US4255884A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for unattended conversion of a front end loader
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-11-27
•
Granted: 1981-03-17
•
Expires: 1999-11-27
Abstract
Abstract An auxiliary blade, such as a snowplow or the like, is quickly attached to or released from the bucket of a front end loader solely by pivotal movement of the bucket relative to the blade, without requiring the driver of the front end loader to dismount and operate any securing means.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl D. Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:02
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01H; E01H5/00; E01H5/04; E01H5/06; E01H5/065; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/96; E02F3/962
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for the unattended conversion of a front end loader quickly to and from a snowplow or the like, comprising: an auxiliary blade of the free-standing type, capable of self-support in an operative orientation, means integral with the top edge of the bucket of the front end loader for grasping an upper portion of said auxiliary blade as such bucket is pivoted upwardly and forwardly, and means adjacent the bottom of said auxiliary blade for receiving the bottom edge of the bucket of the front end loader as such bucket is pivoted upwardly and forwardly, whereby attachment and release of said auxiliary blade to and from the bucket of the front end loader are achieved solely by respective opposite pivotal movements of such bucket.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
An apparatus for the unattended conversion of a front end loader quickly to and from a snowplow or the like, comprising: an auxiliary blade of the free-standing type, capable of self-support in an operative orientation, means integral with the top edge of the bucket of the front end loader for grasping an upper portion of said auxiliary blade as such bucket is pivoted upwardly and forwardly, and means adjacent the bottom of said auxiliary blade for receiving the bottom edge of the bucket of the front end loader as such bucket is pivoted upwardly and forwardly, whereby attachment and release of said auxiliary blade to and from the bucket of the front end loader are achieved solely by respective opposite pivotal movements of such bucket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus for the unattended conversion of a front end loader quickly to and from a snowplow or the like in accordance with claim 1, wherein said auxiliary blade is a snowplow having a V-shaped configuration in the horizontal plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus for the unattended conversion of a front end loader quickly to and from a snowplow or the like in accordance with claim 1, wherein said grasping means integral with the top edge of the bucket comprises an upwardly-open hook for engaging a cooperating pin connected to the upper portion of said auxiliary blade.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus for the unattended conversion of a front end loader quickly to and from a snowplow or the like in accordance with claim 3, wherein said grasping means comprises a plurality of said upwardly-open hooks spaced along the top edge of the bucket for engaging a corresponding plurality of cooperating pins connected to the upper portion of said auxiliary blade.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus for the unattended conversion of a front end loader quickly to and from a snowplow or the like in accordance with claim 1, wherein said grasping means integral with the top edge of the bucket comprises a pin for engaging a downwardly-open hook connected to the upper portion of said auxiliary blade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus for the unattended conversion of a front end loader quickly to and from a snowplow or the like in accordance with claim 5, wherein said grasping means comprises a plurality of said pins spaced along the top edge of the bucket for engaging a corresponding plurality of cooperating downwardly-open hooks connected to the upper portion of said auxiliary blade.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus for the unattended conversion of a front end loader quickly to and from a snowplow or the like in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for receiving the bottom edge of the bucket comprises one or more rearwardly-facing slots adjacent the bottom of said auxiliary blade adapted to receive and hold said edge of the bucket.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-16 | 1984-09-15 | 1985-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-16 | 1988-09-15 | 1989-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-16 | 1992-09-15 | 1993-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |