# US 12,180,688 B2 · Bucket lip stabilizer structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,180,688 B2 - Document ID: US12180688B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/373,489 - Filed: 2021-07-12 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-07 - Assignees: Hensley Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Hensley Industries, Inc. - Inventors: John Scott Jakubisin; Keith Daniel Aug; Mohamad Youssef Bilal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180688B2 ## CPC - E02F 9/2825: {using adapters} - E02F 9/2833: {Retaining means, e.g. pins} - E02F 9/2858: {characterised by shape} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract A stabilizer structure includes an elongated main body portion having an upper portion with outward-facing side surfaces and a lower portion below the upper portion, the lower portion being greater in width than the upper portion. The stabilizer structure also includes a hole in a top surface of the upper portion. The stabilizer also includes a forward portion integrated with the main body portion as a single monolithic piece. The forward portion includes a bridge section, a first prong extending from the bridge section, and a second prong extending from the bridge section. The first prong, second prong, and bridge section share a single forward-facing curved surface and a single rear-facing curved surface, the forward-facing curved surface having a different curve than the rear-facing curved surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stabilizer structure for equipment having a lip with a leading edge, the stabilizer structure comprising: a plurality of stabilizer portions configured to be coupled to a bottom surface of the lip, each stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions comprising an inward-facing side surface configured to abut against a respective outward-facing side surface of an adapter when the stabilizer structure is coupled to the bottom surface of the lip, wherein a first stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions is spaced apart from and positioned closer to the leading edge of the lip than a second stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions, the inward-facing side surface of the first stabilizer portion being positioned to be parallel with the inward-facing side surface of the second stabilizer portion, and wherein the inward-facing side surfaces of the first and second stabilizer portions are positioned adjacent a first side of an anchor hole in the lip, wherein a third stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions is spaced apart from and positioned closer to the leading edge of the lip than a fourth stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions, the inward-facing side surface of the third stabilizer portion being positioned to be parallel with the inward-facing side surface of the fourth stabilizer portion, and wherein the inward-facing side surfaces of the third and fourth stabilizer portions are positioned adjacent a second side of the anchor hole in the lip, the second side opposite the first side. ### Claim 2 A stabilizer structure, for equipment having a lip with a leading edge, the stabilizer structure comprising: a plurality of stabilizer portions configured to be coupled to a bottom surface of the lip, each stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions comprising an inward-facing side surface configured to abut against a respective outward-facing side surface of an adapter when the stabilizer structure is coupled to the bottom surface of the lip, wherein a first stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions is spaced apart from and positioned closer to the leading edge of the lip than a second stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions, the inward-facing side surface of the first stabilizer portion being positioned to be parallel with the inward-facing side surface of the second stabilizer portion, and wherein the inward-facing side surfaces of the first and second stabilizer portions are positioned adjacent a first side of an anchor hole in the lip, wherein a third stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions is spaced apart from and positioned closer to the leading edge of the lip than a fourth stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions, the inward-facing side surface of the third stabilizer portion being positioned to be parallel with the inward-facing side surface of the fourth stabilizer portion, and wherein the inward-facing side surfaces of the third and fourth stabilizer portions are positioned adjacent a second side of the anchor hole in the lip, the second side opposite the first side, wherein a front surface of the first stabilizer portion is parallel with a front surface of the third stabilizer portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stabilizer structure of claim 1, wherein a back surface of the first stabilizer portion is parallel with a back surface of the third stabilizer portion. ### Claim 4 A stabilizer structure, for equipment having a lip with a leading edge, the stabilizer structure comprising: a plurality of stabilizer portions configured to be coupled to a bottom surface of the lip, each stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions comprising an inward-facing side surface configured to abut against a respective outward-facing side surface of an adapter when the stabilizer structure is coupled to the bottom surface of the lip, wherein a first stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions is spaced apart from and positioned closer to the leading edge of the lip than a second stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions, the inward-facing side surface of the first stabilizer portion being positioned to be parallel with the inward-facing side surface of the second stabilizer portion, and wherein the inward-facing side surfaces of the first and second stabilizer portions are