Front-mounted scoop for a vehicle

Abstract

A front-mounted scoop assembly for a vehicle includes a first frame mounted to the vehicle, a second frame movably supported by the first frame and lockable to the first frame, a scoop pivotally coupled to the second frame and lockable to the second frame, and a scoop lift lever accessible to a driver of the vehicle while driving the vehicle. The scoop lift lever is operatively coupled to the second frame to move the second frame relative to the first frame. The scoop assembly also includes a scoop pivot lever that is accessible to a driver of the vehicle while driving the vehicle. The scoop pivot lever is operatively coupled to the scoop to pivot the scoop relative to the second frame.

1 . A front-mounted scoop assembly for a vehicle comprising: 
 a first frame mounted to the vehicle;    a second frame movably supported by the first frame and lockable to the first frame;    a scoop pivotally coupled to the second frame and lockable to the second frame;    a scoop lift lever accessible to a driver of the vehicle while driving the vehicle, the scoop lift lever operatively coupled to the second frame to move the second frame relative to the first frame; and    a scoop pivot lever accessible to a driver of the vehicle while driving the vehicle, the scoop pivot lever operatively coupled to the scoop to pivot the scoop relative to the second frame.    
   
   
       2 . The front-mounted scoop of  claim 1 , further comprising a scoop pivot handle disposed on the scoop pivot lever, wherein engaging the scoop pivot handle releases the scoop from a loaded position, the scoop configured to pivot to a dumped position when released.  
   
   
       3 . The front-mounted scoop of  claim 1 , wherein the first frame is removably mounted to the vehicle.  
   
   
       4 . The front-mounted scoop of  claim 1 , wherein the scoop lift lever is pivotally connected to the first frame.  
   
   
       5 . The front-mounted scoop of  claim 1 , wherein the scoop pivot lever is pivotally connected to the first frame.  
   
   
       6 . The front-mounted scoop of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a scoop pivot bar pivotally coupled to the first frame and connected to the scoop pivot lever;    a first scoop actuation link connected to the scoop pivot bar and pivotable therewith;    a second scoop actuation link pivotally connected to the first scoop actuation link at a pivot end and releasably connected to a top portion of the scoop;    a scoop pivot handle disposed on the scoop pivot lever and operatively coupled to the pivot end of the second scoop actuation link;    wherein movement of the scoop pivot lever pivots the scoop through the scoop pivot bar, the first scoop actuation link and the second scoop actuation link;    wherein engaging the scoop pivot handle releases the connection between the pivot end of the second scoop actuation link and the top portion of the scoop; and    wherein the scoop is pivotally biased toward a dumped position so that the scoop pivots to the dumped position when the scoop pivot handle is engaged.    
   
   
       7 . The front-mounted scoop of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a scoop lift bracket pivotally supported by a side of the first frame and being connected to the second frame, the scoop lift bracket having a sleeve for housing an end portion of the scoop lift lever;    a slot disposed in the side of the first frame, the slot including a plurality of notches disposed along an edge thereof;    a lift lock pin disposed on the scoop lift bracket, a tip of the lift lock pin disposed in the slot and being spring biased toward the edge of the slot having the notches;    a scoop lift handle disposed on the scoop lift lever, the scoop lift handle coupled to the lift lock pin;    wherein the lift lock pin is engageable with any one of the notches in the slot to lock the second frame relative to the first frame; and    wherein engaging the handle disengages the lift lock pin from a notch to release the second frame from the first frame.    
   
   
       8 . A scoop assembly to mount in front of a vehicle, the scoop assembly comprising: 
 a first frame attached to the front of the vehicle;    a second frame movably coupled to the first frame, the second frame movable between a lifted position and a lowered position, the second frame lockable in the lifted position;    a scoop pivotally coupled to the second frame, the scoop pivotable between a loaded position and a dumped position, the scoop lockable relative to the second frame in the loaded position;    a scoop lift lever disposed on a first side of a driver position of the vehicle, the scoop lift lever operatively coupled to the second frame, the scoop lift lever movable between a first position corresponding to the lifted position of the second frame and a second position corresponding to the lowered position of the second frame, the scoop lift lever including a lift lock handle to unlock the second frame from the lifted position; and    a scoop pivot lever disposed on a second side of the driver position of the vehicle, the scoop pivot lever operatively coupled to the scoop, the scoop pivot lever being movable between a lowered position corresponding to the dumped position of the scoop when the scoop is coupled to the scoop pivot lever, and a raised position corresponding to the loaded position of the scoop when the scoop is coupled to the scoop pivot lever, the scoop pivot lever including a pivot lock handle operatively coupled to the scoop to unlock the scoop from the loaded position.    
   
