Hay bale carrier

Abstract

An apparatus and method for transporting round hay bales disposed on a bale support ground surface. The apparatus has a frame, a frame support assembly, a first and a second rail. The frame has a first and a second portion. The first portion is connectable to a towing vehicle and the second portion is pivotally movable relative to the first portion to cooperate with the first portion to move the frame between a transporting position and a loading position. The first and second rails are movable between first, second, and third positions. In the first position, the first and second rails are lowered to capture the round hay bale. In the second position, the first and second rails are raised and aligned for transporting the round hay bale. In the third position, the first and second rails are positioned generally downwardly and outwardly for unloading the round hay bale.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for transporting a round hay bale disposed on a bale support ground surface, comprising: 
 a frame having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion connectable to a towing vehicle and the second portion being pivotally movable relative to the first portion to cooperate with the first portion to move the frame between a transporting position and a loading position, in the transporting position a longitudinal axis of the second portion of the frame is alignable with a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and in the loading position the longitudinal axis of the second portion of the frame is capable of being maintained in an offset relation to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle, the second portion of the frame having a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side cooperating to define a hay bale receiving space, the front end of the second portion configured to permit a round hay bale to pass into the hay bale receiving space when the second portion of the frame is in the loading position;    means for movably supporting the frame on the bale support ground surface;    a first rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the first rail supported in the hay bale receiving space of the second portion of frame proximate the first side thereof and selectively movable between a first position and a second position; and    a second rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the second rail supported in the hay bale receiving space of the second portion of the frame proximate the second side thereof and selectively movable between a first position and a second position;    wherein the first and second rails are selectively moved to the first position to load the round hay bale, in the first position of the first and second rails the forward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail are lowered to a position near the bale ground support surface to capture the round hay bale on the first and second rails, and    wherein the first and second rails are selectively moved into the second position of the first and second rails to transport the round hay bale to a selected location, in the second position the forward end of the first rail is raised and aligned with the rearward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail is raised and aligned with the rearward end of the second rail so that the first rail and the second rail are substantially parallel with each other and the bale supporting ground surface so as to support the round hay bale in the hay bale receiving space as the frame is towed to the selected location.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising means for selectively moving the first and second rails between the first and the second positions.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first portion of the frame is pivotally connectable to the towing vehicle to permit the first portion of the frame to rotate freely relative to the towing vehicle.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the second portion of the frame is pivotally connected to the first portion of the frame and wherein the apparatus further comprises: 
 means for selectively pivoting the second portion of the frame between an aligned position and a rotated positioned, in the aligned position the second portion of the frame is aligned with the first portion of the frame whereby the frame is caused to move to the transporting position as the frame is being towed by the towing vehicle, and in the rotated position the second portion of the frame is rotated so as to be misaligned relative to the first portion of the frame whereby the frame is caused to swing to the loading position as the frame is being towed by the towing vehicle.  
