US20180344013A1

US20180344013A1 - Produce picking bag

Info

Publication number: US20180344013A1
Application number: US15/613,072
Authority: US
Inventors: Ignacio Morales
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-02
Filing date: 2017-06-02
Publication date: 2018-12-06

Abstract

A wearable picking-bag or receptacle for use as a produce holding device for containing a preset volume of produce for use in the harvesting of the produce or tree fruit, and specifically a preset volume picking-bag worn by a produce picker with a hook and grommet-strap for holding the bag in a closed position at a specific volume, so the user cannot make any adjustment to the volume of the bag, and so eliminate damage to the harvested fruit by over adjusting the volume of the bag. Additionally the grommet-strap can include a strap end that covers the grommet, to protect the fruit from damage. The produce picking bag is especially useful in the hand picking or harvesting of tree-grown fruits, such as apples, pears or peaches.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

A wearable picking bag or receptacle for use as a produce holding device for containing a preset volume of picked produce for use in the harvesting of the produce or a tree fruit, and specifically a preset volume picking bag worn by a produce picker with a hook and grommet-strap for holding the bag in a closed position at a specific volume. The produce picking bag is especially useful in the hand picking or harvesting of tree-grown fruits, such as apples, pears or peaches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tree fruit growers relying on manual picking methods and devices. Most picking operations require skilled laborers to pick fruit efficiently, and cost effectively, without damage to the fruit being harvested or picked. Conventional fruit picking bags tend to be uncomfortable to wear. Additionally, conventional fruit picking bags often damage fruit by allowing the picker to overload the picking bag, resulting in bruising and crushing of the picked fruits within the bag. There is a need for a comfortable and simple to operate fruit picking-bag that prevents damage or possible overloading of the produce or fruit.
The following is a disclosure of the present invention that will be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a produce picking-bag device, used according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a produce picking-bag device, used according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a produce picking-bag device, used according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view of a produce picking-bag device, used according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective detail view of a produce picking-bag device, used according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective detail view of a produce picking-bag device, used according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective detail view of a produce picking-bag device, used according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a produce picking-bag device, used according to an embodiment of the invention.

