Foldable implement carrier
First Claim
1. A foldable implement carrier comprising:
- a central support defining a central longitudinal axis;
a first tool section pivotally connected at a first point on said central support, a second tool section pivotally connected at a second point on said central support, said first and second tool sections being movable between a first extended position at which they extend generally perpendicular to said central longitudinal axis, and a second folded position at which they extend generally parallel to said longitudinal axis and forwardly from said points, said first and second tool sections each having portions crossing said central longitudinal axis and being supported by said central support while in the second folded position; and
each of said first and second tool sections have a latch in abutting contact with said central support when said first and second tool sections are in the second folded position, said latches both being received upon one surface of said central support and each of said first and second tool sections having an opposed latching member coming in abutting contact with an opposed surface of said central support when said first and second tool sections are in the second folded position, said latches and said opposed latching members on each of said tool sections crossing said central longitudinal axis when said tool sections are in the second folded position.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A foldable implement carrier is disclosed including a central support bar supporting two pivotally connected tool bar sections which are movable from a laterally extended position to a folded position to reduce the width of the foldable implement carrier for transport. The tool bar sections have pivot columns which are rotationally received within a H-shaped frame member. A main wheel set is privotally connected to a frame, which includes the H-shaped member and the central support member, and is driven vertically downwardly to raise the frame off of the ground. The first and second tool bar sections are driven to pivot within the H-shaped frame member and move from the extended position to the folded position. Each tool bar section includes a latch and a wheel to secure the tool bar section to the central support bar. When folded, the latches are received upon the top of the central support bar and the wheels are retracted and abut a lower portion of the central support bar. The tool section can also flex with respect to the frame when traveling over uneven terrain.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A foldable implement carrier comprising:
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a central support defining a central longitudinal axis; a first tool section pivotally connected at a first point on said central support, a second tool section pivotally connected at a second point on said central support, said first and second tool sections being movable between a first extended position at which they extend generally perpendicular to said central longitudinal axis, and a second folded position at which they extend generally parallel to said longitudinal axis and forwardly from said points, said first and second tool sections each having portions crossing said central longitudinal axis and being supported by said central support while in the second folded position; and each of said first and second tool sections have a latch in abutting contact with said central support when said first and second tool sections are in the second folded position, said latches both being received upon one surface of said central support and each of said first and second tool sections having an opposed latching member coming in abutting contact with an opposed surface of said central support when said first and second tool sections are in the second folded position, said latches and said opposed latching members on each of said tool sections crossing said central longitudinal axis when said tool sections are in the second folded position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A foldable implement carrier comprising:
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a central support bar extending along a central longitudinal axis; a first tool bar section pivotally connected at a first point on said central support bar at one lateral side of said longitudinal axis, a second tool bar section pivotally connected at a second point on said central support bar at the other lateral side of said longitudinal axis, said first and second tool bar sections being movable between a first extended position at which they extend generally perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis and a second folded position at which they extend generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, said first and second tool bar sections being supported on said central support bar; each of said first and second tool bar sections having a latch in abutting contact with said central support bar when said first and second tool bar sections are in the second folded position; said latches both being received upon a top surface of said central support bar and each of said first and second tool bar sections have an opposed latching member vertically below, and in abutting contact with said central support bar, when said first and second tool bar sections are in the second folded position; said latches each having a notch received on said central support bar; said tool bar sections being opposed to each other at said folded position, said opposed latching member of said second tool bar section being laterally aligned with said latch of said first tool bar section; said opposed latching member of said first tool bar section being spaced longitudinally rearwardly from said aligned position of said first tool bar section latch, said latch of said second tool bar section being spaced longitudinally forwardly of said aligned position of said first tool bar section latch; and said opposed latching members being wheels which are movable vertically from laterally outer portions of said first and second tool bar sections.
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15. A method of folding a foldable implement carrier comprising a frame and two opposed tool sections pivotally attached to the frame, the tool sections each having a wheel at a laterally outer portion, a main wheel set supporting the frame, comprising the steps of:
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(1) forcing the main wheel set and the wheels on each tool section vertically downwardly, thus forcing the frame and the tool sections vertically upwardly; (2) pivoting the tool sections about pivot axes on the frame to move the tool sections to a folded position; (3) raising the wheels at the end of the tool sections vertically off of the ground, thus lowering latch members which are mounted to the tool sections vertically downwardly onto an upper surface of the frame, and continuing to raise the wheels until they abut a lower surface of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A foldable implement carrier comprising:
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a central support defining a central longitudinal axis; a first tool section pivotally connected at a first point on said central support, a second tool section pivotally connected at a second point on said central support, said first and second tool sections being movable between a first extended position at which they extend generally perpendicularly to said central longitudinal axis, and a second folded position at which they extend generally parallel to said longitudinal axis and forwardly from said points, said first and second tool sections each having portions crossing said central longitudinael axis and being supported by said central support while in the second folded position; each of said first and second tool sections having a latch in abutting contact with said central support when said first and second tool sections are in the second folded position; said latches both being received upon one surface of said central support and each of said first and second tool sections having an opposed latching member coming in abutting contact with said central support when said first and second tool sections are in the second folded position, said latches each having a portion received on said central support; and said tool sections are opposed to each other at said second folded position, said opposed latching member of said second tool section being laterally aligned with said latch of said first tool section. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification