Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION 
     This utility application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/156,423 filed Sep. 28, 1999, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of attachments for skid steerloaders and other power loaders having lift arms. In particular, it relates to an attachment for a skid steer loader especially adapted for lifting and placing loads at an extended distance from the loader. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Landscaping involves the movement and manipulation of a variety of materials, most of which are heavy. Examples of one-piece items include plants with rootballs, boulders, stone blocks, concrete pavers and timbers. Flowable or granular materials such as earth, gravel, crushed stone, and sand also must be dug, or scooped, located and spread. Much of landscaping activity takes place in confined areas which are bounded by structures, fences, plantings or trees. Traditionally, therefore, these materials have been manipulated primarily by hand labor. Shovels, wheelbarrows and handcarts are often employed. 
     Versatile skid steer loaders have allowed landscapers to move many of these materials with less muscular effort, but loaders too have limitations. The standard bucket of a skid steer loader is about the same width as the machine or greater, typically from four to eight feet. Standard buckets can be readily used to move granular materials but tend to dump the materials in a pile as wide as the bucket. Often, it is necessary to fill wheelbarrows with flowable granular products for delivery to especially confined areas. A standard bucket is exceptionally poorly adapted for this task since it is much wider than the wheelbarrow. Thus, laborious hand shoveling is employed to fill wheelbarrows. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,771 to Zimmerman and U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,875 to Boman disclose devices that attach narrow chute-like assemblies to standard width loader buckets. These devices are necessarily limited in their reach by the ability of the loader to counterbalance the weight of the load. Additionally, the attachment of these devices seriously limits the utility of the loader bucket for other tasks and mostly precludes the handling of unit items as discussed below. In the case of Zimmerman, when the chute-like attachment is in place, the bucket can not be used for other purposes until the attachment is entirely removed. Boman includes a hydraulic chute swing mechanism but the chute remains above the bucket interfering with the carrying of items of any significant height. 
     A skid steer loader with a bucket may be employed to move plants, blocks, boulders, timbers and the like but individual items must often be manhandled into and out of the bucket. Substantial manual labor must be employed if the items are to be unloaded from a truck or trailer. A loader equipped with fork tines like those of a forklift may advantageously be used for such items. Depending on the design, however, these fork tines either make the bucket of the machine unusable until removed, or require the removal of the bucket for installation. In either case, valuable time and effort is expended in changing equipment. 
     Landscaping also requires the digging of holes and trenches for plantings, footings and the like. A skid steer tractor with a bucket can dig holes, but the hole is of necessity at least as wide as the bucket. Backhoe attachments capable of trenching are available but require considerable time to install and remove and severely limit maneuverability of the tractor when attached. Backhoe attachments are also expensive, complex, bulky and difficult to transport. Lastly, they must be removed before any other attachment can be employed. 
     Additionally, landscapers often mix small quantities of concrete by hand for setting fence posts and the like. It would be convenient to be able to raise the concrete mixing trough to a comfortable level and transport small portions of the heavy mix to the location of placement mechanically rather than by hand labor. 
     The landscaping industry would benefit greatly from an implement which could be used to handle and move both granular and unit materials, and deposit the materials at an extended distance from the loader. This implement should be simple, inexpensive, easily transported, and be inherently stable, even while carrying loads at an extended distance from the base of the loader. The use of this implement would significantly reduce the need for hand shoveling and laborious manipulation of heavy items commonly used in landscaping. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention hereof comprises a unique bucket attachment and sub-attachments adaptable for use with skid steer loaders and other small earth moving equipment. The bucket attachment has a much smaller ratio of width to length than conventional loader buckets. It also provides for a much longer reach than conventional loader implements. The bucket attachment is well adapted for use with a skid steer loader or tractor for trenching, excavation and moving of granular materials such as earth, sand, gravel or crushed rock. The bucket attachment can include a fork having short tines at the extreme end. In addition to increasing the reach of the attachment, the fork assists in the manipulation of heavy unit items such as balled and burlapped trees and shrubs, boulders, and blocks of stone or concrete. 
