Patent Publication Number: US-6655900-B1

Title: Skid loader attachment

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/225,371, filed Aug. 14, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to buckets for skid loaders and more particularly pertains to a new skid loader attachment for increasing the versatility and ease of use of the skid loader. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of buckets for skid loaders is known in the prior art. More specifically, buckets for skid loaders heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     The prior art buckets provide the limitation that buckets can only be dumped into containers that are equal to or less than the height from the ground to the connection between the booms of the skid loader and the bucket in a fully raised position. This is due to the fact the bucket is required-to be pivoted downward to empty the materials into the container. The applicant&#39;s skid loader attachment permits the frame assembly to remain extend to its full height while using the arm assemblies and attachment assembly to push material from the bucket portion into the container without the need to tip the frame assembly forward to empty the bucket portion. Thus the skid loader with the applicant&#39;s skid loader attachment could utilize a conventional sized dump truck which is not feasible with prior art buckets for skid loaders. 
     The prior art buckets for skid loaders are inconvenient for hauling materials such as pipes and hay bales in that the operator or coworker is required to get dangerously close to the bucket and material to secure the material to the bucket. The applicant&#39;s skid loader attachment permits the operator of the skid loader to use the arm assemblies to secure the material to the frame assembly from the safety of the protective cage of the skid loader. 
     While buckets for skid loaders fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not disclose a new skid loader attachment. The inventive device includes a frame assembly having a base portion. The base portion is designed for coupling to booms of a skid loader. The frame assembly has a plurality of tines. The tines forwardly extend from the base portion of the frame assembly opposite the skid loader such that the tines are designed for engaging materials. A plurality of arm assemblies are coupled to the base portion of the frame assembly. Each of the arm assemblies are articulated such that each of the arm assemblies is positionable with respect to the frame assembly. Each of the arm assemblies are adapted for being operationally coupled to the skid loader such that articulation of each of the arm assemblies is controlled by an operator of the skid loader. The arm assemblies are adapted for facilitating gathering, retaining and removing of materials engaged by said frame assembly. 
     In these respects, the skid loader attachment according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of increasing the versatility and ease of use of the skid loader. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of buckets for skid loaders now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new skid loader attachment construction wherein the same can be utilized for increasing the versatility and ease of use of the skid loader. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new skid loader attachment apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the buckets for skid loaders mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new skid loader attachment which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art buckets for skid loaders, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a frame assembly having a base portion. The base portion is designed for coupling to booms of a skid loader. The frame assembly has a plurality of tines. The tines forwardly extend from the base portion of the frame assembly opposite the skid loader such that the tines are designed for engaging materials. A plurality of arm assemblies are coupled to the base portion of the frame assembly. Each of the arm assemblies are articulated such that each of the arm assemblies is positionable with respect to the frame assembly. Each of the arm assemblies are adapted for being operationally coupled to the skid loader such that articulation of each of the arm assemblies is controlled by an operator of the skid loader. The arm assemblies are adapted for facilitating gathering, retaining and removing of materials engaged by said frame assembly. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention 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 invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new skid loader attachment apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the buckets for skid loaders mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new skid loader attachment which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art buckets for skid loaders, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new skid loader attachment which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new skid loader attachment which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present-invention is to provide a new skid loader attachment which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such skid loader attachment economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new skid loader attachment which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new skid loader attachment for increasing the versatility and ease of use of the skid loader. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new skid loader attachment which includes a frame assembly having a base portion. The base portion is designed for coupling to booms of a skid loader. The frame assembly has a plurality of tines. The tines forwardly extend from the base portion of the frame assembly opposite the skid loader such that the tines are designed for engaging materials. A plurality of arm assemblies are coupled to the base portion of the frame assembly. Each of the arm assemblies are articulated such that each of the arm assemblies is positionable with respect to the frame assembly. Each of the arm assemblies are adapted for being operationally coupled to the skid loader such that articulation of each of the arm assemblies is controlled by an operator of the skid loader. The arm assemblies are adapted for facilitating gathering, retaining and removing of materials engaged by said frame assembly. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new skid loader attachment that increases the safety of the skid loader by permitting the operator to use the arm assemblies to secure materials to the frame assembly from the safety of the safety cage of the skid loader. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new skid loader attachment that is for facilitating collection and removal of materials with respect to the frame assembly through use of the arm assemblies and the varied attachment assemblies. 
    
    
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention 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: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new skid loader attachment according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the present invention without the bucket portion. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the present invention with the bucket portion. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention showing a range of motion of the arm assemblies. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the present invention showing a extents of contact between the attachment assembly and the bucket portion. 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  7 — 7  of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the connection between the bucket portion and frame assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view an embodiment of the attachment assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the attachment assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of a range of reach comparison of the present invention with a standard skid loader. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new skid loader attachment embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the skid loader attachment  10  generally comprises a frame assembly  11  having a base portion  12 . The base portion  12  is designed for coupling to the booms  2  of the skid loader  1 . The frame assembly  11  has a plurality of tines  13 . The tines  13  forwardly extend from the base portion  12  of the frame assembly  11  opposite the skid loader  1  such that the tines  13  are designed for engaging materials. The tines  13  can be used to engage a pallet for lifting and repositioning of the pallet. 
