US884839A - Fruit-picker's platform. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED APR. 14, 1908f c. A. MoDER-MOTT. FRUIT PIGKERS PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26. 1907.

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PATENTED APR. 14, 1908-.

0. A.IMQD'ERMOTT.' FRUIT PIUKBR'S PLATFORM.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 26.1907.

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CHARLES A. MoDERMOTT, OF SULTANA, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-PIGKERS PLATFORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed June 26, 1907.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Serial No. 380,901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. MODER- MOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sultana, in the county of Tulare and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Pickers Platforms, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a platform for enablinga fruit picker to gather apples, or other fruit growing on trees, in amore convenient and expeditious manner.

Ordinarily a step ladder is used for this purpose which has to be constantly shifted from time to time as the fruit is gathered from a givensection of the tree, with more or less trouble in securing a solid and firm footing for the step ladder each time it is moved and with the loss of considerable time.

My invention consists in a platform made in the form of an annular segment extending about half way around the tree, suitably mounted on legs of sufficient height to bring the picker up into easy reach of the fruit on the branches and of a diameter adapted to the tree, preferably about twelve feet so that when once in place the picker is enabled to gather the fruit from one half of the tree without changing-the position of the platform.

It also consists in means for constructing and bracing the platform against tipping or twisting out of place and in means for adjusting the height of the platform and for enabling the picker to conveniently ascend the same and descend therefrom, as well as for conveniently transporting the platform from tree to tree, as hereinafter more fully described with reference to' the drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the platform set up for use under a tree and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

In the drawing, A represents the running board which is made of stout but light planking. This running board is about an inch thick and from eight to ten inches wide and of semi-circular form and extent and preferably bound along the edges with iron bands. It is supported upon two end legs B B and one middle leg C. These legs are about eight feet long and capable of extension, as hereafter described.

The end legs lie in the vertical plane of the ends of the running board, but are inclined so that their upper ends connect with the running board about three feet, more or less, from the ends of the running board, the

wardly toward the middle of the curve of the running board. The end legs and the ends of the running board are braced by an out-- side brace (1 extending from the underside of each. end of the running board to the lower portions of the said end legs and on the inner side of these end legs a series of inclined braces I) extend from the end legs up to the middle portions of the running board.

The middle leg C is not set in the vertical plane of the running board, but its lower end is inclined outwardly to a larger circle than the running board. This is for the purpose of throwing the weight of the person standing on the middle of the running board well inside of the point of support for the middle leg, so as to prevent tipping the platform outwardly. This middle leg has a series of braces c on each side of equal number and inclination and extending in opposite direction up to the bottom of the running board.

This middle leg also has attached to it, or

formed on it, a series of foot-holds or ladder steps (1 and has also the short rectangular bracing e c.

To adjust the length of the legs for taller trees, each leg has at its lower end a sliding foot extension E connected to the legs by metal straps or keepers F, F, through which the extensible sections may be adjusted longitudinally and which adjustment is fixed by pins f. Any other convenient means of extension may be provided and this serves not only to increase the height of the platform for tall trees, but on the slopes of side hills or uneven ground it allows the legs to be so adjusted to the contours as to always maintain the running board level or horizontal, thus insuring its stability under the weight of the picker.

The inclination of the middle leg not only gives stability to the platform, but furnishes the proper inclination for the ladder steps or foot holds and also keeps the bracing well out and away from the tree.

All bracing lies close to the vertical plane of the running board, so that the interior of the platform is free and open and there is no interference with the low lying branches of the tree, thus allowing the platform to hug the tree closely enough to practically surround one-half of it.

Although primarily intended for gathering fruit, it will be understood that my platform furnishes very convenient means of access to the trees for spraying the same with insect and fungus preventives, permitting a much more careful and thorough treatment of the trees than could otherwise be had.

The whole platform is made of light but strong material and is easily moved about from place to place. To facilitate this sh1fting about of the platform, it is provided with means for enabling one man to carry it upon his shoulders as follows. Two long brace bars y and 2 are arranged inside the curve of the running board and extend respectively from the top of one end leg to the bottom of the other end leg, crossing each other in the middle. These bars are made of flexible stuff and are sprung or bent to an approximate curve to the running board A, but with a somewhat flatter curve and their middle portions are firmly secured to each other and to two horizontal and parallel shoulder bars 00 00 whose outer ends are connected to the rectangular bracing e 6. These shoulder bars have pads 03 90 to rest upon the shoulders of a man when his head is thrust between the bars, and form a lifting support at about the center of gravity of the entire structure that allows of easy and convenient transportation. Theoutward projection of the middle leg and its bracing 0 acts as a truss and effectively resists the inward stress of the bent bars 3 z and thus hold these bars away from the center so as to allow the low limbs of a tree to project well in between the ends of the platform.

I claim 1. A portable platform for the use of orchardists, comprising a curved running board, supporting legs for the same, in clined braces connecting the running board to the legs and curved braces arran ed inside of and following approximate y the curve of the running board to leave a free open central space.

2. A portable platform for the use of orchardists, comprising a curved running board, supporting legs for the same, inclined braces connecting the running board to the le s and curved braces arranged inside of and fo lowing approximately the curve of the running board to leave a free open central space, said curved braces crossing each other and extending from the bottom of one end leg to the top of the other end 'leg and forming a tension member.

3. A platform for the use of orchardists,

comprising a curved running board, two end legs with inclined braces lying within the vertical plane of the running board and a middle leg having its lowerend outside the vertical plane of the running board and inclined braces connecting said middle leg to the running board.

4. A platform for the use of orchardists, comprising a curved running board, two end legs with inclined braces connecting them to the running board, a middle leg having its lower end outside of the vertical plane of the runnin board and formed with a series of foot-ho ds on the outside and inclined braces for said legs connecting it with the running board.

5. A platform for the use of orchardists, comprising a curved running board, supporting legs for the ends of the running board inclined inwardly at the top and connecting with the running board at a distance from its ends, an outside brace for each end leg connecting the same to the end of the running board, inclined braces for the end legs extended toward the middle part of the running board, a middle leg having its lower end extended outside the curve of the running board and inclined braces for the same extendin to the running board.

6. A pTatform for the use of orchardists,

comprising a curved running board, sup-' portingv legs and braces for the same and shoulder bearings for the platform arranged inside the curve of the running board in proximity to the center of gravity.

7. A platform for the use of orchardists, comprising a curved running board, braced supporting legs for the same arranged at the ends and the middle, curved and inclined braces arranged within the running board and of a flatter curve than'the running board, and one or more cross bars connecting the middle part of the curved braces to the middle support of the running board.

CHARLES A. MODERMOTT. Witnesses:

LE ROY G. SMITH, S. K. GREENE.

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