Method and apparatus for a transportable box blade assembly

• US 6,360,827 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clary Investment, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Clary Investment, Inc.
• Inventors: Clary, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US09/512,549
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 172/445.1, 172/197, 172/199, 172/196, 172/200, 172/142, 172/684.5, 172/780, 172/781, 172/784, 172/795, 172/799.5, 374/12--14, 374/04, 374/07, 379/03
• US Class Current: 172/799.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 31/00 Drags graders for field cultivators graders in general E02F
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 43/00 Gatherers for removing stones, undesirable roots or the like from the soil, e.g. tractor-drawn rakes
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 73/00 Means or arrangements to facilitate transportation of agricultural machines or implements, e.g. folding frames to reduce overall width arrangements of lifting devices for soil working implements A01B63/00; carriers for harvesters or mowers A01D75/002; arrangements or carriers for haymakers A01D78/1007, A01D80/005; vehicles adapted for load transportation or to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects B60P; motor vehicles, trailers B62D
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7663 Graders with the scraper blade mounted under a frame supported by wheels, or the like

Abstract

An apparatus and method transporting an attachment, such as a box blade assembly, which is secured to a land based vehicle has a box blade and a transporting mechanism. The box blade is made up of two opposing side walls, an open top and bottom, and front and rear sides. The walls are connected using frame members and a cutting surface extends between the side walls and below the bottom edge of the side walls. The transporting mechanism is comprised of a movable frame member rotatably secured to the rear of the box blade at one end and operatively secured to one or more wheels at the other end. A lifting member, which may be a hydraulic cylinder or hand crank, is operatively secured to the movable frame member and to the top of the box blade. Using a single point of attachment hitch, such as a ball type hitch, the box blade may still be lifted from the work surface for easy transport, and then easily lowered for use on a work surface.

Claims

1. A box blade assembly for attachment to a land based vehicle without the need for a three point hitch, and for use on a work surface comprising:

a box blade having at least two opposing side walls, an open top and bottom, front and rear sides, one or more frame members connecting the side walls and a cutting surface running between the side walls and extending below the bottom edge of said side walls;

a movable frame member, having a front and rear section, wherein said front section is rotatably secured to the rear side of the box blade;

one or more wheels operatively secured to the rear section of the movable frame member;

a grate secured on the movable frame member; and

a lifting member operatively secured to the box blade and the movable frame member.

2. The box blade assembly of claim 1 wherein the lifting member is a crank.

3. The box blade assembly of claim 1 wherein the lifting member is a hydraulic cylinder.

4. The box blade assembly of claim 1 wherein the cutting surface contacts the working surface at an angle in the range of about 15 to 30 degrees.

5. The box blade assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

an attachment member secured to the front side of the box blade and to the land based vehicle.

6. The box blade assembly of claim 5 wherein the attachment member comprises a ball type hitch.

7. The box blade assembly of claim 5 wherein the land based vehicle is an all terrain vehicle.

8. The box blade assembly of claim 5 wherein the land based vehicle is a garden tractor.

9. A method for transporting a box blade secured to a land based vehicle comprising:

extending a lifting member which is operatively secured to a frame member, the frame member having a front and rear sections, the frame member being rotatably secured between one or more wheels at the rear section and the box blade at the front section, the extension of the lifting member thereby lowering said one or more wheels until contact is made with a work surface and the box blade has been lifted up so as to no longer be in contact with the work surface;

pulling the box blade with the land based vehicle which is secured by an attachment device to the front of the box blade; and

removing any undesired objects to a storage box on the frame member.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the lifting member is a crank.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the lifting member is a hydraulic cylinder.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the attachment device is a ball type hitch.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the land based vehicle is an all terrain vehicle.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the land based vehicle is a tractor.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the land based vehicle is an automobile.

16. A transporting mechanism comprising:

an attachment, having front, rear, top and bottom sides;

a land based vehicle secured to the front of the attachment;

a frame member having two opposite ends which is rotatably secured to the rear side of the attachment at one end and operatively secured to one or more wheels at the other end;

a storage box for undesired objects, the storage box being on the frame member; and

a lifting member operatively secured to the frame member and to the top side of the attachment.

17. The transporting mechanism of claim 16 wherein the lifting member is a crank.

18. The transporting mechanism of claim 16 wherein the lifting member is a hydraulic cylinder.

19. The transporting mechanism of claim 16 wherein the land based vehicle is an all terrain vehicle.

20. The transporting mechanism of claim 16 wherein the attachment is a box blade.

21. A box blade assembly for attachment to a land based vehicle without the need for a three point hitch, and for use on a work surface comprising:

a box blade having at least two opposing side walls, an open top and bottom, front and rear sides, one or more frame members connecting the side walls and a cutting surface running between the side walls and extending below the bottom edge of said side walls;

a movable frame member, having a front and rear section, wherein said front section is rotatably secured to the rear side of the box blade;

one or more wheels operatively secured to the rear section of the movable frame member; and

a crank including a handle, the handle being within the reach of an operator of the vehicle, the crank being operatively secured to the box blade and the rear section of the movable frame member.