     A plurality of arm assemblies  14  are coupled to the base portion  12  of the frame assembly  11 . Each of the arm assemblies  14  is articulated such that each of the arm assemblies  14  is positionable with respect to the frame assembly  11 . Each of the arm assemblies  14  is designed for being operationally coupled to the skid loader  1  such that articulation of each of the arm assemblies  14  is controlled by an operator of the skid loader  1 . The arm assemblies  14  are designed for facilitating gathering, retaining and removing of materials engaged by the frame assembly  11 . The arm assemblies  14  can be extended over items, for example piping or hay bails, to secure the materials to the frame assembly  11  when the materials are being moved. 
     A bucket portion  15  is selectively coupled to the base portion  12  of the frame assembly  11 . The bucket portion  15  is positioned opposite the skid loader  1  when the bucket portion  15  is coupled to the frame assembly  11 . The bucket portion  15  is designed for facilitating the collection of materials unable to be collected by the tines  13  of the frame assembly  11 . 
     The bucket portion  15  has a plurality of tine sleeves  45 . Each of the tine sleeves  45  receives one of the tines  13  of the frame assembly  11 . Each of the tines  13  is for aiding in supporting the bucket portion  15  when the bucket portion  15  is coupled to the base portion  12  of the frame assembly  11 . Each of the tine sleeves  45  is positioned along a bottom  16  of the bucket portion  15 . Each of the tine sleeves  45  is for positioning a free end  17  of each of the tines  13  under a leading edge  18  of the bucket portion  15 . The free end  17  of each of the tines  13  reinforce the leading edge  18  of the bucket portion  15  when the leading edge  18  is used to scrape materials into the bucket portion  15 . 
     The bucket portion  15  has a plurality of alignment members  19 . Each of the alignment members  19  is insertable within a lumen  20  of one of a plurality of alignment sleeves  21  of the frame assembly  11 . The alignment members  19  are for facilitating alignment of the bucket portion  15  with the frame assembly  11  when the bucket portion  15  is being coupled to the frame assembly  11 . Each of the alignment sleeves  21  of the frame assembly  11  has a flared end  22 . The flared end  22  of each of the alignment sleeves  21  is positioned opposite the skid loader  1  such that the flared ends  22  are for guiding each of the alignment members  19  of the bucket portion  15  into the lumen  20  of an associated one of the alignment sleeves  21 . 
     The bucket portion  15  has a plurality of locking bars  23 . Each of the locking bars  23  is received by one of a plurality of locking assemblies  24  of the frame assembly  11 . Each of the locking assemblies  24  is for securing the bucket portion  15  to the frame assembly  11  when each the locking assemblies  24  receives one of the locking bars  23  of the bucket portion  15 . Each of the locking assemblies  24  of the frame assembly  11  has an interior sleeve  25  and an exterior sleeve  26 . The interior sleeve  25  is positioned within the exterior sleeve  26  such that the interior sleeve  25  is rotatable with respect to the exterior sleeve  26 . The interior sleeve  25  has an opening  27  through the interior sleeve  25  for permitting access to a lumen  28  of the interior sleeve  25 . The opening  27  of the interior sleeve  25  is alignable with a gap  29  of the exterior sleeve  26  such that one of the locking bars  23  of the bucket portion  15  is insertable through the gap  29  of the exterior sleeve  26  and the opening  27  of the interior sleeve  25  into the lumen  28  of the interior sleeve  25 . The interior sleeve  25  is rotated with respect to the exterior sleeve  26  for misaligning the opening  27  of the interior sleeve  25  and the gap  29  of the exterior sleeve  26  for securing one of the locking bars  23  of the bucket portion  15  within the lumen  28  of the interior sleeve  25 . Each of the locking assemblies  24  of the frame assembly  11  has a handle  30 . The handle  30  of each of the locking assemblies  24  is coupled to the interior sleeve  25  of an associated one of the locking assemblies  24  of the frame assembly  11 . The handle  30  facilitates rotation of the interior sleeve  25  with respect to the exterior sleeve  26  of the associated one of the locking assemblies  24  of the frame assembly  11 . 
     Each of the arm assemblies  14  has a first arm member  31  and a second arm member  32 . The first arm member  31  is pivotally coupled to the frame assembly  11 . The second arm member  32  is pivotally coupled to the first arm member  31  opposite the frame assembly  11 . The first arm member  31  and the second arm member  32  are positionable with respect to the frame assembly  11  for facilitating collecting, retaining and removing the materials with respect to the frame assembly  11 . 
