Hitching Apparatus and Hay Bale Suspension System

• US 20070278272A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 7,544,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/410
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/008 Link connectors with spherical surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/06 for machines mounted on tractors
• 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

The present invention relates to a hitching apparatus for use with a vehicle that facilitates the coupling of equipment to a vehicle in a non-hinged manner so as to inhibit the lateral pivot of the equipment in relation to the vehicle. The present invention further relates to a novel hay bale suspension system that may be coupled to a vehicle through the hitching apparatus of the present invention and used to support and enable transportation of a round hay bale.

Claims

1. A hitching apparatus for coupling equipment to a vehicle having a ball hitch secured thereto comprising a bolt, wherein said hitching apparatus comprises:

a hitch bar having two ends;

means to secure said hitch bar to said vehicle; and

means to couple said equipment to said hitch bar.

2. The hitching apparatus of claim 1, further comprising two or more bar clamps secured to said hitch bar.

3. The hitching apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hitch bar further comprises an aperture there-through to receive the bolt of the ball hitch to secure said hitch bar to said vehicle.

4. The hitching apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an extension block secured to said hitch bar, said extension block having a top plate wherein said top plate is secured to said vehicle.

5. The hitching apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hitch bar comprises at least one pin secured to and extending from each of said ends of said hitch bar.

6. The hitching apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises a plurality of parallel connecting arms configured to secure to said hitch bar.

7. The hitching apparatus of claim 6, wherein said coupling means comprises a plurality of parallel connecting arms configured to secure to said hitch bar, and wherein said connecting arms each have an aperture at terminal ends thereof to receive said pins of said hitch bar.

8. The hitching apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one restrictive arm configured to secure to at least two of said parallel connecting arms.

9. The hitching apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one restrictive arm wherein said restrictive arm is secured to said hitch bar near one end of a first parallel connecting arm and to said equipment near the opposite end of a second parallel connecting arm.

10. A hay bale suspension system for use with a vehicle, wherein said system comprises:

a base support;

a vertical support affixed to said base support;

a spike affixed to said vertical support; and

connecting arms configured to couple said base support to said vehicle, extending from said base support in a parallel formation.

11. The hay bale suspension of claim 10, further comprising an axle coupled to said base support, and two wheels engaged with opposing ends of said axle.

12. The hay bale suspension of claim 10, further comprising means to tilt said system along a vertical axis of said base support.

13. The hay bale suspension system of claim 12, wherein said tilting means comprises a plurality of pulleys, a winch, and a cable.

14. The hay bale suspension system of claim 13, wherein a first pulley is affixed to said vertical support, and a second pulley is configured to secure to said vehicle.

15. The hay bale suspension system of claim 13, wherein a first pulley is affixed to said vertical support, said system further comprising a vertical post system configured to support a second pulley, wherein said vertical post system comprises a vertical post and securing means to secure said vertical post system to said vehicle.

16. The hay bale suspension system of claim 15, wherein said vertical post system further comprises a horizontal post configured to secure to said vehicle and to receive an end of said vertical post.

17. The hay bale suspension system of claim 14, further comprising a plate having an eye bolt to which said second pulley is secured to said plate being configured to be affixed to said vehicle.

18. The hay bale suspension system of claim 10, further comprising at least one restrictive arm configured to secure to said parallel connecting arms.

19. The hay bale suspension system of claim 10, further comprising a hitch plate having two ends and at least one pin secured to and extending from each of said ends of said hitch bar;

and wherein each of said parallel connecting arms each have an aperture at a terminal end thereof to receive said pin at opposing ends of said hitch bar.

20. A hay bale suspension system for use with a vehicle comprising

a bale support system comprising

a vertical support;

a spike affixed to said vertical support;

wheels engaged with said bale support system; and

connecting arms configured to couple to said bale support system.

21. The hay bale suspension system of claim 20, further comprising a hitch bar configured to secure to said vehicle and comprising two ends and at least one pin secured to and extending from each of said ends of the hitch bar and configured to couple with said connecting arms.