Abstract:
Sulky apparatus including an operator standing platform, a tire and associated wheel rim for allowing the operator standing platform to move along the ground, a wheel well associated with the operator standing platform for housing the wheel rim and tire in an operational position, a tire axle having two end portions located in the center of the wheel rim, the two end portions being configured to rest in the bottoms of depressions located in the walls of the wheel well, a pivoting U-shaped axle locking member located at the top of the wheel well where the locking member can engage the upper surfaces of the end portions of the axle and secure the axle and the associated tire in the operational position in the wheel well, a pivotal cover covering the wheel well for allowing access to the wheel well and locking means associated with the wheel well and the cover for locking the pivoting U-shaped axle locking member and the cover in place in their operational positions. When the locking means is unlocked, it permits the pivotal wheel cover to be pivoted upward and forward and the pivoting U-shaped axle locking member to also be pivoted upward and forward and this allows the tire and the associated wheel rim to be removed from the wheel well.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sulky apparatus for use with self-propelled machinery such as self-propelled lawn mowers have been in use for sometime and they allow the operator of self-propelled machinery to operate the machinery much more efficiently and allow much more to be accomplished with the machinery than was possible prior to such sulky apparatus. Typically, the sulky apparatus included a platform for the operator to stand upon and some type of boom that was attached to the operator platform at one end and to the self-propelled machinery at the other end of the boom. Examples of such a sulky apparatus are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,140 and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,527,285. 
     Typically, a sulky will have a rubber tire that is inflated by air and like all such tires it is subject to punctures and leaks. When a puncture or leak occurs that causes the sulky tire to go flat, it causes a major disruption in the use of the equipment that is attached to the sulky until the tire is repaired or replaced. Unfortunately, with current sulkies changing a tire is very time consuming and is difficult to accomplish. The sulky must first be disconnected from the equipment such as a lawnmower and then the sulky must be turned over so that the wheel faces upward and then the axle and associated structure must be disassembled so that the sulky tire can be removed from its position in the sulky wheel well or fender. This requires tools as well as time and skill. 
     The tire must then be replaced and the new tire and the axle and associated structure that was disassembled must then be reassembled and then the sulky must be reconnected to the equipment it is being used with. This whole operation is very difficult and is very time consuming. It is even more so if there is no replacement tire and the original tire must be repaired. Consequently, a tire that needs to be replaced on a sulky that is being used is a major event that can have a very negative impact on the operator&#39;s work schedule. It is even worse if the tools necessary for the tire replacement or a replacement tire are not readily available. The same is true if the operator does not have the skill or instructions necessary to replace the tire or to repair and replace the tire. 
     The present sulky apparatus invention overcomes these deficiencies present in the prior art sulky apparatus and provides sulky apparatus that allows the operator to have a sulky apparatus with a sulky apparatus riding platform that allows the operator to have ready access to the sulky tire from the top of the sulky and consequently is able to operate the present sulky apparatus invention in a much more efficient and productive manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to sulky apparatus and more particularly to improved sulky apparatus that allows the operator of the sulky apparatus to change the sulky tire without inverting the sulky. 
     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that allows the sulky operator to change the sulky wheel rim and tire without having to disconnect the sulky from any attached equipment. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that allows the operator of the sulky apparatus to change the sulky tire without any tools. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that allows the operator of the sulky apparatus to rapidly change the sulky tire. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that allows the operator of the sulky apparatus to change the sulky tire without any instructions. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that allows the operator of the sulky apparatus to change the sulky tire without any skill. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that allows the operator of the sulky apparatus to readily inspect the sulky tire without removing the tire from the sulky. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that allows the operator of the sulky apparatus to readily grease the axle without removing the tire and wheel rim from the sulky. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that allows the operator of the sulky apparatus to readily inflate the sulky tire without removing the tire from the sulky. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that allows the operator of the sulky apparatus to service the sulky tire and wheel well to remove mud and the like without removing the tire from the sulky. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus adapted to be used with multiple types of self-propelled machines. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that is easy to operate by the operator of the sulky apparatus. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that is safer to use due to improved access and maintenance. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that is easy to service. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that is easy to disassemble. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide sulky apparatus that is easy to repair. 
