U-blade implement

• US 6,035,562 A
• Filed: 11/04/1998
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Virnig Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Virnig Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Sankaran, Sri K., Virnig, Dean H., Thuente, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Markovich, Kristine M
• Application Number:
  US09/186,239
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 37/302, 37/446, 37/447, 172/772, 172/772.5, 172/701.3, 172/701.1
• US Class Current: 37/302
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/043 Transplanting devices for grasping, undercutting or transporting the root ball A01G23/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/027 with coulters, ploughs, scraper plates, or the like E02F5/102, E02F5/103, E02F5/106 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/102 operatively associated with mole-ploughs, coulters rippers E02F5/32

Abstract

An improved U-Blade implement, in one preferred embodiment, having fixed trailing and leading earth-piercing points on its U-shaped blade, integrated with support arms and a back plate. The back plate is generally planar, with a rear side of the back plate configured for attachment to a motorized vehicle, such as a skid steer.

Claims

1. A U-blade implement for use in penetrating soil, comprising:

a U-shaped blade, the blade having an integral, unitary fixed leading edge point and an integral, unitary fixed trailing edge point, the blade being defined by a plurality of spaced-apart, generally parallel, bend lines, and said blade including a center bend line at a lower margin thereof;

a pair of parallel support arms, each arm having a first and a second end, each of said arms being rigidly, integrally attached to an opposite upper portion of the U-shaped blade generally at the first ends thereof; and

a back plate having a front side and a rear side, said back plate being generally planar, the second end of the arms being fixedly, integrally attached to the front side of said back plate proximate a back plate upper margin and the rear side of the back plate being configured for attachment to a motorized vehicle, the inside angle of intersection between the second end of each of the arms and the back plate being less than generally 90 degrees.

2. The implement of claim 1 wherein each arm incorporates a generally triangular shaped vertical support gusset integrated with the back plate.

3. The implement of claim 1 wherein the arms and back plate include integrated vertical support gussets.

4. The implement of claim 1 wherein lateral support gussets are operably integrated on the arms and back plate.

5. The implement of claim 4 wherein the back plate and lateral support gussets incorporate a means for providing at least one skid-resistant surface suitable for use as steps.

6. The implement of claim 5 wherein mesh-type material is incorporated as the means for providing the at least one skid-resistant surface.

7. A U-blade implement, comprising:

a U-shaped blade, the blade having a lower generally semi-circular blade portion, the lower blade portion further including an integral, unitary fixed leading edge point and a permanently fixed integral trailing edge point, and an upper portion consisting of two spaced-apart and parallel depending supports, said depending supports including attachment means for integral, unitary attachment to support arms;

a pair of parallel support arms, each arm having a first and a second end, each of said arms including attachment means for integral unitary attachment to opposite depending supports of the U-shaped blade generally at the first ends thereof; and

a back plate, said back plate being generally planar and defining back plate aperture, the aperture providing a line of sight from an operator'"'"'s station in a motorized vehicle to the lower blade portion, said back plate having a front side and a rear side, the second end of the arms being fixedly attached to the front side of said back plate at an upper margin thereof, and the rear side of the back plate including attachment means for attachment to the motorized vehicle, the inside angle of intersection of the support arms and the back plate being generally less than 90 degrees.