US Patent 7617619 Prehensile bucket attachment

An prehensile excavator bucket includes a bucket and a reinforced thumb hingedly affixed to the bucket and that is controlled in conjunction with the bucket for purposes including seizing very heavy items. The thumb may be a single internally-static unit having multiple tines reinforced with metal tubes. The prehensile bucket may have a quick couple receptor so that it can be quickly attached to and detached from an excavator stick with a quick couple mechanism. Because the thumb is permanently attached to the bucket, the thumb and bucket together form a single unit strong enough for gripping and moving very heavy items.