     These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following described sulky apparatus invention that includes an operator standing platform, a tire and associated wheel rim for allowing the operator standing platform to move along the ground, a wheel well associated with the operator standing platform for housing the tire and associated wheel rim in an operational position, a tire axle having two end portions located in the center of the wheel rim, the two end portions being configured to rest in the bottoms of depressions or cut out portions located in the upper side walls of the wheel well, a pivoting U-shaped axle locking member located at the top of the wheel well where the locking member can engage the upper notched surfaces of the end portions of the axle and secure the axle and the associated tire and wheel rim in the operational position in the wheel well, a pivotal wheel cover covering the wheel well for allowing access to the wheel well and locking means associated with the wheel well and the wheel cover for locking the pivoting U-shaped axle locking member and the cover in place in their operational positions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be hereinafter more completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a right side perspective view of the sulky apparatus invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a left side perspective view of the sulky apparatus invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the sulky invention with certain portions thereof broken away; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the sulky invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the sulky invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view with certain portions removed of a portion of a wheel axle and wheel cover locking systems for the sulky apparatus invention that are located within the circle  6  in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view with certain portions removed or broken away of the locking systems for the sulky apparatus invention shown in  FIG. 6  taken from the right side of the structure illustrated in  FIG. 6  taken in the direction of the arrow R with the locking pins removed to illustrate the locking systems in their open unlocked positions; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective side elevational view of a portion of the sulky apparatus invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the wheel cover open illustrating a portion of the wheel axle locking structure of the sulky apparatus invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective side elevational view of a portion of the sulky apparatus invention illustrated in  FIG. 2  with the wheel cover open illustrating a portion of the wheel axle locking structure of the sulky apparatus invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a left perspective view of the sulky invention with portions thereof broken away showing the tire and wheel rim being removed from the sulky or the replacement of the sulky tire and wheel rim; and 
         FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of the sulky invention with a portion thereof broken away or omitted showing the wheel cover open and the tire and wheel rim removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the sulky apparatus invention is illustrated and is designated generally by the number  10 . As illustrated, the sulky apparatus invention  10  includes a generally rectangular hollow wheel well housing  12  with substantially identical generally rectangular shaped operator standing supports  14  and  16  extending outward from the wheel well housing  12 . The top of the wheel well housing  12  is covered by a generally rectangular shaped inverted U-shaped cross section wheel cover  18  that as illustrated in  FIG. 3  has means for permitting the wheel cover  18  to open to gain access to the interior of the wheel well housing  12  that allows the cover  18  to be manually pivoted forward that includes the pivot pins or pivot connectors  20  and  22  that connect the forward lower portions of the cover to the adjacent right and left walls  27  and  29  of the wheel well housing  12  through upward extending respective extensions  23  and  25  that are connected to the right and left walls  27  and  29  of the wheel well housing  12  by the respective fasteners  31  and  33 . These pivot pins  20  and  22  permit the wheel cover  18  to be manually pivoted upward and forward as illustrated by the arrow A in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  also shows a tire  35  in the normal operational position in the wheel well housing  12  and being covered by the rotating wheel cover  18 . 
     The standing supports  14  and  16  are substantially identical and have a central substantially flat portion  24  with a small upward slanting lip  26  at the rear portion. The forward portion of the standing supports  14  and  16  have an upward slanting lip  28  that includes two progressively upward slanting portions  30  and  32 . Wheel locking means designated generally by the number  34  is located at the rear of the wheel well housing  12  and adjacent to each side wall  27  and  29  of the wheel well housing  12 . Wheel cover locking means that is designated generally by the number  36  for locking the wheel cover  18  in the closed position is also located at the rear of the wheel well housing  12 . As illustrated In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , right and left axle end portions  38  and  40  of the wheel axle extend outside the respective right and left walls  27  and  29  of the wheel well housing  12  and as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the forward portion of the wheel well housing  12  has a solid wall  42  that adds strength to the wheel well housing  12 . 
     The details of the wheel locking means that is designated generally by the number  34  and a wheel cover locking means that is designated generally by the number  36  are illustrated in  FIG. 6  which is an is an enlarged perspective view with certain portions omitted of the wheel locking means  34  and the wheel cover locking means  36  for the sulky apparatus invention  10  that are located within the circle  6  in  FIG. 4  which is a rear perspective view of the sulky invention  10 . The wheel axle locking means  34  includes a U-shaped locking member  44  that has respective substantially identical downward projections  46  and  48  that as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  project downwardly at substantially ninety degrees from the respective right and left end portions  50  and  52  of the U-shaped locking member  44 . The lower end portions  54  and  56  of the respective downward projections  46  and  48  are rotatably connected to the respective right and left side walls  27  and  29  of the wheel well housing  12  by the respective bolts  58  and  60 . As a consequence, the U-shaped locking member  44  can be pivoted upwardly and forwardly once the wheel cover  18  has been pivoted upwardly and forward as illustrated by the arrow A in  FIG. 1  and the U-shaped locking member  44  is unlocked in a manner that will hereinafter be described in detail. 
