a direction that allows for more clearance with regard to the vehicle. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  the hinge is located in a generally vertical orientation and in  FIG. 8  in a generally horizontal location. The orientation of the hinge  115  dictates the direction that the device can be moved to provide additional clearance with the vehicle. A locking means  119  can be operatively connected to the sidewall  109  to secure the sidewall in the desired location with respect to the vehicle. The locking device  119  has at least a first member  123  that is connected to the first section  108  and a second member  125  positioned on the second section  110  of the sidewall  109 . A hole  127  is positioned in each of the first and second members and a pin  131  is positioned in the holes  127  to secure the sidewall in a straight orientation. To change the position of the device, the pin  131  is removed and the hinge  115  can be used to change the location of the shoe and spring strap. A second hole  135  is positioned in the first member  123  and when the pivot bracket is moved the pin  131  can be positioned in the second hole  135  in the first member and hole  127  in the second member to hold the pivot bracket in the new pivoted location. As shown in the drawings more than one first  123  and second  125  members can be positioned on the sidewall  109  to provide additional strength for the locking mechanism. The pin  131  can extend through all of the first and second member. As shown in  FIG. 8  the orientation of the sidewall  139  is changed to allow the shoe and spring strap to pivot in a different direction. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the pivot bracket allows the shoe and spring strap to pivot in a generally sideways direction and in  FIG. 8  the shoe and spring strap move in a generally vertical direction. The locking device for the device of  FIG. 8  functions in the same manner as the locking device shown in  FIG. 7  with the understanding that the orientation of the locking device has been rotated. When the hinge has been utilized, the device is usually no longer in an orientation where it can contact the residual agricultural products. 
         [0034]      FIG. 11  shows one example where the pivot bracket  100  has been rotated to provide a different location for the device with respect to the vehicle  105 . Also in this figure the mounting surface  107  can have more than one hole  106  for securing the spring strap  80  to the pivot bracket  100 . This allows for additional adjustment for the position of the shoe  60  with respect to the vehicle and the ground. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show another feature that can be used with the device of the present invention. As shown in these Figures a different mounting bracket  151  is used to secure the spring strap  80  to the vehicle. The mounting bracket has a first support member  153  and a second support member  155  that are positioned in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship. An aperture  159  is positioned in the first end  160  of each of the first and second support members. A bolt  163  can be positioned in the apertures  159  to secure the mounting bracket to the vehicle. A tab  165  is positioned on each of the first and second support members adjacent the aperture  159 . The tabs are disposed to engage the vehicle and hold the first and second support members in the desired location with respect to the vehicle. 
         [0036]    The second end  161  of the first and second support members also has an aperture  169 . A pivoting securing bracket  171  is pivotably secured to the first and second support members by a bolt  173  that extends between the apertures  169  in the first and second support members. The securing bracket has a plate  176  and a passageway  175  is defined in the plate. A bolt  173  extends through the passageway to pivotably secure the securing bracket to the first and second support members. The plate  176  has a first end  177  and a second end  179 . A flange  181  is positioned on each side of the first end of the plate and the flanges are disposed to securely engage the sides of the spring strap  80 . A hole  183  is positioned in the plate to be in alignment with the hole in the end of the spring strap  80 . A bolt  185  is positioned in the hole in the plate and the hole in the spring strap to secure the spring strap to the plate. The flanges  181  assist in locating the spring strap with respect to the plate. 
         [0037]    A threaded aperture  189  is positioned on the second end of the plate  176 . A threaded bolt  191  is rotatably positioned in the threaded aperture. The threaded bolt is disposed for engaging a surface on the vehicle whereby the bolt can be rotated to adjust the position of the plate with respect to the vehicle. The adjustment for the plate  176  allows the position of the spring strap  80  and shoe  60  that attached to the plate, to be adjusted with respect to the vehicle. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 12 and 13  show another feature that can be used with the device of the present invention. As shown in the figures a different support bracket  201  is used to secure the spring strap to the vehicle. The support bracket has a base  207  with a block  209  positioned on the center of the base. A threaded aperture  215  is disposed in the block  209  and is positioned substantially parallel with the base. A notch  217  is positioned in the base on each side of the block  209 . A curved section  221  is located on each end of the base  207 . The ends  225  of each curved section are disposed to be substantially parallel with the base and extending in a direction towards the block  209 . A threaded bolt extends from a vehicle to engage the threaded aperture  215  in the block  209 . The threaded bolt secures the support bracket to the vehicle. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIGS. 14 ,  15  and  16  the support brackets  201  are positioned on each side of a frame member  233  of a vehicle  236 . The support brackets are held in place by bolts  237  that extend into threaded apertures  236  on the vehicle. Shackles  241  are positioned on the bolts  237  and the shackles engage the notches  217  on the base  207  on each side of the block  209 . The shackles, by engaging the notches, prevent the support bracket from moving with respect to the bolts  237  and the vehicle  235 . 
         [0040]    An extension arm  245  having a mounting yoke  249  is secured to the support brackets  201 . The yoke  249  has two passageways  255  that are disposed to be in alignment with the threaded apertures  215  in the block  209  of the support bracket. Bolts  257  are positioned to extend through the passageways  255  and to threadingly engage the threaded apertures  215  in the support brackets. The bolts  257  effectively secure the extension arm  245  to the support brackets and therefore to the vehicle  235 . A mounting flange  259  is secured to the end of the extension arm  245  that is spaced apart from the yoke  249 . The mounting flange is disposed to mount the stalk crusher device  1  to the vehicle in a manner previously described. 
         [0041]    The above detailed description of the present invention is given for explanatory purposes. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the whole of the foregoing description is to be construed in an illustrative and not a limitative sense.