Heavy Equipment Machine Attachment

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to loader attachments and more particularly pertains to a new loader attachment for reducing wear and tear on the loader.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to loader attachments. For example, the prior art discloses attachments for use with snow plows or skid steer loaders. Heavy equipment such as skid steers and snow plows are often used to remove material, such as ice and snow, from ground surfaces. Such heavy equipment may also be used to collect other materials, such as gravel, dirt, or rocks. The heavy equipment machines typically have buckets or loaders which are used to collect the material from the ground surfaces. Some prior art references disclose attachments that can be coupled to the sides of the buckets or loaders, to direct the material towards the front of the loader instead of pushing the materials to the sides of the loader. Other references disclose pivotable attachments that can pivot upwards and downwards to help the loader move over obstacles on the ground surface, such as curbs. However, there is a need in the art for an attachment that can be placed between the loader and the ground surface to inhibit the ground surface from damaging the loader. Ideally, such a device would have sharpened edges that facilitate removal of the material being collected from the ground surface.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a heavy equipment machine. A bucket is coupled to the heavy equipment machine wherein the heavy equipment machine is configured to collect material using the bucket. The bucket includes a front side that is open to facilitate access to an interior space of the bucket. The front side has a front bottom edge. A bottom side extends backwardly from the front bottom edge of the front side toward the heavy equipment machine. A blade is removably couplable to the bottom side of the bucket. The blade is positioned adjacent to the front bottom edge wherein the blade is configured to direct the material into the interior space of the bucket through the front side of the bucket. The blade has a blade first edge and a blade second edge. An operative one of the blade first edge and the blade second edge is positioned forwardly from the front bottom edge of the front side of the bucket when the blade is coupled to the bottom side of the bucket wherein the operative one of the blade first edge and the blade second edge is configured to contact a surface from which the material is being collected to inhibit the surface from damaging the bucket. The operative one of the blade first edge and the blade second edge is configured to be parallel to the surface from which the material is being collected.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a heavy equipment machine attachment according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a rear isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a rear isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 17 thereof, a new loader attachment embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 17, the heavy equipment machine attachment 10 generally comprises a heavy equipment machine 12 such as a tractor, a loader, an excavator, or a skid steer. The heavy equipment machine 12 may be of any type, including those not listed here. A bucket 14 is coupled to the heavy equipment machine 12 wherein the heavy equipment machine 12 is configured to collect a material using the bucket 14. The bucket 14 generally includes a front side 16 that is open to facilitate access to an interior space 18 of the bucket 14. The front side 16 typically includes a front top edge 20, a front bottom edge 22, and a pair of front lateral edges 24 that are coupled to and extend between the front top edge 20 and the front bottom edge 22. A bottom side 26 extends backwardly from the front bottom edge 22 of the front side 16 toward the heavy equipment machine 12.

A blade 28 is removably couplable to the bottom side 26 of the bucket 14. The blade 28 is positionable adjacent to the front bottom edge 22 of the bucket 14 wherein the blade 28 is configured to direct the material into the interior space 18 of the bucket 14 through the front side 16 of the bucket 14. The blade 28 has a blade first edge 30 and a blade second edge 32. A blade body 34 may extend between the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32. An operative one of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 is generally positioned forwardly from the front bottom edge 22 of the front side 16 of the bucket 14 when the blade 28 is coupled to the bottom side 26 of the bucket 14. The operative one of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 is configured to contact a surface 36 from which the material is collected to inhibit the surface 36 from damaging the bucket 14. The operative one of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 is configured to be parallel to the surface 36 from which the material is collected when the blade 28 is coupled to the bucket 14. In some embodiments, both the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 may be configured to be parallel to the surface 36 from which the material is collected, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

Each of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 are generally sharpened wherein the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 are each configured to facilitate removal of the material from the surface 36. For example, the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 may scrape the surface 36 to remove the material from the surface 36 so that the blade 28 can direct the material into the interior space 18 of the bucket 14. When the operative one of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 becomes dulled, the blade 28 may be removed from the bucket 14, rotated 180°, and re-attached to the bucket 14 such that the other edge of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 is positioned forwardly from the front bottom edge 22 of the front side 16 of the bucket 14. Because the blade 28 is removable from the bucket 14 and because both the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 are sharpened, the lifetime of the blade 28 is effectively doubled.

The blade body 34 may have a blade upper surface 38 and a blade lower surface 40. The blade upper surface 38 may include a midsection 42 that extends between a pair of beveled sections 44. The midsection 42 may be convexly arcuate between the pair of beveled sections 44. Each beveled section of the pair of beveled sections 44 may be angled to extend outwardly from the midsection 42 and downwardly to a respective one of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32. The blade lower surface 40 is generally concavely arcuate between the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9.

