Tractor bucket extension device and method

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6167642
  • Patent Number
    6,167,642
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, June 23, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 2, 2001
    24 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Pezzuto; Robert E.
    Agents
    • Yablon; Jay R.
Abstract
A loader bucket extender is attached to a preexisting loader bucket so as to extend the load-carrying capacity of that loader bucket by a large amount, on the order of fourfold and even more. A tractor or similar vehicle to which the preexisting loader bucket is attached moves the preexisting loader bucket into a suitable position relative to the loader bucket extender, at which point the loader bucket extender and preexisting loader bucket are attached and secured to one another using several engagement, attachment, and securing members.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates generally to the fields of excavating and of earth, snow and similar load moving, and specifically, to significantly extending the load-carrying capacity of preexisting tractor buckets in a simple and low cost manner.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Plows, forklifts, loader buckets, backhoe buckets and the like are of course well know in the art and widely used in many different applications. But such load moving equipment is expensive, and involves considerable capital investment. Thus, it is desirable to have available adapters of various sorts that convert one type of load-carrying device into another, and/or which extend the capacity of preexisting load-carrying devices. This reduces cost and equipment inventory for individuals or businesses involved in the excavating and load moving professions.




U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,400, for example, appears to be used to convert a preexisting tractor plow blade into a load-carrying bucket. Pivot supports (numbered 38 and 40 therein) are attached to the plow blade, central holes of pivot supports (numbered 44, 45 and 47 therein) are axially aligned with supports 38 and 40, and a pivot shaft (52) is slid through all of the axially-aligned holes to secure the bucket structure to the plow blade. The capacity of the resulting bucket structure is, however, limited by the size of the preexisting plow blade, and no means is suggested or disclosed for further increasing the load-carrying capacity of the resulting plow blade and bucket structure combination to carry even larger loads. Nor is it disclosed or suggested that it is indeed desirable to extend preexisting loader buckets generally to carry larger loads. Nor is it disclosed or suggested how to extend preexisting loader buckets to carry larger loads. And, the method by which the bucket attachment is attached to the plow blade in U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,400 is cumbersome, requiring all of the holes to first be aligned, and the pivot shaft to be manually slid through the aligned holes.




U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,680 appears to disclose a loader bucket attachment that extends either the top or bottom of a preexisting loader bucket, but does not disclose or suggest how to increase the overall bucket capacity by extending the top, bottom, and side of the bucket all at once, essentially creating a much larger bucket. Indeed, this patent appears to teach away from a more general increase in loader bucket capacity that extends all of the top, bottom and sides of the loader bucket.




U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,771 appears to disclose a loader bucket attachment that coverts a preexisting loader bucket into a carrier bucket for carrying dispensing flowable material such as concrete. This patent does not disclose or suggest how to extend loader bucket capacity generally, and its structure limits its usefulness to carrying and dispensing flowable material such as concrete, not to load-carrying generally. Indeed, the front wall (numbered 20 therein) makes it impossible for this device in combination with the preexisting loader bucket to work strictly as an enlarged conventional loader bucket.




U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,814 appears to disclose a device for extending the width and capacity of a backhoe (not a loader) bucket. However, the percentage increase in volume achieved by this device is equal to the percentage increase in width, and is thus very much limited by the width of the backhoe. It is not disclosed or suggested how to increase loader bucket capacity generally without increasing the width, but rather by increasing the top, bottom and side extensions all at once. In this patent, for an extender that is perhaps 33% as wide as the original backhoe bucket (which is approximately what is illustrated therein), the capacity increase will also be about 33%.




Extension of the front, top, and side extensions of a loader bucket, in contrast, can easily achieve a fourfold capacity increase, and even more.




OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION




It would be desirable, therefor, to provide a device and method that can be used to easily extend the load-carrying capacity of a preexisting loader bucket to 300% or 400% or more of its original capacity.




It would further be desirable if this device and the method of attaching this device to the preexisting loader bucket was as simple and quick as possible, permitting a bucket extending device to easily be snapped into place by a human tractor driver without the tractor driver having to disembark the tractor controls to complete the primary attachment of the bucket extender to the preexisting loader bucket.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




A loader bucket extender is attached to a preexisting loader bucket so as to extend the load-carrying capacity of that loader bucket by a large amount, on the order of fourfold and even more. A tractor or similar vehicle to which the preexisting loader bucket is attached moves the preexisting loader bucket into a suitable position relative to the loader bucket extender, at which point the loader bucket extender and preexisting loader bucket are attached and secured to one another using several engagement, attachment, and securing members.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING




The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth in the appended claims. The invention, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing(s) in which:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view illustrating a preexisting loader bucket, and a loader bucket extender, as separate modules unattached to one another, according to an embodiment of the invention.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view illustrating the combination of the preexisting loader bucket and the loader bucket extender of the embodiment of

FIG. 1

, once they have been attached to one another.





