Method with device for attaching tractor powered implement to tractor power take off

Abstract

A method of lifting, supporting and aligning a driveline while it is being attached to a tractor power take off using a customized sling designed to attach to the tractor either above or on either side of the power take off link. The sling is first attached to the tractor, then manually tightened using buckles, and the user may activate the tractor lift arms or top link to raise the strap or the user may manually tighten the main strap further, or both. A long main strap with the cradle and stiffening board thereon, and attachments thereon, for example hooks. The hooks at either end may also have matching anchors, for example eyelets, to which the hooks may attach as convenient. Finally, each side of the main strap has a buckle used to selectively tighten (and shorten) the main strap on one side at a time.

Description

[0001] U.S. PATENT APPLICATION

[0002] METHOD WITH DEVICE FOR ATTACHING TRACTOR POWERED IMPLEMENT TO TRACTOR POWER TAKE OFF

[0003] Inventor:

[0004] Charles Mark Pickle

[0005] Atorney Docket: 1037p-PickleCOPYRIGHT NOTICE

[0006] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

[0007] TITLE

[0008] METHOD WITH DEVICE FOR ATTACHING TRACTOR POWERED IMPLEMENT TO TRACTOR POWER TAKE OFF

[0009] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0010] The present invention claims the filing date, priority and benefit of previously filed and presently pending United States Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 629,373, recorded by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as filed on October 16th, 2023, in the name of the same inventor, Charles Mark Pickle, and of which the entirety is incorporated herein by this reference.

[0011] INVENTOR

[0012] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 2 of 40Charles Mark Pickle

[0013] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0014] This invention relates generally to tractors and specifically to a method and a device required by the method for easily attaching or removing an implement driveline to or from the power take off of such tractors.

[0015] STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH

[0016] This invention was not made under contract with an agency of the US Government, nor by any agency of the US Government.

[0017] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The traditional agricultural implement which receives mechanical power from a tractor towing it will have a long driveline, a rotatable shaft extending forward from the implement to a power take off on the rear end of the tractor. The power take off is a rotating mechanical shaft or stub which may have splines. The shaft / stub rotates due power from the tractor engine. The power take off (often abbreviated PTO, which is confusing in this context and will be minimized herein) in turn rotates the driveline of the implement and thus powers the implement.

[0019] Power take off shafts rotate at speeds ranging from 9 to 17 rotations per second. For

[0020] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 3 of 40safety reasons, agricultural tractors commonly have guard devices around power take off shafts (for example master shields) to prevent direct and indirect (clothing) human entanglement and contact with the rotating shafts.

[0021] In addition to pull behind implements which are pulled by the tractor’s drawbar (for example balers and pull behind mowers (“flex wings”)), there are also implements pulled with a three-point hitch instead.

[0022] Many implements and other machines connect to agricultural tractors using a three-point hitch. The hitch enables the tractor to elevate the implement off the ground and to operate the implement in reverse. Examples of these types of three-point hitch mounting implements include rotary cutters, post hole diggers, tillers, etc. These implements vary in size but typically range from 5 to 25 feet wide.

[0023] A three-point hitch is usually comprised of two steel hydraulic lift arms and a center top link, and at this point in time are standard on most tractors. The two steel lift arms are positioned to each rear lower side of the tractor’s gearbox and reach out approximately 2 to 3 feet on each side. Each of these lift arms has either category 1 or category 2 openings (“balls”) to allow the operator to place the balls around the implement’s associated cat 1 or 2 pins and thus to hold the implement to the tractor. The implement also has a center link that connects to the tractor’s center top link, allowing the implement attached to the three-point hitch to be level with the ground and centered with the tractor.

[0024] To make the connection to the power take off, the implements or machinery typically has an implement input driveline (the “driveline”) which extends towards the tractor. The driveline typically ends in an opening (the female connection) which contains a number of internal splines

[0025] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 4 of 40which are spaced around the interior surface of the opening such that they correspond exactly with the same number of external splines which are spaced around the exterior surface of the power take off of the tractor (the male connection). By aligning the internal and external splines of the drive line and power take off with one another, the driveline can be pushed onto the power take off shaft until the driveline is secured to the power take off shaft via a locking mechanism.

[0026] Thus the driveline and the power take off may be mechanically and rotationally engaged such that when the power take off rotates, the torsion is transmitted to the implement.

[0027] Drivelines can vary in weight, as discussed elsewhere the average may be 20 to 80 pounds but they may weigh as much as 100 pounds or more. The driveline typically consists of a telescoping drive shaft which extends between one or two universal joints. The female connection is usually integrated into the forward universal joint. On some drivelines , a clutch is located between the forward universal joint and the female connection. In either case, in order to connect the driveline to the power take off shaft, the tractor operator must manually hold up the driveline so that the height of the female opening therein matches the height of the power take off, and further so that the driveline is centered on the power take off in the horizontal plane, and then the operator must use the telescoping feature of the driveline to push the female opening toward the power take off.

[0028] However, the operator must then align the interior splines of the driveshaft with the exterior splines of the power take off and continue to push the driveline even further onto the power take off until it may lock into position. The correct alignment of the interior versus exterior splines may well involve also rotating the driveline, while of course keeping its weight supported and aligned both vertically and horizontally. The heavier the driveline, the more

[0029] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 5 of 40difficult it is to perform this three-dimensional feat of strength and dexterity. And yet, this process is even further complicated by the shield or guard which may form a somewhat box-like structure about the power take off, which shield is installed for safety reasons. This shield of course impedes access to the area around the power take off - because it is of course actually intended to impede accidental access to the power take off- thereby limiting the operators ability to push the driveline onto the power take off shaft while holding it up, keeping it aligned in two dimensions and rotating it. Since the tractor rear end, the wheels, the shield, the implement and more (such as a quick hitch) all are present, it is a crowded area to work within.

