Hitch attachment for mounting of an accessory on an ATV

• US 20080006416A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quadivator Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quadivator Inc.
• Inventors: Dueck, Lyle, Hubscher, Darin, Close, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 172/460
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/06 for machines mounted on tractors

Abstract

An ATV hitch attachment includes a first mounting point defined by a hitch coupling and two further mounting points defined by two brace arms inclined upwardly and outwardly to a respective connection location on the rear rack. A rigid connecting member has a pair of arms extending rearwardly for rigid connection by a sliding fit to a forward end of a pair of parallel frame members of an implement such that the rigid connection holds the implement in the operating position in a common horizontal plane with the arms. The implement can be lifted to a raised transport position by an electric actuator causing pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis transverse to the rear hitch. Ground wheels which are spaced from the ground in operating position which can contact the ground when the implement is raised to limit squatting movement of the ATV.

Claims

1. A hitch attachment for connecting an implement to an ATV wherein the ATV comprises a frame mounted on ground wheels, a drive system for driving the ATV, a rear hitch attached to the frame and a rear rack attached to the frame, the hitch attachment comprising:

an attachment frame;

a hitch coupling mounted on the attachment frame and arranged to be rigidly connected to the rear hitch such that the attachment frame is carried rearwardly of the rear hitch;

two brace arms each connected to the attachment frame on a respective side thereof and each arranged to extend upwardly from the attachment frame to a respective connection location on the rear rack and each including a coupling member for connection at the connection location;

a rigid connecting member having couplings thereon for rigid connection to a forward end of an implement such that the rigid connecting member remains at a fixed orientation to the implement;

a pivot mounting for mounting the rigid connection member on the attachment frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis transverse to the rear hitch;

and an actuator for effecting pivotal movement of the rigid connecting member about the pivot axis between an operating position in which the rigid connecting member holds the implement in fixed operating position extending rearwardly from the rear hitch and a transport position in which the rigid connecting member is rotated around the pivot axis to rotate the implement around the pivot axis to a raised transport position.

2. The hitch attachment according to claim 1 wherein the brace arms are mounted on the attachment frame so as to be inclined upwardly and outwardly toward the rear rack to assist in preventing side to side movement of the attachment frame on the rear hitch.

3. The hitch attachment according to claim 1 wherein the attachment frame includes a plurality of different connection points thereon for coupling lower ends of each of the brace arms to adjust for different ATV types.

4. The hitch attachment according to claim 1 wherein the rigid connecting member includes a pair of horizontally spaced, rearwardly extending connecting arms, each arranged for rigid connection to a forward end of a respective frame member of an implement so as to hold the frame members of the implement in a common plane with the arms.

5. The hitch attachment according to claim 4 wherein the connecting arms are connected to the frame members of the implement to hold the implement against side to side movement.

6. The hitch attachment according to claim 4 wherein the rigid connecting member is connected to the implement only by the two connecting arms.

7. The hitch attachment according to claim 4 wherein the connecting arms each comprises a tube having a rear end arranged for sliding fit of end of frame member thereon.

8. The hitch attachment according to claim 1 wherein the attachment frame includes first adjustment mountings for mounting the pivot mounting of the rigid connecting member by which the height of the pivot axis on the attachment frame can be adjusted and second adjustment mountings for mounting the actuator by which the height of the actuator and the height of the pivot axis on the attachment frame can be adjusted, with the first and second mountings arranged for common height adjustment of the pivot axis and actuator such that, at each position of adjustment, the angle of the rigid connecting member about the pivot axis in the operating position remains the same.

9. The hitch attachment according to claim 8 wherein the angle is arranged such that the angle of the rigid connecting member remains horizontal to retain a frame of the implement horizontal.

10. The hitch attachment according to claim 1 wherein there is no connection of the attachment frame to the ATV suspension and wherein there is provided at least one ground wheel carried on the attachment frame which is arranged to be spaced from the ground in the operating position and arranged such that it can engage the ground to limit squatting of the rear hitch of the ATV when the implement is moved to transport position.

18. A combination comprising:

an ATV comprising;

a frame mounted on ground wheels,

a drive system for driving the ATV,

a rear hitch attached to the frame and a rear rack attached to the frame;

an implement for attachment to the ATV;

and a hitch attachment according to claim 1.

