Vehicle implement adapter

Details Vehicle implement adapter Vehicle implement adapter

2001-07-25

2003-02-18

Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)

Excavating

Snow or ice removing or grooming by portable device

With specific means to facilitate connection to, or...

C037S407000, C414S686000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06519880

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the general field of vehicle accessories and is particularly concerned with a vehicle implement adapter that can be easily attached to conventional vehicles such as all terrain vehicles and converted into various utility components such as trowels, prehension tools or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The exists a wide variety of situations wherein it would be desirable to temporarily transform a conventional vehicle such as a conventional all terrain vehicle into a utility-type of vehicle for various operations such as shoveling, transportation of logs and other goods or the like.
The prior art is replete with various types of adapters designed to be mounted on conventional vehicles for converting the latter into utility vehicles. However, most of the prior art adapters suffer from a set of drawbacks, including overall mechanical complexity and lack of versatile. Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved vehicle implement adapter.
Advantages of the present invention include that the proposed vehicle implement adapter is specifically designed so as to be readily mountable to conventional vehicles such as conventional all terrain-type vehicles through a set of ergonomic steps without requiring special tooling or manual dexterity. Furthermore, the proposed vehicle implement adapter is designed so as to be mountable to conventional vehicles without requiring alteration to the vehicles and with reduced risks of damaging the vehicle when the adapter is mounted thereon.
Also, the proposed vehicle implement adapter presents a structure that allows for both lifting and tilting of the attached implement through the use of a single winch-type mechanism thus presenting a structure that is mechanically simple. The overall mechanical simplicity of the proposed vehicle implement adapter is associated with reduced manufacturing cost and improved reliability. One of the main advantages of the present invention resides that through the use of a single locking mechanism, ergonomically accessible by the user, the implement can be either raised and/or tilted.
Furthermore, the proposed vehicle implement adapter is particularly well suited to perform various functions such as shoveling, transportation of goods or the like. Still further, the proposed vehicle implement adapter is specifically designed so as to reduce the risks of lateral and longitudinal tilting of the vehicle to which it is attached during the transportation of particularly heavy loads.
The proposed vehicle implement adapter is also adapted to conform to conventional forms of manufacturing, to be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a vehicle implement adapter that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a vehicle implement adapter for attachment to a conventional vehicle, the conventional vehicle defining a vehicle front end and a vehicle rear end, the conventional vehicle including a vehicle front attachment component positioned adjacent the vehicle front end and a vehicle rear attachment component positioned adjacent the vehicle rear end, the adapter comprising: a frame, the frame being configured so as to be attachable to the vehicle; a main arm having a generally elongated configuration defining a main arm first longitudinal end and an opposed main arm second longitudinal end, the main arm first longitudinal end being pivotally attached to the frame so as to be pivotable about a main arm pivotal axis between a main arm first pivotal position and a main arm second pivotal position, the main arm second pivotal position being in an overlying relationship relative to the main arm first pivotal position; an implement defining an implement proximal end and an implement distal end, the implement being pivotally attached to the main arm second longitudinal end so as to be pivotable about an implement pivotal axis between an implement first pivotal position and an implement second pivotal position, the implement second pivotal position being in an overlying relationship relative to the implement first pivotal position; a main actuating means attached to both the frame and the implement for exerting a pulling action against the gravitational force on the implement, the pulling action being oriented so as to be able both to pivot the implement about the implement pivotal axis and to pivot the main arm about the main arm pivotal axis; a main arm locking means attached to the main arm for selectively and releasably locking the main arm in a predetermined angular relationship relative to the frame; the main actuating means and the main arm locking means being configured such that when the main arm locking means locks the main arm against pivotal movement about the main arm pivotal axis the pulling action of the main actuating means pivots the implement towards the implement second pivotal position while the release of the pulling action allows the gravitational force to pivot the implement towards the implement first pivotal position and, when the main arm is free to pivot about the main arm pivotal axis, the pulling action of the main actuating means pivots both the implement towards the implement second pivotal position and the main arm towards the main arm first position while the release of the pulling action allows the gravitational force to pivot both the implement towards the implement first position and the main arm towards the main arm first position.
Preferably, the main arm locking means includes a mast extending from the frame, the mast defining a mast longitudinal axis, a mast first longitudinal end and a mast second longitudinal end, the mast being mounted on the frame about the mast first longitudinal end so as to be located intermediate the main arm first and second longitudinal ends; a main arm-to-mast connecting means slidably mounted on the mast and pivotally attached to the main arm intermediate the main arm first and second longitudinal ends for slidably and pivotally connecting the main arm to the mast; a mast connector locking means for selectively and releasably locking the relative movement between the main arm-to-mast connecting means and the mast.
Conveniently, the main arm-to-mast connecting means includes a mast sleeve slidably mounted on the mast the mast sleeve defining a sleeve peripheral wall; the mast connector locking means includes a locking pin mounted on the mast sleeve; at least one mast pin aperture formed in the mast for receiving a section of the locking pin; a sleeve pin aperture extending through a section of the sleeve peripheral wall for receiving a section of the locking pin, the sleeve pin aperture being configured, sized and positioned relative to the sleeve so as to be positionable substantially in register with the at least one mast pin aperture by sliding the mast sleeve released configuration wherein the locking pin clears the at least one mast pin aperture relative to the mast; the locking pin being mounted on the sleeve so as to be movable between a pin locked configuration wherein the locking pin extends through both the at least one mast pin aperture and the sleeve pin aperture and a pin released configuration wherein said locking pin clears said mast pin aperture; a pin actuating means for moving the locking pin between the pin locked and pin released configurations.
Preferably, the locking pin is pivotally mounted to the mast sleeve and wherein the pin actuating means includes a pin pulling arm extending at an angle from the locking pin, the pin pulling arm being mechanically coupled to a pin pulling cable for pulling the locking pin towards the pin released configuration; a pin pushing arm extending at an angle from the locking pin, the pin pushing arm being mechanically coupled to a biasing means for biasing the locking pin towards the pin locked configuration.
Conveniently, the at least one mast pin aperture extends at an angle relative to the mast longitud

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