FIG. 3

is a geometric cross-sectional view of the preexisting loader bucket and loader bucket extender combination of

FIG. 2

, illustrating the increase in loader volume achieved by virtue of utilizing the loader bucket extender of the various embodiments of the invention.





FIG. 4

is a side cross-sectional view which illustrates the method by which the attachment of

FIG. 2

is achieved.





FIG. 5

are side and top cross-sectional views illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention for attaching together the preexisting loader bucket with the loader bucket extender.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION





FIG. 1

illustrates a loader bucket extender


11


, as well as a preexisting loader bucket


12


, in a first preferred embodiment of the invention, configured in such a manner that these may be attached to one another as will be further described herein. All components used to attach loader bucket extender


11


with preexisting loader bucket


12


are illustrated in

FIG. 1

; those that would be hidden in the particular perspective view of

FIG. 1

are illustrated in dashed lines.




Preexisting loader bucket


12


in this embodiment is retrofitted with three distinct components so that it may be easily and securely mated and attached with and to loader bucket extender


11


. First, upper wall bucket extender engagement means comprising but not limited to, for example, a plurality of bucket engagement latches


121


are firmly and permanently attached to an upper wall


122


of loader bucket


12


. Second, a side wall bucket extender engagement means comprising but not limited to, for example, a pair of loader bucket side wall securing apertures


123


are drilled into side walls


124


of loader bucket


12


. Third, lower wall bucket extender engagement means comprising but not limited to, for example, a plurality of rear wall securing eyelets


125


are firmly and permanently attached to a rear wall


126


of loader bucket


12


.




Preferably, the attachment of bucket engagement latches


121


and rear wall securing eyelets


125


to loader bucket


12


is achieved by welding bucket engagement latches


121


and rear wall securing eyelets


125


to loader bucket


12


substantially as shown; however, other attachment means known in the art that provide a similar degree of permanent and secure attachment as a weld, such as bolting or riveting, are also suitable for this purpose.




Corresponding to the bucket engagement latches


121


, loader bucket side wall securing apertures


123


, and rear wall securing eyelets


125


illustrated above, loader bucket extender


11


is provided with three distinct components so that it may be easily and securely mated and attached with and to loader bucket


12


.




First, a plurality of upper wall bucket engagement means comprising but not limited to, for example, bucket attachment engagement bars


111


with adjacent engagement bar notches


112


are provided proximate an upper wall


113


of loader bucket extender


11


. These engage with and attach to bucket engagement latches


121


, as will be shortly described. Second, side wall bucket engagement means comprising but not limited to, for example, a pair of bucket attachment side wall securing apertures


114


are provided on side walls


115


of loader bucket extender


11


. These mate with and attach to loader bucket side wall securing apertures


123


, as will be shortly described. Third, lower wall bucket engagement means comprising but not limited to, for example, a pair of bucket attachment securing arms


116


with rear wall securing apertures


117


are provided on a lower wall


118


of loader bucket extender


11


, substantially as shown. These mate with and attach to rear wall securing eyelets


125


, as will be shortly described. Bucket attachment securing arms


116


are permanently attached to lower wall


118


of loader bucket extender


11


, but extend beyond a rear opening


119


of loader bucket extender


11


, as shown. It is important to note that rear opening


119


is indeed fully open, so that loader bucket extender is essentially a four-sided unit comprising upper wall


113


, lower wall


118


, and side walls


115


, which is open on its fifth and sixth sides, namely, rear opening


119


, as well as its front opening (unnumbered).




While three bucket engagement latches


121


and bucket attachment engagement bars


111


with adjacent engagement bar notches


112


are shown, any plurality of such latches


121


, bars


111


and notches


112


is suitable for, and within the scope of, this invention. Similarly, while four rear wall securing eyelets


125


and two bucket attachment securing arms


116


with rear wall securing apertures


117


are shown, any plurality of such arms


116


and apertures


117


is suitable for, and within the scope of, this invention.





FIG. 2

illustrates the configuration of preexisting loader bucket


12


and loader bucket extender


11


of the embodiment of

FIG. 1

, once they have been attached to one another. This attachment has three primary regions of contact.

FIG. 4

illustrates the method by which this attachment is achieved.




First, referring to

FIG. 2

, it is to be observed that bucket engagement latches


121


engage and are mated with bucket attachment engagement bars


111


. In particular, as shown in the enlargement toward the upper left of

FIG. 2

, the recessed sections of bucket engagement latches


121


wrap around and interlock with bucket attachment engagement bars


111


, and engagement bar notches


112


accommodate the protruding sections of bucket engagement latches


121


. Because bucket engagement latches


121


are affixed to upper wall


122


of loader bucket


12


, this creates a firm mate between preexisting loader bucket


12


and loader bucket extender


11


along the upper wall


122


of loader bucket


12


and the upper wall


113


of loader bucket extender


11


. This upper wall contact region is the first primary region of contact attaching preexisting loader bucket


12


and loader bucket extender


11


.




Second, bucket attachment side wall securing apertures


114


line up with loader bucket side wall securing apertures


123


along side wall alignment line


201


. Then, any suitable, durable side wall securing means


202


such as, but not limited to, the illustrated nuts and bolts, or a suitable securing bar, are used to secure the left side bucket attachment side wall securing aperture


114


to the left side loader bucket side wall securing apertures


123


, and similarly for the right side apertures


114


and


123


. These side wall contact regions comprise the second primary region of contact attaching preexisting loader bucket


12


and loader bucket extender


11


.




Third, rear wall securing apertures


117


of bucket attachment securing arms


116


line up with rear wall securing eyelets


125


along rear wall alignment line


203


, proximate rear wall


126


of loader bucket


12


. Here too, any suitable, durable rear wall securing means


204


such as, but not limited to, the illustrated nuts and bolts, or a suitable securing bar, are used to secure securing apertures


117


to rear wall securing eyelets


125


. By virtue of the attachment of securing arms


116


to lower wall


118


of loader bucket extender


11


and the extension of securing arms


116


all the way to rear wall


126


of loader bucket


12


, this serves to secure lower wall


118


of loader bucket extender


11


to rear wall


126


of loader bucket


12


. The lower and rear wall contact regions comprise the third primary region of contact attaching preexisting loader bucket


12


and loader bucket extender


11


.




Also denoted in

FIG. 2

is overlap


205


region where loader bucket extender


11


and preexisting loader bucket


12


overlap once they are assembled together.




Once preexisting loader bucket


12


and loader bucket extender


11


are attached to one another along the three contact regions as described above, the combination of preexisting loader bucket


12


and loader bucket extender


11


results in a greatly-enlarged bucket, which can be used to carry a much larger load than preexisting loader bucket


12


by itself. In particular, for a given left side to right side width, it is to be noted that the overall volume of preexisting loader bucket


12


is proportional to the cross sectional area of its side walls


124


, while the overall volume of the combination of preexisting loader bucket


12


and loader bucket extender


11


is proportional to the cross sectional area of the side walls


124


and


115


together.




Referring to

FIG. 3

, if both preexisting loader bucket


12


and the combination of bucket


12


and extender


11


are approximated to be triangular in shape, then these cross sectional areas are in turn proportional to the base of the pertinent triangle, times the height of the pertinent triangle. If the original volume is then designated by V


1


and the extended volume is designated by V


2


, if b


1


designates the base


34


of preexisting loader bucket


12


, if b


2


designates the base


33


of loader bucket extender


11


, if h


1


designates the height


31


of preexisting loader bucket


12


, and if h


2


designates the combined height


31


plus


32


of the combination of preexisting loader bucket


12


and loader bucket extender


11


, then:








V




2




/V




1




˜




b




2




×h




2




/b




1




×h




1


.  (1)






It is also to be noted that by regarding these cross sections as triangles, b2 will vary with h2, and b1 with h1, so that eq. (1) simplifies to:








V




2




/V




1




˜




b




2




2




/b




1









h




2




2




/h




1




2


.  (2)






Thus, for example, if height


32


of loader bucket extender


11


simply equals height


31


of preexisting loader bucket


12


, then V2/V1


˜


4, i.e., the total volume of the buckets will be quadrupled. If height


32


of loader bucket extender


11


equals twice the height


31


of preexisting loader bucket


12


, then V2/V1


˜


9. So, in contrast for example to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,938,680 and 4,208,814, the present invention achieves a very substantial increase in capacity that is easily fourfold, if not more. And, this is to be contrasted with U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,400, which takes a plow that has zero load-carrying capacity and gives it some, limited, load-carrying capacity. Indeed, the present invention can be suitably used in an obvious manner to add load-carrying capacity to a plow that has previously been fitted with the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,400, simply by treating the conversion module of U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,400 as preexisting loader bucket


12


of the present disclosure.





FIG. 4

illustrates in cross sectional view, from left to right, the process by which loader bucket extender


11


and preexisting loader bucket


12


are attached to one another to achieve the resultant configuration of FIG.


2


. It is understood that preexisting loader bucket


12


is attached to a tractor or similar vehicle (not shown) via vehicle connection means


401


which allow preexisting loader bucket


12


to be moved up and down, forward and backward, and also, to be rotated.