Reference characters included in the above drawings indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, as discussed herein. The description herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and the description herein is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. It should be understood that the above listed figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by fragmentary views, graphic symbols, diagrammatic or schematic representations, and phantom lines. Details that are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention by one skilled in the technology of the invention, or render other details difficult to perceive, may have been omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The invention provides a wearable picking-bag for use as a produce holding device for containing a preset volume of picked produce, for use in the harvesting of a produce or a tree fruit. The wearable picking-bag device of the present invention may be referred to herein alternatively as a produce picking-bag, or a fruit picking-bag. The produce picking-bag device 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, and may be referred to simply herein the ‘picking-bag device.’ The picking-bag device includes a bag 12 or receptacle, attached to a harness 15 that is worn by a user 17.
The picking-bag device 10 of the present invention has certain elements of conventional wearable produce harvesting receptacles, commonly called ‘fruit pickers’ bags,' and such pickers' bags typically include the bag 12, which is a substantially tubular container, bag or receptacle for receiving and holding a harvested fruit 20 or produce, such as an apple.
As shown in FIG. 1, the bag 12 of the picking-bag device 10 includes a top opening 22 and a bottom opening 23. The top opening of the bag suspends from a receiving frame 24, with the bag held open by the frame, to receive the harvested fruit 20.
The bag 12 of the picking-bag device 10 has a front side 25 facing away from the user 17, and a back side 26 facing toward the user, as shown in FIG. 2. The harness 15 includes a pair of support straps 30 permanently attached to the receiving frame 24 at the top opening 22 of the bag 12, proximate to the back side of the bag. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the pair of support straps includes a first support strap 301 and a support second strap 302. The user wears the harness of the picking-bag device by placing their arms through the pair of support straps, with the first support strap crossing the second support strap at the back of the user, and each of the pair of support straps looping back to the receiving frame at the opposite side. Preferably, the pair of support straps cross on top of a back support-pad 33 against the user, as shown in FIG. 3. The back support-pad provides for greatly improved comfort, compared to prior produce picking-bag devices.
As shown in FIG. 1, each of the pair of support straps 30 attaches to the receiving frame 24 of the picking-bag device 10 at the top opening of the bag 12. Each of the pair of support straps preferably attaches to the receiving frame with a support strap clip 36.
Preferably, the pair of support straps 30 are each made of a ‘webbing’ material, which is a flat, woven strapping made of a nylon, polypropylene, or a cotton fibrous material. A most preferred material for the pair of support straps is polypropylene, with each of the pair of support straps approximately three inches wide by three millimeters in thickness, and approximately three feet in length.
The bag 12 of the picking-bag device 10 includes a pair of bag bottom straps 40, as shown in FIG. 1, which serve to fold the tubular bag and retain the harvested fruit 20 within the bag, until pair of bottom straps ore released by the user 17. Specifically, the pair of bottom straps include a first bottom strap 401 and a second bottom strap 402. Each of the pair of bag bottom straps are permanently attached to the bottom opening 23 of the bag, at the back side 26 of the bag, preferably with a stitched connection. The user is able to pull upward on each of the pair of bag bottom straps to create a fold 44 in the bag, which serves to retain the harvested fruit within the bag, and prevents the harvested fruit from spilling out of the bottom opening of the bag.
Preferably, the pair of bottom straps 40 are each made of a ‘webbing’ material, which is a flat, woven strapping made of a nylon, polypropylene, or a cotton fibrous material. A most preferred material for the pair of bottom straps is polypropylene, with each of the pair of bottom straps approximately two inches wide by three millimeters in thickness, and approximately two feet in length.
Each of the pair of bottom straps includes a stop-grommet 48. As shown in FIG. 1, and detailed in FIGS. 4, and 5, the stop-grommet is permanently mounted in each of the pair of bottom straps 40 and each stop-grommet includes a grommet hole 49, formed within the stop-grommet. The grommet hole is receivable onto a set-post 51. The set-post extends from a strap set-hook 52 that mounts to the receiving frame as shown in FIG. 4, with the set-post of the set-hook sized to receive the grommet hole of the stop-grommet. With the stop-grommet 48 received onto the set-post 51, each of the pair of bag bottom straps removably attaches to the bag 12 of the picking-bag device 10 at the top opening 22 of the bag, proximate to the receiving frame 24, as shown in FIG. 5. The user 17 can slide the stop-grommet onto the set-post, to create the fold 44 in the bag and retain the harvested fruit 20 with the bag, as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the user can slide the stop-grommet off the set-post to remove the fold 44 in the bag and allow the harvested fruit to dump from the bag, as shown in FIG. 8.
The set-post 51 is received into the stop-grommet to form a grommet-post clasp 55, as shown in FIG. 5. The grommet-post clasp is a singular, non-adjustable attachment of each of the pair of bottom straps 40 to the receiving frame 24 at the top opening of the bag 12 of the picking-bag device 10.
In an alterative embodiment of the picking-bag device 10, each of the pair of bag bottom straps 40 can include a grommet strap 60 that receives the stop-grommet 48. FIG. 8 shows a preferred embodiment of the grommet strap on each bag bottom strap. Preferably, the grommet strap is made from the same material as the pair of bottom straps 40 which is a ‘webbing’ material, which is a flat, woven strapping made of a nylon, polypropylene, or a cotton fibrous material. A most preferred material for the grommet strap is polypropylene, as with each of the pair of bottom straps. The grommet straps is most preferably approximately two inches wide by three millimeters in thickness, and approximately three to five inches in length, and stitched to the bottom strap at a grommet strap connection 61 as shown in FIG. 8, and detailed in FIGS. 6 and 7 with the grommet strap extending from the first bottom strap 401.
As shown in FIG. 8, the bottom strap 40 covers the grommet strap 60 as the harvested fruit 20 is dumped from the bottom opening 23 of the bag 12 and into a bin 62, or any other receptacle for receiving the harvested fruit. Covering the grommet strap with the bottom strap shields the stop-grommet 48 and this serves to protect the harvested fruit exiting the bottom opening of the bag, and reduces potential damage to the harvested fruit from contact with the stop-grommet. Specifically, the bottom strap extends past the connection to the grommet strap with a bottom strap end 63. The bottom strap end hangs freely as shown in FIG. 7, so that the user 17 may grasp the bottom strap and either attach the stop-grommet to the set-post 51, or detach the stop-grommet from the set-post, as shown in FIG. 6, to remove the fold 44 in the bag and allow the harvested fruit to dump from the bag.
Significantly, prior picking-bag systems include bottom straps for the fruit retaining bag with multiple attachment points, to provide the user with the option of either increasing or reducing the length of the support strap and thereby increasing or reducing the volume of the picking bag. This adjustability of the prior picking-bag systems is undesirable, in that it likely produces damage to the fruit or produce, especially when an overly large bag volume is selected that causes crushing or bruising of the harvested fruit or produce. Often constructed of ropes, cords, chains or wires, permanently attached to the tubular bag at the bottom opening, these prior adjustable bag bottom supportive strap attachments are undesirable and a non-adjustable bottom strap system is provided by the picking-bag device 10 of the present disclosure, which minimizes the ability of the user 17 to make any adjustment to the volume of the bag 12, and so eliminate damage to the harvested fruit 20 by over adjusting the volume of the bag.
Additionally, with the grommet strap 60 covered by the bottom strap end 63, damage to the harvested fruit 20, including bruising, skin abrasion, puncture or skin tearing, is greatly minimized. The bottom strap end also provides a handy grasping point or handle for the user 17 of the produce picking-bag device 10.
Examples of fruit picking receptacles include U.S. Pat. Nos. 517,786, 719,810, 760,048, 1,097,374, 1,994,362, and 4,925,071. Again, a common problem with these prior fruit picking bags and buckets is that they fail to solve the problem of an adjustably too large volume of the produce retaining bag or bucket. Specifically, when the harvested fruit is first placed into the bucket or bag, the fruit must be let go by the picker and so the fruit falls to the bottom of the bag. Subsequent fruit impacts upon the first fruit placed into the bag, and bruising occurs.
Additionally, in an oversized picking-bag, the weight of the produce on produce beneath can be enough to crush or at least bruise the underlying fruit. If the bag or bucket is reduced in size, then the picker must remove the contents of the bag or “dump” it at more frequent intervals, which takes time away from picking, which may be a disadvantage to the user. Additionally, adjustable bag systems, with incremental size adjustments to the receptacle made possible by knots or slots in the adjustment straps, takes time and can result in the unwanted release of fruit from the bottom of the bag because the support strap, rope or chain unintentionally slips or completely detaches.
The produce picking-bag device 10 of the present disclosure is especially useful in the hand picking or harvesting of tree-grown fruits, such as apples, pears or peaches, and solves the failings of the prior picking bag systems by providing a secure and preset volume of the bag 12 for holding the harvested fruit 20.
Of note, the terms “substantially,” “proximate to” and “approximately” are employed herein throughout, including this detailed description and the attached claims, with the understanding that is denotes a level of exactitude or equivalence in amount or location commensurate with the skill and precision typical for the particular field of endeavor, as applicable.
In compliance with the statutes, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features and process steps. While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in different forms, the specification illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and the disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. Those with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other embodiments and variations of the invention are possible, which employ the same inventive concepts as described above. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited except by the following claims, as appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

