Attachment assembly for powered implements

1 . An attachment assembly for connecting an agricultural implement to a tractor, said attachment assembly comprising:

a tractor-side frame configured to be removably attached to the tractor and to extend from the tractor; and

an implement-side frame configured to be removably attached to the implement,

wherein said implement-side frame is configured to rotate with respect to said tractor-side frame, wherein said implement-side frame comprises connection elements configured to attach the implement to said implement-side frame, and wherein said connection elements provide at least four points of connection for the implement,

wherein said connection elements include a pair of lower connection elements with each one of the pair positioned on a respective lateral side of the implement-side frame, and wherein said connection elements include at least a pair of upper connection elements centrally positioned between the pair of lower connection elements with respect to a lateral direction,

wherein said pair of lower connection elements comprises a pair of lower engagement hooks and wherein said at least a pair of upper connection elements comprises a pair of upper engagement hooks,

further comprising a power take-off (PTO) adapter configured to facilitate a rotary-power connection between the tractor and the implement, wherein the PTO adapter is configured to be removably coupled with the implement-side frame, and wherein the PTO adapter is configured to rotate with respect to the implement-side frame.

2 . The attachment assembly of claim 1 , wherein said pair of upper engagement hooks is configured to securely receive an upper hitch pin of the implement.

3 . The attachment assembly of claim 2 , wherein the upper engagement hooks of said pair of upper engagement hooks are spaced apart from each other and are further configured to both simultaneously receive the upper hitch pin of the implement.

4 . The attachment assembly of claim 3 , wherein said connection elements comprise a central upper engagement hook, and wherein the upper engagement hooks of said pair of upper engagement hooks are positioned on either side of said central upper engagement hook.

5 . The attachment assembly of claim 4 , wherein each of said pair of upper engagement hooks and said central upper engagement hook is configured to simultaneously receive the upper hitch pin of the implement, such that said connection elements provide at least five points of connection for the implement.

6 . The attachment assembly of claim 4 , wherein said attachment assembly is configured to be shifted from a closed configuration, in which said implement-side frame is positioned adjacent to said tractor-side frame, to an open configuration, in which at least a portion of said implement-side frame is rotated away from said tractor-side frame.

7 . The attachment assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of said lower engagement hooks is configured to securely receive a lower hitch pin of the implement.

8 . A method of attaching an implement to a tractor, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an attachment assembly removably attached to the tractor and extending from the tractor, wherein the attachment assembly comprises a tractor-side frame and an implement-side frame rotatably coupled with the tractor-side frame, wherein the attachment assembly is configured to be shifted between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the implement-side frame comprises connection elements configured to attach the implement to the implement-side frame, and wherein the connection elements provide at least four points of connection for the implement, wherein said connection elements include a pair of lower connection elements with each one of the pair positioned on a respective lateral side of the implement- side frame, and wherein said connection elements include at least a pair of upper connection elements centrally positioned between the pair of lower connection elements with respect to a lateral direction;

(b) removably coupling a power take-off (PTO) adapter with the implement-side frame;

(c) shifting the attachment assembly to the open configuration, wherein during said shifting of step (c), the PTO adapter rotates with respect to the implement-side frame;

(d) securing the implement-side frame to the implement; and

(e) shifting the attachment assembly to the closed configuration.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said pair of lower connection elements comprises a pair of lower engagement hooks and wherein said at least a pair of upper connection elements comprises a pair of upper engagement hooks.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said securing of step (d) includes:

engaging the pair of upper engagement hooks of the implement-side frame with an upper hitch pin of the implement,

raising the implement with the attachment assembly, and

engaging a pair of lower engagement hooks of the implement-side frame with a pair of lower hitch pins of the implement.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said pair of lower connection elements comprises a pair of lower engagement hooks, and wherein said at least a pair of upper connection elements comprises at least three upper engagement hooks.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said securing of step (d) includes engaging a power take-off (PTO) driveline of the implement with the PTO adapter.