Abstract:
A paver extension bracket device automates extension and retraction of a paver platform extension to correspond to and be driven by extension and retraction of a pre-existing laterally extendable paver mechanism. The device includes a bracket configured for coupling to a laterally extending paver mechanism of a paver. A post is coupled to and extends from the bracket such that said post is configured for coupling to a paver platform extension such that the paver platform extension is extended and retracted respectively by extension and retraction of the paver mechanism.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIE THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM. 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
       [0005]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
       [0006]    The disclosure and prior art relates to bracket devices and more particularly pertains to a new bracket device for automating extension and retraction of a paver platform extension to correspond to and be driven by extension and retraction of a pre-existing laterally extendable paver mechanism. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a bracket configured for coupling to a laterally extending paver mechanism of a paver. A post is coupled to and extends from the bracket such that said post is configured for coupling to a paver platform extension such that the paver platform extension is extended and retracted respectively by extension and retraction of the paver mechanism. 
         [0008]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0009]    The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0010]    The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top front perspective view of a paver extension bracket device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure in a fully retracted position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure in a fully extended position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 4  thereof, a new bracket device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
         [0016]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the paver extension bracket device  10  generally provides for a platform extension  12  of a paver  14  to be automatically extended laterally relative to the paver  14  when a laterally extendable paver mechanism  16  of the paver  14  is extended. The paver mechanism  16  is of conventional design and a pre-existing element of the paver  14 . A bracket  18  has a first end  20  configured for being coupled to a laterally extendable paver mechanism  16  of the paver  14 . The laterally extendable paver mechanism  16  is of a conventional design and part of a conventional pre-existing paver  14 . The bracket  18  has a base  24 , a lower arm  26  extending from the base  24 , and an upper arm  28  extending from the base  24 . The lower arm  26  is perpendicular to the base  24 . A distal end  30  of the upper arm  28  relative to the base  24  is coupled to a distal end  34  of the lower arm  26  relative to the base  24 . The upper arm  26  is straight such that the bracket is right triangle shaped and planar. The planar design of the bracket  24  allows the bracket to be coupled to the laterally extendable paver mechanism  16  extending rearwardly parallel to a line of travel of the paver  14 . Thus, the bracket  18  is positioned close to an outer lateral edge of the paver  14  and does not substantially increase the overall width of the paver  14  when attached. The bracket  18  may include a medial support  36  coupled to and extending between the lower arm  26  and the upper arm  28 . The base  24  has a pair of spaced mounting holes  38  extending therethrough wherein the base  24  is configured for being secured to the laterally extendable paver mechanism  16  in a conventional manner using bolts or the like. 
         [0017]    A post  40  has a first end  42  coupled to the bracket  18  proximate a junction  42  of the upper arm  28  and the lower arm  26 . A collar  44  is coupled to the platform extension  12 . The platform extension  12  has a substantially planar top surface  46  and a pair of longitudinal flanges  48  extending downwardly from a peripheral edge  70  of the top surface  46 . The collar  44  is centrally positioned along a short side  50  of the platform extension  12 . If an end brace  72  is extending between the longitudinal flanges  48  then a break  74  is aligned with collar  44 . The post  40  extends through the collar  44  such that the post  40  is slidable within the collar  44 . The collar  44  may be elongated to facilitate alignment of the post  40  relative to the platform extension  12 . A plate  54  is coupled to a second end  56  of the post  40 . The plate  54  engages the platform extension  12  as the post  40  is moved generally with the bracket  18  such that the platform extension  12  is configured for being extended and retracted relative to a fixed platform  58  coupled to the paver  14  by extension and retraction of the laterally extendable paver mechanism  16 . 
         [0018]    Typically, the extendable length of the platform extension  12  is less than the length of extension of the laterally extendable paver mechanism  16 . A medial brace  60  is coupled to and extends between longitudinal sides  62  of the platform extension  12 . The medial brace  60  may be fixed to the longitudinal flanges  48  and/or an underside of the planar top  46 . The medial brace  60  has a gap  64  therein aligned with the collar  44 . The post  40  extends through the gap  64 . The plate  54  is positioned between the medial brace  60  and an outer brace  66  of the platform extension  12 . A distance between the medial brace  60  and the outer brace  66  is equivalent to the difference in extension lengths of the platform extension  12  and the laterally extendable paver mechanism  16 . Thus, the platform extension  12  is extended from the fixed platform  58  of the paver  14  when the plate  54  abuts the medial brace  60  to urge the platform extension  12  outwardly from the fixed platform  58 . The plate  54  abuts the outer brace  66  of the platform extension  12  to urge the platform extension  12  inwardly to the fixed platform  58 . 
         [0019]    In use, the bracket  18  and post  40  may be installed on a pre-existing paver  14  or provided as part of the original manufacture of the paver  14 . When added to an existing paver, as the platform extension  12  is typically a pre-existing component of the paver  14 , the medial brace  60  is added to the platform extension  12  at the desired position to create lag in the movement of the platform extension  12  relative to the laterally extendable paver mechanism  16 . The device  10  thus automates extension and retraction of the platform extension  12  corresponding to extension and retraction of the laterally extendable paver mechanism  16 . Guides such as rails and stops, or the like, conventionally used and provided with a pre-existing platform extension are not shown. 
         [0020]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         [0021]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.