[0030] As noted, the long driveline is extremely awkward to handle. It has to be of sturdy construction to handle the imposed torsional loads, it has to be long enough to reach the tractor power take off, and it has to be jointed in at least one location. Since the tractor and the implement are unlikely to be placed on an extremely smooth surface, there will always be small deviations between their positions. Finally, the power take off splines and the driveline splines have reasonably tight tolerances to one another, so the whole operation can be awkward and difficult requiring a precise match to complete the connection.

[0031] Drivelines come in varying weights; the heavier the driveline the more valuable will be any method or device to assist in moving, lifting, adjusting a drive. The main difficulty is the combination of supporting a driveline weight that is difficult to do from any awkward stooping position. For some people even 20 Ibs.to 80 lbs. of a typical driveline is frustrating and difficult. However, conceivably a driveline may be higher than 80 lbs since a driveline is generally heavier as the tractor and / or implement size increases.

[0032] The practical effect is that users in the real world have a frustrating burden in attaching

[0033] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 6 of 40the driveline to the power take off and depending upon the weight of the driveline, also during the subsequent removal of the driveline from the power take off.

[0034] Various solutions are known which to one degree or another may somewhat ameliorate this problem. For example, the present applicant has a device, the PTO Link (see tractorptolink.com) which provides a better interface between the power take off and the bunglesome implement drive line.

[0035] The present invention on the other hand assists the user with the problem of the weight and awkwardness of the driveline. Naturally, it would be preferable to provide a method and / or device which supports the weight of the driveline during attachment to and / or removal from the tractor.

[0036] In addition, it would be preferable to provide a method and / or device which assists with the frustrating task of aligning the driveline to the power take off during attachment and / or removal from the tractor. Furthermore, it would be helpful to provide a method (and / or device) which allows easy lifting of the driveline in addition to support, and allows such lifting to be done using both eased manual effort along with allowing lifting of the driveline by powered means: the rear lift arms of the tractor or the top link of the tractor’s three-point hitch, which are by themselves not actually close enough to the power take off to do this.

[0037] It would be preferable to provide such method and device in a convenient, light weight, simple, low cost and easy to manufacture manner.

[0038] The present invention meets these unmet needs.

[0039] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0040] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 7 of 40General Summary

[0041] The present invention teaches a method of lifting, supporting and aligning a driveline while it is being attached to or removed from a tractor power take off. The method requires the usage of a custom built sling designed to attach to the tractor either above or on either side of the power take off output shaft.

[0042] In the invention, the sling is first attached to either the top link (located above the power take off) or to the lift arms of the tractor located on the sides of the rear of the tractor, usually with the power take off approximately in between them. It is worth noting that many tractors are equipped with quickhitchs, large structures attached to the tractor’s three-point hitch for use in other contexts, and the quickhitchs themselves become another source of constriction of the work area.

[0043] The sling is then manually tightened using buckles, with special handholds provided by the shape of the main strap of the sling, and with the cradle of the sling adjusted (either by moving the cradle or by appropriate relative tightening (and thus shortening) of the main strap.

[0044] At this point the user may activate the tractor lift arms or the top link to raise, which will raise the strap and thus the driveline, or the user may manually tighten the main strap further, thus causing lifting of the driveline manually, or the user may do both: using the lift arms or top link of the tractor for larger motions and then using manual adjustment (via relative main strap tightening) to move the driveline vertically, and due to relative tightening different for the left and right ends of the main strap, to a small extent horizontally as well.

[0045] Next the user may slide the driveline horizontally as needed along the top surface of the

[0046] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 8 of 40cradle, which cradle is designed to allow easy manual adjustment of the driveline along the length of the cradle.

[0047] It is important to remember that the user may or must then slide or telescope the driveline longitudinally to the power take off as the final step, so the sling must provide low friction both side to side and front to back as well as supporting the weight of the driveline and allowing adjustment into perfect alignment. As noted earlier, the driveline must also be rotated, so the need for the sling to NOT catch and bind on the driveline is an almost over-riding necessity.

[0048] The sling embodiment of the invention has a long main strap with the cradle and stiffening board thereon, the stiffening board within the cradle pocket or pockets. The ends of the long main strap may have attachments thereon, for example hooks. The hooks at either end may also have matching anchors, for example eyelets, to which the hooks may attach as convenient. Finally, each side of the main strap has a buckle used to selectively tighten (and shorten) the main strap on one side at a time. This allows the careful adjustment described previously.

[0049] In various alternative embodiments the method may be used either with the top link or the lift arms, adjustments may be made in some ways without needing to resort to others, the sling may have hand holds stitched or otherwise manufactured into it, the buckles may be of various types such as ratchets, the cradle may be pre-installed or may be user moveable or may be user removable, there may be one or more pockets, small pockets may be used on the main strap, caribiners may be used to allow other items to be attached to the main strap or be used for pulling and so on and so forth.

[0050] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 9 of 40Summary in Reference to Claims

[0051] It is therefore another aspect, objective, embodiment and advantage of the present invention (in addition to those previously mentioned) to provide a method of attaching a powered implement to a tractor power take off, the powered implement having a driveline, the tractor having parts including a three-point hitch, a top link, and two tractor lift arms, the method comprising:

[0052] al) providing a lift strap, the lift strap having a main strap, the main strap having two ends, each end having an attachment thereon; the main strap having a cradle section located between the two ends; the main strap further having two buckles, one buckle located between each end and the cradle;

[0053] bl) wrapping the two ends around at least one such part of such tractor and securing the two ends using the two attachments;

[0054] cl) routing the cradle section of the main strap underneath such driveline;

[0055] dl ) tightening the lift strap by pulling the two ends until such driveline is supported by the lift strap;

[0056] el) incrementally raising such driveline by further tightening the lift strap, until such driveline is vertically aligned with such power take off while also:

[0057] fl ) differentially tightening the lift strap by adjusting only one of the two ends at a time so as to incrementally adjust such driveline horizontally; and finally gl) sliding and rotating such driveline to engage such power take off and removing the lift strap from such tractor.

