US4565485A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanical grab and scoop combination
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-12-19
•
Granted: 1986-01-21
•
Expires: 2003-12-19
Abstract
Abstract The grab (3) for handling material has two grab members (4, 5) one or both or which have tines (6, 7), the grab members being relatively movable to open or close the grab so that cohesive or rigid material can be grasped between the tines (6, 7). Additionally, one grab member (4) has side and bottom panels (21, 22) forming a scoop or bucket component and the other grab member (5) has a back panel (10) so that in one condition of the grab, e.g. when the grab members (4, 5) are closed, there is formed a complete scoop or bucket for scooping up granular or liquid material to be handled. In another embodiment, the grab member (5) may also have small side and bottom panels; in other examples the scoop may be provided wholly on one of the grab members. The grab avoids having to use separate devices respectively for grasping and for scooping operations. It is particularly suitable for mounting on a tractor vehicle, though the combined grab and scoop facility is applicable also to implements, utensils, tools or other apparatus, large or small, for materials handling.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas S. Wilman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:23
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D87/00; A01D87/0053; A01D87/0069; E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/28; E02F3/36; E02F3/40; E02F3/402; E02F3/404
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A material handling apparatus for use on a vehicle, said apparatus being capable of acting both as a grab and as a scoop without having additional components fitted or removed, said apparatus comprising a fork member comprising a support structure, a set of tines carried by said support structure so that, in use, the tines project forwardly with respect to said vehicle, and a grab member having a further set of tines projecting therefrom, wherein: (a) said grab member is pivotally mounted relative to the fork member so as to permit the fork and grab members to open and close thereby to bring the sets of tines carried thereby toward and away from each other so to grasp and accommodate material between them when they are at least partially together; (b) said tines of the two sets are offset from each other laterally relative to one another so that the fork and grab members can be substantially closed, with the tines of one set fitting between the tines of the other set; and (c) at least said grab member is provided with a fixed scoop means such that when the fork and grab members are closed a material scoop is formed, with at least a portion of said scoop means on said grab member overlying at least a portion of said set of tines on the fork member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A material handling apparatus for use on a vehicle, said apparatus being capable of acting both as a grab and as a scoop without having additional components fitted or removed, said apparatus comprising a fork member comprising a support structure, a set of tines carried by said support structure so that, in use, the tines project forwardly with respect to said vehicle, and a grab member having a further set of tines projecting therefrom, wherein: (a) said grab member is pivotally mounted relative to the fork member so as to permit the fork and grab members to open and close thereby to bring the sets of tines carried thereby toward and away from each other so to grasp and accommodate material between them when they are at least partially together; (b) said tines of the two sets are offset from each other laterally relative to one another so that the fork and grab members can be substantially closed, with the tines of one set fitting between the tines of the other set; and (c) at least said grab member is provided with a fixed scoop means such that when the fork and grab members are closed a material scoop is formed, with at least a portion of said scoop means on said grab member overlying at least a portion of said set of tines on the fork member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said scoop means is provided wholly on the grab member with the scoop having an opening facing away from the tines on said grab member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said scoop means comprises a scoop bottom panel, a scoop back panel, and scoop side panels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said scoop means comprises sheet structure portions of both said grab member and fork member, the complete scoop means being operatively formed when the fork and grab members are closed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said grab member has scoop side panels and a scoop bottom panel, and said fork member has a scoop back panel, such that when the fork and grab members are closed, the sides and bottom scoop panels on the grab member abut substantially against the back panel of the fork member thereby to operatively form a scoop facing outwardly from the back of the grab member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said grab member has scoop side panels and a scoop bottom panel, and said fork member has a scoop back panel with partial side panels and a partial bottom panel, such that when the fork and grab members are fully closed, the sides and botto scoop panels on the grab member substantially abut against the partial side and bottom panels of the fork member thereby to operatively form a complete scoop facing outwardly from the back of the grab member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus claimed in claim 1, in which said set of tines on each of the fork and grab members is arranged in a straight row, and in which said scoop means on the grab member comprises a bottom scoop panel generally with said set of tines on that member and side scoop panels disposed at each end of the row of tines and arranged generally perpendicularly to said bottom panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said fork and grab members are pivotally interconnected for opening and closing.
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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) | 1989-01-20 | 1989-07-22 | 1990-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-20 | 1993-07-22 | 1994-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-20 | 1997-07-22 | 1998-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |