Abstract:
A rock bucket attachment for securement with a skid steer unit or tractor front loader, the attachment incorporating a bucket for use in combination with a grapple, the bucket having side walls, back walls, and a bottom wall, the grapple interconnecting by lever arms to the side walls of the bucket, the grapple having a pair of side arms pivotally connected with the front of the lever arms, and hydraulic cylinders interconnecting between the back of the side arms and the back end of the side walls, or the frame structure interconnecting between the two, such that when the hydraulic cylinders are actuated, they initially pivot the lever arms forwardly to their fullest extent to arrange the grapple and its rake over a debris pile, and then further actuation of the hydraulic cylinders pivoting the side arms relative to the lever arms to pivot the rake of the grapple downwardly to urge any debris into the bucket as the rake comes into proximity with the front of the bucket, to retain any raked debris therein.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This non provisional patent application claims priority to the provisional patent application having Ser. No. 62/177,920, filed on Mar. 27, 2015. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention generally relates to a bucket attachment for pickup and conveyance of miscellaneous debris, but more specifically pertains to a modified bucket, as an accessory attachment to a tractor, that has both pickup features and grapple applications for loading rock, miscellaneous larger debris, even logs and tree trunks, for movement to another location for disposal, fill, or for other uses. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to a grapple attachment for application to a skid steer, small tractor, or other form or construction implement. 
         [0004]    There are numerous tractor attachments that have been available in the prior art. Some of them even include grapple means, for use for picking up rock, or other debris. For example, there are attachments for skid steer loader buckets, and rock blocking attachments, as can be seen in United States Patent No. D686,250. 
         [0005]    A construction bucket that includes a bucket, in addition to an attachable blade, that is hydraulically operated for the movement of dirt, and the like, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,631,446. 
         [0006]    An apparatus for on-site cleaning for landscape rock can be seen in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,559,962. A device that is mounted onto the front of loaders or tractors and for use for picking up and separating rock, by use of the reel type of sweep, can be seen in the United States patent to Buysse, U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,953. 
         [0007]    A back hoe attachment for skid steer loader, and which can be used for digging dirt, and the like, can be seen in the United States patent to Foster, U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,124. 
         [0008]    A cylinder-type ground-raking attachment for a bucket-equipped tractor can be seen in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,732, to Baskett. 
         [0009]    The patent No. RE. 33,198, to Ballinger, shows a strata rock bucket. A rotary rock picker that incorporates a fork and reel assembly, and a stone bucket, can be seen in the United States patent to Malinowski, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,818. 
         [0010]    A convertible bucket attachment that is capable of excavation and clasping of debris or other ground materials, can be seen in the United States patent to Ogawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,866. 
         [0011]    There are many commercial uses of existing rock buckets that are on the market. These usually do attach to skid steer units, tractor front loaders, and even some wheel loaders. Some even include some clamp-type grapples, but many of them do not. The clamp-type grapple will help secure rocks and other debris within its associated bucket. 
         [0012]    A Remlinger Manufacturing Company, Inc., of Kalida, Ohio, has a tine rock bucket for attachment to a skid steer, but the grapple type means for aiding in the loading of the formed bucket simply functions as a sweep, and through its pivot, helps to push rocks onto the associated bucket. It includes a singular pivot of its rake for attempting to move rocks onto its bucket tines. 
         [0013]    A company named Loftness, has marketed a commercial-agricultural rock picker for skid steers and bidirectional tractors. This device also has a singular pivot rake-type mechanism for pushing rocks, boulders, and other debris onto its bucket. 
         [0014]    Another product of the Loftness Specialized Equipment Company, of Hector, Minn., is a skid steer attachment that attempts to dig into the soil beneath the rocks in order to attempt to achieve their pickup. 
         [0015]    Another company by the name of Blue Diamond Attachments, of Knoxville, Tenn., shows a bucket with a singular pivot grapple means that attempts to hold the rocks and debris onto the bucket, once the bucket has dug underneath the rocks in preparation for their loading. 
