Thumb for a backhoe
AssigneeRockland, Inc.
InventorJohn C. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A digging implement (10) including an extendable linkage (12) including a bucket (14) and a thumb assembly (34) for holding materials in the bucket (14). The thumb assembly (34) is configured to rotate as the linkage (12) extends, and both the bucket (14) and the thumb assembly (34) are independently operable.
Claims83
A digging implement comprising:
- an extendable linkage including a bucket;
- and
- a thumb assembly pivotally connected to a first member of said linkage and pivotally connected to a second member of said linkage, displaceable relative to said first member, for holding materials in said bucket,
- wherein said thumb assembly is configured to rotate as said linkage extends, and both said bucket and said thumb assembly are independently operable.
A digging implement comprising:
- an extendable linkage including a bucket and
- a thumb assembly for holding materials in said bucket,
- wherein said thumb assembly is configured to rotate as said linkage extends, and both said bucket and said thumb assembly are independently operable;
- wherein said extendable linkage includes a first telescoping body and a second telescoping body, said linkage being configured to elongate as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope and said bucket being rotatably connected to the second telescoping body;
- wherein said thumb assembly includes a thumb rotatably connected to the second telescoping body and an arm rotatably connected to said firs telescoping body and said thumb;
- and
- wherein said arm will force said thumb to rotate about said second telescoping body as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope.
In a digging implement having a linkage including a first telescoping body and a second telescoping body displaceable relative to said first telescoping body, said linkage configured to elongate as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope, and a bucket rotatably connected to an end of said second telescoping body, the improvement comprising:
- a thumb assembly rotatably connected to said end of said second telescoping body at a pivot point and to an end of said first telescoping body;
- wherein said thumb assembly is forced about said pivot point as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope, and both said bucket and said thumb assembly are independently operable.
In a digging implement having a linkage including a first telescoping body and a second telescoping body, said linkage configured to elongate as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope, and a bucket rotatably connected to an end of said second telescoping body, the improvement comprising:
- a thumb assembly rotatably connected to said end of said second telescoping body at a pivot point and to an end of said first telescoping body;
- wherein said thumb assembly is forced about said pivot point as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope, and both said bucket and said thumb assembly are independently operable;
- wherein said thumb assembly includes a thumb rotatably connected to the second telescoping body and an arm rotatably connected to said first telescoping body and said thumb;
- and
- wherein said arm will force said thumb to rotate about said second telescoping body as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope.
A digging implement comprising:
- a linkage including a first telescoping body and a second telescoping body, said linkage configured to elongate as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope;
- a bucket connected to an end of said second telescoping body;
- and
- a thumb assembly rotatably connected to said end of said second telescoping body at a pivot point and to an end of said first telescoping body;
- wherein said thumb assembly is forced about said pivot point as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope, and both said bucket and said thumb assembly are independently operable.
A digging implement comprising:
- a linkage including a first telescoping body and a second telescoping body, said linkage configured to elongate as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope;
- a bucket connected to an end of said second telescoping body;
- and
- a thumb assembly rotatably connected to said end of said second telescoping body at a pivot point and to an end of said first telescoping body;
- wherein said thumb is forced about said pivot point as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope, and both said bucket and said thumb are independently operable;
- wherein said thumb assembly includes a thumb rotatably connected to the second telescoping body and an arm rotatably connected to said first telescoping body and said thumb;
- and
- wherein said arm will force said thumb to rotate about said second telescoping body as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope.
A thumb assembly for connection for a digging implement having a linkage including a first telescoping body and a second telescoping body, the linkage configured to elongate as the first and second telescoping bodies telescope, the digging implement also including a bucket connected to an end of the second telescoping body, the thumb assembly comprising:
- a thumb configured for rotatable connection to the second telescoping body;
- and
- an arm configured for rotatable connection to the first telescoping body and the thumb;
- wherein the arm will force said thumb, when both said arm and said thumb are connected to the digging implement, to rotate about the second telescoping body as the first and second telescoping bodies telescope;
- and
- wherein both the thumb and the bucket are independently operable when both said arm and said thumb are connected to the digging implement.
A method of connecting a thumb assembly to a digging implement having a linkage including a first telescoping body and a second telescoping body, the linkage configured to elongate as the first and second telescoping bodies telescope, the digging implement also including a bucket connected at a pivot point to an end of the second telescoping body, the method comprising:
- rotatably connecting a thumb to said second telescoping body at the pivot point;
- and
- rotatably connecting an arm to said first telescoping body and said thumb;
- wherein the arm will force said thumb, when both said arm and said thumb are connected to the digging implement, to rotate about he second telescoping body as the first and second telescoping bodies telescope;
- and
- wherein both the thumb and the bucket are independently operable when both said arm and said thumb are connected to the digging implement.