[0058] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 10 of 40It is therefore another aspect, objective, embodiment and advantage of the present invention (in addition to those previously mentioned) to provide a method wherein the step bl) further comprises wrapping the two ends around such top link of such tractor.

[0059] It is therefore another objective, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a method wherein the step bl) further comprises:

[0060] raising such two lift arms of such tractor, and

[0061] wrapping and securing the two ends around such two lift arms of such tractor.

[0062] It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a method wherein the main strap further comprising:

[0063] two anchors, one anchor located between each end and the cradle and each anchor comprises a hook plate;

[0064] and wherein each attachment comprises a hook;

[0065] and wherein the method further comprises:

[0066] b2) after step bl) but before step cl), securing one hook to one hook plate.

[0067] It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a method further comprising:

[0068] c2) after step cl), visually examining the two hooks to verify that they are secure in the hook plates.

[0069] It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a method wherein the main strap cradle section of the lift strap of step al) further comprises:

[0070] a cradle, the cradle attached to the main strap cradle section, the cradle being a generally

[0071] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 11 of 40oblong shape extending along the cradle section of the main strap, the cradle having at least one pocket therein, the at least pocket being a generally oblong shape of a part of the cradle section of the main strap, the pocket having at least one stiffening board therein, the at least one stiffening board being a generally oblong shape extending along the cradle section of the main strap.

[0072] It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a method further comprising:

[0073] f2) after step fl), sliding such driveline horizontally on the cradle of the cradle section so as to further incrementally adjust such driveline horizontally.

[0074] It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a method wherein the main strap of step al) further comprises:

[0075] a pull loop dimensioned and configured to permit passage of a caribiner.

[0076] It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a method wherein the main strap of step al) further comprises:

[0077] a pull loop dimensioned and configured to permit entry of such hand, whereby the main strap may be tightened by inserting such hand into the pull loop and pulling the main strap during steps dl), el) and fl).

[0078] It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a method wherein each buckle further comprises: a buckle cam lever, whereby the main strap may be tightened by pulling a buckle cam lever.

[0079] It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a method further comprising:

[0080] eO) before step el), raising such at least one such part of such tractor around which

[0081] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 12 of 40the two ends were wrapped in step bl) in order to incrementally lift the lift strap and such driveline resting on the lift strap cradle.

[0082] It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a method wherein the lift strap cradle section further comprises a reduced friction material.

[0083] It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a method wherein the main strap further comprises a reduced friction material.

[0084] It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a method wherein the stiffening board further comprises a reduced friction material.

[0085] It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a lift strap for use with attaching a powered implement to a tractor power take off, the powered implement having a driveline, the tractor having parts including a top link and two tractor lift arms, the lift strap comprising:

[0086] a main strap, the main strap having two ends, each end having an attachment thereon; the main strap having a cradle section located between the two ends;

[0087] the main strap further having two buckles, one buckle located between each end and the cradle section;

[0088] the cradle section further comprising a cradle, the cradle attached to the main strap cradle section, the cradle being a generally oblong shape extending along the cradle section of the main strap, the cradle being comprised of a reduced friction material.

[0089] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 13 of 40It is therefore another objective, aspect, embodiment and advantage of the present invention to provide a lift strap having the cradle further comprising:

[0090] at least one pocket, the at least one pocket being a generally oblong shape extending along the cradle section of the main strap, the pocket having at least one stiffening board therein, the at least one stiffening board being a generally oblong shape extending along the cradle section of the main strap, the at least one stiffening board being made of a rigid material.

[0091] It is therefore yet another embodiment, objective, aspect, and advantage of the present invention to provide a lift strap with the cradle further comprising:

[0092] a bottom and a top and two ends and two sides;

[0093] a shorter flap of hook-and-loop fabric extending along the bottom;

[0094] a longer flap of hook-and-loop fabric extending along the bottom;

[0095] the shorter and longer flaps of hook-and-loop fabric disposed in parallel and proximal to one another separated by a width of the main strap;

[0096] the main strap disposed on the bottom and extending across the bottom between the two ends with the shorter flap secured by the hook-and-loop fabric to the longer flap and the longer flap secured by the hook-and-loop fabric to the shorter flap;

[0097] whereby the main strap is trapped between the two flaps and the bottom.

[0098] It is therefore yet another embodiment, objective, aspect, and advantage of the present invention to provide a lift strap for use with a hand, wherein each of the two ends further comprises:

[0099] a pull loop dimensioned and configured to permit entry of such hand.

[0100] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 14 of 40It is therefore yet another embodiment, objective, aspect, and advantage of the present invention to provide a lift strap wherein each of the two buckles further comprises:

[0101] a buckle cam lever.

[0102] It is therefore yet another embodiment, objective, aspect, and advantage of the present invention to provide a lift strap further comprising two anchors disposed upon the main strap, one anchor located between each end and the cradle, each anchor comprising a hook plate having therethrough an eyelet;

[0103] and wherein each of the two attachments further comprises a hook, each eyelet dimensioned and configured to mechanically engage to at least one of the hooks.

[0104] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0105] Fig. 1 is a top view diagram of a first embodiment of the invention showing the sling device used in the method of the invention.

[0106] Fig. 2 is a bottom view diagram of a first embodiment of the invention showing the sling device used in the method of the invention.

[0107] Fig. 3 is an orthogonal view of a buckle and hook according to the invention’s sling embodiment.

[0108] Fig. 4 is an orthogonal view of the underside of the buckle and hook of the invention’s sling embodiment.

[0109] Fig. 5 is another orthogonal view of the underside of the buckle and hook of the invention’s sling embodiment.

[0110] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 15 of 40Fig. 6 is another orthogonal view of the buckle of the invention’s sling embodiment. Fig. 7 is another orthogonal view of the buckle of the invention’s sling embodiment. Fig. 8 is a rear view of a tractor with the sling embodiment of the invention attached to the rear lift arms of the tractor but still loose, that is, after the step of attachment to the tractor but before the adjustment steps begin.

[0111] Fig. 9 is a rear view of a tractor with the sling embodiment of the invention attached to the rear lift arms of the tractor and tightened up somewhat, after the step of attachment to the tractor and in the midst of the adjustment steps.

[0112] Fig. 10 is an elevational view of the rear of a tractor with the sling embodiment of the invention attached to the rear lift arms of the tractor.

[0113] Fig. 11 is an elevational side view of the tractor and the sling, with the driveline of the powered implement now resting upon the cradle of the sling and thus near the power take off of the tractor.

[0114] Fig. 12 is an elevational view of the rear of a tractor with the sling embodiment of the invention attached to the rear lift arms of the tractor, but in a different manner.

[0115] Fig. 13 is an elevational view of the rear of a tractor with the sling embodiment of the invention attached to the tractor in the vertical method embodiment of the invention, using the tractor top link rather than the tractor lift arms.

[0116] Fig. 14 is a close up view of one end of an alternative embodiment of the invention having a main strap pocket.

[0117] Fig. 15 is a top view of the sling embodiment of the invention.

[0118] Fig. 16 is a bottom view of the sling embodiment of the invention.

[0119] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 16 of 40Fig. 17 is an orthogonal, depressed, end and side view of the cradle of the invention with the main strap passing thereunder but the flaps both hanging down.

[0120] Fig. 18 is a top view of the cradle of the invention.

[0121] Fig. 19 is an end view of the cradle of the invention, with the flaps hanging down but showing in shadow how the straps may move toward one another.

[0122] Fig. 20 is a bottom view of the cradle of the invention.

[0123] Fig. 21 is a cross sectional end view of the cradle of the invention, showing the hook and loop fabric flaps both closed and enclosing the main strap within them.

[0124] Fig. 22 is a top view of the stiffening board of the invention.

[0125] Fig. 23 is a flow chart drawing of the presently preferred and best mode now contemplated for carrying out the method of the invention.

[0126] Fig. 24 is a PRIOR ART elevational side rear drawing of a quickhitch, a device used on the rear of most tractors for unrelated reasons.

[0127] Fig. 25 is a PRIOR ART elevational side rear drawing of a quickhitch on a tractor, with the parts of the tractor simplified.

[0128] Fig. 26 is a vastly oversimplified view of an embodiment of the invention, shown in transparency, in which the hooks have been enlarged to attach directly to the quickhitch’s largest central upper hook, while the (transparent) sling is supporting a driveline, with the rest of the implement omitted also for clarity. Finally, in the embodiment shown, the HD PE stiffening boards used are numerous enough and strong enough to hold the cradle in a theoretically dead straight configuration. Note that in practice, this many boards are not normally used and the cradle is allowed to bow downward somewhat, but this vew is intended for clarity of concept.

[0129] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 17 of 40INDEX TO REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0130] 100 Sling

[0131] 110 Main strap

[0132] 120 Buckle

[0133] 122 Cam lever

[0134] 130 Hook

[0135] 140 Cradle on cradle section of main strap

[0136] 142 Long hook and loop fabric flap

[0137] 144 Short hook and loop fabric flap

[0138] 146 Pocket / pockets

[0139] 148 Stiffening board

[0140] 150 Eyelet

[0141] 152 Hook plate

[0142] 160 Pull handle

[0143] 200 Tractor

[0144] 202 Tractor frame member

[0145] 204 Tractor lift arm

[0146] 206 Top link

[0147] 210 Power take off (PTO)

[0148] 220 Driveline of powered implement

[0149] 300 Quickhitch

[0150] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 18 of 40DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0151] GLOSSARY

[0152] As used herein, the term “relative tightening” or “differential tightening” when referring to tightening the main strap means to adjust the strap on one side (by tightening or loosening it) using the buckle on that side of the main strap. This will cause motions which while primarily vertical will also have a subsidiary horizontal component, thus allowing the user to adjust the strap (and the driveline) in increments on one side or the other and incrementally move the driveline closer to alignment with the power take off.

[0153] “Parts” of the tractor may refer to a top link, hydraulic lift arms, three-point hitch system (whether built-in or accessory), quick hitches and so on. Note that the three-point hitch has the top link and lift arms as parts of it, so a tractor with a three-point hitch normally has the top link and arms.

[0154] The term “power take off’ refers not just to a rotating shaft but a rotation device, shaft stub having splines, facets, indents and / or other features allowing it to transmit rotational energy at known torque to devices attached to it.

[0155] The term “strap” as used herein may refer to any convenient hoisting material including strapping, webbing, banding, braided wire webbing, wire cable, fiber rope, and even chain. At the present time, the best mode contemplated and preferred embodiment is two-inch wide polyester webbing.

[0156] The term “attachment” may refer to a hook or other device allowing mechanical

[0157] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 19 of 40engagement of a strap to a part of the tractor. One such attachment is a hook, but other attachments may be used. The term “anchor” refers to a part on the invention to which an attachment may be very securely mechanically engaged. A hook plate / angled bolt plate is one example thereof.

[0158] As used herein, “hook” may refer to foundry hooks, sling hooks, S hooks, J hooks, grab hooks, rigging hooks, etc. These hooks may be of any convenient size and configuration to mechanically engage in a secure but removable fashion to parts of the tractor, other parts of the invention itself, such as the anchor, or other devices. In some diagrams two-inch double J hooks are depicted.

