Patent ID: 9481978
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: E02F

Claim Text:
1. A thumb for an excavator, said thumb comprising: a base comprising an inner end adapted to be connected to an excavator arm and an outer end, wherein said outer end of said base includes a body mount structure that comprises first and second spaced-apart recesses located respectively in outer ends of first and second spaced-apart base side walls located on opposite lateral sides of said base; a body releasably connected to the base, said body comprising an outer working portion, an inner tail portion, and a pivot portion located between the outer working portion and the tail portion, wherein said tail portion of said body comprises first and second tail members that extend from said pivot portion of said body away from said working portion of said body; wherein said pivot portion of said body is engaged with both said first and second spaced-apart recesses of said body mount structure of said base and wherein said tail portion of said body and said base comprise respective mating portions that are engaged with each other when said body is installed in its operative position on said base such that said tail portion of said body is selectively releasably captured to said base in an operative position for use of said working portion, said tail portion of said body selectively releasable from said base to allow pivoting movement of said body relative to said base at said interface of said body pivot portion and said first and second recesses from said operative position to an intermediate position where said pivot portion of said body is separable from said first and second recesses of said base, said respective mating portions of said body and said base comprising: a first notch located in said first tail member; a second notch located in said second tail member; a first projection extending outwardly from said first side wall of said base; and, a second projection extending outwardly from said second side wall of said base, wherein said first notch mates with said first projection and said second notch mates with said second projection when said body is located in its operative position; a first keeper connected to said first tail member and at least partially blocking said first notch such that said first keeper captures said first projection in said first notch; and, a second keeper connected to said second tail member and at least partially blocking said second notch such that said second keeper captures said second projection in said second notch; wherein said first and second keepers each comprise a washer including an aperture, and said first and second keepers are respectively received on the first and second projections with the first and second projections extending through the respective apertures of the first and second keepers.