Abstract:
A device to facilitate the installation of a cultivator blade on a shank. The device comprises a frame having a configuration complementary to the peripheral configuration of the blade and defining a channel that fits over the cultivator blade to seat at least a portion of the edges or wings of the blade as well as to protect the tip of the blade. The device has a fortified or reinforced tip to provide a striking surface. To use, the blade is seated in the device and positioned on the shank and the installer can strike the striking surface and the force of the blow is spread along the periphery of the blade to prevent or reduce damage to any one area of the blade.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/180,825, filed Jun. 17, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A cultivator is any of several types of farm implements used for secondary tillage. In one aspect, the cultivator comprises a frame with teeth that pierce the soil as they are dragged through it. Cultivators stir and pulverize the soil, either before planting (to aerate the soil and prepare a smooth, loose seedbed) or after the crop has begun growing to kill weeds by uprooting them or burying their leaves to disrupt their photosynthesis, or a combination of both. Unlike a harrow, which can plow or dig up the entire surface of the soil, cultivators are designed to work the soil in careful patterns, sparing the crop plants but disrupting the weeds. 
         [0003]    Cultivators of the toothed type are often similar in form to chisel plows, but their goals are different. Cultivator teeth work near the surface, usually for weed control, whereas chisel plow shanks work deep beneath the surface, breaking up hardpan. Consequently, cultivating also takes much less power per shank than does chisel plowing. However, cultivators and chisel plows often use similarly configured teeth or blades. 
         [0004]    Field cultivators are usually drawn as an attachment behind a tractor, especially row-crop tractors. Field cultivators can vary greatly in size and shape, from 10 feet to 80 feet wide. Generally speaking, the implement has many shanks mounted on the underside of a metal frame. In some aspects, the shanks terminate in replaceable blades. The blades are known by several different names including blades, points, teeth, sweeps and shoes. The blades cut weeds from the roots near the base of the crop and turn over soil, while two rear sweeps further outward than the center blades deal with the center of the row, and can be anywhere from 1 to 5 rows wide. The blades come in various configurations, however, most conventional blades are arrowhead shaped or pointed. 
         [0005]    Typically, the blades are removably attached to the shanks, most often by retaining means such as a spring biased detent on the shank that engages a hole or opening in the base of the blade. The blades generally can be replaced or removed for sharpening or repair. It will be appreciated that to keep the blade in place during cultivation the attachment means must be heavy duty. Consequently, it can be difficult to actuate the detent mechanism, particularly if the implement is old, rusted, dirty or so forth. To remove a blade, the user can actuate the retaining means to disengage the blade from the shank. Often the user must strike the blade with a hammer or the like near the base to remove the blade from the shaft. If the blade is being replaced, this procedure works well since the user is not concerned about damage to the blade. 
         [0006]    If the blade is being removed for repair or sharpening, or a new blade is being installed, the process of installing the blade can be difficult. Spring biased detents can be difficult to actuate due to wear, dirt, corrosion and so forth. Often the user must strike the new or repaired blade with a hammer or the like to install the blade. As can be appreciated, striking the blade, particularly on the point or wings can damage the blade. 
         [0007]    It would be advantageous, therefore, to have a device to facilitate installation of a field cultivator blade on a shank without damaging the blade. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Accordingly, a device is provided which facilitates the installation of a cultivator blade on a shank. The device broadly disperses the impact of a strike or blow to install the blade onto the cultivator shank, thereby eliminating or substantially reducing damage to the blade. The device has a frame which has a peripheral configuration complementary to the peripheral configuration of the blade. The device defines a channel that fits over the cultivator blade to seat at least a portion of the edges or the wings of the blade as well as protect the tip of the blade. The device has a fortified or reinforced tip to provide a striking surface. 
         [0009]    Also provided is a method of using the above-described device. A device as described herein is obtained. The blade is positioned on the shank, and the device is positioned over the blade, such that the installer can strike or otherwise impel the striking surface of the device to join the blade to the shank. In so doing, the force of the blow is spread along the periphery of the blade to prevent or reduce damage to any one area of the blade. The device or its tip&#39;s striking surface may be fashioned from steel, iron or other hard durable metal, or a hard durable plastic, rubber or other such protective material. 
         [0010]    In a further aspect of the invention, a cultivator blade installation kit is provided. The kit includes a cultivator blade unattached to a cultivator shank and a device to facilitate the installation of the cultivator blade on the shank. The device includes a frame having a peripheral configuration complementary to the peripheral configuration of the cultivator blade. The frame of the device defines a channel that fits over at least a portion of the edges of the cultivator blade to seat the blade and a fortified or reinforced tip to provide a striking surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of a representative prior art field cultivator; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the device and a cultivator blade; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a cultivator blade partially engaged in the device; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of a cultivator blade seated in the device; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of one side of the device taken along line S-S of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and preceded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding the plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment” and such, are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. 
