Sand bunker rake and infield groomer apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11197404-B2
Application number	US-201916248920-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2019
Priority date	Jan 16, 2018
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

A sand bunker rake/infield groomer vehicle having a frame; a plurality of wheels to traverse a driven surface, wherein the wheels are rotatably mounted to the frame; a power source mounted to the frame; and a rear attachment structure attached to the frame, wherein the rear attachment structure provides a joint enabling rotation; a bracket including a shaft wherein the bracket is configured to cooperate with an associated rake/grooming attachment; and a pivoting bracket mounted to the frame.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sand bunker rake/infield groomer vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of wheels to traverse a driven surface, wherein the wheels are rotatably mounted to the frame;
a power source mounted to the frame; and
a rear attachment structure attached to the frame, wherein the rear attachment structure comprises:
a bracket including a shaft, wherein the bracket is configured to cooperate with an associated rake/grooming attachment;
a joint enabling rotation of the bracket about three mutually perpendicular axes; and
a pivoting bracket mounted to the frame and configured to rotate about an axis of the joint.

2. The sand bunker rake/infield groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the joint enabling rotation is a ball joint.

3. The sand bunker rake/infield groomer vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the ball joint is configured to enable motion of the associated rake/grooming attachment.

4. The sand bunker rake/infield groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket defines an aperture, wherein the shaft and aperture are configured to cooperate with a clevis and a pin on an associated rake/grooming attachment.

5. The sand bunker rake/infield groomer vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the aperture of the bracket does not typically experience force loading from the pin of the associated rake/grooming attachment.

6. The sand bunker rake/infield groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises a pin, wherein the shaft and the pin are configured to cooperate with a clevis and an aperture on an associated rake/grooming attachment.

7. The sand bunker rake/infield groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a lift mechanism, wherein the lift mechanism is configured to control a height of the associated rake/grooming attachment from the driven surface.

8. A sand bunker rake/infield groomer vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of wheels to traverse a driven surface, wherein the wheels are rotatably mounted to the frame;
a power source mounted to the frame;
a zero-turn steering control system; and
a rear attachment structure attached to the frame, wherein the rear attachment structure comprises:
a bracket including a shaft and a pin, wherein the shaft and pin are configured to cooperate with a clevis and an aperture on an associated rake/grooming attachment;
a joint enabling rotation of the bracket about three mutually perpendicular axes; and
a pivoting bracket mounted to the frame and configured to rotate about an axis of the joint.

Assignees

• Mtd Products Inc

Inventors

• Hiller Adam
• Buchanan Peter J

Classifications

• A01B35/14 Primary

  with rigid tools · CPC title

• E01C19/15

  for laying-down uncoated stone or similar materials, or for striking-off or spreading same without compacting, e.g. for crushed rock base courses, sand cushions for paving ({E01C19/466} , E01C19/52 take precedence; distributing E01C19/20; {laying down and rolling E01C19/482}) · CPC title

• A01B45/00

  Machines for treating meadows or lawns {, e.g. for sports grounds} · CPC title

• A63B57/50

  specially adapted for course maintenance · CPC title

• E01C19/20

  Apparatus for distributing, e.g. spreading, granular or pulverulent materials, e.g. sand, gravel, salt, dry binders ({E01C19/21, E01C19/4813, E01C19/482, E01C23/098, E01C23/166 take precedence; } fertiliser distributors A01C15/00 {; permanently-installed devices for applying gritting or thawing materials E01H10/005; mobile spreaders specially adapted for treating wintry roads E01H10/007}) · CPC title