Rake with grasping apparatus

An attachment to a conventional rake having a grasping head pivotally attached to a link which is pivotally attached to the rake head such that an operable clamp is formed, the grasping head being operated by a lever attached to the rake's handle. The pivotal link separates the upper portions of the two heads such that the capacity of the "grasp" is greater than that of conventional rakes with grasping apparatus.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates generally to rakes, and more particularly to 
attachments to rakes which allow the rake to be used to grasp the material 
being raked. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Conventional rakes are typically used to sweep leaves or other materials 
into a pile which is then picked up and placed within bags or other 
containers for disposal. The task of picking up these piles can be quite 
burdensome and strain the back of even an athletic person. The elderly and 
handicapped may well find the task impossible. 
To date, there are a wide variety of rakes having apparatus for grasping 
these piles of materials, thereby lessening or eliminating the need for 
the user to bend over. These devices suffer three basic problems. First, 
the capacity of the grasping apparatus is quite small, forcing the user to 
make frequent trips to dispose of a pile of leaves. Second, each rake with 
grasping apparatus must be purchased as a complete unit, since the basic 
rake is modified to add the grasping apparatus. Finally, the grasping head 
of the grasping apparatus is generally of equal size and weight as the 
rake head, thus adding a significant amount of weight to the device. This 
additional weight directly reduces the ease and convenience of using the 
grasping apparatus. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide an improved 
rake with grasping apparatus. 
Another object is to provide an attachment for grasping material which may 
be affixed to an existing rake. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a rake with 
grasping apparatus having large capacity and minimal weight. 
More generally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
attachment to a conventional rake which includes a grasping head which is 
pivotally attached opposing the rake head for grasping material 
therebetween, the grasping head being operated by a lever attached to the 
rake's handle. A pivotal link joins the two heads and separates their 
upper portions during operation, such that the capacity of the "grasp" is 
larger than conventional rakes with grasping apparatus. The grasping 
apparatus is designed such that it can be either an integral part of the 
invention or a separate attachment for easy installation on an existing 
rake. 
These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will 
become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention 
when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings, in which identical or corresponding parts 
are indicated by the same reference character throughout the several 
views, and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, whereon the grasping 
apparatus is designated generally at 10, and is shown installed upon a 
conventional rake 11 having a handle 12 and head 13. 
Grasping apparatus 10 is comprised of a grasping head 20 pivotally attached 
via a pivoting link 30 to rake head 13. Grasping head 20 is operated by a 
pivotal lever 40 attached to rake handle 12. 
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, grasping head 20 has a size and shape 
approximately equal to the lower half of rake head 13, and is mounted 
opposing rake head 13. The end portions 14a of rake head tines 14 and end 
portions 21a of grasping head tines 21 are bent inwards towards each other 
such that when rake head 14 is parallel to grasping head 20 the ends of 
tines 14a and 21a will touch, thus forming the jaws of a clamp. Tines 21 
of grasping head 20 are affixed in the proper spaced-apart relationship on 
a rectangular plate 22, in a manner well known in the art. 
Plate 22 lies in the same general plane as tines 21, with one edge 22a 
thereof projecting beyond the affixed ends of tines 21. A sleeve 23 is 
affixed along projecting edge 22a of plate 22, through which the base 30a 
of U-shaped link 30 is inserted and adapted for pivotal movement. Thus, 
grasping head 20 will pivot about base 30a of link 30 within sleeve 23. 
Each free end of link 30 has a loop 30b which is looped around the side 
31a, which is parallel to base 30a, of triangular frame 31. Thus, base 30a 
of link 30 will pivot about side 31a of frame 31 and remain generally 
parallel thereto. Triangular frame 31 is formed of a rod bent to a 
generally triangular shape, but having extensions 31b and 31c which cross 
to form the apex 31d of the triangle and are then bent to parallel each 
other. The upper ends 31e and 31f of extensions 31b and 31c are bent 
inwardly at 90 degrees for insertion into a housing 32 (shown in FIG. 2) 
which connects rake head 13 to handle 11 in a conventional manner. 
Housing 32 is a sleeve fitted to handle 12, and the upper ends of tines 14 
are affixed to its outer surface. Upper ends 31e and 31f of extensions 31b 
and 31c, respectively, form a surface which will abut the end of handle 11 
within a portion of housing 32 (See FIG. 2) which extends beyond the end 
of handle 11. 
Base member 31 is removably attachable to any conventional rake by 
inserting extensions 31b and 31c within the rake's housing 32 as described 
above, and the fastening base member 31 to rake head 13 using clip and 
bolt combinations 33 (Shown in FIG. 4), which are well known in the art. 
The bolts of the clip and bolt combinations 33, may be inserted between a 
tines 14 of rake head 13, thereby avoiding any drilling of holes or other 
permanent changes to rake 11. 
