Hitching apparatus and hay bale suspension system

• US 8,087,866 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fast Hay Movers, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fast Hay Movers, Inc.
• Inventors: Fast, Lonnie B.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADAMS, GREGORY W
• Application Number:
  US12/364,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20090162168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 414/24.5, 414/24.6, 414/111, 414/546, 414/555, 414/911, 414/462, 414/427, 414/428, 414/563, 280/416.1, 280/402, 280/416.2, 280/405, 172/439, 224/519, 224/520, 254/323
• US Class Current: 414/24.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/043 supported at three points, e.g. by quick-release couplings A01B59/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 87/122 for bales on the ground vehicles for loading A01D90/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/06 at vehicle front or rear rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/124 Roll handlers

Abstract

Hay bale suspension systems for non-pivotal connection to hitches of vehicles are disclosed herein. The systems respectively comprise connector assemblies and hay bale support assemblies. The connector assemblies non-pivotally secure to a ball hitch or a receiver hitch of a vehicle. The hay bale support assemblies are non-pivotally secured to the vehicle via the connector assemblies.

Claims

1. A hay bale suspension system for non-pivotal connection to a vehicle, the hay bale suspension system comprising a connector assembly and a hay bale support assembly, wherein:

the connector assembly comprises a receiver hitch, a vertical post, a connector shaft, and a hitch bar;

the receiver hitch non-pivotally secures at one end to a complementary receiver hitch of the vehicle and is non-pivotally secured at another end to the vertical post;

one of the receiver hitch and the complementary receiver hitch inserts into the other of the receiver hitch and the complementary receiver hitch so that the receiver hitch does not pivot relative to the complementary receiver hitch when secured thereto;

the vertical post is non-pivotally secured at a lower end to the connector shaft;

the hitch bar is perpendicularly and non-pivotally secured to the connector shaft and comprises two pins extending from two ends of the hitch bar;

the hay bale support assembly comprises a hay support system, a pulley system, and two connecting arms;

the pulley system comprises a plurality of pulleys, a winch, and a cable;

one of the pulleys is secured to an upper end of the vertical post of the connector assembly and another of the pulleys is secured to the hay support system; and

the connecting arms connect the hay support system and the pins of the hitch bar such that the hay support system is non-pivotally secured to the vehicle via the connector assembly.

2. The hay bale suspension system of claim 1, wherein the receiver hitch of the connector assembly comprises a male receiver hitch and the complementary receiver hitch of the vehicle comprises a female receiver hitch into which the male receiver hitch inserts and non-pivotally secures.

3. The hay bale suspension system of claim 2, wherein the male receiver hitch comprises an aperture that aligns with an aperture in the female receiver hitch and a locking pin that passes through the aligned apertures to secure the male receiver hitch to the female receiver hitch.

4. The hay bale suspension system of claim 1, wherein the vertical post comprises a plurality of apertures and at least one of the pulley, the receiver hitch, and the connector shaft are variably positionable by securing to any one or more of the apertures.

5. The hay bale suspension system of claim 1, wherein the hay support system comprises a base support, a vertical support, an axle, two wheels, and at least one of a spike and one or more forks, wherein the base support supports the vertical support above a ground surface, the spike, if provided, extends perpendicularly from the vertical support, the forks, if provided, extend perpendicularly from the base support, the axle is coupled to the base support, and the wheels are secured to ends of the axle such that the axle and the wheels provide a stable suspension for the hay bale suspension system.

6. The hay bale suspension system of claim 5, wherein with the winding of the cable by the winch, the pulley system tilts the hay support system, and a hay bale supported thereon, such that the hay bale is aligned over the base support, the axle, and the wheels such that a substantial weight of the hay bale is borne by the base support, the axle, and the wheels, rather than the pulley system or the vehicle.

7. The hay bale suspension system of claim 1, wherein the hay bale suspension system further comprises an electrical connection that connects the winch and a battery of the vehicle and a power switch that controls electrical output from the battery to the winch through the electrical connection.

8. The hay bale suspension system of claim 1, wherein each of the connecting arms comprises two or more partially overlapping bars that allow respective lengths of the connecting arms to adjust.

9. The hay bale suspension system of claim 1, wherein the hay bale suspension system further comprises at least one restrictive arm coupled at its terminal ends to the connecting arms so as to maintain a spaced relationship between the connecting arms.

10. A hay bale suspension system for non-pivotal connection to a vehicle, the hay bale suspension system comprising a connector assembly and a hay bale support assembly, wherein:

the connector assembly comprises a male receiver hitch, a vertical post, a connector shaft, and a hitch bar;

the male receiver hitch inserts into and non-pivotally secures at one end to a female receiver hitch of the vehicle and is non-pivotally secured at another end to the vertical post;

the male receiver hitch comprises an aperture that aligns with an aperture in the female receiver hitch and a locking pin that passes through the aligned apertures to secure the male receiver hitch to the female receiver hitch;

the vertical post is non-pivotally secured at a lower end to the connector shaft and comprises a plurality of apertures along a length thereof;

the hitch bar is perpendicularly and non-pivotally secured to the connector shaft and comprises two pins extending from two ends of the hitch bar;

the hay bale support assembly comprises a hay support system, a pulley system, and two connecting arms;

the pulley system comprises a plurality of pulleys, a winch, and a cable;

one of the pulleys is secured to an upper end of the vertical post of the connector assembly and another of the pulleys is secured to the hay bale support; and

the connecting arms connect the base support of the hay support system and the pins of the hitch bar such that the hay support system is non-pivotally secured to the vehicle via the connector assembly.