[0159] The term “main strap” as used herein refers to one, three or other numbers of subsidiary straps which form a single longer strap body. In this preferred embodiment the “cradle part” or “cradle portion” of the main strap has two “ends” which are connected to the cradle portion of the strap by buckles. In certain sub-embodiments, the cradle portion may terminated at the buckle, while in others it may pass through the buckle and allow a looped end which provides a pull handle for users to tighten. Such re-arrangements of the buckles, use of levered buckles, cam buckles, ratchet buckles, roller buckles, side release buckles, slide buckles, snap buckles, tie buckles, etc, is equivalent to one single unitary strap, one main strap composed of three parts (end, cradle, end), multiple straps, etc. Buckle size may be proportional to the strap sizes and the strength required to hold the driveline of the implement.

[0160] The cradle portion may slide along the main strap but too much mobility is undesirable, as has been revealed by testing, therefore in preferred embodiments the reduced friction material is not used on the bottom of the cradle and does not adjoin the strap.

[0161] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 20 of 40The term “reduced friction” or “reduced friction material” as used herein refers to any material which allows easy sliding of such an implement driveline laterally or longitudinally across the top surface of the material. The cradle portion may slide along the main strap but too much mobility is undesirable, as has been revealed by testing, therefore in preferred embodiments the reduced friction material is not used on the bottom of the cradle and does not adjoin the strap. In general, the reduced friction material maybe considered in engineering terms to have a low coefficient of friction. In particular, the cradle portion of the invention may be made of or coated with a reduced friction material such as HDPE and in addition the main strap(s) which form the single longer strap body may also be either made of or coated with a reduced friction material as well. In all cases, the goal is to allow the cradle portion to move in a very limited fashion on the strap in embodiments in which the cradle portion may move along the main strap, or allow the driveline to easily move along the cradle portion or the main strap in embodiments in which the driveline moves relative to the cradle portion. Examples of reduced friction materials include HDPE, other polymer materials, spring steel or other metals, PTFE coating, although this list is non-exclusive and many other materials may be used. Moreover a mechanical reduced friction cradle might include numerous embedded ball bearings or rollers, etc. As noted earlier, the cradle portion may slide along the main strap but too much mobility is undesirable, as has been revealed by testing, therefore in preferred embodiments the reduced friction material is not used on the bottom of the cradle and does not adjoin the strap.

[0162] As used herein, the term “oblong” carries its normal dictionary meaning of deviating from a square, circular, or spherical form by being elongated in one direction, for example having the shape of or resembling a rectangle or ellipse. In the best mode presently contemplated for

[0163] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 21 of 40carrying out the invention, the oblong shapes of stiffening plates, pockets, cradle and so on are generally rectangular with rounded comers.

[0164] The term “such” as used in the appended claims indicates an object which is not part of the claimed invention.

[0165] The abbreviation “PTO” will be avoided herein to minimize confusion, but if it should be found in this document it refers to “power take off’.

[0166] END GLOSSARY

[0167] Fig. 1 is a top view diagram of a first embodiment of the invention showing the sling device 100 used in the method of the invention. Sling 100 has elongated main strap 110, which is preferably a strong very flexible material such as woven polyamide / polymer, woven fabric, woven metal or the other non-woven materials.

[0168] Buckle 120 may have a camming-action lever 122 (for example as shown in Fig. 15) to allow tightening, but regardless of whether it has or not, the buckle 120 will be a type which permits tightening of the main strap but does not allow loosening unless the user releases the tension deliberately. Most buckles simply have teeth to provide this action, lever operated buckles tend to have a ratchet mechanism.

[0169] Hook 130 is an attachment to permit the lift sling 100 to be secured to the tractor, it cooperates with eyelet 150 of hook plate 152 to mechanically engage when wrapped around parts of the tractor. The eyelet, hook plate and hook may be dimensioned and configured to provide a secure mechanical engagement for this purpose.

[0170] The center of the main strap 110 is a cradle section 140 which will hold the proximal end

[0171] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 22 of 40of the driveline (220, found in Fig. 1 1), the cradle / cradle section 140 maybe marked with indicia, or may be reinforced strap material, maybe a removable cradle or maybe a customized and pre-installed cradle 140 in the preferred embodiment. In embodiments, the cradle portion 140 may be able to move along the main strap 110 while cradling the drive line 220, or the driveline 220 may be able to move within the cradle or along the main strap, or both. However, the cradle 140 should not move very easily, that is, substantial friction may be preferable between cradle 140 and main strap 110. Nor should cradle 140 move very far in the lateral direction, no more than is necessary to support the driveline.

[0172] Fig. 2 is a bottom view diagram of a first embodiment of the invention showing the sling device 100 used in the method of the invention. In this view a cradle 140 may be seen to be preinstalled but movable along a portion of the length of the main strap.

[0173] Fig. 3 is an orthogonal view of buckle 120 and hook 130 located at one end of to the invention’s sling embodiment. Hook plate 152 having eyelet 150 may be seen, it will be appreciated that the hook 130 may mechanically engage with the eyelet 150 have having been wrapped over tractor arms or top link, etc, while Fig. 4 is an orthogonal view of the underside of the buckle and hook of the invention’s sling embodiment. Fig. 5 is another orthogonal view of the underside of the buckle 120 and of the hook 130 of the invention’s sling embodiment 100 with the hook 130 passing through the eyelet 150 of hook plate 152.

[0174] Fig. 6 and 7 are further orthogonal views of the buckle of the invention’s sling embodiment.

[0175] Fig. 8 is a rear view of a tractor with the sling embodiment of the invention attached to the rear lift arms of the tractor but still loose, that is, after the step of attachment to the tractor but

[0176] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 23 of 40before the adjustment steps begin. Figures 8 through 14 should be consulted again when reading Fig. 24, the flowchart of the steps of the invention.

