Sod harvesting apparatus

• US 7,740,083 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2008
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trebro Holding, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trebro Holding, Inc.
• Inventors: Tvetene, Gregg
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US12/220,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20090025945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 172/2, 172/19, 172/20, 180/252, 180/253, 180/403, 180/408, 180/414, 280/93.504, 280/124.146, 280/124.147, 414/501, 414/502, 414/111, 414/791.5, 414/791.6, 414/791.7, 414/792, 414/789.7
• US Class Current: 172/20
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 20/15 specially adapted for stacking sods or sod rolls

Abstract

A sod harvesting apparatus comprises at least two different configurations. In at least one configuration, the sod harvesting apparatus is set up to harvest sod from a field. In at least one configuration, the sod harvesting apparatus is set up for transportation, storage, or the like, by reducing the overall size of the sod harvesting apparatus.

Claims

1. A sod harvesting apparatus having a first configuration and a second configuration, the sod harvesting apparatus comprising:

a frame defining an inner sod harvesting apparatus area;

a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel coupled to the frame, wherein in the first configuration the first rear wheel is located outside the inner sod harvesting apparatus area, wherein in the second configuration the first rear wheel is located inside the inner sod harvesting apparatus area, and wherein the first rear wheel is operational in either the first configuration or the second configuration; and

a transport frame, wherein in the first configuration the transport frame is oriented generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sod harvesting apparatus, wherein in the second configuration the transport frame is oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sod harvesting apparatus, and wherein the transport frame is coupled to the frame of the sod harvesting apparatus via a first support and a second support and the transport frame is detachably coupled to the first support and pivotably attached to the second support to allow the transport frame to move between the first configuration and the second configuration.

2. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first rear wheel pivots between the first configuration and the second configuration.

3. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a first rear wheel first connection area located outside the inner sod harvesting apparatus area and a first rear wheel second connection area located inside the inner sod harvesting apparatus area, wherein in the first configuration the first rear wheel is coupled to the frame at the first rear wheel first connection area, and wherein in the second configuration the first rear wheel is coupled to the frame at the first rear wheel second connection area.

4. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first rear wheel first connection area and the first rear wheel second connection area are located on opposite sides of a same portion of the frame.

5. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a power source for actuating the first rear wheel, wherein the power source is capable of actuating the first rear wheel in either the first configuration or the second configuration.

6. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a power source for actuating the first rear wheel, wherein the power source is capable of actuating the first rear wheel in either the first configuration or the second configuration.

7. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transport frame is 10 to 30 degrees off of the longitudinal axis of the apparatus when the sod harvesting apparatus is in the second configuration.

8. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position of the transport frame in the first configuration is separated by 70 degrees from the position of the transport frame in the second configuration.

9. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a pallet carrier for storing a plurality of empty pallets.

10. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pallet carrier is detachably coupled to the frame.

11. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a pallet carrier for storing a plurality of empty pallets, wherein in the first configuration the pallet carrier is oriented generally horizontally, wherein in the second configuration the pallet carrier is oriented generally vertically, and wherein the pallet carrier pivots between the horizontal orientation and the vertical orientation.

12. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cab, the cab comprising a top and being located centrally on the frame.

13. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the top of the cab is removable.

14. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 13, wherein in the second configuration, the top of the cab is removed.

15. A sod harvesting apparatus having a first configuration and a second configuration, the sod harvesting apparatus comprising:

a frame defining an inner sod harvesting apparatus area; and

a transport frame, wherein in the first configuration the transport frame is oriented generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sod harvesting apparatus, wherein in the second configuration the transport frame is oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sod harvesting apparatus, and wherein the transport frame is coupled to the frame of the sod harvesting apparatus via a first support and a second support and the transport frame is detachably coupled to the first support and pivotably attached to the second support to allow the transport frame to move between the first configuration and the second configuration.

16. The sod harvesting apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a cab, the cab comprising a top and being located centrally on the frame;

wherein the top of the cab is removable and wherein in the second configuration, the top of the cab is removed.

17. A sod harvesting apparatus having a first configuration and a second configuration, the sod harvesting apparatus comprising:

a frame defining an inner sod harvesting apparatus area;

a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel coupled to the frame, wherein in the first configuration the first rear wheel is located outside the inner sod harvesting apparatus area, wherein in the second configuration the first rear wheel is located inside the inner sod harvesting apparatus area, and wherein the first rear wheel is operational in either the first configuration or the second configuration; and

a transport frame, wherein in the first configuration the longitudinal axis of the transport frame is oriented generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sod harvesting apparatus, and wherein in the second configuration the longitudinal axis of the transport frame is oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sod harvesting apparatus.