초록 ▼

The front end loader and method of the present invention provides front end loader lift arms that may be removed from an implement, such as a bucket, and secured to the bucket in a cantilevered position for storage of the lift arms. Connections on the implement and lift arms allow the lift arms to b

The front end loader and method of the present invention provides front end loader lift arms that may be removed from an implement, such as a bucket, and secured to the bucket in a cantilevered position for storage of the lift arms. Connections on the implement and lift arms allow the lift arms to be securely interconnected with connections on the bucket without the use of tools or pins so that the center of gravity of the lift arms is above the bucket. The lift arms may then be removed from a utility vehicle. In this storage position, the lift arms are stored and maintained in a secure position so that they may later be easily and quickly reattached to the utility vehicle.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An assembly comprising: a first arm and an implement having an operational coupler,the first arm secured to a first vehicle connector for attachment to a tractor, a skid steer, or a vehicle,the first arm including an operational connector for securing the first arm to the operational coupler when

1. An assembly comprising: a first arm and an implement having an operational coupler,the first arm secured to a first vehicle connector for attachment to a tractor, a skid steer, or a vehicle,the first arm including an operational connector for securing the first arm to the operational coupler when the assembly is in an operational configuration,the assembly in a storage configuration comprising:the implement having a first fastener and a first arm rest region; andthe first arm, cantilevered above the implement, having a second fastener interconnecting with the first fastener to form a fulcrum about which the arm pivots relative to the implement, a portion of the first arm resting against the first arm rest region of the implement, and the operational coupler is disconnected from the operational connector. 2. The assembly of claim 1 in the storage configuration wherein the first fastener is located below the first arm rest region. 3. The assembly in the storage configuration of claim 2 wherein both the operational connector and the operational coupler are part of a quick-connect system. 4. The assembly of claim 2 in the storage configuration wherein the second fastener of the first arm is secured to the operational connector. 5. The assembly of claim 1 in the storage configuration wherein the implement has both a first side and a second side,the first arm rest region is located on the first side, andthe first arm extends over the second side and away from the first side of the implement to balance the first arm over the implement in a stable position for storage. 6. The assembly of claim 1 in the storage configuration further comprising the implement having a third fastener and a second arm rest region;a second arm, cantilevered above the implement, having a second vehicle connector and a fourth fastener interconnecting with the third fastener to form a pivot point about which the second arm pivots relative to the implement, a portion of the second arm resting against the second arm rest region of the implement. 7. The assembly of claim 1 in the storage configuration wherein the implement is a bucket having an open-face and a plurality of bucket teeth located on the perimeter of the open-face; andat least one of the plurality of bucket teeth is the first fastener. 8. The assembly of claim 1 in the storage configuration wherein the implement is a bucket having an open-face anda plurality of holes located about perimeter of the open-face; and at least one of the holes is the first fastener. 9. A boom and attachment assembly comprising a lifting arm and an implement, the assembly transformable from an operational configuration for raising and lowering the implement via the lifting arm secured to a vehicleto a storage configuration for storing the lifting arm in a cantilevered arrangement, the assembly comprising:the lifting arm including a lift cylinder for raising and lowering the lifting arm,a first end with a vehicle fastener, anda second end with an operational fastener and a storage fastener;the implement including a rest region located above a storage connector, andan operational connector;in the operational configuration, the assembly includes the vehicle fastener secured to the vehicle, andthe operational fastener secured to the operational connector; andin the storage configuration, the assembly includes the storage fastener interconnected with the storage connector, andthe lifting arm supported in a cantilevered configuration above the implement by the rest region, the storage fastener, and the storage connector. 10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the implement has a base side and both a first side and a second side extending upwards from the base side,the rest region is located on the first side, andthe arm extends over the second side and away from the first side of the implement to balance the arm over the implement in a stable position for storage. 11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein one of the base side, the first side, and the second side of the implement is an open-face of a bucket. 12. The assembly of claim 9 wherein in the operational configuration the storage fastener is separated from the storage connector, andin the storage configuration the operational fastener is separated from the operational connector. 13. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the storage fastener includes a hook; andthe storage connector is a device selected from a group consisting of a clasp, an O-ring, a T-bar, a storage bar, a hole in the implement, and a bucket tooth secured to the implement. 14. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the rest region is located in a hole of the implement,the storage connector of the implement is an interior surface of a bucket, andthe storage fastener of the lifting arm is a lower portion of a coupler. 15. A method of transforming the assembly of claim 9 from the operational configuration to the storage configuration, the method comprising the steps of: detaching the operational fastener from the operational connector to disconnect the implement from the lifting arm;repositioning the lifting arm relative to the implement while the implement is disconnected from the lifting arm;connecting the storage fastener to the storage connector to reconnect the implement to the lifting arm;resting the lifting arm upon the implement to balance the lifting arm over the implement in a stable position for storage; anddisconnecting the lifting arm from the vehicle. 