Patent ID: 7861795

Claim:
An implement apparatus adapted for attachment to a towing vehicle for movement in an operating travel direction, the apparatus comprising: a hitch frame with a hitch at a front end thereof adapted for attachment to the towing vehicle; a center frame section pivotally attached at a rear portion thereof to a rear portion of the hitch frame about a substantially horizontal hitch frame axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the operating travel direction; a right wing frame section pivotally attached to a right end of the center frame section about a right frame axis; a left wing frame section pivotally attached to a left end of the center frame section about a left frame axis oriented substantially parallel to the right frame axis; an actuator operative to pivot the center frame section upward about the hitch frame axis to raise the center, right wing, and left wing frame sections from an operating position, where the frame sections are substantially aligned laterally and are oriented substantially horizontally with front ends thereof forward of the hitch frame axis and where the right and left frame axes are substantially horizontal and aligned with the operating travel direction, to a raised position where the frame sections are oriented substantially vertically with the front ends thereof above the hitch frame axis and where the right and left frame axes are substantially vertical; a plurality of working members mounted to the frame sections such that all working members are located forward of the hitch frame axis and such that the working members contact the ground when the frame sections are in the operating position to support the hitch frame and frame sections for movement along the ground when in the operating position, and such that the working members move upward off the ground as the frame sections move from the operating position to the raised position; a plurality of transport wheels mounted to rear portions of the frame sections rearward of the hitch frame axis such that the transport wheels are above the ground when the frame sections are in the operating position, and such that the transport wheels move down into contact with the ground as the frame sections move from the operating position to the raised position to support the hitch frame and frame sections in the raised position; wherein, with the frame sections in the raised position the right and left wing frame sections can pivot rearward on the transport wheels about the corresponding right and left frame axes to a transport position where the right and left wing frame sections are substantially parallel and extend rearward from the corresponding right and left frame axes.