Patent Abstract:
The present invention is a compact earth leveling and moving apparatus including a handle assembly, a blade assembly, a blade coupled to the blade assembly, a basket, and two wheel assemblies. The handle assembly is connected to the blade assembly which is coupled to the blade. The blade may be removable and may have a straight edge or a ripper edge with teeth for cutting through hard surfaces. The basket is coupled to the handle assembly and to two wheel assemblies. The blade height is determined by adjusting the wheel assemblies and varying the force used on the handle assembly. The basket may have materials for weight in order to aid in applying a downward force to cut or gouge the land and level the land as the user desires. The basket may also be used to move debris and materials around the worksite.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the landscaping business, other yard-type businesses, construction work and other similar business, it is often important to move dirt around easily. In light thereof, different machinery is commonly used in these types of businesses to move dirt around, level ground and perform other such tasks. A common machine used is a skid-steer loader which is a rigid frame, engine-powered machine with lift arms used to attach a wide variety of labor-saving tools or attachments. Though sometimes equipped with tracks, skid-steer loaders are typically four-wheel drive vehicles with the left-side drive wheels independent of the right-side drive wheels. Skid-steer loaders are capable of zero-radius “pirouette” turning which makes them extremely maneuverable and valuable for applications that require a compact, agile loader in loaders are bulky and are not easily maneuverable in small spaces. It is also difficult to maneuver such machines on certain types of terrain, uneven ground and terraces. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide an apparatus that has the ability to move and level dirt easily but is also portable and small enough to fit in spaces wherein a skid-steer loader or other bulkier machinery cannot fit or is not practical to use. Therefore, it would also be beneficial to provide limited but still large spaces. Even though they are relatively small and compact, skid-steer an apparatus that is easily maneuverable on a variety of terrains including uneven ground, terraces, and snowy or snow-covered ground. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an earth moving apparatus designed for moving and leveling dirt and is compact for getting into tight areas that are needed to be reached for landscaping and other similar purposes. The earth leveling and moving apparatus hereof includes a handle assembly, a blade assembly, a blade coupled to the blade assembly, a basket, and two wheel assemblies. The handle assembly is connected to the blade assembly which is coupled to the blade. The blade may be removable and may have a straight edge or a ripper edge with teeth for cutting through compacted dirt and other hard surfaces. The blade height is determined by adjusting the wheel assemblies and varying the force used on the handle assembly. The basket is coupled to the handle assembly and to two wheel assemblies. The basket may have dirt or other heavy materials such as, for example, rock, brick, or concrete, to provide adjustable ballast to the apparatus to aid in leveling the land as the user desires. 
     Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts in the various views: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the earth leveling and moving apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side elevational view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the earth moving apparatus of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the blade assembly of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  or  6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Apparatus  10  embodying various features of the present invention is shown in the drawings. In a first embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , an earth leveling and moving apparatus  10  generally includes a handle assembly  12  affixed to a blade assembly  80 , a blade  120  removably coupled to blade assembly  80 , a basket  130  removably coupled to blade assembly  80 , and wheel assemblies  160   a  and  160   b  coupled to basket  130 . Apparatus  10  is used for landscaping, ground leveling, other yard tasks and snow or ice removal. Apparatus  10  is portable, can fit into smaller areas than larger machines, and is configured to be either pushed or pulled. A user grasps handle assembly  12  and can either push or pull apparatus  10 . Apparatus  10  is ideal for leveling dirt in a variety of spaces and terrain. In order to achieve the desired level of the ground, blade  120  is adjusted by adjusting the height of wheel assemblies  160   a  and  160   b.  Blade  120  may also be adjusted by use of handle assembly  12 . In addition or alternatively, basket  130  can have various materials added to it to weigh apparatus  10  down thereby adjusting the ballast of apparatus  10 , such as, for example, water, sand, dirt, concrete, rock, brick cinder blocks, or other debris. Once the desired level and/or angle of blade  120  is achieved, the user pushes or pulls apparatus  10  around the space where leveling the dirt is desired. Blade  120  will either pull or push the dirt until a level and smooth surface is achieved. Blade  120  determines the direction that the dirt gets moved. Blade  120  may be adjusted at various angles to fit in a desired space or for a specific job. Blade  120  may also be removed and replaced with different types of blades, such as a ripper blade with teeth, as illustrated herein, to aid in ice or packed snow removal. Apparatus  10  is easily maneuverable on a variety of terrains including uneven ground, terraces, packed snow, or hard ground. It is a valuable tool for any landscaper, novice gardener, city street worker, or oil field site worker. Basket  130  may also be used to haul excessive dirt to another location and is ideal for moving dirt, bushes, plants and other yard and landscaping debris around easily. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , handle assembly  12  includes, a handle  14 , an adjustment bolt  15 , a band  24 , an adjustment bolt  15 , a first shaft  30 , a second shaft  40 , a body  50 , an arm  58 , a swivel joint  60 , a bushing  61 , and a pin  63 . Handle  14  is generally cylindrical and can have a multiplicity of shapes such as U-shaped, T-shaped, or V-shaped. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that any of these or other appropriate shapes may be used for the shape of handle  14 . Throughout this disclosure, handle  14  is generally U-shaped and includes a bar  22  with two arms  18 ,  20  extending outwardly therefrom at an approximate 120-degree angle from bar  22 . Each arm  18 ,  20  has a slight bend  16   a,    16   b  respectively proximate the middle of each arm  18 ,  20 . Handle  14  is generally parallel to the ground but may have a slight angle downward at bends  16   a,    16   b  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Adjustment bolt  15  is removeably coupled to band  24  and may be adjusted in order to adjust handle  14  up or down for the comfort and height of the user. Band  24  is generally cylindrical and includes an inner surface  28  and an outer surface  26 . Inner surface  28  is coupled to handle  14  proximate the center of bar  22 . First shaft  30  is generally cylindrical and has a first end  32  and a second end  34  at opposing ends of first shaft  30 . First shaft  30  is affixed at first end  32  to outer surface  26  of band  24  at approximately a 90-degree angle from bar  22 . Second shaft  40  is generally cylindrical and has a first end  42  and a second end  44 . Second shaft  40  is coupled to first shaft  30  at second end  34  of first shaft  30  and first end  42  of second shaft  40  such that first shaft  30  and second shaft  40  form approximately a 45-degree angle. Body  50  is generally cylindrical and has a first end  52  and an opposing second end  54  and is coupled to second end  44  of second shaft  40  at first end  52 . Body  50  is generally angled from the ground at about a 45-degree angle in order to give leverage to the lower part of apparatus  10 . Body  50  is coupled to arm  58  at second end  54 . A bend  56  in arm  58  is at approximately 45-degree angle and is opposite a coupling  62 . Coupling  62  is attached to swivel joint  60  that, when turned, allows blade assembly  80  to be tilted by operator as is needed to move or shape dirt. Arm  58  is coupled to swivel joint  60  at coupling  62 . Swivel joint  60  is coupled to bushing  61  that is removeably attached to pin  63 . Pin  63  allows handle assembly  12  to be disconnected from basket  130 . It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that pin  63  may be a clevis pin, a nut and bolt system, a latch, a clip, or other appropriate fastening system now known or hereinafter developed. 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is blade assembly  80  and blade  120  attached to blade assembly  80 . More specifically,  FIG. 7  illustrates a rear perspective view of blade assembly  80 . Blade assembly  80  includes legs  78  and  82 , attachment plate  100 , pivot plate  110  and fasteners  92  and  94 . Legs  78  and  82  each have a first end  88 ,  84 , respectively, and an opposing second end  90 ,  86 , respectively. Second ends  90 ,  86  are generally wider than first ends  88 ,  84 . First ends  88 ,  84  are perpendicularly attached to arm  58  and are approximately 3-5 inches apart. Second ends  90 ,  86  are perpendicularly attached to a face  102  of attachment plate  100 . Attachment plate  100  defines at least two apertures  104 ,  106  therethrough for receiving fasteners  94 ,  92 , respectively. Pivot plate  110  defines at least two apertures (not shown) therethrough for receiving fasteners  94 ,  92 . Pivot plate  110  also defines apertures  112   a,    112   b,    112   c,  and  112   d  therethrough for receiving fastener  92 . Fastener  94  allows pivot plate  110  to be coupled to attachment plate  100  such that pivot plate  110  can pivot around fastener  94  in order to adjust blade  120 , horizontally. Fastener  94  may be a bolt with a nut  96  coupled to fastener  94  for securely fastening attachment plate  100  to pivot plate  110 . It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that a nut and bolt system may be used or other appropriate fasteners may be used such as, for example, a lug, a latch, or other appropriate fastener now known or hereafter