Patent ID: 8256148

Claim:
A coupler for attaching an accessory to an excavator arm of an excavator, the accessory having a first attachment pin and a second attachment pin, the coupler comprising: a frame having two pivot pins, a rear jaw that is downwardly facing and a front jaw with an opening that is forward facing and rotated approximately 90 degrees relative to the rear jaw, the rear jaw being adapted to accommodate a range of accessory pin spacings for accommodating different accessories; a mechanical actuator positioned within the frame, the mechanical actuator being a hydraulic ram; a first latch having a first attachment pin engaging surface and being rotatable relative to the frame about a first of the two pivot pins in response to actuation of the mechanical actuator; a second latch having a second attachment pin engaging surface; a third element being pivotally mounted relative to the frame about a second of the pivot pins, the third element being a mechanical stop and being mechanically linked to the second latch such that rotation of the third element about the second pivot pin mechanically actuates the second latch; and the first latch being pivotally connected to the hydraulic ram by a third pivot pin; wherein actuation of the hydraulic ram rotates the first latch about the first pivot pin selectively to engage or disengage the first attachment pin engaging surface against the second attachment pin of the accessory when or if the second attachment pin is received in the rear jaw, and causing the third element to rotate about the second pivot pin can cause the second attachment pin engaging surface selectively to latch or unlatch the first attachment pin of the accessory in the front jaw when or if the first attachment pin is received in the front jaw; the second latch, when in a position to latch the first attachment pin in the front jaw, downwardly extending at least partially across the opening of the front jaw such that the second latch will be visible from within a cab of the excavator when the coupler is attached to the excavator arm of the excavator.