Gripping attachment for backhoe or excavator

Abstract

A backhoe or excavator is adapted for use in lifting and transporting objects such as logs, beams, and the like, by a gripping attachment that functions in conjunction with the backhoe bucket. The gripping attachment consists of one or more, preferably two, plates that have a scalloped contact edge in the form of a series of convex curved protrusions while the protrusions themselves are arranged in a concave curve. The attachment is mounted or capable of being mounted to the surface of the boom at a location a short distance above the pivot axis of the bucket on the side of the boom that is also faced by the bucket opening. When the bucket is thus rotated back toward the attachment, an object to be lifted or transported can be securely held between the bucket and the scalloped edge with no damage to the surface of the object.

1 . A gripping member for attachment to a backhoe or excavator having a boom and a bucket pivotally mounted to said boom, said gripping member comprising: 
 a plate having a scalloped edge in the form of a plurality of convex curved protrusions positioned at intervals along said edge, the extremities of said protrusions collectively forming a concave curve, and    securing means for securing said plate to said boom.    
   
   
       2 . The gripping member of  claim 1  comprising two or more of said plates, and wherein said securing means secures said plates to said boom in a parallel orientation.  
   
   
       3 . The gripping member of  claim 2  wherein said securing means is a base plate joining said plates to form a unitary structure.  
   
   
       4 . The gripping member of  claim 1  wherein said scalloped edge consists of from 3 to 20 of said convex curved protrusions.  
   
   
       5 . The gripping member of  claim 1  wherein said scalloped edge consists of from 4 to 10 of said convex curved protrusions.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 2  wherein said concave curve formed by said extremities of said protrusions is an arc of a circle equal to one-fourth of the circumference of said circle or less.