Lawn tractor load-carrying hitch/frame and spraying apparatus

• US 6,138,770 A
• Filed: 01/26/1998
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Howard H. Kayser
• Original Assignee: Howard H. Kayser
• Inventors: Kayser, Howard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US09/013,792
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 172/677, 172/678, 172/679, 172/680, 172/684.5, 172/439, 172/445, 172/353, 172/272, 403/49, 403/230, 403/353, 211/182, 280/460.1, 280/461.1, 280/830, 239/172, 239/146, 239/147, 239/166
• US Class Current: 172/677
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/06 for machines mounted on tractors
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0042 Field sprayers, e.g. self-propelled, drawn or tractor-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0071 Construction of the spray booms
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0078 including break-away devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0082 Undercarriages, frames, mountings, couplings, tanks

Abstract

A frame for supporting a load, the frame including a quick mount/dismount hitch for a medium sized lawn and garden tractor. The hitch includes mounting brackets on one end of the frame, the mounting brackets including spaced apart sets of engagement members that matingly engage complimentary engagement members that are fixed on the rear of the tractor. The mating of the engagement and complimentary engagement members utilize the force of the weight of the frame and any load to seat the frame to the tractor. A lock down mechanism can optionally be used to secure the frame in place. The frame can support, for example, a spraying system including spray tank, spray boom, controls, and fluid conduits. The boom can optionally have double break away arms. A pump to provide spraying pressure can be mounted under the tractor and use the power of the engine of the tractor.

Claims

1. A hitch having one portion attachable to a tractor and an other portion to a frame comprising;

said one portion comprising bottom and top sets of pins, each set aligned along an axis, each axis generally horizontal and transverse across an end of the tractor and spaced apart a distance;

said other portion comprising a first slot extending in a first direction into said other portion from an open entrance, a second slot spaced from the first slot and extending inwardly in a second direction into said other portion from an open entrance, the first direction and second directions being generally perpendicular to each other;

said other portion of the hitch positioned at one end of the frame, the frame extending a substantial distance away from said other portion, the frame adapted to support a spray tank, spray boom, a spray controller, and fluid conduits.

2. The hitch of claim 1 further comprising a fluid pump connected to the fluid conduits and mountable to the bottom of a tractor by a mounting plate at a height which is lower than the spray tank.

3. A hitch comprising;

a first set of spaced apart, horizontally disposed hitching posts connected to the rear of a tractor;

a second set of spaced apart, horizontally disposed hitching posts connected to the rear of the tractor above the first set;

a frame, attachable and detachable to the hitch by mounting brackets on the frame, the mounting brackets positioned to align with the first and second sets of hitching posts when the frame is attached to the hitch;

a first set of slots at or near the bottom of the brackets and configured to matingly receive the first set of hitching posts when the brackets and frame are moved to a first position relative to the hitch, so that the mated first sets of posts and slots at least partially supports the frame and anything attached to or on the frame;

a second set of slots above the first set of slots on the brackets and configured to matingly receive the second set of hitching posts when the brackets and frame are moved from said first position to a second position where both the first and second sets of slots have received the first and second sets of posts.

4. The hitch of claim 3 further comprising a spraying system supported by the frame.