# US 10,368,500 B2 · Sod positioning machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,368,500 B2 - Document ID: US10368500B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/633,265 - Filed: 2017-06-26 - Published: 2017-12-14 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-25 - Assignees: Sidekick USA, LLC - Applicants: Sidekick USA, LLC - Inventors: Paul Carlson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368500B2 ## CPC - A01G 20/18: Apparatus for laying sods or turfs - A01B 45/00: Machines for treating meadows or lawns {, e.g. for sports grounds} - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) ## Abstract An apparatus for a vehicle used for positioning sod strips includes a structure for mounting on the vehicle frame and a pushing plate slidably mounted to the structure. The pushing plate is arranged to be abuttable to an edge of a sod strip. A pair of cylinders are operatively mounted between the structure and the pushing plate to slide the pushing plate away from the structure to laterally shift a sod strip to tighten up seams between adjacent sod strips. The pushing plate slides in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the straight ahead driving direction of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for positioning sod strips, comprising: a mounting structure for mounting on a vehicle; a pushing plate assembly slidably mounted to the structure, the pushing plate assembly having a vertical pushing surface arranged to be abuttable to a vertical edge of a newly placed sod strip that has already been placed flat on the ground; and at least one actuator operatively mounted between the mounting structure and the pushing plate assembly to slide the pushing plate assembly away from the mounting structure to position and laterally compress the newly placed sod strip, the at least one actuator arranged to exert a force on the pushing plate assembly that has both horizontal and downward components. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a pushing frame that carries the pushing plate assembly, the pushing frame having arms between the pushing plate and the mounting structure, the arms oriented at a downward angle to the pushing plate; and the mounting structure comprises a base frame, the base frame having base tubes extending from the vehicle toward the pushing plate, each arm slidably received into a respective base tube, and the at least one actuator comprises a pair of actuators, one mounted between each arm and each respective base tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said mounting structure comprises a pair of upstanding posts that are configured to be mounted to the vehicle, the base frame being supported by the pair of posts. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the base frame is pivotally connected to the posts, and comprising at least one pivot actuator that is configured to controllably pivot up or down the base frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one pivot actuator comprises a pair of pivot actuators operably connected between the pair of posts and the base tubes of the base frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle for moving along the ground, said structure mounted to the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle comprises a sod roll holding and dispensing device to hold and dispense a roll of sod for unrolling and placement of the roll of sod flat on the ground. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sod roll holding and dispensing device comprises a spindle carried by a forked frame. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for positioning sod strips, comprising: a mounting structure for mounting on a vehicle; a pushing plate assembly slidably mounted to the structure, the pushing plate assembly having a vertical pushing surface arranged to be abuttable to a vertical edge of a newly placed sod strip that has already been placed flat on the ground, and a horizontal surface arranged to be pressed to the ground on a side of the vertical pushing surface opposite the vertical edge of a newly placed sod strip; at least one actuator operatively mounted between the mounting structure and the pushing plate assembly to slide the pushing plate assembly away from the mounting structure to position and laterally compress the newly placed sod strip; wherein the at least one actuator exerts a force on the pushing plate that has a force direction having a lateral component and a vertical downward component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, comprising a pushing frame that carries the pushing plate, the pushing frame having arms between the pushing plate and the mounting structure; and the mounting structure comprises a base frame, the base frame having base tubes extending from the vehicle toward the pushing plate, each arm slidably received into a respective base tube, and the at least one actuator comprises a pair of actuators, one mounted between each arm and each respective base tube. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a vehicle for moving along the ground, said structure mounted to the vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said structure comprises a pair of upstanding posts that are configured to be mounted to the vehicle, and a base frame, the base frame guiding sliding movement of the pushing plate, the base frame being supported by the pair of posts. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the base frame is pivotally connected to the posts, and comprising at least one pivot actuator that is configured to controllably pivot up or down the base frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one pivot actuator comprises a pair of pivot actuators operably connected between the pair of posts and the base frame.