Method of removing synthetic turf and sythetic turf removal attachment

Abstract

A turf removal attachment is attached to a skid steer to allow hydraulic motors thereon to first power cutting blades to form easily removable strips of turf and then, on a lower gear ratio, the drum to which roller tines are attached to spool the strips of turf. Hydraulic circuitry may be provided to permit the hydraulic fluid of the skid steer to power the turf removal tools on the turf removal attachment.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of removing synthetic turf, comprising the steps of:
 attaching a synthetic turf removal attachment to a skid steer, and   removing the synthetic turf, wherein the synthetic turf removal attachment comprises   (a) a frame, comprising:
 (i) a transverse component; 
 (ii) a first arm extending from a first distal end of the transverse component; and 
 (iii) a second arm extending from a second distal end of the transverse component, wherein the first distal end is on the opposite end of the transverse component from the second distal end; 
   (b) a first removable turf removal tool connected to a distal end of the first arm;   (c) a second removable turf removal tool connected to a distal end of the second arm;   (d) a first hydraulic motor operably coupled to the first turf removal tool;   (e) a second hydraulic motor operably coupled to the second turf removal tool; and   (f) a mounting plate attached to a rear face of the transverse component permitting attachment of the synthetic turf removal attachment to the skid steer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of adjusting a distance between the first arm and the second arm by moving at least one of said first arm and second arm laterally with respect to a respective end of the transverse component. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of moving at least one of said first arm and second arm laterally comprising telescoping the at least one of said first arm and second arm laterally. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second removable turf removal tools comprise turf rolling tools. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second removable turf removal tools comprise a turf cutting tool. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein each of the turf cutting tools comprises a turf cutting blade, a cutter shoe, and a retractable blade guard, wherein the retractable blade guard covers the turf cutting blade when not in use, and wherein the turf cutting tools is configured to cut the synthetic turf into strips. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of cutting a strip of synthetic turf via the turf cutting tools. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of replacing the turf cutting tools with turf rolling tools. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of rolling a strip of synthetic turf using the turf rolling tools. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of rolling a strip of synthetic turf using the first and second removable turf removal tools. 
     
     
         11 . A synthetic turf removal attachment, comprising:
 (a) a frame, comprising:
 (i) a transverse component; 
 (ii) a first arm extending from a first distal end of the transverse component; and 
 (iii) a second arm extending from a second distal end of the transverse component, wherein the first distal end is on the opposite end of the transverse component from the second distal end; 
   (b) a first removable turf removal tool connected to a distal end of the first arm;   (c) a second removable turf removal tool connected to a distal end of the second arm;   (d) a first hydraulic motor operably coupled to the first turf removal tool;   (e) a second hydraulic motor operably coupled to the second turf removal tool; and   (f) a mounting plate attached to a rear face of the transverse component permitting attachment of the synthetic turf removal attachment to a skid steer.