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US3827724A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupling device
Assignee: Deere and Co
•
Filing: 1973-02-16
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Granted: 1974-08-06
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Expires: 1993-02-16
Abstract
Abstract A remotely actuatable coupling device having a ball hitch mounted on an agricultural tractor is adapted to accommodate different type hitch-engaging means carried by the tongue of the towed implement. Raising and lowering of the implement tongue is accomplished by the movement of a pick-up bale suspended from the pivotal draft links of the tractor. A keeper, mounted on the tractor and which can be controlled from the operator''s station, releasably locks the engaging means to the ball hitch.
Inventors
- 👤 J Ackley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:57
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/58; B60D1/583; A; A01; A01B; A01B59/00; A01B59/04; A01B59/042; B60D1/01; B60D1/06; B60D1/065; B60D1/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for releasably coupling a trailing vehicle to a leading vehicle comprising: a. a hitch ball mounted on said leading vehicle; b. a ball-engaging member affixed to the trailing vehicle and engageable with said hitch ball for coupling the trailing vehicle to the leading vehicle; c. a bracket mounted on the leading vehicle; d. a keeper pivotally mounted on the bracket for movement about a generally horizontal axis between latching and unlatching positions; said keeper in the latching position when the ballengaging member is engaged with the hitch ball confining the movement of the ball-engagement member and preventing disengagement thereof from the hitch ball; e. means for releasably locking said keeper in the latching position; and f. means for liftinG said ball-engaging member into engagement with said hitch ball.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for releasably coupling a trailing vehicle to a leading vehicle comprising: a. a hitch ball mounted on said leading vehicle; b. a ball-engaging member affixed to the trailing vehicle and engageable with said hitch ball for coupling the trailing vehicle to the leading vehicle; c. a bracket mounted on the leading vehicle; d. a keeper pivotally mounted on the bracket for movement about a generally horizontal axis between latching and unlatching positions; said keeper in the latching position when the ballengaging member is engaged with the hitch ball confining the movement of the ball-engagement member and preventing disengagement thereof from the hitch ball; e. means for releasably locking said keeper in the latching position; and f. means for liftinG said ball-engaging member into engagement with said hitch ball.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said bracket is of U-shape and has the bight thereof affixed to the leading vehicle and the legs extending upwardly; said keeper being received between the legs of said bracket and pivotally secured to the lower portion of said legs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said means for releasably locking said keeper in the latching position comprises a tripping lever pivotally carried by said keeper and having elongated side members extending forwardly from the axis of pivotation; said side members having a leading edge which, in the latch position of the keeper, bears against the legs of said bracket to inhibit the movement of the keeper from the latch position; said tripping lever being adapted for pivotal movement upwardly to release said leading edge of said side members from said legs thereby enabling the operator by manipulating the tripping lever to pivot the keeper into the unlatching position to afford decoupling of the trailing vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said tripping lever is spring biased downwardly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A coupling device as in claim 3 further including an elongated linkage member fastened to said trip lever and extending upwardly therefrom to within the the reach of an operator seated on the leading vehicle whereby the trip lever may be actuated remotely to uncouple the trailing vehicle from the leading vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the rearward edge of said legs is downwardly and forwardly inclined to assist in the retention of the trip lever against the legs when the keeper is in the latching position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the leading edge of said side members is complementally inclined downwardly and forwardly to mate with the rearward edge of said legs.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for releasably coupling the tongue of an implement to the drawbar of a tractor, including power-operated vertically movable draft links, comprising: a. a hitch ball mounted on said drawbar; b. a ball-engaging member affixed to the tongue of said implement and engageable with said hitch ball for coupling the implement to the tractor; c. a bracket mounted on the tractor; d. a keeper pivotally mounted on the bracket for movement about a generally horizontal axis between latching and unlatching positions; said keeper in the latching position when the ball-engaging member is engaged with the hitch ball confining the movement of the ball-engaging member and preventing disengagement thereof from the hitch ball; e. means for releasably locking said keeper in the latching position; f. a pickup bale suspended between and from said draft links; and g. a pickup hook affixed to the tongue of the implement.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
147 words
An apparatus for releasably coupling the tongue of an implement to the drawbar of a tractor, including power-operated vertically movable draft links, comprising: a. a hitch ball mounted on said drawbar; b. a ball-engaging member affixed to the tongue of said implement and engageable with said hitch ball for coupling the implement to the tractor; c. a bracket mounted on the tractor; d. a keeper pivotally mounted on the bracket for movement about a generally horizontal axis between latching and unlatching positions; said keeper in the latching position when the ball-engaging member is engaged with the hitch ball confining the movement of the ball-engaging member and preventing disengagement thereof from the hitch ball; e. means for releasably locking said keeper in the latching position; f. a pickup bale suspended between and from said draft links; and g. a pickup hook affixed to the tongue of the implement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-02-04 | 1978-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-05 | 1982-02-04 | 1982-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-05 | 1986-02-04 | 1986-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |