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  Mini earth scraperUSPTO Application #: 20060230647Title: Mini earth scraper Abstract: A mini earth scraper comprised of a bucket which is open at its front end with a scraping edge at the bottom of its open front end, and an open frame having wheels at its back end, wherein the bucket is pivotally attached within the frame. In addition the mini earth scraper has two lifting arms, one of which is attached at one of its ends to one side of the bucket and at its other end to the frame adjacent that side of the bucket; and the other of the lifting arms is attached at one of its ends to the other side of the bucket and at its other end to the frame adjacent that other side of the bucket. In preferred operation the front of the frame is attached to a standard tractor three point hitch. The lifting arms are used to adjust the angle of the bucket relative to the frame, and the three point hitch raises or lowers the frame. When the frame is lowered to just above ground level, and the bucket is inclined at the correct angle by the lifting arms, the scraping edge will engage the ground, and as the frame is pulled forward (by the vehicle to which it is attached) the scraping edge will cut away protrusions not level with the ground's surface, and they will be scooped into the bucket by the forward motion of the bucket. Later the frame can be raised, and the bucket tilted forward to dump out the bucket's load. (end of abstract)
Agent: Gilbert Cornelsen - Rosenort, MB, CA Inventor: Gilbert Cornelsen USPTO Applicaton #: 20060230647 - Class: 037416000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Excavating, Scoop Or Excavating And Transporting Container, Supported On Vehicle Between Longitudinally Spaced Ground Supports, Condition Responsive Or Programmable Means Controls The Excavating Operation, Control Of Scoop Component (e.g., Elevator, Apron, Or Ejector) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060230647. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates generally to devices for scraping the ground, and more specifically the invention relates to small devices which can be pulled behind a tractor for the removal of bumps of earth and objects that are protruding up from the level surface of the ground BACKGROUND ART [0002] Independent motorized machines such as bulldozers and graders are often used to level areas of land. Other independent self propelled equipment, such as back hoes and front end loaders can also be used to remove lumps and bumps from the earth and level out a field or portion of a field. However, those are all relatively expensive pieces of equipment and many small to medium farm operations may not own any of those machines. In the prior art many less expensive dependent devices, designed to be pulled by a tractor or truck, have been invented for the purpose of scraping the ground to dislodge and remove protrusions of all kinds. [0003] The dependent prior art devices of which the inventor is aware all have in common that they are pulled behind a tractor (or other suitable motorized vehicle), and that they have a front ground engaging portion designed to separate any protrusions from the level surface of the ground. Of those prior art devices, many also have a bucket like container into which the separated matter is collected. The differences between the various prior art devices are in how they are built, for while they all seek to accomplish the same or similar ultimate objectives, many of them use different components and/or they assembled the components in differently. [0004] Most of the dependent prior art devices of which the inventor is aware also have in common a relative complexity of construction, and therefore an associated relative higher cost of production. Some of the dependent prior art devices of which the inventor is aware operate in a relatively complex manner, sometimes thereby making them more susceptible to breakage and sometimes less able to remove heavier or more strongly attached protrusions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] An object of the present invention was to design a mini earth scraper that would be strong enough to remove most anticipated intended bumps, rocks, and other protrusions on or connected to the ground. [0006] A second object of the present invention was to design a mini earth scraper that would be of a simple construction to keep production costs down. [0007] A third object of the present invention was to design a mini earth scraper that could be fully operated by a tractor having a standard category 1 three point hitch and a standard hydraulic control unit. [0008] A forth object of the invention was to design a mini earth scraper that accomplished the first three objects and was easily operable by a single person. [0009] The objects of the invention are accomplished by constructing a mini earth scraper comprised of: a bucket which is open at its front end, and which has a bottom, a back wall, two opposing side walls, side wall A and side wall B, and a scraping edge at the front outer end of its bottom; and a frame having wheels at its back end; and wherein the bucket is pivotally attached within the frame; and two lifting arms, lifting arm A and lifting arm B; and wherein one end of lifting arm A is attached to the portion of the frame adjacent side wall A, and the other end of lifting arm A is attached to side wall A; and wherein one end of lifting arm B is attached to the portion of the frame adjacent side wall B, and the other end of lifting arm B is attached to side wall B; and wherein the front portion of the frame can be attached to a standard three point hitch of a tractor. [0010] The open front bucket and the frame can each be made out of any desired thickness of metal, and therefore the mini earth scraper of the present invention can be built as strongly as its anticipated uses would require. It is of simple construction, thereby keeping production costs down. In addition, the present invention's mini earth scraper can be fully operated by a standard tractor having a category 1 three point hitch and a hydraulic control unit. The set up and operation of the invention is simple and can easily be done by a single person. If the lifting arms were mechanical and the invention was going to be pulled behind a