Patent Application
20250027291
The present invention relates generally to the field of skid steer attachments. More specifically, the present invention relates to a skid steer sifter bucket device that can be used to sift debris from beach sand. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
The task of removing debris from sandy beaches and environments that closely resemble them is not only labor-intensive but also a time-consuming endeavor that demands the concerted efforts of multiple individuals. These individuals are required to make use of various tools, including, but not limited to, rakes and shovels, to achieve their objectives effectively. The process involves a considerable amount of physical exertion as these workers manually drag these implements through the sand, an activity that can be incredibly exhausting. The strenuous nature of this task often results in the workers being able to clean only limited sections of the beach at any given time, owing to the significant level of effort each segment of the cleaning process demands.
Moreover, this limitation becomes even more acute and noticeable when dealing with larger expanses of beaches and areas blanketed with sand. In such scenarios, the vastness of the area in need of cleaning makes the manual approach not only impractical but, in some cases, almost impossible. The scale of these larger areas means that the amount of debris could be substantially greater, adding to the complexity and difficulty of the cleanup efforts. As a result, individuals and teams tasked with this duty often find themselves facing a daunting challenge, one that cannot be easily overcome through manual labor alone.
The physical toll on the workers engaged in these cleanup activities cannot be overstated. Constant bending, lifting, and pulling are required, which can lead to muscle fatigue, back strain, and other physical ailments over time. This physical strain, coupled with the inefficiency of cleaning large areas manually, necessitates a reevaluation of the methods employed in such environmental cleanup efforts. It underscores the need for more efficient, less labor-intensive approaches to maintaining the cleanliness and ecological health of our beaches and similar sandy environments.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a device for cleaning debris from beach sand or other similar environments. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a skid steer sifter bucket device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a skid steer sifter bucket device that allows a user to quickly and efficiently clean debris from beach sand or other similar environments. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a skid steer sifter bucket device that allows a user to quickly and efficiently clean debris from beach sand or other similar environments without significant physical exertion.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a skid steer sifter bucket device. The device is comprised of a skid steer bucket device designed for sifting debris from materials such as beach sand. In one embodiment, the device comprises a bucket body with a sifter member that features one or more openings to allow small debris to be sifted out while preventing larger debris from entering. The body may include a rear wall with attachment points for connecting to a skid steer, parallel side walls, and a bottom wall, all of which may contain openings for material intake from various directions. Additionally, the bottom wall is equipped with teeth for digging and support members for structural integrity. The sifter member can be either fixedly or removably attached to the bucket body, allowing for versatility in sifting operations by accommodating sifter members with various sizes, shapes, and arrangements of openings. This configuration facilitates the removal of specific sizes of debris from the material being handled.
In this manner, the skid steer sifter bucket device of the present invention accomplishes all the foregoing objectives and provides a device for cleaning debris from beach sand or other similar environments. More specifically, the device allows a user to quickly and efficiently clean debris from beach sand or other similar environments. Further, the device does so without the need for significant physical exertion.
The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a skid steer sifter bucket device. In one embodiment, the device is comprised of a skid steer bucket body comprised of at least one sifter member comprised of at least one opening. As a result, the body can be used to sift small debris out of material such as, but not limited to, beach sand.
More specifically, in one embodiment the device is only comprised of a sifter member that can be attached to any skid steer bucket type. In another embodiment, the device is comprised of a skid steer bucket with a fixedly attached sifter member. The member may cover the interior surface of a bottom wall of a bucket in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the member may cover the interior surface of the bottom wall and the interior surface of a side wall of the bucket. The member is comprised of at least one opening. The opening allows small debris to enter into the body when the body is used to pick up debris, such as, but not limited to, sand. The member may have any number of openings of any size, shape, arrangement, and orientation. In one embodiment, the member is fixedly attached to the body to provide coverage as described above. In a different embodiment, the member is removably attached to the body to provide coverage as described above via at least one fastener such as, but not limited to, a bolt, a bolt and nut assembly, etc.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a skid steer bucket body comprised of at least one sifter member fixedly attached to the body. Then, the body can be attached to a skid steer via at least one attachment point. Then, the body can be used to penetrate and dig up sand, soil, material, etc., such that debris of a specific size travels through at least one opening in the member to allow the debris to be removed from the material.
The present invention is also comprised of a second method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a skid steer bucket body comprised of at least one sifter member removably attached to the body. Then, the body can be attached to a skid steer via at least one attachment point. Next, a first member with at least one opening of a first size can be used to penetrate and dig up sand, soil, material, etc., such that debris of a first size travels through at least one opening in the member to allow the debris to be removed from the material. Then, a second member with at least one opening of a second size can be used to penetrate and dig up sand, soil, material, etc., such that debris of a second size travels through at least one opening in the member to allow the debris to be removed from the material.
