Collapsible rake

• US 7,299,614 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Sanders
• Original Assignee: James Sanders
• Inventors: Sanders, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Will; Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCGOWAN, JAMIE LOUISE
• Application Number:
  US11/047,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 564/000.1, 564/001.6, 564/001.8, 564/001.9, 564/002, 564/002.1, 56D/IG.18, 56D/IG.21, D8 6- 10, D8/13, 151/431, 151/441, 151/442, 151/443, 151/444
• US Class Current: 56/400.01
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 7/00 Rakes mowers convertible to rakes or capable of raking A01D42/02; mowers combined with rakes A01D43/02

Abstract

A novel rake minimally consists of: at least two tine frames, each tine frame having a plurality of tines coupled thereto; a tine frame coupling for coupling to proximal ends of each of the tine frames; pivot mechanisms coupled between the tine frames and the tine frame coupling; a rake handle coupled at a proximal end to the tine frame coupling, and adapted for being grasped at a distal end for raking activity; and a locking mechanism adapted to lock the tine frames into an operational raking configuration, and adapted to unlock the tine frames for transition to a non-raking stowage configuration. When the tine frames are unlocked, the tine frames are adapted to have their distal ends pivoted toward the distal end of the rake handle into the stowage configuration with the distal ends of the tine frames being at least in close proximity of the rake handle.

Claims

1. A rake comprising:

at least two tine flames, each tine frame having a plurality of tines coupled thereto;

a tine frame coupling for coupling to proximal ends of each of the tine frames;

pivot mechanisms coupled between said tine frames and said tine frame coupling;

a rake handle coupled at a proximal end to said tine frame coupling, and adapted for being grasped at a distal end for raking activity, the rake handle including at least one locking tab slot; and

a locking mechanism adapted to lock said tine frames into an operational rake configuration, and adapted to unlock said tine frames for transition to said non-raking stowage configuration, the locking mechanism including;

a locking tab coupled to said tine frame coupling, and positioned within said rake handle, wherein at least a portion of said locking tab externally protrudes said rake handle through said locking tab slot, and wherein said tab is adapted to lock said frame tines into said raking configuration when engaged with a stop of said locking tab slot, and said locking tab is adapted to be pressed to release said tine frames to transition said rake to said stowage configuration, wherein said tine frame slots are substantially axially aligned with said locking tab slots;

wherein when said tine frames are unlocked, said tine frames are adapted to have their distal ends pivoted toward the distal end of said rake handle into said stowage configuration with the distal ends of the tine frames being at least in close proximity of said rake handle;

wherein in said stowage configuration, said plurality of tines are pivoted toward the distal end of said rack handle and said plurality of tines are meshed; and

wherein said rake handle is collapsible.

2. The rake of claim 1, wherein said rake handle further comprises

a plurality of telescopic sections.

3. The rake of claim 1, wherein said rake handle further comprises a plurality of foldable handle sections.

4. The rake of claim 1, wherein said pivot mechanisms operate with at least two degrees of freedom.

5. The rake of claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism further comprises on said rake handle at its proximal end, and for each said tine rake, a tine frame slot for receiving and engaging a tine frame near the proximal ends of said tine frames to lock said tine frames into said raking configuration, wherein said tine frames further comprise pivot limiters to limit said tine frames to a predetermined position during locking in the raking configuration;

and said locking mechanism is adapted to be disengaged from and unlock said tine frames to allow movement to said stowage configuration when desired.

6. The rake of claim 1, wherein said locking tab is biased toward said locking tab slot stop.

7. The rake of claim 1, wherein said locking tab is pivotally coupled to said tine frame coupler.

8. The rake of claim 1, wherein to transition between said raking position and said stowage configuration, said tine frames are adapted to be rotated relative to said locking tab slots when said tine frames are unlocked, and said tine frames are adapted to be pivoted toward the distal end of said rake handle.

9. The rake of claim 1, wherein the fan-out travel of said tine frames in said raking configuration is limited by interfering contact between the proximal ends of said tine frames.

