# US 11,078,644 B2 · Hybrid load bucket assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,644 B2 - Document ID: US11078644B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/950,756 - Filed: 2018-04-11 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-11 - Assignees: Deere & Company - Applicants: Deere & Company - Inventors: Jorge Luis Cantu; Sanjeev M. Hallale; Satyam Sahay; Mohamad S. El-Zein; Hema V. Guthy; Vikas Shinde; Hector Portillo; Israel Priego; Daniel Chapa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078644B2 ## CPC - E02F 3/40: Dippers; Buckets {; Grab devices, e.g. manufacturing processes for buckets, form, geometry or material of buckets (devices to connect tools to arms or booms E02F3/3604; teeth therefor E02F9/28)} - E02F 3/401: {Buckets or forks comprising, for example, shock absorbers, supports or load striking scrapers to prevent overload} - E02F 3/3417: {Buckets emptying by tilting (E02F3/342, E02F3/345 take precedence)} - E02F 3/3686: {using adapters, i.e. additional element to mount between the coupler and the tool} - E02F 3/7609: {Scraper blade mounted forwardly of the tractor on a pair of pivoting arms which are linked to the sides of the tractor, e.g. bulldozers} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract A hybrid bucket assembly for a work vehicle having movable loader arms includes a reinforcing structure having a first edge plate, a second edge plate and at least two support members extending from the first edge plate. The reinforcing structure is for coupling the bucket assembly to the movable loader arms. The bucket assembly includes a double-wall bucket defining a volume for carrying material. The bucket is coupled to the at least two support members of the reinforcing structure, and the bucket has a leading edge coupled between the first edge plate and the second edge plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hybrid bucket assembly for a work vehicle having movable loader arms, the bucket assembly comprising: a reinforcing structure having a first edge plate, a second edge plate and at least two support members extending from the first edge plate, the reinforcing structure for coupling to the movable loader arms; a double-wall bucket defining a volume for carrying material, the bucket coupled to the at least two support members of the reinforcing structure, the bucket having a leading edge coupled between the first edge plate and the second edge plate; and a wear plate coupled between the first edge plate and the second edge plate so as to be proximate the leading edge of the bucket, and a plurality of bushings integrally formed with the double-wall bucket for receiving a mechanical fastener to couple the first edge plate to the second edge plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly of claim 1, wherein the double-wall bucket is formed from a polymer-based material, and the double-wall of the bucket is filled with a fill material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly of claim 1, wherein the bucket has a top side formed integrally with an opposite bottom side, lateral sides formed integrally with opposite lateral surfaces of the bottom side and the top side, and a rear side formed integrally with the top side, the bottom side and the lateral sides, with the leading edge defined on the bottom side and the at least two support members comprise hollow tubes that extend from the first edge plate to the top side. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly of claim 1, wherein the bucket has a top side formed integrally with an opposite bottom side, lateral sides formed integrally with opposite lateral surfaces of the bottom side and the top side, and a rear side formed integrally with the top side, the bottom side and the lateral sides, with the leading edge defined on the bottom side and the at least two support members each comprise a pair of rods that extends from the first edge plate to the top side. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two support members each include a mounting structure for coupling to a respective one of the movable loader arms. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bucket assembly of claim 5, wherein the bucket includes at least two locator pins molded into the bucket for coupling the bucket assembly to the movable loader arms. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure is removable for stacking the bucket within a second bucket formed from a polymer-based material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly of claim 1, wherein the bucket defines at least one enlarged cavity proximate at least one of the at least two support members. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly of claim 1, wherein the bucket has a top side formed integrally with an opposite bottom side, lateral sides formed integrally with opposite lateral surfaces of the bottom side and the top side, and a rear side formed integrally with the top side, the bottom side and the lateral sides, with the leading edge defined on the bottom side, and the bucket further comprises a tool box defined on the bucket proximate the top side. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly of claim 1, wherein the bucket has a top side formed integrally with an opposite bottom side, lateral sides formed integrally with opposite lateral surfaces of the bottom side and the top side, and a rear side formed integrally with the top side, the bottom side and the lateral sides, with the leading edge defined on the bottom side, and the bucket further comprises a plurality of removable dividers that extend within the volume of the bucket from the top side to the bottom side and are spaced apart between the lateral sides. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bucket assembly of claim 1, wherein the bucket has a top side formed integrally with an opposite bottom side, lateral sides formed integrally with opposite lateral surfaces of the bottom side and the top side, and a rear side formed integrally with the top side, the bottom side and the lateral sides, and the bucket further comprises a respective wear strip coupled to each of the lateral sides to extend along the respective lateral sides. ### Claim 12 The A hybrid bucket assembly for a work vehicle having movable loader arms, the bucket assembly comprising: a reinforcing structure having a first edge plate, a second edge plate, a wear plate and at least two support members extending from the first edge plate, the wear plate coupled between the first edge plate and the second edge plate, the reinforcing structure for coupling to the movable loader arms; and a double-wall bucket formed from a polymer-based material defining a volume for carrying material, the bucket coupled to the at least two support members of the reinforcing structure, the bucket having a leading edge coupled between the first edge plate and the second edge plate so as to be proximate the wear plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The bucket assembly of claim 12, wherein the double-wall of the bucket is filled with a fill material, and a plurality of bushings are integrally formed with the double-wall bucket for receiving a mechanical fastener to couple the first edge plate to the second edge plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The bucket assembly of claim 12, wherein the bucket has a top side formed integrally with an opposite bottom side, lateral sides formed integrally with opposite lateral surfaces of the bottom side and the top side, and a rear side formed integrally with the top side, the bottom side and the lateral sides, with the leading edge defined on the bottom side and the at least two support members comprise hollow tubes that extend from the first edge plate to the top side. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The bucket assembly of claim 12, wherein the bucket has a top side formed integrally with an opposite bottom side, lateral sides formed integrally with opposite lateral surfaces of the bottom side and the top side, and a rear side formed integrally with the top side, the bottom side and the lateral sides, with the leading edge defined on the bottom side and the at least two support members each comprise a pair of rods that extends from the first edge plate to the top side. ### Claim 16 A hybrid bucket assembly for a work vehicle having movable loader arms, the bucket assembly comprising: a reinforcing structure having a first edge plate, a second edge plate, a wear plate, and at least two support members extending from the first edge plate, the wear plate coupled between the first edge plate and the second edge plate, the reinforcing structure for coupling to the movable loader arms; and a double-wall bucket defining a volume for carrying material, the bucket coupled to the at least two support members of the reinforcing structure, the bucket having a leading edge coupled between the first edge plate and the second edge plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The bucket assembly of claim 16, the bucket comprising: a top side; a bottom side; lateral sides formed integrally with or coupled to opposite lateral surfaces of the bottom side and the top side; and a rear side formed integrally with or coupled to the top side, the bottom side and the lateral sides, wherein the top side, the bottom side, the rear side and the lateral sides form a bucket having a volume for carrying material, and wherein the rear side comprises a translucent region that allows light from the volume to be operably viewable in an operator position, and to retain material within the volume. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The bucket assembly of claim 17, wherein the translucent region is a translucent panel coupled to the rear side that allows the light to be operably viewed from the volume at the operator position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The bucket assembly of claim 17, wherein an indicator is disposed on the rear side adjacent to the translucent region that is operably indicative of an amount of the material within the volume.