         [0017]    Various embodiments as described and shown herein provide a disclosed device, method and kit that are primarily intended to be used to install a field cultivator blade on the shank of a field cultivator. The blade also is known as including a point, a sweep, a tooth, or a shoe. Hereinafter the term blade will be used for simplicity and clarity. Also, one skilled in the art will recognize that the device may have other uses, without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0018]    A representative embodiment of a prior art field cultivator is shown in  FIG. 1  and indicated generally by reference number  10 . Cultivator  10  comprises a frame  12  and wheels  14  and is intended to be pulled by a tractor or the like. As shown, cultivator  10  includes a plurality of downwardly depending shanks  16 . Each shank  16  terminates in a blade  18 . Shanks  16  generally are not absolutely rigid in that they have some flex or give if the blade hits an obstruction. It will be noted that each blade  18  is secured to the bottom end of a shank  16 . As disclosed herein, a blade  18  is removably attached to a shank  16  as will be explained in reference to the disclosed device. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows a representative blade  18  adjacent the installation device, indicated generally by number  20 . As shown, blade  18  has a general arrowhead configuration including a center base  22 , a first or right wing  24 , a second or left wing  26  and a tip or point  28 . There is a hole or opening  30  in base  22  for attaching the blade to a shank. In one aspect, the shank includes a spring-biased detent. The detent can be compressed into the shank and the blade positioned over the end of the shank until the detent pops through opening  30  and is secured in place. To remove the blade, the detent is depressed and the blade is removed. For installation of a new, modified or reconditioned blade, e.g., the blade is positioned on the end of the shank and urged or forced upwardly until the detent pops through opening  30 . 
         [0020]    It will be understood that many times it is difficult to get the new blade secured on the shank. For example, the shank may be slightly deformed or the detent mechanism is worn, rusted or dirty and not easily depressed. In those cases, the installer will force the blade on the shank by striking the blade with a hammer or the like. Striking the blade with a hammer can deform or damage the blade, rendering it unsuitable for use. 
         [0021]    Installation device  20  is employed to facilitate installation of blade  18  on a shank. As seen in the drawings, device  20  has an overall peripheral configuration complementary to the peripheral configuration of blade  18 . More specifically, device  20  includes a V-shaped frame  32  having a first side  34 , a second side  36  meeting at tip  38 . In one preferred aspect, device  20  is fashioned from steel or iron or other hard, durable metal. It will be noted that tip  38  is fortified or reinforced, for example by hard welding or by providing a strike pad or other structure on the tip. The strike surface may be integral with, welded to, or otherwise firmly attached to the tip of the device to facilitate the ease with which the blade is urged onto the shank during installation. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , in various of such embodiments the respective sides of the installation device define an inner channel  40 , e.g., having a generally V-shaped cross-section such that the device&#39;s inner channel  40  is configured to take in, or snugly fit around, the tip  28  and all or at least some portion of the edges or wing areas  24 ,  26 , of the blade  18 . There is a top, or first, brace  42  extending between the first and second sides and a bottom, or second, brace  44  extending between the first and second sides. As shown, in the depicted embodiment, top brace  42  is positioned closer to tip  38  so as to not extend across opening  30  when the blade is in the device. Furthermore, offset braces  42  and  44  provide substantial, or full, rigidity to the device and resist torque. Additionally, in particular embodiments, the braces are configured to permit the blade, or blade end to slide in between them to provide support for the blade during the installation process. 
         [0023]    In use, according to this embodiment, a device  10  of the type described herein is obtained. The blade  18  is positioned within device  10  such that right wing  24  is seated in channel  40  of first side  34 ; wing  26  is seated in channel  40  of second side  36  and tip  28  is seated in tip  38  of device  20 . Blade base  22  is positioned over the end of a shank  16  and urged upwardly on the shank so as to engage the detent in opening  30 . If the installation meets with resistance or the detent does not depress, etc., the installer can strike the fortified or reinforced tip  38  (a strike surface) with a hammer or other instrument and drive the blade onto the shank until it is properly affixed. Because the leading edges or wings  24  and  26  and tip  28  are seated in channel  40 , the energy of the hammer blows is broadly or evenly distributed along the leading edges of the blade. This prevents, or at least substantially reduces, damage to the cultivator blade(s) and also facilitates installation. 
         [0024]    It is also envisioned that a cultivator blade, such as a new, replacement, repaired or resurfaced blade, and the above-described installation device will be combined as a kit. The kit may include the cultivator blade unattached to a cultivator shank and one of the embodiments of the above-described device designed to facilitate the installation of the cultivator blade on the shank. Other components, such as a blade sharpener, anti-corrosion fluid, and such, may be included as part of the kit, or the kit may consist essentially, or entirely, of the blade(s) and device(s). 
         [0025]    It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the various embodiments of the invention without departing from their scope. While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended to define the parameters of the various embodiments of the invention, the embodiments are by no means limiting and are exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the various embodiments of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
         [0026]    This written description uses examples to disclose the various embodiments of the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments of the invention, including making and using any devices and performing any related methods. The patentable scope of the various embodiments of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if the examples have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if the examples include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.