Abstract:
A plant harvesting device with tines and cutting blades, for harvesting dry plants with a thrusting motion. The blades are generally triangular, with a peak between tines, and a valley at each tine. Plant material is trapped between the tine and a cutting blade, and is accumulated on the upper surface of the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to cultivating tools, and more particularly to hand tools for harvesting plants. 
     2. Background Information 
     Weeds are a never-ending problem found everywhere. Traditional methods of removing weeds involves millions of man hours annually. 
     Weed and plant harvesting devices are known in the art. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,909,385 to Meredich shows a garden tool. The Meredich device has spaced parallel and perpendicular blades for digging and breaking apart the soil. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,843,359 to Franz et al. shows a weed digging tool having a blade with a v-shaped notch which is inserted into the ground and lifted upwards so that the weed is pulled out roots and all from the ground. Like many weed pullers, this device uses leverage to extract a weed by lifting it. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,928,655 to Armstrong shows a weed puller. The Armstrong device straps onto a wearer&#39;s shoe and contains a v-shaped blade which is inserted into the ground and tilted upwards so that the weed is lifted up roots and all. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,279,747 to Brandeberry shows a weeding tool for grasping weeds and pulling them out by the roots. 
     And finally, U.S. Pat. No. 2,378,459 to Beardsley shows a weeding tool for insertion in the ground and prying upwards thereby pulling up the weed by its roots. 
     What is needed is plant harvesting device having a harvesting means used to cut and remove vegetation without pulling the vegetation out by its roots. Such a device would preferably cut vegetation off at or near the surface of the ground, and have the ability to accumulate a quantity of cut plants for eventual collection. The device should preferably have a variable angle of attack, so that the device may slid along the ground and strike the stems of plants near the ground, cutting them off. 
     Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description as follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a plant harvesting device. In a first embodiment, the device has an elongated handle which attaches to a harvesting means. This harvesting means has a plurality of elongated, generally curved guide means arranged in side by side configuration. Generally between at least two adjacent guide means is located at least one cutting means for cutting and harvesting vegetation. It is preferred that the harvesting means further comprises a harvesting tray for holding harvested vegetation until the user dumps said harvested vegetation from said tray. 
     In another embodiment, the device is a fork having a handle and a plurality of widely spaced prongs. A blade attachment means, for attaching at least one blade, adjustably attaches to the fork, preferably extending between at least two of the prongs. At least one blade connects to this blade attachment mean. 
     In another embodiment, the device is an attachment for a standard pitchfork. The device being comprised of two main pieces, a top bar and a bottom bar, which includes the pusher, collector, and clamping piece. The bottom bar has affixed to it the required number of cutting means as well as the fastening devices. The top bar is formed with a 90 degree angle iron to both clamp the unit together and to provide the pushing, collecting and snapping effect (as weed bends back it hits the top angle iron and tends to snap). It also has a little weight which adds energy to the thrust. The bottom bar, which is comprised of the bar and cutting sections, is clamped to the fork on the tines. It is positioned at the bend to allow the sharpened sections to protrude in a downward fashion. The angle of attack can be determined by the operator, by moving the handle up or down. This device cuts off plants in one thrust and is particularly useful for harvesting beans. The bean plants are snapped off by the thrust. The cutting edge of the sections must be against the tines of the fork and the plant can be captured from the sharp edge of the section as well as in the crotch between the sections. The device is used to harvest vegetation and does so by the forward thrusting of the pitchfork. The tines of the pitchfork slide along the ground and the points of the times do not dig into the ground. By rocking the pitchfork up and down the angle of attack of the pitchfork tines is adjusted so that they scoot along the ground rather than dig in. The triangular blades can be moved backward and forward to achieve the right angle for the particular job. The tines of the pitchfork slide along the ground, plants are captured by the triangular blades of the cutters. The plants are captured at ground level. As this device is thrust forward, a mat of harvested plants accumulates and builds up on the angle iron. Periodically the stack of plants which builds up on the angle iron is removed to clear the device. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is partial side view of the another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial bottom view of the harvesting means of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial environmental view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial environmental view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
     The present invention is a plant harvesting device. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.  1 . FIG. 1 shows the plant harvesting device  10  comprising an elongated handle  12  attaching to a fork  11 . The elongated handle  12  has a first end  14  and a second end  16 . The handle  12  attaches to the fork  11  through a handle attachment means  18 . This handle attachment means  18  can be through inserting the second end  16  of the handle  12  into the handle receiving orifice  20  of the handle attachment means  18  or by any other means. 
     The fork  11  comprises the handle attachment means  18 , a guide means attachment means  22 , a harvesting means  24 , guide means or prongs  26  and at least one sharp cutting means  30 . The guide means attachment means  22  attaches the guide means or prongs  26  to the handle  12  and/or the handle attachment means  18 . From the guide means attachment means  22 , the guide prongs  26  extend there away from so that the prongs  26  have second ends  28  that join to the guide means attachment means  22 ; middle portions  29  which are generally parallel and arranged in a side by side arrangement; and first ends or points  27  which are also arranged in a generally parallel side by side arrangement. 
     The harvesting means  24  is the part of the device  10  which harvests vegetation. This harvesting means, in the preferred embodiment, comprises the guide means  26  and the sharp means  30 . 
