Front-end skid steer loader

Claim 1

A compact skid steer front-end loader comprising: a body including a pair of substantially similar body sections, each section including a vertical, substantially flat side wall, each having a vertical rear edge, a substantially flat bottom wall portion integral with and having a length corresponding to the length of the associated side wall, each section including a substantially flat front wall portion integral with the associated side wall and bottom wall portion, each front wall portion having a vertical dimension less than the vertical dimension of the associated side wall and having a width dimension corresponding to the width dimension of the associated bottom wall portion, the bottom wall portions and front wall portions of said sections being disposed in lapped relation, and being fixedly secured together, a pair of substantially flat, upstanding boom support plates, each affixed to one of said side walls adjacent the rear of and projecting upwardly therefrom, a boom assembly pivotally connected to the boom support plates and projecting forwardly therefrom, an implement pivotally mounted on the forward end of said boom assembly, means for pivoting the boom assembly about its pivot axis, and means on the boom assembly for pivoting the implement relative thereto, front and rear pairs of ground-engaging wheels supporting said body for travel over the surface of the ground, means for driving said ground-engaging wheels, said rear ground engaging wheels being positioned forwardly of the rear vertical edge of each side wall, a cab structure including a floor plate, a back plate integral with said floor plate and extending upwardly therefrom, means connecting said cab structure to the rear portion of said body, whereby said cab structure is positioned rearwardly of the body, and rearwardly of said ground engaging wheels and said boom support plate.