Bracket and Method for Transport of Articulated Arm Attachment

Abstract

The present invention provides for a bracket assembly mountable to an articulated arm. The mountable bracket assembly allows for efficient transfer of a working end attachment while causing minimal or no incidental environmental damage during the loading/unloading process. The bracket assembly comprises a mounting assembly mounted to the underside side of an articulated arm and a pivot piece assembly pivotally mounted to the mounting assembly. An optional stabilizer is dimensionally fabricated to effectively capture and stabilize a portion of the working end attachment when positioned for transport.

1 . A bracket assembly for transporting an articulated arm working end attachment comprising: 
 a mounting assembly for mounting to the underside of an articulated arm; and    a pivot piece assembly pivotally attached to the mounting assembly for rotatably engaging the working end attachment.    
   
   
       2 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mounting assembly comprises a cylinder.  
   
   
       3 . The bracket assembly of  claim 2  wherein the cylinder is mounted to a plate for mounting to the underside of the articulated arm.  
   
   
       4 . The bracket assembly of  claim 3  wherein the cylinder is offset from the plate using at least one spacer.  
   
   
       5 . The bracket assembly of  claim 3  wherein the plate further includes at least one mounting orifice.  
   
   
       6 . The bracket assembly of  claim 2  wherein the pivot piece assembly comprises two halves separated by at least one cross member, each half having a pivot pin orifice for receiving a pivot pin to pivotally attach the pivot piece assembly to the cylinder.  
   
   
       7 . The bracket assembly of  claim 6  wherein the pivot pin includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of a handle and a retainer attachment.  
   
   
       8 . The bracket assembly of  claim 6  wherein a first and second cross member each contain a retaining pin orifice for receiving a retaining pin.  
   
   
       9 . The bracket assembly of  claim 8  wherein the retaining pin includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of a handle and a retainer attachment.  
   
   
       10 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1  wherein the pivot piece assembly profile is in the form of a shape selected from the group consisting of a substantially J shape and a substantially U shape.  
   
   
       11 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a stabilizer fabricated to effectively capture and stabilize a portion of the working end attachment when positioned for transport.  
   
   
       12 . The bracket assembly of  claim 11  wherein the stabilizer is remotely located from the mounting assembly.  
   
   
       13 . The bracket assembly of  claim 11  wherein the stabilizer further includes at least one mounting orifice.  
   
   
       14 . The bracket assembly of  claim 11  wherein the stabilizer is substantially U shaped.  
   
   
       15 . A method for transporting an articulated arm working end attachment comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a bracket assembly to the underside of an articulating arm, the bracket assembly comprising a mounting assembly and a pivot piece assembly pivotally attached to the mounting assembly for rotatably engaging the working end attachment;    extending and positioning the articulating arm to allow the pivot piece assembly to engage the working end attachment; and    retracting and raising the articulating arm to allow the pivot piece assembly to lift the working end attachment to a transport position.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the mounting assembly comprises a cylinder and the pivot piece assembly comprises two halves separated by at least one cross member, each half having a pivot pin orifice for receiving a pivot pin to pivotally attach the pivot piece assembly to the cylinder.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  further including the step of mounting a stabilizer to the underside of the articulating arm, the stabilizer positioned to engage the working end attachment in the transport position.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  further including the step of inserting a retaining pin into the pivot piece assembly to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the working end attachment.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the bracket assembly is removably attached.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the mounting assembly is mounted independent of the pivot piece assembly, the pivot piece assembly thereafter mounted to the mounting assembly in a separate step.