Snow removal apparatuses systems and methods

Abstract

One exemplary embodiment is apparatus including a snow removal bucket for a bucket vehicle, the bucket including a top rim portion, a bottom rim portion, a guard extending past the bottom rim portion, and a bucket exterior, wherein the top rim portion overhangs the bottom rim portion whenever the guard substantially contacts a surface beneath the bucket. In one form of the apparatus, the bucket is attached to a bucket vehicle. In another form of the apparatus, the guard is bolted to a flange extending past the bottom rim portion, and the apparatus further includes a fixture attached to the bucket exterior adapted for coupling the bucket to a portion of a bucket vehicle. In a further form of the apparatus an edge of the guard is substantially parallel to and essentially coextensive with the bottom rim portion. Another form of the apparatus includes a second guard which extends from the top rim portion. In a further form of the apparatus, the top rim portion is located on a lip, the second guard is positioned within a recess formed in the lip, and the bottom rim portion overhangs the top rim portion whenever the guard is not in contact with the surface and the second guard contacts the surface. A variety of other forms and embodiments of apparatuses, systems, and methods are also contemplated.

1 . An apparatus comprising a snow removal bucket for a bucket vehicle, the bucket including a top rim portion, a bottom rim portion, a guard extending past the bottom rim portion, and a bucket exterior, wherein the top rim portion overhangs the bottom rim portion whenever the guard substantially contacts a surface beneath the bucket. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bucket is attached to a bucket vehicle. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the guard is bolted to a flange extending past the bottom rim portion, and further comprising a fixture adapted for coupling the bucket to a portion of a bucket vehicle. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an edge of the guard is substantially parallel to and essentially coextensive with the bottom rim portion. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second guard which extends from the top rim portion. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the top rim portion is located on a lip, the second guard is positioned within a recess formed in the lip, and the bottom rim portion overhangs the top rim portion whenever the guard is not in contact with the surface and the second guard contacts the surface. 
   
   
       7 . A bucket for a bucket vehicle including a bucket interior, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a bumper adjacent the bottom edge, wherein if at least two points on the bumper contact a section of essentially flat ground, the angle defined by a first ray extending from a point of the bottom edge in a direction essentially normal to the bottom edge and passing through a point of the top edge and a second ray extending from the point of the bottom edge in a direction essentially normal to the bottom edge and essentially normal to the section of ground is an acute angle. 
   
   
       8 . The bucket of  claim 7  further comprising sides having side edges extending between the top edge and the bottom edge. 
   
   
       9 . The bucket of  claim 7  further including a mounting fixture adapted to couple the bucket and one or more arms of a bucket vehicle. 
   
   
       10 . The bucket of  claim 7  wherein further comprising a top bumper adjacent the top edge. 
   
   
       11 . The bucket of  claim 10  further comprising bolts fastening the top bumper and the bottom bumper to the bucket. 
   
   
       12 . The bucket of  claim 7  further comprising means for coupling the top bumper and the bucket and means for coupling the bottom bumper and the bucket. 
   
   
       13 . The bucket of  claim 7  being used to remove snow including the bucket being coupled to a bucket vehicle, the bucket being positioned such that the top edge overhangs the bottom edge, and the bucket moved in essentially that position to collect snow using the bucket interior. 
   
   
       14 . A method of clearing snow from an area, the method comprising:
 coupling a bucket vehicle and a bucket, the bucket including a bucket interior, a first rim having a first guard, the first guard including a portion extending beyond the first rim, a second rim having a second guard, the second guard including a portion extending beyond the second rim, and an opening to the bucket interior defined at least in part by the first rim and the second rim;   positioning the bucket so that the first guard contacts the area, and the second guard does not contact the area, the second guard being essentially between the first rim and the vehicle; and   moving the bucket relative to the area so that snow is moved at least in part by the first guard.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the area is a residential driveway, a sidewalk, or a parking lot. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the moving includes moving the bucket vehicle so that the first guard drags across at least a portion of the area. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising scooping dragged snow using the bucket and wherein the area includes concrete, asphalt, blacktop or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the moving is effective to cause snow to move in a direction essentially toward the bucket interior. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the snow moves along an interior surface of the bucket. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein damage to the surface is reduced by the first guard and the second guard.