Patent ID: 7076937
Filing Date: 2006-07-18
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A twister fruit picker apparatus mounted on an operator hand held pole, the apparatus including: two upright substantially similar crossing arms, each arm having upper lower ends, and between the ends is a midpoint with a common axis, wherein the arms are rotated about the axis; each upper end of the arms include substantially identical fruit holding rings of circular shape, wherein the rings define parallel surfaces in both fruit gripping and straddle positions, and wherein the rings are capable of holding the fruit while being lowered from a fruit tree; wherein in the fruit gripping position the rings are moved toward each other, and in the fruit straddle position the rings are moved away from each other; at the midpoint of the arms a spring is connected, wherein the spring is biasing the arms and rings into the straddle or open or moving away position; a rope is connected to one of the end of the arms, passes over a sheave mounted on an upper end of the pole, and further connected to a bungee cord at a lower end of the pole, wherein the cord's biasing force is greater than a biasing force of the spring; wherein a substantial stretching of the cord slackens the rope and the spring biasing force is capable of positioning the rings into the straddle or open position, and vice versa, when the cord is not stretched the biasing spring force is less than the force exerted by the cord, so that the arms and rings are moved closer to each other into the fruit gripping position.