# US 10,863,664 B2 · Apparatus for combining planting implements

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- Number: US 10,863,664 B2
- Document ID: US10863664B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/898,843
- Filed: 2018-02-19
- Published: 2018-06-21
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-06
- Applicants: Jeffrey Howard Cromwell
- Inventors: Jeffrey Howard Cromwell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863664B2

## CPC

- A01B 49/06: for sowing or fertilising
- A01B 59/043: supported at three points, e.g. by quick-release couplings (A01B59/06 takes precedence)
- A01B 59/066: {of the type comprising at least two lower arms and one upper arm generally arranged in a triangle, e.g. three-point hitches}
- A01C 7/08: Broadcast seeders; Seeders depositing seeds in rows
- A01C 7/208: {Chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers}
- A01C 15/005: {Undercarriages, tanks, hoppers, stirrers specially adapted for seeders or fertiliser distributors}
- A01C 17/001: {Centrifugal throwing devices with a vertical axis}
- B60D 1/07: Multi-hitch devices, i.e. comprising several hitches of the same or of a different type; Hitch-adaptors, i.e. for converting hitches from one type to another
- 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)
- A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00)
- B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS

## Abstract

An apparatus for combining planting implements enables an operator of a tractor to use both a conventional cultivating implement and a conventional broadcasting implement simultaneously. The apparatus is rigidly affixed to a conventional cultivating implement and comprises a support frame, a pair of brackets, and a connection bar. In combination, the support frame, pair of brackets, and connection bar provide a three-point connection whereby a conventional broadcasting implement may be attached thereto, thus enabling an operator of a tractor to use both a conventional cultivating implement and a conventional broadcasting implement simultaneously. In operation, at least a portion of the conventional cultivating implement is disposed behind the conventional broadcasting implement when the conventional broadcasting implement is attached to the support frame, thereby allowing simultaneous cultivation and broadcasting of constituents.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for combining planting implements comprising:
a support frame, the support frame comprising a pair of substantially vertical members and a lateral member, the lateral member rigidly affixed to upper ends of the substantially vertical members;
a pair of opposed brackets, each bracket attached to one of the substantially vertical members;
a connection bar rigidly affixed to the lateral member; and
a first lateral support member, said first lateral support member selected from the group consisting of: a rearward support member rigidly affixed to and running diagonally rearward from said upper end of one of said pair of substantially vertical members and a frontward support member rigidly affixed to and running diagonally forward from said lateral member,
wherein the brackets and connection bar are configured to receive a three-point hitch connection of a broadcasting implement, and wherein the support frame is configured to be rigidly affixed to a cultivating implement.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fasteners to rigidly affix said support frame to said cultivating implement.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support frame is configured to be welded to said cultivating implement.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pair of opposed brackets are attached to respective inside surfaces of said substantially vertical members.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connection bar is rigidly affixed to an upper surface of said lateral member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connection bar extends upwardly from said lateral member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pair of substantially vertical members have a plurality of locations for attaching said pair of brackets.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support frame further comprises a second lateral support member that extends rearward.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second lateral support member is rigidly affixed to and runs diagonally from said upper end of one of said pair of substantially vertical members to a rear section of said cultivating implement.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support frame further comprises a second lateral support member that extends frontward.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said second lateral support member is rigidly affixed to and runs diagonally from said lateral member to a front section of said cultivating implement.

### Claim 12

An apparatus for combining planting implements comprising:
a cultivating implement having a first three-point hitch connection;
a support frame rigidly affixed to said cultivating implement behind said first three-point hitch connection, the support frame comprising a first substantially vertical member and a second substantially vertical member, each substantially vertical member having an upper end, and a lateral member rigidly affixed to the upper ends of the substantially vertical members;
a first bracket attached to the first substantially vertical member;
a second bracket attached to the second substantially vertical member; and
a connection bar rigidly affixed to the lateral member,
wherein said first bracket, said second bracket, and said connection bar are configured to receive a second three-point hitch connection behind said support frame; and a broadcasting implement, wherein said second three point-hitch connection is associated with said broadcasting implement.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising at least one frontward support member rigidly affixed at one end to said support frame and at the other end to a portion of said first three-point hitch connection.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of fasteners rigidly affixing said first substantially vertical member and said second substantially vertical member to said cultivating implement.

### Claim 15

An apparatus for simultaneously cultivating and broadcasting comprising:
a cultivating implement;
a first substantially vertical member and a second substantially vertical member, each substantially vertical member rigidly affixed to said cultivating implement and each substantially vertical member having an upper end;
a lateral member rigidly affixed to the upper end of each substantially vertical member;
a first bracket attached to said first substantially vertical member;
a second bracket attached to said second substantially vertical member;
a connection bar rigidly affixed to said lateral member; and
a broadcasting implement having a three-point hitch connection,
wherein said first bracket, said second bracket, and said connection bar are configured to receive said broadcasting implement through the three-point hitch connection.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first bracket is attached to an inside surface of said first substantially vertical member and said second bracket is attached to an inside surface of said second substantially vertical member.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said connection bar is rigidly affixed to an upper surface of said lateral member.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said connection bar extends upwardly from said lateral member.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said cultivating implement is disposed behind said broadcasting implement when said three-point hitch connection is connected to said first bracket, said second bracket, and said connection bar.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said cultivating implement is a disk harrow.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said broadcasting implement is a broadcast spreader.