Loader bucket extender


11


is rested substantially at the orientation shown on the leftmost drawing of

FIG. 4

prior to its attachment to preexisting loader bucket


12


, with lower front region


406


of loader bucket extender


11


resting upon a supporting surface (e.g., the ground) and upper wall


113


of loader bucket extender


11


oriented substantially horizontally above that supporting surface. Vehicle connection means


401


is used to raise preexisting loader bucket


12


above loader bucket extender


11


substantially as shown, and to also rotationally orient preexisting loader bucket


12


substantially as shown, with its upper wall


122


also running substantially horizontally above the supporting surface. In particular, it is to be noted that this results in bucket engagement latches


121


being positioned substantially above preexisting loader bucket


12


with the recessed sections of bucket engagement latches


121


oriented upwards.




Vehicle connection means


401


is then used to lower preexisting loader bucket


12


downward, substantially as illustrated by arrow


402


. It is to be observed that in this embodiment, as was also depicted in

FIG. 2

, proximate overlap


205


region where loader bucket extender


11


and preexisting loader bucket


12


overlap once they are assembled together, the overlapping section of preexisting loader bucket


12


actually resides inside the region of loader bucket extender


11


with which it overlaps. Thus, preexisting loader bucket


12


is lowered downward


402


and into loader bucket extender


11


as shown, and fine-movement adjusted as needed. During this lowering


402


, preexisting loader bucket


12


is lowered


402


such that bucket attachment securing arms


116


slide into the interior of preexisting loader bucket


12


proximate lower wall


127


of preexisting loader bucket


12


, and such that bucket engagement latches


121


drop slightly below bucket attachment engagement bars


111


. Once this configuration is achieved, preexisting loader bucket


12


is raised slightly, until bucket engagement latches


121


firmly engage and mate with bucket attachment engagement bars


111


. Part of bucket engagement latches


121


may, depending on the specific implementation, protrude through engagement bar notches


112


as shown in the exploded section of

FIG. 2

, as well as the cross section in the center and rightmost drawings of FIG.


4


. The resulting configuration is that of the center drawing of FIG.


4


.




It is to be observed from these cross-sectional views that bucket attachment securing arms


116


have a notched region


404


that engage the overlapping lower wall


127


(see

FIG. 1

) of preexisting loader bucket


12


. For simplicity, this notched region


404


was omitted from earlier

FIGS. 1 and 2

. It is also to be observed that in this configuration, rear wall securing apertures


117


become fully aligned with rear wall securing eyelets


125


, and bucket attachment side wall securing apertures


114


become fully aligned with loader bucket side wall securing apertures


123


. Yet, at this point in time, it is not yet necessary to insert and secure side wall securing means


202


or rear wall securing means


204


, since the engagement of bucket engagement latches


121


with bucket attachment engagement bars


111


, as well as the engagement of bucket attachment securing arms


116


with preexisting loader bucket


12


lower wall


127


allows the entire combination of loader bucket extender


11


and preexisting loader bucket


12


to be rotated along direction


405


by vehicle connection means


401


into the orientation shown in the rightmost drawing of

FIG. 4

, even without yet attaching side wall securing means


202


or rear wall securing means


204


. This is a particular functional benefit of the embodiments of

FIGS. 1 through 4

, since the entire connection of loader bucket extender


11


with preexisting loader bucket


12


and orientation of this connected combination into the configuration on the rightmost drawing of

FIG. 4

can be done by a person maneuvering the tractor or similar vehicle to which bucket


12


is attached via vehicle connection means


401


, without that person ever having to leave the vehicle. Thus, the combination of loader bucket extender


11


and preexisting loader bucket


12


is indeed rotated into the configuration shown toward the right hand side of

FIG. 4

, wherein lower wall


118


of loader bucket extender


11


and lower wall


127


of preexisting loader bucket


12


are oriented substantially horizontally.




Finally, once the configuration and orientation of the rightmost drawing of

FIG. 4

is achieved, side wall securing means


202


and rear wall securing means


204


are introduced respectively along side wall alignment line


201


and rear wall alignment line


203


. This results in a secure attachment of loader bucket extender


11


and preexisting loader bucket


12


to one another not only at the three contact regions earlier noted, but also along lower wall


118


of loader bucket extender


11


and lower wall


127


of preexisting loader bucket


12


by virtue of the configuration of bucket attachment securing arms


116


and its interlocking relationship with preexisting loader bucket


12


lower wall


127


.

FIG. 4

also introduces an optional reinforcement bar


403


of loader bucket extender


11


, which runs between bucket attachment side wall securing apertures


114


and lower front region


406


of loader bucket extender


11


, substantially as shown. This is desirable because once the combination of loader bucket extender


11


and preexisting loader bucket


12


is used for loading, there is a fair amount of physical stress running along the path defined by reinforcement bar


403


. Thus, reinforcement bar


403


serves to provide extra strength reinforcement along this high-stress region. This was not depicted in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, simply to keep those figures as simple as possible.




At this point, the combined assembly of loader bucket extender


11


and preexisting loader bucket


12


is fully ready for use as an extended loader, with an increase in load volume as described by eqs. (1) and (2) above.




