WO2003081984A1

WO2003081984A1 - Device for picking fruits, berries and mushrooms

Info

Publication number: WO2003081984A1
Application number: PCT/SE2003/000518
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joanna Holmgren
Original assignee: Joanna Holmgren
Priority date: 2002-04-03
Filing date: 2003-04-01
Publication date: 2003-10-09
Also published as: SE0200995L; AU2003217127A1; SE0200995D0; SE519881C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for picking fruits, berries and mushrooms, said device comprising a waist belt (1) and an apron (3). It is significant of the device according to the invention that the apron (3) has means (11) for cooperation with the waist belt (1) in order to have the apron (3) carried by the waist belt (1), that the apron has at least one pocket (12), and that the device also comprises at least one open container (5) that is intended to be received in the pocket (12).

Description

DEVICE FOR PICKING FRUITS, BERRIES AND MUSHROOMS

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for picking fruits, berries and mushrooms, said device comprising a waist belt and an apron.

Prior Art

From US-A-5, 201,445 a kind of container is previously known, said container being used in connection with picking of fruits. The container is of a flexible material and its shape depends from the degree of fullness of the container.

Objects and Features of the Invention A primary object of the present invention is to present a device of the type defined above, said device simplifying the picking of fruits, berries and mushrooms in exchangeable containers that preferably are sealed with a lid when a container is filled. The filled container is exchanged for an empty container.

Still an object of the present invention is that the containers included in the device should always be at hand, i.e. the container/containers need not to be moved when the picker is moving. A further object of the present invention is that the containers of the device should not to a degree worth mention harm the quality of the picked items.

Still an object of the present invention is that the device is flexible as regards the number of containers and their shape.

At least the primary object of the present invention is realised by means of a device that has been given the features of the appending independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the independent claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Below embodiments of the device will be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 shows a front view, slightly in perspective, of a first embodiment of a device according to the present invention that is suitable for picking fruits or berries that grow on trees; Figure 2 shows schematically a person that picks fruits from a tree, said person carrying the device according to figure 1; Figure 3 shows a front view^', slightly in perspective, of the containers, with accompanying lids, included in the device according to figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a front view, slightly in perspective, of a second embodiment of a device according to the present invention that is suitable for picking berries that grow on bushes; Figure 5 shows a front view, slightly in perspective, of the container, with accompanying lid, that is included in the device according to figure 4; Figure 6 shows a front view, slightly in perspective, of a third embodiment of a device according to the present invention that is suitable for picking wood berries and mushrooms; Figure 7 shows schematically a person picking mushrooms, said person carrying the device according to figure 6; and Figure 8 shows a front view, slightly in perspective, of the containers, with accompanying lids, included in the device according to figure 6.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

The first embodiment, shown in figure 1, of a device according to the present invention comprises a waist belt 1, an apron 3 and two containers 5. The waist belt 1 has a length adjusting buckle 7, by which the length of the waist belt 1 may be adapted to the person, the carrier, that carries the waist belt 1. The waist belt 1 has also a quick release fastener that consists of a male part 9 and a female part 10. When the male part 9 is entered into the female part 10 there is an automatic mutual locking of the parts 9, 10 that are included in the quick release fastener. This mutual locking may be released when the carrier of the waist belt 1 wants to remove the belt 1.

