EP0838994A1

EP0838994A1 - Combined rake and gathering device

Info

Publication number: EP0838994A1
Application number: EP96914487A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Göran Jysky
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-04-18
Filing date: 1996-04-18
Publication date: 1998-05-06
Also published as: SE9501395D0; WO1996035322A1

Abstract

A combined rake and pick-up device comprising a handle (1) and a rake head (2) attached to the bottom end of the handle. The rake head (2) includes resilient tines (4) whose free ends are angled to form prongs (5). The device also includes a press head (9) which can be swung relative to the rake head (32) so as to firmly grip raked material (13) between the press head (9) and the rake head (2). The inventive device is mainly characterized in that the press head (9) is attached to the handle (1) so as to enable raked material (13) to be gripped between the press head and the rear side of the rake head (2). The press head (9) will preferably have the form of a second rake-like head which includes resilient tines (11) having prongs (12) which face towards the rear side of the first rake head (2).

Description

Combined rake and gathering device

The present invention relates to a combined rake and pick-up device, comprising a handle, a first rake head which is fitted to the bottom end of the handle and which includes resilient tines whose free ends are angled to form rake prongs, and a press head which can be swung relative to the rake head such as to grip a pile of raked material that has been gathered between the press head and the rake head.

When raking-up leaves and grass, which often includes twigs and other scrap, such as plastic mugs discarded in conjunc¬ tion with different sporting events, etc., the work involved in picking-up and loading or bagging the raked material is often time-consuming and dirty work. The heap of raked material is often picked-up by pressing the pile against the rake head with one hand.

Another problem encountered with conventional rakes is that leaves, long grass, twigs and other material tend to fasten in the tines and prongs of the rake and must be removed therefrom by hand.

The use of combined rakes and pick-up devices has already been proposed in the art; see for instance U.S. Patent Specifications 2,746,234, 2,891,374, 3, 095, 682 and 3, 601, 966. The known devices are comprised of a conventional rake head and a press head having the form of a second rake head and intended for coaction with the conventional rake head. The second rake head of all of these known rakes is disposed on the underside of the rake with the rake prongs extending in a direction opposite to the standard rake prongs.

In order to 'enable these known rake devices to perform a typical raking function, it is necessary to lift-up the second rake head alongside the underside of the rake handle whilst the actual raking operation is in progress. This impedes the function of the rake, for instance when the rake is to be inserted beneath low growing shrubs, bushes and the like. Another problem with known rakes that have mutually facing prongs is that leaves, grass and the like are pressed firmly onto the prongs as the rake heads are pressed togeth¬ er. The second rake head of this known device cannot be used to clean the first rake head, but often has the opposite effect since the second rake head will tend to press material that has earlier fastened to the first rake head more firmly onto said head as the two heads are pressed together.

An object of the present invention is to provide a combined rake and pick-up device which can be used smoothly and effectively, which enables a pile of raked material to be effectively picked-up, and which can be manufactured at low costs. Another object of the invention is to provide a combined rake and pick-up device with which the rake head can be effectively cleaned from material that has fastened thereto without using the hands to this end.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rake which enables raking to be performed more easily and more effec¬ tively.

These objects are achieved with a combined rake and pick-up device of the kind^" defined in the first paragraph which is characterized in that the press head is attached to the handle in a manner which will enable a pile of raked-up material to be gripped between the press head and the rear side of the first rake head.

Because the press head is placed on the rear side of the rake in accordance with the invention, the press head can be collapsed to 'a position adjacent the rake head when the rake is in use without interfering with the raking function of the rake. The press head will not therefore prevent the rake from being inserted beneath bushes, shrubs and the like, among other things.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the press head has the form of a second rake head which includes resilient tines having projections directed towards the rear side of the first rake head. This embodiment enables raked material to be collected more effectively and the tines and projec¬ tions function to clean the first rake head by pressing away or otherwise removing material that has fastened to the tines and prongs of the first rake head as the second rake head is swung towards said first rake head.

The projections of the rake-like press head may have the form of rake prongs and may be caused to extend in front of the rake prongs of the first rake head or between said prongs when the press head is swung towards the rake head. This provides a highly effective rake prong cleaning function and enables a double set of rake prongs to be used in a raking operation.

Alternatively, the projections can be arranged so as to strike against the rear sides of respective tines on the rake head, therewith causing the tines to vibrate ^' so as to dislodge material adhering thereto to good effect.

The press head is suitably mounted on the lower end of a shaft whose upper end is pivotally connected to the rake handle. The press head will preferably be spring-biassed towards the rake head.

Other features of the invention are made apparent in the following Claims.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplifying embodiments thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1-3 illustrate an inventive rake in use;

Figs. 4-6 illustrate a first embodiment of a pivot means used with the rake s _*hown in Figs. 1-3;

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of pivot means;

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a further embodiment of pivot means; and

Figs. 11-13 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a press head used with the rake shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 1-3 illustrate a rake handle 1 and a rake head 2 connected to the bottom end of the handle. The rake head 2 may be manufactured conventionally in one piece from plastic material and has resilient tines 4 which project out from a base part 3 and the free ends of which are angled to form rake prongs 5. It will be understood, however, that the invention can also be applied to other types of rake, for instance rakes that are made of metal.

Fitted onto the handle 1 is a fitting 6 which is pivotally connected to a fitting 7 on the upper end of a shaft 8 which is shorter than the handle 1. Fitted to the bottom end of the shaft 8 is a press head 9 which in the case of the illustrat¬ ed embodiment has the form of a second rake head comprising resilient tines 11 which project out from a base part 10 and the free ends of which are angled to form prongs 12.

As shown in the drawing, the press head 9, having the form of a second rake head, is disposed on the rear side of the actual rake head 2 and the prongs 12 of the so-called second rake head are' directed towards the actual rake head 2, i.e. in the same direction as the prongs 5 on the actual rake head 2. As will be seen from Fig. 1, this enables the press head 9 to be dropped down into abutment with the rake head 2 during an actual raking operation. The press head 9 will not therefore impede normal use of the rake and will not prevent the rake from being inserted beneath low growing bushes, shrubs or the like, for instance. The hinge means arranged between the fittings 6 and 7 will conveniently be provided with a spring mechanism which holds the press head 9 in spring-biassed abutment with the rake head 2 during a normal raking operation.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the procedure taken after having raked together a pile of leaves 13 for instance, and placing the pile in a wheelbarrow 14. The rake head 2 is placed adjacent the pile of leaves 13 with the press head 9 angled outwardly from the rake head 2. The press head 9 is then moved towards the rear side of the rake head 2 in the direction of arrow A while compressing the pile of leaves therebetween. The tines 12 on the press head 9 will therewith scrape the leaves towards the rake head 2. The rake is then lifted and the shaft 8 swung away from the handle 1 in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 3, so as to release the leaves into a wheelbarrow 14, for instance.

This method enables leaves, twigs or other refuse, such as dirty plastic mugs and the like, to be collected quickly and with consummate ease without needing to bring the hands into contact with the refuse.

In the illustrated embodiment, the prongs 12 on the tines 11 extend immediately in front of the prongs 5 on the tines 4. In an alternative embodiment, the tines 12 may project into the spaces between the tines 4 on the rake head 2. The prongs 12 will, in both cases, effectively clean any refuse or scrap that has fastened to the prongs 5 or between the tines 4 of the rake head 2 as the press head 9 is swung towards the rake head 2 after having released the leaves in accordance with Fig. 3.

By adapting the length of the prongs 5 and 12 in relation to one another, both sets of rake prongs can be used when raking in accordance with Fig. 1, therewith making raking more effective and providing a cleaner result.

However, the arrangement may also be such that when the press head or second rake head 9 is swung towards the rake head 2 the tines 11 and the prongs 12 will strike against the tines

4 therewith causing these tines and their respective prongs

5 to vibrate and therewith dislodge any adherent matter.