     The bucket attachment hereof successfully accommodates a number of competing design factors. Tractors such as skid steer loaders employ counterweights to balance the loads lifted by the lift arms. The moment arm of the counter weight is particularly limited by the need to keep the wheelbase of the loader short in order to facilitate steering in tight quarters. Without taking into consideration such factors, it would be possible to increase the reach of the bucket attachment to a point where the equipment was inherently unstable, or that it could no longer lift any significant load. Load characteristics also need to be accommodated. Unit objects typically are dense and compact but relatively small. Therefore, they do not limit the reach of the bucket attachment as much as do granular materials. A typical concrete retaining wall block weighs eighty to one hundred pounds. A large balled and burlapped tree or shrub may weight three hundred pounds. Crushed landscape stone weighs about 110 pounds per cubic foot. It can be seen that in order to carry a significant load of dense granular material safely it is desirable to keep the load as close to the front of the loader as possible. This is one reason why all loader buckets known to the applicant are configured with a ratio of width to length of about 2.5:1 or greater. 
     In order to keep the load of granular material as near to the front of the loader as possible, the bucket attachment hereof is beneficially shaped in a wedge shaped profile. In addition, there is a limit to the travel of the portion of the lift arm assembly that controls the pitch of the bucket relative to the tractor. It is desirable that heavy loads be carried close to the tractor and as low as possible. If it is desired to move the load to the rear of the elongate bucket it is preferred to join the attachment plate to the floor of the bucket at an acute angle. This allows the operator to tilt the bucket nose up to shift flowable, granular materials to the rear of the bucket. 
     In order to assure that the bucket attachment can be safely used it is helpful that the bucket attachment be self-limiting in load capacity. That is accomplished by limiting the width of the bucket itself. A ratio of width to length of about 0.30 to 0.38 is preferred. This also reduces the weight of the bucket, leaving more load capacity available. Additionally, the wedge shaped profile concentrates the weight of the attachment near to the tractor. 
     The fork assembly provides for ease of manipulation of blocks, boulders and the like. The fork tines are short and preferably limited to two and, unlike backhoe or excavator teeth, they are beveled upward so that the sharpest end is at the top. The fork assembly is preferably formed of one integral piece. This increases dexterity of manipulation and provides the added benefit of facilitating the spreading and grading of granular materials. 
     The bucket attachment hereof comprises an upright frame adapted for removable attachment to the lift arms of an earthmoving vehicle. This frame is integrated into the back plate of the bucket. The bottom plate and side plates are preferably formed of a single metal plate and are secured to the back plate forming an elongate bucket with approximately vertical sides, which is substantially constant in width from front to rear. Fork tines are attached to the front of the bucket assembly. The side plates of the bucket assembly may incorporate collars to receive a locking pin or pins that may be utilized to secure sub-attachments to the bucket attachment. 
     Sub-attachments may include a smaller mini-bucket which further extends the length and reach of the assembly. The mini-bucket may be attached to extend beyond the end of the fork and it can be especially advantageous if the capacity of the mini-bucket is about equal to that of a six cubic foot construction wheelbarrow. This allows the safe and easy filling of such wheelbarrows without laborious hand shoveling. The smaller size of the mini-bucket also provides a self limiting load feature so that the counterbalance of the tractor is not exceeded. 
     The mini-bucket may be secured to the bucket attachment by a simple pin passed through apertures on the bucket and the mini-bucket. Further, the mini-bucket may include hook assemblies that cause the apertures on the mini-bucket to align with the apertures on the bucket attachment to facilitate insertion of the locking pin. The hook assemblies also serve to transmit digging force from the bucket attachment to the mini-bucket and to hold down the front end of the mini-bucket relative to the bucket attachment. 
     A liner made of a durable nonstick material such as polyethylene may be incorporated into the bucket to facilitate the hand mixing of small quantities of concrete. The liner may be held in place by spring clips or other appropriate means to prevent it from inadvertently sliding out of the bucket during concrete pouring operations. 
     The size and weight of the bucket attachment allow it to fit readily into the rear of a pickup truck or van for transport. It is also small enough to be placed transversely on many trailers. 
     Sub-attachments can be constructed in a simple and economical manner since they do not require a large and expensive attachment plate to secure them to the bucket attachment. Sub-attachments may secure to the bucket attachment by being bolted in place of the fork assembly or by being held in place by a pin in a manner similar to the mini-bucket. Sub-attachments may include a bolt on chute in a straight or funnel shaped configuration, an extended digging bar, an extended length scraper adapted for pushing or pulling materials and a granular material chute held in place by a pin in a manner similar to the mini-bucket. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a bucket attachment in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bucket attachment; 
     FIG. 3 a  is a top plan view of an alternate fork configuration; 
     FIG. 3 b  is a sectional view of a recessed bolt hole as used in the fork assembly; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the attachment plate; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a mini-bucket sub-attachment; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view depicting the mini-bucket sub-attachment as secured to the bucket attachment; 
     FIG. 7 depicts a locking pin; 
     FIG. 8 depicts bucket attachment attached to skid steer loader with the bucket attachment in a load carrying configuration; 
     FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 but with the bucket attachment in a working configuration. 
     FIG. 10 a  is a top plan view of a chute sub-attachment; 
     FIG. 10 b  is a side elevational view of the chute sub attachment; 
     FIG. 11 a  is a top plan view of a funnel chute sub-attachment; 
     FIG. 11 b  is a side elevational view of the funnel chute sub attachment; 
     FIG. 12 a  is a top plan view of an extended funnel chute sub-attachment; 
     FIG. 12 b  is a side elevational view of the extended funnel chute sub attachment; 
     FIG. 13 a  is a top plan view of a digging bar sub-attachment; 
     FIG. 13 b  is a side elevational view of the digging bar sub attachment; 
     FIG. 14 a  is a top plan view of a scraper sub-attachment; 
     FIG. 14 b  is a side elevational view of the scraper sub attachment; 
     FIG. 15 a  is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the chute sub attachment; 
     FIG. 15 b  is a side elevational view depicting the alternate chute sub-attachment as secured to the bucket attachment; 
     FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the bucket attachment including a nose brace; 
     FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the fork assembly; and 
     FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the fork assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, a bucket attachment  10 , in accordance with the present invention, broadly includes a generally upright rear wall or attachment plate  12 , a generally rectangular bottom  16 , a pair of upright triangular forward tapering side walls  20  and a fork assembly  22  preferably of one piece having two tines  24 . The bucket attachment  10  has a generally low wedge shaped side profile with the bottom  16  joined generally perpendicularly relative to the pair of side walls  20 . The bottom  16  and the side walls  20  may be bent and formed of a single plate. The attachment plate/rear wall  12  is attached to the rear ends of the sidewalls  20  and bottom  16 . Fork assembly  22  is secured to the nose end of the bucket attachment  10 . 
     Referring particularly to FIG. 4, exemplary attachment plate  12  comprises an upper flange  32  and a pair of lower hookups  34 . The attachment plate may be configured differently to adapt the bucket for attachment to different earthmovers. The attachment plate  12  may have a safety bar  30  affixed to the top edge thereof. Gussets  36  strengthen and stiffen the connection of attachment plate  12  connection to sidewalls  20 . Gussets  36  may be flat plates as depicted in FIG. 1 or rectangular tubes as in FIG.  2 . Risers  38  are secured to the bottom of attachment plate  12  and bottom plate  16 . Safety bar  30  is a robust grid structure of vertical and horizontal bars secured to and extending above the attachment plate. Upper flange  32  extends across the upper edge of the attachment plate  12  and comprises a ridge protruding from the rear of attachment plate  12  angled downward at about thirty degrees. Hookups  34  each comprise pockets similarly angled downward at about thirty degrees. Aperture  35  extends through attachment plate  12  and has a racetrack configuration with the long axis generally horizontal. Side bars  37  reinforce the ends of upper flange  32 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3,  17  and  18 , the fork assembly  22 ,  22 ′ includes two tines  24  and is removably connected to the nose end of the bucket by nut and bolt assemblies  25  received through recessed bolt holes  26 . The fork assembly  22  may be composed of two separate plates or, preferably, may be part of a single integral unit. The tines  24  may include beveled forward edges  50  which are beveled forwardly upward from their lower extremity. If the tines  24  are part of a single unit, the forward edge  52  of the portion of the fork assembly  22 ,  22 ′ interposed between the tines has a similar upward beveled edge. Thus, the sharpest edges of fork assembly  22  are located at the upper forward edge. The forward edge  52  of the portion of the fork assembly  22 ,  22 ′ between the tines may be curved as depicted in FIG. 3 or straight as depicted in FIG.  17 . Fork assembly  22 ,  22 ′ may include a beveled rear edge  53 . 