     The details of how the U-shaped locking member  44  interacts with the right and left axle end portions  38  and  40  are illustrated in  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10 . As indicated in  FIG. 8 , the right axle end portion  38  is illustrated and it will be noted that this right axle end portion  38  has an upper flat surface  66  that is located to be engaged by the adjacent surface  70  of the locking member  44  when the locking member  44  is moved in the direction of the arrow B. It will be noted that the lower surface  62  of the right axle end portion  38  rests in a substantially matching half circular depression  72  that is located at the bottom of a triangular cut out portion  74  in a portion of the top of the right side wall  27  of the wheel well housing  12 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the left axle end portion  40  and associated structure that is substantially a mirror image of right axle end portion  38  and the associated structure that was just described. In this connection, it will be noted that this left axle end portion  40  is substantially identical to the right axle end portion  38  and the left axle end portion  40  has an upper flat surface  76  that is substantially identical to the right axle end portion flat surface  66 . This flat surface  76  is also located to be engaged by the adjacent surface  79  of the locking member  44  in a manner identical to that for the adjacent surface  70  in  FIG. 8 . It will also be noted that the lower surface of the left axle end portion  40  rests in a substantially matching half circular depression  80  that is located at the bottom of a triangular cut out portion  82  in the a portion of the top of the left side wall  29  of the wheel well housing  12  in a manner identical to that described with respect to the substantially identical structure designated by the numbers  38 ,  72  and  74  associated with  FIG. 8  and the right axle end portion  38  and associated structure. As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , when the axle locking member  44  is pivoted downwardly as indicated by the respective arrows B and C in the respective  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the respective surfaces  70  and  79  of the axle locking member  44  will contact the respective surfaces  66  and  76  of the right and left axle end portions  38  and  40  and hold these axle end portions  38  and  40  in the respective half circular depressions  72  and  80 . When the respective surfaces  70  and  79  of the axle locking member  44  contact the respective surfaces  66  and  76  of the right and left axle end portions  38  and  40  and hold these axle end portions  38  and  40  in the respective half circular depressions  72  and  80 , the locking member  44  will be in the substantially horizontal position illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . When this occurs, the axle end portions  38  and  40  are secured in the respective half circular depressions  72  and  80  in the respective sides  27  and  29  of the wheel well  12  and this secures the associated wheel rim  178  and the tire  35  in the wheel well  12 . 
     The wheel locking means  34  that includes the axle locking member  44  also has the locking apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  that is designated by the number  84  that is connected to the rear end portion of the U-shaped locking member  44  and prevents the U-shaped locking member  44  from being pivoted upwardly until it is unlocked in a manner that will hereinafter be described in detail. The locking apparatus  84  includes a generally rectangular shaped locking member  86  that as illustrated in  FIG. 7  has its rear surface  88  rigidly connected to the upper surface  90  locking member  44  by being welded or the like so that the locking member  86  projects outwardly from the adjacent outer surface  92  of the locking member  44  at substantially a ninety degree angle. This rectangular shaped locking member  86  has a circular hole  94  extending through it as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , another locking member  96  is configured to function with locking member  86 . The locking member  96  has a generally C-shaped portion  98  that is welded at its lower end  100  to a hollow cylinder  102  that rotates around a circular cross section rod  104  as indicated by the double ended arrow D in  FIG. 6 . The upper end  106  of the C-shaped portion  98  has two spaced apart projecting portions  108  and  110  that are sized, shaped and located to be capable of being located above and below the rectangular shaped locking tab member  86  that is connected to the locking member  44  when the locking member  96  is rotated upward as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the spaced apart projecting portions  108  and  110  have respective circular shaped holes  112  and  114  extending through them that are basically the same size as the hole  94  in the locking member  86 . Since these holes  112 ,  114  and  94  are basically the same size, when the locking member  96  is rotated upward about the rod  104 , a cylindrical pin  113  that is slightly smaller in diameter than the holes  112 ,  114  and  94  can be inserted into these holes  112 ,  114  and  94  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     When the pin  113  is inserted into the holes  112 ,  114  and  94  it prevents the locking member  96  from being separated from the locking tab member  86  that is fastened to the locking member  44 . Since the respective left and right ends  116  and  118  of the rod  104  are respectively connected by welding or the like to respective left and right rod supports  120  and  122  and these rod supports  120  and  122  are connected to the wheel housing through an adjusting system that will hereinafter be described in detail that in turn are connected to the wheel housing, the inserted pin  113  prevents the locking member  44  from being moved upwardly from around the wheel housing  12 . It will be noted that the pin  113  has a spring loaded ball  124  near its end to assist in retaining the pin  113  in the holes  112 ,  114  and  94  and a small hole  125  and a ring is  126  located in the hole  125  so that a finger can be inserted into the ring  126  to assist in the manual removal of the pin  113  from the holes  112 ,  114  and  94 . 
