Material or article handling – Vertically swinging load support – Shovel or fork type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-03
2001-03-20
Morse, Gregory A. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Vertically swinging load support
Shovel or fork type
C037S403000, C037S406000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203267
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a material handling assembly mountable on the handle of a machine such as an excavating machine, and more particularly to such an assembly which is operable to clamp, grasp or grapple, various materials such as soil, rocks, tree trunks, tree stumps, debris and the like between a pair clamping members. The invention further contemplates an adjustable implement in the form of an arm member comprising a component of such an assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the prior art, there has been developed a type of implement commonly referred to as a “thumb”, mountable on the underside of the handle of an excavating machine which is cooperable with the bucket of the machine for grasping material being handled between the thumb and the bucket. Typically, the thumb is fixed relative to the handle and the bucket may be curled and uncurled to grasp and hold the material being handled. The thumb also is usually connected to the handle with a strut which may be either of a fixed or extendable length to permit adjustment of the angle of the thumb relative to the handle. The strut may consist of rigid link detachably securable to one of a number of brackets deposed on the underside of the handle or a hydraulic cylinder whose length may be varied and locked to position the thumb at the desired angle.
Utilizing a hydraulic cylinder for adjusting the angle of the thumb has a number of advantages but is comparatively costly. Utilizing a rigid strut and a number of connecting brackets also has a number of advantages but presents a number of disadvantages including increased cost of manufacture and installation and a certain amount manual labor being required in fixing the desired angle of the thumb and securing it into position. It thus has been the principal object of the present invention to provide a material handling assembly of the type described having a thumb component which is simple in construction, comparatively easy to install and readily adjustable. It is a further object of the invention to provide such an implement which may be easily set at a desired angle for operational purposes and conveniently retracted and positioned against the underside of the handle for storage purposes, permitting the bucket of the assembly to be operated independently of the thumb member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes some of the disadvantages of prior art material handling assemblies of the type described by providing an assembly mountable on the handle of the machine consisting generally of a bucket pivotally connectable to the handle of the machine and the means for pivoting the bucket about the pivotal connection of the bucket to the handle, an arm member pivotally connectable to the handle and cooperable with the bucket when mounted on the handle for clamping material being handled therebetween, a bracket mountable on the underside of the handle, having a guideway therealong, a strut having a first end thereof pivotally connected to the arm member and second end thereof received within and displaceable along the guideway, and means for detachably securing the second end of the strut to the bracket at selected points along the length of the guideway.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a partial elevational view of the front end assembly of an excavating machine incorporating an embodiment of the invention and illustrating the components thereof in a closed or clamping condition with the thumb component thereof disposed in an extended position;
FIG. 2
is a view similar to the view shown in
FIG. 1
illustrating the components in an open or unclamped condition with the thumb component thereof disposed in a fully retracted, storage position;
FIG. 3
is an enlarged, side elevational view of the thumb assembly shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, illustrating the thumb component thereof in an extended position;
FIG. 4
is an enlarged cross-section taken along line
4
—
4
in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a view similar to the view shown in
FIG. 3
, illustrating another embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 6
is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line
6
—
6
in FIG.
5
.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4407626 (1983-10-01), Bruckner
patent: 4558515 (1985-12-01), LaBounty
patent: 5544435 (1996-08-01), Somero
patent: 5553408 (1996-09-01), Townsend
patent: 5678332 (1997-10-01), Hawkins
patent: 5927933 (1999-07-01), Tucker
Heiple Ashley
Keller Don
Lalos Peter
Lalos & Keegan
Lau Michael N.
Morse Gregory A.
Rockland Inc.
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