Device and Method for Stripping Leaves from Herbs and Plants

Abstract

The present invention provides a device and method for stripping leaves from the stems of herbs and plants and a method of stripping leaves using the device. The device includes a container that supports a lower plate carrying a number of closely spaced flexible tines. An upper plate is pivotally attached to the lower plate and is movable toward and away from the tines. A scalper blade, that is attached to the upper plate at an angle, moves with the upper plate such that when the upper plate engages the tines the scalper blade is spaced below the tines, and when the upper plate is spaced above the tines the scalper blade is adjacent the tines. The method of stripping leaves from the stems of plants with the device is practiced by pivoting the upper plate away from the tines and placing the plants so that the leaves are on one side of the tines, and the stems extend between the tines. The upper plate is then pivoted back so it engages the tines and the stems are pulled back away from the tines, thus lodging the leaves between the tines and stripping them from the stems. The upper plate is then raised which causes the scalper blade to move up and dislodge the stripped leaves that then fall into the container.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.