     Attaching to and generally extending between the prongs  26  are a plurality of cutting means  30 . The preferred cutting means  30  are blades  32  as shown in FIG.  1 . The preferred blades  32  have two cutting sides or surfaces  38  (as shown in FIG.  3 ). While in the preferred embodiment there is one cutting means generally between each adjacent guide means  26 , it would also be possible to have a plurality of cutting means  30  between adjacent guide means  26 . The harvesting means  24  further comprises a harvesting tray  40  for collecting the cut and harvested vegetation so that the user may cut a plurality of plants with the stalks of the plants piling up against the harvesting tray  40  so that the user may harvest a row of vegetation and turn the device  10  over and dump that same harvested vegetation into a pile or container. The harvesting tray  40  is reinforced through use of reinforcing rods  50 . These rods  50  keep the harvesting tray  40  stable when being thrust into vegetation to be cut. 
     FIG. 1 also shows the optional inclusion of a handle grip  13  for assisting in the use of the device  10 . This grip is preferably attached to the handle  12  slightly rotated. The preferred rotation is eighteen degrees, however, other degrees may also be suitable. The rotation shown is for a left handed user, and an opposite rotation would be in line for a right handed user. This configuration of handle is very important, since it allows the device to be used in an ergonomically advantageous way. With the rotated handle shown in FIG. 1, a user&#39;s right hand would grip the handle somewhere in midshaft, and would support the weight of the handle and attached device by the strong bicep muscle. The left hand would grip the handle grip  13  so that the palm is facing the tool. When force is applied to the tool with the left hand, the force through the wrist would flex the palm toward the users body, a comfortable movement. If the user&#39;s left hand were on a handle without a handle grip, it would be less favorable, because the palm would be down, the back of the hand would be up, the fingers would be wrapped around the handle, and the wrist would have to flex in a lateral motion as force was applied to the tool. This would cause fatigue if not injury. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a partial side view of another embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this view, we can see the elongated handle  12  as it attaches to the fork  11 . This view particularly shows the harvesting means  24 . In this embodiment, the cutting means  30  is shown attached slightly below the guide means  26 . It is to be understood that these cutting means  30  would still be spaced generally in between adjacent guide means or prongs  26 . In this embodiment we can see the harvesting means  24  further comprises a top bar  43 . The preferred top bar  43  is a length of standard angle iron. This top bar has a plurality of holes extending therethrough for receiving fastener means  45  such as the nut and bolt shown. This fastener means  45  will also be able to extend through holes (not shown) extending through the blade  32  of the cutting means  30 . This is done so that the cutting means  30  can be rigidly attached to the prongs  26 . The blade attachment means  42  is used to attach the cutting means  30  to the guide prongs  26 . The top bar  43  assists in defining and creating the basis for the harvesting tray  40  so that when vegetation is cut by the cutting means  30 , the stalks of said vegetation will fall and rest upon the top bar  43  until the user takes the device and dumps the cut vegetation off of it. As shown in FIG. 1, the harvesting tray  40  is reinforced through use of reinforcing rods  50 . The preferred rods  50  are eyebolts which attach through a hole in the top bar  43  through nuts  52 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of another embodiment of the harvesting means  24 . In this embodiment, one can see the plurality of side by side guide means or prongs  26 . In this embodiment we can see one cutting means  30  located between each adjacent guide means  26 . These cutting means  30  preferably have cutting sides  38  which are obliquely angled to the guide prongs  26 . These cutting sides  38  provide the cutting surface for the cutting means  30 . The blade attachment means  42  is used to attach the cutting means  30  to the guide prongs  26 . It is preferred that the tips of these cutting means  30  be slightly rounded. The bottom bar  46  attaches through use of the fastener means  45  to the cutting means  30 . As in the preferred embodiment, the guide means  26  extends between the cutting means  30  and bottom bar  46  in this fashion. 
     Alternatively, the cutting means  30  may be generally trapezoidal shaped, said trapezoid having two parallel sides  36  and two other sides  38 , wherein said other sides  38  comprise cutting surfaces, with said cutting surfaces oriented generally obliquely to said guide means, said parallel sides generally perpendicular to said guide means. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a side view of the present invention in use is shown. In this view, one can see how the guide means  26  are in use, slid along the ground surface  4 , thereby controlling the angle of attack of the cutting means  30  as it relates to the vegetation  2 . This view shows the cutting means  30  after it has severed the vegetation from its stump and roots. In this view, one can see how the harvesting tray  40  is used to collect cut vegetation. This view also shows the harvesting means  24  in greater detail. In this view, one can see the top bar  43  attaching to the cutting means  30  through use of a fastener means  45  with the guide prongs  26  extending there between. In this embodiment, a bottom bar  46  is utilized to assist in the attachment to the cutting means  30 . 
     The device is used by sliding the guide means along a ground surface. As the guide means  26  slide, vegetation enters the cutting means  30  and is cut. Severed plant matter piles up on the device, particularly stacking against the harvesting tray. After the user has made sufficient cutting passes, the user is able to lift the device off the ground, carry it to a desired location, and dump the stacked plant matter into a pile or container. The cutting action is facilitated through the vegetation sliding between the guide means and the cutting edges of the cutting means. When the vegetation reaches the valley of the harvesting means, the vegetation becomes pinched between the blade and the guide means and is easily cut by the blade. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, a side view of the present invention in use is shown. This view shows blade  32  and cutting means 30 disposed at a greater angle from prong  26 , as compared to that shown in FIG.  4 . 
     While the figures show use of a four-tine fork, any other type of numbered fork may also work, for instance a three-tine fork, a five-tine fork, or others. The fork and handle may also be a standard pitchfork. The position of the top bar and bottom bar can be adjusted by sliding along the tines, to achieve the desired angle for a particular task. 
     While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.