# US 2026/0085501 A1 · Bucket lip having wear cap retention feature > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0085501 A1 - Document ID: US20260085501A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/891,080 - Filed: 2024-09-20 - Published: 2026-03-26 - Earliest claimed: 2024-09-20 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: Eric Thomas Sinn; Douglas Charles Serrurier; Chad James Mammen; Nicholas Bradshaw; Cameron David Lee; Brandon Hammig McCaffrey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260085501A1 ## CPC - E02F 9/2816: {Mountings therefor} - E02F 9/2883: {Wear elements for buckets or implements in general} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract A bucket lip includes an elongate lip body having a plurality of coupler stations arranged along a forward lip edge and each including a top surface stepped down from the upper lip surface. Each of the coupler stations further includes a wear cap retention feature, such as one or more wear cap rails, protruding in at least one of an upper direction or a lateral direction and having a retention feature elevation that is flush with or below the upper lip surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bucket lip comprising: an elongate lip body including an upper lip side having an upper lip surface extending in a lateral direction between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, and in a fore-aft direction between a forward lip edge and a back lip edge, and a lower lip side; the elongate lip body further including a plurality of coupler stations arranged along the forward lip edge, each of the coupler stations including a top surface stepped down from the upper lip surface; and each of the plurality of coupler stations further including a wear cap retention feature protruding in at least one of an upward direction or a lateral direction relative to the respective top surface and having a retention feature elevation that is flush with or below the upper lip surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bucket lip of claim 1 wherein each respective wear cap retention feature includes at least one wear cap rail. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bucket lip of claim 2 wherein the at least one wear cap rail includes a first wear cap rail protruding in a first lateral direction and a second wear cap rail protruding in a second lateral direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The bucket lip of claim 3 wherein each respective top surface is planar, and each of the first wear cap rail and the second wear cap rail includes a planar rail surface transitioning with the respective top surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The bucket lip of claim 3 wherein a first undercut is defined between the first wear cap rail and a base portion of the respective coupler station, and a second undercut is defined between the second wear cap rail and the base portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bucket lip of claim 5 wherein each of the first undercut and the second undercut forms a wedge shape opening in a forward direction away from the forward lip edge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The bucket lip of claim 3 wherein each of the first wear cap rail and the second wear cap rail includes a leading edge extending angularly back from the respective nose portion, and a trailing edge extending in the fore-aft direction from the respective leading edge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bucket lip of claim 1 wherein the elongate lip body includes a one-piece casting, and the wear cap retention feature is formed integrally in the one-piece casting. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bucket lip of claim 1 wherein each wear cap retention feature is attached to the respective top surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bucket lip of claim 9 wherein each wear cap retention feature includes a welded-on plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bucket lip of claim 10 wherein the welded-on plate is set forward from the upper lip surface. ### Claim 12 A bucket lip comprising: an elongate lip body including an upper lip side having an upper lip surface extending in a lateral direction between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, and in a fore-aft direction between a forward lip edge and a back lip edge, and a lower lip side; the elongate lip body further including a plurality of coupler stations arranged along the forward lip edge; each of the plurality of coupler stations including a base portion, a nose portion, and a wear cap retention feature positioned at a wear cap engagement location that is flush with or below the upper lip surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The bucket lip of claim 12 wherein the wear cap engagement location is located above the respective base portion and back of at least a majority of the respective nose portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The bucket lip of claim 13 wherein each respective wear cap retention feature includes a first wear cap rail and a second wear cap rail. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bucket lip of claim 14 wherein the first wear cap rail and the second wear cap rail are upon opposite lateral sides of the respective nose portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The bucket lip of claim 15 wherein a first undercut and a second undercut are defined between each respective base portion and the first wear cap rail and the second wear cap rail, respectively. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The bucket lip of claim 12 wherein each respective wear cap feature includes a plate attached to the respective coupler station and set forward from the upper lip surface. ### Claim 18 A bucket lip comprising: an elongate one-piece casting including an upper lip side having an upper lip surface extending in a lateral direction between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, and in a fore-aft direction between a forward lip edge and a back lip edge, and a lower lip side; a coupler station upon the forward lip edge and including a top surface stepped down from the upper lip surface, and a wear cap retention feature having a retention feature elevation that is flush with or below the upper lip surface; and a wear cap installed on the coupler station. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The bucket lip of claim 18 wherein the wear cap retention feature includes a first wear cap rail and a second wear cap rail upon opposite lateral sides of the coupler station and formed integrally with the elongate one-piece casting. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The bucket lip of claim 18 wherein the wear cap retention feature includes a plate attached to the coupler station.