         [0016]    Horst Welding, of Listowel, Ontario, Canada, builds and markets a conventional rock bucket that has an optional hydraulic reel that rakes usually small rocks into the implements bucket. These are examples of the commercial type products that are available, and which are for the pickup of rocks and other debris, some of which incorporate sweep arms, or reel sweeps, for attempting to load smaller rocks onto their buckets. 
         [0017]    This is all shown in the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    This invention relates to a new and improved type of rock bucket that has hydraulically operated grapple means, which can be maneuvered into a compound pivot for initially locating the grapple on the front side of any large rock, boulders, or even a tree stump, through a first pivotal motion, and then further pivoting the grapple to arrange it in frontal contact with such debris, and through further pivoting, push such rocks onto the implement bucket, for conveyance to another location. The invention is very useful for providing a total cleanup of a rock, boulder, and other debris laden areas, through the use of this implement that fully maneuvers such debris onto the implement bucket, and retain it there, during its conveyance. The structural essence of this invention includes a rock bucket attachment that incorporates a sweep-in grapple at its upper frontal portion, and useful for picking up rock, boulders, even logs and tree trunks, during usage. It includes a bucket, the bucket being formed of a solid plate, or a series of spaced apart bars, or even tubular tines, that form a bottom support for the formed bucket. When the spaced apart bars or tines are used, this allows for smaller dirt and rocks to fall through the bucket, while the larger rocks and boulders can be conveyed through its usage. 
         [0019]    The bucket has a pair of sidewalls, and these sidewalls likewise may be slotted, to allow any debris to pass therethrough, or the front of the sidewalls may have some arcuateness, to allow for a log or tree trunk to be picked up upon the frontal bars or tines of the bucket bottom, and be held in position there against, in its cutout segment, through use of the grapple, so that the logs can be conveyed to a different location, as during cleanup. 
         [0020]    There is a back wall that attaches with the sidewalls of the bucket, and the bottom wall of the bucket, as aforesaid, connects with the approximate bottom of the back wall particularly to hold the parallel bars and tines in fixed position, at the back location of the bucket, while the front of the bars and tines are held by a crossbar that is provided between the lower front of the sidewalls, and useful for securing the front of the bottom wall therewith. There is also an upper frame that connects between the approximate upper back of the side walls, to add structural integrity to the bucket when formed. 
         [0021]    Cooperating with the bucket is its grapple. The grapple incorporates a pair of spaced apart side arms, and has a structured rake or grapple provided affixed between the frontal part of said pair of side arms, and the grapple also includes a pair of lever arms, each being pivotally connecting with a side arm, at the front of the lever arms, while the opposite end of each lever arm is pivotally connected with the approximate upper back of each side wall. There is at least one hydraulic cylinder that extends between one of the side walls, or the upper frame of the approximate back of the bucket, and the hydraulic cylinder at its other end connects with the approximate back of at least one of the side arms, such that when the hydraulic cylinder is actuated, initiating first the forward movement of the grapple, and then upon further actuation of the hydraulic cylinder, pivoting the grapple and its rake into contiguity with the front of the bottom wall to rake in and pick up any rock or other debris from the ground. 
         [0022]    In addition, the structural rake of the grapple is pivotally connected through its pair of side arms to the pair of lever arms, and this is achieved through a cross rod that extends between the approximate front of the pair of lever arms, and a second cross rod interconnects between the approximate back of the pair of side arms, and a spring means interconnects between the first and second cross rods. Thus, as the hydraulic cylinder extends the grapple forwardly, through its extension and forcing a pivoting downwardly of the lever arms, until they reach their fullest pivotal extent, any further forcement through the extension of the hydraulic cylinder overcomes the force of the spring means, and continues a further pivoting of the rake as the force of the hydraulic cylinder overcomes the compression of the spring means, and further pivots the pair of arms relative to the lever arms that pivots the rake downwardly, into proximity with the front of the bucket, and thereby forces any rocks, boulders, or other debris, into the bucket, and holds it there during conveyance. 
         [0023]    This essentially summarizes the concept of the structure that makes up the bucket and sweep-in grapple of this invention. 