[0177] Lift sling 100 has the main strap 110 attached to tractor 200 at lift arms 204, by means of having the main strap 110 wrapped over the arms, with hook 130 passing through eyelet 150. Buckles 120 have not been tensioned yet, so the lift strap 100 still dangles loosely. Power take off 210 may be seen approximately in the middle of the rear of tractor 200.

[0178] Note that the cradle section 140 of main strap 110 is more or less horizontal and lower than the power take off 210. However, the device of the invention will not actually be directly beneath the power take off 210 since it will be suspended hanging further out from the power take off (again, sometimes called a “PTO”) in a position where it will support the driveline 220.

[0179] Moving to the next steps of the invention, Fig. 9 is a rear view of a tractor 200 with the sling (100) embodiment of the invention attached to the rear lift arms 204 of the tractor 200 and tightened up somewhat (that is, this is now after the step of sling attachment to the tractor and in the midst of the adjustment steps). It is immediately obvious that the main strap 110 has been tightened (note extra webbing hanging down from the fork arms 210) and buckles 120 are holding the main strap 110 in tension, still with the cradle part 140 of the main strap 110 under the power take off 210.

[0180] Fig. 10 is an elevational view of the rear of a tractor 200 with the sling embodiment 100 of the invention attached to the rear lift arms 204 of the tractor 200.

[0181] Note this alternative embodiment of the method (in Fig. 10) has the hooks 130 directly engaged to the lift arms 210 without using the hook plate 152 (which is visible occluding the buckle 120). The embodiment of the sling embodiment however is a preferred embodiment with

[0182] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 24 of 40a more functional cradle part 140 of the main strap 110. Other views showing the hooks directly engaged to the quickhitch are also of less preferred embodiments.

[0183] Cradle 140 is an elongated body running along part of the length of the cradle part. While it is not yet obvious from this Fig. 10, the cradle 140 has at least one semi-internal stiffening plate, so that when the weight of the driveline 220 is resting on the cradle 140, it will not bend as readily as a strap alone would bend. In addition, one important aspect of the present invention is that the material of the cradle 140 or even other parts of the invention are made of or coated with a reduced friction material such as HDPE, so that the driveline 220 may be easily moved by the user when it is supported by the invention. In particular, the stiffening plate is preferably HDPE or another reduced friction material.

[0184] Finally, there maybe multiple stiffening plates used so that the weight of the driveline is properly supported in the cradle without binding.

[0185] The stiffening plates may be disposed in two facing pockets, one on either side of the cradle, or may be sewn into place, glued, riveted, held in a single larger pocket, secured in other ways, etc. At the present time two facing pockets which form one larger pocket are preferred.

[0186] Without this reduction in friction of a reduced friction material, the driveline 220 may bind up or even begin to twist the material of the invention, not just require additional force to move. In testing, it has been found that the device of the invention may even cause the driveline to pull the entire sling device of the invention in the direction of any horizontal movement, which in turn alters the vertical adjustment of the driveline (i.e. an undesirable second-order side effect) which of course needlessly complicates the entire process of differential adjustment to alignment. Thus the use of material having reduced coefficient of friction is very helpful to the invention,

[0187] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 25 of 40both method and device.

[0188] Fig. 11 is an elevational side view of the tractor 200 and the sling 100, with the driveline 220 of the powered implement now resting upon the cradle 140 of the lift sling 110 and thus near the power take off 204 of the tractor 200.

[0189] It will be immediately seen that in this alternative embodiment of the invention, the main strap ends have been wrapped around a pair of frame members 202. These frame members 202 may be part of the tractor itself, however, they are more likely to be part of a quickhitch (itself a standard tractor part / accessory) such as quickhitch 300 in Fig. 24.

[0190] It will also be seen that the location of the reduced friction material as used on the cradle, stiffener, or strap, will depend upon which embodiment of the device is discussed: the moving versus stationary cradle design.

[0191] In the moving cradle embodiments, the hook-and-loop fabric creates a tunnel holding the main strap and thus exerts friction to deliberately (and desirably) slow motion of the cradle on the strap. Note that in the best mode presently contemplated there are only 2 inches of play on either side of the cradle, so its motion is strictly limited in any case.

[0192] In any case, the driveline 220 is slightly too high. It may also be seen that the differential relative tightening of the two buckles 120 so as to move the cradle 140 and driveline 220 in the horizontal plane has resulted in the driveline 220 being not quite centered on the cradle 140, but nearly in line with the power take off 204.

[0193] It will have to be understood from the diagrams that the process of incremental relative adjustments of the position of the lift sling 100 and driveline 220 will eventually near completion. The driveline 220 will end up quite close to the power take off 204. It will be

[0194] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 26 of 40appreciated that the HDPE or other reduced frictional material of which the parts of the invention are made allow the drive shaft to respond to strap tightening during the process by moving, either due to forces applied by the invention or force applied by the user.

[0195] Fig. 12 is an elevational close up view of the rear of a tractor with the sling embodiment of the invention attached to the rear lift arms of the tractor, but in a different manner.

[0196] Fig. 13 is an elevational view of the rear of a tractor 200 with the sling embodiment 100 of the invention attached to the tractor 200 in the vertical method embodiment of the invention, using the tractor top link 206 rather than the tractor lift arms. This view not only illustrates the vertical method embodiment of the claims but also illustrates that the cradle 140 is quite stiff: despite the weight of the driveline 220 resting in cradle 140, cradle 140 is not doubled up upon the driveline 220 but rather is bent into a gentle curve. It will be clear now that the driveline 220 may be gently adjusted horizontally within the cradle 140 (or with the cradle 140) as one final adjustment means and step of the invention’s method, or the cradle 140 may move along the strap system. Again, this is due to the use of the HDPE or other friction reduced material.