The blade 28 may further include a blade primary end 46 and a blade secondary end 48. The blade primary end 46 may be positioned adjacent to a first front lateral edge of the pair of front lateral edges 24 of the front side 16 of the bucket 14 when the blade 28 is coupled to the bucket 14. In some embodiments, such as those shown in FIG. 7, the blade primary end 46 may be aligned with the first front lateral edge wherein the blade primary end 46 is coplanar with the first front lateral edge of the pair of front lateral edges 24 of the front side 16 of the bucket 14. In other embodiments, such as those shown in FIG. 12, the blade body 34 may extend outwardly past the first front lateral edge wherein the blade primary end 46 is non-coplanar with the first front lateral edge of the pair of front lateral edges 24 of the front side 16 of the bucket 14. In such embodiments, the blade primary end 46 is configured to inhibit the surface 36 from damaging the first front lateral edge of the pair of front lateral edges 24 of the bucket 14.

The blade secondary end 48 may be positioned adjacent to a second front lateral edge of the pair of front lateral edges 24 of the front side 16 of the bucket 14 when the blade 28 is coupled to the bucket 14. In embodiments according to FIG. 7, the blade secondary end 48 may be aligned with the second front lateral edge wherein the blade secondary end 48 is coplanar with the second front lateral edge of the pair of front lateral edges 24 of the front side 16 of the bucket 14. In embodiments according to FIG. 12, the blade body 34 may extend outwardly past the second front lateral edge wherein the blade secondary end 48 is non-coplanar with the second front lateral edge of the pair of front lateral edges 24 of the front side 16 of the bucket 14. In such embodiments, the blade secondary end 48 is configured to inhibit the surface 36 from damaging the second front lateral edge of the pair of front lateral edges 24.

As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 13, 14, and 15, the blade primary end 46 and the blade secondary end 48 may each be convexly arcuate between the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32. In other words, the blade primary end 46 and the blade secondary end 48 may each curve outwardly. In such embodiments, the blade lower surface 40 will generally remain concavely arcuate between the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32. However, the blade primary end 46 and the blade secondary end 48 may be convexly arcuate to facilitate the blade 28 in moving over obstacles on the surface 36, such as rocks or curbs.

A board 50 may be coupled to the blade 28. The board 50 may extend upwardly from the blade upper surface 38 of the blade body 34 wherein the board 50 is positionable between the blade 28 and the bottom side 26 of the bucket 14. The board 50 may be centered on the midsection 42 of the blade upper surface 38. The board 50 may have length that is equal to a length of the blade 28 wherein the length of the blade 28 is measured between the blade primary end 46 and the blade secondary end 48. The board 50 may be intrinsically coupled to the blade 28.

The board 50 may have a board upper wall 52, which is generally planar, wherein the board upper wall 52 is configured to facilitate coupling the blade 28 to the bucket 14. A pair of board lateral walls 54 may be coupled to and extend between the blade upper surface 38 and the board upper wall 52. A leading one of the pair of board lateral walls 54 may be aligned with the front bottom edge 22 of the front side 16 of the bucket 14 when the blade 28 is coupled to the bucket 14, as shown in FIG. 9.

Each board lateral wall of the pair of board lateral walls 54 may be angled to extend outwardly from the board upper wall 52 and downwardly to the blade upper surface 38. In such embodiments, the pair of board lateral walls 54 are configured to direct the material from the surface 36 into the interior space 18 of the bucket 14, and to inhibit the material from collecting against the board 50 beneath the front bottom edge 22 of the bucket 14. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, each board lateral wall of the pair of board lateral walls 54 may be angled to extend between the board upper wall 52 and the midsection 42 of the blade upper surface 38 at a slope that is between approximately 30° and 60°. In one preferred embodiment, the slope may be approximately 45°. In another example, each board lateral wall of the pair of board lateral walls 54 may be angled to extend between the board upper wall 52 and a junction between the midsection 42 and a respective beveled section of the pair of beveled sections 44 of the blade upper surface 38. FIG. 17 provides an exemplary depiction of such embodiments. Such embodiments may inhibit the material from collecting at a junction between the board 50 and the blade upper surface 38.

