Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to utility vehicles. The present invention particularly relates to small utility vehicles having an operator station at the front of the vehicle and a cargo area located behind the operator station. The invention particularly relates to bumpers, skid plates, and attachments for utility vehicles. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Small utility vehicles, such as John Deere GATOR® utility vehicles or John Deere heavy-duty utility vehicles have an operator station at a front of the vehicle and a cargo area located behind the operator station. Vehicles of this type are in common use since they are highly maneuverable, are equipped to operate over a low speed range, cause minimum turf damage due to their low tire pressures, and are readily adaptable to the use of a variety of special attachments utilized in maintenance or other activities. 
   Other examples of small utility vehicles or all-terrain vehicles are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,238,004; Des 344,059; Des 347,614; and 5,509,710. 
   Small utility vehicles and all-terrain vehicles typically have a front bumper to protect the front of the vehicle from low speed impact and/or can be also used to act as a bumper for pushing with the vehicle. Typically these vehicles have a separate front skid plate to protect the front lower portion of the vehicle from impact with rocks or other obstacles. 
   It is sometimes necessary to attach implements or other attachments to the front of small utility vehicles. Some attachments can be added to current small utility vehicles but with difficulty and which sometimes requires modification to the base vehicle to accept such attachments. 
   The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing an integrated front bumper and skid plate assembly that could also serve as a structural member of the overall vehicle frame. The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing an integrated front bumper and skid plate assembly that could serve as an attaching location for front-mounted vehicle attachments such as a front winch or receiver hitch, tie down rings for tying down the vehicle and/or for vertical slinging, a lift unit for a front implement, a front brush guard, additional front ballast weight, or car carrier tie down hooks. 
   The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing an integrated front bumper and skid plate assembly that serves as a structural support for a front-mounted implement, particularly as a support for a front-mounted implement coupling assembly. 
   The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing an integrated front bumper and skid plate assembly that is easily removed to obtain access to mechanical equipment of the vehicle such as a front differential, and steering and cooling components of the vehicle. 
   The present inventors have recognized the desirability of providing an integrated front bumper and skid plate assembly that is cost effectively manufactured and installed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention provides a bumper and skid plate structure and an attachment arrangement for a utility vehicle. 
   According to one aspect of the invention, a bumper assembly for a utility vehicle is provided. The bumper assembly includes both a front bumper structure for protecting the front of the vehicle and/or allowing the vehicle to be used to push, and a skid plate structure to protect front, lower components of the vehicle from road or terrain hazards. 
   Accordingly, the bumper assembly includes a protective front structure extending substantially upright in front of a front end of the vehicle hood, e.g., in front of the radiator of the utility vehicle. The bumper assembly also includes a protective bottom structure extending substantially horizontally beneath the chassis of the utility vehicle, the front and bottom structures being substantially continuous and fastened to the vehicle chassis as a unit. The bumper assembly can be formed by plural components welded or otherwise attached together, or formed as a unitary cast part. 
   The front structure can comprise a horizontal bar and at least two substantially upright members operatively connected to the horizontal bar, the two substantially upright members can be operatively connected to the bottom structure. A front plate can be arranged between the two substantially upright members, substantially closing the gap between the two substantially upright members. The front plate can be welded to the two substantially upright members. 
   The bottom structure can comprise two substantially horizontal rails and a bottom plate arranged between the two substantially horizontal rails, substantially closing the gap between the two substantially horizontal rails. The bottom plate can be welded to the two substantially horizontal rails. 
   The bumper can also comprise a substantially U-shaped bumper frame member connected between the horizontal bar and the two substantially upright members. 
   The bumper front plate can provide attachment locations for a front winch or receiver hitch, tie down rings for tying down the vehicle and/or for vertical slinging, a lift unit for a front implement, a front brush guard, additional front ballast weight, or car carrier tie down hooks. Accordingly, an appropriate quantity of holes, of appropriate shape and size can be provided through the front plate. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, an implement attachment arrangement includes an elongated structure pivotally connected at a rear of a chassis of a utility vehicle. The elongated structure can be vertically adjustable at a front end of the chassis. Preferably, the elongated structure is connected to the vehicle chassis at a front end via a connection to the bumper assembly. The elongated structure provides an implement mounting bracket or coupling at a front end thereof. An implement having a compatible base is engageable to the implement mounting bracket. A mechanism can be provided to vertically adjust the elevation of the front end of the elongated structure. Preferably, the mechanism is operable at the connection between the elongated structure and the bumper assembly. 
