Lip assembly

Abstract

A lip assembly is disclosed. The lip assembly comprises a lip having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front portion, and a rear portion. A plurality of holes is disposed between the front portion and the rear portion. The lip also includes support members. Each support member is disposed adjacent to a hole within the plurality of holes and is positioned to inhibit movement of a tooth assembly coupled to the hole. A plurality of tooth assemblies extend away from the lip and are respectively coupled to the lip via the plurality of holes. The lip assembly may be used with an excavation bucket body.

1 - 26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . A tooth wherein the tooth is adapted for use in a tooth assembly that is used with a lip having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front portion, a rear portion, a plurality of holes disposed between the front portion and the rear portion and extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, and a plurality of support members, wherein each support member is disposed adjacent to a hole from the plurality of holes and inhibits lateral movement of the tooth assembly when the tooth assembly is coupled to the hole.  
   
   
       28 . The tooth of  claim 27  wherein the lip is U-shaped.  
   
   
       29 . The tooth of  claim 27  wherein the plurality of holes is a first plurality of holes, and wherein the lip further comprises a second plurality of holes disposed at the front portion of the lip.  
   
   
       30 . The tooth of  claim 27  wherein the front portion includes projections and valleys, and wherein each of the second plurality of holes is disposed between adjacent valleys.  
   
   
       31 . The tooth of  claim 27  wherein the tooth assembly comprises the tooth, an adapter, and an adapter shroud, wherein the adapter shroud is disposed between the adapter and the tooth.  
   
   
       32 . The tooth of  claim 27  wherein the lip comprises steel.  
   
   
       33 . The tooth of  claim 27  wherein each hole of the plurality of holes is disposed between a pair of support members, and wherein one tooth assembly is received between the pair of support members.  
   
   
       34 . The tooth of  claim 27  wherein the support members are ribs.  
   
   
       35 . The tooth of  claim 27  wherein the support members are disposed at the lower surface of the lip.  
   
   
       36 . A tooth assembly that is used with a lip having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front portion, a rear portion, a plurality of holes disposed between the front portion and the rear portion and extending from the upper surface to the lower surface, and a plurality of support members, wherein each support member is disposed adjacent to a hole from the plurality of holes and inhibits lateral movement of the tooth assembly when the tooth assembly is coupled to the hole.  
   
   
       37 . The tooth assembly of  claim 36  wherein the lip is U-shaped.  
   
   
       38 . The tooth assembly of  claim 36  wherein the plurality of holes is a first plurality of holes, and wherein the lip further comprises a second plurality of holes disposed at the front portion of the lip.  
   
   
       39 . The tooth assembly of  claim 36  wherein the front portion includes projections and valleys, and wherein each of the second plurality of holes is disposed between adjacent valleys.  
   
   
       40 . The tooth assembly of  claim 36  wherein the tooth assembly comprises a tooth, an adapter, and an adapter shroud, wherein the adapter shroud is disposed between the adapter and the tooth.  
   
   
       41 . The tooth assembly of  claim 36  wherein the lip comprises steel.  
   
   
       42 . The tooth assembly of  claim 36  wherein each hole of the plurality of holes is disposed between a pair of support members, and wherein one tooth assembly is received between the pair of support members.  
   
   
       43 . The tooth assembly of  claim 36  wherein the support members are ribs.  
   
   
       44 . The tooth assembly of  claim 36  wherein the support members are disposed at the lower surface of the lip.