Patent Application
20180020612
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The disclosure and prior art relates to rake devices and more particularly pertains to a new rake device being selectively positioned in a closed position to grip debris.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a raking unit that may be manipulated thereby facilitating the raking unit to rake debris. The raking unit has a first half and a second half. Each of the first half and the second half is positionable in a closed position. Thus, each of the first half and the second half grips the debris thereby facilitating the debris to be selectively dumped. A closing unit is movably coupled to the raking unit and the closing unit may be manipulated. The closing unit is operationally coupled to each of the first half and the second half. Thus, the closing unit selectively positions each of the first half and the second half in the closed position when the closing unit is manipulated.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The raking unit 12 comprises a handle 20. The handle 20 has a first end 22 and a second end 24. The handle 20 is elongated between the first end 22 and the second end 24. The second end 24 is open and the handle 20 is substantially hollow. A grip 26 is coupled to the second end 24 of the handle 20 and the grip 26 may be gripped. The grip 26 has a free end 28 with respect to the handle 20. The free end 28 has an opening 30 extending therethrough to be suspended on a support.
A head 32 is provided. The head 32 has a plurality of spaced disks 34 and a central member 36 extending between the spaced disks 34. The plurality of spaced disks 34 includes a bottom disk 38, a medial disk 40 and a top disk 42. The spaced disks 34 are distributed on the central member 36 to define a first space 44 between the bottom disk 38 and the medial disk 40. The spaced disks 34 further define a second space 46 between the medial disk 40 and the top disk 42. The bottom disk 38 is coupled to the second end 24 of the handle 20. The top disk 42 has a top surface 48 and the top surface 48 may be arcuate such that the top disk 42 has a bullet shape.
A first shaft 50 extends between the bottom disk 38, the medial disk 40 and the top disk 42. The first shaft 50 extends through the first space 44 and the second space 46. The first shaft 50 is spaced from the central member 36. A second shaft 52 extends between the bottom disk 38, the medial disk 40 and the top disk 42. The second shaft 52 extends through the first space 44 and the second space 46. The second shaft 52 is spaced from the central member 36 and the second shaft 52 is oppositionally positioned on the head 32 with respect to the first shaft 50.
Each of the first half 16 and the second half 18 of the raking unit 12 comprises a panel 54 that has a first surface 56 and a peripheral edge 58. The peripheral edge 58 has a top side 60 and a first lateral side 62. The panel 54 has a pair of fingers 64 and each of the fingers 64 extends outwardly from the first lateral side 62. The fingers 64 are spaced apart from each other.
Each of the fingers 64 extends into an associated one of the first space 44 and the second space 46. Each of the fingers 64 corresponding to the first half 16 rotatably engages the first shaft 50. Thus, the panel 54 corresponding to the first half 16 is movably coupled to the first shaft 50. Each of the fingers 64 corresponding to the second half 18 rotatably engages the second shaft 52. Thus, the panel 54 corresponding to the second half 18 is movably coupled to the second shaft 52.
The panel 54 corresponding to each of the first half 16 and the second half 18 is selectively positioned in an open position. Thus, the first surface 56 of the first half 16 lies on a plane that is coplanar with the first surface 56 of the second half 18. The panel 54 corresponding to each of the first half 16 and the second half 18 is selectively positioned in a closed position. Thus, the first surface 56 of the first half 16 faces the first surface 56 of the second half 18.
Each of the first half 16 and the second half 18 include a plurality of first tines 66. Each of the first tines 66 is coupled to and extends away from the top side 60 of the panel 54. Each of the first tines 66 has a distal end 68 with respect to the panel 54. Each of the first tines 66 is curved between the panel 54 and the distal end 68. Thus, the distal end 68 may frictionally engage the debris 14. The first tines 66 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed along the top side 60.
Each of the first half 16 and the second half 18 include a plurality of second tines 70. Each of the second tines 70 is coupled to and extends away from the top side 60 of the panel 54. Each of the second tines 70 has a distal end 72 with respect to the panel 54. Each of the second tines 70 is curved between the panel 54 and the distal end 72 of the second tines 70. Thus, the distal end 72 of the second tines 70 may frictionally engage the debris 14. The second tines 70 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed between the first tines 66. Each of the first tines 66 may have a length that is greater than a length of each of the second tines 70.
A closing unit 74 is provided. The closing unit 74 is movably coupled to the raking unit 12 and the closing unit 74 may be manipulated. The closing unit 74 is operationally coupled to each of the first half 16 and the second half 18. Thus, the closing unit 74 selectively positions each of the first half 16 and the second half 18 in the closed position when the closing unit 74 is manipulated.
The closing unit 74 comprises a sleeve 76 that is slidably positioned around the handle 20. Thus, the sleeve 76 may be manipulated. The sleeve 76 is selectively urged into a closing position having the sleeve 76 being slid toward the first end 22 of the handle 20. The sleeve 76 is biased into an opening position having the sleeve 76 being centrally positioned on the handle 20.
A first cord 78 is positioned within the handle 20. The first cord 78 is coupled to the sleeve 76. The first cord 78 has a distal end 80 with respect to the sleeve 76. A second cord 82 is positioned within the handle 20. The second cord 82 has a primary end 84 and a secondary end 86.
A first biasing member 88 is positioned within the handle 20. The first biasing member 88 is coupled between the distal end 80 of the first cord 78 and the primary end 84 of the second cord 82. The first biasing member 88 biases the sleeve 76 into the opening position. The first biasing member 88 may comprise a spring or the like.
A second biasing member 90 is provided. The second biasing member 90 extends outwardly from bottom disk 38 of the head 32. The second biasing member 90 is coupled between the secondary end 86 of the second cord 82 and the first surface 56 corresponding to the first half 16. The second biasing member 90 biases the first half 16 into the open position.
A third biasing member 92 is provided. The third biasing member 92 extends outwardly from the bottom disk 38 of the head 32. The third biasing member 92 is coupled between the secondary end 86 of the second cord 82 and the first surface 56 corresponding to the second half 18. The third biasing member 92 biases the second half 18 into the open position. Each of the first half 16 and the second half 18 is urged into the closed position when the sleeve 76 is urged into the closing position.
Each of the second biasing member 90 and the third biasing member 92 may be comprised of a resiliently bendable material. The second biasing member 90 is biased to curve outwardly between the second cord 82 and the first half 16. The third biasing member 92 is biased to curve outwardly between the second cord 82 and the second half 18. Each of the second 90 and third 92 biasing members is drawn into the handle 20 when the sleeve 76 is urged into the closing position. Moreover, each of the second 90 and third 92 biasing members is straightened when the sleeve 76 is urged into the closing position. Thus, each of the first half 16 and the second half 18 is biased into the open position when the sleeve 76 is biased into the opening position.
In use, the handle 20 is gripped and the raking unit 12 is manipulated. Thus, each of the first tines 66 and the second tines 70 rake the debris 14. The second tines 70 inhibit the debris 14 from passing between the first tines 66. Thus, efficiency of the raking unit 12 is enhanced with respect to raking the debris 14. The sleeve 76 is selectively urged into the closing position. Thus, each of the first half 16 and the second half 18 closes around the debris 14. The sleeve 76 is released and each of the first half 16 and the second half 18 are biased into the open position. Thus, the debris 14 is selectively dumped into a container or the like. The raking unit 12 inhibits bending over to gather and dump the debris 14.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
