Bucket level

• US 6,662,480 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy J. Stevens
• Original Assignee: Timothy J. Stevens
• Inventors: Stevens, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLORIO, KRISTINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US10/230,013
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 172/810, 172/817, 172/811, 374/44, 374/45, 379/01
• US Class Current: 37/444
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/4075 Dump doors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/815 Blades; Levelling or scarifying tools E02F3/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/305 Arrangements for breaking-up hard ground E02F5/32 takes precedence; hammer-type tools E02F3/966; breaking-up paving of roads or the like E01C23/12; breaking-up subaqueous rock E02B3/02

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for landscaping or leveling a ground surface wherein the apparatus is selectively configurable to adopt a bucket or a leveling bar configuration. The apparatus is mountable to a motive power source such as a skid steer loader, tractor, or the like. The apparatus may have a frame substantially configured as a bucket with a floor having front, middle, and rear sections, with the front and rear sections being fixedly attached to the side walls and the middle section being movable relative to the side walls to raise it above the front and rear sections to form a leveling bar. The apparatus may also have a pivotable door or gate that opens when the middle floor section is raised to create a material flow-through during operation.

Claims

1. Apparatus for preparing a landscaping comprising:

a frame having a pair of side walls;

a rear wall including a gate mounted for pivoting between open and closed positions; and

a floor including front, middle, and rear floor sections, said middle floor section being mounted for movement from a closed position to an open position upwardly relative to said front and rear floor sections,

wherein when said gate is in its closed position and said middle floor section is in its closed position said apparatus may be used as a bucket and when said gate and said middle floor section are open said apparatus may be used as a leveling bar.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means for attaching said apparatus to a motive power source.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means for moving said gate between its closed and fully open positions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 and further including means for opening and closing said middle floor section.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means for opening and closing said middle floor section.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means for substantially simultaneously opening said gate and said middle floor section.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said floor sections includes an agitator for tumbling materials passing thereover.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said middle floor section comprises a base member and a pair of end plates attached to said base member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each said side wall includes a pair of spaced apart guide plates for slidably receiving therebetween an end plate of said middle floor section, said guide plates being provided to guide said middle floor section as it is being moved into its open position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said front and rear floor sections includes a front blade edge.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one of said front and rear floor sections includes a rear blade edge.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said front and rear floor sections each includes a base member and each base member includes front and rear blade edges.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of said front and rear floor sections includes an agitator attached to said base member for tumbling materials passing thereover.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means for incrementally opening said gate and middle floor section.