At one longitudinal edge the apron 3 has a casing 11, in which the waist belt 1 may be received and when the waist belt 1 is in the casing 11 the apron 3 is supported by the waist belt 1. The apron 3 is also equipped with two pockets 12 that preferably are sewn on the apron 3. When designing the pockets 12 it should be considered that they have a volume that is adapted to the external volume that the containers 5 take up, i.e. it should be possible, in a user friendly way, to enter the containers 5 into the pockets 12 and to remove them from the pockets 12 respectively. In this connection it is however important that the fit between the containers 5 and the pockets 12 is relatively tight in order to have the container 5 firmly anchored when located in its adherent pocket 12. In the shown embodiment the container is 5 are generally cylindrical with a flattened, planar portion 13, see figure 1. This flattened portion 13 faces towards the apron 3 and thus coincides with the main plane of the apron 3. This counteracts rotation of the container 5 in the adherent pocket 12. This structural design of the containers 5 thus brings about that there is no bulging on the side of the apron 3 that faces towards the carrier. This makes the containers 5 to rest firmly against the hip of the carrier. The pockets 12 have such a location on the apron 3 that the longitudinal centre axes of the containers 5 in the pockets 12 form an angle with each other. The distance between the open ends of the containers 5 is larger than the distance between the bottoms of the containers 5. The material of the apron 3 and the pockets 12 is preferably nylon or GORTEX^®. The apron 3 is preferably reinforced where the upper portion of the pocket 12 is sewn on the apron 3 since these portions will be subjected to the highest load. The material of the containers 5 is preferably a relatively stiff plastic that gives the containers 5 a substantially non-flexible shape during normal handling.

In figure 2 the use of the device according to figure 1 is schematically shown. In connection therewith a carrier Bl has put on the waist belt 1 and picks plums from a tree, the picked plums being put in both containers 5. Since the containers 5 in principle being non-flexible the risk to have the plums squeezed or mashed is substantially eliminated when they are in the container 5. When a container 5 is filled or for some other reason is not to be used any more said container 5 is removed from the pocket 12 and preferably equipped with a lid 14, see figure 3. Then the container 5 may be transferred to a suitable storage place, e.g. a backpack or a luggage compartment in a car, while waiting for the content of the containers 5 to be taken care of . An empty container 5 is now located in the free pocket 12 if the picking is to be continued.

In figure 4 a second embodiment of a device according to the present invention is shown, said device also comprising a waist belt 1 that may be identical with the waist belt 1 according to figure 1. The device also comprises an apron 103 having a casing 111, in which the waist belt 1 is received. The apron 103 is preferably manufactured from the same material as the apron 3. A pocket 112 is sewn on the apron 103, the pocket 112 preferably being of the same material as the pockets 12. The apron 103 is preferably reinforced at the portions where the upper part of the pocket 112 is sewn to the apron. A container 105 is placed in the pocket 112, said container 105 generally being cylindrical but has a flattened, planar portion 113 that in mounted position of the container 105 coincides with the plane of the apron 103. Preferably the container 105 may be identical with the containers 5 of the embodiment according to figure 1, this however not being a prerequisite. The device according to figure 4 is applied to a carrier in the corresponding way as the device according to figure 1. The device according to figure 4 is suitable to be used when picking berries on a bush, the carrier may alternate between a standing position or a position sitting on his/her heels. In the latter position the apron 103 with the container 105 will occupy the space between the legs of the carrier. When the container 105 is filled it is removed from the pocket 112 and sealed by the lid 114, see Fig 5. Then the container 105 is put in a suitable storage place in order to be taken care of ■later. A new container 105 is placed in the pocket 112 if the picking is to be continued.

A third embodiment of a device according to the present invention is shown in figure 6, said embodiment comprising a waist belt 1, that preferably may be identical with the waist belts 1 according to figure 1 and figure 4. The device according to figure 6 also comprises an apron 203 with a casing 211, in which the waist belt 1 is received. The apron 203 is preferably manufactured from the same material as the aprons 3 and 103. The apron 203 is also equipped with two pockets 212 and 215 that preferably are sewn on the apron 203. The pockets 212 and 215 are located adjacent each other and have a common portion that gives increased stability. The pockets 212 and 215 are preferably manufactured from the same material as the pockets 12 and 112. The apron 203 is preferably reinforced in the portions where the pockets 212 and 215 join the apron 203. The device according to figure 6 also comprises two containers 205 and 206 that are located in the pockets 212 and 215 in the way that is shown in figure 6. The container 205, which preferably but not necessarily may be identical with the containers 5 and 105, has a flattened, planar portion 213 that in figure 6 is facing towards the second container 206 that generally has a rectangular cross sectional shape. Since the flattened portion 213 is facing a side of the second container 206 the first container 205 will be locked against rotation in the pocket 212. Alternatively it is also possible that the flattened portion 213 is located in the plane of the apron 203 on the analogy of the embodiments according to figures 1 and 4. In figure 7 it is shown how the device according to figure 6 is mounted on a carrier B2 that has assumed a position sitting on his/her heels and is occupied with picking mushrooms in the container 203. In connection therewith there is room for the apron 203 and the containers 205 and 206 between the legs of the carrier B2. The combination of containers shown in figures 6 and 7, i.e. a cylindrical container 205 and a rectangular container 206, brings about the benefit that the containers support each other and they have a total width that there is room for between the legs of the carrier when assuming a position sitting on his/her heels.

