Patent ID: 7818901

Claim:
A dipper stick carrying a tool and a thumb; the dipper stick having an inner surface; the tool being connected to a tool actuator with a tool linkage having a tool idler link; the tool idler link being connected to the dipper stick at a tool idler link connection; the tool idler link connection having a pivot axis; the thumb being connected to a thumb actuator with a thumb linkage having a thumb idler link; the thumb idler link being connected to the dipper stick at a thumb idler link connection; the thumb idler link connection having a pivot axis; the thumb actuator being disposed on the inner surface side of the dipper stick; the improvement comprising: the pivot axis of the thumb idler link connection being spaced from the pivot axis of the tool idler link connection; and the pivot axis of the thumb idler link connection being offset outwardly from the inner surface of the dipper stick.