Patent ID: 7673697

Claim:
A self-propelled operator-carrying vehicular sod laying machine for supporting, transporting, placing and unrolling sod rolls upon a surface comprising: a frame having a forward end, a rearward end, a left side, and a right side; a plurality of wheels mounted to the frame for rolling transport of the frame along a surface, wherein the wheels include at least one rear idler caster wheel assembly affixed proximate the rearward end of the frame, a first front wheel located proximate the forward end at the right side, a second front wheel located proximate the forward end at the left side, the first front wheel and the second front wheel being adapted to define an axis of the front wheels; a left wheel box frame affixed to the first front wheel and a right wheel box frame affixed to the second front wheel; a pair of generally parallel, laterally displaceable elongated arms including a first arm actuated by a vehicle-powered means and a second arm actuated by a vehicle-powered means, the first arm and the second arm disposed between the front wheels and extending forwardly from the forward end of the frame, the first arm and second arm each having a roll end and a pivot end, the pivot end being pivotably attached to the frame to pivot on an axis parallel to the axis of the front wheels to cause vertical displacement of the roll end of the arms; wherein the lateral displacement between the arms is adjustable to operator-selectable distances by operator actuation of the vehicle-powered means for lateral simultaneous movement of the first arm together with the left wheel box frame, and for lateral simultaneous movement of the second arm with the right wheel box frame; a sod roll supporting shaft attachable to the roll ends of the arms; and a drive system for rotating the front wheels and pivoting the arms to vary the lateral displacement of the arms.