While

FIGS. 1 through 4

illustrate a particular embodiment of the invention insofar as the method and attachment means used to engage, attach and secure loader bucket extender


11


and preexisting loader bucket


12


together, it is to be understood that a wide range of variations and substitutions for achieving the same essential attachment and securing of loader bucket extender


11


to preexisting loader bucket


12


will become apparent to someone of ordinary skill based on this disclosure, and it is to be understood that any such variations and substitutions are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims. And it is understood that a wide variety of engagement and attachment means such as outlined in

FIGS. 1 through 4

will serve this essential purpose of securely attaching loader bucket extender


11


and preexisting loader bucket


12


together within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims.




For example, not limitation,

FIG. 5

illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention using alternative engagement and attachment means, in particular, employing alternative upper wall bucket extender engagement means and upper wall bucket engagement means in place of bucket engagement latches


121


and bucket attachment engagement bars


111


for engaging loader bucket extender


11


with preexisting loader bucket


12


. All other aspects of the invention apparatus and method remain substantially the same as has been heretofore described with reference to

FIGS. 1 through 4

.




In

FIG. 5

, upper wall bucket extender engagement means comprising bucket engagement latches


121


of preexisting loader bucket


12


are replaced by upper wall bucket extender engagement means comprising a plurality of bucket extender engagement eyelets


501


shown from both side and top cross-sectional views. Two are shown here, but extension to more than two is obvious and considered within the scope of the invention. Similarly, upper wall bucket engagement means comprising bucket attachment engagement bars


111


and their adjacent engagement bar notches


112


of loader bucket extender


11


are replaced by upper wall bucket engagement means comprising a plurality of slidable bucket engagement bars


502


, a plurality of bucket engagement bar housings


503


, and a plurality of bucket engagement cutout notches


504


. Slidable bucket engagement bars


502


, in particular, slide within bucket engagement bar housings


503


along the direction indicated by arrows


505


. Thus, when slidable bucket engagement bars


502


are slid into the open position illustrated by the dotted lines, bucket engagement cutout notches


504


are opened up such that bucket extender engagement eyelets


501


can readily be slid into them without obstruction. It is also desirable to provide a locking means (not shown) by which bucket engagement bars


502


can be locked into their closed (solid line) position. Each slidable bucket engagement bar


502


corresponds to and mates with one of the bucket extender engagement eyelets


501


, so that an alteration in the number of bucket extender engagement eyelets


501


as noted above will also alter the number of slidable bucket engagement bars


502


.




As illustrated toward the left and center drawing of

FIG. 5

, vehicle connection means


401


is then used to lower preexisting loader bucket


12


downward, substantially as illustrated by arrow


402


, as was earlier described in connection with FIG.


4


. This is done while slidable bucket engagement bars


502


in their open position. Preexisting loader bucket


12


is moved and adjusted relative to loader bucket extender


11


as before. Bucket extender engagement eyelets


501


are moved into alignment with slidable bucket engagement bars


502


, and slidable bucket engagement bars


502


are then slid


505


into their closed position through bucket extender engagement eyelets


501


, and then locked into place. This results in the configuration shown in the rightmost drawing of

FIG. 5

, which it is to be noted, is identical to the middle drawing configuration of

FIG. 4

except for the replacement of elements


111


and


121


with elements


501


and


502


. This configuration is then rotated


405


into position for loading in the same manner as in

FIG. 4

, side wall securing means


202


is introduced into side wall securing apertures


114


and loader bucket side wall securing apertures


123


, and rear wall securing means


204


is introduced into rear wall securing apertures


117


and rear wall securing eyelets


125


, in the same way as discussed previously in connection with

FIGS. 1 through 4

. Once again, the combination of loader bucket extender


11


and preexisting loader bucket


12


is fully ready for use as an extended loader.




Contrasting the embodiment of

FIG. 4

, with

FIG. 5

, it is to be noted that the embodiment of

FIG. 5

requires the vehicle operator to disembark the vehicle once bucket extender engagement eyelets


501


are lined up with slidable bucket engagement bars


502


in order to slide


505


slidable bucket engagement bars


502


into their closed and locked position, whereas the embodiment of

FIG. 4

is fully engaged without the vehicle operator disembarking until the rightmost orientation of

FIG. 4

has been achieved. This makes

FIG. 4

a preferred embodiment in this regard. However, it is also to be noted that many preexisting loader buckets


12


already are manufactured and sold with eyelets such as


501


already affixed thereto. Bucket engagement latches


121


, on the other hand, are not ordinarily provided with a preexisting loader bucket


12


, and so need to be welded on as part of the process of retrofitting a preexisting loader bucket


12


for use in combination with loader bucket extender


11


. From this viewpoint, the embodiment of

FIG. 5

is preferred.




