FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
“DIPPER ATTACHMENT”
CASE NEW HOLLAND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT (INDIA) PVT. LTD. of the address: BOOMRANG, B-1, 207, Chandivali Farm Road, Andheri (East) Mumbai -400 072, India. Nationality:- India.
The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it has to be performed:

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an advance geometry of the shield of dipper namely dipper attachment. In particular, the dipper attachment protects the dipper from damage or direct impact of loaded material like stones, concrete or other hard and sharp edged material that hits the dipper while folding/closing bucket to hold material.
This dipper attachment also acts as a Shock absorber generated during backhoe or excavation operation. Thus dampens the shocks & vibrations (when loaded material hit the dipper) passed on to Cabin/operator through dipper-boom; and hence enhance machine ergonomics & overall life of Dipper, Boom, & machine.
Also, the Dipper attachment enhances material handling during back-hoe operation and acts as a top-cap to bucket, securing loaded material from spilling out
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Backhoe Loader has been the most well-known machine on every earth excavating job site all over the world because of its versatile characteristics. Backhoes are well known earth moving vehicles particularly suited for digging holes and ditches in the ground and demolition of the structures.
Backhoes have multiple uses in performing excavating & load handling functions. The dippers were used to enhance material handling by addition of several attachments on the dipper. Those attachments were made in such a way that they obtain a position opposite to the bucket or on the bucket itself.
In backhoe operation bucket has to carry hard materials & to scoop out material, bucket need to be closed so as to carry maximum possible material. During this closing operation material

impacts/hits the dipper. This cause wears & dents on dipper & finally results in failure of dipper; or reduced life of the dipper/machine
In some cases, a backhoe or excavator is used for transporting heavy objects to or from a work side. Objects that are often transported in this manner include structural components, logs, boulders, blocks, big size tube/pipes and the like.
Several patents discuss about the various attachments positioned close to the buckets for better gripping purposes like prior art mentioned herein below:
In a prior art US4803788, a pivot cantilever replaced the link plates, that forms a movable lever arm against objects can be clamped by the bucket.
A bucket arm and a bucket arm reinforcement plate were arranged next to the bucket arm in Prior Art CN202416400. According to this utility model long weld joints at both sides of the bucket arm reinforcement plate are avoided, this caused reduction in welding length and cracking probability of the weld joints.
Again in a prior art US56778332, an attachment opposite to the bucket, carrying an arm, having an elongated member receiving and positioning an implement opposite the open side of the bucket during a complete sequence of operation of the boom and bucket.
Similarly, a prior art US4407626, disclosed a gripping device to be attached to a boom of a back hoe. It was positioned to be opposite member of the backhoe when the gripping device is in position on the boom.
Similar to above 3 prior arts, the prior art FR2849008, relates to a lifting accessory to transform an excavator equipped with a bucket gripper by adding on fixed fork with teeth connected by a transverse bar. The forked clip is comprises a plurality of teeth arranged so that the closing movement of the cup opposes a clamping force on the fixed clamp.

US7117618, a tracked excavator has a boom stick portion on which both an excavating bucket and a hydraulic breaker are mounted for hydraulically driven a pivotal movement between first and second limit positions. The bucket and the breaker may be operated for digging operations & material breaking operations respectively.
US5927933 also focuses on material handling operation, by a retractable thumb for a bucket, which has a bucket arm with an inboard & an outboard portion.
US4517755, used claw or rake as an attachment tool. The attachment is for clearing undergrowth and timber & consists of spaced parallel tines mounted onto a support means that is affixed to the work arm of a machine. The undergrowth and timber are held by the tines while unwanted material such as soil, passes through the space between the tines.
US5245770, weight reduction in comparison to conventional steel dipper stick is provided. The dipper stick comprises a structure including an outer casing member formed of high strength polymeric composite materials, an inner filler comprising polyurethane foam disposed inside the outer casing member, & a plurality of bushing holders made of polymeric composite material & disposed at connecting portions of the structure.
In majority of prior art cited, only enhancement of lifting operation, weight reduction of dipper, material handling are addressed. They neither disclose protection of dipper from the direct impact of loaded material nor meant to absorb shocks generated during backhoe or excavation operation.
Therefore, there is a requirement of a shield or guard which protects dipper, resulting in increased life of dipper as well as productivity by enhancing material handling. In addition guard shields entire surface of dipper prone to damage/dent (including bucket pivot area i.e. cylindrical surface of dipper).
The present invention shields the dipper from the direct impact of loaded material in backhoe operation. This shield known as dipper attachment, during trenching lower surface of the

