# US 9,750,188 B2 · Berry catcher system

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- Number: US 9,750,188 B2
- Document ID: US9750188B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/823,277
- Filed: 2015-08-11
- Published: 2017-02-16
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-11
- Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
- Applicants: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
- Inventors: Fumiomi Takeda; Scott D. Wolford
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750188B2

## CPC

- A01D 46/264: {Devices for beating or vibrating the foliage; Fruit catching devices to be used therewith}
- A01D 2046/262: {Collecting surfaces extended around a tree in order to catch the fruit}
- A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING

## Abstract

The berry catcher system has an elastic catcher sheet that is sandwiched between upper and lower endless hollow rims. A protector sheet is deployed below the catcher sheet. The system is structured so that as berries are dislodged from their respective vines, the catcher sheet catches the berries as the protector sheet simultaneously protects (at least) the underside of the catcher sheet.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A berry catcher system operatively connected to a berry harvester, the system comprising:
a hollow upper rim and a hollow lower rim;
a catcher sheet stretched across the upper and lower rims; and
a protector sheet stretched across the lower rim;
wherein the berry catcher system is structured so that as the berry harvester moves across a field, falling berries dislodged by the berry harvester are caught by the catcher sheet as the protector sheet simultaneously protects the catcher sheet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the hollow upper and lower rims are structured so that the rims are endless.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the catcher sheet is comprised of an elastic material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the catcher sheet is comprised of neoprene.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the protector sheet is flexible and elastic.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the catcher sheet is sandwiched between the upper and lower rims.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the protector sheet is positioned below the lower rim.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the upper rim and the lower rim are connected by rivets.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the upper rim, the catcher sheet, the lower rim, and the protector sheet are connected by rivets.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the system is structured so that the protector sheet protects the catcher sheet from debris on the ground.

### Claim 11

A berry catcher system operatively connected to a harvester, the system comprising at least one endless hollow rim having an elastic catcher sheet stretched across the rim, and a protector sheet attached below the rim, wherein, as the harvester moves across a field, falling berries are dislodged by the harvester, as the berries are dislodged, the berries fall on to the catcher sheet as the protector sheet simultaneously protects an underside of the catcher sheet.