Stick and coupler assembly

Abstract

An assembly for detachably connecting an implement to a boom of a machine is disclosed. The assembly may include a stick and a coupler. The stick may have a first end portion configured for pivotal connection to the boom. The stick may also have a second end portion narrower than the first end portion. The coupler may be configured for detachably connecting the implement to the second end portion of the stick.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly for detachably connecting an implement to a boom of a machine, the assembly comprising:
 a stick having a first end portion configured for pivotal connection to the boom, and a second end portion narrower than the first end portion along first and second sides of the stick; and   a coupler configured for detachably connecting the implement to the second end portion of the stick, the coupler including first and second side plates, the first side plate having a thickness about equal to a difference in a width of the second end portion and the first end portion along the first side, and the second side plate having a thickness about equal to a difference in a width of the second end portion and the first end portion along the second side.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second end portion is narrower than the first end portion by a predetermined amount on each of the first and second sides of the stick;   the first and second side plates of the coupler define a first face spread for attaching the coupler to the second end portion of the stick and a second face spread for attaching the coupler to the implement; and   each of the first and second side plates of the coupler have a thickness about equal to the predetermined amount, such that there is no offset between the first face spread and the second face spread.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stick further comprises first and second side portions along the respective first and second sides of the stick between the first and second end portions; and   the first and second side portions are angled inwardly toward each other in a direction from the first end portion towards the second end portion.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second side portions are angled inwardly relative to the first end portion at an angle less than or equal to ninety degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the stick has a first width defined between the first and second sides that is constant between the first end portion and the first and second side portions;   the stick has a second width defined between the first and second sides that is constant between the second end portion and the first and second side portions; and   a distance between the first side portion and the second side portion decreases in a direction from the first end portion towards the second end portion such that the stick tapers from the first width down to the second width, which is less than the first width.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein outer surfaces of the first and second side plates of the coupler are co-planar with respective outer side surfaces of the first end portion of the stick. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second end portion is narrower than the first end portion by a predetermined amount on each of the first and second sides of the stick; and   each of the first and second side plates of the coupler have a thickness about equal to the predetermined amount.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the predetermined amount is within a range from about 26 millimeters to about 30 millimeters; and/or   the coupler is a pin grabber coupler; and/or   the second end portion of the stick has a width defined between the first and second sides that is constant and that is less than a width of the first end portion defined between the first and second sides, which is also constant; and/or   the coupler is configured with a coupler offset of about 271 millimeters.   
     
     
         9 . A machine comprising the assembly of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a frame;   a boom pivotally connected to the frame; and   an implement coupled to the second end portion of the stick by the coupler;   wherein the first end portion of the stick is pivotally connected to the boom.   
     
     
         10 . A stick for connecting a pin grabber coupler with a boom of a machine, the stick comprising:
 an end portion configured for pivotal connection to the boom of the machine; and   a nose configured for connection with the pin grabber coupler;   wherein the nose is narrower than the end portion along first and second sides of the stick thereby allowing a frame of the pin grabber coupler to be configured to define first and second face spreads for attaching the pin grabber coupler respectively to the nose and to an implement without any offset between the first and second face spreads.   
     
     
         11 . The stick of  claim 10 , further comprising first and second side portions along the respective first and second sides of the stick between the end portion and the nose, wherein the first and second side portions are angled inwardly toward each other in a direction from the end portion towards the nose, and wherein each of the first and second side portions are angled inwardly relative to the end portion at an angle less than or equal to ninety degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The stick of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the stick has a first width defined between the first and second sides that is constant between the end portion and the first and second side portions;   the stick has a second width defined between the first and second sides that is constant between the nose and the first and second side portions; and   a distance between the first side portion and the second side portion decreases in a direction from the end portion towards the nose such that the stick tapers from the first width down to the second width, which is less than the first width.   
     
     
         13 . The stick of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the stick further comprises first and second shoulder or step portions extending along the respective first and second sides of the stick between upper and lower surfaces of the stick;   a distance between the first shoulder or step portion and the second shoulder or step portion decreases in a direction from the end portion towards the nose such that a width of the nose defined between the first and second sides is less than a width of the end portion defined between the first and second sides.   
     
     
         14 . An assembly comprising the stick of  claim 10  and a pin grabber coupler, the pin grabber coupler including a frame defining first and second face spreads for attaching the pin grabber coupler respectively to the nose and to an implement without any offset between the first and second face spreads. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly comprising the stick of  claim 10  and a pin grabber coupler including first and second side plates, wherein:
 the first side plate has a thickness about equal to a difference in a width of the nose and the end portion along the first side; and 
 the second side plate has a thickness about equal to a difference in a width of the nose and the end portion along the second side. 
 
     
     
         16 . A machine comprising the stick of  claim 10 , and further comprising:
 a frame;   a boom pivotally connected to the frame;   a pin grabber coupler coupled to the nose of the stick; and   an implement coupled to the pin grabber coupler;   wherein the end portion of the stick is pivotally connected to the boom.   
     
     
         17 . A pin grabber coupler for detachably connecting an implement to a stick of a machine, the pin grabber coupler comprising a frame defining first and second face spreads for attaching the pin grabber coupler respectively to a nose of a stick and to an implement without any offset between the first and second face spreads. 
     
     
         18 . The pin grabber coupler of  claim 17 , wherein the frame comprises first and second side plates defining the first and second face spreads therebetween such that a width of the first face spread is about equal to a width of the second face spread. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly comprising the pin grabber coupler of  claim 18  and a stick having a nose to which the pin grabber coupler is coupled and an end portion configured for pivotal connection to a boom of a machine, wherein the nose is narrower than the end portion along first and second sides of the stick, and wherein:
 the first side plate has a thickness about equal to a difference in a width of the nose and the end portion along the first side; and 
 the second side plate has a thickness about equal to a difference in a width of the nose and the end portion along the second side. 
 
     
     
         20 . A machine comprising the pin grabber coupler of  claim 17 , and further comprising:
 a frame;   a boom pivotally connected to the frame of the machine;   a stick having a nose coupled to the pin grabber coupler and an end portion pivotally connected to the boom; and   an implement coupled to the pin grabber coupler.