Quick-attach mechanism for attaching a blade to an off-road vehicle

Abstract

A quick-attach system for attaching and detaching the rearward ends of the push tubes of a blade, a materials handling structure, or other devices to the underside of an off-road vehicle such as an ATV or UTV. The system includes a mounting plate secured to the underside of the vehicle and which has a pair of mounting pins positioned therebelow. A quick-attach mechanism is provided at the rearward end of each of the push tubes and a spring-loaded latching lever thereon automatically performing the attaching function to associated mounting pin. The latching lever may be manually moved to an unlatched position to permit the quick-attach mechanism to be disconnected from the mounting pin.

1 . In combination:
 an off-road vehicle having a forward end, a rearward end, a right side, a left side, and an underside;   a mounting bracket secured to said underside of said vehicle between said rearward and forward ends thereof;   said mounting bracket having horizontally disposed first and second mounting pin portions positioned thereon;   a blade mounting frame having rearward and forward ends;   said blade mounting frame including first and second elongated push tubes having rearward and forward ends;   a first quick-attach mechanism secured to said rearward end of said first push tube;   a second quick-attach mechanism secured to said rearward end of said second push tube;   said first and second quick-attach mechanisms being adapted to be selectively pivotally secured to said first and second mounting pin portions, respectively;   and a structure operatively secured to said forward ends of said first and second push tubes;   said first and second quick-attach mechanisms permitting said mounting frame to be removed from said vehicle during times of other uses.   
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said structure which is operatively secured to said push tubes comprises a materials handling structure. 
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said structure comprises a blade structure. 
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second quick-attach mechanisms have an upwardly presented mounting pin recess formed therein for receiving the associated mounting pin portion therein, and a latch member pivotally movable about a horizontal axis which is movable between latched and unlatched positions; said latch member extending over the associated mounting pin portion in the mounting pin recess thereof which is in its said latched position to maintain the pivotal connection of said quick-attach mechanism with the associated mounting pin portion. 
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 4  wherein said latch member of each of said quick-attach mechanisms are spring-loaded to yieldably urge said latch member towards its said latched position. 
   
   
       6 . The combination of  claim 5  wherein said latch member of each of said quick-attach mechanisms is normally in its said latch position but automatically moves to its unlatched position due to the engagement of the associated mounting pin portion therewith as said quick-attach mechanism is attached to the associated mounting pin portion. 
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein each of said rearward ends of said push tubes have a mounting plate secured thereto and wherein the associated quick-attach mechanism is removably secured to said mounting plate. 
   
   
       8 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein the said associated quick-attach mechanism is bolted onto said mounting plate. 
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein the said associated quick-attach mechanism is clamped onto said mounting plate. 
   
   
       10 . A mounting means for quickly attaching a structure to an off-road vehicle having a forward end, a rearward end, a right side, a left side and an underside, comprising:
 a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to the underside of the vehicle between the rearward and forward ends thereof;   said mounting bracket having laterally spaced-apart and horizontally disposed first and second elongated mounting pin portions positioned thereon;   a mounting frame having rearward and forward ends;   said mounting frame including first and second elongated push tubes having rearward and forward ends;   a first quick-attach mechanism secured to said rearward end of said first push tube;   a second quick-attach mechanism secured to said rearward end of said second push tube;   said first and second quick-attach mechanisms being adapted to be selectively pivotally secured to said first and second mounting pin portions, respectively;   said forward ends of said first and second push tubes adapted to have the structure operatively secured thereto;   said first and second quick-attach mechanisms permitting said mounting frame to be removed from the vehicle during times of other uses.   
   
   
       11 . The mounting means of  claim 10  wherein each of said first and second quick-attach mechanisms have an upwardly presented mounting pin recess formed therein for receiving the associated mounting pin portion therein, and a latch member pivotally movable about a horizontal axis which is movable between latched and unlatched positions; said latch member extending over the associated mounting pin portion in the mounting pin recess thereof which is in its said latched position to maintain the pivotal connection of said quick-attach mechanism with the associated mounting pin portion. 
   
   
       12 . The mounting means of  claim 11  wherein said latch member of each of said quick-attach mechanisms are spring-loaded to yieldably urge said latch member towards its said latched position. 
   
   
       13 . The mounting means of  claim 12  wherein said latch member of each of said quick-attach mechanisms is normally in its said latch position but automatically moves to its unlatched position due to the engagement of the associated mounting pin therewith as said quick-attach mechanism is attached to the associated mounting pin. 
   
   
       14 . The mounting means of  claim 10  wherein each of said rearward ends of said push tubes have a mounting plate secured thereto and wherein the associated quick-attach mechanism is removably secured to said mounting plate. 
   
   
       15 . The mounting means of  claim 14  wherein the said associated quick-attach mechanism is bolted onto said mounting plate. 
   
   
       16 . The mounting means of  claim 14  wherein the said associated quick-attach mechanism is clamped onto said mounting plate. 
   
   
       17 . The mounting means of  claim 10  wherein said structure comprises a materials handling structure. 
   
   
       18 . The mounting means of  claim 10  wherein said structure comprises a blade structure.