Adjustable height vehicle roll-over bar

• US 4,877,265 A
• Filed: 07/29/1988
• Issued: 10/31/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: DeBraal, Stanley J., Nickles, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/226,253
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 280/756
• US Class Current: 280/756
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/131 Protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors means for preventing overturning or tipping of tractors B62D49/08

Abstract

An adjustable height roll-over bar is provided in which the cross-piece is separate from the vertical members. The height of the roll-over bar is adjusted by adjusting the connection between the cross piece and the roll-over bar. The three embodiments for this connection are taught: First, corner brackets are provided and an extension can be added between the vertical member and the corner bracket to increase the height of the roll-over bar. One corner bracket leg is longer than the other to compensate for the difference in horizontal distance between the vertical member and the vertical member plus extension when the vertical members are angled. The same corner brackets can be used at either height simply by flipping the corner bracket end-for-end to adjust the position of the long leg. In the second embodiment, the vertical members and the cross piece each are provided with angled engagement surfaces, preferably 45 degrees. These surfaces can be engaged in a complimentary fashion so that the vertical members align with the U-shaped cross piece and provide maximum height. Alternatively, the cross piece can be flipped end-for-end so that the cross piece extends at an angle from the vertical members, preferably rearwardly at about 90 degress. These surfaces are provided with matching knobs and depressions to prevent motion therealong and a bolt or other engagement means is provided to hold the two surfaces together. In the third embodiment, the cross piece is pivotally mounted to the vertical members. While the vertical members can be angled slightly relative to one another, the pivot surface on the two hinges is parallel. The U-shaped cross piece is pivotal between a maximum height position parallel to the vertical members and one extending rearwardly therefrom at a lower height. A quick release pin is provided to hold the cross piece in either of these positions.

Claims

1. An adjustable roll-over bar comprising:

two substantially vertical members angled slightly towards one another;

a substantially horizontal cross-piece;

two extensions, each extension being selectively connectible to a corresponding one of said vertical members; and

two corner pieces, each corner piece having two legs, with one of said legs being connectible to an end of said cross-piece and the other of said legs being connectible to one of said extensions if said extensions are connected to said vertical members and to an upper end of one of said vertical members if said extensions are not connected to said vertical members, one leg of each corner piece being longer than the other leg by an amount sufficient to compensate for the difference in horizontal distance between the tops of said vertical members and the tops of said extensions when positioned on the vertical members.

2. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 1, wherein each leg of each corner piece and one end of each extension is provided with a nose, and the top of each vertical member, each end of the cross-piece and the other end of each extension is provided with a bore for receiving a corresponding one of said noses, each said nose and each said bore being substantially identical to each of the other noses and bores, respectively.

3. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 2, wherein each leg of each corner piece and said one end of each extension is provided with a shoulder at the base of its nose for resting flush against the end of the coresponding vertical member, cross-piece and extension.

4. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 3, wherein each nose and the walls of the receiving bore are provided with matching bores in which bolts can be inserted to hold each said nose in the corresponding receiving bore with the corresponding shoulder flush against the corresponding end.

5. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 1 further comprising a tractor to which said roll-over bar is mounted.

6. An adjustable roll-over bar comprising:

two substantially vertical members, the upper ends of which terminate in a plane angled relative to the plane of the ends of the vertical members;

a cross-piece connecting the tops of said vertical members and having surfaces angled relative to the plane of the ends of the cross-piece; and

means for selectively attaching said angled surfaces of said vertical members and said cross-piece so that said plane of the ends of the vertical members and said cross-piece are aligned or so that they are angled relative to one another.

7. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 6, wherein said angled surfaces are angled at 45 degrees.

8. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 6, wherein said angled surfaces are provided with corresponding engagement knobs and depressions for preventing movement of said angled surfaces within their common plane.

9. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 6, wherein said ends are provided with matching bores for receiving a bolt for holding said angled surfaces in engagement.

10. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 9, wherein said ends are provided with a notch at the end of said bores so that a bolt therein need not extend behind the general perimeter of the roll-over bore.

11. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 6, wherein the main body of each vertical member and of the cross-piece is tubular.

12. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 11, wherein said ends are cast pieces attached to said tubular main body.

13. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 12, wherein each said cast piece comprises:

a nose for fitting inside the corresponding main body;

a shoulder at the base of the nose for fitting flush against an end surface of said main body;

an angled surface opposite said nose;

a plurality of similarly shaped knobs and depressions formed on said angles surface for engagement with the knobs and depressions on an adjacent casting; and

a through bore for receiving a bolt to hold the casting to the adjacent castings.

14. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 6. wherein the cross-piece is U-shaped.

15. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 6, further comprising a tractor to which said roll-over bar is mounted.

16. An adjustable roll-over bar, comprising:

two substantially vertical members;

a cross-piece pivotally mounted to the upper ends of said vertical members and pivotal between a first position substantially aligned with said vertical members and a second position angled relative to said vertical members, said roll-over bar being operative with said cross-piece in either of said positions; and

means for selectively holding said cross-piece in either of said positions.

17. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 16, wherein the main body of each said vertical member and said cross-piece is tubular.

18. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 17, wherein a cast piece is attached to said upper end of each said vertical member main body and to each end of said cross-piece main body, said pivotal mounting being provided by said cast pieces.

19. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 18, wherein each said cast piece comprises:

a nose for fitting inside of the corresponding main body;

a shoulder to the base of the nose for fitting flush against an end surface of the corresponding main body; and

a pivot bracket having a pivot hole formed therein for receiving a pivot pin and a planar pivot surface for engaging the planar pivot surface of the corresponding adjacent casting.

20. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 19, wherein said vertical members are angled slightly towards one another and wherein the planar pivot surfaces of the castings on the vertical members are parallel.

21. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 20, wherein each casting further is provided with at least one pin bore for receiving a pin and at least two corresponding notches for engagement by the pin of the corresponding adjacent casting.

22. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 16 wherein said cross-piece is U-shaped.

23. The adjustable roll-over bar of claim 16, further comprising a tractor to which said roll-over bar is mounted.