         [0024]    It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a rock bucket that can pick up, and through its grapple, hold various rocks, boulders and other debris within its bucket, for secure conveyance. 
         [0025]    Another object of this invention is to provide a bucket attachment incorporating a sweep-in grapple that undertakes a pair of pivotal movements, initially advancing the grapple and its rake forwardly, to overlie any rocks or other debris, and then further pivoting of the rake downwardly and towards the front of the bucket in order to sweep such rock therein, and to hold it during its conveyance. 
         [0026]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide a cooperation between hydraulic cylinder(s) and a spring means, that allows for the selective pivoting of the grapple, and its rake, in order to attain that sweep-in feature that draws in and holds debris within the attachment bucket, during usage. 
         [0027]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bucket and grapple formed of various integrated bucket surfaces, back walls, side walls, lever arms, and side arms, all which pivotally cooperate with each other to achieve the sweep-in feature of the grapple during its pick up and conveyance of miscellaneous debris. 
         [0028]    Still another object of this invention is to provide a bucket with sweep-in grapple which is designed to accommodate the pick up and hold logs, and secure them with respect to the bucket as they are conveyed to a different location. 
         [0029]    Another object of this invention is to provide side walls for a bucket that incorporates arcuateness in order to facilitate and accommodate the locating of a large log therein, during its conveyance to a different place. 
         [0030]    These and other objects may become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the summary of the invention as provided herein, and upon undertaking a study of the description of its preferred embodiments, in view of the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    In referring to the drawings, 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the rock bucket attachment incorporating sweep-in grapple of this invention, in its fully opened mode; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  provides an isometric view of the bucket and grapple of this invention with the hydraulic cylinders having pivoted the grapple to its forward most position, without any further downward pivot made of its rake system; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  shows the bucket and grapple of this invention, with the hydraulic cylinders fully extended, overcoming the pressure of the associated compression spring, for pivoting the rake of the grapple into proximity with the front edge of the bucket to sweep in and retain rocks or other debris within the same; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  provides a side view of the bucket and grapple, fully elevated, so as to allow the bucket and its lower front edge to come into contact with any debris to be removed; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the bucket and grapple generally in the position as noted in  FIG. 2 , where the grapple is pivoted fully forwardly, but its rake as not been pivoted downwardly into its sweep-in mode. 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the bucket and grapple generally as shown in  FIG. 3 , where the grapple rake has been pivoted fully downwardly by means of the hydraulic cylinders to sweep in any rock and debris into the bucket and to secure such therein during conveyance; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  shows a modification to the bucket, disclosing the use of supported tines forming the bottom of the disclosed bucket; 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  shows an isometric view of a modification to the bucket and grapple fabricated for also conveying logs; 
           [0040]      FIG. 9  shows a side view, disclosing how the bucket and grapple can combine to secure a sizeable log in position in preparation for its conveyance; and 
           [0041]      FIG. 10  shows a grapple top wall formed of foraminous material. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0042]    The concept of this invention is to provide a rock bucket attachment that incorporates a sweep-in grapple for conveying miscellaneous debris such as rocks and boulders. While the bucket of this invention is designed to mainly pick up rocks, however, it has also been found very handy to handle brush, logs, some tree stumps, and other debris that needs to be removed. It incorporates a hydraulically operated grapple that will actually “sweep” the rocks into the bucket, during its application. 
         [0043]    In referring to the drawings, and in particular  FIG. 1 , therein is shown the bucket and grapple  1  of this invention. Generally, it includes its bucket portion  2 , which forms the base of the bucket, and this can be formed of either solid metal, or a series of horizontally spaced but parallel arranged bars  3  as can be noted. The bars, at their front edge, are maintained stable between the bucket side walls  4  and  5 , through the use of a cross bar  6  that secures the bottom wall bars  3  in place, as shown. The bottom bars  3  may extend forwardly, or have forwardly extending segments  7  extending in front of the cross bar  6 , and these front extensions are slightly beveled, as can be seen at  8 , so as to allow for any rocks and debris to ride up onto said bars, as the bucket is used to provide for their conveyance. As can be noted, the bars  3  have slight concavity, as at  9 , so that when rocks or other debris are loaded onto the bottom wall of the bucket, they will remain stabilized upon the bottom, and not slide off, once in place. It can also be seen that the parallel bars  3  have a slight upward contour, as at  10 , and this also is provided so as to assure that any rocks or boulders that are urged onto the bottom wall, will remain in place, and not slide forwardly during conveyance. 