   According to a preferred embodiment, the implement mounting bracket comprises a substantially tapered face, and the implement base comprises a compatibly tapered channel sized to fit over and couple with the substantially tapered face. 
   A hydraulic cylinder can be connected at one end to the elongated structure and at another end to the chassis at a position elevated from the one end. Selective extension or contraction of the cylinder causes raising or lowering of the attachment plate. 
   Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a utility vehicle incorporating the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged, fragmentary, bottom perspective view of the utility vehicle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged, fragmentary, front perspective view of the utility vehicle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a bumper assembly taken from utility vehicle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a frame assembly taken from the utility vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged, fragmentary, front perspective view of a portion of the frame assembly shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged, fragmentary, rear perspective view of a portion of the frame assembly shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged, fragmentary, rear perspective view of a portion of the frame assembly taken from  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a portion of the frame assembly shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged fragmentary, exploded front perspective view of a portion of utility vehicle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged, fragmentary rear perspective view of a portion of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic control system for operation of a lift mechanism for the implement of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the bumper assembly showing a receiver hitch attached thereto; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the bumper assembly of  FIG. 13  showing a winch assembly coupled to the receiver hitch; 
       FIG. 15  is a right side view of the bumper assembly of  FIG. 14 ; and 
       FIG. 16  is a fragmentary perspective view of the bumper assembly on a vehicle and illustrating headlamp brush guards carried by the bumper assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a utility vehicle  20  having a chassis  24  supported on a plurality of wheels  26 . A cargo area  32  and a passenger area  34  are carried on the chassis  24 . Two seats  36   a ,  36   b  are mounted in the passenger area  34 . A steering wheel  40  and controls  44  are associated with a driver&#39;s seat  36   a.    
   In front of the seats  36   a ,  36   b  is a compartment  46  covered by a hood  47 . The compartment can house a radiator  49 , shown schematically in  FIG. 3 , behind air openings  45 . The air openings can be protected by a radiator grille  48 . A bumper assembly  52  is mounted to the chassis  24  in front of the radiator grille  48 . A hydraulic pump assembly  54  is mounted in front of the bumper assembly  52 . The pump assembly includes an electric motor  56  that drives a hydraulic pump  58  (FIG.  2 ). 
   An implement, such as a snow removal blade  64  (shown more clearly in  FIG. 10 ) having an attachment base  66  is mounted to an attachment bracket  76  extending from an end of a frame assembly  80 . The base  66  and the attachment bracket  76  are configured for quick coupling engagement. Although a snow removal blade  64  is illustrated, there are other implements which could be attached to the attachment bracket  76 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates the frame assembly  80  comprising longitudinally arranged rails  84 ,  86  fixed to a cross member  92 . The rails are preferably rectangular cross section tubes. The cross member  92  is fixed to U-shaped brackets  96 ,  98 . The U-shaped brackets are pivotally connected by pins  104 , 105  ( FIG. 5 ) to frame rails  112 , 114  of the chassis  24 . The frame assembly  80  is pivotal about a line passing longitudinally through axes of the pins  104 , 105 . An intermediate cross member plate  119  connects the rails  84 ,  86 . 
   The frame assembly  80  is preferably substantially composed of steel and rigid connections between members are preferably made by welding or fasteners. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the bumper assembly  52  includes a substantially horizontal guard plate  122  fit between the rails  84 ,  86  and fixed to substantially L-shaped tubular members  134 ,  136  (FIG.  4 ). The guard plate  122  can be welded to the members  134 , 136 . The members  134 ,  136  include tabs  134   a ,  136   a  ( FIG. 4 ) that are secured by fasteners (not shown) to the chassis  24 . A substantially upright guard plate  126  extends between the members  134 , 136  of the bumper assembly  52 . The guard plate  126  includes a connection plate  126   a  for attachment of accessories, such as rings  137   a ,  137   b  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The rings  137   a ,  137   b  have threaded shanks which penetrate the plate  126   a  and receive nuts  137   c ,  137   d  on a rear side of the plate  126   a  (FIG.  11 ). The connection plate  126   a  can provide attachment locations for a front winch or receiver hitch, tie down rings for tying down the vehicle and/or for vertical slinging, a lift unit for a front implement, a front brush guard, additional front ballast weight, or car carrier tie down hooks. Accordingly, an appropriate quantity of holes  126   b ,  126   c ,  126   d , of appropriate shape and size, can be provided through the connection plate  126   a.    
