Excavator Thumb Accessory

Abstract

An accessory for an excavator is presented wherein the excavator has a bucket with an opening and a moveable thumb on the opposite of the bucket opening. The accessory comprises a plate sized to cover at least a portion of the opening of the bucket and a socket for receiving the thumb to attach the plate to the thumb thereby allowing said plate to move with the thumb. Operation of the thumb causes the plate to cover or uncover the portion of the opening of the bucket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An accessory for an excavator or mini excavator comprising:
 wherein excavator has a bucket with an opening and a moveable thumb on the opposite of the bucket opening;   a plate sized to cover at least a portion of the opening of the bucket; and   a socket for receiving the thumb to attach said plate to the thumb thereby allowing said plate to move with the thumb wherein operation of the thumb causes said plate to cover or uncover said portion of the opening of the bucket.   
     
     
         2 . The accessory of  claim 1  wherein said plate is constructed of one of: steel, iron, and plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The accessory of  claim 1  wherein said plate is one of: cross shaped, rectangular, square, round, and triangular. 
     
     
         4 . The accessory of  claim 1  wherein said plate is larger than, smaller than, or equal in size to the excavator bucket but larger than the thumb. 
     
     
         5 . The accessory of  claim 1  wherein said plate is solid, mesh, barred, or crossed. 
     
     
         6 . The accessory of  claim 1  wherein said plate has a lip on a downward edge side that is bent upward into a 90° angle. 
     
     
         7 . The accessory of  claim 1  wherein said socket comprises one of: two bent u-shaped openings, a rectangular opening, and a square opening. 
     
     
         8 . The accessory of  claim 1  wherein said socket has holes for receiving bolts or screws. 
     
     
         9 . The accessory of  claim 1  wherein said socket is attached to said plate by one of: wielding, bolting, and screws. 
     
     
         10 . The accessory of  claim 1  wherein a cutting edge is attached perpendicular to a side of said plate and said cutting edge extends toward the bucket when the accessory is attached to the thumb, such that said cutting edge is within the bucket when the plate covers said portion of the opening of the bucket. 
     
     
         11 . The accessory of  claim 1  wherein a cutting edge is attached perpendicular to a side of said plate and said cutting edge extends toward the bucket when the accessory is attached to the thumb, such that said cutting edge is outside the bucket when the plate covers said portion of the opening of the bucket.