         [0044]    There is a back wall  11  provided between the back edges  12  of the side walls, and this also is helpful for holding the debris upon the bottom wall, and keep it from sliding rearwardly out of the bucket, particularly during conveyance. 
         [0045]    The benefit of utilizing the series of parallel bars  9  in the construction of the bottom wall of the bucket, over a solid bottom wall, is that when rocks and debris are picked up by the bucket, upon its forward movement either at the surface or slightly below ground, the bigger rocks that have a diameter greater than the distance between the bars  9 , will remain in the bucket, while smaller rocks, pebbles, and dirt, will fall through the bottom wall, and back onto the surface of the ground, as desired. But, in the construction of this bucket and grapple, a solid bottom wall is of consideration, and part of the concept of this invention, although the parallel bars may be preferable. And, other modifications to the bottom wall of the bucket are also considered, as will be subsequently described. 
         [0046]    The back wall  11  as can be seen in  FIG. 4 , includes an upper structured frame  13 , generally formed as a square tube, and the bottom of the back wall includes a lower structured frame  14  securing between the side walls  4  and  5 , in order to reinforce the integral structure of the entire bucket, when assembled. The back wall  11  may be a solid plate, or it may be formed as a screen, with the function being to retain any rocks or debris that have been scooped into the bucket during their conveyance, and prevent any such debris from falling off the back of the bucket, during conveyance. 
         [0047]    As can also be seen in  FIG. 1 , there is the grapple structure  15  for the assembly. This grapple structure includes a frontal rake-like member  16  also made up of a series of forwardly extending bars  17 , parallel arranged, as can be noted. The bars of this rake are slightly serrated, as noted at  18 , and are provided for gripping upon any rocks or debris as it sweeps such into it upon the bottom of the bucket, during operation. There are a pair of side arms  19  and  20  structured at the sides of the grapple, and a series of cross bracing  21  and  22  extend between the side arms, and are structured to hold the grapple bars  16  in place. These side arms cooperate with at least one hydraulic cylinder, in this particular embodiment, comprising a pair of hydraulic cylinders  23  and  24 , as can be noted. The hydraulic cylinders are pivotally connected, as at  25  and  26 , respectively, proximate the back ends of the side arms  19  and  20 , as can be seen at  27  and  28 . 
         [0048]    There are a pair of lever arms  29  and  30 , and these lever arms, at their back ends, are pivotally secured to the side walls, as noted at  31 . A similar type pivotal connection is made at the other side of the grapple, at the back end of the lever arm  30 . The frontal or upper edges of the lever arms  29  and  30  are pivotally connected with the side arms  19  and  20 , as can be seen at  32  and  33 . And, a first cross rod  34  interconnects between the side arms, and the lever arms, to add structural integrity to this interconnection of these operative components. In addition, there is a second cross rod  35  that extends between the approximate front of the lever arms  29  and  30 , as can be noted in  FIG. 2 . A spring means  36  is secured upon a rod  37 , and extends through a pivot hub  38 , as can also be noted in  FIG. 3 . The spring means  36  is secured on a rearward extension of the rod  37 , and the rod extends to the back end of the spring means, and is affixed at that location. The pivot hub  38  is secured onto the second cross rod  35 . A second pivot hub  39  secures onto the first cross rod  34 , and that pivot hub connects the front end of the rod  37  thereto. 
         [0049]    Thus, as can be noted in the various  FIGS. 4-6 , and particularly in  FIG. 4 , when the bucket  2  is in position, level with the ground, and the skid steer or tractor moves forwardly, it will pile up rocks along its frontal edge. Or, if there is already a pile of rocks in the field, the front edge of the bucket will encounter the rock pile, and even dig slightly into the ground, to get under the same. During this segment of usage of this device, the grapple means  15  will be fully elevated, through a contraction of its hydraulic cylinders  23  and  24 , as can be noted. In addition, its lever arms, as at  29 , will be fully elevated, and the side walls  19  of the rake means, of the grapple, will be fully elevated, as noted. In this instance, the rod  37  of the spring means  36  will be contracted within its noted spring, so that the entire assembly of the grapple means  15  is completely elevated, in the manner as shown in  FIG. 4 . Thus, the skid steer or tractor is free to move forwardly, with complete clearance, so as to drive its forwardly extending blades  7  into the rock pile, or the like. As can be noted in  FIG. 5 , the hydraulic cylinder  23 , in addition to its companion cylinder  24  on the other side of the bucket, have been extended, as can be noted, and in doing so, pivots the various side arms, such as  19 , along with the lever arm  29 , to a forward most extent, which brings the rake  15  to an approximate midpoint of its pivot downwardly. At this juncture, the rod  27  is still located basically within its spring means  36 , which in this instance, is a compression spring, but the lever arms  29  and  30  have reached their forward most extent of their pivot, being almost parallel with the ground, as can be noted in said  FIG. 5 . In this position, the rake  15  may encounter some of the debris, rocks, or even boulders, in preparation for its sweep motion as to be subsequently described. As noted in  FIG. 6 , when the hydraulic cylinders, such as  23  continue their extension of their hydraulical arm or ram  40 , it can be seen that the spring means  36  compresses upon its rod  37  with the hydraulics overcoming the compression of the spring  36 , to continue the forward pivot of the proximate side, arm  19  about the pivot points  32  and  33  to sweep the rake  15  into proximity with the front of the bucket  2 , thereby raking the debris, rocks, and boulders onto the bucket, as can be readily understood. The rake  15  may be held in that position, as the bucket is raised upon its skid steer, for conveying of the rock or boulders to another location, for discharge. Thus, as can readily be understood from a review of the motions undertaken by the various components that make up the grapple of this device, including its rake means  15 , there are select and compound motions that are made by the rake  15 , through the interconnection of its various arms  19  and  20 , in addition to the lever arms  29  and  30 , through the actuation of the hydraulic cylinders  23  and  24 , that lead to an initial forward movement of the grapple  15  to its forward most extent, as noted in  FIG. 5 , and when the hydraulics overcome the compression of the spring  36 , forces the rake means  15  into a sweeping motion for shoving the rocks and debris onto the bucket  2 , during its operations. Thus, there is a compound motion that is achieved through the usage of the various interconnected components of this apparatus, that allows for the selective placement of the rake means, first at an elevated position, above any rock pile, as noted in  FIG. 4 , then its pivots into a lowered position that may contact the upper surface of the rock pile, as in  FIG. 5 , and finally, upon full actuation of the hydraulic cylinders, urging the rake means into its sweeping position, as noted in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0050]    In practice, it has been found that hydraulic cylinders that can exert a pressure in the vicinity of 3,000 pounds of force, are adequate for functioning of the sweep means of this invention, during its operations. Obviously, the force of the compression springs that may be used will be of a lesser force, somewhere in the range of 2,000 pounds, in order to achieve this compounding of forces to move the rake of the grapple into its various positions, during functioning to remove a rock pile or other debris from a field. 
         [0051]    There are various other modifications to this invention that are considered. For example, in  FIG. 7 , it is to be noted that the bucket  2  in this particular instance, instead of utilizing parallel bars, such as the bars  3 , in the formation of the bucket bottom, in this instance, a series of cylindrical tines, as at  41 , may be employed. In addition, the tines may extend for some distance in front of their cross frame  42  and exhibit their pointed forward ends  43  to facilitate the pick up of any rock or debris during usage. This forward extension may be in the range of approximately four inches, in the preferred embodiment. Obviously, other dimensions may be useful. The tines may be an inch or two apart. 
