Rake attachment for skid steer loaders and front end loaders and method for converting a loader bucket into a lawn preparation tool
First Claim
1. A method of providing a rake attachment implement for a front end loader, the front end loader having a front end and a rear end, the front end loader actuatig a pair of loader arms upwardly and downwardly at the front end, the method comprising:
- providing a front end loader bucket mounted to the loader arms at a front end of the front end loader, the front end loader raising, lowering and tilting the front end loader bucket such that the bucket has a first work mode of excavating, dumping and transporting earth material;
converting the front end loader bucket into the rake attachment by attaching an elongated rake having a support plate and a plurality of teeth, the support plate portion being arranged directly on and supported by a longitudinal edge of the front end loader bucket with the teeth projecting forwardly along the longitudinal edge of the front end loader bucket, the front end loader bucket in combination with the enlongate rake providing a second work mode of grading and raking earth material;
said teeth being selectively configured for raking and grading; and
grading and raking a soil surface with the enlongated rake in combination with the front end loader bucket.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rake attachment and a bucket attachment incorporating the same, the rake attachment generally comprising a plate, a plurality of apertures in the plate and a plurality of teeth. The elongate plate has a plurality of mounting holes extending therethrough and a plurality of integrally formed teeth projecting therefrom. The entire rake attachment is formed from a unitary plate of material to provide strength and durability. The rake attachment is designed to be fixed to the bucket attachment of a loader. Different bucket attachments are produced by various manufacturers and each have differently spaced apertures extending through a lower lip of the bucket. The rake attachment features a plurality of holes that can be combined into many different sets, each set corresponding with the spaced apertures of a specific manufacturer'"'"'s bucket attachment. As such, one rake attachment can be used with a variety of different bucket attachments for loaders. A method of converting a bucket into a rake attachment is provided that greatly increases the versatility of the bucket without being cost prohibitive.
63 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of providing a rake attachment implement for a front end loader, the front end loader having a front end and a rear end, the front end loader actuatig a pair of loader arms upwardly and downwardly at the front end, the method comprising:
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providing a front end loader bucket mounted to the loader arms at a front end of the front end loader, the front end loader raising, lowering and tilting the front end loader bucket such that the bucket has a first work mode of excavating, dumping and transporting earth material;
converting the front end loader bucket into the rake attachment by attaching an elongated rake having a support plate and a plurality of teeth, the support plate portion being arranged directly on and supported by a longitudinal edge of the front end loader bucket with the teeth projecting forwardly along the longitudinal edge of the front end loader bucket, the front end loader bucket in combination with the enlongate rake providing a second work mode of grading and raking earth material;
said teeth being selectively configured for raking and grading; and
grading and raking a soil surface with the enlongated rake in combination with the front end loader bucket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification