Patent Application
20250012041
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The disclosure relates to dump devices and more particularly pertains to a new liner for a dumping device to promote full emptying and prevent debris buildup within a bucket used to collect and dump material such as dirt, rocks, particulate material, or the like.
The prior art relates to dump devices such as a bucket for a backhoe. Known prior art lacks a liner attached to the bucket or tub to prevent retention or buildup of debris in the bucket.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a bucket having a high side and a low side. The high side is defined by being elevationally higher than the low side when the bucket is in a dumping position. The bucket has a concave interior surface extending between the high side and the low side wherein the bucket is configured for holding material in the bucket when the bucket is in a holding position. The bucket is movable between the dumping position and the holding position. A panel has a static connection edge, a loose connection edge, and a lining surface extending between the static connection edge and the loose connection edge. The static connection edge is coupled to the bucket proximate to the low side of the bucket. The panel is flexible whereby the panel extends into and conforms to the interior surface of the bucket extending from the low side towards the high side when the bucket is the holding position. The panel is unconnected to the bucket between the static connection edge and the loose connection edge wherein the panel is gravitationally urged away from the interior surface of the bucket when the bucket is moved into the dumping position. Thus, the panel is configured to facilitate dumping of the material from the bucket as the bucket is moved into the dumping position from the holding position.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
Each of a pair of lower receivers 30 is coupled to the bucket 12. A lower bar 32 is coupled to the static connection edge 26 of the panel 24. The lower bar 32 is couplable to the pair of lower receivers 30 wherein the static connection edge 26 is secured in a static position relative to the bucket 12. Similarly, an upper beam is coupled 34 to the bucket 12. The upper beam 34 is positioned proximate to the high side 14 of the bucket 12. A restraint 36 couples the loose connection edge 28 of the panel 24 to the upper beam 34. The restraint 36 is a chain 38 having a first end 40 coupled to the upper beam 34 and a second end 42 coupled to the panel 24. The restraint 36 may be one restraint 36 or a pair of restraints 36. When at least a pair of restraints 36 are implemented, each of a pair of the restraints 36 is coupled adjacent to a respective end 44 of the upper beam 34. The chain 38 may have a plurality of links 46. A selectable number of the links 46 is couplable between the upper beam 34 and the loose connection edge 28 wherein a length of the chain 38 between the upper beam 34 and the loose connection edge 28 of the panel 24 is adjustable.
Each of the lower receivers 30 is coupled to the bucket 12 adjacent to the low side 14. Each of a pair of lower bar loops 48 is coupled to the lower bar 32. Each of the lower bar loops 48 is positionable to align with an associated one of the lower receivers 30. Each of the lower bar loops 48 may be positioned flush with a respective end 50 of the lower bar 32. Each of a pair of lower bar bolts 52 is extendable through an associated one of the lower bar loops 48 and engageable to the associated one of the lower receivers 30 whereby the pair of lower bar bolts 52 secure the lower bar 32 to the bucket 12 A lower bar slot 54 extends into a longitudinal side 56 of the lower bar 32. The static connection edge 26 is positionable in the lower bar slot 54. Each of a plurality of lower bar fasteners 58 is engageable to the lower bar 32 such that the lower bar fastener 58 extends into the lower bar slot 54. Thus, the lower bar fastener 58 secures the panel 24 to the lower bar 32. Each lower bar fastener 58 has a lower bar head 60 inset into the lower bar 32 when the lower bar fastener 58 is fully inserted into the lower bar 32. Each lower bar fastener 58 extends fully through the lower bar 32 wherein a threaded portion 62 of the lower bar fastener 58 is exposed extending from the lower bar 32. Each of a plurality of lower bar nuts 64 is engageable to the threaded portion 62 of a respective one of the lower bar fasteners 58.
Similarly, each of a pair of upper receivers 66 is coupled to the bucket 12 closer to the high side 16 than the low side 14. Each of a pair of beam loops 68 is coupled to the upper beam 34. Each of the beam loops 68 is positionable to align with an associated one of the upper receivers 66. Each of a pair of upper beam bolts 70 is extendable through an associated one of the beam loops 68 and engageable to the associated one of the upper receivers 66. Thus, the pair of beam bolts 70 secure the upper beam 34 to the bucket 12. An upper bar 72 is coupled to the loose connection edge 28 of the panel 24. The plurality of restraints 36 is coupled to the upper bar 72. An upper bar slot 74 extends into a longitudinal side 76 of the upper bar 72. The loose connection edge 28 is positionable in the upper bar slot 74. Each of a plurality of upper bar fasteners 78 is engageable to the upper bar 72 such that the upper bar fastener 78 extends into the upper bar slot 74 whereby the upper bar fastener 78 secures the panel 24 to the upper bar 72.
In use, the panel 24 is coupled to the bucket 12 in a manner such that gravity pulls the panel 24 away from the interior surface 20 of the bucket 12 when the bucket 12 is moved into the dumping position 18. The loose connection edge 28 is tethered to the bucket 12 by the restraints 36 but loose to allow the panel 24 to move outwardly clearing material from the bucket 12. The sizing of the panel 24 relative to the bucket 12 prevents buildup and frictional engagement of the material to the interior surface 20 of the bucket 12. The length of the restraints 36 can be adjusted to further facilitate full clearing of the bucket 12 while allowing the panel 24 to return to a position lining the interior surface 20 of the bucket 12 upon returning the bucket 12 to the holding position 22.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
This application is a continuation in part and I hereby claim the benefit under 35 U.S.C., Section 120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/218,862 filed Jul. 6, 2023.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18218862 | Jul 2023 | US |
| Child | 18382416 | US |