         [0052]    A further modification to the structure of this invention may be seen in  FIG. 10 . As noted, there may be a top wall  44  provided between the lever arms  45  and  46 , and this top wall may be formed of a strong foraminous material, such as heavy wire screen, or the like, as noted at  47 . This is to prevent any rock or debris from flying up, and hitting the operator of the skid steer, as can be understood. In addition, the side walls  48  and  49  may be cut along an arcuate shape, as noted at  50 , so that when a large log or tree stump is to be removed, as noted in  FIG. 9 , the stump that locates within that arcuateness  50  of the side walls, may be in that position by means of the grapple  51 , as can be noted. These are examples of modifications to the subject matter of this invention that may be made to its structure, to facilitate its usage and application for a variety of debris moving purposes. 
         [0053]    In addition, there may be a plurality of hydraulic cylinders arranged within the structure of the device, and perhaps a pair of spring means, as at  52 , to achieve the degree of force as necessary to undertake that compound motion for the grapple, relative to its bucket, when handling large rocks, boulders, tree stumps, or the like. These are just examples of variations that can be made to the subject matter of the invention, to still obtain the spirit of its functionality, in handling heavy debris type items, during usage and application. 
         [0054]    For example, the hydraulic hoses that may interconnect with the hydraulic cylinders of this invention may be run through the various structural tubings, such as the square tubings  13  and  14 , on any of the cross bars, in order to shelter the hoses from exposure to the elements, to protect the hoses, and contribute to better operator visibility, when operating the skid steer, and the bucket and grapple of this invention. In addition, the spacing between the various bars, such as the bars  3 , or the tines  41 , will be made to that spacing that will allow smaller rocks to fall therethrough, at the preference of the customer, since it may not be necessary to remove every last element of debris, such as small rocks, from the field, when operating this attachment. Hence, when the operator fills up the bucket with debris, and lifts the bucket upwardly, and tilts it rearwardly, this makes the rocks and dirt roll to the back of the bucket, and that action allows the dirt to shift down and exit from the bucket and back onto the ground, particularly when smaller debris is involved. 
         [0055]    This invention allows for the sweep-in action of the grapple, to assist in getting rocks into the bucket with minimal dirt, and when closed, presents a screened barrier across the front of the rock bucket, and prevents the larger rocks from sliding off of the same, during conveyance. The operator can tilt the bucket forwardly, and again backwardly, and allow the smaller dirt and rocks to fall through the blades or tines, agitating the same in this manner to attain their removal. Obviously, the bucket of this invention may have various dimensions, and can be made as small as four feet wide, or even six to seven feet wide, or more, depending upon the carrying capacity required by the user. Or, a pair of grapples may be arranged side by side, to provide for two independent sweep-in maneuvers by the operator, when sweeping debris and rocks into the associated bucket. 
         [0056]    There are various stops that are included within the structure of the device, such as can be seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , where the lever arm  29 , and its associated arm  30 , at their back end, have a stop surface  44 , which when the lever arm is pivoted forwardly, from its upward position, to its forwardly extending horizontal position, as noted in  FIG. 5 , the stop  44  will encounter the cross tube  13 , and prevent further pivot of the lever arms  29 , etc, as the hydraulic cylinder is actuated. Then, when the hydraulic cylinder continues to extend, under pressure, as previously explained, the side arms  19  and  20  have a stop means  45  which encounter their respective lever arms  29  and  30 , when the hydraulic cylinder pivots the side arms  19  to their fullest extent, as can be seen in  FIG. 6 . When this occurs, the stops  45  engage the bottom of the lever arms  29  and  30 , and prevent any further pivot to the rake  15 , when the hydraulic cylinder is fully extended, as can be noted in  FIG. 6 . When this stop occurs, the rake will have already pushed all of the debris into the bucket  2 , as previously explained. 
         [0057]    Variations or modifications to the subject matter of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the disclosure as provided herein. Such variations, if within the spirit of this invention, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of any claims to patent protection issuing herein. The description of the invention in the preferred embodiment, and its disclosure in the drawings, are primarily set forth for illustrative purposes only.