Patent ID: 6044638
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A universal harvesting tool for fruit comprising a handle of suitable length, the long direction of said handle defining the longitudinal axis of said tool, a tine guide secured transversely to one end of said handle, the length of said tine guide defining the transverse axis of said tool, said tine guide having a plurality of laterally spaced apart holes, a plurality of tines slideably extending through said tine guide holes, said tines being bent on each end, one of said ends being referred to as the attachment end and the other as the harvesting end, a tine retainer having an axial bore through which said handle slideably extends, a locking means where said retainer can be locked to said handle in selected positions along said handle, said locking means maintaining said tine retainer in a fixed angular position about said longitudinal axis with respect to said tine guide, a transverse open ended L shaped slot formed as an integral part of said tine retainer, said slot having the size, shape, and orientation to collectively contain said attachment ends of said tines, said slot retaining said tines in both the longitudinal direction and in the vertical direction at right angles to said longitudinal axis and said transverse axis, an adjustable and removable slot end tine retaining means, said slot end tine retaining means attaching to said tine retainer and bearing on the attachment ends of the two outer tines, said slot end tine retaining means securing said tines within said slot while allowing angular freedom of motion for tine spacing adjustment, said slot end tine retaining means when sufficiently adjusted inward against said tines eliminating end play or looseness of said tines within said slot whereby rotational movement of said tines about said longitudinal axis is prevented and the selected spacing of said tines at said harvesting end is maintained.