Implement mounting apparatus for tractors and mowers

An implement mounting apparatus for use with vehicles such as tractors and riding front mowers comprising:

• a support frame for mounting and holding at least one work implement during use;
• said frame including a first support member extending generally horizontally and having opposite ends;
• a second support member also extending generally horizontally, having opposite ends and spaced below said first support member, and including support means for supporting at least one work implement on said frame for access and use on one side of said frame;
• a pair of brace members extending between and spacing said first and second support members vertically apart from one another;
• said first support member including upper surface means for positioning the work implement when supported on said one side;
• hitch means on said first and second support members for mounting said frame on a mount on at least one of a tractor, a front mower and a tow bar, said hitch means spaced inwardly from the ends of said support members to leave said ends free and exposed and being positioned on said support members to avoid interference with said upper surface means, said support means, and any work implement supported thereon;
• wheel support means for mounting a pair of spaced wheels on said frame such that said frame is mobile and may be towed by a vehicle such as a tractor or lawn mower;
• said wheel support means including a pair of wheel support members, means for attaching said wheel support members to said opposite ends of said second frame member, and a pair of wheels rotatably mounted one on each of said wheel support members, said wheel support member extending in a first direction, said wheel members each being rotatable in a plane generally perpendicular to said first direction;
• and
• an axle interconnecting said wheel support members;
• said means for attaching said wheel support members to said ends of said second frame member including an opening in each end of said second frame member for telescopically receiving a corresponding projection from one of said wheel support members.

An implement mounting apparatus for use with vehicles such as tractors and riding front mowers comprising:

• a support frame for mounting and holding at least one work implement during use;
• said frame including a first support member extending generally horizontally and having opposite ends;
• a second support member also extending generally horizontally, having opposite ends and spaced below said first support member, and including support means for supporting at least one work implement on said frame for access and use on one side of said frame;
• a pair of brace members extending between and spacing said first and second support members vertically apart from one another;
• said first support member including upper surface means for positioning the work implement when supported on said one side;
• hitch means on said first and second support members for mounting said frame on a mount on at least one of a tractor, a front mower and a tow bar, said hitch means spaced inwardly from the ends of said support members to leave said ends free and exposed and being positioned on said support members to avoid interference with said upper surface means, said support means, and any work implement supported thereon;
• and
• a housing body removably mounted on said frame;
• said housing body including a body panel and a pair of spaced end panels, one end panel at either end of said body panel, said panels defining an open, scoop-shaped assembly;
• said housing body also including positioning means for positioning said housing body on said upper surface means, mounting means for removably connecting and supporting said housing body on said support means, and connecting means for attaching an additional implement to said housing body to form at least one of a hopper, scoop and plow.

An implement mounting apparatus for use with vehicles such as tractors and riding front mowers comprising:

• a support frame for mounting and holding at least one work implement during use;
• said frame including a first support member extending generally horizontally and having opposite ends;
• a second support member also extending generally horizontally, having opposite ends and spaced below said first support member, and including support means for supporting at least one work implement on said frame for access and use on one side of said frame;
• a pair of brace members extending between and spacing said first and second support members vertically apart from one another;
• said first support member including upper surface means for positioning the work implement when supported on said one side;
• hitch means on said first and second support members for mounting said frame on a mount on at least one of a tractor, a front mower and a tow bar, said hitch means spaced inwardly from the ends of said support members to leave said ends free and exposed and being positioned on said support members to avoid interference with said upper surface means, said support means, and any work implement supported thereon;
• and
• a hopper assembly removably mounted on said support frame, said hopper assembly including an opposed pair of scoop-like body members, means for pivotally securing said scoop-like body members to one another to form an upwardly open, clam-shell like hopper which may be opened to release any material therein downwardly from the hopper bottom, positioning means for positioning said hopper assembly on said upper surface means, and mounting means for connecting and supporting said hopper assembly on said support means.

An implement mounting apparatus for use with vehicles such as tractors and riding front mowers comprising:

• a support frame for mounting and holding at least one work implement during use, said support frame having at least one support member and support means for positioning and supporting at least one work implement on said support frame for access and use on one side of said support frame;
• hitch means on said support frame for mounting said support frame on a mount on at least one of a tractor, a front mower and a tow bar;
• a housing body removably mounted on said support frame;
• said housing body including a body panel and a pair of spaced end panels, one end panel at either end of said body panel, said panels defining an open scoop-shaped assembly;
• said housing body also including mounting means for removably connecting and supporting said housing body on said support means, and connecting means for attaching an additional implement to said housing body to form at least one of a hopper, scoop and plow;
• a hopper member pivotally mounted on said housing body, said hopper member having a body panel and a pair of spaced end panels, one end panel at either end of said body panel, said panels defining an open scoop-shaped assembly which opens toward said housing body;
• said connecting means including pivot means for pivotally attaching said hopper member in opposition to said housing body to from a clam-shell opening hopper assembly and latch means for releasing said hopper member to open at the bottom of said hopper assembly by allowing the bottom of said hopper member to swing away from the bottom of said housing body;
• and
• said connecting means further including a pair of support arms for supporting said hopper member, one arm extending outwardly from each of said housing body end panels, said hopper member end panels each including a pivot member extending inwardly therefrom for engaging an upwardly and outwardly opening slot in one of said support arms whereby said hopper member pivots about said pivot members in said slots;
• said housing body panel and hopper body panel being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward one another whereby when said latch means is released, the weight of said hopper member and any material in said hopper assembly will pivotally open said hopper assembly to release the material downwardly.

An implement mounting apparatus for use with vehicles such as tractors and riding front mowers comprising:

• a support frame for mounting and holding at least one work implement during use, said support frame having at least one support member and support means for positioning and supporting at least one work implement on said support frame for access and use on one side of said support frame;
• hitch means on said support frame for mounting said support frame on a mount on at least one of a tractor, a front mower and a tow bar;
• a housing body removably mounted on said support frame;
• said housing body including a body panel and a pair of spaced end panels, one end panel at either end of said body panel, said panels defining an open scoop-shaped assembly;
• said housing body also including mounting means for removably connecting and supporting said housing body on said support means, and connecting means for attaching an additional implement to said housing body to form at least one of a hopper, scoop and plow;
• and
• wheel support means for mounting a pair of spaced wheels on said support frame such that said support frame is mobile and may be towed by a vehicle such as a tractor or front mower.

A work implement for use with vehicles such as tractors and riding front mowers comprising:

• a housing body adapted to be removably mounted on a support frame attached to at least one of a tractor, a front mower and a tow bar, said housing body including a body panel and a pair of spaced end panels, one end panel at either end of said body panel, said panels defining an open scoop-shaped assembly;
• said housing body also including support means for supporting said housing body from the support frame;
• connecting means for attaching an additional implement to said housing body to form at least one of a hopper, scoop and plow;
• a hopper member pivotally mounted on said housing body, said hopper member having a body panel and a pair of spaced end panels, one end panel at either end of said body panel, said panels defining an open scoop-shaped assembly which opens toward said housing body;
• said connecting means including pivot means for pivotally attaching said hopper member in opposition to said housing body to form a clam-shell opening hopper assembly and latch means for releasing said hopper member to open at the bottom of said hopper assembly by allowing the bottom of said hopper member to swing away from the bottom of said housing body;
• and
• said connecting means also including a pair of support arms for supporting said hopper member, one arm extending outwardly from each of said housing body end panels, said hopper body end panels each including a pivot member extending inwardly therefrom for engaging an upwardly and outwardly opening slot in one of said support arms whereby said hopper member pivots about said pivot members in said slots;
• said housing body panel and hopper body panel being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward one another whereby when said latch means is released, the weight of said hopper member and any material in said hopper assembly will pivotally open said hopper assembly to release the material downwardly.

A work implement for use with vehicles such as tractors and riding front mowers comprising:

• a housing body adapted to be removably mounted on a support frame attached to at least one of a tractor, a front mower and a tow bar, said housing body including a body panel and a pair of spaced end panels, one end panel at either end of said body panel, said panels defining an open scoop-shaped assembly;
• said housing body also including support means for supporting said housing body from the support frame;
• connecting means for attaching an additional implement to said housing body to form at least one of a hopper, scoop and plow;
• said connecting means including latch means for releasably connecting said housing body to an additional implement;
• said body panel including a lower edge;
• said latch means comprising:
• a latch member for engaging and holding a striker on an additional implement when attached to said housing body;
• rotatably mounting means for rotatably mounting said latch member for movement between a closed and an open position adjacent said lower edge of said body panel;
• handle means mounted adjacent the top of said housing body for rotating said rotatably mounting means and latch member to allow release of any striker;
• second connecting means for connecting said handle means and rotatably mounting means;
• and
• biasing means for urging said latch member to a closed position.

An implement mounting apparatus for use with vehicle such as tractors and riding front mowers comprising:

• a support frame for mounting and holding at least one work implement during use, said support frame having support means for positioning and supporting at least one work implement on said support frame for access and use on one side of said support frame;
• hitch means on said support frame for mounting said support frame on a tow bar frame for moving said apparatus from place-to-place;
• wheel support means for mounting a pair of spaced wheels on said support frame such that said support frame is mobile and may be towed by a vehicle such as a tractor or front mower;
• said wheel support means including a pair of wheel support members;
• means for attaching said wheel support members to opposite ends of said support frame, and a pair of wheels rotatably mounted one on each of said wheel support members, said support frame extending in a first direction, said wheel members each being rotatable in a plane generally perpendicular to said first direction;
• and
• an axle interconnecting said wheel support members;
• said means for attaching said wheel support members to said ends of said support frame including an opening in each end of said support frame for telescopically receiving a corresponding projection from one of said wheel support members.

An implement mounting apparatus for use with vehicles such as tractors and riding front mowers comprising:

• a support frame for mounting and holding at least one work implement during use, said support frame having support means for positioning and supporting at least one work implement on said support frame for access and use on one side of said support frame;
• hitch means on said support frame for mounting said support frame on a tow bar frame for moving said apparatus from place-to-place;
• wheel support means for mounting a pair of spaced wheels on said support frame such that said support frame is mobile and may be towed by a vehicle such as a tractor or front mower;
• and
• a housing body removably mounted on said support frame;
• said housing body including a body panel and a pair of spaced end panels, one end panel at either end of said body panel, said panels defining an open scoop-shaped assembly;
• said housing body also including mounting means for mounting said housing body on said support means, and connecting means for attaching an additional implement to said housing body to form at least one of a hopper, scoop and plow.

An implement mounting apparatus for use with vehicles such as tractors and riding front mowers comprising:

• a support frame for mounting and holding at least one work implement during use, said support frame having support means for positioning and supporting at least one work implement on said support frame for access and use on one side of said support frame;
• hitch means on said support frame for mounting said support frame on a tow bar frame for moving said apparatus from place-to-place;
• wheel support means for mounting a pair of spaced wheels on said support frame such that said support frame is mobile and may be towed by a vehicle such as a tractor or front mower;
• and
• a hopper assembly on said frame, said hopper assembly including an opposed pair of scoop-like body members, means for pivotally securing said scoop-like body members to one another to form an upwardly open, clam-shell like hopper which may be opened to release any material therein downwardly from the hopper bottom, and mounting means for mounting said hopper assembly on said support means.