developed that may be used to secure attachment plate  100  and pivot plate  110  together while allowing pivot plate  110  to pivot around fastener  94 . Blade  120  is removably coupled to a bottom face  114 , shown in  FIG. 3 , of pivot plate  110 . Pivot plate  110  may have a member  116  that extends downward by approximately a 120-degree angle from pivot plate  110 . Member  116  may be fixed to blade  120  or may just rest on blade  120 . Member  116  is optional and configured to aid in structure support and stability but is not necessary. Pivot plate  110  may be pivoted around fastener  94  in a variety of positions. In order to move pivot plate  110  and therefore blade  120  to different positions, pivot plate  110  is moved by the user to the desired location and then fastener  92  and bolt  98  is used to secure pivot plate  110  in that location. Pivoting blade  120  aids the user in shaping the landscape and moving dirt to the desired location. In an alternate embodiment, blade  120  is fixed by welding to pivot plate  110 . Blade  120  may be a straight blade (not shown) or have a concave shape as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the connection of basket  130  to handle assembly  20 . Basket  130  has an open box configuration and includes four side walls  150 ,  138 ,  132  and  144  and a bottom wall  158 . Shown in  FIG. 3 , a first beam  66  is coupled to swivel joint  60  at attachment point  68  so that first beam  66  extends from swivel joint  60  at a 45-degree angle from the ground and a 45-degree angle from the plane in which swivel joint  60  lies. First beam  66  has an end  70  that is opposite attachment point  68  and end  70  is coupled to rear wall  138  of basket  130 . A second beam  64  is coupled to first beam  66  at a 45-degree angle  72  to first beam  66  and is parallel to swivel joint  60 . Second beam  64  has an end  74  that is opposite angle  72  and second beam  64  is coupled to rear wall  138  of basket  130 .  FIG. 4  illustrates similar coupling as first beam  66  between a third beam  68 , swivel joint  60  and second beam  64 . First beam  66  and third beam  68  are at a 90-degree angle from each other. Third beam  67  has an end  75  that is opposite attachment point  68  and end  75  is coupled to rear wall  138  of basket  130 . Basket  130  may be used for moving and hauling dirt or other landscaping debris easily. Water, sand, or concrete blocks can be added to the basket to add weight to apparatus  10  and give the desired down force to blade  120  via basket  130 . 
     Illustrated in  FIG. 2  are adjustable height wheel assemblies  160   a,    160   b.  Wheel assembly  160   a  includes a wheel  162   a,  an adjustable U-joint  164   a,  a yoke  172   a,  and a fastener  168   a.  U-joint  164   a  generally has two legs  166   a,    170   a  extending outwardly. Inner leg  166   a  is coupled to left sidewall  132 . Inner leg  166   a  is flush with bottom wall  158  of basket  130 . Outer leg  170   a  is coupled to yoke  172   a  at the non-jointed end of leg  170   a.  Yoke  172   a  defines an aperture (not shown) configured for receiving a fastener to rotatably secure wheel  162   a  to yoke  172   a.  Wheel assembly  160   b  is fashioned in the same manner as wheel assembly  160   a  except that inner leg  166   b  is coupled to left sidewall  144 . In  FIG. 4 , an alternate positioning of wheel assemblies  160   a,    160   b  is shown where wheel assemblies  160   a,    160   b  are rotated by approximately 90-degrees. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that any appropriate shape for the U-joint may be used. It will be further appreciated by one skilled in the art that any appropriate wheel assembly may be used such as a bar rotatably connected to basket  130  with two wheels on opposing ends. The length of adjustable U-joints  164   a,    164   b  may be adjusted in order to vary the lengths of wheel assemblies  160   a,    160   b.    
     In a second embodiment (not shown), first shaft  30 , second shaft  40 , body  50 , arm  58 , coupling  62 , and swivel joint  60  are all part of one shaft with the same general shape including having a 45-degree angle that corresponds to the angle formed at the connection of first shaft  30  and second shaft  40  and having another 45-degree angle that corresponds to bend  56 . 
     In a third embodiment, shown in  FIG. 6 , a ripper blade  124  is attached. Ripper blade  124  has teeth  126   a,    126   b  that define a space  128   a  in between. Teeth  126   a,    126   b  alternate with spaces  128   a,    128   b  depending on how many teeth are needed for the blade length being used. Ripper blade  124  may be used for cutting through snow packed and other hard surfaces. 
     In a fourth embodiment (not shown), apparatus  10  is constructed in a similar manner as described hereinabove and shown in  FIGS. 1-5  and  7 , except that an additional arm extends from front wall  150  of basket  130  and blade assembly  80  is coupled to the additional arm. This creates a position of having blade  120  on the front of the apparatus rather than having blade  120  located behind basket  130 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
     From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. 
     Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4