     A wheel cover locking apparatus that is part of the wheel cover locking means  36  is designated generally by the number  128  is also illustrated in  FIG. 6 . As illustrated, this wheel cover locking apparatus  128  is located adjacent to the previously described locking apparatus  84  and the wheel cover locking apparatus  128  includes two spaced apart rectangular flat members  130  and  132  that are welded to the upper portion  90  of the locking member  44  so that they project upwardly from upper portion  90  of the locking member  44 . These spaced apart rectangular flat members  130  and  132  are spaced apart enough to accept a downward depending rectangular member  134  that projects downwardly from the forward portion  137  of the wheel cover  18  as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the members  130  and  132  and  134  have substantially identically sized holes  136 ,  138  and  140  that extend through them. These holes  136 ,  138  and  140  also have the same size as the previously described holes  112 ,  114  and  94 . As indicated in  FIG. 6 , a cylindrical pin  142  is provided that is sized to fit into the holes  136 ,  138  and  140 . This pin  142  is substantially the same as the previously described pin  113 . It will be noted that the pin  142  has a spring loaded ball  144  near it&#39;s end to assist in retaining it in the holes  136 ,  138  and  140  and a small hole  146  and a ring  147  that is located in the hole  146  are located in the outer end portion of the pin  142  so that a finger can be inserted into the ring  147  to assist in the manual removal of the pin  142  from the holes  136 ,  138  and  140 . When the pin  142  is inserted into the holes  136  and  138  of the members  130  and  132  and the hole  140  in the adjacent downward depending member  134 , this locks the members  130  and  132  to the member  134  that projects downwardly from the forward portion  137  of the wheel cover  18 . As a consequence, the wheel cover  18  is secured to the locking member  44  and if the pin  113  is also inserted into the holes  112 ,  114  and  94 , which prevents the locking apparatus  96  from being separated from the locking tab member  86  that is fastened to the locking member  44 , the wheel cover  18  can not be pivoted upward until the pin  142  is removed. 
     An adjusting system that is designated generally by the number  148  is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The adjusting system  148  comprises two handles  150  and  152  that are rigidly secured to the upper portions  154  and  156  of downwardly extending shafts  158  and  160  whose lower end portions  162  and  164  are threaded into threaded holes  166  and  168  in substantially identical adjustment blocks  170  and  172  that are rigidly fixed to the wheel well  12  by welding or the like. The shafts  158  and  160  have respective enlarged upper end portions  158   a  and  160   a  whose lower end surfaces contact and press against the upper surfaces of the respective supports  120  and  122 . Substantially identical coil springs  174  and  176  are located around the respective shafts  158  and  160  between the respective supports  120  and  122  and the adjustment blocks  170  and  172 . This upward spring force represented by the arrow F in  FIG. 6  positions the supports  120  and  122  and the structure connected directly or indirectly to the supports  120  and  122  that is located above the adjustment blocks  170  and  172  subject to the position of the handles  150  and  152  and the associated respective enlarged shaft portions  158   a  and  160   a  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The positions of the supports  120  and  122  can be varied by manually turning the respective handles  150  and  152 . By using these handles  150  and  152  and the associated connected structure including the upper portions  154  and  156  of downwardly extending shafts  158  and  160  whose lower end portions  162  and  164  are threaded into threaded holes  166  and  168  in substantially identical adjustment blocks  170  and  172  that are rigidly fixed to the wheel well  12 , the operator can adjust the position of the structure illustrated in  FIG. 6  above the adjustment blocks  170  and  172  to compensate for wear between the pin  113  and the surrounding holes  112 ,  114  and  94  and/or the pin  142  and the surrounding holes  136 ,  138  and  140 . The handles  150  and  152  can be used to adjust for any other wear between other moving parts such as that between the half round or half circular depressions  72  and  80  in the side walls  27  and  29  of the wheel well  12  and the axle end portions  38  and  40  and wear on the flat contact surfaces  66  and  76  and the adjacent surfaces  70  and  79  illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     The sulky apparatus invention  10  is used in the following manner.  FIGS. 1  through  5  illustrate how the sulky apparatus  10  is configured for normal use. During normal use it frequently happens that tire  35  and also the associated tire rim  178  needs to be serviced. With prior art sulkies, servicing the tire  35  and/or wheel rim  178  is difficult and time consuming since it is difficult to gain access to the tire and wheel rim of such prior art sulkies. Basically, this required that the sulky be inverted and that the tire and wheel rim be removed from the bottom of the sulky. With the sulky apparatus invention  10 , the sulky no longer needs to be inverted since access to the tire  35  and associated wheel rim  178  is easily gained from the top of the sulky through the use of the sulky apparatus invention  10 . 