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein in the loading position, the longitudinal axis of the second portion of the frame is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein in the first position of the first and second rails, the forward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail are positioned generally downwardly and outwardly relative to the rearward ends of the first and second rails such that the first rail and the second rail are arranged in a substantially angled, V-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the forward and the rearward ends of the first and the second rails are angled to facilitate capture of the round hay bale when the first and second rails are positioned in the first position.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the hay bale receiving space is sized to hold a plurality of round hay bales in an end-to-end relationship.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for transporting a round hay bale disposed on a bale support ground surface, comprising: 
 a frame connectable to a towing vehicle and having a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side cooperating to define a hay bale receiving space, the front end of the second portion configured to permit a round hay bale to pass into the hay bale receiving space;    means for movably supporting the frame on the bale support ground surface;    a first rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the first rail supported in the hay bale receiving space of the second portion of frame proximate the first side thereof and selectively movable between a first position and a second position; and    a second rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the second rail supported in the hay bale receiving space of the second portion of the frame proximate the second side thereof and selectively movable between a first position and a second position;    wherein the first and second rails are selectively moved to the first position to load the round hay bale, in the first position of the first and second rails the forward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail are lowered to a position near the bale ground support surface to capture the round hay bale on the first and second rails while the frame is being towed by the towing vehicle, and    wherein the first and second rails are selectively moved into the second position of the first and second rails to transport the round hay bale to a selected location, in the second position the forward end of the first rail is raised and aligned with the rearward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail is raised and aligned with the rearward end of the second rail so that the first rail and the second rail are substantially parallel with each other and the bale supporting ground surface so as to support the round hay bale in the hay bale receiving space as the frame is towed to the selected location.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the first portion of the frame is pivotally connectable to the towing vehicle to permit the first portion of the frame to rotate freely relative to the towing vehicle.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein in the first position of the first and second rails, the forward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail are positioned generally downwardly and outwardly relative to the rearward ends of the first and second rails such that the first rail and the second rail are arranged in a substantially angled, V-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the forward and the rearward ends of the first and the second rails are angled to facilitate capture of the round hay bale when the first and second rails are positioned in the first position.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the hay bale receiving space is sized to hold a plurality of round hay bales in an end-to-end relationship.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for transporting a round hay bale disposed on a bale support ground surface, comprising: 
 a frame having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion connectable to a towing vehicle and the second portion being pivotally movable relative to the first portion to cooperate with the first portion to move the frame between a transporting position and a loading position, in the transporting position a longitudinal axis of the second portion of the frame is alignable with a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and in the loading position the longitudinal axis of the second portion of the frame is capable of being maintained in an offset relation to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle, the second portion of the frame having a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side cooperating to define a hay bale receiving space, the front end of the second portion configured to permit a round hay bale to pass into the hay bale receiving space when the second portion of the frame is in the loading position;    means for movably supporting the frame on the bale support ground surface;    a first rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the first rail supported in the hay bale receiving space of the second portion of frame proximate the first side thereof and selectively movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position; and    a second rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the second rail supported in the hay bale receiving space of the second portion of the frame proximate the second side thereof and selectively movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position;    wherein the first and second rails are selectively moved to the first position to load the round hay bale, in the first position of the first and second rails the forward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail are lowered to a position near the bale ground support surface to capture the round hay bale on the first and second rails while the frame is in the loading position and being towed by the towing vehicle,    wherein the first and second rails are selectively moved into the second position of the first and second rails to transport the round hay bale to a selected location while the frame is in the transporting position and being towed by the towing vehicle, in the second position the forward end of the first rail is raised and aligned with the rearward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail is raised and aligned with the rearward end of the second rail so that the first rail and the second rail are substantially parallel with each other and the bale supporting ground surface so as to support the round hay bale in the hay bale receiving space as the frame is towed to the selected location, and    wherein upon arrival at the selected location the first rail and the second rail are moved into the third position to unload the round hay bale at the selected location, in the third position the forward end and the rearward end of the first rail are positioned generally downwardly and outwardly and the forward end and the rearward end of the second rail are positioned generally downwardly and outwardly thus causing the first and second rails to release the round hay bale and so as to cause the round hay bale to engage the bale support ground surface and permit the frame to be pulled away from the round hay bale.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising means for selectively moving the first and second rails between the first and the second positions.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the first portion of the frame is pivotally connectable to the towing vehicle to permit the first portion of the frame to rotate freely relative to the towing vehicle.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the second portion of the frame is pivotally connected to the first portion of the frame and wherein the apparatus further comprises: 
 means for selectively pivoting the second portion of the frame between an aligned position and a rotated positioned, in the aligned position the second portion of the frame is aligned with the first portion of the frame whereby the frame is caused to move to the transporting position as the frame is being towed by the towing vehicle, and in the rotated position the second portion of the frame is rotated so as to be misaligned relative to the first portion of the frame whereby the frame is caused to swing to the loading position as the frame is being towed by the towing vehicle.  