     Each of the arm assemblies  14  has a frame ram  33 . The frame ram  33  is coupled between the first arm member  31  and the frame assembly  11 . The frame ram  33  is designed for hydraulically coupling to the skid loader  1  such that the frame ram  33  is for controlling pivoting of the first arm member  31  with respect to the frame assembly  11 . Each of the arm assemblies  14  has an arm ram  34 . The arm ram  34  of each of the arm assemblies  14  is coupled between the second arm member  32  and the first arm member  31  of an associated one of the arm assemblies  14 . The arm ram  34  is designed for hydraulically coupling to the skid loader  1  such that the arm ram  34  is for controlling pivoting of the second arm member  32  with respect first arm member  31 . The hydraulics for the frame ram  33  and the arm ram  34  of each of the arm assemblies  14  are contained within the frame assembly  11  for inhibiting failure of the arm assemblies  14  due to pinching and binding of the hydraulic lines when in use. 
     Each of the arm assemblies  14  has a leverage member  35 . The leverage member  35  is pivotally coupled between the second arm member  32  and the first arm member  31 . The arm ram  34  is coupled to the leverage member  35  such that such that the leverage member  35  increases mechanical advantage of the arm ram  34  when the arm ram  34  is pivoting the second arm member  32  with respect to the first arm member  31 . 
     The leverage member  35  of each of the arm assemblies  14  has a body portion  36 . The body portion  36  arcuately extends between a first mounting end  37  and a second mounting end  38 . The first mounting end  37  is pivotally coupled to the second arm member  32 . The second mounting end  38  of the leverage member  35  is coupled to the first arm member  31 . The arm ram  34  is coupled to the body portion  36  of the leverage member  35  such that the leverage member  35  increases pivotal movement of the second arm member  32  from lateral movement of the arm ram  34 . 
     An attachment assembly  39  is selectively coupled to the arm assemblies  14 . The attachment assembly  39  has a base member  40  coupled to the arm assemblies  14 . The attachment assembly  39  is designed for facilitating collection and depositing of materials In an embodiment the attachment assembly  39  has a blade portion  41 . The blade portion  41  is coupled to the base member  40  such that the blade portion  41  extends towards the frame assembly  11 . The blade portion  41  is designed for facilitating accumulation and discharging of material with respect to the frame assembly  11 . The arm assemblies  14  can be positioned such that the blade portion  41  can make of full sweep of the bucket portion  15  thereby permitting the operator to completely empty the bucket portion  15  of materials such as concrete when filling forms. This also allows the user to completely discharge materials from the bucket portion without the need to tip the bucket portion and thereby permitting the skid loader  1  to dump into larger vehicles, as illustrated in FIG.  12 . The blade portion  41  of the attachment assembly  39  comprises a flexible material. The flexible material of the blade portion  41  permitting scraping of the material from bucket portion  15  and the frame assembly  11 . 
     In another embodiment, the attachment assembly  39  has a brush member  42 . The brush member  42  is rotatably coupled to the base member  40  of the attachment assembly  39 . A motor assembly  43  is operationally coupled to the brush member  42  such that the motor assembly  43  rotates the brush member  42  with respect to the base member  40  of the attachment assembly  39 . The brush member  42  is designed for brushing material into and out of the frame assembly  11 . The motor assembly  43  is hydraulically coupled to the skid loader  1  such that the motor assembly  43  is operated by the hydraulics of the skid loader  1 . 
     In another embodiment, the attachment assembly  39  has a plurality of fingers  44 . Each of the fingers  44  is flexibly coupled to the base member  40  of the attachment assembly  39 . Each of the fingers  44  is designed for facilitating collection and removal of the material with respect to the frame assembly  11 . The plurality of fingers  44  are for pushing items such as rocks into the bucket portion  15  while flexing to prevent heavier item to pass through the fingers  44  without damaging the fingers  44 . 
     In an embodiment, the applicant&#39;s skid steer loader rotatable attachment, U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,398, can be used in conjunction with the features described to provide further versatility for collection and unloading materials when using the skid loader attachment. 
     In use, the frame assembly is coupled to the booms of the skid loader and the arm assemblies are hydraulically coupled to the skid loader. The operator of the skid loader is then capable of controlling the arm assemblies to collect items and secure items to the frame assembly without the need for the operator to leave the safety of the cab. The tines of the frame assembly can be used to collect and reposition pallets. The bucket portion may be coupled to the frame assembly to permit the operator to use the bucket portion for scooping up materials and for carrying the scooped up materials. The attachment assembly can be coupled to the arm assemblies to permit the operator to collect materials and remove materials that may be to difficult to scoop into the bucket portion. Further, the blade portion of the attachment assembly can be used to selectively remove a portion of the material in the bucket portion such as selectively measuring out a quantity of cement from the bucket portion. Further, the attachment assembly, through positioning of the arm assemblies, can be drawn along the entire width of the bucket portion to completely remove materials from the bucket portion. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, 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 the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention 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 invention.