   
       9 . The scoop assembly of  claim 8 , wherein engaging the scoop pivot handle releases the scoop from a loaded position, the scoop configured to pivot to a dumped position when released.  
   
   
       10 . The scoop assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first frame is removably mounted to the vehicle.  
   
   
       11 . The scoop assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the scoop lift lever is pivotally connected to the first frame.  
   
   
       12 . The scoop assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the scoop pivot lever is pivotally connected to the first frame.  
   
   
       13 . The scoop assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a scoop pivot bar pivotally coupled to the first frame and connected to the scoop pivot lever;    a first scoop actuation link connected to the scoop pivot bar and pivoting therewith;    a second scoop actuation link pivotally connected to the first scoop actuation link at a pivot end and releasably connected to a top portion of the scoop;    wherein the scoop pivot handle is operatively coupled to the pivot end of the second scoop actuation link;    wherein movement of the scoop pivot lever pivots the scoop through the scoop pivot bar, the first scoop actuation link and the second scoop actuation link;    wherein engaging the scoop pivot handle releases the connection between the pivot end of the second scoop actuation link and the top portion of the scoop; and    wherein the scoop is pivotally biased toward the dumped position so that the scoop pivots to the dumped position when the scoop pivot handle is engaged.    
   
   
       14 . The scoop assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a scoop lift bracket pivotally supported by a portion of the first frame and being connected to the second frame, the lift bracket having a sleeve for housing an end portion of the scoop lift lever;    a slot disposed in the portion of the first frame, the slot including a plurality of notches disposed along an edge thereof;    a lift lock pin disposed on the scoop lift bracket, a tip of the lift lock pin disposed in the slot and being spring biased toward the edge of the slot having the notches;    wherein the scoop lift handle is operatively coupled to the lift lock pin;    wherein the lift lock pin is engageable with any one of the notches in the slot to lock the second frame relative to the first frame; and    wherein engaging the handle disengages the lift lock pin from a notch to release the second frame from the first frame.    
   
   
       15 . A vehicle comprising: 
 a frame movably supported by a front portion of the vehicle and lockable from moving relative to the front portion;    a scoop pivotally coupled to the frame and lockable from pivoting relative to the frame;    a scoop lift lever accessible to a driver of the vehicle while driving the vehicle, the scoop lift lever coupled to the frame to move the frame relative to front portion of the vehicle; and    a scoop pivot lever accessible to a driver of the vehicle while driving the vehicle, the scoop pivot lever coupled to the scoop to pivot the scoop relative to the frame.    
   
   
       16 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , further comprising a scoop pivot handle disposed on the scoop pivot lever, wherein engaging the scoop pivot handle releases the scoop from a loaded position, the scoop configured to pivot to a dumped position when released.  
   
   
       17 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the scoop lift lever is pivotally connected to the front portion of the vehicle.  
   
   
       18 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the scoop pivot lever is pivotally connected to the front portion of the vehicle.  
   
   
       19 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a scoop pivot bar pivotally coupled to the front portion of the vehicle and connected to the scoop pivot lever;    a first scoop actuation link connected to the scoop pivot bar and pivotable therewith;    a second scoop actuation link pivotally connected to the first scoop actuation link at a pivot end and releasably connected to a top portion of the scoop;    a scoop pivot handle disposed on the scoop pivot lever and operatively coupled to the pivot end of the second scoop actuation link;    wherein movement of the scoop pivot lever pivots the scoop through the scoop pivot bar, the first scoop actuation link and the second scoop actuation link;    wherein engaging the scoop pivot handle releases the connection between the pivot end of the second scoop actuation link and the top portion of the scoop; and    wherein the scoop is pivotally biased toward a dumped position so that the scoop pivots to the dumped position when the scoop pivot handle is engaged.    
   
   
       20 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a scoop lift bracket pivotally supported by a side of the front portion of the vehicle and being connected to the frame, the scoop lift bracket having a sleeve for housing an end portion of the scoop lift lever;    a slot disposed in the side of the front portion of the vehicle, the slot including a plurality of notches disposed along an edge thereof;    a lift lock pin disposed on the scoop lift bracket, a tip of the lift lock pin disposed in the slot and being spring biased toward the edge of the slot having the notches;    a scoop lift handle disposed on the scoop lift lever, the scoop lift handle coupled to the lift lock pin;    wherein the lift lock pin is engageable with any one of the notches in the slot to lock the frame relative to front portion of the vehicle; and    wherein engaging the handle disengages the lift lock pin from a notch to release the frame from the front portion of the vehicle.