Loader parking stand

Abstract

A loader for a tractor includes a loader arm, a parking support, and a lock brace. The parking support includes a support pivot end pivotally coupled to the loader arm, a ground engagement end opposite the support pivot end, and a plurality of connection regions disposed between the support pivot end and the ground engagement end. At least one connection region of the plurality of connection regions includes an obstruction. The lock brace includes a brace pivot end pivotally coupled to the loader arm and an attachment end opposite the brace pivot end. The attachment end is made to removably couple to any of the connection regions. The obstruction obstructs coupling of the attachment end of the lock brace to the respective connection region of the parking support.

1 . A loader for a tractor, the loader comprising:
 a loader arm;   a parking support including
 a support pivot end pivotally coupled to the loader arm, 
 a ground engagement end opposite the support pivot end, and 
 a plurality of connection regions disposed between the support pivot end and the ground engagement end, at least one connection region of the plurality of connection regions including an obstruction; and 
   a lock brace including
 a brace pivot end pivotally coupled to the loader arm, and 
 an attachment end opposite the brace pivot end, the attachment end configured to removably couple to any of the connection regions, 
   wherein the obstruction obstructs coupling of the attachment end of the lock brace to the respective connection region of the parking support.   
     
     
         2 . The loader of  claim 1 , wherein the obstruction is configured to be broken away from the parking support. 
     
     
         3 . The loader of  claim 1 , wherein, upon removal from the parking support, the obstruction is permanently detached therefrom. 
     
     
         4 . The loader of  claim 1 , wherein the parking support further includes a connection plate disposed between the support pivot end and the ground engagement end, the connection plate including the plurality of connection regions defined thereon. 
     
     
         5 . The loader of  claim 4 , wherein the obstruction is integrally formed as one piece with the connection plate. 
     
     
         6 . The loader of  claim 5 , wherein
 each connection region, in an open state, includes a through hole defined in the connection plate, and   the obstruction bridges the respective connection region in a closed state.   
     
     
         7 . The loader of  claim 6 , wherein
 each connection region, in the closed state, includes a slot defined in the connection plate which partially surrounds the obstruction.   
     
     
         8 . The loader of  claim 7 , wherein
 a portion of material forming the connection plate and the obstruction connects the obstruction to the connection plate, and   the slot is adjacent the portion of material to form a stress concentration at the portion of material.   
     
     
         9 . The loader of  claim 7 , wherein the obstruction includes a tool receiving portion. 
     
     
         10 . The loader of  claim 9 , wherein the tool receiving portion includes a tool receiving hole defined in the obstruction. 
     
     
         11 . The loader of  claim 8 , wherein the slot is arcuate. 
     
     
         12 . The loader of  claim 6 , wherein
 the parking support is pivotable relative to the loader arm from a storage position to a parking position, and   the lock brace is nested in the parking support in the storage position.   
     
     
         13 . The loader of  claim 12 , wherein
 the loader arm includes a storage aperture defined therein,   the parking support further includes a storage opening defined therein, and   the storage opening of the parking support aligns with the storage aperture of the loader arm when in the storage position.   
     
     
         14 . The loader of  claim 13 , further comprising
 a retention pin occupying the storage opening of the parking support and the storage aperture of the loader arm when in the storage position, and   wherein   the lock brace further includes an attachment hole adjacent the attachment end,   the attachment hole of the lock brace aligns with the through hole of the connection plate when in the parking position, and   the retention pin occupies the attachment hole of the lock brace and the through hole of the connection plate when in the parking position.   
     
     
         15 . The loader of  claim 1 , further comprising a tractor connected to the loader arm. 
     
     
         16 . A parking stand for connection to a loader arm of a loader, the parking stand comprising:
 a parking support including
 a support pivot end configured to pivotally couple to the loader arm, 
 a ground engagement end opposite the support pivot end, and 
 a wall disposed between the support pivot end and the ground engagement end, the wall including a row of discrete removable sections; and 
   a lock brace including
 a brace pivot end configured to pivotally couple to the loader arm, and 
 an attachment end opposite the brace pivot end, the attachment end including a fastener receiving attachment hole, 
   wherein
 the wall is configured such that removal of a respective removable section leaves a through hole defined in the wall of the parking support, and 
 the attachment hole of the lock brace and the through hole of the wall are configured to align to receive a fastener therethrough. 
   
     
     
         17 . The parking stand of  claim 16 , wherein
 the parking support and the lock brace are both positionable in a storage configuration,   the parking support is formed as a generally U-shaped channel member, and   the lock brace is nested in the parking support in the storage configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The parking stand of  claim 17 , wherein the lock brace is also a generally U-shaped channel member. 
     
     
         19 . A method of assembling a parking stand with a loader arm of a loader, the method comprising:
 connecting a parking support to the loader arm at a parking support pivot connection;   connecting a lock brace to the loader arm at a lock brace pivot connection; and   removing one of a plurality of removable obstructions of the parking support, thereby creating a through hole in the parking support.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 ,
 wherein the loader arm includes an implement attachment end, and further including   positioning the parking support pivot connection closer to the implement attachment end of the loader arm than the lock brace pivot connection.