The following is claimed:

1. A produce picking-bag device comprising:

a bag wearable by a user, the bag including an approximately tubular receptacle with a top opening and a bottom opening;

a first set-post mounted to the bag proximate to the top opening;

a first bottom strap permanently attached to the bag at the bottom opening, the first bottom strap having a first stop-grommet, and the first stop-grommet having a first grommet hole;

the first set-post received into the first grommet hole of the first grommet to form a first grommet-post clasp;

a second set-post mounted to the bag proximate to the top opening;

a second bottom strap permanently attached to the bag at the bottom opening, the second bottom strap having a second stop-grommet, and the second stop-grommet having a second grommet hole;

the second set-post received into the second grommet hole of the second grommet to form a second grommet-post clasp; and

the bag upwardly foldable to retain a quantity of a produce product within the bag, with the first stop-grommet received onto the first grommet-post, and the second stop-grommet received onto the second grommet-post.

2. A produce picking-bag device comprising:

a first set-post mounted to the bag proximate to the top opening;

a first bottom strap permanently attached to the bag at the bottom opening,

a first grommet strap attached to the first bottom strap at a first grommet strap connection, the first grommet strap having a first stop-grommet, and the first stop-grommet having a first grommet hole;

a second set-post mounted to the bag proximate to the top opening;

a second bottom strap permanently attached to the bag at the bottom opening,

a second grommet strap attached to the second bottom strap at a second grommet strap connection, the second grommet strap having a second stop-grommet, and the second stop-grommet having a second grommet hole;

the bag upwardly foldable to retain a quantity of a produce product within the bag, with the first stop-grommet received onto the first grommet-post, and the second stop-grommet onto the second grommet-post.

3. A produce picking-bag device comprising:

a first set-post mounted to the bag proximate to the top opening;

a first bottom strap permanently attached to the bag at the bottom opening, the first bottom strap having a first bottom strap end holdable by the user,

a second set-post mounted to the bag proximate to the top opening;

a second bottom strap permanently attached to the bag at the bottom opening, the second bottom strap having a second bottom strap end holdable by the user,

the second set-post received into the second grommet hole of the second grommet to form a second grommet-post clasp;

the bag upwardly foldable to retain a quantity of a produce product within the bag; and

the bag unfoldable to empty the harvested fruit from the bottom opening of the bag, with the bottom strap end of each bottom strap covering the stop-grommet of each grommet strap.