     At least one grading bar  54  may be secured to the underside of the bottom of the bucket  10 , also by nut and bolt assemblies  25  held in recessed bolt receiving holes  27 , at or near to the nose end of the bucket  10 . The grading bar or bars  54  preferably are beveled upward from their lower edges to create an angled edge  56 . It is noted that the upward beveling at the nose edges of the bucket and grading bar  54 , and fork assembly  22  is the opposite of that used on conventional earth moving equipment buckets and also the opposite of normal backhoe teeth. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, the side rails  58  reinforce sidewalls  20  of the bucket attachment  10  and may also comprise collars  60  defining an opening in each side to receive a locking pin  62  to secure sub-attachments to the bucket  10 . These collars  60  are preferably set back somewhat from the nose end  28  of the bucket  10 . 
     Mini-bucket sub-attachment  70  is depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. The mini-bucket  70  has a generally upright rear wall  72  and triangular sidewalls  74  secured to generally rectangular bottom  76 . It is sized to slip fit between the sides of the bucket attachment  10 . 
     The mini-bucket further comprises a latching mechanism  77  comprising a sleeve  78  to receive the pin  62  placed through the collars  60  of the bucket attachment  10  for selectively removably securing the mini-bucket in place. A lip or lips  80  may be placed on the underside of the mini-bucket. Lip  80  comprises a transverse plate with a rearwardly extending overhang defining a gap between the lip and the bottom  16  of the bucket attachment  10 . 
     The locking pin  62  comprises a shaft, sized to fit through collars  60  and sleeve  78 , an enlarged head  82  large enough to prevent the locking pin  62  from passing through collar  60 , and a securing fastener  84  to prevent the other end of the pin  62  from passing through the other collar when in place. Fastener  84  may include a hairpin or safety pin type fastener and a bore through lock pin  62 , a bolt and nut, a snap ring and circumferential groove in lock pin  62  or other appropriate fastener. 
     Other sub-attachments may be employed with bucket attachment  10 . Some attach in a manner similar to that of mini bucket  70 . Others may be bolted to the bucket attachment  10  in place of fork assembly  22 . Referring to FIGS. 10,  11  and  12 , several different embodiments of a bolt on chute sub-attachment are depicted. Referring particularly to FIG. 10, a bolt on chute sub-attachment  86  takes the form of a straight sided chute having a generally flat, rectangular bottom  88  and generally vertical sides  90 . The chute sub-attachment  86  is secured to bucket attachment  10  by nut and bolt assemblies  25  after removal of fork assembly  22 . 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 depict an alternative embodiment of chute sub-attachment  86 . Funnel chute sub-attachment  86 ′ is similar in construction to chute sub-attachment  86  aside from presenting a width tapering from approximately that of bucket attachment  10  at the rear to substantially less at the front thereof. Referring to FIG. 12, elongate funnel chute sub-attachment  86 ″ presents a funnel shape similar to sub-attachment  86 ′ but having a further extended reach. 
