Hand-operated fruit picker
OwnerAlfred E. Gaubisinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hand-operated fruit picker having a cage defining a fruit gathering chamber with a fruit receiving frontal opening, an upper concavity and a top central forwardly directed stem slit, and a gate hinged to the cage for movement from a fruit receiving to a fruit clamping position, is provided with an outwardly diverging scoop-like extension formed at the top forward margin of the opening to envelop the lateral members of a fruit cluster, and is further provided with removable chamber and gate linings of resilient tufted material contoured to extend the concavity of the chamber and serving to protect more sensitive and fragile fruits against bruising.
Claims20
In a hand-operated fruit picker of the type employing a first jaw defining a fruit gathering chamber having a fruit receiving frontal opening;
- and a second jaw hinged to said first jaw for selective movement between a jaw open position in which said second jaw is pivoted away from said first jaw so that fruit can be brought into said chamber through said opening, and a jaw closed position in which said second jaw is pivoted toward said first jaw so that fruit brought into said chamber can be securely grasped therein for picking, said second jaw being dimensioned and configured to be received within said opening, the improvement comprising:
- said first jaw having an outwardly and upwardly diverging scoop-like extension formed marginally of said opening to provide a widened mouth extending beyond said opening and which is operable as an said to gather fruits into said chamber.
In a hand-operated fruit picker of the type employing a first jaw defining a fruit gathering chamber having a fruit receiving frontal opening and an internal configuration including an upper concavity;
- and a second jaw hinged to said first jaw for selective movement between a jaw open position in which said second jaw is pivoted away from said first jaw so that fruit can be brought into said chamber through said opening, and a jaw closed position in which said second jaw is pivoted toward said first jaw so that fruit brought into said chamber can be securely grasped therein for picking, the improvement comprising:
- a first fruit cushioning lining located peripherally within said chamber and being contoured to change said configuration be effectively extending said concavity.
A hand-operated fruit picker, comprising:
- an elongated handle;
- a first jaw defining a fruit gathering chamber having a fruit receiving frontal opening, an internal configuration including an upper concavity and a central forwardly directed longitudinal slit at the top of said opening which serves to permit fruits to be guided by their stems into the interior of said chamber at said concavity;
- said first jaw being provided with an outwardly and upwardly diverging scoop-like extension formed marginally of said opening to provide a widened mouth extending beyond said opening which is operable as an aid to gather fruits into said chamber, and which is formed with a space that acts to continue said slit into said extension;
- means rigidly fastening said first jaw adjacent one end of said handle;
- a second jaw hinged to said first jaw, said second jaw being dimensioned and configured to be received within said opening;
- and
- means remotely operable from the other end of said handle for moving said second jaw between a jaw open position in which said second jaw is pivoted away from said first jaw so that fruit can be brought into said chamber through said opening, and a jaw closed position in which said second jaw is pivoted toward said first jaw so that fruit brought into said chamber can be securely grasped therein for picking.
A hand-operated fruit picker, especially suited for the harvesting of clustered fruits, comprising:
- a cage having a bottom ring, and a plurality of bowed members extending upwardly and inwardly at angularly spaced intervals about said ring to define a fruit gathering chamber having a fruit receiving frontal opening, an internal configuration including an upper concavity, and a central forwardly directed longitudinal slit at the top of said opening which serves to permit fruits to be guided by their stems into the interior of said chamber at said concavity;
- and an outwardly diverging scoop-like extension formed at a top forward margin of said opening, ahead of and reaching upwardly from the foremost surfaces of said bowed members to provide a widened mouth extending beyond said opening which is operable as an aid to gather clustered fruits into said chamber, and which is formed with a space that acts to continue said slit into said extension;
- a gate having angularly offset upper and lower sections, with said lower section being hinged to said ring and being movable from an open position in which said upper section is pivoted away from said opening so that fruit can be brought into said chamber through said opening, and a closed position in which said upper section is pivoted toward said opening so that fruit brought into said chamber can be securely grasped therein for picking;
- said gate being dimensioned and configured to be received within said opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.