     In order to gain access to the tire  35  and wheel rim  178 , the operator merely inserts a finger into the loop  126  of the attached pin  113  that are located at the rear of the wheel housing  18  and then pulls upward to pull the pin  113  out of the surrounding holes  112 ,  114  and  94 . This unlocks the locking member  96  and allows the release of the locking tab member  86  that is fastened to the locking member  44  so that the axle locking member  44  can be pivoted upwardly as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  once the wheel cover  18  has been unlocked. The wheel cover  18  is unlocked by the operator inserting a finger into the loop  147  of the attached pin  142  that are also located at the rear of the wheel housing  18  and then pulling outward to pull the pin  142  out of the surrounding holes  136 ,  138  and  140 . This unlocks the downward projecting rectangular member  134  and allows the wheel cover  18  to be pivoted upwardly as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 10 . In some instances, it may not be necessary to remove the tire  35  and the associated wheel rim  178  from the wheel well  12  such as to check the tire  35  air pressure or to add air to the tire  35 . In this case, the operator will only unlock the wheel cover  18  in the previously described manner and pivot the wheel cover  18  upward to gain access to the tire  35  since removal of the tire  35  and the associated wheel rim  178  is not necessary. The operator can also use this same simple procedure of only unlocking the wheel cover  18  and pivoting it upwardly to gain access to the tire  35  and the inside of the wheel cover  18  to remove wet grass, mud, twigs and the like that may have accumulated during the operator&#39;s mowing operations. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates how the tire  35  and associated wheel rim  178  is added or removed from the wheel well  12  of the sulky apparatus  10 . As illustrated, the wheel cover  18  has been pivoted upwardly to the full upward position and also, the locking member  44  has been pivoted upwardly to the full upward position. Prior to doing this, the operator unlocked the wheel locking means  34  in the previously indicated manner. In addition, the operator unlocked the wheel cover locking apparatus  128  in the previously described manner. With the wheel cover  18  pivoted upwardly to the full upward position and the locking member  44  pivoted upwardly to the full upward position as illustrated in  FIG. 10  there is no obstruction that would prevent removal of the tire  35  and associated wheel rim  178  from the wheel well  12  or prevent the insertion of the tire  35  and associated wheel rim  178  into the wheel well  12 .  FIG. 11  illustrates the tire  35  and associated wheel rim  178  completely removed from the wheel well  12  and readily illustrates how easy it is for an operator to insert a new or repaired tire  35  and associated wheel rim  178  into the interior of the wheel well  12  so that axle end portions  38  and  40  fit into the respective half circular depressions  72  and  80  at the bottom of the triangular shaped cut outs  74  and  82 . 
     If for some reason the operator believes that the sulky apparatus  10  is not functioning satisfactory, the operator can use the adjusting system  148  to correct or compensate for the problem that could be caused by wear. For example, wear could occur between the pin  113  and the corresponding the holes  112 ,  114  and  94  and/or between pin  142  and the holes  136 ,  138  and  140  or between some other moving parts such as wear between the axle end portions  38  and  40  and the respective half circular depressions  72  and  80  at the bottom of the triangular shaped cut outs  74  and  82 . In order to accomplish this, the operator will manually adjust the handles  150  and  152  in the previously described manner. 
     It will be appreciated that the sulky apparatus  10  described herein will have an associated conventional boom to attach the sulky apparatus  10  in a conventional manner to a piece of conventional machinery that will tow the sulky apparatus  10 . However, since such a boom is well known in the art and forms no part of the present sulky apparatus invention  10  it is not described herein. 
     The sulky apparatus  10  is constructed of conventional materials known in the sulky apparatus construction art. The manufacturing techniques used in manufacturing the sulky apparatus  10  including those used in cutting, drilling, milling, tapping and welding are all common and well known in the sulky manufacturing art. 
     Although the invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to a certain preferred embodiment, it will be understood that variations or modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.