System for securing implements to the bucket of an earth-moving vehicle

Abstract

An attachment system is provided for detachably securing a variety of interchangeable implements to an edge of a bucket of an earth-moving vehicle. The system includes at least one clamp having two generally parallel arms that extend generally perpendicularly from opposite ends of a base member, and that cooperate with one another to define an opening for receiving the bottom front edge of a tractor bucket. An internally threaded bore extending transversely through one of the arms acts as a sleeve carrying an operating member such as a screw or a bolt for maintaining the bucket edge within the opening between the first and second arms. A bore extending through the base member receives a fastener for removably coupling the implement to the clamp.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 : The attachment system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one clamp comprises a plurality of substantially similar clamps configured to be secured along spaced intervals along the edge of the bucket. 
     
     
         3 : The attachment system according to  claim 22 , further comprising a projection formed at a distal end of one of said arms, the projection forming a stop surface for engaging a lip at the edge of the bucket and inhibiting detachment of the clamp. 
     
     
         4 : The attachment system according to  claim 22 , further comprising: at least one plate having a hole alignable with the second bore and with a hole in the implement; and a fastener extendable through the hole in the plate and the second bore to secure the implement in a sandwiched position between the base member and the plate. 
     
     
         5 : The attachment system according to  claim 22 , further comprising: an inner plate having at least one hole alignable with the second bore and with a hole in the implement;
 an outer plate having at least one hole alignable with the hole in the inner plate; and   a fastener extendable through the alignable holes in the inner and outer plates, the hole in the implement, and the second bore, and configured to secure an implement in a sandwiched position between the inner and outer plates.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 : The loader bucket apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein: the edge of the bucket comprises a cutting edge defining a lip; and
 the attachment system further comprises a projection formed at a distal end of one of said arms, the projection forming a stop surface for engaging the lip and inhibiting detachment of the clamp.   
     
     
         8 : The loader bucket apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the at least one implement comprises a trailer hitch receiver. 
     
     
         9 : The loader bucket apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the trailer hitch receiver includes:
 a bottom surface; and   an attachment flange extending downwardly from the bottom surface, the attachment flange having a hole alignable with the second bore.   
     
     
         10 : The loader bucket apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the at least one implement comprises a substantially planar squeegee blade, the squeegee blade having an upper edge, and at least one attachment hole formed adjacent the upper edge, wherein the at least one attachment hole is configured to be aligned with the second bore of the at least one clamp and to receive the fastener. 
     
     
         11 : The loader bucket apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the at least one implement includes a plurality of downwardly extending teeth. 
     
     
         12 : The loader bucket apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 the attachment system further comprises at least one elongated plate approximately equal in length to the bottom front edge of the bucket, the plate having a hole formed in each end and a hole formed approximately midway between the ends; and   the at least one clamp comprises a set of three substantially similar clamps, each of the clamps having a second bore alignable with at least one of the holes in the elongated plate.   
     
     
         13 : The loader bucket apparatus according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 an inner plate having at least one hole alignable with the second bore and with a hole in the implement;   an outer plate having at least one hole alignable with the hole in the inner plate; and fastening means extendable through the second bore and the alignable holes in implement and the inner and outer plates and configured to secure the implement in a sandwiched position between the inner and outer plates.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least one implement comprises a trailer hitch receiver having a bottom surface, and wherein the attachment portion comprises a flange extending downwardly from the bottom surface the flange including the hole for receiving a fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least one implement comprises a substantially planar squeegee blade having an upper edge, and wherein the upper edge comprises the attachment portion. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the at least one implement includes a plurality of elongated teeth extending downwardly from the elongated attachment portion. 
     
     
         18 : The assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the attachment system further comprises:
 at least one plate having at least one hole alignable with the second bore and with a hole in the attachment portion of the implement; and   a fastener extendable through the second bore, the hole in the attachment portion of the implement, and the hole in the at least one plate to secure the implement in a sandwiched position between the base member and the plate.   
     
     
         19 : The assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least one clamp comprises a plurality of substantially similar clamps configured to be secured along spaced intervals along the edge of the bucket. 
     
