THUMB FOR AN EXCAVATOR MACHINE WITH STRUCTURE SUPPORT
First Claim
1. A thumb for a machine, comprising:
- a first side plate having an outer surface, an inner surface oppositely disposed from the outer surface, a first end having a connection for pivotally connecting the first side plate to a linkage assembly of the machine, and a second end oppositely disposed from the first end;
a second side plate having an outer surface, an inner surface oppositely disposed from the outer surface, a first end having a connection for pivotally connecting the first side plate to a linkage assembly of the machine, and a second end oppositely disposed from the first end;
a plurality of teeth each having a work material engaging end and a structure support end oppositely disposed from the work material engaging end; and
a thumb structure support, comprising;
a first structure support plate having oppositely disposed first and second end edges, oppositely disposed first and second lateral edges, an outer surface having a convex curvature as the outer surface extends from the first end edge to the second end edge, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the second end of the first side plate being connected to the outer surface of the first structure support plate proximate the first lateral edge of the first structure support plate, the second end of the second side plate being connected to the outer surface of the first structure support plate proximate the second lateral edge, anda second structure support plate having oppositely disposed first and second end edges, oppositely disposed first and second lateral edges, an outer surface having a convex curvature as the outer surface extends from the first end edge to the second end edge, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the first end edge of the first structure support plate being connected to the second structure support plate proximate the first end edge of the second structure support plate, the second end edge of the second structure support plate being connected to the first structure support plate proximate the second end edge of the first structure support plate, and the structure support end of each of the plurality of teeth being connected to the outer surface of the second structure support plate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A counteracting thumb for an implement of a machine may include first and second structure support plates each having first and second planar portions connected by an intermediate curved portion to orient the planar portions at an obtuse angle relative to each other. A first end edge of the first plate may be connected to an inner surface of the second plate proximate a first end edge of the second plate, and second end edge of the second plate may be connected to an inner surface of the first plate proximate a second end edge of the first plate. Side plates of the thumb may be connected to an outer surface of the first plate, and teeth of the thumb may be connected to an outer surface of the second plate.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A thumb for a machine, comprising:
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a first side plate having an outer surface, an inner surface oppositely disposed from the outer surface, a first end having a connection for pivotally connecting the first side plate to a linkage assembly of the machine, and a second end oppositely disposed from the first end; a second side plate having an outer surface, an inner surface oppositely disposed from the outer surface, a first end having a connection for pivotally connecting the first side plate to a linkage assembly of the machine, and a second end oppositely disposed from the first end; a plurality of teeth each having a work material engaging end and a structure support end oppositely disposed from the work material engaging end; and a thumb structure support, comprising; a first structure support plate having oppositely disposed first and second end edges, oppositely disposed first and second lateral edges, an outer surface having a convex curvature as the outer surface extends from the first end edge to the second end edge, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the second end of the first side plate being connected to the outer surface of the first structure support plate proximate the first lateral edge of the first structure support plate, the second end of the second side plate being connected to the outer surface of the first structure support plate proximate the second lateral edge, and a second structure support plate having oppositely disposed first and second end edges, oppositely disposed first and second lateral edges, an outer surface having a convex curvature as the outer surface extends from the first end edge to the second end edge, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the first end edge of the first structure support plate being connected to the second structure support plate proximate the first end edge of the second structure support plate, the second end edge of the second structure support plate being connected to the first structure support plate proximate the second end edge of the first structure support plate, and the structure support end of each of the plurality of teeth being connected to the outer surface of the second structure support plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A thumb structure support for connecting first and second side plates of a thumb of a machine to a plurality of teeth of the thumb, comprising:
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a first structure support plate having oppositely disposed first and second end edges, oppositely disposed first and second lateral edges, an outer surface having a convex curvature as the outer surface extends from the first end edge to the second end edge, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the outer surface of the first structure support plate having the first side plate and the second side plate of the thumb connected thereto proximate the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, respectively; and a second structure support plate having oppositely disposed first and second end edges, oppositely disposed first and second lateral edges, an outer surface having a convex curvature as the outer surface extends from the first end edge to the second end edge, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the first end edge of the first structure support plate being connected to the second structure support plate proximate the first end edge of the second structure support plate, the second end edge of the second structure support plate being connected to the first structure support plate proximate the second end edge of the first structure support plate, and the outer surface of the second structure support plate having the plurality of teeth of the thumb connected thereto. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A thumb for a machine, comprising:
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a thumb structure support, comprising; a first structure support plate having oppositely disposed first and second end edges, oppositely disposed first and second lateral edges, a first planar portion extending inwardly from the first end edge and a second planar portion extending inwardly from the second end edge, the first planar portion and the second planar portion being oriented with respect to each other at an obtuse angle, an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, and a second structure support plate having oppositely disposed first and second end edges, oppositely disposed first and second lateral edges, a first planar portion extending inwardly from the first end edge and a second planar portion extending inwardly from the second end edge, the first planar portion and the second planar portion being oriented with respect to each other at an obtuse angle, an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the first end edge of the first structure support plate being connected to the second structure support plate proximate the first end edge of the second structure support plate, and the second end edge of the second structure support plate being connected to the first structure support plate proximate the second end edge of the first structure support plate; a first side plate having an outer surface, an inner surface oppositely disposed from the outer surface, a first end having a connection for pivotally connecting the first side plate to a linkage assembly of the machine, and a second end oppositely disposed from the first end, the second end of the first side plate having a shape corresponding to a shape of the outer surface of the first structure support plate and being connected to the outer surface of the first structure support plate proximate the first lateral edge of the first structure support plate; a second side plate having an outer surface, an inner surface oppositely disposed from the outer surface, a first end having a connection for pivotally connecting the first side plate to a linkage assembly of the machine, and a second end oppositely disposed from the first end, the second end of the second side plate having a shape corresponding to a shape of the outer surface of the first structure support plate and being connected to the outer surface of the first structure support plate; and a plurality of teeth each having a work material engaging end and a structure support end oppositely disposed from the work material engaging end, the structure support end having a shape corresponding to a shape of the outer surface of the second structure support plate and being connected to the outer surface of the second structure support plate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A support structure for connecting two components together, comprising:
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a first plate having oppositely disposed first and second end edges, an outer surface having a convex curvature as the outer surface extends from the first end edge to the second end edge, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface; and a second plate having oppositely disposed first and second end edges, an outer surface having a convex curvature as the outer surface extends from the first end edge to the second end edge, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the first and second plates connected and overlapping at opposite ends so that the first end edge of the second plate extends beyond the first end edge of the first plate and the second end edge of the first plate extends beyond the second end edge of the second plate. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification