Bale handling apparatus

Claim 2

A separable assembly of a lift fork unit and a coupler unit for use in conjunction with a tractor lift hitch comprising: a lift fork unit comprising an upright frame and a pair of horizontally spaced, elongated lift arms projecting generally horizontally from adjacent the bottom of said frame, said upright frame including coupling means for lifting engagement by a coupling device; a coupler unit adapted for attachment to a tractor lift hitch and comprising a rigid, upstanding structural portion and latch means mounted thereon, said latch means being releasably engaged with said coupling means on said lift fork unit; and a pair of upright wall assemblies removably secured to opposite sides of said upright frame of said lift fork unit and having wall means cooperating therewith to define a hay bale handling and feeding container with cooperating wall means to substantially embrace and contain a large hay bale, said wall means having animal feeding spaces therein through which livestock may project their heads to feed on a large hay bale within said container, whereby a large hay bale supported on said lift arms within said container may be fed to cattle utilizing said lift fork unit and container assembly by lowering said lift fork unit to the ground with a tractor lift hitch to which said coupler unit is attached and disengaging said coupler unit from said lift fork unit.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said latch means is movable between coupling and non-coupling positions relative to said coupling means by control means operably associated therewith, said control means including an actuating device operable from the driver's seat of the tractor vehicle on which said coupler unit is mounted.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein: a spring normally biases said latch means in said coupling position, and said control means is operative to overcome the bias of said spring.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said upright frame of said lift fork unit includes a cross beam adjacent the bottom thereof; and said coupler unit includes a cross member adjacent the bottom thereof which bears against the rear face of said lift fork cross beam on the opposite side of said lift fork unit from said horizontally projecting lift arms for pushing said lift arms under a load.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said wall means of each of said upright wall assemblies includes a side and a rear wall segment, with said rear wall segments being removably secured to opposite sides of said upright frame of said lift fork unit; and said wall means further including gate means swingably mounted at the front end thereof for swinging movement from a closed position across the front of said container to an open, non-obstructing position with respect to the front end of said container for picking up a hay bale therein.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said wall means of each of said upright wall assemblies includes a rear wall segment with horizontally extending support elements slidably received within complementary support portions on each side of said upright frame of said lift fork unit.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said lift arms of said lift fork unit are at a lower level than the lowermost portions of said wall means and are the only elements of said apparatus in contact with the ground when said lift fork unit and container assembly is resting on the ground.

Claim 9

A separable assembly on a lift fork unit and a coupler unit for use in conjunction with a tractor lift hitch comprising: a lift fork unit comprising an upright frame and a pair of horizontally spaced, elongated lift arms projecting generally horizontally from adjacent the bottom of said frame, said upright frame including coupling means for lifting engagement by a coupling device comprising a horizontally extending lift member supported between a pair of spaced apart, upright members of said upright frame; and a coupler unit adapted for attachment to a tractor lift hitch and comprising a rigid, upstanding structural portion and latch means mounted thereon, said latch means comprising a latch arm extending substantially horizontally between said upright members directly under said lift member for lifting engagement therewith, and said latch arm having a crossbar thereon which spans the space between said upright members and bears against one side thereof opposite the side of said upright frame of said lift fork unit against which said coupler is positioned for lifting said lift fork unit when said latch arm is in a coupling position, and said latch arm being rotatable between said coupling position and a non-coupling position wherein said crossbar is substantially upright for withdrawing movement between said upright members to disengage said coupling unit from said lift fork unit.

Claim 10

A separable assembly on a lift fork unit and a coupler unit for use in conjunction with a tractor lift hitch comprising: a lift fork unit comprising an upright frame and a pair of horizontally spaced, elongated lift arms projecting generally horizontally from adjacent the bottom of said frame, said upright frame including coupling means for lifting engagement by a coupling device comprising a horizontally extending lift member supported between a pair of spaced apart, upright members of said upright frame; and a coupler unit adapted for attachment to a tractor lift hitch and comprising a rigid, upstanding structural portion and latch means mounted thereon, said latch means comprising a latch arm extending substantially horizontally between said upright members directly under said lift member for lifting engagement therewith, and said latch arm having a crossbar thereon which spans the space between said upright members and bears against one side thereof opposite the side of said upright frame of said lift fork unit against which said coupler is positioned for lifting said lift fork unit when said latch arm is in a coupling position, and said latch arm being rotatable between said coupling position and a non-coupling position wherein said crossbar is substantially upright for withdrawing movement between said upright members to disengage said coupling unit from said lift fork unit.

Claim 11

A separable assembly of a lift fork unit and a coupler unit for use in conjunction with a tractor lift hitch comprising: a lift fork unit comprising an upright frame and a pair of horizontally spaced, elongated lift arms projecting generally horizontally from adjacent the bottom of said frame, said upright frame including coupling means for lifting engagement by a coupling device; and a coupler unit adapted for attachment to a tractor lift hitch and comprising a rigid, upstanding structure having an upper mast segment which includes means for the attachment of the middle, pivotal lift hitch boom of a three-point lift hitch on a tractor, and a pair of horizontally spaced, vertical segments having means thereon for attachment to the outer ends of the two outside, pivotal lift booms of said tractor three-point lift hitch; and latch means mounted on said upper mast segment, said latch means being releasably engaged with said coupling means on said lift fork unit.

Claim 12

A separable assembly of a lift fork unit and a coupler unit for use in conjunction with a tractor lift hitch comprising: a lift fork unit comprising an upright frame and a pair of horizontally spaced, elongated lift arms projecting generally horizontally from adjacent the bottom of said frame, said upright frame including coupling means for lifting engagement by a coupling device; and a coupler unit adapted for attachment to a tractor lift hitch and comprising a rigid, upstanding structure having an upper mast segment which includes means for the attachment of the middle, pivotal lift hitch boom of a three-point lift hitch on a tractor, and a pair of horizontally spaced, vertical segments having means thereon for attachment to the outer ends of the two outside, pivotal lift booms of said tractor three-point lift hitch; and latch means mounted on said upper mast segment, said latch means being releasably engaged with said coupling means on said lift fork unit.

Claim 13

A separable assembly of a lift fork and container wall structure for handling and feeding hay bales comprising: a lift fork unit comprising an upright frame and a pair of spaced apart lift arms projecting generally horizontally from adjacent the bottom of said frame; and a pair of upright wall assemblies removably secured to opposite sides of said upright frame of said lift fork unit and having wall means cooperating with said upright frame to define a hay bale containing enclosure, and said wall means having open spaces therein through which livestock may project their heads to feed on a hay bale contained within said enclosure on said lift arms, whereby said lift fork unit may be used alone for lifting purposes or in combination with said removable, upright wall assemblies for transporting and feeding hay bales; and gate means movably mounted at the front end of said wall means for movement from a closed position across the normally open front end of said enclosure to an open, non-obstructing position with respect to the front end of said enclosure for picking up a hay bale therein on said lift arms.

Claim 14

A separable assembly of a lift fork and container wall structure for handling and feeding hay bales comprising: a lift fork unit comprising an upright frame and a pair of spaced apart lift arms projecting generally horizontally from adjacent the bottom of said frame; and a pair of upright wall assemblies removably secured to opposite sides of said upright frame of said lift fork unit and having wall means cooperating with said upright frame to define a hay bale containing enclosure, and said wall means having open spaces therein through which livestock may project their heads to feed on a hay bale contained within said enclosure on said lift arms, whereby said lift fork unit may be used alone for lifting purposes or in combination with said removable, upright wall assemblies for transporting and feeding hay bales; and gate means movably mounted at the front end of said wall means for movement from a closed position across the normally open front end of said enclosure to an open, non-obstructing position with respect to the front end of said enclosure for picking up a hay bale therein on said lift arms.

Claim 15

Apparatus for handling and feeding hay bales as defined in claim 10 wherein: said wall means of each of said upright wall assemblies includes a side wall segment, and said gate means comprises a pair of upright gate sections, each of which is swingably mounted on the front end of one of said side wall segments by hinge means defining substantially vertical axes about which said gate sections may be swung between said open and closed positions.

Claim 16

Apparatus for handling and feeding hay bales as defined in claim 10 wherein: said lift arms of said lift fork unit are at a lower level than the lowermost portions of said wall means and are the only elements of said apparatus in contact with the ground when said assembly is resting on the ground.

Claim 17

A separable assembly of a lift fork and container wall structure for handling and feeding hay bales comprising: a lift fork unit comprising an upright frame and a pair of spaced apart lift arms projecting generally horizontally from adjacent the bottom of said frame; and a pair of upright wall assemblies removably secured to opposite sides of said upright frame of said lift fork unit and having wall means cooperating with said upright frame to define a hay bale containing enclosure, said wall means of each of said upright wall assemblies comprising a side and a rear wall segment, with said rear wall segments being removably secured to opposite sides of said upright frame of said lift fork unit and forming together therewith a continuous rear wall of said enclosure, and said wall means having open spaces therein through which livestock may project their heads to feed on a hay bale contained within said enclosure on said lift arms, whereby said lift fork unit may be used alone for lifting purposes or in combination with said removable, upright wall assemblies for transporting and feeding hay bales.

Claim 18

A separable assembly of a lift fork and container wall structure for handling and feeding hay bales comprising: a lift fork unit comprising an upright frame and a pair of spaced apart lift arms projecting generally horizontally from adjacent the bottom of said frame; and a pair of upright wall assemblies removably secured to opposite sides of said upright frame of said lift fork unit and having wall means cooperating with said upright frame to define a hay bale containing enclosure, said wall means of each of said upright wall assemblies comprising a side and a rear wall segment, with said rear wall segments being removably secured to opposite sides of said upright frame of said lift fork unit and forming together therewith a continuous rear wall of said enclosure, and said wall means having open spaces therein through which livestock may project their heads to feed on a hay bale contained within said enclosure on said lift arms, whereby said lift fork unit may be used alone for lifting purposes or in combination with said removable, upright wall assemblies for transporting and feeding hay bales.

Claim 19

Apparatus for handling and feeding hay bales as defined in claim 13 wherein: said upright frame of said lift fork unit includes a horizontally extending lift member for engagement by power lift apparatus mounted on a tractor vehicle.

Claim 20

Apparatus for handling and feeding hay bales as defined in claim 13 wherein: said rear wall segments include vertically spaced, generally horizontally extending support elements slidably received within complementary support portions on each side of said upright frame of said lift fork unit.

Claim 21

Apparatus for handling and feeding hay bales as defined in claim 15 wherein: said upright frame of said lift fork comprises a plurality of rigid, spaced apart, upright members and horizontal beam members extending therebetween, one of said beam members being shaped to provide an elongated, horizontally extending channel within which one of said horizontally extending support elements on each of said rear wall segments is slidably received; and removable fastening means attaching said support elements to said one horizontal beam member of said upright frame of said lift fork.

Claim 22

Apparatus for handling and feeding hay bales as defined in claim 16 wherein: said one horizontal beam member extends across the top of said upright frame of said lift fork unit, and said support elements slidably received in said channel formed therein are in the form of elongated bars comprising the uppermost structural elements of said rear segments of said upright wall assemblies.