# US 8,769,916 B2 · Farm implement for harvesting and mowing that is relesably couplable to and powered by a tractor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,769,916 B2 - Document ID: US8769916B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/467,714 - Filed: 2012-05-09 - Published: 2012-11-15 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-09 - Assignees: Marloo Equipment, LLC - Applicants: Leon Van Loon - Inventors: Leon Van Loon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769916B2 ## CPC - A01D 67/005: {Arrangements of coupling devices} - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING ## Abstract A farm implement configured to be releasably coupled to a tractor equipped with a rearwardly oriented power take of device. The farm implement includes a central frame; at least two forward crop engaging arms mounted on the frame, that extend outward from a central axis to a first width and; at least two crop rearward engaging arms mounted on the frame. The rearward crop engaging arms extend outward from a central axis to a second width. A plurality of crop engaging members, are positioned on each of the forward and rearward crop engaging arms. The implement also includes a power transmission mechanism operatively connected to the forward crop and rearward engaging arms and engageable with the power take off apparatus on the associated tractor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A farm implement configured to be releasably coupled to a tractor, the tractor having at least one rearwardly oriented power take off device, the farm implement comprising: a central frame, the central frame having a forward region and an opposed rearward region and means for releasably coupling the central frame to a tractor, wherein the releasable coupling means is located proximate to the forward region of the central frame, the releasable coupling means including a coupling member, the coupling member having a socket configured to receive the power take-off device of the tractor, the central frame having a length measured from the forward region to the rearward region and a width, wherein the central region length is greater than the central region width; at least two first crop engaging arms pivotally mounted on the central frame at a location proximate to the forward region of the central frame, the first crop engaging arms extending outward from a central axis to a first width wherein the first crop engaging arms have an outermost end; an end frame releasably connected to the opposed rearward region of the central frame, the end frame having a forward region and a rearward region and two side members, wherein the end frame has a length measured from the end frame forward region to the end frame rearward region and a width, wherein the end frame width is greater than the end frame length; at least two second crop engaging arms operatively connected to the end frame independent of the at least two first crop engaging arms, the at least two second crop engaging arms operatively connected to the side members of the end frame rearward of the at least two first crop engaging arms at a location proximate to the rearward region of the central frame, the second crop engaging arms extending outward from the central axis to a second width wherein the second width is greater than the first width, wherein the second crop engaging arms have an outermost end; a plurality of crop engaging members, wherein at least one crop engaging member is positioned on each of said first and second crop engaging arms; and at least one power transmission mechanism operatively connected to said first and second crop engaging arms, the power transmission mechanism configured to be releasably coupled to the rearwardly oriented power take off apparatus on the associated tractor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The farm implement apparatus of claim 1 wherein the crop engaging members are mowing devices, each mowing device having a defined width, the crop engaging members positioned in staggered relationship relative to the central frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The farm implement of claim 1 wherein the first crop engaging arms are oriented proximate to the tractor when the device is in the use position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The farm implement apparatus of claim 2 wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises at least one central junction, at least one side drive shaft associated with each of the first crop engaging arms and an intermediate drive shaft operatively connected to the central junction, wherein the intermediate drive shaft extends into the end frame at a location central thereto, the intermediate drive shaft, operatively connected to the second crop engaging arms. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The farm implement apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one control mechanism, the control mechanism configured to operate the respective crop engaging arms. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The farm implement apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one mechanism configured to move an associated crop engaging arm from the first use position to at least one second position, wherein the device further comprises at least one central junction, at least one side drive shaft associated with each of the first crop engaging arms and at least one intermediate drive shaft operatively connected to the central junction, the intermediate drive shaft, operatively connected to the rearward crop engaging arms. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The farm implement apparatus of claim 4 wherein the power junction is a differential. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The farm implement apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an end frame connected to the central frame wherein the second crop engaging arms are mounted to the end frame and wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises at least one differential mounted on the central frame at least one drive shaft coupled to the drive shaft associated with each of the first crop engaging arms, at least one intermediate drive shaft operatively connected to the differential and communicating with the second crop engaging arms. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The farm implement apparatus of claim 8 wherein the end frame includes at least one releasable connection device oriented between the end frame and a location on the central frame distal to the means for releasable coupling to the tractor. ### Claim 10 A farm implement assembly comprising: a tractor, the tractor having a front and a width, and at least one rearwardly oriented power take off device; and a farm implement that is composed of a central frame, the central frame having a forward region and an opposed rearward region and means located proximate to the forward region for releasably coupling the central frame to the tractor, the releasable coupling means including a coupling member, the coupling member having a socket configured to receive the power take-off device of the tractor, the central frame having a length measured from the forward region to the rearward region and a width, wherein the central region length is greater than the central region width; at least two first crop engaging arms pivotally mounted on the central frame at a location proximate to the forward region of the central frame, the first crop engaging arms extending outward from a central axis to a first width wherein the first crop engaging arms have an outermost end; an end frame connected to the opposed rearward region of the central frame, the end frame having a forward region and a rearward region and two side members, wherein the end frame has a length measured from the end frame forward region to the end frame rearward region and a width, wherein the end frame width is greater than the end frame length; at least two second crop engaging arms operatively connected directly to the central frame independent of the at least two first crop engaging arms, the at least two second crop engaging arms operatively connected rearward of the at least two first crop engaging arms at a location proximate to the rearward region of the central frame, the at least two second crop engaging arms extending pivotally from a first retracted position to a position extended outward from the central axis to a second width wherein the second width is greater than the first width, wherein the second crop engaging arms have an outermost end; a plurality of crop engaging members, wherein at least one crop engaging member is positioned on each of said first and second crop engaging arms; and at least one power transmission mechanism operatively connected to said first and second crop engaging arms, the power transmission mechanism configured to be releasably coupled to the rearwardly oriented power take off apparatus on the associated tractor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The farm implement assembly of claim 10 wherein the crop engaging members are mowing devices, each mowing device having a defined width, the crop engaging members positioned in staggered relationship relative to the central frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The farm implement assembly of claim 10 wherein the first crop engaging arms are oriented proximate to the tractor when the device is in the use position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The farm implement assembly of claim 12 wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises at least one central junction, at least one side drive shaft associated with each of the first crop engaging arms and at least one intermediate drive shaft operatively connected to the central junction, the intermediate drive shaft, operatively connected to the second crop engaging arms. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The farm implement assembly of claim 13 wherein the power transmission device includes a differential mounted on the central frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The farm implement assembly of claim 10 further comprising at least one control mechanism, the control mechanism configured to operate the respective crop engaging arms. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The farm implement assembly of claim 10 further comprising at least one mechanism configured to move an associated crop engaging arm from the first use position to a at least one second position, wherein the device further comprises at least one central junction, at least one side drive shaft associated with each of the first crop engaging arms and at least one intermediate drive shaft operatively connected to the central junction, the intermediate drive shaft, operatively connected to the second crop engaging arms. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The farm implement assembly of claim 10 further comprising at least one forward crop engaging member the crop engaging member operatively connected to the front to the tractor, the forward crop engaging member having a functional width, wherein the functional width of the forward crop engaging member corresponds to the width of the tractor and wherein the one of the first crop engaging arms or the second crop engaging arms are positioned at a location corresponding to a boundary defined by the functional width, and wherein remaining crop engaging arms are positioned exterior to a corresponding functional width of the first or second corresponding crop engaging arms.