Patent Publication Number: US-6336314-B1

Title: Rake having grasping features

Description:
This application is a continuation in part of provisional application serial No. 60/136,843, filed Jun. 1, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of lawn tools and is particularly concerned with a rake having grasping features and an adaptor for transforming a conventional rake into a rake having grasping features. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: 
     The use of rakes having fanned times for light raking such as raking together grass cuttings, tree leaves or the like is well known. Indeed, conventional rakes are commonly used to sweep leaves, grass cuttings and other materials into a pile. The pile is then picked up and placed within bags or other containers for disposal. 
     The task of picking up the piles and placing them within the disposal container has proven to be quite unergonomical and burdensome, particularly in view of the repeated bending and lifting movements. In picking up the raked piles the rake head is commonly used together with the hand of the user as a scoop against which portions of the pile to be disposed of or picked up for disposal is pressed. Not only is the operation unergonomical but also inefficient since only small amounts of trash can be held against the rake head in each pick up operation. 
     The need for an ergonomnical and efficient tool combining raking and grasping features has been recognized in the past. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,074 naming Lewis E. Allen as inventor and issued Jul. 18, 1989 discloses a rake like device provided for grasping and lifting a pile of material. The device includes a hollow handle having a rake head attached to its lower most extremity. The rake head is provided with a circular array of flexible metal times. A cable is disposed within the handle and extends a loop configuration to engagement with eyes associated with the times. When the cable is pulled upwardly, the times move radially in unison in an inwardly converging manner. When the pulling force is removed, the times return to their outwardly disposed positions. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,448 naming Francisco Blanco as inventor and issued Jan. 29, 1980 discloses a rake having a fanned spring finger main raking head fixed at one end of the rake handle. The rake is further provided with an auxiliary complimentary fanned spring finger rake head pivotally supported with respect to the rake handle and movable into clamping jaw like relation with respect to the main raking head for picking up raked trash piles. The individual spring fingers of one rake head recedes between the spring fingers of the other rake head to provide for raking with either rake head when they are held in a relatively clamped together position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,038 naming Charles B. Sepe as inventor discloses a hand rake having grasping times. The rake includes a pair of multi timed fork members and a frame assembly for pivotally holding the fork members in a spaced facing relationship. A handle assembly secured to the frame assembly for carrying the fork member and a control mechanism is provided for cooperatively varying the pivotal dispositions of the fork members from an open material raking condition to a closed material transporting condition. 
     Although these prior art devices include both raking and grasping features, they suffer from major drawbacks including overall mechanical complexity leading to a high production cost and relatively low reliability. They also suffer from being both relatively unergonomical and inefficient. Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved rake having grasping features and for an adaptor allowing the conversion of a conventional rake into a rake having grasping features. 
     Advantages of the present invention include the fact that the proposed raking device has built-in integral grasping means allowing both raking of objects such as leaves, grass cuttings and the like into piles as well as grasping and picking up comparatively large piles of trash without bending and with minimal effort. The proposed device provides a relatively large capacity with minimal weight added to the conventional rake. The proposed device is specifically designed so as to be both ergonomnical and efficient. 
     Another main feature of the present invention resides in that the hereinabove mentioned advantages may be accomplished using a relatively simple mechanical structure thus reducing overall production cost and increasing overall reliability. Further advantages include the fact that the proposed device provides a double set of times that improves the overall ergonomic efficiency of every raking stroke. 
     Furthermore, the proposed device allows an intended user to pick-up raked components through an ergonomic set of steps and in a continuous motion with the raking stroke. This, in turn, reduces the risk of having the raked articles blown away or otherwise dispersed in certain environments, such as high winds or the like. 