[0197] The gentle curve to the pocket which is pictured is probably preferable to either the extremely flat cradle shown in Fig. 26 (too many stiffening boards perhaps) which might allow the driveline too much freedom, and perferable to no stiffening boards which would allow the strap to bind about the driveline.

[0198] Since the top link is also hydraulic, it too may be used to lift the sling and driveline in the same manner as the lift arms would be used.

[0199] Fig. 14 is a close up view of one end of an alternative embodiment of the invention having a main strap pocket 146 with a hook 130 secured therein.

[0200] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 27 of 40Fig. 15 is a top view of this sling embodiment of the invention and Fig. 16 is a bottom view of this sling embodiment of the invention. In this presently preferred best mode for carrying out the invention, there are additional structures to aid pulling the weight of the driveline upward: cam-action buckle 152 and in addition a pull handle 160 which is formed at the end of a strap by looping over the material of the strap and stitching it back onto itself with a loop formed. The size of the loop may advantageously be appropriate for a user to insert their hand through the loop and pull firmly and comfortably on the strap. Alternatively, the loop may be somewhat smaller and sized for a caribiner or other handle to be fitted through so that the user may pull on the handle / caribiner, or may attach a further device thereto for applying tension. As mentioned in the Glossary section above, the main strap 110 may be a single unitary strap or it may be built up of three straps connected at the buckles, as shown: strap end - buckle - cradle section -buckle - strap end. In one embodiment, the cradle 140 will be able to slide along the main strap 110, while in the other embodiment, the cradle 140 is a fixed section of the main strap 110 and the driveline 220 moves relative to the device cradle portion 140.

[0201] Fig. 17 is an orthogonal, depressed, end and side view of the cradle 140 of the invention with the main strap 110 (cradle section) passing thereunder but the hook-and-loop flaps (144 & 142) both hanging down.

[0202] Long hook and loop fabric flap 142 and short hook and loop fabric flap 144 may be swung closed, short first, then long over short, to create a flat tunnel through the length of the bottom of the cradle 140, running end to end between the two sides. The two flaps 142 and 144 are parallel and separated by the width of the main strap 110.

[0203] Pocket 146 is a different structure, used to hold stiffening board 148 within the body of

[0204] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 28 of 40the cradle 140, Fig. 18 is a top view of the cradle of the invention showing the pockets. Note that there may be multiple pockets, and in the preferred embodiment the pocket is actually comprised of two facing pockets.

[0205] Note also, the cradle part may simply be the central section of the main strap with the stiffening board attached directly to it without further structures such as the fabric cradle part 140, the longer and shorter flaps 142 and 144, etc all omitted. The stiffening board may simply ride directly on the main strap with the use of two slots or other means, rather like what is shown in the final figure below.

[0206] Fig. 19 is an end view of the cradle 140 of the invention, with the flaps 142, 144 hanging down but showing in shadow how the flaps may move toward one another, Fig. 20 is a bottom view of the cradle of the invention and finally Fig. 21 is a cross sectional end view of the cradle 140 of the invention, showing the hook and loop fabric flaps 142, 144 both closed and enclosing the main strap 110 within them.

[0207] Fig. 22 is a top view of the stiffening board 148 of the invention, showing that it has an elongated body with two ends and two sides dimensioned and configured to sit within the pockets 146 of cradle 140 and having a planform and size generally similar to the planfomi and size of the cradle 140.

[0208] Fig. 23 is a flow chart drawing of the presently preferred and best mode now contemplated for carrying out the method of the invention. The steps are as follows in Table One.

[0209] TABLE ONE

[0210] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 29 of 40

[0211]

[0212] The process of removal is considerably easier and not the reverse of the process of

[0213] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 30 of 40attachment. Instead, the sling of the invention is attached by the same method (vertical, horizontal, lift arms or top link, quickhitch, etc) as was used for attachment. The driveline is disengaged from the power take off and then simply lowered using the sling.

[0214] Fig. 24 is a PRIOR ART elevational side rear drawing of a quickhitch, a device used on the rear of most tractors for unrelated reasons. The side in view is the rear of the device which faces reardward from the rear of the tractor and toward the implement being powered. To repeat, the quickhitch itself is neither the implement to be powered nor is it specifically related to the problem of driveline connection: it is actually a fairly standard fitting on most tractors.

[0215] Fig. 25 is a PRIOR ART elevational side rear drawing of a quickhitch on a tractor, with the parts of the tractor simplified.

[0216] Fig. 26 is a vastly oversimplified view of an embodiment of the invention and driveline and quickhitch shown in transparency due to the busy view of the many various parts present (tractor, implement driveline, hitch, sling) in which the hooks have been enlarged to attach directly to the quickhitch’s largest central upper hook, while the (transparent) sling is supporting a driveline, with the rest of the implement omitted also for clarity. Finally, in the embodiment shown, the HDPE stiffening boards used are numerous enough and / or strong enough to hold the cradle in a theoretically dead straight configuration. Note that in practice, this many boards are not normally used and the cradle is allowed to bow downward somewhat, but this view is intended for clarity of concept.

[0217] In addition, this embodiment shows the device with no fabric part to the cradle, no pockets, etc: the stiffening board / boards are attached directly to the main strap.

[0218] Further, in practice it is considered preferable to use lockplates and have the hooks pass

[0219] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 31 of 40over the quickhitch and then attach to the sling itself at the lockplates: hooks specially adapted to the quickhitch are not preferred at this time but make for faster comprehension and maybe provided in alternative embodiments in the future.

[0220] It will be seen that in practice, a horizontal use of the invention in which the sling is largely horizontal would not work, as the quickhitch is dimensioned poorly for this.

