Dirt scooping, moving, and dumping apparatus for attachment to a tractor

A dirt scooping, moving, and dumping apparatus for attachment to an tractor, the apparatus comprising:

• a dirt scoop having a volume and an open front portion for scooping material into the volume;
• a frame pivotably supporting the dirt scoop;
• a latch mechanism disposed between the dirt scoop and the frame;
• and
• a spring-loaded pulley assembly attached to the frame, wherein the spring-loaded pulley assembly has a first end connected to operate the latch mechanism, and a second end configured for attachment to a fixed portion of the tractor, wherein as the frame is lifted tension increases along the spring-loaded pulley assembly so as to unlatch the latch mechanism when the frame reaches a dumping elevation, thereby allowing the dirt scoop to pivot with respect to the frame so as to dump dirt in the volume of the dirt scoop out the open front portion.

A dirt scooping, moving, and dumping apparatus for attachment to a tractor, the apparatus comprising:

• a dirt scoop having a volume defined by a plurality of walls, the dirt scoop having an open front portion for scooping material into the volume, and a rear wall opposite the open front portion;
• a frame having an upper member supporting the dirt scoop at a pivot connection, wherein the frame has a first end configured for attachment to a lift drive of the tractor so that operation of the lift drive results in a generally vertical movement of the frame while maintaining the frame in a generally level state;
• a latch mechanism disposed between the rear wall of the dirt scoop and the frame;
• and
• a spring-loaded pulley assembly having a pulley wheel in fixed relationship with the upper member of the frame, wherein the spring-loaded pulley assembly has a first end connected to operate the latch mechanism, and a second end configured for attachment to a fixed portion of the tractor, wherein operation of the lift drive increases tension on the spring-loaded pulley assembly as the frame is raised so as to automatically unlatch the latch mechanism when the frame reaches a given elevation, thereby allowing the dirt scoop to rotate about the pivot connection and dump material in the volume of the dirt scoop out the open front portion.