Of course, a wide range of other variations for attaching preexisting loader bucket


12


with loader bucket extender


11


can be developed based on this disclosure by someone of ordinary skill, and are encompassed by this disclosure and its associated claims. The embodiment of

FIG. 5

, for example, or similar embodiments to

FIG. 5

, may be advantageous if, for example, one is placing loader bucket extender


11


onto a plow-to-bucket converter such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,400. The bucket extender


11


embodiment of

FIG. 5

can more easily be attached without the need to rotate preexisting loader bucket


12


in or opposite the direction of rotation


405


, and since a plow may not enable this sort of rotation to the same degree that a vehicle designed at the outset for loading, embodiments which avert the need to orient preexisting loader bucket


12


in the manner illustrated toward the left and center sides of

FIGS. 4 and 5

are helpful in this regard.




While only certain preferred features of the invention have been illustrated and described, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A system for extending a load-carrying capacity of a preexisting loader bucket, said system comprising:a loader bucket extender completely separate and distinct from said preexisting loader bucket; and engagement and attachment means for engaging and attaching said loader bucket extender to said preexisting loader bucket around a periphery of said preexisting loader bucket; wherein: an unextended original volume of said preexisting loader bucket designated by V1 is substantially non-zero; and a height of said preexisting loader bucket designated by h1 is substantially non-zero; whereby: if an extended volume of said preexisting loader bucket and loader bucket extender when they are so-attached is designated by V2; if b1 designates a base of said preexisting loader bucket; if b2 designates a base of said loader bucket extender; and if h2 designates a combined height of said preexisting loader bucket and loader bucket extender when they are so-attached; then the extended load-carrying capacity achieved by so-attaching said loader bucket extender to said preexisting loader bucket is approximately given by V2/V1˜b2/b12˜h22/h12.
  • 2. The system of claim 1, said loader bucket extender comprising:upper wall bucket engagement means for engaging and attaching said loader bucket extender to said preexisting loader bucket along an upper wall of said loader bucket extender, as part of said engagement and attachment means; and lower wall bucket engagement means for engaging and attaching said loader bucket extender to said preexisting loader bucket along a lower wall of said loader bucket extender, as part of said engagement and attachment means.
  • 3. The system of claim 2, said loader bucket extender further comprising:side wall bucket engagement means for engaging and attaching said loader bucket extender to said preexisting loader bucket along side walls of said loader bucket extender, as part of said engagement and attachment means.
  • 4. The system of claim 2, said system further comprising said preexisting loader bucket;said preexisting loader bucket comprising: upper wall bucket extender engagement means mating with said upper wall bucket engagement means, for engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along an upper wall of said loader bucket and said upper wall of said loader bucket extender, as part of said engagement and attachment means; and lower wall bucket extender engagement means mating with said lower wall bucket engagement means, for engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along a lower wall of said loader bucket and said lower wall of said loader bucket extender, as part of said engagement and attachment means.
  • 5. The system of claim 4, said preexisting loader bucket further comprising:side wall bucket extender engagement means mating with said side wall bucket engagement means, for engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along side walls of said loader bucket and said side walls of said loader bucket extender, as part of said engagement and attachment means.
  • 6. The system of claim 2, said upper wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one bucket attachment engagement bar.
  • 7. The system of claim 4, said upper wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one bucket attachment engagement bar.
  • 8. The system of claim 2, said upper wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one slidable bucket engagement bar.
  • 9. The system of claim 4, said upper wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one slidable bucket engagement bar.
  • 10. The system of claim 3, said side wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one bucket attachment side wall securing aperture.
  • 11. The system of claim 5, said side wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one bucket attachment side wall securing aperture.
  • 12. The system of claim 2, said lower wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one bucket attachment securing arm with at least one rear wall securing aperture thereof.
  • 13. The system of claim 4, said lower wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one bucket attachment securing arm with at least one rear wall securing aperture thereof.
  • 14. The system of claim 4, said upper wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one bucket attachment engagement bar; and said upper wall bucket extender engagement means comprising at least one bucket engagement latch mating with one of said at least one bucket attachment engagement bars; whereby:said mating of said at least one bucket engagement latch with one of said at least one bucket attachment engagement bar is achieved solely by orienting and moving said preexisting loader bucket with respect to said loader bucket extender, such that the combined assembly of said loader bucket with said loader bucket extender is thereby capable of being lifted without any further action beyond said orienting and moving, due to said mating of said at least one bucket engagement latch with said at least one bucket attachment engagement bar.
  • 15. The system of claim 4, said upper wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one slidable bucket engagement bar; and said upper wall bucket extender engagement means comprising at least one bucket extender engagement eyelets mating with one of said at least one slidable bucket engagement bars by sliding said at least one slidable bucket engagement bar through said at least one bucket extender engagement eyelet.
