Combination excavating bucket having a retractable tooth arm

{
  "publication_number": "US9506215B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Combination excavating bucket having a retractable tooth arm",
  "abstract": "A combination excavating bucket adapted for connection to a power driven excavating vehicle, comprising: a) bucket comprising a transverse smooth cutting bar along its front bottom edge, b) a retractable tooth bar pivotally mounted to inner opposed lateral sides of the excavating bucket, wherein the tooth bar comprises a plurality of teeth extending outwardly from the tooth bar, and a pivot means for alternately moving the tooth bar between i) a fully-extended position, wherein the tooth bar fits over the smooth cutting bar thereby permitting the bucket to function as a tooth-edged bucket; and ii) a fully-retracted position, wherein the tooth bar is retracted away from the smooth cutting bar and the smooth cutting bar is exposed thereby permitting the bucket to function as a smooth-edged bucket, wherein the pivot means comprises first and second pivot arms pivotally mounted to the bucket.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A combination excavating bucket adapted for connection to a power driven excavating vehicle, comprising: a) a bucket comprising a base and a transverse smooth cutting bar along a leading edge of the base, b) a retractable tooth bar pivotally mounted to inner opposed lateral sides of the excavating bucket, wherein the tooth bar comprises a plurality of teeth extending outwardly from the tooth bar, and a pivot means for alternately moving the tooth bar between i. a fully-extended position, wherein the tooth bar fits over the smooth cutting bar thereby permitting the bucket to function as a tooth-edged bucket; and ii. a fully-retracted position, wherein the tooth bar is retracted away from the smooth cutting bar and the smooth cutting bar is exposed thereby permitting the bucket to function as a smooth-edged bucket, wherein the pivot means comprises first and second pivot arms pivotally mounted to the bucket, a first link arm operably connecting the first pivot arm to the tooth bar and a second link arm operably connecting the second pivot arm to the tooth bar along the inner opposed lateral sides of the excavating bucket, and wherein the first link arm and second link arm are operably guided with a first and a second guide ring plate along the inner opposed lateral sides of the excavating bucket.",
    "2. The combination excavating bucket according to claim 1, wherein the pivot means further comprises a first hydraulic actuator operably connected to the first pivot arm and a second hydraulic actuator operably connected to the second pivot arm.",
    "3. The combination excavating bucket according to claim 2, wherein the first hydraulic actuator comprises a first hydraulic cylinder and a first hydraulic cylinder rod, and the second hydraulic actuator comprises a second hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder rod.",
    "4. The combination excavating bucket according to claim 3, wherein the first hydraulic cylinder rod is pivotally connected to the first pivot arm and the second hydraulic cylinder rod is pivotally connected to the second pivot arm.",
    "5. The combination excavating bucket according to claim 1, wherein the excavating bucket further comprises means for securing the tooth bar over the smooth cutting bar in the down working position.",
    "6. The combination excavating bucket according to claim 1, wherein the smooth cutting bar and the tooth bar are adapted to provide a locking engagement with each other when the tooth bar is in the down working position.",
    "7. The combination excavating bucket according to claim 6, wherein the smooth cutting bar has an outward facing V-shaped edge and wherein the inner edge of the tooth bar has an inwardly facing V-shaped pocket for mating and providing locking engagement with the V-shaped edge of the smooth cutting bar.",
    "8. The combination excavating bucket according to claim 1, wherein the power driven excavating vehicle is a skid steer, a loader, a backhoe, an excavator or a tractor.",
    "9. The combination excavating bucket according to claim 8, wherein the power driven excavating vehicle is a skid steer.",
    "10. The combination excavating bucket according to claim 1, further comprising that an angle of rotation from the fully-extended position to the fully-retracted position is about 163 degrees."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure is in the field of a combination excavating bucket having a retractable tooth bar, thereby enabling the excavating bucket to function as both a smooth-edged excavation bucket and a tooth-edged excavating bucket.\n\nEuropean Patent Publication No. EP1967655 discloses an excavator bucket having a crushing mechanism comprised of a stationary part and a movable part which is drivingly connected with one or more hydraulic cylinders. The described excavator bucket further includes a gripping mechanism, and is therefore said to be a three-in-one excavator bucket and crusher that optionally may be used for excavation, crushing or sorting work.\n\nU.S. Pat. No. 5,564,885 discloses a multipurpose work attachment for a front-end loader of the type having hydraulically actuated frame arms for supporting and manipulating a work attachment at the front of the vehicle. The work attachments includes a scoop or bucket in combination with a laterally extending row of ripper teeth mounted along a lower edge of the bucket and adapted from hydraulic actuation between an upper stored position and a downwardly extending deployed position for ripping earth upon vehicle movement in a reverse direction.\n\nU.S. Pat. No. 6,810,610 discloses an edging device consisting of two major components: an edge member or plate and means for attaching the edge member to the bucket of an earth moving machine. The edge member is configured to be detachably attached to the bucket, where the edge member has a leading edge for contacting the earth.",
  "cpc": [
    "E02F 3/40",
    "E02F 3/404",
    "E02F 3/96",
    "E02F 9/2816"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E02F 3/40",
    "E02F 3/96",
    "E02F 9/28"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Trent Krell",
    "Chad Goldade"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-02-29",
  "publication_date": "2016-11-29",
  "grant_date": "2016-11-29",
  "priority_date": "2013-12-23",
  "application_number": "US-201615056597-A",
  "family_id": "56128782",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
  "citations": [
    "US2262415A",
    "US3595416A",
    "US3975844A",
    "US4729180A",
    "US4928410A",
    "US6230424B1",
    "US20040103564A1",
    "US7913431B1",
    "US20150176241A1"
  ]
}