Fig. 4-6 illustrate the pivot means between the handle 1 and the shaft 8 in more detail. It will be seen from these Figures that the fittings 6 and 7 are pivotal in relation to one another about a pivot pin 15, there being provided a spring 16 which biases the shaft 8 in a direction towards the handle 1. The press head 9 is, in this way, held resiliently biassed towards the rake head 2 during a raking operation.

The same effect is achieved with an arrangement of the kind shown in^* Figs. 7 and 8, in which the spring function is implemented with the aid of a spring arm 17 tensioned between the fitting 7 and the handle 1.

Figs. 9-10 illustrate another alternative method of obtaining a spring bias between the handle 1 and the shaft 8. In this embodiment, a resilient rubber ring 18 is fitted around the handle and the shaft, wherein the fitting 7 on the shaft 8 is conveniently provided with a recess 19 for holding the rubber ring in place.

Figs. 11-13 illustrate a further development of the press head 9 in the form of a rake head. In this embodiment, the tines 11 and the prongs 12 are provided with fin-like projections 20 on their underside. The head 9 is suitably guided in relation to the rake head 2, such that the fin-like projections will protrude in between the tines 4 on the rake head 2 when the press head 9 is swung towards said rake head. This arrangement further improves cleaning of the rake head 2 with the aid of the press head 11. The tines 12 may optionally be omitted in the case of this embodiment, therewith avoiding leaves being pierced through by the prongs and adhering thereto.

It will be understood that although the invention has been described in the aforegoing with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, these embodiments can be modified within the scope of the following Claims. For instance, the press head 9 may be swung away from and towards the rake head 2 with the aid of a link mechanism attached to the handle in addition to the pivotal arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The position of the press-head attachment point on the handle 1 can be changed as desired and may also be variably fixable along the handle. The holder may also be constructed so that the shaft 8 and its press head 9 can be removed from the handle 1 if so desired. The handle 1 and the shaft 8 may be provided with mutually coacting locking means which lock the handle and shaft together during a raking operation, in which case the described spring elements may be omitted.

Claims

1. A combined rake and pick-up device comprising a handle (1), a first rake head (2) which is attached to the bottom end of the handle and which includes resilient tines (4) whose free ends are angled to form rake prongs (5) , and a press head (9) which can be swung relative to the rake head (2) such as to grip raked material (13) firmly between the press head (9) and the rake head (2), characterized in that the press head (9) is attached to the handle (1) such as to enable raked material (13) to be gripped between the press head and the rear side of the rake head (2) .

2. A combined rake and pick-up device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the press head (9) has the form of a second rake-like head comprising resilient tines (11) and prongs (12; 20) that are directed towards the rear side of the first rake head (2) .

3. A combined rake and pick-up device according to Claim

2, characterized in that the free ends of the resilient tines (11) of the second rake-like head (9) are angled to form prongs (12) that are directed towards the rear side of the first rake head (2) .

4. A combined rake and pick-up device according to Claim

3, characterized in that the prongs (12) of the second rake¬ like head (9) extend forwardly of the prongs (4) of the first rake head (2) when the second head (9) is swung towards the first head (2) .

5. A combined rake and pick-up device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the prongs (12) of the second rake¬ like head (9)^' project in between the tines (4) of the first rake head (2) when the second head is swung towards the first head.

6. A combined rake and pick-up device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the prongs (12) of the second rake¬ like head (9) make contact with the rear side of the tines (4) of the first rake head (2) when the second head is swung towards the first head.

7. A combined rake and pick-up device according to any one of Claims 2-6, characterized in that said prongs include fin¬ like projections (20) which extend along the resilient tines (11) of the second rake-like head (9) .

8. A combined rake and pick-up device according to any one of Claims 1-7, characterized in that the press head (9) is fitted to the bottom end of a shaft (8); and in that the upper end of the shaft is pivotally connected to the rake handle (1) .

9. A combined rake and pick-up device according to Claim

8, characterized in that the press head (9) is spring-biassed in a direction towards the rake head (2) .

10. A combined rake and pick-up device according to Claim

9, characterized in that the pivot means between the shaft (8) of the press head and the rake handle (1) includes a spring (16; 17; 18) which functions to generate said spring- biassing force.