The second container 206 may be used for the picking of cowberries or blueberries. When any of the containers 205 or 206 is filled it is removed from its adherent pocket 212 and 215 respectively and is suitably equipped with a lid 214 or 216, see figure 8, in order to be stored at a suitable place, e.g. in a backpack, waiting for the picked items be taken care of. For all embodiments described above it is generally valid that the containers 5; 105; 205, 206, included in the device of the present invention, are open but may preferably be equipped with lids 14; 114; 214, 216 if necessary. In the appending claims the expression "open containers" has been used, this referring to a container to whose inner volume the picker has access for putting the picked fruits/the picked berries/the picked mushrooms therein.

Feasible Modifications of the Invention In the embodiment according to figure 6 one container 212 is generally cylindrical while the other container 215 is generally rectangular. However, within the scope of the present invention it is also feasible that both containers are cylindrical or both containers are rectangular. In order to make this flexibility possible the circumference of the containers is the same regardless if they are generally cylindrical or generally rectangular. This means that the pockets 212 and 215 may receive containers of different shape as long as these containers have a fixed circumference. This also means that in connection with the devices according to the embodiments in figure 1 and figure 4 the containers included in said embodiments may have a different shape than the generally cylindrical as long as these containers have the same circumference as the generally cylindrical ones. In the embodiments described above the pockets 12; 112; 212, 215 are sewn on the apron 3; 103; 203. However, within the scope of the present invention it is feasible that the pockets 12; 112; 212, 215 are attached to the apron 3; 103; 203 in alternative ways. In exemplifying and non-restricting purpose glueing or heat welding may be mentioned.

On the apron 3; 103; 203 or on the pockets 12; 112; 212, 215 extra holders/pockets may be sewn for complementary tools, e.g. a pair of scissors, a secateur, a small spade, a compass or the like.

The device according to the present invention may also be used for collecting seeds . In such a case the seed bags are kept in the containers 5; 105; 205, 206.

Claims

1. Device for picking fruits, berries and mushrooms, said device comprising a waist belt (1) and an apron (3; 103; 203), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the apron (3; 103; 203) has means (11; 111; 211) for cooperation with the waist belt (1) in order to have the apron (3; 103; 203) carried by the waist belt (1), that the apron has at least one pocket (12; 112; 212, 215) , and that the device also comprises at least one open container (5; 105; 205, 206) that is intended to be received in the pocket (12; 112; 212, 215).

2. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the means of the apron (3; 103; 203) that cooperates with the waist belt (1) constitutes a casing (11; 111; 211) , in which the waist belt (1) is intended to be received.

3. Device according to claims 1 or 2 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the open container (5; 105; 205, 206) has a planar portion (13; 113; 213).

4. Device according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the container (5; 105; 205) is generally cylindrical.

5. Device according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the number of pockets (12; 212, 215) is two and that the number of containers (5; 205, 206) is two.

6. Device according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that both containers (5; 205, 206) generally are cylindrical.

7. Device according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that one container (205) is generally cylindrical, and that the other container (206) is generally rectangular.

8. Device according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the material of the apron (3; 103; 203) and the pocket (12; 112; 212, 215) is nylon or GORTEX^® .

9. Device according to any of the previous claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the device comprises lids (14; 114; 214, 216) that suit the containers (5; 105; 205, 206) .