     The proposed device is further specifically designed so as to be made of components that can easily be retro-fitted and affixed to existing rakes without requiring special tooling or manual dexterity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rake having grasping features comprising, in combination: an elongated and tubular rake handle, the rake handle defining a handle first longitudinal end and an opposed handle second longitudinal end; a main rake head attached to the rake handle adjacent the handle first longitudinal end by a main head base component, the main rake head including a set of main times extending from the main head base component, each of the main times defining a corresponding main tine proximal end and a main tine distal end; an auxiliary rake head pivotally attached to the main rake head by an auxiliary head hinge means, the auxiliary rake head including a set of auxiliary times extending from the auxiliary head hinge means, each of the auxiliary times defining a corresponding auxiliary tine proximal end and an opposed auxiliary tine distal end; the auxiliary head hinge means allowing the auxiliary rake head to pivot relative to the main rake head between an open configuration and a clamping configuration in a jaw-like manner, the auxiliary head hinge means being positioned intermediate the main tine proximal ends and the main tine distal ends and the auxiliary times being sized such that when the auxiliary head is in the clamping configuration the auxiliary tine distal ends are in a proximal relationship with the main tine distal ends; an actuating means for allowing an intended user to move the auxiliary rake head between the open and clamping configurations, the actuating means including an actuating sleeve slidably mounted on the rake handle and an actuating rod, the actuating sleeve defining a sleeve longitudinal axis, the actuating rod defining an actuating rod first longitudinal end, an actuating rod second longitudinal end and an actuating rod longitudinal axis, the actuating rod first longitudinal end being pivotally attached to the actuating sleeve and the actuating rod second longitudinal end being pivotally attached to the auxiliary head by an actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment means; a biasing means for biasing the auxiliary rake head towards the open configuration, the biasing means including a resiliently deformable biasing sleeve mounted on the rake handle, the biasing sleeve defining a biasing sleeve first longitudinal end and a biasing sleeve second longitudinal end, the biasing sleeve being sized such that when the auxiliary rake head is moved towards the clamping configuration the biasing sleeve first longitudinal end abuttingly contacts the actuating sleeve and the biasing sleeve second longitudinal end abuttingly contacts the main head base component; whereby slidable movement of the actuating sleeve towards the main head base component resiliently compresses the biasing sleeve, when in a compressed state the biasing sleeve having an inherent tendency to resiliently spring back towards its uncompressed state biases the actuating sleeve away from the main head base component and, through the mechanical link created by the actuating rod, biases the auxiliary rake head towards the open configuration. Preferably, the biasing sleeve includes an helicoidal-type spring, the helicoidal-type spring being coiled around the rake handle. 
     Conveniently, a main stabilizing structure extends transversally across the main times intermediate the main tine proximal and distal ends, the main stabilizing structure including a pair of main stabilizing plates, a stabilized segment of the main times being sandwiched between the main stabilizing plates; the auxiliary hinge means includes a first hinge plate and a second hinge plate positioned transversally relative to the main and auxiliary rake heads, the first and second hinge plates each having a corresponding set of spaced apart first and second hinge plate eyelets extending from one of their respective peripheral edges, the first and second hinge plate eyelets being positioned in side by side relationship relative to each other so as to define a common eyelet channel, an hinge rod extending through the eyelet channel to pivotally join together the first and second hinge plates; the first hinge plate being attached to one of the stabilizing plates and the second hinge plate being attached to the auxiliary times by an auxiliary tine attachment component. 
     Preferably, the auxiliary tine attachment component extends transversally across the auxiliary times adjacent the auxiliary tine proximal ends, the auxiliary tine attachment component including a pair of auxiliary attachment plates, an attached segment of the auxiliary times being sandwiched between the auxiliary attachment plates. 
     Conveniently, the actuating sleeve includes a rod-to-sleeve attachment section, the rod-to-sleeve attachment section including a sleeve spacing segment extending radially away from the actuating sleeve in a generally perpendicular relationship relative to the sleeve longitudinal axis, the rod first longitudinal end being pivotally attached to the sleeve spacing segment by a rod first hinge pin. 