     Referring to FIG. 12, an extended digging bar  92  is depicted. The extended digging bar  92  is similar in structure to bolt on chute sub-attachment  86  but is made of a heavier material. Extended digging bar  92  also includes a beveled front edge  94  and a beveled rear edge  96 . Extended digging bar  92  may be bolted to bucket attachment  10  in place of fork assembly  22  by via nut and bolt assemblies  25 . 
     Referring to FIG. 14 a scraper sub-attachment  98  is depicted. Scraper sub-attachment  98  includes an extended support  100 , a scraping member  102 , and reinforcing gussets  104 . Scraping plate  102  is connected to the end of extended support  100  in a generally perpendicular orientation. Scraper  98  may be attached to bucket attachment  10  in place of fork assembly  22  via nut and bolt assemblies  25 . 
     Referring to FIG. 15 a further sub-attachment is depicted. Rock chute  106  generally includes side plates  108  rising generally vertically from bottom  110 . Transverse braces  112  extend transversely interconnecting opposed side plates  108 . Each of opposed side plates  108  further include a collar  114  passing through reinforcement plate  116 . Collars  114  are positioned so as to be alignable with collars  60  on bucket attachment  10 . Collars  114  are further sized appropriately to receive locking pin  62  therethrough. 
     Referring to FIG. 16, an alternative construction of bucket attachment  10  includes nose brace  118 . Note that alternative nose brace  118  reinforces each side of the nose of bucket attachment  10  as well as partially enclosing the ends of grading bar  54 . 
     The width of the bucket attachment  10  is substantially uniform and relatively quite narrow as compared to conventional bucket attachments. Preferably, the width of the bucket, not including the mounting plate, is between fifteen and thirty inches, optimally about twenty-three inches. The rear wall  12  and bottom  16  of the bucket attachment preferably meet at an acute angle  40 . Most preferred is an angle of about seventy two degrees. An angled inside plate  14  may be secured into the acute corner  42  formed by the rear wall  12  and bottom  16 . Bottom  16  is generally rectangular in shape with the longer axis of the rectangle having length L positioned orthogonal to the attachment plate  12 . The shorter axis of the rectangular bottom  16  having width W is generally parallel to rear wall  12 . 
     In order for the bucket attachment to have a longer reach than conventional buckets and to assure that the bucket attachment can be safely used it is helpful that the bucket attachment be self-limiting in load capacity. This is accomplished by limiting the width of the bucket itself. A ratio of width to length of about 0.30 to 0.38 is preferred. This also reduces the weight of the bucket, leaving more load capacity available. Additionally, the wedge shaped profile concentrates the weight of the attachment and load near to the loader so as not to overbalance the counterweight. 
     As noted above, the bucket attachment  10  has a much smaller ratio of width W to length L than conventional loader buckets. It also provides for a greater length L than conventional loader implements. The length L of the bucket attachment  10  (exclusive of the fork assembly  22 ) can range from thirty to one hundred inches, and preferably is about sixty two inches. The ratio of width W to length L for the bucket attachment is less than about 0.50. Optimally, the ratio of width to length is about 0.30 to 0.38. 
     In operation, and referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the skid steer loader or tractor  90  is positioned so that the lift arms  92  of the loader are in contact with the attachment plate  12 . The hookups  34  and the upper flange  32  are engaged by the attachment mechanism at the end of the loader lift arms to raise and manipulate the bucket attachment. A locking mechanism secures the lift arms to the attachment plate. In operation the bucket attachment  10  is removably attached to a skid steer loader  90 , and is used to dig, trench, spread granular materials, and manipulate unit items. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, the skid steer loader  90  and bucket attachment  10  are depicted in a load carrying configuration. Note that a granular material load is held near to the front of the loader for stability. The fork assembly  22  is angled to cradle a unit load securely. 
     FIG. 9 depicts the bucket attachment  10  in a position that facilitates digging. The fork assembly  22  loosens packed soil to allow its removal with the bucket attachment  10 . This position may also be employed for the unloading of flowable materials when a load is to be placed. A position (not shown) between that in FIG.  8  and FIG. 9 is used to pick up unit items on the fork assembly  22  and to use the fork assembly  22  and grading bar  54  to grade and smooth materials. A plurality of other operating positions will be apparent to those skilled in the art for placing and moving materials. 
