Attachment coupler
AssigneeGreat Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsEthan Linden, James Allen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupler for releasably coupling an attachment to a heavy-equipment machine. The coupler comprises a frame, and a plurality of connection elements extending from the frame, with the connection elements configured to engage with the attachment. The coupler additionally comprises a locking pin configured to extend simultaneously through the frame and the attachment. The coupler further comprises a locking element configured to selectively engage with the locking pin to securely couple the coupler to the attachment. The coupler further comprises an actuator configured to shift the locking element between an unlocked position and a locked position.
Claims20
A coupler for releasably coupling an attachment to a heavy-equipment machine, said coupler comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of connection elements extending from said frame and configured to engage with the attachment;
- a locking pin configured to extend simultaneously through said frame and the attachment;
- a locking element configured to selectively engage with said locking pin to securely couple said coupler to the attachment;
- and
- an actuator configured to shift said locking element between an unlocked position and a locked position.
A method of coupling an attachment to a heavy-equipment machine, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a coupler comprising a frame, a plurality of connection elements extending from the frame, a locking pin, a locking element, and an actuator;
- (b) shifting the locking element to an unlocked position;
- (c) engaging the frame with the attachment, wherein during said engaging of step (c), (i) the connection elements are engaged with the attachment, and (ii) the frame is positioned over the locking pin;
- and
- (d) shifting the locking element to a locked position, wherein after the locking element has been shifted to the locked position in step (d), the locking element is engaged with the locking pin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.