  • 16. The system of claim 5, said side wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one bucket attachment side wall securing aperture; and said side wall bucket extender engagement means comprising at least one loader bucket side wall securing aperture aligning with and attaching to one of said at least one bucket attachment side wall securing apertures.
  • 17. The system of claim 4, said lower wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one bucket attachment securing arm with at least one rear wall securing aperture thereof; and said lower wall bucket extender engagement means comprising at least one rear wall securing eyelet aligning with and attaching to one of said at least one rear wall securing apertures.
  • 18. The system of claim 3, said loader bucket extender further comprising a reinforcement bar running from said side wall bucket engagement means to a lower front region of said loader bucket extender.
  • 19. The system of claim 4, said upper wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one bucket attachment engagement bar;said upper wall bucket extender engagement means comprising at least one bucket engagement latch mating with one of said at least one bucket attachment engagement bars; and said lower wall bucket engagement means comprising at least one bucket attachment securing arm; whereby: said mating of said at least one bucket engagement latch with one of said at least one bucket attachment engagement bar is achieved solely by orienting and moving said preexisting loader bucket with respect to said loader bucket extender in a manner further causing said at least one bucket attachment securing arm to slide into and contact said preexisting loader bucket proximate a lower wall of said preexisting loader bucket, such that the combined assembly of said loader bucket with said loader bucket extender is thereby capable of being lifted without any further action beyond said orienting and moving, due to said mating of said at least one bucket engagement latch with said at least one bucket attachment engagement bar, and said contact made between said at least one bucket attachment securing arm and said lower wall of said preexisting loader bucket.
  • 20. A method for extending a load-carrying capacity of a preexisting loader bucket, comprising the step of engaging and attaching a loader bucket extender completely separate and distinct from said preexisting loader bucket to said preexisting loader bucket around a periphery of said preexisting loader bucket, using engagement and attachment means; whereinan unextended original volume of said preexisting loader bucket designated by V1 is substantially non-zero; and a height of said preexisting loader bucket designated by h1 is substantially non-zero; whereby: if an extended volume of said preexisting loader bucket and loader bucket extender when they are so-attached is designated by V22; if b1 designates a base of said preexisting loader bucket; if b2 designates a base of said loader bucket extender; and if h2 designates a combined height of said preexisting loader bucket and loader bucket extender when they are so-attached; then the extended load-carrying capacity achieved by so-attaching said loader bucket extender to said preexisting loader bucket is approximately given by V2/V1˜b22/b12˜h22/h12.
  • 21. The method of claim 20, said step of attaching a loader bucket extender to said preexisting loader bucket comprising the further steps of:engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along an upper wall of said loader bucket and an upper wall of said loader bucket extender by mating upper wall bucket extender engagement means of said preexisting loader bucket with upper wall bucket engagement means of said loader bucket extender; and engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along a lower wall of said loader bucket and said lower wall of said loader bucket extender by mating lower wall bucket extender engagement means of said preexisting loader bucket with lower wall bucket engagement means of said loader bucket extender.
  • 22. The method of claim 21, said step of attaching a loader bucket extender to said preexisting loader bucket comprising the further steps of:engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along side walls of said loader bucket and side walls of said loader bucket extender by mating side wall bucket extender engagement means of said preexisting loader bucket with said side wall bucket engagement means of said loader bucket extender.
  • 23. The method of claim 22, said step of engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along an upper wall of said loader bucket and an upper wall of said loader bucket extender comprising the further steps of:resting a lower front region of said loader bucket extender upon a supporting surface and orienting said upper wall of said loader bucket extender substantially horizontally above said supporting surface; raising said preexisting loader bucket above said loader bucket extender and rotationally orienting said preexisting loader bucket such that recessed sections of said at least one bucket engagement latch are oriented substantially upwards; lowering said preexisting loader bucket to a position wherein said at least one bucket engagement latch drops below at least one bucket attachment engagement bar of said loader bucket extender; and raising said preexisting loader bucket until said at least one bucket engagement latch firmly engages and mates with said at least one bucket attachment engagement bar; whereby: said mating of said at least one bucket engagement latch with one of said at least one bucket attachment engagement bar is achieved solely by orienting and moving said preexisting loader bucket with respect to said loader bucket extender according to said resting, raising, lowering and raising steps, such that the combined assembly of said loader bucket with said loader bucket extender is thereby capable of being lifted without any further steps beyond said resting, raising, lowering and raising steps, due to said mating of said at least one bucket engagement latch with said at least one bucket attachment engagement bar.
