My Invention

[EddieWalker]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply to my other post about getting a patent. I honestly don't know if I'd qualify if I went that route, and even if I spent the money and somehow received it, there's no way I could inforce it anyway.

Too much money, heartache and effort for something that's very simple for anybody to make themselves. I've croped the pictures just in case I decide to sell the plans on how to build it, but plenty of you will grasp the concept as soon as you see the pics.

What is it?? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

For now I'm calling them Bucket Fingers.

They are an attachment that works off the existing hydraulics already on the front bucket. The bucket stays in place and is half of the operation. The fingers open and close just by opening and closing the bucket.

The advantage and attraction of this for me was not having to run any addition hydraulics. No hoses, no control lever, no quick connects and no hose lines. The amount of steel is minimal and all flat stock. There's nothing fancy here, just a few holes for pivot points, some cutting and welding. LOTS of welding!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The bucket is tilted down so it doesn't pick up any dirt, but will go right over a log or brush pile. Than you close the bucket and the fingers close at the same time, holding everything they grab in the bucket.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

My tractor has a one yard bucket with a fair amount of lift. I can handle most trees I come across.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

I wont go into details, but another thing that I really wanted in this was to be able to put it on and take it of without any effort. Regular grapples require the bucket comes off. That would be a hassle that I wanted to avoid. The other type of grapple requires attaching it to the bucket and weighs quite a bit. Not impossible, but a pain to take off and put on.

This comes apart in pices and is easily installed and removed.

The final advantage is it's around $200 for all the materials!!

Eddie

 

[PILOON]

Ok, I got the general idea.
Hmmm.....now to play with mine and see if I can figure 'how to'
And darn, I just bought a selector valve and cylinder!
As I see it, it's all in the geometry.

NB, while I did not post, I followed all the trend with great interest.
Also had a neighbor that was a 'patent' freek, he had some 30 or so back 10-20 yrs.
I can echo lots of comments as he never made even enough to cover costs
While he had many good ideas, often production or tooling costs placed the item out of reach to the consumer.

Now a days any good idea that can enjoy volume will be copied in China where patents don't count.

For 'us types' a nitch market is the only frontier left.
Got to be little enough demand to keep away the cloning/copy types.

 

[Renze]

Eddie you dont have to tell me more, even with the chopped pictures i know exactly what the idea is...

It's smart thinking, though i still wont change my mind on the hydraulic brush grab i want to build.. I have Euro standard quick attach to my front loader anyways, and 2 external functions so exchange is easy.

 

[HGM]

Very good idea Eddie..... Simple and effective.... I'd make em for local sale /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, that way you could at least recoup your time and money making it and give practice perfecting the design /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, maybe even come up with other ideas.... Just make customers sign a waiver releasing you from their stupidity...

 

[Chairman]

Eddie,

Where was the initial thread for this invention? I'd like to find it if you can let me know, sounds interesting, and I may even get you to build me one.

The one thing, though, is that having a diverter setup is so handy for other attachments, you might find that at the cost of your thing, if you were to build and sell them, may be too high. Glad it is working for you.

I have a patent in a completly different "art" and it is just good to be able to say you have a patent, even if it doesn't do you any good. The other thing is with a little research on writing them up, they aren't that expensive to obtain. Plus, it could be that you might get an offer from a mfgr for the idea. They could produce something this simple WAY cheaper than you could, so it could actually be marketable for them.

You have one year from public disclosure of your idea to write up at least a provisional patent. After that period, you lose the ability to patent it.

 

[slowzuki]

Works just like a clamshell drag bucket or pulp loader. One action is xfered to the other set of jaws. Nifty idea, I'm sure i've seen that on old timely cable powered equipment before they had hydraulics.

 

[Renze]

The basic functioning is exactly the same as this bucket: Think of the right part being the backhoe loader bucket, and the left part being the grab.
The basic principle is old as the road to Rome, but the application is fresh thinking /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[greatrandini]

The prob with making them and selling them is that without a doubt someone will use it for something stupid and get hurt. Then instead of recouping a few bucks u lose ur life style!