     Preferably, the actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment means includes an actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment component, the actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment component defining a rod spacing segment extending away from the auxiliary attachment plates and in a direction generally parallel to the auxiliary times, the actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment component also defining an hinge hook segment extending integrally from the rod spacing segment, the rod second longitudinal end being pivotally attached to the hinge hook segment by a rod second hinge pin. 
     Conveniently, the actuating rod defines a rod angled segment adjacent the actuating rod first longitudinal end, the rod angled segment extending at an angle relative to the actuating rod longitudinal axis, the rod angled segment being configured and sized so as to create a spacing between the actuating rod and the rake handle when the auxiliary rake head is both in the open and clamping configurations. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided an adapter for retro-fittingly providing grasping features to a conventional rake, the conventional rake including an elongated and tubular rake handle, the rake handle defining a handle first longitudinal end and an opposed handle second longitudinal end; a main rake head attached to the rake handle adjacent the handle first longitudinal end by a main head base component, the main rake head including a set of main tines extending from the main head base component, each of the main tines defining a corresponding main tine proximal end and a main tine distal end; a main stabilizing structure extending transversally across the main tines intermediate the main tine proximal and distal ends, the main stabilizing structure including a pair of main stabilizing plates, a stabilized segment of the main tines being sandwiched between the main stabilizing plates; the adapter comprising: an auxiliary rake head pivotally attached to the main rake head by an auxiliary head hinge means, the auxiliary rake head including a set of auxiliary tines extending from the auxiliary head hinge means, each of the auxiliary tines defining a corresponding auxiliary tine proximal end and an opposed auxiliary tine distal end; the auxiliary head hinge means allowing the auxiliary rake head to pivot relative to the main rake head between an open configuration and a clamping configuration in a jaw-like manner, the auxiliary head hinge means being positioned intermediate the main tine proximal ends and the main tine distal ends and the auxiliary tines being sized such that when the auxiliary head is in the clamping configuration the auxiliary tine distal ends are in a proximal relationship with the main tine distal ends; an actuating means for allowing an intended user to move the auxiliary rake head between the open and clamping configurations, the actuating means including an actuating sleeve slidably mounted on the rake handle and an actuating rod, the actuating sleeve defining a sleeve longitudinal axis, the actuating rod defining an actuating rod first longitudinal end, an actuating rod second longitudinal end and an actuating rod longitudinal axis, the actuating rod first longitudinal end being pivotally attached to the actuating sleeve and the actuating rod second longitudinal end being pivotally attached to the auxiliary head by an actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment means; a biasing means for biasing the auxiliary rake head towards the open configuration, the biasing means including a resiliently deformable biasing sleeve mounted on the rake handle, the biasing sleeve defining a biasing sleeve first longitudinal end and a biasing sleeve second longitudinal end, the biasing sleeve being sized such that when the auxiliary rake head is moved towards the clamping configuration the biasing sleeve first longitudinal end abuttingly contacts the actuating sleeve and the biasing sleeve second longitudinal end abuttingly contacts the main head base component; whereby slidable movement of the actuating sleeve towards the main head base component resiliently compresses the biasing sleeve, when in a compressed state the biasing sleeve having an inherent tendency to resiliently spring back towards its uncompressed state biases the actuating sleeve away from the main head base component and, through the mechanical link created by the actuating rod, biases the auxiliary rake head towards the open configuration. Conveniently, the biasing sleeve includes an helicoidal-type spring, the helicoidal-type spring being coiled around the rake handle. 
     Preferably, the auxiliary hinge means includes a first hinge plate and a second hinge plate positioned transversally relative to the main and auxiliary rake heads, the first and second hinge plates each having a corresponding set of spaced apart first and second hinge plate eyelets extending from one of their respective peripheral edges, the first and second hinge plate eyelets being positioned in side by side relationship relative to each other so as to define a common eyelet channel, an hinge rod extending through the eyelet channel to pivotally join together the first and second hinge plates; the first hinge plate being attached to one of the stabilizing plates and the second hinge plate being attached to the auxiliary tines by an auxiliary tine attachment component. 
