System for adapting and mounting industrial and agricultural work implements to a pickup truck

• US 6,481,948 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lonnie K. Spears
• Original Assignee: Lonnie K. Spears
• Inventors: Spears, Lonnie K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lillis, Eileen D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fox, Charles
• Application Number:
  US09/789,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20020113407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 414/498, 414/392, 280/416.1, 280/417.1, 172/439, 172/440, 172/677
• US Class Current: 414/498
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/04 modified to take pushing devices

Abstract

A frame apparatus and system that provides the use of standard tractor-mounted agricultural and industrial work implements with a pickup truck or comparable flat-bed vehicle. Disclosed embodiments provide for the use of commercially available short-line front-end loaders and various effectors suitably adapted for use therewith. The system can be mounted and dismounted with implements attached, and connects to the host vehicle via a bed-mounted gooseneck hitch and frame- or bumper-mounted square hitch receiver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removably mounting work implements to a pickup truck, flat bed truck or comparable host vehicle equipped with a gooseneck hitch and at least one rear frame- or bumper-mounted square hitch receiver comprising:

a front hitch assembly comprising an upper end and a lower end, said lower end capable of fitting over said gooseneck hitch;

a front frame plate having left and right sides and rigidly attached to said upper end of front hitch assembly;

a horizontal adjustment assembly having a forward end and rear end, said forward end rigidly attached to said upper end of said front hitch assembly;

a frame assembly having a forward end, rear end, left side, and right side, said forward end rigidly attached to said rear end of said horizontal adjustment assembly;

a rear hitch means capable of being inserted into and supported by said square hitch receiver and further capable of supporting said rear end of frame assembly;

a first implement mounting assembly rigidly attached to said left side of front frame plate and suitable for connection to short-line implement mounting kits; and

a second implement mounting assembly rigidly attached to said right side of front frame plate and suitable for connection to short-line implement mounting kits.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second implement mounting assemblies comprise:

a first base plate oriented substantially horizontal and being rigidly attached to said left side of front frame plate;

a second base plate oriented substantially horizontal and being rigidly attached to said right side of front frame plate;

a first mounting plate oriented substantially vertical and substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said vehicle and being rigidly attached to said first base plate; and

a second mounting plate oriented substantially vertical and substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said vehicle and being rigidly attached to said second base plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said horizontal adjustment assembly comprises:

a rear tube member rigidly attached to said forward end of said frame assembly;

a forward tube member rigidly attached to said upper end of said front hitch assembly and slidably disposed within said rear tube member; and

a horizontal fastening means capable of retaining said forward tube member within said rear tube member in a fixed relative position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said front hitch assembly comprises;

an upper tube member oriented substantially vertical and rigidly attached to said forward tube member of said horizontal adjustment assembly;

a lower tube member having an upper and lower end, said lower end suitable for fitting over said gooseneck hitch, said upper end slidably disposed within said upper tube member; and

a vertical fastening means capable of retaining said lower tube within said upper tube in a fixed relative position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rear hitch means comprises:

at least one square hitch insert having a top side and a bottom side and suitable for being accepted into a centrally located square hitch receiver; and

a support plate oriented substantially horizontal and substantially parallel with a lateral axis of said vehicle and rigidly attached to top side of said square hitch insert, said support plate further capable of supporting said rear end of frame assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a hydraulic power means for supplying hydraulic power to work implements attached therewith.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein hydraulic power means comprises:

a rotational power source;

a hydraulic pump coupled with said rotational power source;

a hydraulic fluid reservoir suitably connected with said hydraulic pump to provide hydraulic fluid as needed by said hydraulic pump for operation;

a valve assembly connection means suitable to provide a working interface with work implements attached therewith.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said rotational power source comprises:

an electric power source; and

an electric motor, receiving energy from said electric power source.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said rotational power source comprise a gasoline powered engine.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a retractable front vertical leg disposed substantially near said front side of frame assembly;

a lowerable left rear jack stand disposed on said left side of frame assembly substantially near the rear;

a lowerable right rear jack stand disposed on said right side of frame assembly substantially near the rear such that when said right rear jack, said left rear jack stand, and said front vertical leg are operated to their lowered positions the apparatus stands freely on a surface.