 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein in the loading position, the longitudinal axis of the second portion of the frame is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein in the first position of the first and second rails, the forward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail are positioned generally downwardly and outwardly relative to the rearward ends of the first and second rails such that the first rail and the second rail are arranged in a substantially angled, V-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the forward and the rearward ends of the first and the second rails are angled to facilitate capture of the round hay bale when the first and second rails are positioned in the first position.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the hay bale receiving space is sized to hold a plurality of round hay bales in an end-to-end relationship.  
     
     
         22 . A method for transporting a round hay bale disposed on a bale support ground surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being pivotally movable relative to the first portion to cooperate with the first portion to move the frame between a transporting position and a loading position, in the transporting position a longitudinal axis of the second portion of the frame is alignable with a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and in the loading position the longitudinal axis of the second portion of the frame is capable of being maintained in an offset relation to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle, the second portion of the frame having a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side cooperating to define a hay bale receiving space, the front end of the second portion configured to permit a round hay bale to pass into the hay bale receiving space when the second portion of the frame is in the loading position;  
 means for movably supporting the frame on the bale support ground surface;  
 a first rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the first rail supported in the hay bale receiving space of the second portion of frame proximate the first side thereof and selectively movable between a first position and a second position; and  
 a second rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the second rail supported in the hay bale receiving space of the second portion of the frame proximate the second side thereof and selectively movable between a first position and a second position;  
   connecting the first portion of the frame to a towing vehicle;    moving the frame to the loading position;    moving the first and second rails to the first position wherein the forward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail are lowered to a position near the bale ground support surface;    aligning the bale receiving space with a round hay bale;    moving the first and second rails to the second position wherein the forward end of the first rail is raised and aligned with the rearward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail is raised and aligned with the rearward end of the second rail so that the first rail and the second rail are substantially parallel with each other and the bale supporting ground surface so as to support the round hay bale in the hay bale receiving space;    moving the frame to the transporting position; and    transporting the round hay bale to a selected location.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the second portion of the frame is pivotally connected to the first portion of the frame and wherein the step of moving the frame to the loading position further comprises: 
 pivoting the second portion of the frame from an aligned position to a rotated positioned, in the aligned position the second portion of the frame is aligned with the first portion of the frame and in the rotated position the second portion of the frame is rotated so as to be misaligned relative to the first portion of the frame whereby the frame is caused to swing to the loading position as the frame is being towed by the towing vehicle.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the step of moving the frame to the transporting position further comprises: 
 pivoting the second portion of the frame from an the rotated position to the aligned position whereby the frame is caused to move to the transporting position as the frame is being towed by the towing vehicle.  
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein in the step of positioning the frame in the loading position, the longitudinal axis of the second portion of the frame is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle.  
     
     
         26 . A method for transporting a round hay bale disposed on a bale support ground surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame having a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side cooperating to define a hay bale receiving space, the front end of the second portion configured to permit a round hay bale to pass into the hay bale receiving space;  
 means for movably supporting the frame on the bale support ground surface;  
 a first rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the first rail supported in the hay bale receiving space of the second portion of frame proximate the first side thereof and selectively movable between a first position and a second position; and  
 a second rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the second rail supported in the hay bale receiving space of the second portion of the frame proximate the second side thereof and selectively movable between a first position and a second position;  
   connecting the frame to a towing vehicle so that the hay receiving space of the frame is positioned in an offset relation to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle;    moving the first and second rails to the first position wherein the forward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail are lowered to a position near the bale ground support surface;    towing the frame and aligning the bale receiving space with a round hay bale such that the round hay bale is captured on the first and second rails as the frame is being towed;    moving the first and second rails to the second position wherein the forward end of the first rail is raised and aligned with the rearward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail is raised and aligned with the rearward end of the second rail so that the first rail and the second rail are substantially parallel with each other and the bale supporting ground surface so as to support the round hay bale in the hay bale receiving space; and    transporting the round hay bale to a selected location.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein in the step of positioning the first and second rails in the first position, the forward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail are positioned generally downwardly and outwardly relative to the rearward ends of the first and second rails such that the first rail and the second rail are arranged in a substantially angled, V-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein in the step of providing the apparatus, the forward and the rearward ends of the first and the second rails are angled to facilitate capture of the round hay bale when the first and second rails are positioned in the first position.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein in the step of towing the frame and aligning the bale receiving space with a round hay bale further comprising capturing a plurality of round hay bales prior to moving the first and second rails to the transporting position.  
