Multi-use frame for tractor loader

Abstract

A multi-use frame designed for attachment to a tractor front-end loader or a three-point hitch includes a lower assembly and an attachably removable upper assembly. The lower assembly features a horizontal lower support member with transverse connection points at each end and vertical support members extending upward at each end, each with a vertically disposed connection point at the top. The assembly also includes front-end loader mounting points forming hooks on each vertical support member and multiple bottom connection points along the lower support member. The upper assembly comprises a horizontal upper support member with downward extending connection members at each end for operable coupling with the vertically disposed connection points of the lower assembly. Additionally, a top link connection point is operably connected to the upper support member, facilitating versatile attachment configurations for various agricultural applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-use frame for attachment for attaching to a tractor front-end loader or a three-point hitch, the multi-use frame comprising:
 a lower assembly comprising:
 a horizontal lower support member having a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end having a transverse connection point; 
 a first vertical support member having a top and a bottom, the vertical support member extending upward at the first end of the horizontal lower support member, a first vertically disposed connection point positioned at the top of the first vertical support member; 
 a second vertical support member having a top and a bottom, the vertical support member extending upward at the second end of the horizontal lower support member, a second vertically disposed connection point positioned at the top of the second vertical support member; 
 a first front-end loader mounting point forming a first hook connected to the first vertical support member; 
 a second front-end loader mounting point forming a second hook connected to the second vertical support member; and 
 a plurality of bottom connection points positioned along the bottom of the horizontal lower support member; and 
   an attachably removable upper assembly having:
 a horizontal upper support member having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first downward extending connection member for operably coupling with the first vertically disposed connection point of the lower assembly, the second end having a second downward extending connection member for operably selectively coupling with the second vertically disposed connection point of the lower assembly; and 
 a top link connection point operably connected to the upper support member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The multi-use frame of  claim 1 , wherein the top link connection point comprises at least a first and second upper connection points centrally positioned above the horizontal upper support member and are configured to receive a pin therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-use frame of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second upper connection points further comprise a pair of laterally aligned pin holes, thereby allowing receipt of a pin that functions as a top link connection point of a three-point hitch connection. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-use frame of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second upper connection points is a rectangular metal tubing having a pair of laterally aligned pin holes, forming a longitudinal sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-use frame of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bottom connection points is formed of a rectangular metal tubing having a pair of lateral pin holes, forming a longitudinal sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-use frame of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bottom connection points is attachably removable to and from the horizontal lower support member, each of the bottom connection points comprises a rectangular metal tubing having a pair of lateral pin holes, a front connection bracket, and a rear connection bracket, the front connection bracket and the rear connection bracket are selectively attachably removable to a plurality of longitudinal pin holes aligned in longitudinal pairs along the horizontal lower support member, thereby allowing selection of the position of each of the plurality of bottom connection points. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-use frame of  claim 6 , wherein the top link connection point comprises at least a first and second upper connection points centrally positioned above the horizontal upper support member and are configured to receive a pin therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-use frame of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first and second upper connection points further comprise a pair of laterally aligned pin holes, thereby allowing receipt of a pin that functions as a top link connection point of a three-point hitch connection. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-use frame of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second upper connection points is a rectangular metal tubing having a pair of laterally aligned pin holes, forming a longitudinal sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-use frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a first end mount that supports a removable first connection pin that is operably attachable to the first end of the horizontal lower support member and a second end mount that supports a removable second connection pin that is operably attachable to the second end of the horizontal lower support member, thereby the first connection pin and the second connection pin function as lower connection points for a front-end loader. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-use frame of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second end mounts is attachably removable to the respective ends of the horizontal lower member. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-use frame of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second mounts further comprises a longitudinal connection point formed of a rectangular metal tubing defining a longitudinal sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-use frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a first vertical connection plate attached to the first vertical support member and a second vertical connection plate attached to the second vertical support member, wherein each of the first and second vertical connection plates has an upper portion that supports the respective first and second front-end loader mounting points. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-use frame of  claim 13 , wherein a lower portion of the first vertical connection plate supports a first connection pin and a lower portion of the second vertical connection plate supports a second connection pin. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-use frame of  claim 1 , wherein a first loader bucket hook-in mount is operably attached to the first vertical support member and is disposed opposite of the first front-end loader mounting point, and a second loader bucket hook-in mount is operably attached to the second vertical support member and is disposed opposite of the second front-end loader mounting point. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-use frame of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second loader bucket hook-in mounts is operably attachably removable to the respective first and second vertical support member. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-use frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a first and second angled structural support members, each extending from near a midpoint of the horizontal lower support member to a respective top of the first and second vertical support member. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-use frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a dolly assembly comprising:
 a longitudinal support member extending between a forward end and an aft end, the forward end configured to couple with one of the plurality of bottom connection points positioned along the horizontal lower support member, the aft end having an aft connection point;   a first caster wheel configured to couple with the first transverse connection point of the horizontal lower support member;   a second caster wheel configured to couple with the second transverse connection point of the horizontal lower support member; and   an aft caster wheel configured to couple with the aft connection point of the longitudinal support member.   
     
     
         19 . The multi-use frame of  claim 18 , wherein the longitudinal support member comprises a fixed tube and a telescoping movable tube that operably translates within the fixed tube, thereby allowing the user to select the overall length of the longitudinal support member. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-use frame of  claim 19 , wherein the fixed tube comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of lateral pin holes and the telescoping movable tube comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of lateral pin holes, thereby allowing the user to selectively determine the overall length of the longitudinal support member by aligning a pair of the lateral pin holes of the fixed tube with a pair of the lateral pin holes of the telescoping movable tube and inserting a pin. 
     
     
         21 . The multi-use frame of  claim 1 , further comprising a first tapered pallet fork tube that is operably shaped to translate within the horizontal upper support member via the first end and a second tapered pallet fork tube that is operably shaped to translate within the horizontal upper support member via the second end, wherein while stowed within the horizontal upper support member, each of the first and second tapered pallet fork tubes reciprocally overlaps the other.