BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is schematic representation showing the snowplow to three-point hitch adapter according to the present invention and exploded view between a snow plow frame and a three-point hitch implement;
FIG. 2 is a front schematic view of the snowplow to three-point hitch adapter of the present invention showing the three-point hitch interface; and
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the snowplow to three-point hitch adapter of the present invention showing the snowplow interface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention features an adapter or interface 10, FIG. 1 which serves as an adapter between a snow plow frame 12 and a tractor implement 14 having a standard, three-point hitch connection. For purposes of the present explanation, a three-point hitch connection is presumed to mean a category 1 three point hitch connection although this is not a limitation of the present invention as other categories of three point hitch connections as well as other multi-point hitch connections are contemplated and are considered within the scope of the present invention.
As shown in greater detail and FIG. 2, the snowplow to three-point hitch adapter 10 according to the present invention is a four-sided frame 16. One side of frame 16 (also termed a front surface), as shown and FIG. 2, is sized and adapted to interface with a standard three-point hitch connection on a tractor implement. A standard three-point hitch connection requires 2 connection points 18a, 18b proximate the bottom region of the frame 16 and one connection point 18c proximate the top region of the frame 16. The three-point hitch connection points 18 may be receivers meant to interface with the three-point hitch pins 15, (two of the three of which are shown in FIG. 1), normally found on three-point hitch tractor implements. Alternatively, the connection points 18 may be quick connection type of receivers as might be found on a Land Pride Quick Hitch brand of connection device manufactured by Land Pride division of Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc. or similar device such as the I-Match quick hitch connector manufactured by John Deere.
In another embodiment, the connection points 18a and 18b may be located not on the front surface of the adapter 16 but rather, on the shorter sides connection the front and back larger planer surfaces of the adapter.
The second side of frame 16 (also terms the rear surface) is shown in FIG. 3 and is one implementation of a snowplow interface in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. This side of the snowplow to three-point hitch adapter 10 includes one or more connection pin connecting holes 22 which connect the interface to the snowplow frame in the same location as would a snowplow blade. The connection pins pass through holes 22 formed in two parallel cross-members 21 which generally span the width of the adapter 10 and in other cross-members as required or desired.
As is well known in the art, a lifting force on a snowplow is provided by a piston connected and/or chain which may be hydraulically or electrically operated. It should be understood that the hydraulics including the piston or hydraulic pump of the snow plow frame may have to be upgraded if the weight of the implement is too much for the existing snow plow piston. It should be further noted and understood that the term snowplow frame includes the type of snowplow frame including the lifting piston that remains generally stationary, in place, on a vehicle as well as the quick connect type of snowplow frames more commonly found today in which the bulk of the frame as well as the lifting cylinder is detached from the vehicle when not in use. In either case, only the actual snow plow itself needs to be removed from the assembly to use the adapter of the present invention.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel, low cost, easy to use adapter between a snowplow frame for a vehicle and a three-point hitch tractor implement thereby allowing expanded use of three-point hitch tractor implements on vehicles equipped with a snowplow connection.
Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the allowed claims and their legal equivalents.
Patent Application
20080066936
