Picking rake with dual handles and dual rake heads for gathering and picking material

A picking rake for performing raking and picking operations comprising:

• a first and second rake units;
• and
• the first rake unit having a first rake head and a first rake handle;
• and
• the second rake unit having a second rake head and a second rake handle;
• and
• wherein each of the first and second rake heads has an external side and an inner side and a lower end and an upper end, wherein the lower ends of the first and second rake heads have a plurality of prongs;
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• wherein each of the first and second rake handles has an external side and an inner side;
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• wherein the first rake handle comprises a first elongated member and a first hand grip and the second rake handle comprises a second elongated member and a second hand grip;
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• wherein each of the first and second elongated members has a lower end and an upper end;
• and
• wherein the lower ends of the first and second elongated members are coupled to the upper ends of their respective rake heads;
• and
• wherein the first and second hand grips each comprises a first branch extending substantially transversely outwardly from their respective elongated members at a section intermediate the upper ends of their respective rake heads and the upper ends of their respective elongated members;
• and
• connecting means on at least one of the rake units for keeping the rake heads together during the raking operation and apart during the picking operation;
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• wherein the raking operation substantially comprises a conventional method of raking;
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• wherein the elongated members sweep a raking plane during the raking operation;
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• wherein said connecting means comprise a gripping connection for joining and abutting the two rake units towards the inner sides of the rake heads, the handles substantially parallel and next to each other, side-by-side along their inner sides on a first plane, the lower ends of the rake heads aligned forming substantially one functional rake head also on the first plane, at least one rake head contributing to the total raking span when the picking rake is performing the raking operation;
• and
• wherein the gripping connection comprises a resilient member disposed on one of the first and second rake handles;
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• wherein the resilient member has an opening capable of receiving the outer dimensions of an adjacent section of the other of the first and second rake handles;
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• wherein the resilient member is snapped onto the other of the first and second rake handles in an inwardly side-directed motion along a gripping plane substantially normal to the raking plane when the rake heads are joined together for raking;
• and
• wherein the resilient member is snapped off the other of the first and second rake handles in an outwardly side-directed motion along the gripping plane substantially normal to the raking plane when the rake heads are parted for picking;
• and
• wherein the picking operation comprises the first and second hand grips and the first and second rake heads substantially facing each other and moving alternately toward and away from each other for grasping and releasing debris respectively between the first and second rake heads;
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• wherein the rake handles further includes a second branch extending substantially transversely from each of the elongated members at a section intermediate the upper end of the rake heads and the upper end of each of the elongated members and apart from the first branch, the first and second branches providing an arm-leveraged handle during the picking operation.