Mounting plate attachment for excavating device

Abstract

A plate adaptable for use on an excavating device having an appendage with a leading edge. The plate includes a rigid body and a plurality of tips removably connected to the body. Each of the plurality of tips connected to the body extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the leading edge of the appendage. A related method of attaching a plurality of tips to a bucket of an excavating device.

1 . A plate adaptable for use on an excavating device having an appendage with a leading edge, comprising:
 a rigid body; and   a plurality of tips removably connected to the body, whereby each of the plurality of tips extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the leading edge of the appendage.   
     
     
         2 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the appendage is a bucket. 
     
     
         3 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tips are aligned in a single row. 
     
     
         4 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tips are spaced equidistant from one another. 
     
     
         5 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of the plate is removably mounted to the appendage. 
     
     
         6 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of the plate is mounted to a side of the appendage opposite the leading edge. 
     
     
         7 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of the plate is mounted to a top portion of the appendage. 
     
     
         8 . The plate according to  claim 1 , further including a plurality of openings for mounting the body of the plate to the appendage. 
     
     
         9 . The plate according to  claim 1 , further including a plurality of openings for removably connecting the plurality of tips to the body of the plate. 
     
     
         10 . The plate according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of tips has a coupling at a proximal end. 
     
     
         11 . The plate according to  claim 10 , further including a plurality of adapters corresponding to each of the plurality of tips. 
     
     
         12 . The plate according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of adapters are positioned with the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         13 . The plate according to  claim 12 , wherein the coupling for each of the plurality of tips attaches to a corresponding one of the plurality of adapters via a fastening device. 
     
     
         14 . In an excavating device including a dipper arm with a bucket having a leading edge attached to said dipper arm, the improvement comprising a plate connected to the bucket for receiving at least one tip configured to move in a direction away from the leading edge. 
     
     
         15 . The improvement of  claim 14 , wherein the plate is welded to the bucket. 
     
     
         16 . The improvement of  claim 14 , wherein the plate is curved to fit substantially flush with the bucket. 
     
     
         17 . The improvement of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one tip extends from the plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the leading edge of the bucket. 
     
     
         18 . A method of attaching a plurality of tips to a bucket of an excavating device, comprising:
 mounting a plate to the bucket; and   removably attaching the plurality of tips to the plate.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further including the step of positioning the plate on a side of the bucket opposite an open end of the bucket. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , further including the step of positioning the plurality of tips such that each of the plurality of tips extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a leading edge of the bucket.