     FIG. 4  shows the tubular members  134 , 136  connect to a U-shaped bumper part  138  which connects to an upper beam  139  of the bumper assembly  52 . Two substantially upright attachment plates  140 , 141  connect between the upper beam  139  and the U-shaped part  138 . The plates  140 , 141  include holes for receiving pins  142 , 143  ( FIG. 5 ) for attachment of the bumper assembly  52  to the frame assembly  80 . The bumper assembly  52  further includes rearward extending tubular members  144 ,  145 . The rearward extending tubular members  144 ,  145  are welded or otherwise fixed to a rear contoured portion  126   e  of the connection plate  126   a  (FIG.  11 ). The rearward extending tubular members  144 ,  145  include holes for attachment of the members  144 , 145 , and thus the bumper assembly  52  to portions of the chassis  24 . Each member  144 , 145  fits within an open end of a rectangular tube-shaped chassis rail  146 ,  148  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  11 ) and is secured thereto by a fastener, such as a bolt (not shown) that inserts through a through hole  147 ,  149  that is common to the respective rail  146 ,  148  and the respective member  144 , 145 . The bolts penetrate both the respective rail  146 ,  148  and the respective member  144 , 145  and are secured by nuts (not shown). 
   The bumper assembly  52  is preferably substantially composed of steel and rigid connections between members are preferably made by welding or fasteners. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 , the attachment bracket  76  includes a substantially tapered or triangular face comprising angled columns  154 , 156  fixed to an angle bracket  157 . A back plate  158  substantially closes the area between the columns  154 , 156  and the bracket  157 . For rigidity, the angle bracket  157 , the back plate  158  and the columns  154 ,  156  are all welded together. The hydraulic pump assembly  54  is mounted to a U-shaped bracket  170  that extends from a support plate  172 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , a latch assembly  160  is mounted on the angle bracket  157 . The latch assembly  160  includes a latch element  162  extending through a body  164 . The latch element  162  is movable through the body  164 . The body  164  is fixed to the bracket  157  and/or the back plate  158 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7 , the support plate  172  includes side plates  173 , 174  that have holes. The holes are in registry with the holes of the plates  140 , 141  when the bumper assembly is installed, such that the pins  142 , 143  received through the registered holes connect the plates  140 , 141  to the side plates  173 , 174 , respectively. The support plate  172  also includes trunnion plates  176 , 177  fixed thereto that are pivotally mounted to an end of a hydraulic cylinder  180 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an opposite end of the cylinder  180  is pivotally mounted to trunnion plates  182 , 183  which are pivotally connected to a cross member  186  via lugs  187 ,  188  and a pin  189 . The plates  182 , 183  are connected by a bridge wall  201 . The bridge wall  201  and/or edge portions of the plates  182 , 183  provide a bottom surface  202  that “bottoms” or rests on a top surface  186   a  of the cross member  186  when the cylinder  180  is retracted to lift the attachment bracket  76 . This arrangement effectively permits only an upward lifting force to be transmitted from the cylinder  180  onto the cross member  186 . The cylinder  180  is prevented from exerting any unwanted downward hydraulically-generated force on the cross member  186 , as the plates  182 , 183  will rotate freely about the pin  189  when subject to downward force from the cylinder  180 . The cylinder  180  will reach an extension limit before downward force is exerted on the cross member  186 . 
   When assembled, extension of the cylinder  180  allows the attachment bracket  76  to be lowered by gravity. When the cylinder  180  is contracted, the attachment bracket  76  is raised by a lifting force exerted on the plates  182 , 183  via the pin  189  and a resulting pivoting of the rails  84 ,  86 . 
   The support plate  172  is permitted to pivot a small amount about the pins  142 , 143 . Such a pivoting may not be detrimental and may in fact be advantageous to reduce stress on parts during operation of the implement, for example the blade  64 . 
     FIGS. 6 through 8  describe the latch assembly  160  in more detail. The latch element  162  can slide through a thickness of the body  164 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a spring  220  is hooked to an end  164   a  of the body  164  and passes through an opening  224  through the back plate  158 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the spring  220  is hooked into a hole  229  in a follower  230 . The follower  230  includes a vertical slot  234 . The latch element  162  passes freely through the body  164 , through a hole in the back plate  158  and is welded to the follower  230  at the location  242 . 
