Patent ID: 6668534
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
An elongate intake finger (46) for use with an intake portion of a harvesting assembly, said intake finger (46) having a length, and a finger outer surface, and comprising:(a) an inner longitudinal reinforced polymeric shaft, said inner shaft (58) having a proximal end (54) to be mounted to such harvesting assembly, and a distal end (56) to extend away from such harvesting assembly, and to engage crop material, and an inner shaft outer surface, the composition of said inner shaft comprising polymer selected from the group consisting of thermoset polyesters and thermoplastic polyurethanes, and an effective amount of reinforcing fiber inclusions therein sufficient to provide at least incremental additional resistance to separation of a broken piece of said intake finger from a remainder portion of said intake finger; and (b) an outer sleeve (60) made of sleeve material polymer, overlying and secured to the outer surface of said inner shaft (58), and extending, from a locus at or proximate the distal end (56) of said inner shaft (58), along the length of said inner shaft (58), said outer sleeve (60) comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane composition; whereby said fiber-reinforced inner shaft (58), and said outer sleeve (60), in combination, define said elongate intake finger (46).