Jack stand for auto-connect assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9924625-B2
Application number	US-201414521049-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2014
Priority date	Oct 22, 2014
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A coupling assembly couples an implement to a vehicle having a pickup hitch. The coupling assembly includes a coupler frame attached to the implement. A jack stand member is mounted on two coupling pins which project from the coupler frame. The jack stand member has a first slot which receives the first pin and a second slot which receives the second pin. The second slot forms a first shoulder which engages the second pin to support the coupler frame when the jack stand member is in a ground engaging lowered position. A block mounted to the pickup hitch is spaced apart from the jack stand member to allow it to fall to the lowered position when the coupler frame is uncoupled from the vehicle. The block engages a surface of the jack stand member to raise the jack stand member when the coupler frame is moved towards the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling assembly for coupling an implement to a vehicle having a pickup hitch, the pickup hitch having a drawbar housing which is pivotal about a horizontal axis and a drawbar slidable in the drawbar housing, the coupling assembly comprising:
a coupler frame adapted to be attached to the implement;
a jack stand member movably mounted on the coupler frame; and
a block mounted to the pickup hitch, the block engaging a first surface of the jack stand member to raise the jack stand member from a ground engaging lowered position when the coupler frame is moved towards the vehicle, the block being spaced apart from the jack stand member to allow the jack stand member to fall to the lowered position when the coupler frame is moved away from the vehicle into an uncoupled position, the jack stand member in the lowered position releasably supporting the coupler frame in a raised position above the ground, the block engaging a second surface of the jack stand member to support the jack stand member in a raised position when the coupler frame is in a coupled position.

2. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first coupler pin and a second coupler pin, the jack stand member having a first slot which slidably and rotatably receives the first coupler pin and a second slot which slidably receives the second coupler pin, and the jack stand member being pivotal about the first coupler pin.

3. The coupling assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
a first slot portion of the second slot is curved about a center of curvature, wherein the center of curvature is positioned forwardly of the first slot portion.

4. The coupling assembly of claim 3 , wherein:
a second slot portion of the second slot extends upwardly and rearwardly from an upper end of the first slot portion.

5. The coupling assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
a third slot portion of the second slot extends downwardly and rearwardly from an upper end of the second slot portion when the jack stand member is in the raised position.

6. The coupling assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the first slot extends generally towards and away from the second slot.

7. The coupling assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the second slot forms a first shoulder which is engagable with the second pin to releasably hold the coupler frame raised above the ground.

8. The coupling assembly of claim 7 , wherein:
the second slot forms a second shoulder which is engagable with the second pin when the jack stand member is in a raised position.

9. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the jack stand member comprises a base plate and a side plate which is joined to an edge of the base plate, the first and second slots being formed in the side plate.

10. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first surface faces towards the vehicle; and
the second surface faces towards the ground.

11. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the jack stand member comprises a left jack member mounted to a left side of the coupler frame and a right jack member mounted to a right side of the coupler frame.

12. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the jack stand member comprises a base plate and a side plate which is joined to an edge of the base plate.

13. The coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first surface faces forwardly and is engagable with a rearwardly facing block surface formed on the block.

14. A coupling assembly for coupling an implement to a vehicle having a pickup hitch, the coupling assembly comprising:
a coupler frame adapted to be attached to the implement;
first coupler pin and a second coupler pin;
a jack stand member mounted on the coupler pins, the jack stand member having a first slot which slidably and rotatably receives the first pin and a second slot which slidably receives the second pin, the jack stand member being pivotal about the first pin, an end of the second slot forming a first shoulder which is engagable with the second pin to releasably support the coupler frame when the jack stand member is in a ground engaging lowered position with respect to the coupler frame; and
a block mounted to the pickup hitch, the block being spaced apart from the jack stand member to allow the jack stand member to fall to the lowered position when the coupler frame is moved away from the vehicle into an uncoupled position, the block engaging a first surface of the jack stand member to raise the jack stand member from the lowered position when the coupler frame is moved towards the vehicle, the block engaging a second surface of the jack stand member to support the jack stand member in a raised position when the coupler frame is in a coupled position.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Huegerich Tony J

Classifications

• B60D1/363

  Hitch guiding or catching elements, e.g. V-shaped plates partially surrounding a coupling member for guiding the other coupling member · CPC title

• B60D1/465

  comprising a lifting mechanism, e.g. for coupling while lifting · CPC title

• A01B59/042 Primary

  having pulling means arranged on the rear part of the tractor · CPC title

• B60D1/62

  involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like · CPC title

• B60D1/66

  Props · CPC title