   A disengage lever  248  includes a handle  252  and a crank portion  256  that fits into the slot  234  of the follower  230 . The lever  248  is journaled through a hole  261  in a side plate  262  and through a hole  266  in a lug  267 . A bearing and retainer pin can be provided on the disengage lever at the hole  266 . In operation, rotation of the handle  252  causes the crank portion  256  to displace the follower  230  rearward against tensile force from the spring  220 , to retract the latch element  162 . The latch element  162  is retracted sufficiently to disengage from the hole in the implement base. The implement base can then be lifted upwardly to disengage from the attachment plate. When a manual force is removed from the handle  252 , the spring  220  acts to return the latch element  162  to its extended position and acts to return the disengage lever  248  to its orientation shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic system  300  used to control the cylinder  180 . The system  300  includes an electrical control system  302 , and a hydraulic actuation system  304 . The actuation system  304  includes the motor  56 , the pump  58 , valving system  308 , a reservoir  310 , and tubing. Preferably, the actuation system  304  is a self-contained commercially available unit such as a 108 SERIES self-contained hydraulic power unit, available from Parker Hannifin Corporation, Oildyne Division, of Minneapolis, Minn., U.S.A. 
   The cylinder  180  is hydraulically-connected to the pump  58  via the valving system  308 . The valving system  308  can include selective valves, porting and routing to allow pressurized hydraulic fluid to be delivered to either side of a piston  312  within the cylinder  180 . The valving system  308  can also provide for thermal and pressure relief as is known. The valving system  308  and tubing allow the pump to take suction from the reservoir  310  and allow hydraulic fluid from the cylinder  180 , from a side of the piston wherein oil is being compressed by the piston, to return to the reservoir  310  or to the suction of the pump  58 . Necessary hardware components such as oil strainers are not shown for simplicity, but their use would be readily understood by one of skill in the art and would be provided in the commercially available unit. 
   The electrical control system  302  can be powered by positive and negative voltage conductors, such as a positive 12 volt DC (direct current) supply and a negative 12 volt DC supply. A switch  330  is provided to select voltage polarity to the motor  56  in order to select a rotary direction of the motor  56 . Preferably the switch is a DPDT (double pole, double throw) center off toggle switch, usable up to 20 amps. By selecting the direction of rotation of the motor  56  and the pump  58 , pressurized fluid is directed to either side of the piston  312  to effect either up or down movement of the frame assembly  80 . For whichever side of the piston that does not receive pressurized hydraulic fluid, the associated tubing for that side acts as a return line for hydraulic fluid to be forced, by movement of the piston  312  to return to the reservoir  310  or to the suction of the pump  58 . 
   In operation, the switch  330  would be located in the operator station, and selective activation of the switch  330  would instigate the rotary movement and direction of the pump  58 . By operation of the pump  58 , pressurized hydraulic fluid causes the cylinder to be selectively elongated or contracted to pivot the frame assembly  80  about the pins  104 ,  105 , to adjust the elevation of the front-mounted implement. 
     FIG. 13  illustrates a receiver hitch  400  bolted to the connection plate  126   a . The receiver hitch  400  includes a base  402  that is bolted to the connection plate  126   a  and a rectangular tube  404  that is welded to the base  402  and extends through the base  402  and through a rectangular hole  126   c  ( FIG. 4 ) of the connection plate  126   a.    
     FIG. 14  illustrates a winch assembly  420  coupled to the receiver hitch  400 . As illustrated in  FIG. 15  the winch assembly  420  includes an elongated connection element such as a rectangular tube  426  that inserts into the rectangular tube  404  of the receiver hitch  400 . A through hole  432  that penetrates through both rectangular tubes  404 ,  426  is provided for a pin (not shown) that locks the two tubes  404 ,  426  together. 
     FIG. 16  illustrates headlamp guards or “brush guards”  450 ,  452  carried on the upper beam  139  of the bumper assembly  52 . The guards  450 ,  452  are substantially mirror-image identical and are secured to the beam  139  by welding, known method. The guards  450 ,  452  surround the headlamps  460  and protect the headlamps from brush (vegetation) or other obstacles. 
   From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

Technology Category: 7