11. A hitch attachment for connecting an implement to an ATV wherein the ATV comprises a frame mounted on ground wheels, a drive system for driving the ATV, a rear hitch attached to the frame and a rear rack attached to the frame, the hitch attachment comprising:

an attachment frame;

a hitch coupling mounted on the attachment frame and arranged to be rigidly connected to the rear hitch such that the attachment frame is carried rearwardly of the rear hitch;

bracing elements connected to the attachment frame arranged to extend from the attachment frame to the rear rack to provide coupling forces to the rear rack;

a connecting member having couplings thereon for rigid connection to a forward end of an implement;

a pivot mounting for mounting the connecting member on the attachment frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis transverse to the rear hitch;

and an actuator for effecting pivotal movement of the connecting member about the pivot axis between an operating position in which the connecting member holds the implement in fixed operating position extending rearwardly from the rear hitch and a raised transport position;

wherein the connecting member includes a pair of horizontally spaced, rearwardly extending connecting arms, each arranged for rigid connection to a forward end of a frame member of an implement so as to hold the frame members of the implement in a common plane with the arms.

12. The hitch attachment according to claim 11 wherein the connecting arms are connected to the frame members of the implement to hold the implement against side to side movement.

13. The hitch attachment according to claim 11 wherein the connecting member is connected to the implement only by the two connecting arms.

14. The hitch attachment according to claim 11 wherein the connecting arms each comprises a tube having a rear end arranged for sliding fit of end of frame member thereon.

19. A combination comprising:

an ATV comprising;

a frame mounted on ground wheels,

a drive system for driving the ATV,

a rear hitch attached to the frame and a rear rack attached to the frame;

an implement for attachment to the ATV having a pair of parallel forwardly extending frame members;

and a hitch attachment according to claim 11.

15. A hitch attachment for connecting an implement to an ATV wherein the ATV comprises a frame mounted on ground wheels, a drive system for driving the ATV, a rear hitch attached to the frame and a rear rack attached to the frame, the hitch attachment comprising:

an attachment frame;

a hitch coupling mounted on the attachment frame and arranged to be rigidly connected to the rear hitch such that the attachment frame is carried rearwardly of the rear hitch;

bracing elements connected to the attachment frame arranged to extend from the attachment frame to the rear rack to provide coupling forces to the rear rack;

a connecting member having couplings thereon for rigid connection to a forward end of an implement;

a pivot mounting for mounting the connecting member on the attachment frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis transverse to the rear hitch;

and an actuator for effecting pivotal movement of the connecting member about the pivot axis between an operating position in which the connecting member holds the implement in fixed operating position extending rearwardly from the rear hitch and a transport position in which the connecting member is rotated around the pivot axis to rotate the implement around the pivot axis to a raised transport position;

wherein the attachment frame includes first adjustment mountings for mounting the pivot mounting of the connecting member by which the height of the pivot axis on the attachment frame can be adjusted and second adjustment mountings for mounting the actuator by which the height of the actuator and the height of the pivot axis on the attachment frame can be commonly adjusted such that at each position of adjustment the angle of the connecting member about the pivot axis in the operating position remains the same.

16. The hitch attachment according to claim 15 wherein the angle is arranged such that the angle of the rigid connecting member remains horizontal.

20. A combination comprising:

an ATV comprising;

a frame mounted on ground wheels,

a drive system for driving the ATV,

a rear hitch attached to the frame and a rear rack attached to the frame;

an implement for attachment to the ATV;

and a hitch attachment according to claim 15.

17. A hitch attachment for connecting an implement to an ATV wherein the ATV comprises a frame mounted on ground wheels, a drive system for driving the ATV, a rear hitch attached to the frame and a rear rack attached to the frame, the hitch attachment comprising:

an attachment frame;

a hitch coupling mounted on the attachment frame and arranged to be rigidly connected to the rear hitch such that the attachment frame is carried rearwardly of the rear hitch;

bracing elements connected to the attachment frame arranged to extend from the attachment frame to the rear rack to provide coupling forces to the rear rack;

a connecting member having couplings thereon for rigid connection to a forward end of an implement;

a pivot mounting for mounting the connecting member on the attachment frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis transverse to the rear hitch;

and an actuator for effecting pivotal movement of the connecting member about the pivot axis between an operating position in which the connecting member holds the implement in fixed operating position extending rearwardly from the rear hitch and a raised transport position;

wherein there is no connection of the attachment frame to the ATV suspension and wherein there is provided at least one ground wheel carried on the attachment frame which is arranged to be spaced from the ground in the operating position and arranged such that it can engage the ground to limit squatting of the rear hitch of the ATV when the implement is moved to transport position.

21. A combination comprising:

an ATV comprising;

a frame mounted on ground wheels,

a drive system for driving the ATV,

a rear hitch attached to the frame and a rear rack attached to the frame;

an implement for attachment to the ATV;

and a hitch attachment according to claim 17.