  • 24. The method of claim 22, said step of engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along an upper wall of said loader bucket and an upper wall of said loader bucket extender comprising the further steps of:resting a lower front region of said loader bucket extender upon a supporting surface and orienting said upper wall of said loader bucket extender substantially horizontally above said supporting surface; raising said preexisting loader bucket above said loader bucket extender and rotationally orienting said preexisting loader bucket such that recessed sections of said at least one bucket engagement latch are oriented substantially upwards; lowering said preexisting loader bucket to a position wherein said at least one bucket engagement latch drops below at least one bucket attachment engagement bar of said loader bucket extender, and wherein at least one bucket attachment securing arm of said loader bucket extender slides into and contacts said preexisting loader bucket proximate a lower wall of said preexisting loader bucket; and raising said preexisting loader bucket until said at least one bucket engagement latch firmly engages and mates with said at least one bucket attachment engagement bar; said steps of engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along side walls of said loader bucket and side walls of said loader bucket extender and of engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along a lower wall of said loader bucket and said lower wall of said loader bucket extender comprise the further steps of: once said at least one bucket engagement latch firmly engages and mates with said at least one bucket attachment engagement bar and said at least one bucket attachment securing arm of said loader bucket extender has been slid into said preexisting loader bucket proximate said lower wall of said preexisting loader bucket, rotating said preexisting loader bucket and said loader bucket extender in combination, into an orientation wherein said lower wall of said loader bucket and said lower wall of said loader bucket extender are oriented substantially horizontally, wherein at least one rear wall securing aperture of said at least one bucket attachment securing arm becomes fully aligned with at least one rear wall securing eyelet of said preexisting loader bucket, and wherein at least one bucket attachment side wall securing aperture of said at least one loader bucket extender becomes fully aligned with at least one loader bucket side wall securing aperture of said preexisting loader bucket; securing said at least one bucket attachment side wall securing aperture and said at least one loader bucket side wall securing aperture to one another using side wall securing means; and securing said at least one rear wall securing aperture and said at least one rear wall securing eyelet to one another using rear wall securing means; whereby: said mating of said at least one bucket engagement latch with one of said at least one bucket attachment engagement bar is achieved solely by orienting and moving said preexisting loader bucket with respect to said loader bucket extender in a manner further causing said at least one bucket attachment securing arm to slide into and contact said preexisting loader bucket proximate a lower wall of said preexisting loader bucket, such that the combined assembly of said loader bucket with said loader bucket extender is thereby capable of being lifted without any further action beyond said orienting and moving, due to said mating of said at least one bucket engagement latch with said at least one bucket attachment engagement bar, and said contact made between said at least one bucket attachment securing arm and said lower wall of said preexisting loader bucket.
  • 25. The method of claim 21, said step of engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along an upper wall of said loader bucket and an upper wall of said loader bucket extender comprising the further steps of: moving said preexisting loader bucket to a position wherein at least one bucket extender engagement eyelet of said preexisting bucket is aligned with at least one slidable bucket engagement bar of said loader bucket extender; andsliding said at least one slidable bucket engagement bar through said at least one bucket extender engagement eyelet.
  • 26. The method of claim 23, said step of engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along an upper wall of said loader bucket and an upper wall of said loader bucket extender comprising the further steps of:moving said preexisting loader bucket to a position wherein at least one bucket extender engagement eyelet of said preexisting bucket is aligned with at least one slidable bucket engagement bar of said loader bucket extender, and wherein at least one bucket attachment securing arm of said loader bucket extender slides into said preexisting loader bucket proximate a lower wall of said preexisting loader bucket; and sliding said at least one slidable bucket engagement bar through said at least one bucket extender engagement eyelet; said steps of engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along side walls of said loader bucket and side walls of said loader bucket extender and of engaging and attaching said preexisting loader bucket to said loader bucket extender along a lower wall of said loader bucket and said lower wall of said loader bucket extender comprise the further steps of: once said at least one bucket engagement latch firmly engages and mates with said at least one bucket attachment engagement bar and said at least one bucket attachment securing arm of said loader bucket extender has been slid into said preexisting loader bucket proximate said lower wall of said preexisting loader bucket, rotating said preexisting loader bucket and said loader bucket extender in combination, into an orientation wherein said lower wall of said loader bucket and said lower wall of said loader bucket extender are oriented substantially horizontally, wherein at least one rear wall securing aperture of said at least one bucket attachment securing arm becomes fully aligned with at least one rear wall securing eyelet of said preexisting loader bucket, and wherein at least one bucket attachment side wall securing aperture of said at least one loader bucket extender becomes fully aligned with at least one loader bucket side wall securing aperture of said preexisting loader bucket; securing said at least one bucket attachment side wall securing aperture and said at least one loader bucket side wall securing aperture to one another using side wall securing means; and securing said at least one rear wall securing aperture and said at least one rear wall securing eyelet to one another using rear wall securing means.
  • 27. The method of claim 22, comprising the further step of providing a reinforcement bar of said loader bucket extender, running from said side wall bucket engagement means to a lower front region of said loader bucket extender.
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