vehicle without a tractor type standard three point hitch, then the User would simply lift and attach the front of the mini earth scraper's frame to the back of the intended pulling vehicle, setting it at the correct height for scraping the intended surface. The User would then adjust the bucket to its scraping position using the lifting arms. The User would then simply get into the vehicle and drive forward along the area to be scraped. When the bucket was filled to the desired level with that which had been scraped from the ground's surface, the User would stop the vehicle, adjust the mechanical lifting arms so that the bucket would not dump out its load when the pulling vehicle was next driven; then get back into the pulling vehicle, drive to the dumping area, and again using the lifting arms, dump the bucket's load. [0011] In the invention's preferred embodiments the lifting arms are hydraulic. In its preferred manner of use, the front of the mini earth scraper's frame is attached to a standard category 1 three point hitch of a tractor, and the invention's lifting arms, which as stated are preferably hydraulic, are operated by the tractor's standard hydraulic control unit. The User again simply lifts the front of the mini earth scraper's frame and attaches it to the standard three point hitch of the tractor, and then connects the hydraulic lines of the lifting arms to the tractor's hydraulic control unit. The User then gets in the tractor and using the tractor's three point hitch controls, easily adjusts the height of the frame as often and as exactingly as desired, and using the tractor's hydraulic control unit easily adjusts the angle of the bucket relative to the frame, as often and as exactingly as desired. The User can then as often as desired readjust the height of the frame and the angle of the bucket relative to the frame, to achieve any desired level of closeness and pressure of earth scraping, through the use of the tractor's three point hitch controls and hydraulic control unit's controls, which in a standard modern tractor are quickly and easily accessible to the driver while he is driving. Then when the bucket is filled to the desired level, the driver (using the three point hitch controls and the hydraulic control unit's controls) adjusts the height of its frame and the angle of the bucket so that its load will not spill out. The driver then drives to the dumping area, and adjusts the bucket frame's height, and the bucket's angle to dump its load. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mini earth scraper of the present invention, which also has a front gate, and which mini earth scraper is attached to a standard tractor three point hitch, and is in earth scraping position; [0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mini earth scraper shown in FIG. 1, which has been raised to a dumping position; [0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of a mini earth scraper of the present invention. [0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mini earth scraper of the present invention, which has a fixed position front gate, and which mini earth scraper is attached to a standard tractor three point hitch, and is in dumping position; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0016] A preferred embodiment of a mini earth scraper of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is made out of metal, which is the preferred material for construction of the invention. However, metal is not the only material out of which the invention can be made. The invention may also be construct out of suitable plastic, suitable fiberglass, suitable PVCs, or other suitable materials, or out of combinations of suitable materials, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. [0017] The FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment is made up of a bucket 10, which has an open front end 11, a floor (not shown), a back wall 12, a first side wall 13, a second side wall 14, an attached toothed scraping edge 23, which has a row of scraping teeth 24, an open frame 15 within which the bucket 10 is pivotally attached as at 16, two lifting arms 17, one on each side of the bucket 10, a bucket strengthening member 20, a front gate 21, and a means 25 by which the frame 15 can be attached to a standard tractor three point hitch 28. [0018] A bucket strengthening member of any type, including of the type shown at 20, is not an essential feature of the invention. However, it is a recommended feature, especially when designed and installed as at 20, because in addition to being a bucket strengthening member, it can have equipment mounted on it that allows the person using the invention to determine the degree of flatness of the ground. It may also be used for the mounting of other equipment, as determined by the person using the invention. [0019] The lifting arms in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are hydraulic. Each of the lifting arms is attached to the bucket 10, as at 19, and also attached to the frame 15, as at 29. The lifting arms need not be hydraulic, they can be mechanical, or of any other workable type; however, it is recommended to use hydraulic lifting arms, as they are cost effective and in most cases the mini earth scraper will be used behind a modern tractor that comes with a hydraulic control unit, thereby giving the User a quick, effective, and very easy way to power and control the lifting arms. In operation the hydraulic control lines 18 of the lifting arms would be connected to the tractor's hydraulic control unit's lines 30 through suitable couplings and extension lines, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Continue reading... Full patent description for Mini earth scraper Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Mini earth scraper patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Mini earth scraper or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Sidewalk grader apparatus and method Next Patent Application: Actuator device, particularly for an orange-peel bucket Industry Class: Excavating ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Mini earth scraper patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.88979 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf |
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