A forward mount is disclosed which is secured to the frame of an off-road vehicle to enable the rearward ends of a push-tube assembly to be secured thereto. The forward mount of this invention may be attached to the main frame of off-road vehicles of different manufacturers in various ways.
1. In combination:
an off-road vehicle having a forward end, a rearward end, and an underside;
said vehicle including a main frame having a portion thereof exposed at the underside thereof;
said main frame including a first longitudinally extending frame member, having a generally longitudinally extending rear frame portion, having forward and rearward ends, an intermediate frame portion, having rearward and forward ends, which extends horizontally forwardly and inwardly from the forward end of said rear frame portion, and a generally longitudinally extending front frame portion, with rearward and forward ends, which extends forwardly from said forward end of said intermediate frame portion;
said main frame also including a second longitudinally extending frame member having a generally longitudinally extending rear frame portion, with forward and rearward ends, an intermediate frame portion, having rearward and forward ends, which extends horizontally forwardly and inwardly from the forward end of said rear frame portion, and a generally longitudinally extending front frame portion, with rearward and forward ends, which extends forwardly from said forward end of said intermediate frame portion;
said rear frame portions of said first and second frame members being generally parallel to one another;
said front frame portions of said first and second frame members being generally parallel to one another;
and an elongated forward mount, having first and second ends, selectively detachably secured to said first and second frame members and extending therebetween;
said forward mount having a push tube mount at each of its ends for pivotally receiving rearward ends of a push tube assembly.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said forward mount is detachably secured to said first and second frame members and extends therebetween adjacent the juncture of said front and intermediate frame positions thereof.
3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said forward mount is detachably secured to said first and second frame members and extends therebetween rearwardly of the juncture of said front and intermediate frame portions thereof.
4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said forward mount is detachably secured to said first and second frame members and extends therebetween forwardly of said forward ends of the intermediate frame portions thereof.
5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said forward mount is secured to said first and second frame members by U-bolts.
6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said forward mount includes a mounting plate which is positioned below said first and second frame members.
7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said mounting plate is secured to said first and second frame members by U-bolts.
8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said mounting plate includes a plurality of spaced-apart transversely extending slots formed therein.
9. The combination of claim 6 wherein said forward mount includes a top plate, having a plurality of spaced-apart transversely extending slots formed therein, which is positioned above said first and second frame members and wherein bolts interconnect said mounting plate and said top plate by extending through said slots therein.
10. The combination of claim 9 wherein each of said mounting plate and said top plate has a plurality of spaced-apart and transversely extending slots formed therein.
11. The combination of claim 9 wherein a plurality of spacers are positioned between said mounting plate and said top plate.