Three-point hitch for an all terrain vehicle

In combination:

• an all terrain vehicle having rearward and forward ends and including a wheeled frame, a body mounted on said wheeled frame, and a suspension system mounting said body on said wheeled frame;
• a three-point hitch mounted on the rearward end of said vehicle including mounting means for mounting said hitch on said vehicle and selectively vertically movable attachment points extending rearwardly from said mounting means;
• said mounting means including means for permitting said attachment points to float with respect to said vehicle;
• said mounting means also including means for selectively locking out said suspension system to prevent relative movement between the rearward ends of said wheeled frame and said body.

In combination:

• an all terrain vehicle having rearward and forward ends and opposite sides;
• said vehicle including an engine, a wheeled frame, a body mounted on said wheeled frame, front and rear suspension systems mounting said body on said wheeled frame, and a tongue-like hitch extending rearwardly from said wheeled frame;
• and a multiple-point hitch mounted on the rearward end of said vehicle;
• a first mounting means secured to said wheeled frame, said first mounting means including elongated, rearwardly extending, upper and lower arms having rearward and forward ends;
• an upstanding first elongated arm having upper and lower ends;
• said first elongated arm being secured, adjacent its lower end, to said lower arm adjacent the rearward end thereof, the rearward end of said upper arm being secured to said first elongated arm below the upper end thereof;
• at least a second mounting means secured to said wheeled frame, said second mounting means including elongated, rearwardly extending, upper and lower arms having rearward and forward ends, an upstanding second elongated arm having upper and lower ends, said second elongated arm being secured, adjacent its lower end, to said lower arm of said second mounting means adjacent the rearward end thereof, the rearward end of said upper arm of said second mounting means being secured to said second elongated arm below the upper end thereof;
• an elongated, horizontally disposed shaft rotatably mounted on said first and second elongated arms adjacent the upper ends thereof;
• a first linkage having rearward and forward ends, said forward end of said first linkage being rigidly secured to said shaft, adjacent one end thereof, for rotation therewith;
• a second linkage having rearward and forward ends, said forward end of said second linkage being rigidly secured to said shaft, adjacent the other end thereof, for rotation therewith;
• an upstanding third linkage having upper and lower ends, said third linkage being pivotally secured, adjacent its upper end, to the rearward end of said first linkage;
• an upstanding fourth linkage having upper and lower ends, said fourth linkage being pivotally secured, adjacent its upper end, to the rearward end of said second linkage;
• a first lower lift arm having rearward and forward ends, the forward end of said first lower lift arm being pivotally secured to the connection between said lower arm of said first mounting means and said first elongated arm;
• said lower end of said third linkage being pivotally secured to said first arm forwardly of the rearward end thereof;
• a second lower lift arm having rearward and forward ends, the forward end of said second lower lift arm being pivotally secured to the connection between said lower arm of said second mounting means and said second elongated arm;
• said lower end of said fourth linkage being pivotally secured to said second lower lift arm forwardly of the rearward end thereof;
• an actuator having rearward and forward ends, the forward end of said actuator being secured to said shaft between said first and second linkages;
• means operatively secured to said actuator at the rearward end thereof for causing rotation of said shaft and for vertically moving the rearward ends of said first and second lower lift arms;
• and suspension lock-out means operatively secured to said first and second mounting means and said body of said vehicle for preventing relative movement between said wheeled frame and said body.