Abstract:
This device can be attached to the standard tractor blade and converts the tractor blade into a scoop or bucket. This device will increase the utility of a standard tractor by increasing its functions. It will be lightweight and durable and can be easily placed on the tractor blade and easily removed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable 
   REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This is a way to improve a tractor blade by converting it into a bucket as well as a blade using this device. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Tractors are typically used to push debris and other items. They do not, however, serve as buckets to lift and eventually move material. The present device is an attachment to convert a tractor blade into a bucket temporarily. 
   The prior art in this area involves bucket attachments for tractor blades, which involve mechanical levers and other similar devices. The prior art generally describe devices, which are permanently attached to the tractor blade. 
   Representative examples of this prior art include Long, U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,400, Funk, U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,314, and Deyo patent number D425,527. 
   One of the disadvantages of the prior art is that the items must be permanently attached to the tractor blade. The current device is lightweight and portable enough to be easily attached and reattached at will. Additionally, no major alterations need to be made to the tractor blade as this device is not meant to be a permanent attachment. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This is a device, which has a flat base member, two side panels and a means to secure the device to a tractor. Pieces of angle rod are welded or attached to the side panels to provide stability. 
   The base member is a flat, solid piece of metal. The base member will be positioned generally perpendicular to the lower edge of the blade of the tractor. When the device is installed, the base member and the tractor blade form a scoop. 
   One end of a side panel is welded or connected to the base member and the other end of the side panel is welded or connected to a top servicing rod. 
   The side panels extend in a vertical direction from the base member. The side panels are parallel to each other and extend the height of the tractor blade. A top securing rod is inserted over the top surface of the tractor blade and serves to secure its position along the top edge of the tractor blade. Most tractor blades are made such that the top edge forms a lip against which the top securing rod would fit. If the top edge does not have a lip one can be installed to accommodate the top securing rod of the device. 
   On the bottom of the base member holes are placed at the bottom of the side panels to accommodate a bottom securing rod, which extends slightly more than the length of the tractor blade. Cotter pins on both ends of the bottom securing rod would secure the bottom securing rod in place. 
   In another embodiment the device is secured with pins, which maintain the position of the device on the bottom. 
   Pieces of angle iron, which are on the inside surface of the side panels keep the device in position while the device is in use and prevent the device from tilting. 
   The device is designed to be portable and readily removed from the tractor blade. It is contemplated that a variety of metals may be used to construct the device. However, steel is probably preferred for durability reasons. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the device attached to the front of a tractor blade and the outline of a tractor. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the device with the tractor not shown. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device with the tractor not shown. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross section of the device as indicated by the  4 – 4  section on  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the device using pins to secure the device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   According to  FIG. 3  this device consists of a base member  100 , two end plates  200 , a top securing rod  600  and a means to attach this particular device to a tractor blade  720 .  FIGS. 1 ,  2  The tractor itself and the tractor blade  720  are not claimed as part of this device. 
   Angle clips or brackets  300  are attached to the inside surface of the respective end plates  200  and lie flush with the edge of the respective end plate  200 . The angle clips  300  allow this device to be secured in place and rest firmly against one side of the tractor blade  720  while the device is in use. The angle clips  300  are not attached to the tractor blade  720  when the device is installed but are merely used to maintain the position of the device relative to the tractor blade  720  to prevent titling or swaying of the device while in operation.  FIGS. 1 ,  3 . 
   On the bottom of this device is a bottom removal securing rod  400 , which is secured with a cotter pin  500  on both sides of the device.  FIGS. 2 ,  4 . The bottom removal securing rod  400  is placed on the back surface  725  of the tractor blade  720  and secures the device in place.  FIG. 4  The bottom securing rod  400  extends slightly beyond the length of the device and holes are positioned at the ends of the rod to install a cotter pin  500  at each end.  FIGS. 1 ,  2 . 
   A top bar  600  slips over the top of the tractor blade  720  and hooks on the top edge or lip  705  of the tractor blade.  FIG. 4 . 
   The end plates  200 , which are welded to the outside edges of the base member  100 , form the “bucket” or “scoop” of this particular device when the device is installed. The end plates  200  extend vertically to slightly higher than the tractor blade  720 . When the device is installed, the length between the end plates  200  is slightly longer than the tractor blade  720  to complete the “bucket”. 
   A top rod  600  is used to connect the end plates  200  at the top. The top rod  600  is inserted in the lip  705  of the tractor blade when the device is installed.  FIGS. 4 ,  5  The standard tractor blade  720  is equipped with a lip  705 , which allows the top rod  600  to be held securely in place during normal operation. The top rod  600  is welded to the interior surface of the end plates  200 .  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG. 1  depicts how the device will be mounted on a tractor blade  720  with a sketch of a tractor on this drawing. 
     FIG. 2  depicts the various parts of the device as seen from the front. According to  FIG. 2  the tractor blade  720  would occupy the space between the top bar  600  and the bottom securing rod  400 . 
   The outside edges of the tractor blade (not shown) would rest against the angle clips  300  and be secured by the top rod  600  and the removable securing rod  400  and cotter pins  500 .  FIGS. 2 ,  4  Two sets of angle clips are contemplated per end plate as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  to provide the required stability. 
   Because the device is meant to be portable and easily removed, the device will be made of lightweight yet durable material. 
   It is contemplated that because of the environments, which will be encountered, that the device will be constructed from metals and preferably steel or aluminum. 
   SECOND EMBODIMENT 
   The device may also be secured at the bottom by pins  700  instead of a removable securing rod  400  and cotter pins  500 .  FIG. 5  Other means of attachment, which do not involve a bottom securing rod could also include nuts and bolts. 
   In this embodiment the top lip  705  of the tractor blade  720  is placed over the bar  600  of the device. The bottom surface  100  and edges  200  are identical in this embodiment. Pins  700  are inserted through holes  712 , which have been provided so that the pin  700  will be positioned on the back surface  725  of the tractor blade  720 .  FIG. 5  In the second embodiment the pins  700  take the place of the removable securing rod  400  in the prior embodiment. 
   In the second embodiment the device operates in the same manner but the means to secure the device at the bottom edge is different.