A digging machine comprising:
- a mobile base;
- an extendable linkage connected at a first end to the mobile base and at a second end to a bucket;
- and
- a thumb assembly pivotally connected to a first member of said linkage and pivotally connected to a second member of said linkage, displaceable relative to said first member for holding materials in said bucket,
- wherein said thumb assembly is configured to rotate as said linkage extends, and both said bucket and said thumb assembly are independently operable.
In a digging machine having a mobile base and a linkage connected to the mobile base, the linage including a first telescoping body connected to the mobile base and a second telescoping body, said linkage configured to elongate as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope, and a bucket rotatably connected to an end of said second telescoping body, the improvement comprising:
- a thumb assembly rotatably connected to said end of said second telescoping body at a pivot point and to an end of said first telescoping body;
- wherein said thumb assembly is forced about said pivot point as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope, and both said bucket and said thumb assembly are independently operable.
A digging machine comprising:
- a mobile base;
- a linkage including a first telescoping body connected to the mobile base and a second telescoping body, said linkage configured to elongate as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope;
- a bucket connected to an end of said second telescoping body;
- and
- a thumb assembly rotatably connected to said end of said second telescoping body at a pivot point and to an end of said first telescoping body;
- wherein said thumb assembly is forced about said pivot point as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope, and both said bucket and said thumb assembly are independently operable.
A digging implement comprising:
- an extendable linkage including a bucket;
- and
- a thumb assembly pivotally connected to a first member of said linkage and pivotally connected to a second member of said linkage, displaceable relative to said first member for holding materials in said bucket,
- wherein said thumb assembly is configured to rotate as said linkage extends;
- wherein both said bucket and said thumb assembly are independently operable;
- and
- wherein said thumb assembly is removably connected to said extendable linkage.
In a digging implement having a linkage including a first telescoping body and a second telescoping body, said linkage configured to elongate as said first and second telescoping body, said linkage configured to elongate as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope, and a bucket rotatably connected to an end of said second telescoping body, the improvement comprising:
- a thumb assembly rotatably connected to said end of said second telescoping body at a pivot point and to an end of said first telescoping body;
- wherein said thumb assembly is forced about said pivot point as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope, and both said bucket and said thumb assembly are independently operable;
- wherein said thumb assembly is removably connected to said second telescoping body and to said first telescoping body.
The digging implement comprising:
- a linkage including a first telescoping body and a second telescoping body, said linkage configured to elongate as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope;
- a bucket connected to an end of said second telescoping body;
- and
- a thumb assembly rotatably connected to said end of said second telescoping body at a pivot point and to an end of said first telescoping body;
- wherein said thumb assembly is forced about said pivot point as said first and second telescoping bodies telescope, and both said bucket and said thumb assembly are independently operable;
- and
- wherein said thumb assembly is removably connected to said second telescoping body and to said first telescoping body.
An assembly comprising:
- a first arm member supportable on a base member;
- a second arm member mounted on and displaceable relative to said first arm member;
- an implement pivotally connected to said second arm member;
- first means for displacing said second arm member relative to said first arm member;
- second means for displacing said implement relative to said second arm member;
- a third arm member pivotally connect to said second arm member, cooperable with said implement for gripping objects therebetween;
- and
- a link pivotally connected to said first arm member and pivotally connected to said third arm member.
A machine comprising:
- a mobile base assembly;
- a first arm member operatively connected to said mobile base assembly;
- a second arm member mounted on and displaceable relative to said first arm member;
- an implement pivotally connected to said second arm member;
- first means for displacing said second arm member relative to said first arm member;
- second means for displacing said implement relative to said second arm member;
- a third arm member pivotally connected at one end thereof to an underside of said second arm member, cooperable with said implement for gripping objects therebetween;
- and
- a link pivotally connected to said first arm member and pivotally connected to said third arm member.
An attachment for an assembly including a first arm member operatively connected to a mobile base assembly, a second arm mounted on and displaceable relative to said first arm member, an implement pivotally connected to said second arm member, first means for displacing said second arm member relative to said first arm member and second means for displacing said implement relative to said second arm member, comprising:
- a third arm member pivotally connectable to an underside of said second arm member;
- and
- a link connectable at one end thereof to an underside of said first arm member and pivotally connected at another end thereof to said third arm member intermediate the ends thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.