Protective pad assembly for the loader bucket of a backhoe

A protective pad assembly for the loader bucket of a backhoe that prevents the bottom surface of the loader bucket from marring or destroying any surface upon which it is forced downwardly upon when the backhoe is being used. The major component of the structure is an elongated rubber pad that has a top plate secured to its top surface. The front end of the top plate has a hook member extending rearwardly above its top surface for detachably capturing the lower front cutting edge of the loader bucket. A predetermined length of chain has one end connected to the top plate and its other end connected to a second hook member having a curved portion being configured to detachably receive the upper front edge of the loader bucket. There is also structure for temporarily shortening the extended length of the chain between the top plate and the second hook member thereby clamping the protective pad assembly to the loader bucket of a backhoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to digging equipment such as backhoes. More 
specifically, it relates to a protective pad assembly for the loader 
bucket of a backhoe. 
In a conventional stabilization practice for backhoe/loaders, the bottom 
surface of the loader bucket is used to support the front end of the 
equipment as it is lifted from the ground by digging action by the backhoe 
at the other end. To achieve this position, the loader bucket is rolled 
over to orient the leading edge of the bucket in a downward position. When 
the leading bucket edge is in contact with concrete curbs or concrete or 
asphault street surfaces, the metal of the bucket on these surfaces will 
wear or break it up and leave damage. 
It is an object of the invention to provide a novel protective pad assembly 
for the bottom surface of the loader bucket so it will not mar the support 
surface upon which it is resting when the backhoe is being utilized. 
It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel protective 
assembly for the loader bucket of a backhoe that can be easily and quickly 
installed and removed. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a novel protective pad 
assembly for the loader bucket of a backhoe that is economical to 
manufacture and market. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Applicant's novel protective pad assembly has been designed to be easily 
and quickly mounted and detached from the loader bucket of a backhoe. When 
mounted on the loader bucket, the metal edges of the loader bucket can not 
be positioned in contact with concrete or asphalt support surfaces and 
accordingly cannot damage it when the backhoe is being used. 
The major component of the protective pad assembly is an elongated rubber 
pad. It has an elongated top plate mounted on its top surface. A hollow 
channel extends longitudinally through the entire length of the pad and it 
receives a lower bottom plate having threaded apertures therein. Bolts 
pass through bore holes in the top plate and then through aligned bore 
holes in the pad to be received in the threaded apertures of the bottom 
plate. 
The length of the top plate is slightly shorter than the length of the 
elongated pad so that when the pad is moved rearwardly during its usage, 
there would not be a metal surface digging into curbs or other structure 
that the rear end of the pad may contact. 
The front end of the top plate has a downwardly extending lip that covers a 
portion of the front end of the elongated pad and functions to prevent 
objects that are brought into contact with the front end of the pad from 
shearing the pad from the top plate. 
The front end of the elongated pad has a beveled downwardly and rearwardly 
extending surface that allows the leading digging edge of the loader 
bucket to be angled at a steeper angle to dirt or other material it may be 
scooping up while the protective pad assembly is attached thereto. 
A hook member is rigidly connected to the front end of the top plate member 
and it extends rearwardly over the top surface of the top plate so that 
the lower front cutting edge of the loader bucket of a backhoe can be 
detachably captured therein. 
A second hook member has a shank portion and a curved portion that is 
configured to detachably receive the upper front edge of the loader bucket 
of the backhoe. A predetermined length of chain has its one end connected 
to the shank of the second hook member and its other end connected to the 
top plate member adjacent its rear end. The length of the chain is such 
that there is sufficient slack to install and remove the protective pad 
assembly from different sized buckets. A load or chain binder has its one 
end connected to the top plate member. The chain binder has a hook 
connected to it that is placed through one of the rings of the chain and 
actuation by the chain binder will shorten and tighten the length of chain 
between the second hook member and the rear end of the top plate member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Applicant's novel protective pad assembly for the loader bucket of a 
backhoe will now be described by referring to FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings. 
FIG. 1 shows a conventional backhoe-loader tractor outfitted with 
applicant's novel protective pad assembly. The loader bucket arm unit 
consists of two loader bucket arms 14 and loader bucket 16. The unit is 
attached to the front end of tractor 12. Backhoe arm 20 is attached to the 
rear end 22 of the tractor to support digging bucket 24 therefrom. Two 
outriggers 26 extend from the side of the tractor near rear wheels 28 to 
provide lateral support. Two front wheels 30 are mounted on axle 31 
located toward the forward end of the cab. The protective pad assembly 34 
is detachably mounted on loader bucket 16. 
In FIGS. 2 and 3, the specific structure of the protective pad assembly 34 
is more clearly illustrated. An elongated pad 40, preferably made of 
rubber material, has a predetermined length L1. It has a substantially 
square cross sectional configuration and a channel 42 extends throughout 
its longitudinal length. A bottom plate 44 is received within channel 42 
and it has a plurality of threaded apertures 45 at predetermined spaced 
intervals. A top plate 46 has a length L2 that extends from the front end 
of the pad 40 almost to its rear end. A plurality of spaced apertures 48 
are formed in top plate 46 and they align with bore holes 49 in pad 40 and 
receive bolts 50 whose bottom ends are received in the threaded apertures 
45 of the bottom plate 44. A lip 52 extends downwardly from the front end 
of top plate 46 in snug engagement with the front end of pad 40. 
Immediately below lip 50, pad 40 has a beveled front end portion 56. A 
hook member 60 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the front end of top 
plate 46 for receiving the front bottom edge of loader bucket 16. 
A predetermined length of chain 64 has its one end rigidly secured to top 
plate 46 and its other end rigidly secured to the shank portion 66 of hook 
member 68. Hook member 68 has a curved portion 70 that is removably 
received on the top edge of loader bucket 16. A load or change binder 80 
has its one end rigidly secured to top plate 46. It has a hook 82 and a 
locking handle 84. To attach the protective pad assembly to the loader 
bucket, hook members 60 and 68 are secured to the respective bottom and 
top edge of loader bucket 16. Next hook 82 is inserted into one of the 
loops of chain 64 and locking handle 84 is pivoted in a manner to tighten 
the chain binder 80 and secure the protective pad assembly in position.