16. A method for transforming an implement with a storage connector and an operational connector,an arm with a storage fastener and an operational fastener, anda vehiclefrom an operational configuration to a storage configuration, the method comprising:lowering the implement to a ground surface;disconnecting the operational connector and the operational fastener to separate the implement from the arm;repositioning the arm relative to the implement while the implement is disconnected from the arm;connecting the storage fastener and the storage connector to re-connect the implement to the arm;resting the arm upon the implement; anddisconnecting the arm from the vehicle such that the arm is stored in a cantilevered configuration. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the implement is a bucket that supports the weight of the arm when the implement, arm, and vehicle are in a storage configuration. 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the arm includes a tower,the vehicle includes a bracket,the tower and bracket are secured together when the implement, arm, and vehicle are in the operational configuration, andin the storage configuration the tower and bracket are at substantially the same elevation and the arm extends unsupported from the implement to the tower. 19. The method of claim 16 wherein the arm includes a tower;the vehicle includes a bracket;the tower and bracket are connected together when the implement, arm, and vehicle are in the operational configuration;in the storage configuration, the tower and bracket are at the same elevation and the arm extends unsupported from the implement to the tower; andthe repositioning step includes wrapping the arm around the implement to position the storage fastener near the storage connector. 20. The method of claim 16 wherein the repositioning step includes wrapping the arm around the implement to position the storage fastener near the storage connector. 21. The method of claim 16 wherein the storage connector includes an object selected from a group consisting of a clasp, an O-ring, a T-bar, a storage bar, a hole in the implement, a chain hook eyelet, and a bucket tooth secured to the implement. 22. The method of claim 16 wherein the connecting the storage fastener step includes the storage fastener interconnecting with the storage connector to form a fulcrum about which the arm pivots relative to the implement, andthe resting step includes pivoting the arm about the fulcrum to rest the arm upon the implement. 23. A method for storing a boom arm assembly, the boom arm assembly initially being attached to a utility vehicle at the back end of the boom arm assembly and having an implement attached to the front end of the boom arm assembly, the method comprising the steps of: detaching the front end of the boom arm assembly from the implement;moving the utility vehicle to locate the boom arm assembly over a stationary object so that the front end of the boom arm assembly extends over a first side of the stationary object and the back end of the boom arm assembly extends over a second side of the stationary object, the stationary object further having a connector located on the first side of the stationary object;lowering the boom arm assembly to interconnect the front end of the boom arm assembly with the connector on the first side of the stationary object;further lowering the boom arm assembly to place the boom arm assembly in contact with the first side of the stationary object;detaching the back end of the boom arm assembly from the utility vehicle;moving the utility vehicle to leave the boom arm assembly interconnected with the stationary object and in a stable position for storage. 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the stationary object is the implement that was detached from the front end of the boom arm assembly. 25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of flipping over the implement while the implement is disconnected from the boom arm assembly. 26. The method of claim 24 wherein the implement is a device selected from a group consisting of a bucket, a pinching finger set, a hay handling structure, and a plow. 27. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of repositioning the boom arm relative to the implement while the implement is disconnected from the boom arm. 28. A boom arm assembly for attachment to a utility vehicle, the boom arm assembly comprising: a first boom arm havinga back end, the back end of the first boom arm having a first utility vehicle connector, anda front end, the front end of the first boom arm having a first implement connector anda first storage connector;a second boom arm having a back end, the back end of the second boom arm having a second utility vehicle connector, anda front end, the front end of the second boom arm having a second implement connector anda second storage connector;an implement having a back side with a first storage coupling and a second storage coupling; anda front side, having a first boom arm coupling, anda second boom arm coupling;the boom arm assembly becoming operable by the utility vehicle by attaching the first and second utility vehicle connectors to the utility vehicle and attaching the implement to the first and second boom arms by interconnecting the first implement connector of the first boom arm with the first boom arm coupling of the implement andthe second implement connector of the second boom arm with the second boom arm coupling of the implement so that the first and second boom arms are connected to and extend from the back side of the implement for operation of the implement;the boom arm assembly further becoming storable by detaching the implement from the first and second boom arms by disconnecting the first and second implement connectors from the first and second boom arm couplings,interconnecting the first storage connector of the first boom arm with the first storage coupling of the implement andthe second storage connector of the second boom arm with the second storage coupling of the implementso that the first and second boom arms are connected to the back side of the implement but extend over and away from the front side of the implement to balance the first and second boom arms over the implement in a stable position for storage,detaching the first and second utility vehicle connectors from the utility vehicle. 29. The boom arm assembly of claim 28 wherein the first storage connector extends from the first implement connector towards the second boom arm; andthe second storage connector extends from the second implement connector towards the first boom arm. 30. The boom arm assembly of claim 28 wherein the first storage coupling is a device selected from a group consisting of a clasp, an O-ring, a T-bar, a storage bar, a hole in the implement, and a bucket tooth. 31. The boom arm assembly of claim 28 wherein the stored boom arm assembly includes the first and second boom arms cantilevered above the implement,the first boom arm rests upon a first arm rest area of the implement, the first arm rest area is located above both the first storage connector and the first storage coupler, andthe second boom arm rests upon a second arm rest area of the implement, the second arm rest area is located above both the second storage connector and the second storage coupler.