Excavating – Combined or convertible – With scraper
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-20
2001-06-12
Batson, Victor (Department: 3671)
Excavating
Combined or convertible
With scraper
C037S446000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243975
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a blade attachment for a backhoe bucket. More particularly, the invention relates a grading blade which is attachable to the backhoe bucket.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Previous proposals have been made for attaching grading blades to backhoe buckets. Such blades would be desirable because the backhoes are often used to excavate established lawns or other planted areas which need to be restored to their original condition after the excavation is complete. Typically such excavations are used in the installation of water or sewer pipes or wiring, etc. Since, in most cases, the backhoe is the only mechanized implement on the excavation site it has been necessary to do much of the grading and refilling of the trench by hand.
Previous suggestions such as the attachments shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,529 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,512 have not gained commercial acceptance due to various shortcomings. For example, the blade of the former patent is limited in practical effect to the original width of the bucket due to inherit weaknesses in the system of mounting the blade on the bucket. The '512 patent, in contrast, shows a more sturdy mounting system. However the sockets shown in that patent for receiving the blade attachments remain fixed in place thereby unacceptably widening the profile of the backhoe bucket. Due to such widening the digging efficiency of the bucket is seriously impaired resulting in a lack of commercial acceptance.
In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, a need has continued to exist for improved blade attachments would enable a backhoe bucket to be used for refilling and grading of the trench created by the backhoe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention as is its principal object the provision of an improved blade attachment for use on existing backhoe buckets. An important aspect of the present invention is the provision of such a blade attachment which can be securely mounted to the backhoe bucket. A related aspect is that the digging efficiency and earth cutting profile of the bucket are not altered and thus the efficiency of the backhoe is not reduced. A related aspect of the invention is the provision of an improved system of mounting the attachment to the bucket that makes the blade attachment resistant to twisting or separation from the bucket during use.
A further advantage of the present invention is the ability to configure attachable blades suited to various commercially available types of backhoe buckets. Thus, a single blade attachment of this invention is adaptable to be mounted on various excavator buckets of differing widths.
Another important related advantage of the present invention is a mounting system which ensures easy attachment of the blade to the backhoe bucket but which provides an attachment of enhanced stability.
A further aspect of the invention is the provision of an attachment which may be configured to fit around the existing cutting or toothed edge of the backhoe bucket, thus enhancing the stability of the blade against separation of the attachment from the bucket. In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention the width of the mounting attachment brackets is adjustable using readily available tools, thereby enabling easy attachment of a particular blade attachment to backhoe buckets of varying widths. In accordance with this aspect of the invention the manufacturing costs of providing the attachment can be reduced while enhancing the ability of the customer to use the attachment on equipment made by more than one manufacturer or which otherwise varies in width.
Briefly, the invention provides a blade attachment adapted to be mounted to an excavator bucket assembly. The attachment includes an elongated blade having a width substantially greater than the width of the bucket. The blade is provided with a pair of mounting brackets affixed to its rear with at least two mounting holes being provided through each mounting bracket. The mounting brackets are spaced apart a distance sufficient for mounting on the opposite side walls of the bucket.
Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, the claims and the accompanying drawings.
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Batson Victor
Ryan Kromholz & Manion S.C.
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