     
         20 : The assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the attachment system further comprises:
 an inner plate having at least one hole alignable with the second bore and with a hole in the attachment portion of the implement;   an outer plate having a at least one hole alignable with the hole in the inner plate; and fastening means extendable through the second bore, the holes in the inner and outer plates, and the hole in the attachment portion of the implement, and configured to secure the implement in a sandwiched position between the inner and outer plates.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 : An attachment system for detachably securing a variety of interchangeable implements to an edge of a bucket of an earth-moving vehicle, the system comprising:
 at least one clamp including
 a base member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a substantially vertically extending distal surface, 
 a first arm substantially coplanar with and extending in a substantially proximal direction from the top surface of the base member, the first arm including a first bore extending in a substantially vertical direction substantially parallel to the distal surface of the base, 
 a second arm substantially coplanar with and extending in a substantially proximal direction from the bottom surface of the base member and cooperating with the first arm to define an opening configured to receive the edge of the bucket; 
 an operating member configured to extend through the first bore to secure the edge of the bucket in the opening between the first and second arms; and 
 a second bore extending through the distal surface of the base member in a generally proximal direction generally perpendicular to the first bore, wherein the second bore is configured to receive a fastener for removably coupling one of the implements to the clamp. 
   
     
     
         23 : A loader bucket apparatus comprising:
 a bucket in the form of a trough having a bottom wall terminating in a bottom front edge having a length, a top wall terminating in a top front edge, and a pair of side walls;   at least once implement for increasing the functionality of the bucket; and   an attachment system including at least one clamp for detachably securing the implement to one of the edges of the bucket, the at least one clamp including
 a base member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a substantially vertically extending distal surface, 
 a first arm extending in a substantially proximal direction from the top surface o the base member, the first arm including a first bore extending in a substantially vertical direction substantially parallel to the distal surface of the base, 
 a second arm extending generally parallel to the first arm and cooperating with the first arm to define an opening configured to receive the edge of the bucket; 
 an operating member configured to extend through the first bore to secure the bottom front edge of the bucket in the opening between the first and second arms; and 
 a second bore extending through the distal surface of the base member in a generally proximal direction generally perpendicular to the first bore, wherein the second bore is configured to receive a fastener for removably coupling one of the implements to the clamp. 
   
     
     
         24 : An assembly for increasing the functionality of a bucket of an earth-moving vehicle, the assembly comprising:
 at least one implement for performing functions other than earth-moving operations, the implement including an attachment portion having at least one hole for receiving a fastener;   an attachment system for detachably securing the at least one implement to a front edge of the bucket, the attachment system including at least one clamp including
 a base member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a substantially vertically extending distal surface, 
 a first arm extending in a substantially proximal direction from the top surface of the base member, the first arm including a first bore extending in a substantially vertical direction substantially parallel to the distal surface of the base, 
 a second arm extending generally parallel to the first arm and cooperating with the first arm to define an opening configured to receive the front edge of the bucket; 
 an operating member configured to extend through the first bore to secure the front edge of the bucket in the opening between the first and second arms; and 
 a second bore extending through the distal surface of the base member in a generally proximal direction generally perpendicular to the first bore, wherein the second bore is configured to receive a fastener for removably coupling one of the implements to the clamp. 
   
     
     
         25 : The assembly according to  claim 23  wherein:
 the bottom front edge of the bucket has a predetermined length; 
 the attachment portion of the implement has a length substantially equal to the length of the bottom front edge of the bucket, the attachment portion having having two opposed ends and a length substantially equal to the length of the bottom front edge of the bucket and having a hole formed at each end and a hole formed approximately midway between the ends; 
 the at least one clamp comprises a set of three substantially similar clamps, each of the clamps having a second bore alignable with one of the holes in the attachment portion of the implement; and 
 the attachment system further comprises
 at least one elongated plate, the plate having two opposed ends and a length substantially equal to the length of the bottom front edge of the bucket and a set of three holes configured to be aligned with the holes in the attachment portion of the implement; and 
 a set of three fasteners, wherein each of said fasteners is configured to extend through aligned holes in the elongated plate, the attachment portion of the implement, and the second bore of one of the clamps to secure the implement in a sandwiched position between the elongated plate and the clamps.