dipper, makes it not prone to dents or cracks by protecting it from hard & sharp edged materials. The dipper attachment is a solid mechanical shield of dipper that also assists material handling during back-hoe operation. This dipper attachment acts as a shield dipper assembly i.e. an additional plate mounted at the lower face of the dipper for protecting dipper from damage or direct impact of loaded material like- Stones, concrete or other hard & sharp edged materials that hits the dipper while folding/closing bucket to hold material. Dipper attachment also enhances material handling during backhoe operation. This dipper attachment further increases & improves material handling during B-Hoe Bucket operation. Further, the new dipper attachment could be made of high abrasion resistance plastic (PVC) & will be a service part. The dipper attachment can be a bolted; snap fit or clamped assembly & hence a serviceable component i.e. in case of damage can be replaced easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the present invention discloses a dipper attachment for attachment to an excavator having a dipper, a boom and a bucket pivotally mounted to said boom, said dipper attachment comprising, at least one elongated plate disposed on said dipper wherein a gap is maintained between said elongated plate and said dipper allowing a spring back action against the exerted load.
In another embodiment, the gap maintained in range of (5-12mm) with all the profile/shapes viz. - S-Type shape; convex profile; concave type shape, Z-Shape, G- Type shape, inflected plate etc.
In another embodiment, the dipper attachment is a top cap to bucket for securing all material loaded.
In another embodiment, the ends of said dipper attachment are bolted with said dipper.
In another embodiment, the ends of the dipper attachment are welded with said dipper.

In another embodiment, the dipper attachment is made of several possible combination of metal (Spring Steel; High Tensile Strength Steel, High Strength Carbon Reinforced Plastic; etc.) & Metal in combination of Nylon/Rubber/Other High resilient pads.
In another embodiment, the ends of the dipper attachment are disposed over the resilient pads which are further attached to the dipper.
In another embodiment, the dipper attachment is padded with high resilient pads.
In another embodiment, the pads snap-fits or clamped inserted in the dipper attachment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows the dipper attachment disposed over the dipper.
Fig. 2 shows the dipper attachment with resilient pads.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the dipper attachment having resilient pads snap-fits inserted to dipper attachment.
Fig. 4 shows the working of the dipper attachment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the dipper attachment (20) which includes an attachment for engineering vehicle, particularly for a backhoe loader or an excavator. A backhoe loader

consists of a bucket (14), the dipper (10) to which the bucket (14) is attached, a dipper (10) having an attached plate namely the dipper attachment (20).
Figure 1 shows the dipper attachment (20) which is disposed over the dipper and preferably inflected to a particular angle allows better gripping of the material during back hoe or excavation operation. The dipper attachment (20) is a preferably longitudinally aligned on the dipper (10) arm of a boom of a backhoe loader having a hydraulically operated bucket (14) carried for pivotal movement on a free end of the dipper (10). The dipper attachment (20) is attached to the dipper (10) with any known means in the prior art preferably with the bolts (24) or in some cases snap fit or clamped or the dipper attachment (20) is welded to the dipper (10) of the back hoe loader. The dipper attachment (20) is bolted on dipper (10) in such a way that there is a gap between the dipper attachment (20) and the dipper (10). The gap allows spring back motion to the dipper attachment (20). This dampens the jerk getting transferred to the dipper (10), boom & finally to the cabin/operator.
In another embodiment, the gap is maintained in range of (5-12mm) all the profile/shapes viz. -S-Type shape; convex profile; concave type shape, Z-Shape, etc. are going to serve the same purpose which is driven & derived by application or material to handle. For example – if we need to handle/transport a Cement/Concrete Pipe then the shape need to be a clamp type; i.e. a ‘Concave Shape dipper attachment’. However, only the optimum profile of the dipper attachment which would be most versatile & could handle variety of materials; is shown in the figures enclosed.
In backhoe operation, bucket (14) has to carry hard & sharp edged materials like stone, concrete etc. and to scoop out material (to load bucket (14)), bucket (14) needs to be closed to carry maximum possible material. During this Bucket (14) gets close towards the dipper (10) and hard material impact/hit the lower surface of dipper (10). These causes wear & dent on dipper (10); cracks & finally results in failure of dipper (10). Sometimes impact is found to be as high as being capable of damaging dipper (10). The spring back action of the dipper attachment (20) lowers the impact and increases the life of dipper (10). The dipper attachment (20) is also

