Sod-laying vehicle apparatus and Sod-holding device therefor

In sod-laying apparatus including a vehicle with a frame and ground engagers to support and move the vehicle and a sod-holding device on the frame for a sod roll which defines an axis, the improvement wherein the sod-holding device comprises:

• a pair of support arms secured to the frame, each support arm having a distal end, the distal ends being at substantially fixed horizontal spacing from one another;
• a pair of opposed coaxial roll-insertable members, each on one of the distal ends, for sandwiching support of the sod roll, each of the roll-insertable members having a lead end and a trailing end, a roll-engageable end plate being secured with respect to each of the roll-insertable members at the trailing end thereof, the end plate having a roll-engagement surface extending radially about the roll-insertable member;
• a substantially horizontal transverse guide member secured at the distal end of at least one of the support arms;
• and
• a loading member on the guide member for movement with respect thereto in a substantially horizontal axial direction between retracted roll-unloaded and extended roll-loaded positions, the loading member having one of the roll-insertable members secured thereon.

Sod-holding and dispensing apparatus for mounting on the frame of a vehicle used for laying sod from a sod roll which defines an axis, comprising:

• a pair of frame-mountable support arms each having a proximal end and a distal end, the support arms when mounted having the distal ends at substantially fixed horizontal spacing from one another;
• a pair of substantially horizontal transverse guide members, one secured at the distal end of each of the support arms;
• a pair of loading members, one on each of the guide members for movement with respect thereto in a substantially horizontal axial direction between retracted roll-unloaded and extended roll-loaded positions;
• and
• a pair of roll-insertable members, one secured to each of the loading members, the roll-insertable members being in opposed coaxial arrangement when mounted and being disposed for direct sod contact within and at the ends of the roll.

Sod-holding and dispensing apparatus for mounting on the frame of a vehicle used for laying sod from a sod roll which defines an axis, comprising:

• a pair of frame-mountable support arms each having a proximal end and a distal end, the support arms when mounted having the distal ends at substantially fixed horizontal spacing from one another, each of the support arms having a hollow tube portion sleevable over and securable to an inner arm portion;
• a pair of substantially horizontal transverse guide members, one secured at the distal end of each of the support arms;
• a pair of loading members, one on each of the guide members for movement with respect thereto in a substantially horizontal axial direction between retracted roll-unloaded and extended roll-loaded positions;
• and
• a pair of roll-insertable members, one secured to each of the loading members, the roll-insertable members being in opposed coaxial arrangement when mounted.

Sod-holding and dispensing apparatus for mounting on the frame of a vehicle used for laying sod from a sod roll which defines an axis, comprising:

• a pair of frame-mountable support arms each having a proximal end and a distal end, the support arms when mounted having the distal ends at substantially fixed horizontal spacing from one another;
• a pair of substantially horizontal transverse guide members, one secured at the distal end of each of the support arms;
• a pair of loading members, one on each of the guide members for movement with respect thereto in a substantially horizontal axial direction between retracted roll-unloaded and extended roll-loaded positions;
• and
• a pair of roll-insertable members, one secured to each of the loading members, the roll-insertable members being in opposed coaxial arrangement when mounted, each of the roll-insertable members having a lead end and a trailing end, a roll-engageable end plate being secured with respect to each of the roll-insertable members at the trailing end thereof, the end plate having a roll-engagement surface extending radially about the roll-insertable member.