positioned adjacent a first side of an anchor hole in the lip, wherein a third stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions is spaced apart from and positioned closer to the leading edge of the lip than a fourth stabilizer portion of the plurality of stabilizer portions, the inward-facing side surface of the third stabilizer portion being positioned to be parallel with the inward-facing side surface of the fourth stabilizer portion, and wherein the inward-facing side surfaces of the third and fourth stabilizer portions are positioned adjacent a second side of the anchor hole in the lip, the second side opposite the first side, wherein a front surface of the second stabilizer portion is parallel with a front surface of the fourth stabilizer portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The stabilizer structure of claim 1, wherein the first and third stabilizer portions are configured to be positioned forward of the anchor hole in the lip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The stabilizer structure of claim 1, further comprising a rear stabilizer portion separate from the stabilizer structure and configured to be coupled to a top surface of the lip. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The stabilizer structure of claim 6, wherein the rear stabilizer portion is configured to be positioned rearward of the anchor hole. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The stabilizer structure of claim 1, further comprising a front stabilizer portion separate from the stabilizer structure and configured to be coupled to a top surface of the lip. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The stabilizer structure of claim 8, wherein the front stabilizer portion is configured to be positioned forward of the anchor hole in the lip. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The stabilizer structure of claim 9, wherein the front stabilizer portion comprises: an upper portion configured to be coupled to the top surface of the lip; and a forward portion configured to be coupled to a curved surface of the lip, wherein a terminal end of the forward portion is sized to terminate adjacent the curved surface of the lip. ### Claim 11 A stabilizer structure for equipment having a lip with an anchor hole, the stabilizer structure configured to be positioned on a top surface of the lip rearward of the anchor hole in the lip, the stabilizer structure comprising: a front-facing surface; a rear-facing surface parallel with the front-facing surface; and outward-facing side surfaces defining a width of the stabilizer structure, wherein the stabilizer structure is configured to be spaced apart from a front stabilizer portion disposed forward of the anchor hole, the front stabilizer portion comprising: an upper portion configured to be coupled to the top surface of the lip; and a forward portion configured to be coupled to a curved surface of the lip, wherein a terminal end of the forward portion is sized to terminate adjacent the curved surface of the lip. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The stabilizer structure of claim 11, wherein the upper portion of the front stabilizer portion comprises outward-facing side surfaces defining a width of the upper portion, and wherein the width of the stabilizer structure is greater than the width of the upper portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The stabilizer structure of claim 11, wherein a distance between the stabilizer structure and the anchor hole is less than a distance between the upper portion of the front stabilizer portion and the anchor hole. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The stabilizer structure of claim 11, wherein the stabilizer structure is sized and shaped to fit within a slot of an adapter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The stabilizer structure of claim 14, wherein the outward-facing side surfaces are configured to abut against inward-facing side surfaces of the slot of the adapter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The stabilizer structure of claim 11, wherein a length of the outward-facing side surfaces is greater than a length of the front-facing surface and is greater than a length of the rear-facing surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The stabilizer structure of claim 11, wherein the width of the stabilizer structure is greater than a width of the anchor hole. ### Claim 18 A stabilizer structure, for equipment having a lip with an anchor hole, the stabilizer structure configured to be positioned on a top surface of the lip rearward of the anchor hole in the lip, the stabilizer structure comprising: a front-facing surface; a rear-facing surface parallel with the front-facing surface; a bottom stabilizer portion separate from the stabilizer structure and configured to be coupled to a bottom surface of the lip; and outward-facing side surfaces defining a width of the stabilizer structure, wherein the stabilizer structure is configured to be spaced apart from a front stabilizer portion disposed forward of the anchor hole, the front stabilizer portion comprising: an upper portion configured to be coupled to the top surface of the lip; and a forward portion configured to be coupled to a curved surface of the lip, wherein a terminal end of the forward portion is sized to terminate adjacent the curved surface of the lip. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The stabilizer structure of claim 18, wherein the bottom stabilizer portion comprises inward-facing side surfaces configured to abut against outward-facing side surfaces of an adapter when the bottom stabilizer portion is coupled to the bottom surface of the lip. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The stabilizer structure of claim 18, wherein the bottom stabilizer portion includes a rearward stabilizer portion and a forward stabilizer portion, the rearward stabilizer portion being spaced apart from the forward stabilizer portion.