Patent Application
20170013779
Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a device for plucking fruit, and more particularly to a fruit plucking device which comprises a fruit plucking arrangement for allowing a user to easily and conveniently harvest and collect fruit on a tree.
Description of Related Arts
A conventional fruit picker usually comprises a supporting pole, and a fruit picker basket supported on top of the supporting pole. The fruit picker basket is usually constructed by several elongated frame members which may be bent to form a basket shape for collecting the fruit. Tongs may be extended from the elongated frame members for plucking fruit on top of a tree.
There are several disadvantages in association with the above-mentioned conventional fruit picker. First, when the fruit are positioned high up a tree, the user of the conventional fruit picker may find it difficult for him to pluck the fruit because the tongs formed on the conventional fruit picker are not effective in cutting fruit.
Second, the length of the supporting pole is not adjustable. As such, it may be inconvenient for a user to use the conventional fruit picker for picking fruit positioned at mid-height. The supporting pole may be too long for allowing a user to exert a suitable amount of force in picking desired fruit, and it may not be suitable for children.
Third, the conventional fruit pick is not flexible enough to pick fruit from a wide range of locations on a tree. For example, some fruit may be prevented from being picked by branches or other obstacles.
Fourth, the fruit picker basket is usually very small and can only accommodate one or two pieces of fruit. As a result, the user must constantly pull the fruit picker basket back to the ground to empty the fruit picker basket before it can accommodate any more fruit.
As a result, there is a need to develop a fruit plucking device which is convenient and easy to use, and is capable of cutting fruit from wide range of locations from a tree.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a fruit plucking device comprising a fruit plucking arrangement which allows a user to easily and conveniently harvest and collect fruit on a tree.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a fruit plucking device comprising a supporting rod which has an adjustable length so that a user may optimally adjust the length of the supporting rod for fitting different circumstances.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a fruit plucking device in which the fruit plucking arrangement comprises a cutting blade for conveniently and easily cutting fruit from a tree.
In one aspect of the present invention, it provides a fruit plucking device, comprising:
a supporting rod; and
a fruit plucking arrangement, which comprises:
a plucking frame supported on a top portion of the supporting rod, the plucking frame being configured to form a substantial loop portion;
a cutting blade extended on the plucking frame, the cutting blade having a sharp cutting edge for cutting fruit; and
a collector net provided underneath the plucking frame for collecting the fruit cut by the plucking blade.
In another aspect of the present invention, it provides a fruit plucking device, comprising:
a supporting rod; and
a fruit plucking arrangement, which comprises:
a plucking frame supported on a top portion of the supporting rod, the plucking frame being configured to form a substantial loop portion, and having a blade portion for cutting fruit; and
a collector net provided underneath the plucking frame for collecting the fruit cut by the blade portion of the plucking frame.
The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is the preferred mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in any limiting sense. It is presented for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention.
Referring to
The plucking frame 21 may be supported on a top portion 11 of the supporting rod 10. The plucking frame 21 may also be configured to form a substantial loop portion 212. The cutting blade 22 may be extended on the plucking frame 21, and may have a sharp cutting edge 221 for cutting fruit. The collector net 23 may be provided underneath the plucking frame 21 for collecting the fruit cut by the plucking blade 22.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supporting rod 10 may comprise a plurality of rod members 12, wherein each of the rod members 12 may be adjustably and slidably connected to at least one other rod member 12 in such a manner that a height of the entire supporting rod 10 may be varied and freely adjusted by a user of the present invention. As shown in
The supporting rod 10 may further comprise a skid-resistance pad 13 formed on an external surface of the bottommost rod member 12. The skid-resistance pad 13 may be ergonomically designed to provide both a secure grip and the maximum comfort to the user of the present invention.
The plucking frame 21 may comprise an elongated frame member 211 which may be bent to form a substantially circular cross sectional shape (see
The plucking frame 21 may further have a connecting portion 213 downwardly extended from a lowest side of the loop portion 212 for connecting to the supporting rod 10. The connection between the connecting portion 213 and the supporting rod 10 may be accomplished by two (at least one) connecting screws 24. Each of the connecting screws 24 may have a threaded portion and may be arranged to penetrate the supporting rod 10 and the connecting portion 213 of the plucking frame 21 so as to connect the plucking frame 21 to the supporting rod 10. Screw nuts may be provided for tightening the connecting screws 24.
The fruit plucking arrangement 20 may further comprise a plurality of net holders 25 spacedly provided at a bottom side of the plucking frame 21 for providing support to the collector net 23. Thus, the collector net 23 may be suspendedly connected to the net holders 25 for collecting the fruit cut by the cutting blade 22 and falling in the loop formed by the plucking frame 21. Each of the net holders 25 may be a holding ring attached on the plucking frame 21.
The cutting blade 22 may be attached on a top side or inner side of the plucking frame 21. The cutting blade 22 may be configured as having an elongated structure and an arch cross-sectional shape which corresponds to one cross-sectional sector of the plucking frame 21. Thus, when the cutting blade 22 is attached on the plucking frame 21, the cutting blade 22 may substantially overlap with the corresponding sector of the plucking frame 21. The cutting blade 22 may have the sharp cutting edge 221 formed as a portion of the arch-shaped cutting blade 22. The sharp cutting edge 221 may face inwardly toward the opposed side of the plucking frame 21.
The collector net 23, which may be connected to the net holders 25, may be configured from slightly elastic but durable material such as elasticized nylon material for accommodating fruit of differing shapes and sizes. The collector net 23 has a vertical length which corresponds to the maximum length of the supporting rod 10, and may form an enclosed space for collecting the fruit. Alternatively, the collector net 23 may form an opening at a bottom portion thereof so as to allow the fruit to fall in another container which may be positioned underneath the collector net 23.
As shown in
The curvature of the auxiliary cutting blade 26 and the cutting blade 22 are designed to fit the contours of a wide variety of trees. For example, the auxiliary cutting blade 26 may be suitable for cutting common figs on a tree. The fruit plucking device may also be used to harvest apples, pears, cherries, oranges, limes, lemons, mangos, avocados, plums, etc.
As shown in
Referring to
Specifically, the plucking frame 21′ may also comprise an elongated frame member 211′ which may be bent to form a substantially circular cross sectional shape for forming a loop portion 212′ of the plucking frame 21′. Again, the loop portion 212′ of the elongated frame member 211′ may be extended in an inclined manner from the cutting blade 22′ to the supporting rod 10. The plucking frame 21′ may further have a blade portion 220′ having a sharp cutting edge 221′ formed on the blade portion 220′. The sharp cutting edge 221′ faces inwardly toward the opposed side of the plucking frame 21′.
The alternative mode of the present invention allows the plucking frame 21′ to be easily and conveniently manufactured. The other parts of the plucking frame 21′ remain the same as that disclosed in the preferred embodiment described above.
The present invention, while illustrated and described in terms of a preferred embodiment and several alternatives, is not limited to the particular description contained in this specification. Additional alternative or equivalent components could also be used to practice the present invention.
