Earth working – Mast type hitch
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-26
2001-09-25
Novosad, Christopher J. (Department: 3671)
Earth working
Mast type hitch
C172S443000, C172S445100, C172S679000, C172S684500, C037S268000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293351
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to vehicle mounted scrapers and in particular to a novel hitch mounted adapter allowing attachment of agricultural category one three point hitch implements.
2. Description of Prior Art
There are many types of motor vehicle attachment methods for scrapers. These attachments allow light trucks and the like to clear snow or perform grading work. Generally snow plows are mounted on the front of the vehicle and have hydraulic means for controlling the blade height and angle. These snow plows are expensive because they have unique mounting hardware for particular vehicle platforms. They also require attachment to the front frame of the vehicle which makes assembly and disassembly time consuming and difficult. Another disadvantage of this mounting configuration is that snow coming off the top of the blade can obstruct the driver's vision. This arrangement of the blade can also obstruct the vehicle headlights requiring the addition of lights on the top of the blade which increases the total cost.
Another means of adding a scraper blade to a vehicle is by attaching it to the rear of the vehicle. This eliminates some of the above noted problems of the front mounted blade. The vehicle headlights are not obstructed and snow coming off of the blade will not obstruct the driver's vision.
In order to provide background information so that the invention may be completely understood and appreciated in its proper context, reference is made to a number of prior art patents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,496 of Wehr shows a typical front mounted snow plow blade. These systems require complex brackets to attach to the front of the vehicle and also require an additional set of headlights because the blade obstructs the vehicle headlights. The brackets need to be designed for specific vehicle frame configurations requiring additional design work and product proliferation resulting in increased cost per unit.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,403,432 and 5,595,007 of Biance show a rear mounted scraper blade that adapts to the motor vehicle's trailer hitch receptacle. The disadvantage of this design is that it is designed around a particular scraper blade design. It does not use existing scraper blade standards that are produced in higher volume and therefore the total design offers less flexibility and more cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,590 of Miller shows a rear mounted blade assembly that is mounted directly to the rear frame of the vehicle. This has similar disadvantages to the front mount snow plow in that unique brackets would be required for different vehicle frame designs. It also has the same disadvantages of Biance in that the scraper blade is a unique design and therefore offers less flexibility and more cost.
The present invention is intended to overcome the above described shortcomings of conventional front mounted snow plows and rear mounted scrapers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A motor vehicle trailer hitch adapter is provided which mates with a standard square motor vehicle trailer hitch receptacle and provides attachment of standard agricultural category one three point hitch implements such as scraper blades, landscaping rakes or box blades. The adapter comprises of a tube that interfaces with the motor vehicle hitch receptacle, a bracket that interfaces with the category one implement's two pivot post attachment points, and a winch that interfaces with the category one implement's upper attachment point for raising and lowering the implement. The electric winch contains a wire harness that is routed into the vehicle for power attachment and vehicle operator control of the winch. The motor vehicle battery powers the winch through an interface such as a cigarette lighter socket.
The present invention further includes a slot in the hitch adapter pivot point bracket to allow easy attachment of the implement's post attachment points. A plate is then bolted onto the bracket to keep the implement from coming out of the slot during operation. The hitch adapter is designed to withstand the forces exerted by the implement during operation.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an adapter for a motor vehicle which connects to the trailer hitch receptacle and provides an attachment point for standard agricultural three point hitch implements such as scraper blades, landscape rakes and box blades.
Another object of the invention is the provision of such an adapter to be conveniently secured to and removed from the vehicle in a very rapid manner.
Among still other objects of the invention may be noted the provision of such an adapter which utilizes a remotely controlled mechanism for raising and lowering of the blade; which is relatively easily manufactured and assembled; which is extremely rugged, durable and long lasting in operation.
These and other objects, features and advantages will become readily apparent from the following description and accompanying sheets of drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3576267 (1971-04-01), Blevins et al.
patent: 4215496 (1980-08-01), Wehr
patent: 4369590 (1983-01-01), Miller
patent: 4403432 (1983-09-01), Biance
patent: 5595007 (1997-01-01), Biance
Novosad Christopher J.
Schmidt Robert A.
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