Claims
- 1. A grading assembly, comprising:a detachable grading element defining a first edge and a second edge; and a securing assembly for securing the grading element in one of a first operational position and a second operational position, the first operational position disposing the grading element first edge in a grading position and the second operational position disposing the grading element second edge in said grading position, the securing assembly comprising a first holder, a second holder, and a plurality of connectors, the first and second holders accommodating the grading element therebetween, the plurality of connectors securing the first and second holders to the grading element.
- 2. The grading assembly of claim 1, the grading element first edge oppositely disposed to the grading element second edge.
- 3. The grading assembly of claim 1, the securing assembly securing the grading element at an adjustable depth.
- 4. The grading assembly of claim 1, the securing assembly securing the grading element at a continuously adjustable depth.
- 5. The grading assembly of claim 1 the securing assembly further comprising a first plurality of apertures defined in the first holder, a second plurality of apertures defined in the second holder, and a third plurality of apertures defined in the grading element, ones of said first, second, and third pluralities of apertures generally aligned.
- 6. The grading assembly of claim 5, in which the first and second pluralities of apertures are slots.
- 7. The grading assembly of claim 6, the securing assembly further comprising an adjustment member and a threaded connector.
- 8. The grading assembly of claim 7, the adjustment member defining a threaded aperture, the threaded aperture threadably accommodating one of the connectors, the adjustment member and the grading element in a substantially rigid juxtaposition.
- 9. The grading assembly of claim 7, the securing assembly further comprising a nut threadably receiving the one of the connectors and attachable to the adjustment member.
- 10. The grading assembly of claim 9, the adjustment member comprising an angle iron.
- 11. The grading assembly of claim 10, the securing assembly further comprising a first stabilizer attachable to the angle-iron.
- 12. The grading assembly of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of second stabilizers attachable to one of the first and second holders.
- 13. A utility bucket in combination with the grading assembly of claim 1, said grading assembly operationally mounted to the utility bucket.
- 14. A utility bucket in combination with the grading assembly of claim 1, said grading assembly operationally mounted to a rear portion of the utility bucket.
- 15. A grading assembly, comprising:a utility bucket; a detachable grading blade with generally opposite first and second edges; and mounting structure for releasably attaching the grading blade to a rear portion of the utility bucket and including first and second holders and a plurality of first connectors, said first and second holders defining slotted openings positionally, operationally adjusting a grading depth of the grading blade, the first connectors holding the grading blade operationally between the first and second holders.
- 16. The grading assembly of claim 15, the first holder defining a plurality of first apertures, the second holder defining a plurality of second apertures, and the grading blade defining a plurality of third apertures, each of the third apertures generally aligning with one of the first and second apertures and receiving one of the first connectors.
- 17. The grading assembly of claim 16, in which the first and second pluralities of apertures are slotted.
- 18. The grading assembly of claim 17, the mounting structure further comprising a plurality of adjustment members, each adjustment member comprising means for continuously adjusting the grading depth.
- 19. The grading assembly of claim 18, the means for continuously adjusting the grading depth comprising fourth and fifth apertures, a second connector and a member threadably receiving the second connector, the fourth aperture receiving one of the first connectors to rigidly attach the adjustment member to the grading blade, the fifth aperture receiving the second connector.
- 20. The grading assembly of claim 18, further comprising means for stabilizing and bracing the mounting structure to a rear portion of the utility bucket.
- 21. The grading assembly of claim 15, in which the grading blade and the mounting structure are mounted to a rear portion of the utility bucket.
- 22. A method of assembling a grading assembly, comprising:providing a grading blade with generally opposite first and second grading edges and a plurality of apertures defined therein; disposing the grading blade between a first holder and a second holder, each of the first and second holders defining a plurality of slots, each of the grading edge apertures generally aligning with one of the first holder slots and one of the second holder slots; securing a first connector through each of said aligned first and second holder slots and grading blade apertures; attaching one of the first and second holders to a mar portion of a utility bucket; fixing a plurality of adjustment members in a rigid juxtaposition to the grading blade; and threadably attaching a second connector to each of the adjustment members.
- 23. The method of claim 22, in which each of the first connectors are secured through said first and second holders and said grading blade with a nut.
- 24. The method of claim 22, in which each of said second connectors is threadably received by a nut attached to one of said adjustment members.
- 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising attaching a plurality of first stabilizers to each of the adjustment members.
- 26. The method of claim 25, further comprising attaching a plurality of second stabilizers to the utility bucket and to one of said first and second holders.
- 27. A method of adjusting a grading depth of a grading blade attached to a rear portion of a utility bucket, the grading blade disposed between a pair of holders, each of said holders defining a plurality of slots, said grading blade defining a plurality of apertures, said grading blade secured between said pair of holders by a plurality of first connectors, one of said first connectors extending through one of said grading blade apertures and one each of said first and second holder slots, said grading blade rigidly related to a plurality of adjustment members by another one of said first connectors extending through another one of said first and second holder slots, through another one of said grading glade apertures, and through an aperture defined in said adjustment member and secured therein, the method comprising:releasing each of said first connectors; rotating each of a plurality of second connectors, each said second connector extending through a second aperture defined in each adjustment member and threadably received in a nut, said second connector abutting a plate attached to the utility bucket; and resecuring each of said first connectors.
- 28. The method of claim 27, in which each of said second connectors is rotated in a first direction, thereby raising the grading blade.
- 29. The method of claim 28, in which each of said second connectors is rotated in a second direction, thereby lowering the grading blade.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to, and hereby incorporates by reference, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/271,361, filed Feb. 23, 2001
US Referenced Citations (31)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/271361 |
Feb 2001 |
US |