Universal mounting assembly for a utility vehicle and a system incorporating the same
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
E02F-003/76
A01D-042/00
A01D-067/00
A01D-034/64
E02F-003/36
A01D-069/03
A01D-101/00
출원번호
US-0806122
(2015-07-22)
등록번호
US-9603303
(2017-03-28)
발명자
/ 주소
Hoppel, Steffon L.
출원인 / 주소
Green Industry Innovators, L.L.C.
대리인 / 주소
Sand & Sebolt
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
9
초록▼
A system and method for detachably securing an attachment to a zero-turn utility vehicle such as a zero-turn, stand-on mower. The system includes a mounting assembly provided on a hydraulically operated support member on the utility vehicle's frame; and a connector assembly provided on the attachmen
A system and method for detachably securing an attachment to a zero-turn utility vehicle such as a zero-turn, stand-on mower. The system includes a mounting assembly provided on a hydraulically operated support member on the utility vehicle's frame; and a connector assembly provided on the attachment. The mounting assembly includes a pivotable plate member that is inserted into the complementary shaped connector assembly. The plate member includes a locking rod at an upper end. The connector assembly has side walls and a top wall that surround the plate member when the mounting assembly is engaged with the connector assembly. The top wall overhangs and captures the locking rod between the top wall and a back wall of the attachment. A locking mechanism secures the mounting assembly and connector assembly together. Moving the attachment is accomplished by actuating the hydraulic system on the utility vehicle to move the support member.
대표청구항▼
1. A system comprising: a utility vehicle having a vehicle frame upon which a plurality of wheels are mounted in such a way that the vehicle has a turn radius that approximates zero, the plurality of wheels including a forward left wheel spaced apart from a forward right wheel, and a rear left wheel
1. A system comprising: a utility vehicle having a vehicle frame upon which a plurality of wheels are mounted in such a way that the vehicle has a turn radius that approximates zero, the plurality of wheels including a forward left wheel spaced apart from a forward right wheel, and a rear left wheel spaced apart from a rear right wheel;a support member connected to the vehicle frame via a pivot located forwardly from a rear axle and the pivot located rearwardly from the forward left and right wheels, the support member extending forwardly between the forward left and right wheels and extending forwardly beyond a front end of the vehicle frame and terminating in an outermost end;a mounting assembly provided proximate the outermost end of the support member, the mounting assembly having a mounting assembly frame;a first actuator engaged with the support member and being operable to move the support member relative to the front end of the frame;at least one attachment to be selectively engaged with the utility vehicle; anda connector assembly provided on each attachment; wherein a selected one of the at least one attachment is engaged with the utility vehicle by engaging the connector assembly on the selected attachment with the mounting assembly. 2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the utility vehicle is a stand-up zero-turn mower. 3. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the stand-up zero-turn mower includes a platform engaged on the frame and the platform carries an operator thereon in a standing position located rearwardly of the rear left and right wheels; and wherein the selected attachment is secured to the support member in a position forward of the platform. 4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first actuator is a hydraulically-operable actuator. 5. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the hydraulically-operable first actuator selectively raises or lowers the outermost end of the support member relative to the front end of the vehicle frame. 6. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the hydraulically-operable first actuator comprises: a hydraulic system provided on the utility vehicle; anda hydraulic cylinder and piston operatively engaged with the hydraulic system and with the support member. 7. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the utility vehicle includes a seat operatively engaged with the frame and adapted to receive an operator in a seated position thereon. 8. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected attachment is secured to the support member by the connector assembly and when the first actuator is engaged the selected one of the attachments is selectively raised or lowered or pivoted during use. 9. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly includes: a plate member operatively engaged with the support member; wherein the connector assembly includes a socket that is complementary to the plate member; and wherein the plate member is selectively receivable in the socket. 10. The system as defined in claim 9, further comprising an assembly frame and a second actuator; wherein the second actuator secure a top end of the plate member to the assembly frame; and a bottom end of the plate member is pivotally engaged with the support member and wherein the second hydraulic cylinder and piston are selectively operable to move the top end of the plate member toward or away from the front end of the frame. 11. The system as defined in claim 10, further comprising a locking rod of provided along the top end of the plate member, said locking rod being selectively engaged in a portion of the socket on the selected attachment. 12. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein the locking rod is generally circular in cross-section. 13. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the locking rod has a front region substantially aligned with a front surface of the plate member and a rear region that extends rearwardly beyond a rear surface of the plate member. 14. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the socket includes a: a first side wall provided on a back surface of a back wall of the selected attachment, said first side wall extending outwardly from the back wall;a second side wall provided on the back wall and extending outwardly therefrom, wherein the first and second side walls are angled and the first and second side walls are closer to each other proximate a top end of the back wall and are further from each other proximate a bottom end of the back wall;a top wall extending between the first and second side walls; and wherein the top wall hangs downwardly over a region of the back wall and is positioned and shaped to engage and capture the locking rod of the plate member therein. 15. The system as defined in claim 14, further comprising a locking assembly provided to secure the plate member to the attachment when the locking rod is received in the socket. 16. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the plate member is of a truncated-triangular shape and the connector assembly is of a complementary truncated-triangular shape. 17. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the top wall of the connector assembly is a generally J-shaped member; and a curved region of the J-shaped member has a radius of curvature that is substantially the same as a curvature of the locking rod at the top end of the plate member. 18. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the top wall of the connector assembly extends further outwardly from the back wall of the attachment than does a remaining portion of the connector assembly. 19. The system of claim 10, wherein the first actuator engages the support member rearwardly from the forward left and right wheels and the second actuator is positioned forwardly from the forward left and right wheels. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is located intermediate the rear wheels and the forward wheels. 21. A method of securing an attachment to a utility vehicle comprising: providing a utility vehicle having a vehicle frame upon which a plurality of wheels are mounted in such a way that the vehicle has a turn radius that approximate zero, the utility vehicle further comprising a support member connected to the vehicle frame via a pivot located forwardly from a rear axle and the pivot located rearwardly from forward left and right wheels, the support member extending forwardly between the forward left and right wheels and extending forwardly beyond a front end of the vehicle frame and terminating in an outermost end;engaging the support member to a hydraulically operable first actuator provided on the utility vehicle and where that the support member extends towards a front end of the frame;selecting one of a plurality of attachments for engagement with the utility vehicle; andengaging a mounting assembly on an outermost end of the support member to a connector assembly provided on the selected one of the plurality of attachments. 22. The method as defined in claim 21, further comprising the step of locking the mounting assembly and connector assembly together. 23. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the step of engaging the mounting assembly to the connector assembly includes pivoting the plate member on the support member into the complementary socket provided on a back wall of the selected one of the plurality of attachments. 24. The method as defined in claim 23, further comprising the steps of: angling a top end of the plate member relative to the back wall of the selected one of the plurality of attachments;inserting a locking rod at the top end of the plate member under an overhanging top wall of the socket;pivoting the plate member so that a bottom end thereof is moved to a position adjacent a bottom end of the socket; andengaging a locking mechanism to secure the plate to the selected attachment. 25. The method as defined in claim 21, further including the step of activating the hydraulic first actuator to vertically raise or lower the support member relative to a front end of the vehicle's frame to use the selected one of the plurality of attachments to perform a landscaping task. 26. The method as defined in claim 21, wherein the step of providing a utility vehicle includes providing a stand up zero-turn mower. 27. The method as defined in claim 26, wherein the step of providing the stand up zero-turn mower includes providing a mower including a platform on which an operator stands. 28. A universal mounting system for securing an attachment to a utility vehicle; said mounting system comprising: a support member extending outwardly beyond a section of the utility vehicle's frame, said support member terminating in an outermost end;a mounting assembly provided proximate the outermost end of the support member; wherein the mounting assembly includes: a plate having a top end;a locking rod at least partially arcuate in cross section provided at the top end of the plate; anda connector assembly provided on a back wall of the attachment, wherein the connector assembly includes: a first side wall and a second side wall extending outwardly from the back wall of the attachment; said first and second side walls being spaced apart from each other to a degree sufficient to receive the plate of the mounting assembly therebetween; and a top wall extending between the first and second side walls and projecting for a distance outwardly from the back wall and downwardly beyond a top end of each of the first and second side walls; wherein a gap is defined between the top wall and the back wall of the attachment; andwherein the locking rod at the top end of the plate is captured in the gap when the plate is engaged between the first and second side walls. 29. The mounting system as defined in claim 28, wherein the plate has to be angled relative to the back wall when sliding the locking rod into the gap.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (9)
Dilworth, Michael; Fromm, Brad, Accessory mounting systems for non-highway vehicles.
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