Bucket extension for front loaders

Abstract

A bucket extension for providing the main bucket of a front loader with side extension buckets that extends the useable width of the main bucket for material moving. The extension or side buckets are pivotally connected to the sides of the main bucket. In their closed and stored position the open fronts of the bucket extensions are mounted facing the open front of the main bucket. When they are extended, the side extension buckets pivot 180° about the pivot connection to an open operable position with the open front of the extension facing the same direction as the open front of the main bucket. Locking means are provided to lock the bucket extensions in the open position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bucket attachment for extending the operable width of a main bucket of a loader, the main bucket having a front facing open front, a closed back, and opposed sides, the bucket attachment comprising: 
 an open front, a closed back, and first and second opposed sides, at least one of the opposed sides being a closed side,    pivotal attachment means for pivotally connecting the bucket attachment to the main bucket,    the pivotal attachment means for permitting the bucket attachment to pivot from a closed, stored position in which the bucket attachment is pivoted so that the open front of the bucket attachment faces the open front of the main bucket, to an open, operable position in which the bucket attachment has the open front of the bucket attachment facing the same direction as the front facing open front of the main bucket.    
     
     
         2 . The bucket attachment of  claim 1  wherein the pivotal attachment means comprises a hinge connection between the main bucket and the bucket attachment.  
     
     
         3 . The bucket attachment of  claim 2  and further comprising locking means for securely retaining the bucket attachment in the open, operable position.  
     
     
         4 . The bucket attachment of  claim 3  wherein the locking means comprises a first cylindrical member on the main bucket and a second cylindrical member on the bucket attachment, the first and second cylindrical members aligned with each other when the bucket attachment is in the open, operable position, and a pin inserted through the aligned first and second cylindrical members for retaining the first and second cylindrical members in a locked position.  
     
     
         5 . The bucket attachment of  claim 1  and further comprising a second bucket attachment comprising an open front, a closed back, and opposed sides, at least one of the opposed sides being a closed side, second pivotal attachment means for pivotally connecting the second bucket attachment to the main bucket, the second pivotal attachment means for permitting the second bucket attachment to pivot from a closed, stored position in which the second bucket attachment is pivoted so that the open front of the bucket attachment faces the open front of the main bucket, to an open, operable position in which the second bucket attachment has the open front of the second bucket attachment facing the same direction as the front facing open front of the main bucket.  
     
     
         6 . The bucket attachment of  claim 5  and further comprising second locking means for securely retaining the second bucket extension in the open, operable position.  
     
     
         7 . A bucket attachment for extending the operable width of a main bucket of a loader, in which the main bucket has an open front, a closed back, and opposed first and second sides, the bucket attachment comprising: 
 an open front, a closed back, and first and second opposed sides, at least the second of the opposed sides being a closed side,    pivotal attachment means mounted on at least one of the main bucket opposed first or second sides for pivotally connecting the bucket attachment to either of the opposed first or second sides,    the pivotal attachment means for permitting the bucket attachment means to pivot from a closed, stored position in which the bucket attachment faces the open front of the main bucket, to an open, operable position in which the first opposed side of the bucket attachment is adjacent to the first opposed side of the of the main bucket and the open front of the bucket attachment faces in the same direction as the open front of the main bucket.    
     
     
         8 . The bucket attachment of  claim 7  wherein the pivotal attachment means comprises a hinge connection between the main bucket and the bucket attachment.  
     
     
         9 . The bucket attachment of  claim 7  and further comprising locking means for securely retaining the bucket attachment in the open, operable position.  
     
     
         10 . The bucket attachment of  claim 9  wherein the locking means comprises a first cylindrical member on the main bucket and a second cylindrical member on the bucket attachment, the first and second cylindrical members aligned with each other when the bucket attachment is in the open, operable position, and a pin inserted through the aligned first and second cylindrical members for retaining the first and second cylindrical members in a locked position.  
     
     
         11 . The bucket attachment of  claim 7  and further comprising a second bucket attachment comprising an open front, a closed back, and opposed sides, at least the second of the opposed sides being a closed side, second pivotal attachment means mounted on the side of the main bucket opposite the side that the bucket attachment is mounted for pivotally connecting the second bucket attachment to the main bucket, the second pivotal attachment means for permitting the second bucket attachment to pivot from a closed, stored position in which the second bucket attachment is pivoted so that the open front of the bucket attachment faces the open front of the main bucket, to an open, operable position in which the second bucket attachment has the second opposed side of the bucket attachment adjacent to the opposed second side of the of the main bucket and the open front of the second bucket attachment facing the same direction as the front facing open front of the main bucket.  
     
     
         12 . The bucket attachment of  claim 11  and further comprising second locking means for securely retaining the second bucket extension in the open, operable position.  
     
     
         13 . A combination main bucket of a loader and bucket attachment for extending the operable width of the main bucket, in which the main bucket has an open front, a closed back, and opposed first and second sides, the open front and front sides defining main bucket side edges, the bucket attachment comprising: 
 a left bucket attachment having an open front, a closed back, and first and second opposed sides, at least one of the opposed sides being a closed side and the other opposed side defining a left bucket attachment side edge,    a right bucket attachment having an open front, a closed back, and first and second opposed sides, at least one of the opposed sides being a closed side and the other opposed side defining a right bucket attachment side edge,    first pivotal attachment means on one of the main bucket side edges for pivotally connecting the left bucket attachment to one side of the main bucket,    second pivotal attachment means on the other of the main bucket edges for pivotally connecting the right bucket attachment to the other side of the main bucket,    the first and second pivotal attachment means for permitting the left and right bucket attachments to pivot from a closed, stored position in which the bucket attachment is pivoted so that the open front of the bucket attachment faces the open front of the main bucket, to an open, operable position in which the bucket attachment has the open front of the bucket attachment facing the same direction as the front facing open front of the main bucket.    
     
     
         14 . The combination main bucket and bucket extensions of  claim 13  where in the first pivotal attachment means connects the left bucket attachment to the main bucket along the left bucket attachment side edge and the second pivotal attachment means connects the right bucket attachment to the main bucket along the right bucket attachment side edge.  
     
     
         15 . The bucket attachment of  claim 13  wherein the pivotal attachment means comprises a hinge connection between the main bucket and the bucket attachment.  
     
     
         16 . The bucket attachment of  claim 13  and further comprising locking means for securely retaining the bucket attachments in the open, operable position.  
     
     
         17 . The bucket attachment of  claim 13  wherein the locking means comprises a pair of first cylindrical members on the main bucket and a pair of second cylindrical members, one on each of the bucket attachments, the first and second cylindrical members aligned with each other when the bucket attachments are in the open, operable position, and a pin inserted through the aligned first and second cylindrical members for retaining the first and second cylindrical members in a locked position.