Cultivator sweep assembly

Abstract

A cultivator sweep assembly having a sweep adapted for releasable attachment to a shank of a mobile agricultural apparatus. The sweep assembly includes a sweep having a more narrow profile, and a coupling attached to a tapered end portion of the shank and disposed between the sweep and the supporting shank. The sweep includes a stem portion that defines a housing configured to frictionally receive and engage the tapered end portion of the shank. The end portion of the shank having the coupling attached thereto is slidably received within the housing until a projection of the coupling is received through a top opening of the housing. The projection received through the top opening indicating that the end portion of the shank is sufficiently received within the housing of the sweep, and that the sweep is mounted to the shank with sufficient force.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A cultivator sweep assembly adapted for releasable attachment to a shank of a mobile agricultural apparatus, the sweep assembly comprising: 
 a cultivator sweep having an earth engaging head portion formed integrally with a stem portion, the stem portion defining a housing having an opening on one end and further includes opposed side walls and a surface having a slot, the housing of the stem portion is shaped and proportioned to closely engage a tapered end portion of the standard shank,    a coupling attached to an end portion of the shank,    wherein the end portion of the shank having the coupling attached thereto is frictionally received within the housing of the stem portion of the sweep,    the coupling including a projection portion,    wherein the end portion of the shank is received within the housing of the stem portion until the projection portion of the coupling is received through the slot disposed in the surface of the housing.    
     
     
         2 . The shank assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling and shank having a first position that defines a spacing between the projection portion and the shank, and a second position wherein the projection portion is contiguous with the shank.  
     
     
         3 . The shank assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the stem portion having a width of approximately 1¼ inches.  
     
     
         4 . The shank assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, said second end defining the projection portion, and said first end including attaching means to attach the coupling to the end portion of the shank.  
     
     
         5 . The shank assembly as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the coupling is attached in parallel relationship with the end portion.  
     
     
         6 . A cultivator sweep assembly adapted for releasable attachment to a shank of a mobile agricultural apparatus, the sweep assembly comprising: 
 a sweep including a stem portion,    a shank,    a coupling including a projection portion and an end opposite the projection portion, wherein the end is attached to an end portion of the shank so that the coupling is parallel with the shank,    wherein the coupling and shank having a position that defines a spacing between the projection portion and the shank,    wherein the stem portion includes a housing for receipt of the end portion of the shank, said housing having opposing walls and a side surface that defines a barrier and a slot, said slot sized to receive the projection portion of the coupling for temporarily maintaining the shank within the housing of the sweep.    
     
     
         7 . The sweep assembly as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the stem portion having a narrow width of approximately 1¼ inches.  
     
     
         8 . The sweep assembly as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the housing is shaped and proportioned to frictionally receive the tapered end portion of the shank.  
     
     
         9 . The sweep assembly as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the coupling and shank further having a second position wherein the projection portion is contiguous with the shank.  
     
     
         10 . A cultivator sweep assembly adapted for releasable attachment to a shank of a mobile agricultural apparatus, the sweep assembly comprising: 
 a sweep including a stem portion,    a shank having an end portion, said end portion including a surface and a projection having a top end,    wherein the stem portion includes a housing for receipt of the end portion of the shank, said housing having opposing walls, and a side surface that defines a barrier and a slot, said barrier having an inner surface,    said sweep having a first position wherein the inner surface is flush with the surface of the end portion, and a second position wherein the inner surface is flush with the top end of the projection.    
     
     
         11 . The sweep assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the stem portion having a narrow width of approximately 1¼ inches.  
     
     
         12 . The sweep assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the housing is shaped and proportioned to frictionally receive the tapered end portion of the shank.  
     
     
         13 . The sweep assembly as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the projection is received through the slot of the housing for temporarily maintaining the shank within the housing of the sweep.