Patent ID: 7597526

Claim:
A container holding device for use with a front-end loader, the container holding device comprising: a base frame including first and second rails, a cross-support coupled between the first ends of the first and second rails, the base frame configured for attachment to the front-end loader; a container frame including first and second horizontal arms, first and second vertical arms, first and second top container retainers, and retaining arms, the top container retainers extending from the vertical arms in a direction generally parallel to the horizontal arms, the retaining arms extending from the top container retainers toward the horizontal arms into a container held by the container holding device, the horizontal arms pivotally coupled to the base frame at second ends of the first and second rails with first and second coupling members; a first actuator coupled between the base frame and the container frame, the first actuator being configured to move the container frame relative to the base frame through a first angle; a second actuator coupled between the base frame and the container frame and configured to move the container frame relative to the base frame through a second angle; and first and second bottom container retainers adjustable between extended and retracted positions, wherein in the extended position the container retainers restrict movement of the container in a direction along the length of the first and second horizontal arms of the container frame, each container retainer including an elongate actuating arm and an engagement arm coupled to the actuating arm, the actuating arm being mounted to the container frame and configured to rotatably adjust the engagement arm into an engagement position to resist movement of the container relative to the horizontal arms in a direction parallel to the horizontal arms, wherein each container retainer further includes an offset counterweight on an end of the actuating arm opposite the engagement arm, wherein the counterweight provides automatic rotation of the actuating arm when the container frame rotates relative to the base frame, wherein each container retainer includes a spring for biasing the engagement arm toward the engagement position when the container frame is moved relative to the base frame through the second angle.