Container System for Front End Loader Vehicle Bucket

Abstract

A system for extending the load carrying capacity of the bucket of a front end loader vehicle utilizes an oversized container configured to be nested within the bucket of the vehicle. Attached to the floor of the container are receptacles for the insertion of the front end of the vehicle's bucket. Chains or like attachment devices, secured and tightened by ratchet style turnbuckles, are wrapped around the bucket to ensure that the container is rigidly maintained within the bucket.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to front end loader vehicles and more particularly o a container system for increasing the load carrying capacity of the buckets of such vehicles.

[0002] Front end loaders and tractors comprising buckets are extremely useful machines, having a variety of load carrying capabilities. These machines are particularly valuable in that their buckets are readily adaptable for loading, transporting and then dumping large amounts of such things as dirt, rocks, leaves, debris, etc.

[0003] However, one disadvantage which has detracted from the versatility of vehicle loaders is the limited size of their buckets. As the bucket is necessarily a heavy, sturdy container structure, its size and loading capacity is dictated by the overall design of the vehicle and hence is restricted by engineering and economic considerations. This smaller size and capacity naturally results in the less efficient operation of the vehicle, i.e. more trips are needed to transport large amounts of dirt, rocks, etc., with the attendant fuel and manpower expense, not to mention wear and tear on the vehicle itself.

[0004] While several attempts have been made, in the form of bucket attachments, to increase the load carrying capacity of the buckets of front end loader vehicles, such attempts have enjoyed very limited success. For instance, many of these attachments fail to materially increase bucket capacity. Many are not easily positioned within the bucket or they do not provide an effective or practical means to be secured to the bucket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a container system for extending the loading carrying capacity of the bucket of a front end loader or like vehicle utilizing a front end bucket which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of existing systems or bucket attachments.

[0006] It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a system which is easily and readily positioned and secured within the bucket of a front end loader or like vehicle, which greatly increases the load carrying capacity of the bucket.

[0007] These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a system which increases the load carrying capacity of the bucket of a front end loader comprises an oversized container configured to be nested within the bucket of the vehicle. Attached to the floor of the container are receptacles for the insertion of the front end of the vehicle's bucket. Chains or like attachment devices, secured and tightened by ratchet style turnbuckles, are wrapped around the bucket to ensure that the container is rigidly maintained within the bucket.

[0008] The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the container of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a front/bottom perspective view of the container of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a detailed view taken from FIG. 2.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a detailed view similar to FIG. 3, without the inserted bucket of a loader vehicle.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a view of the rear wall of the container of the present invention, showing the manner of its attachment to a loader vehicle bucket.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a view of the container of the present invention positioned within the bucket of a front end loader vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The system of the present invention for extending the load carrying capacity of the bucket of a front end loader vehicle comprises oversized container 2 having back wall 4, side walls 6 and 8, bottom floor 10, and open front 12. Back wall 4 and side walls 6 and 8 define the load carrying space of container 2. Cross beam 14 extends between side walls 6 and 8 to maintain the structural integrity of container 2. See FIG. 1. As best seen in FIG. 5, reinforcement stiffeners 18, 20, and 22 are provided on rear surface 5 of back wall 4.

[0016] With particular reference to FIGS. 2-4, bucket receptacles 24 and 26, to be used with larger containers, and bucket receptacle 25 used for smaller, lighter weight containers, are welded or otherwise permanently secured to bottom surface 11 of floor 10. Receptacles 24, 25, and 26 are identical; representative receptacle 30 being shown in further detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each receptacle has backwall 28, intermediate wall 30, cantilevered extending section 32, and recessed opening 38 located between the intermediate wall and the cantilevered section. Eye section 41 is attached to and extends out from cantilevered section 32.

[0017] The system of the present invention further comprises U-bolts 42, 44, and 46 configured to extend through openings at the bottom of stiffeners 18, 20, and 22. Ratchet style turnbuckles 48, 50, and 52 are connected at their upper ends to the U-bolts. Link chain or equivalent high strength lines 54, 56, and 58 are secured at one of their ends to eye sections 41, 43, and 45 extending from receptacles 26, 25, 24, respectively. One chain is thereby attached to each receptacle. The other ends of chains 54, 56, and 58 are configured to be looped through the lower ends of turnbuckles 48, 50, and 52, as described further hereinafter.

[0018] Limit stops 60 and 62 are secured to rear surface 5 of back wall 4. These stops can either be permanently secured to back wall 4 or, by providing openings 61 and 63 in the stops, they can be height adjustable by connecting bolts secured through the openings and corresponding openings 65 and 67 through the back wall.

[0019] The system of the present invention is specifically designed for use with a front end loader vehicle, for example tractor 70. However, the system is not restricted to this one type of vehicle. It can be used with front end loader machines, bulldozers, forklifts, backhoes, etc. All the loader vehicles comprise an open bucket 72 having front edge 74, upper edge 76 and outer surface 78.

[0020] To install a large container 2, loader 70 is slowly driven forward, bucket 72 down, towards back wall 4 of container 2. The loader continues moving forward, such that front edge 74 of bucket 72 is inserted into the receptacle openings (e.g. opening 38 in receptacle 26) of bucket receptacles 24 and 26. When bucket 72 is moved forward such that front edge 74 reaches intermediate wall 40 of the receptacles, loader 70 is stopped. Container 2 is now nested within bucket 72 of loader 70.

[0021] Once container 2 is nested within bucket 72, turnbuckles 48 and 52 are positioned on outer surface 78 of bucket 72. Chains 54 and 58, each connected at one end to their respective receptacles 26 and 24, are then wrapped around outer surface 78 of bucket 72, thus partly circumscribing the bucket. The other ends of each chain 54 and 58 are looped through the lower ends of turnbuckles 48 and 52. Turnbuckles 48 and 52 are then ratcheted tight, so that container 2 and bucket 72 are snugly maintained in the nested position. Limit stops 60 and 62 on rear wall 4, contact upper edge 76, thereby limiting the vertical movement and also preventing tipping of bucket 72 in relation to container 2.

[0022] By this configuration, loader vehicle 70 is ready for use with container 2 and to increase the load carrying capability of the vehicle. Since container 2 is immoveably secured within bucket 72, loader vehicle 70 can raise and lower the bucket without fear that the container will become detached from or fall off the bucket.

[0023] Container 2 can easily be separated from bucket 72. Container 2 and bucket 72 are first lowered to the ground. Turnbuckles 48 and 52 are loosened sufficiently enough to allow chains 54 and 58 to be removed from bucket 72. Loader 70 is moved in reverse and simply backed out of receptacles 24 and 26.

[0024] It is noted that when securing these larger containers, receptacles 24 and 26, and their corresponding turnbuckles and chains, are utilized to maintain the containers with the buckets. For smaller, lighter containers, it is contemplated that only a centrally located receptacle 25, with one set of turnbuckles and chains, would be required. FIG. 5 depicts the use, in solid lines, of two sets of turnbuckles and chains to secure a larger container. The centrally located system is shown in ghosted lines.

[0025] Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for extending the load carrying capacity of the bucket of a front end loader vehicle comprising: a container having a back wall, side walls, a floor, and an open front, the walls and floor defining a load carrying space within the walls and floor; receptacle means located on the bottom of the floor of the container for insertion of the front end of a bucket of a front end loader vehicle, whereby when the front end of the bucket is inserted into the receptacle means, the container is in a nested position within the bucket; and attachment means extending between the back wall of the container and the receptacle means for maintaining the container in the nested position within the bucket.

2. The system as in claim 1 further comprising means for securing the attachment means in a position between the back wall of the container and the receptacle means.

3. The system as in claim 2 wherein the means for securing comprises a first connector on the receptacle means and a second connector on the back wall of the container.

4. The system as in claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a link chain.

5. The system as in claim 1 further comprising tensioning means for ensuring that the container and bucket are tightly maintained in the nested position.

6. The system as in claim 5 wherein the tensioning means comprises a ratchet style turnbuckle connected to the attachment means.

7. The system as in claim 1 wherein the receptacle means comprises a laterally extending member having a recess opening in which the front end of the bucket is inserted.

8. The system as in claim 1 wherein the attachment means partially circumscribes the outer surface of the bucket.

9. The system as in claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a link chain.

10. The system as in claim 1 further comprising stop means connected to the container for preventing tilting of the container nested within the bucket.

11. A system for extending the load carrying capacity of the bucket of a front end loader vehicle comprising: a container having a back wall, side walls, a floor, and an open front, the walls and floor defining a load carrying space within the walls and floor; receptacle means located on the bottom floor of the container for the insertion of the front end of a bucket of a front end loader vehicle, whereby when the front end of the bucket is inserted into the receptacle means, the container is in a nested position within the bucket; and a first connector on the receptacle means and a second connector on the back wall of the container; attachment means for maintaining the container in the nested position within the bucket, said attachment means being connected at one end to the first connector and partially circumscribing the outer surface of the bucket; and tensioning means for ensuring that the container and bucket are tightly maintained in the nested position.

12. The system as in claim 11 wherein the attachment means comprises a link chain.

13. The system as in claim 11 wherein the tensioning means comprises a ratchet style turnbuckle connected to the attachment means.

14. The system as in claim 11 wherein the receptacle means comprises a laterally extending member having a recess opening in which the front end of the bucket is inserted.

15. The system as in claim 1 further comprising stop means connected to the container for preventing tilting of the container nested within the bucket.