Attachment system for vehicle bucket

Abstract

An attachment system and, more specifically, an attachment system for with vehicles with buckets, such as lawn tractors or other similar compact tractors, is disclosed. The attachment system includes a frame, two bucket adapter arms, and two swing arms which securely attach the attachment system to the bucket of the vehicle by effectively surrounding the bucket. The frame or base of the attachment system may be configured to allow the attachment system to be used with various other yard devices, including, but not limited to, a leaf collector, mobile scaffold, auger, snow blade, water tank, trencher, and other lawn care related equipment. The disclosed attachment system provides a universal attachment that may be strongly and securely attached to the bucket of a vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An attachment for use with vehicles with buckets comprising:
 (a) a frame, wherein the frame includes:
 (i) a first back framing member; 
 (ii) a second back framing member; 
 (iii) a front bottom framing member; 
 (iv) a back bottom framing member; 
 (v) a first side bottom framing member; 
 (vi) a second side bottom framing member; 
 (vii) a back top framing member; 
   (b) a first bucket adapter arm, wherein the first bucket adapter arm is secured to the first side bottom framing member and extends beyond the back bottom framing member;   (c) a second bucket adapter arm, wherein the second bucket adapter arm is secured to the second side bottom framing member and extends beyond the back bottom framing member;   (d) a first swing arm, wherein the first swing arm is secured to the first back framing member by a first pivot at a first end of the first swing arm, such that the first swing arm may rotate relative to the first back framing member between an opened configuration where a second end of the first swing arm opposite that first end of the first swing arm is adjacent to the first back framing member and a closed configuration where the second end of the first swing arm is located adjacent to the first bucket adapter arm; and   (e) a second swing arm, wherein the second swing arm is secured to the second back framing member by a second pivot point at a first end of the second swing arm, such that the second swing arm may rotate relative to the second back framing member between an opened configuration where a second end of the second swing arm opposite that first end of the second swing arm is adjacent to the second back framing member and a closed configuration where the second end of the second swing arm is located adjacent to the second bucket adapter arm.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the first back framing member, first bucket adapter arm, and first swing arm define a first space when the first swing arm is in its closed configuration; and   (b) the second back framing member, second bucket adapter arm, and second swing arm define a first space when the second swing arm is in its closed configuration.   
     
     
         3 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 2 , wherein:
 (a) the bucket of the vehicle is held within the first space when the first swing arm is in its closed configuration; and   (b) the bucket of the vehicle is held within the second space when the second swing arm is in its closed configuration;   such that the first back framing member, first bucket adapter arm, and first swing arm and second back framing member, second bucket adapter arm, and second swing arm engage the bucket to secure the attachment to the bucket of the vehicle.   
     
     
         4 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the first back framing member and second back framing member are substantially parallel to each other;   (b) the back bottom framing member and back top framing member are substantially parallel to each other; and   (c) the first side bottom framing member and second side bottom framing member are parallel to each other; and   (d) the first back framing member and second back framing member are substantially perpendicular to (1) the back bottom framing member and back top framing member and (2) the first side bottom framing member and second side bottom, such that the attachment has an L-shaped configuration when viewed from the side of the attachment.   
     
     
         5 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment further comprises a cross-member that extends between the first back framing member and the second back framing member. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 1 , wherein the first bucket adapter arm includes a first bucket stop and the second bucket adapter arm includes a second bucket stop. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 1 , wherein the first swing arm includes a first face plate and the second swing arm includes a second face plate. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 7 , wherein the first face plate, second face plate, first bucket adapter arm, and second adapter arm each define an aperture to receive a fastener to secure the first swing arm to the first bucket adapter arm and the second swing arm to the second bucket adapter arm. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 1  wherein the attachment further comprises:
 (a) a base, wherein the base is secured to the front bottom framing member, the back bottom framing member, the first side bottom framing member, and the second side bottom framing member and covers the bottom face of the frame 
 (b) a first front framing member; 
 (c) a second front framing member; 
 (d) a front top framing member; 
 (e) a first side top framing member; and 
 (f) a second side top framing member; 
 wherein the first front framing member, second front framing member, front bottom framing member, and front top framing member define a front face of the frame; 
 wherein the first back framing member, second back framing member, back bottom framing member, and back top framing member define a back face of the frame; 
 wherein the first front framing member, first back framing member, first side bottom framing member, and first side top framing member define a first side face of the frame; 
 wherein the second front framing member, second back framing member, second side bottom framing member, and second side top framing member define a second side face of the frame; 
 wherein the front top framing member, back top framing member, first side top framing member, and second side top framing member define a top face of the frame; and 
 wherein the front bottom framing member, back bottom framing member, first side bottom framing member, and second side bottom framing member define a bottom face of the frame. 
 
     
     
         10 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 9  wherein the attachment further comprises:
 (a) a back webbing wall, wherein the back webbing wall is secured to the first back framing member, second back framing member, back bottom framing member, and back top framing member and covers the back face of the frame; 
 (b) a first side webbing wall, wherein the first side webbing wall is secured to the first front framing member, first back framing member, first side bottom framing member, and first side top framing member and covers the first side face of the frame; 
 (c) a second side webbing wall, wherein the second side webbing wall is secured to the second front framing member, second back framing member, second side bottom framing member, and second side top framing member and covers the second side face of the frame; 
 (d) a top webbing wall, wherein the top webbing wall is secured to the front top framing member, back top framing member, first side top framing member, and second side top framing member and covers the top face of the frame; and 
 (e) at least one door, wherein the at least one door is secured to the frame with at least one hinge, whereas the at least one door may be rotated relative to the frame between (i) a closed configuration with the at least one door adjacent to the frame and the at least one door covers the front face of the frame and (ii) an opened configuration with the at least one door rotated relative to the frame. 
 
     
     
         11 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 10 , wherein:
 (a) the first front framing member, second front framing member, first back framing member, and second back framing member are substantially parallel to each other;   (b) the front bottom framing member, back bottom framing member, front top framing member, and back top framing member are substantially parallel to each other; and   (c) the first side bottom framing member, second side bottom framing member, first side top framing member, and second side top framing member are parallel to each other.   
     
     
         12 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 10 , wherein:
 (a) the front bottom framing member, back bottom framing member, front top framing member, and back top framing member are substantially parallel to each other; and   (b) the first side bottom framing member, second side bottom framing member, first side top framing member, and second side top framing member are parallel to each other.   
     
     
         13 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 10 , wherein:
 (a) the attachment further comprises a cross-member that extends between the first back framing member and the second back framing member;   (b) the first back framing member, second back framing member, cross-member, and back top framing member define the back face of the frame; and   (c) the back webbing wall is secured to the first back framing member, second back framing member, cross-member, and back top framing member and covers the back face of the frame.   
     
     
         14 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one door comprises a first door and a second door, the first door is secured to the first front framing member with at least one hinge, and the second door is secured to the second front framing member with at least one hinge. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one door includes a door lock to secure the at least one door in its closed configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one door includes a door stop to prevent the at least one door from opening passed a predetermined angle. 
     
     
         17 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 10 , wherein the back webbing wall, first side webbing wall, second side webbing wall, and top webbing wall comprise a heavy mesh material with a plurality of connected strands that define a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of connected strands comprise plastic. 
     
     
         19 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of connected strands comprise fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment further comprises an auger. 
     
     
         21 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment further comprises a snow blade. 
     
     
         22 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment further comprises a tank for liquids. 
     
     
         23 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment further comprises a trencher. 
     
     
         24 . The attachment for use with vehicles with buckets of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment further comprises a bale point.