     The safety bar  30  serves to prevent loads carried by the bucket attachment  10  from sliding rearward, passing over the attachment plate  12  and injuring the operator or damaging the tractor. The greater length and narrow width of the bucket attachment facilitates improved maneuverability and reach for the attachment in confined areas such as between boulders, trees and structures and over terraces and plantings. In particular, this allows the bucket attachment to reach over obstructions such as when reaching over a retaining wall to back fill behind it. 
     The acute angle  40  at which the attachment plate meets the bottom plate  16  provides the preferred angle of tilt for the bucket attachment to carry granular materials low and close to the center of gravity of the tractor as well as keeping unit items securely on the fork assembly. The angled inside plate  14  serves to increase strength and fill the acute comer  42  to prevent the compaction of granular materials into the rear of the bucket attachment  10 . 
     The fork assembly  22 ,  22 ′ facilitates the handling of heavy unit objects such as boulders, concrete items, balled and burlapped plants and the like. The fork ends  50  are beveled upward to ease the lifting of unit items and to facilitate the spreading and smoothing of granular materials. The upward bevel  50  of the fork assembly  22  and grading bars  54  moves gradable material down and away from the grading bar  54  and fork assembly  22 , preventing the buildup of materials therebetween and making the bucket attachment especially useful in spreading and smoothing operations. The upward bevel  50  of the fork assembly  22  facilitates the lifting of unit objects by allowing the forks to slide under the unit object readily. The upward bevel  50  of the fork assembly  22  also loosens hard packed material for digging. 
     The bucket attachment  10  may include a locking device to releasably connect a sub-attachment such as mini-bucket  70  thereto. The mini-bucket  70  further extends the reach of the bucket attachment and is preferably sized to have a capacity equal to that of a standard six cubic foot wheelbarrow. This allows the easy and rapid filling of wheelbarrows to transport granular materials to extremely confined areas. 
     Other sub-attachments may be used in concert with the bucket attachment. Sub-attachments generally can be placed so that a pin  62  can be inserted through the collars and through collars  114  or sleeve  78  on the sub-attachments to secure the sub-attachments to the bucket attachment  10  quickly and easily. In practice, the sub-attachment is located within or outside of bucket attachment  10  and locking pin  62  is placed through the first collar  60 , then through the sleeve  78  of the sub-attachment then through the second collar  60 . A fastener  84  is then used to secure the locking pin  62  from unintentionally being retracted from the collars  60  and sleeve  78 . Alternately, fork assembly  22  may be removed and a different sub-attachment bolted in its place. 
     The lip  80  of the mini-bucket sub-attachment may be hooked under the nose edge of the bucket attachment  10 , the fork assembly  22 ,  22 ′ to assist in securing the mini-bucket  70  to the bucket attachment  10 . Note that lip  80  both prevents mini-bucket  70  from lifting relative to bucket attachment  10  and transmits digging force from fork assembly  22  to mini-bucket  70  along with pin  62 . Lip  80  also aligns sleeve  78  with collars  60  to ease placement of pin  62  therethrough. Other means of securing the mini-bucket sub-attachment  70  to the bucket attachment  10  may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention. The mini-bucket  70  can then be used to place small quantities of granular material at a great distance from the tractor  90  or to fill a wheelbarrow easily. 
     A liner made of a durable nonstick material such as polyethylene may be incorporated into the bucket  10  to facilitate the hand mixing of small quantities of concrete. The liner may be held in place by spring clips or other appropriate connectors to prevent it from inadvertently sliding out of the bucket during concrete pouring operations. 
     Funnel chutes  86 ′ and  86 ″ may be used to fill postholes with gravel or concrete. 
     Scraper sub-attachment  98  may be employed to push or pull materials in difficult locations such as to spread gravel under a low deck or to remove weeds from the shoreline of a pond. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof; therefore, the illustrated embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: y