Accordingly, the skid steer sifter bucket device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a device for cleaning debris from beach sand or other similar environments. More specifically, the device allows a user to quickly and efficiently clean debris from beach sand or other similar environments. Further, the device does so without the need for significant physical exertion. In this manner, the skid steer sifter bucket device overcomes the limitations of existing methods and devices known in the art that are used to clean beaches.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a device for cleaning debris from beach sand or other similar environments. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a skid steer sifter bucket device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a skid steer sifter bucket device that allows a user to quickly and efficiently clean debris from beach sand or other similar environments. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a skid steer sifter bucket device that allows a user to quickly and efficiently clean debris from beach sand or other similar environments without significant physical exertion.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a skid steer sifter bucket device comprised of a skid steer bucket body comprised of at least one sifter member comprised of at least one opening. As a result, the body can be used to sift small debris out of material such as, but not limited to, beach sand.
More specifically, in one embodiment the device is only comprised of a sifter member that can be attached to any skid steer bucket type. In another embodiment, the device is comprised of a skid steer bucket with a fixedly attached sifter member. The member may cover the interior surface of a bottom wall of a bucket in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the member may cover the interior surface of the bottom wall and the interior surface of a side wall of the bucket.
In either embodiment, the member is comprised of at least one opening that allows small debris to enter into the body when the body is used to pick up debris, such as, but not limited to, sand. The member may have any number of openings of any size, shape, arrangement, and orientation. In one embodiment, the member is fixedly attached to the body to provide coverage as described above. In a different embodiment, the member is removably attached to the body to provide coverage as described above via at least one fastener such as, but not limited to, a bolt, a bolt and nut assembly, etc.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a skid steer bucket body comprised of at least one sifter member fixedly attached to the body. Then, the body can be attached to a skid steer via at least one attachment point. Then, the body can be used to penetrate and dig up sand, soil, material, etc., such that debris of a specific size travels through at least one opening in the member to allow the debris to be removed from the material.
The present invention is also comprised of a second method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of a skid steer bucket body comprised of at least one sifter member removably attached to the body. Then, the body can be attached to a skid steer via at least one attachment point. Next, a first member with at least one opening of a first size can be used to penetrate and dig up sand, soil, material, etc., such that debris of a first size travels through at least one opening in the member to allow the debris to be removed from the material. Then, a second member with at least one opening of a second size can be used to penetrate and dig up sand, soil, material, etc., such that debris of a second size travels through at least one opening in the member to allow the debris to be removed from the material.
Accordingly, the skid steer sifter bucket device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a device for cleaning debris from beach sand or other similar environments. More specifically, the device allows a user to quickly and efficiently clean debris from beach sand or other similar environments. Further, the device does so without the need for significant physical exertion. In this manner, the skid steer sifter bucket device overcomes the limitations of existing methods and devices known in the art that are used to clean beaches.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The body 110 is comprised of a rear wall 120 and at least two parallel side walls 130. The rear wall 120 may be comprised of at least one attachment point 122 (of any style and configuration) that allows the device 100 to attach to a skid steer.
The rear wall 120, side walls 130, and bottom wall 140 may be comprised of at least one opening 160. The opening allows material to enter into the body 110 from all directions. The exact spacing, shape, and size of the opening 160 may vary in different embodiments to allow a plurality of debris of large sizes to be prevented from entering into the body 110.
The bottom wall 140 of the body 110 is comprised of at least one tooth 144, as seen in
The device 100 is also comprised of at least one sifter member 150. In one embodiment, the device 100 is only comprised of a sifter member 150 that is sized, shaped, and configured such that it can be attached to the interior or exterior of any skid steer bucket type. The member 150 may cover the interior surface 142 of the bottom wall 140 in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the member 150 may cover the interior surface 142 of the bottom wall 140 and the interior surface 132 of the side wall 130. In a further embodiment, the member 150 may cover the interior surface 142 of the bottom wall 140, the interior surface 132 of the side wall 130, and the interior surface 124 of the rear wall 120. The member 150 is comprised of at least one opening 152. The opening 152 allows small debris to enter into the body 110 when the body 110 is used to pick up debris, such as, but not limited to, sand. The member 150 may have any number of openings 152 of any size, shape, arrangement, and orientation.
In one embodiment, the member 150 is fixedly attached to the body 110 to provide coverage as described above, as seen in
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using 200 the device 100, as seen in
The present invention is also comprised of a second method of using 300 the device 100, as seen in
It is also worth noting that the bucket not only sifts sand, but when used in reverse the teeth act as a rake and can pile up debris without leaving the skid steer. The user can then back up lift the bucket and scoop up the debris without any hand work.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “skid steer sifter bucket device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the skid steer sifter bucket device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the skid steer sifter bucket device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the skid steer sifter bucket device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the skid steer sifter bucket device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the skid steer sifter bucket device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the skid steer sifter bucket device 100 may be of any size, shape, and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/514,136, which was filed on Jul. 18, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63514136 | Jul 2023 | US |