10. The rake of claim 1, further comprising:

a tine frame strut pivotally coupled between each line frame and said locking mechanism;

wherein said locking mechanism is slidably mounted around said rake handle to bind with said rake handle to lock said tine frames into said raking configuration, and said locking mechanism is adapted to release the bind and be slid in the rake handle distal direction to pull the tine frames via said tine frame struts toward said rake handle to achieve said stowage configuration.

11. The rake of claim 10, wherein said rake handle further comprises a plurality of telescopic sections.

12. The rake of claim 10, wherein said rake handle further comprises a plurality of foldable handle sections.

13. The rake of claim 10, further comprising a sheath configured to shield a portion of the rake while in the stowage configuration.

14. A rake comprising:

at least two tine frames, each tine frame having a plurality of tines coupled thereto;

a tine frame coupling for coupling to proximal ends of each of the tine frames;

pivot mechanisms coupled between said tine frames and said tine frame coupling;

a rake handle coupled at a proximal end to said tine frame coupling, and adapted for being grasped at a distal end for raking activity, the rake handle including at least one locking tab slot; and

a locking mechanism adapted to lock said tine frames into an operational rake configuration, and adapted to unlock said tine frames for transition to said non-raking stowage configuration, the locking mechanism including a locking tab coupled to said tine frame coupling, and positioned within said rake handle, wherein at least a portion of said locking tab externally protrudes said rake handle through said locking tab slot, and wherein said tab is adapted to lock said frame tines into said raking configuration when engaged with a stop of said locking tab slot and said locking tab is adapted to be pressed to release said tine frames to transition said rake to said stowage configuration;

wherein to transition between said raking position and said stowage configuration, said tine frames are adapted to be rotated relative to said locking tab slots when said tine frames are unlocked, and said tine frames are adapted to be pivoted toward the distal end of said rake handle;

wherein when said tine frames are unlocked, said tine frames are adapted to have their distal ends pivoted toward the distal end of said rake handle into said stowage configuration with the distal ends of the tine frames being at least in close proximity of said rake handle;

wherein in said stowage configuration, said plurality of tines are pivoted toward the distal end of said rake handle and said plurality of tines are meshed; and

wherein said rake handle is collapsible.

15. A rake comprising:

at least two tine frames, each tine frame having a plurality of tines coupled thereto;

a tine frame coupling for coupling to proximal ends of each of the tine frames;

pivot mechanisms coupled between said tine frames and said tine frame coupling;

a rake handle coupled at a proximal end to said tine frame coupling, and adapted for being grasped at a distal end for raking activity, the rake handle including at least one locking tab slot; and

a locking mechanism adapted to lock said tine frames into an operational rake configuration, and adapted to unlock said tine frames for transition to said non-raking stowage configuration, the locking mechanism including a locking tab coupled to said tine frame coupling, and positioned within said rake handle, wherein at least a portion of said locking tab externally protrudes said rake handle through said locking tab slot, and wherein said tab is adapted to lock said frame tines into said raking configuration when engaged with a stop of said locking tab slot and said locking tab is adapted to be pressed to release said tine frames to transition said rake to said stowage configuration, wherein said tine slots are substantially axially aligned with said locking tab slots;

wherein to transition between said raking position and said stowage configuration, said tine frames are adapted to be rotated relative to said locking tab slots when said tine frames are unlocked, and said tine frames are adapted to be pivoted toward the distal end of said rake handle;

wherein when said tine frames are unlocked, said tine frames are adapted to have their distal ends pivoted toward the distal end of said rake handle into said stowage configuration with the distal ends of the tine frames being at least in close proximity of said rake handle;

wherein in said stowage configuration, said plurality of tines are pivoted toward the distal end of said rake handle and said plurality of tines are meshed; and

wherein said rake handle is collapsible.

16. The rake of claim 15, wherein said pivot mechanisms operate with at least two degrees of freedom.