BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a conventional tine for use with the pickup reel of a harvesting combine, wherein the tine is clamped to a tube of the pickup reel;
FIG. 2 shows a conventional paddle for use with the pickup reel of a harvesting combine, wherein the tine is clamped to a tube of the pickup reel;
FIG. 3 illustrates a paddle which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates the back side of the paddle shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 illustrates the paddle of FIG. 3, snapped onto a conventional tine, thereby converting the tine into a paddle; and
FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, but shows the back side.
DESCRIPTION
While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, a specific embodiment of the invention. The present disclosure is to be considered an example of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that which is illustrated and described herein.
FIG. 3 illustrates a paddle 30 which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. While FIG. 3 illustrates the front side 32 of the paddle 30, FIG. 4 illustrates the back side 34. The paddle is configured to snap onto a fully intact, non-broken pickup tine 10, such as is shown in FIG. 1, preferably without having to use any tools. As such, the paddle 30 provides that a pickup tine for a combine harvester reel can be quickly and easily effectively changed into a paddle.
Preferably, the paddle 30 is made of a single piece of plastic or rubber and, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes a receptacle 36 which is configured to engage the fully intact, non-broken tine 10, such as is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the receptacle or groove 36 consists of a generally open channel having a plurality of walls 38, 40 and 42 which contact different parts of the tine 10. Specifically, the walls 38, 40, 42 may include a top wall 38 on the front 32 of the paddle which is configured to engage a top portion 44 of the tine 10, as shown in FIG. 5, and a bottom wall 40 which is configured to engage by the end 46 of the tine 10. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, there also may be provided an elongate wall 42 on the back 34 of the paddle 30 which is configured to engage a main, middle portion 48 of the tine 10.
The paddle 30 includes two fin halves 50, 52, one proximate each side of the receptacle 36, such that the receptacle 36 is disposed generally between the fin halves 50, 52. In use, the fin halves 50, 52 work to push short or sparse crops into the combine header. A groove 54 is provided at the top 56 of the paddle 30 for engaging the bat 58 of a tine 10, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and tabs 60 are provided for snapping or locking onto the tine bat 58, thereby keeping the paddle 30 in place. The paddle 30 is configured such that the long, extending, fully intact, non-broken finger 18 of a tine 10 can be slipped in the receptacle 36 such that the walls 38, 40, 42 contact the finger 18 and the tabs 60 snap on the bat 58 of the tine 10, thereby securing the paddle 30 in place over the tine 10. As such, the paddle 30 can be snapped onto a pickup tine without having to use any tools. However, if desired or deemed necessary, a hole can be provided, such at location 70 shown in FIG. 5, for receiving a fastener for enhancing the securable engagement between the paddle 30 and the tine 10.
As such, the paddle 30 is configured to snap onto a fully intact, non-broken pickup tine 10, such as is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, preferably without having to use any tools. As such, the paddle 30 provides that a pickup tine for a combine harvester reel can be quickly and easily effectively changed into a paddle.
While an embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the foregoing disclosure.