A plurality of apertures 56 may extend through the blade 28 and the board 50. The plurality of apertures 56 are generally spaced from each other between the blade primary end 46 and the blade secondary end 48. The plurality of apertures 56 are configured to align with a plurality of through-holes 58 that extend through the bottom side 26 of the bucket 14. Because different models of the bucket 14 may have various arrangements of the plurality of through-holes 58 along the bottom side 26, various arrangements of the plurality of apertures 56 are contemplated so that the blade 28 may be coupled to any model of the bucket 14.

For example, the plurality of apertures 56 may be centered between the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32. In such embodiments, the plurality of apertures 56 is configured to facilitate coupling the blade 28 and the board 50 to the bucket 14 with either one of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 being positioned forwardly from the front bottom edge 22 of the front side 16 of the bucket 14.

A plurality of fasteners 60 may be positionable to extend through the plurality of through-holes 58 extending through the bucket 14 into the plurality of apertures 56 extending into the blade 28 and the board 50. The plurality of fasteners 60 removably couple the blade 28 and the board 50 to the bucket 14. For example, the plurality of fasteners 60 may include bolts or screws, as shown in FIG. 9.

In use, the blade 28 can be attached to the bucket 14 with either the blade first edge 30 or the blade second edge 32 is positioned forwardly from the front bottom edge 22 of the bucket 14. The operative one of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 will scrape the surface 36 from which the material is collected to remove the material from the surface 36. For example, the material may include ice and snow, and the operative one of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 will scrape the ice to remove the ice and snow from the surface 36. The angles of the pair of beveled sections 44 of the blade upper surface 38, and the angles of the pair of board lateral walls 54 of the board 50, will direct the material into the interior space 18 of the bucket 14.

The blade 28 covers the front bottom edge 22 of the bucket 14 to protect the front bottom edge 22 of the bucket 14 from being scratched, dented, or otherwise damaged by the surface 36. Accordingly, the length of the blade 28, which is measured between the blade primary end 46 and the blade secondary end 48, may be equal to or greater than the length of the front bottom edge 22 of the bucket 14, which is measured between the pair of front lateral edges 24 of the front side 16 of the bucket 14. For example, in embodiments according to FIGS. 7 and 11, the length of the blade 28 may be equal to the length of the front bottom edge 22 of the bucket 14. In embodiments according to FIGS. 12 and 13, the length of the blade 28 may exceed the length of the front bottom edge 22 of the bucket 14. Such embodiments may protect the front bottom edge 22 and the pair of front lateral edges 24 of the bucket 14 from being damaged by the surface 36. Certain materials, such as ice, may be easier to remove from the surface 36 when the blade lower surface 40 is concavely arcuate between the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32. Embodiments according to FIGS. 7 and 12 may be useful in such situations. In other situations, such as when the surface 36 has obstructions such as large stones or curbs around which the blade 28 must move, it may be easier to remove materials when the blade primary end 46 and the blade secondary end 48 are each convexly arcuate between the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32.

Embodiments according to FIGS. 11, 13 - 15 may be used in such situations. Because the blade 28 is removably couplable to the bucket 14, different embodiments of the blade 28 can easily be attached to the bucket 14 according to the situation in which the heavy equipment machine 12 attachment 10 is used.

The plurality of fasteners 60 can simply be removed from the plurality of through-holes 58 and the plurality of apertures 56 to remove or replace the blade 28. For example, once the operative one of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 becomes dulled, the user can simply remove the plurality of fasteners 60 and re-attach the blade 28 with the other, non-dulled one of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 positioned forwardly from the front bottom edge 22 of the bucket 14. Additionally, because both the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 are sharpened, the user does not need to tip the bucket 14 such that the operative one of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 is perpendicular to the surface 36 to remove the material from the surface 36. Instead, the user can simply push the bucket 14 along the surface 36 using the heavy equipment machine 12, while the bottom side 26 of the bucket 14 and one or both of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 remain parallel to the surface 36.

The blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 may also be sharpened on the surface 36 while the blade 28 is being used. Because the blade lower surface 40 is concavely arcuate between the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32, each of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 may scrape against the surface 36 during use. The blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 may each grind against the surface 36 to maintain the sharpness of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32, particularly when the surface 36 includes gravel, cement, or other hard and rough materials.

The user may also want to remove the material from a junction between the surface 36 and a building wall or other structure, as depicted in FIG. 16. Accordingly, the bucket 14 may be tipped approximately 70° to 90° relative to the surface 36. As the heavy equipment machine 12 drives in reverse away from the structure, the operative one of the blade first edge 30 and the blade second edge 32 will scrape the surface 36 from which the material is collected to remove the material from the surface 36. Then, the bucket 14 can be re-positioned so that the blade 28 is approximately parallel to the surface 36 to gather the material within the bucket 14.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.