Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6167642
-
Patent Number
6,167,642
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, June 23, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 2, 200124 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 037 446
- 037 410
- 037 903
- 037 DIG 3
- 037 DIG 12
- 037 466
- 037 467
- 037 403
- 414 718
- 414 722
- 414 912
- 172 824
- 172 825
- 172 821
- 172 819
-
International Classifications
-
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
2˜
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.
US Referenced Citations (27)