[0221] The disclosure is provided to render practicable the invention by those skilled in the art without undue experimentation, including the best mode presently contemplated and the presently preferred embodiment. Nothing in this disclosure is to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is susceptible to numerous alterations, equivalents and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be understood from the appended claims. In the claims appended hereto the term “such” is used to indicate items external to the claim limitations, for example, a “hand” is not a claimed limitation of the invention but “inserting such hand into the pull loop” is a claimed limitation.

[0222] Methods and components are described herein. However, methods and components similar or equivalent to those described herein can be also used to obtain variations of the present invention. The materials, articles, components, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

[0223] Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in detail above, other embodiments are possible and the inventors intend these to be encompassed within this specification. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way. This disclosure is intended to be exemplary, and the claims are intended to cover any modification or alternative which might be predictable to a

[0224] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 32 of 40person having ordinary skill in the art.

[0225] Having illustrated and described the principles of the invention in exemplary embodiments, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the described examples are illustrative embodiments and can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. Techniques from any of the examples can be incorporated into one or more of any of the other examples. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

[0226] Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 33 of 40

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of attaching a powered implement to a tractor power take off, the powered implement having a driveline, the tractor having parts including a three-point hitch, a top link, and two tractor lift arms, the method comprising:al) providing a lift strap, the lift strap having a main strap, the main strap having two ends, each end having an attachment thereon; the main strap having a cradle section located between the two ends; the main strap further having two buckles, one buckle located between each end and the cradle;bl) wrapping the two ends around at least one such part of such tractor and securing the two ends using the two attachments;cl) routing the cradle section of the main strap underneath such driveline;dl) tightening the lift strap by pulling the two ends until such driveline is supported by the lift strap;el) incrementally raising such driveline by further tightening the lift strap, until such driveline is vertically aligned with such power take off while also: fl ) differentially tightening the lift strap by adjusting only one of the two ends at a time so as to incrementally adjust such driveline horizontally; and finally gl) sliding and rotating such driveline to engage such power take off and removing the lift strap from such tractor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step bl) further comprises wrapping the two endsApplicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 34 of 40around such top link of such tractor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step bl) further comprises:raising such two lift arms of such tractor, andwrapping and securing the two ends around such two lift arms of such tractor.

4. The method of claim 3, the main strap further comprising:two anchors, one anchor located between each end and the cradle and each anchor comprises a hook plate;and wherein each attachment comprises a hook;and wherein the method further comprises:b2) after step bl) but before step cl), securing one hook to one hook plate.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:c2) after step cl), visually examining the two hooks to verify that they are secure in the hook plates.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the main strap cradle section of the lift strap of step al) further comprises:a cradle, the cradle attached to the main strap cradle section, the cradle being a generally oblong shape extending along the cradle section of the main strap, the cradle having at least one pocket therein, the at least pocket being a generally oblong shape of a part of the cradle section ofApplicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 35 of 40the main strap, the pocket having at least one stiffening board therein, the at least one stiffening board being a generally oblong shape extending along the cradle section of the main strap.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:f2) after step fl), sliding such driveline horizontally on the cradle of the cradle section so as to further incrementally adjust such driveline horizontally.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the main strap of step al) further comprises:a pull loop dimensioned and configured to permit passage of a caribiner.

9. The method of claim 7, for use with a hand, wherein the main strap of step al) further comprises:a pull loop dimensioned and configured to permit entry of such hand, whereby the main strap may be tightened by inserting such hand into the pull loop and pulling the main strap during steps dl), el) and fl).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each buckle further comprises: a buckle cam lever, whereby the main strap may be tightened by pulling a buckle cam lever.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:eO) before step el ), raising such at least one such part of such tractor around which the two ends were wrapped in step bl) in order to incrementally lift the lift strapApplicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 36 of 40and such driveline resting on the lift strap cradle.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the lift strap cradle section further comprises a reduced friction material.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the main strap further comprises a reduced friction material.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the stiffening board further comprises a reduced friction material.

15. A lift strap for use with attaching a powered implement to a tractor power take off, the powered implement having a driveline, the tractor having parts including a top link and two tractor lift arms, the lift strap comprising:a main strap, the main strap having two ends, each end having an attachment thereon; the main strap having a cradle section located between the two ends;the main strap further having two buckles, one buckle located between each end and the cradle section;the cradle section further comprising a cradle, the cradle attached to the main strap cradle section, the cradle being a generally oblong shape extending along the cradle section of the main strap, the cradle being comprised of a reduced friction material.Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 37 of 4016. The lift strap of claim 15, the cradle further comprising:at least one pocket, the at least one pocket being a generally oblong shape extending along the cradle section of the main strap, the pocket having at least one stiffening board therein, the at least one stiffening board being a generally oblong shape extending along the cradle section of the main strap, the at least one stiffening board being made of a rigid material.

17. The lift strap of claim 16, the cradle further comprising:a bottom and a top and two ends and two sides;a shorter flap of hook-and-loop fabric extending along the bottom;a longer flap of hook-and-loop fabric extending along the bottom;the shorter and longer flaps of hook-and-loop fabric disposed in parallel and proximal to one another separated by a width of the main strap;the main strap disposed on the bottom and extending across the bottom between the two ends with the shorter flap secured by the hook-and-loop fabric to the longer flap and the longer flap secured by the hook-and-loop fabric to the shorter flap;whereby the main strap is trapped between the two flaps and the bottom.

18. The lift strap of claim 17, for use with a hand, wherein each of the two ends further comprises:a pull loop dimensioned and configured to permit entry of such hand.Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 38 of 4019. The lift strap of claim 17, wherein each of the two buckles further comprises:a buckle cam lever.

20. The lift strap of claim 17, further comprising two anchors disposed upon the main strap, one anchor located between each end and the cradle, each anchor comprising a hook plate having therethrough an eyelet;and wherein each of the two attachments further comprises a hook, each eyelet dimensioned and configured to mechanically engage to at least one of the hooks.Applicant: Charles Mark Pickle Page 39 of 40

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