US 12,680,248 B1Granted

Material collecting apparatus

OwnerKevin Herbert Fowlerinventor

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Abstract

The embodiments herein provide a material collecting apparatus with a height-adjustable towing cable. Some embodiments allow the front end to be weighted to increase downforce and may have a detachable bracing bar. The apparatus comprises a metal tray towable behind a vehicle enabling it to collect manure, rocks, sticks, molehills, fruits, nuts, balls etc. The adjustable height towing cable allows an effective connection point to the apparatus to be set higher than that of a towing point on the vehicle, leading to improved downforce and hence collection efficiency. The bracing bar may be removed or replaced with a bar having flaps for allowing passage of material in one direction whilst blocking passage in an opposite direction. As well as collecting material, embodiments may be used to level or smooth a ground surface.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A material collecting apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a metal tray having a collection mouth opening on a front end, and first and second sides, the apparatus being configured to be towed behind a vehicle;
at least one towing cable configured to attach the metal tray to a towing point on the vehicle;
wherein the towing cable is received at a receiving point on the apparatus, the receiving point being on an arm, and being height-adjustable so as to provide an adjustable height of the effective cable attachment point on the apparatus;
wherein the arm is adjustable in position, and wherein different adjustment positions provide different heights of the receiving point above the mouth;
wherein the adjustable arm comprises of an arm pivotally mounted at a point on the metal tray at a pivot point, the pivot being at or towards an opposing end of the arm to the receiving point, and wherein the arm is able to rotate to a plurality of selected angles and to be locked into position at a selected angle.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.