providing the reinforcement to the dipper (10); & hence acts as an aid to dipper (10) Strength & stiffness
The dipper attachment (20) acts as a plate to shield dipper (10) from direct impact of loaded material in B-Hoe bucket (14) & also assist in gripping material during backhoe operation. The new serviceable and immovable dipper attachment (20) is longitudinally aligned on the dipper (10) arm of a boom of a backhoe having a hydraulically operated bucket (14) carried for pivotal movement on a free end of the boom. The severity & occurrence of the Load (Boulder/Rock/Granules/etc.) hitting & damaging the Dipper (10) is much higher than the requirement of the gripper. The design would allow a serviceable guard to be replaced in case of damage during sever backhoe operation. The geometry, fastening arrangement, serviceable provision and a kind of universal gripper is used to assist the backhoe bucket (14) loading in both general & specific operations. The dipper attachment (20) could be made of high abrasion resistance plastic (PVC) and will be a service part. This design also allows us to use variety of material based upon the material to handle like- boulders, Pipes, concrete blocks, debris, steel structures, coal, etc.
During trenching, lower surface of the dipper (10) is prone to hit the hard/sharp edged rocks or other hard materials & those creates dent or cracks in dipper (10); even damage the dipper (10) completely. Also, some attachments other than Bucket (14) can't get close towards dipper (10) completely & their edges hit the lower face of the dipper (10) causing dipper (10) failure.
An additional Plate prevents direct hitting of material to dipper’s exposed lower surface. The dipper attachment (20) can be bolted assembly & hence in-case of damage can be replaced easily. The dipper attachment (20) could be made of several possible combinations of metal & other high tensile strength & abrasion resistance materials. Visualize – One piece formed metal designed (spring steel, alloys, Spring Steel; High Tensile Strength Steel, High Strength Carbon Reinforced Plastic; etc.) and Formed metallic dipper attachment (20) combined/pasted/fitted with high resilient and high abrasion resistance material pad (22); over targeted surface (surface prone to damage/impact). Like- Metal in combination with Nylon/Rubber/Other high resilient & high abrasion resistance material pads (22).

The dipper attachment (20) shields the critical area of the dipper (10) lower face where it is more prone to get hit with external materials. As the dipper (10) attachment (20) bears all the hits/impact loads therefore, it prevents any damage to the dipper (10). The dipper (10) will be completely isolated from rock, etc. material penetration during material handling & hence dipper attachment (20) gives longer life to dipper (10).
According to another aspect of the invention, one of the materials could be spring steel; commonly used in similar applications viz.: manufacture of metal swords used for stage combat due to its resistance to snapping or shattering; aircraft's landing gear due to its ability to absorb the shock from landing. Spring steel is one of the most popular materials due to its pliability and resilience and hence makes it suitable for the guard application too. The Spring Material quality will ensure to have more effective vibration dampening as a single component. Also as an assembly dipper attachment (20) can be made with a provision to assemble flexible but high strength 2-6 mm thick Nylon/Rubber/Other high resilient & high abrasion resistance material pads (22) to deliver fine quality prevention from abrasion & vibrations.
Figure 2 shows the dipper attachment (20) with pad (22) pasted or snaps fitted or assembled over dipper attachment (20). One of the materials is ProDrive ® (Brand Name); a Canvas Phenolic Cushion Pads provide tremendous impact resistance and stability while absorbing shock. Canvas phenolic is made from a medium weave cotton cloth fabric and mixed with phenolic resins to provide good wear resistance, low moisture absorption, and good mechanical strength at economical cost. The several possible combination of metal (Spring Steel; High Tensile Strength Steel, High Strength Carbon Reinforced Plastic; etc.) & Metal in combination with Nylon/Rubber/Other high resilient & high abrasion resistance material pads (22) can be used. The combination of high strength metal guard having anti-Vibration & scratch abrasion resistance material will make it even more premium guard in terms of performance & appealing.
The Nylon/Rubber/Other high resilient & high abrasion resistance material pads (22) can be pasted with the help of adhesive. In other embodiment, a pad (22) having snap-fit arrangement i.e. moulded in pad (22) itself that fits/assemble on dipper attachment (20) holes/edge etc.

The immovable dipper attachment (20) is longitudinally aligned to the lower part of dipper (10). The dipper attachment (20) is bolted or in some cases Snap fit or clamped design assembly and hence in case of damage can be replaced easily.
The dipper attachment (20) increases the dipper’s life by several folds as dipper attachment (20) shields the dipper (10) completely. It addresses the dipper (10) failure generally observed in Loader Backhoes or Excavator machines and hence saves a lot on warranty cost & corresponding cost. 3-6 mm thickness add further strength & stiffness to dipper (10) hence During operations like trenching dipper (10) surface will not be exposed to hard rough surface & hence no wear or penetration to dipper (10). It assists to grip the material while operating material during backhoe operation. Fewer material losses due to better grip & hence increase machine productivity.
Figure 3 shows the side view of the dipper attachment (20) having resilient pads(22) snap-fits inserted to dipper attachment (20) and also the dipper attachment (20) is disposed over the pads(22) which is further attached with the dipper (10) which gives higher shock resistant with respect to the load applied. The dipper attachment (20) is made to absorb shocks getting transferred to Loader backhoe or Excavator structure to enhance the machine ergonomics & overall life of machine.
Figure 4 shows the working of the dipper attachment (20). The dipper (10) during backhoe operation or in trenching operation swings from up to down or vice versa; material gets trapped between the dipper attachment (20) and the bucket (14). With its advance geometry, it acts as a top cap to bucket (14) securing all material loaded to prevent fall off (spill out).Hence reduces the material loss by 60% approximately. The flexible, serviceable and immovable dipper attachment (20) due to the gap between dipper (10) and guard adapt itself to any shape according to the material in the bucket (14).
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skills to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will

understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations and equivalents of the specific embodiments method and details herein.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
List of Reference Numerals
Dipper- 10
Piston -18
Cylinder-16
Rods/Bucket Linkage-12
Bucket-14
Dipper Attachment-20
Dipper Attachment Resilient Pad-22
Bolts-24
Bolts Holes-24b

We claim:
1. A dipper attachment for attachment to an excavator having a dipper or a Loader backhoe having dipper, a boom and a bucket pivotally mounted to said boom, said dipper attachment comprising at least one elongated plate disposed on said dipper wherein a gap is maintained between said elongated plate and said dipper allowing a spring back action against the exerted load.
2. The dipper attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dipper attachment is a top cap to bucket for securing all material loaded.
3. The dipper attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein ends of said dipper attachment is bolted with said dipper.
4. The dipper attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ends of said dipper attachment are snap fit with said dipper.
5. The dipper attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ends of said dipper attachment are clamped with said dipper.
6. The dipper attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ends of said dipper attachment are welded with said dipper.
7. The dipper attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dipper attachment is made of high abrasion resistance plastic having high tensile strength.
8. The dipper attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dipper attachment is padded with high resilient and high abrasion resistance pads.
9. The dipper attachment as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pad is clamped with said dipper attachment.

10. The dipper attachment as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pad is adhesive bonded with said dipper attachment.
11. The dipper attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dipper attachment is made up of spring steel.