Still referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a flexible cable 34 is affixed at one end 
to the apex 31d of triangular frame 31, and at the other end to an 
intermediate point 30c on base 30a of link 30. Cable 34 is long enough to 
restrict link 30 from pivoting beyond a position substantially 
perpendicular to handle 11. A coil spring 36 is interposed upon side 31a 
of frame 31 adjacent each end of link 30. One end of each spring 36 is 
extended and bent to contact link 30 and the other end is extended to 
contact an adjacent side of frame 31 such that springs 36 will be further 
coiled by the pivotal movement of link 30 towards frame 31. It can 
therefore be seen that the bias of springs 36 will be limited by cable 34 
such that link 30 may pivot only between a position adjacent the upper 
portion of rake head 13 and a position generally perpendicular to rake 
head 13. 
A generally U-shaped rigid wire 37 is affixed flush to the face of plate 22 
with the free ends projecting over edge 22a of plate 22. Wire 37 may be 
fastened to plate 22 using nuts and bolts 38 tightened through loops in 
wire 37, or by other methods well known in the art. The ends of wire 37 
are bent inwardly so as to contact the sides of link 30 when grasping head 
20 is pivoted upwardly on sleeve 23. Thus, the ends of wire 37 will act as 
a stop when grasping head 20 is pivoted to a position generally parallel 
to link 30, as seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5. An inverted U-shaped 
intermediate portion 37a of wire 37 is bent so as to project 
perpendicularly from the face of plate 22. Two rods 39 each have a looped 
end 39a connected to the inverted portion 37a of wire 37, and extend 
upwards to lever 40 on handle 12 of rake 11 (See FIGS. 1, 2, and 3). 
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, lever 40 is generally cylindrically shaped and 
is pivotally affixed between the legs of a U-bracket 41 which is affixed 
to a sleeve 42 secured to handle 12. A pin 43 through the diameter of 
lever 40 is journaled to the sides of U-bracket 41 in a manner well known 
in the art, to form the pivotal connection. 
The free ends 39b of rods 39 are bent inwards so that they are axial, and 
then inserted into opposing ends of a diametric aperature 44 proximal the 
free end of lever 40. Thus, as lever 40 is pivoted about pin 43, ends 39b 
of rods 39 will pivot within aperture 44 in lever 40. Rods 39 extend from 
lever 40 to U-shaped portion 37a of wire 37 on either side of handle 12. 
Having two rods 39 prevents the uneven effect which would be produced by a 
single rod 39 on only one side of handle 12. 
Since U-shaped portion 37a is always on the opposing side of handle 12, 
with respect to the position of pin 43, as aperture 44 on lever 40 is 
shifted towards handle 12 beyond a position where aperture 44, pin 43 and 
looped ends 39a of rods 39 are aligned, the bias of springs 36 will lock 
lever 40 in place against handle 12. Lever 40 will therefore hold grasping 
head 20 in the "unclamped" position (see FIG. 3) until released by the 
user. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the grasping apparatus 10 may be 
attached to any conventional rake by sliding sleeve 42 onto the rake 
handle and securing it in place in conventional manner. Base member 31 is 
then inserted in housing 32 and also attached to rake head 13 as described 
hereinabove. 
By shifting lever 40 down to a position generally parallel to handle 12, 
grasping head 20 is pivoted about link 30 until tines 21 contact tines 14 
of rake head 13. Link 30 serves to hold the pivotal end of grasping head 
20 away from rake head 13, thus enlarging the capacity of the grasping 
apparatus 10. Link 30 is held in a position perpendicular to rake 13 by 
the opposing forces of springs 36 and cable 34 (See FIGS. 1, 2 and 4), as 
described above. 
To unclamp the material within the grasping apparatus 10, lever 40 is 
shifted upwards against the bias of spring 36, causing grasping head 20 to 
pivot about link 30. If it is desired to use rake 11 in a conventional 
manner, grasping head 20 may be locked into a position nearly flush with 
handle 12 (as shown in FIG. 3). As lever 40 is shifted upwards grasping 
head 20 will be stopped from pivoting about link 30 by the ends of wire 
37. Continuing to shift lever 40 upwards will overcome the bias of springs 
36 and grasping head 20 will pivot with link 30 about triangular frame 31. 
Thus, rake 11 can be used in a conventional manner without having to hold 
lever 40 in the "unclamped" position. 
It will be readily understood that the particular disposition or 
arrangement or nature of the elements of the invention are not of the 
essence of the invention, and that many variations, substitutions, and 
modifications may be made, in departure from the particular construction 
and characterization in the drawings and foregoing description, without 
departing from the true spirit of the invention. It is therefore to be 
understood that the invention should be limited only by the breadth and 
scope of the appended claims.