     
     
         30 . A method for transporting a round hay bale disposed on a bale support ground surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being pivotally movable relative to the first portion to cooperate with the first portion to move the frame between a transporting position and a loading position, in the transporting position a longitudinal axis of the second portion of the frame is alignable with a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and in the loading position the longitudinal axis of the second portion of the frame is capable of being maintained in an offset relation to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle, the second portion of the frame having a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side cooperating to define a hay bale receiving space, the front end of the second portion configured to permit a round hay bale to pass into the hay bale receiving space when the second portion of the frame is in the loading position;  
 means for movably supporting the frame on the bale support ground surface;  
 a first rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the first rail supported in the hay bale receiving space of the second portion of frame proximate the first side thereof and selectively movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position; and  
 a second rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the second rail supported in the hay bale receiving space of the second portion of the frame proximate the second side thereof and selectively movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position;  
   connecting the first portion of the frame to the towing vehicle;    moving the frame to the loading position;    moving the first and second rails to the first position wherein the forward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail are lowered to a position near the bale ground support surface;    towing the frame and aligning the bale receiving space with a round hay bale such that the round hay bale is captured on the first and second rails;    moving the first and second rails to the second position wherein the forward end of the first rail is raised and aligned with the rearward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail is raised and aligned with the rearward end of the second rail so that the first rail and the second rail are substantially parallel with each other and the bale supporting ground surface so as to support the round hay bale in the hay bale receiving space;    moving the frame to the transporting position;    transporting the round hay bale to a selected location;    moving the first and second rails to the third position wherein the forward end and the rearward end of the first rail are positioned generally downwardly and outwardly and the forward end and the rearward end of the second rail are positioned generally downwardly and outwardly thus causing the first and second rails to release the round hay bale and so as to cause the round hay bale to engage the bale support ground surface and permit the frame to be pulled away from the round hay bale; and    towing the frame away from the round hay bale.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the first portion of the frame is pivotally connected to the towing vehicle to permit the first portion of the frame to rotate freely relative to the towing vehicle.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the second portion of the frame is pivotally connected to the first portion of the frame and wherein the step of moving the frame to the loading position further comprises: 
 pivoting the second portion of the frame from an aligned position to a rotated positioned, in the aligned position the second portion of the frame is aligned with the first portion of the frame and in the rotated position the second portion of the frame is rotated so as to be misaligned relative to the first portion of the frame whereby the frame is caused to swing to the loading position as the frame is being towed by the towing vehicle.  
 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the step of moving the frame to the transporting position further comprises: 
 pivoting the second portion of the frame from an the rotated position to the aligned position whereby the frame is caused to move to the transporting position as the frame is being towed by the towing vehicle.  
 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein in the step of positioning the frame in the loading position, the longitudinal axis of the second portion of the frame is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30  wherein in the step of positioning the first and second rails in the first position, the forward end of the first rail and the forward end of the second rail are positioned generally downwardly and outwardly relative to the rearward ends of the first and second rails such that the first rail and the second rail are arranged in a substantially angled, V-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein in the step of providing the apparatus, the forward and the rearward ends of the first and the second rails are angled to facilitate capture of the round hay bale when the first and second rails are positioned in the first position.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30  wherein in the step of towing the frame and aligning the bale receiving space with a round hay bale further comprising capturing a plurality of round hay bales prior to moving the first and second rails to the transporting position.