     Conveniently, the auxiliary tine attachment component extends transversally across the auxiliary tines adjacent the auxiliary tine proximal ends, the auxiliary tine attachment component including a pair of auxiliary attachment plates, an attached segment of the auxiliary tines being sandwiched between the auxiliary attachment plates. 
     Preferably, the actuating sleeve includes a rod-to-sleeve attachment section, the rod-to-sleeve attachment section including a sleeve spacing segment extending radially away from the actuating sleeve in a generally perpendicular relationship relative to the sleeve longitudinal axis, the rod first longitudinal end being pivotally attached to the sleeve spacing segment by a rod first hinge pin. 
     Conveniently, the actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment means includes an actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment component, the actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment component defining a rod spacing segment extending away from the auxiliary attachment plates and in a direction generally parallel to the auxiliary tines, the actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment component also defining an hinge hook segment extending integrally from the rod spacing segment, the rod second longitudinal end being pivotally attached to the hinge hook segment by a rod second hinge pin. 
     Preferably, the actuating rod defines a rod angled segment adjacent the actuating rod first longitudinal end, the rod angled segment extending at an angle relative to the actuating rod longitudinal axis, the rod angled segment being configured and sized so as to create a spacing between the actuating rod and the rake handle when the auxiliary rake head is both in the open and clamping configurations. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An embodiment of the present invention will now be disclosed, by way of example, in reference to the following drawings in which: 
     FIG.  1 : in a perspective view with sections taken out, illustrates a rake having grasping features in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with its auxiliary head in an opened configuration. 
     FIG.  2 : in a side view with sections taken out, illustrates the rake shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG.  3 : in a side view with sections taken out, illustrates the rake shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with its auxiliary jaw in a partially closed configuration. 
     FIG.  4 : in a detailed view with partial cross sections and sections taken out, illustrates the connection between the main and auxiliary rake heads both part of the rake shown in FIGS.  1  through  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a rake  10  having grasping features  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The rake  10  includes an elongated and tubular rake handle  12 . The rake handle  12  defines a handle first longitudinal end  14  and an opposed handle second longitudinal end  16 . 
     A main rake head  18  is attached to the rake handle  12  adjacent the handle first longitudinal end  14  by a main head base component  20 . The main rake head  18  includes a set of main tines  22  extending from the main head base component  20 . Each of the main tines  22  define a corresponding main tine proximal end  24  and an opposed main tine distal end  26 . 
     An auxiliary rake head  28  is pivotally attached to the main rake head  18  by an auxiliary head hinge means  30 . The auxiliary rake head  28  includes a set of auxiliary tines  32  extending from the auxiliary head hinge means  30 . Each of the auxiliary tines  32  defines a corresponding auxiliary tine proximal end  34  and an opposed auxiliary tine distal end  36 . 
     The auxiliary head hinge means  30  allows the auxiliary rake head  28  to pivot relative to the main rake head  18  between an open configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a clamping configuration shown in FIG. 3 in a jaw like manner. The auxiliary head hinge means  30  is positioned intermediate and preferably substantially mid-way between the main tine proximal ends  24  and the main tine distal ends  26 . Furthermore, the auxiliary tines  32  are configured and sized such that when the auxiliary head  28  is in the clamping configuration, the auxiliary tine distal ends  36  are in a proximal relationship with the main tine distal ends  26  such as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The rake  10  also includes an actuating means for allowing an intended user to move the auxiliary rake head  28  between the open and clamping configurations. The actuating means includes an actuating sleeve  38  slidably mounted on the rake handle  12 . The actuating means also include an actuating rod  40  defining an actuating rod first longitudinal end  42  and an opposed actuating rod second longitudinal end  44 . 
     The actuating rod first longitudinal end  42  is pivotally attached to the actuating sleeve  38  while the actuating rod second longitudinal end  44  is pivotally attached to the auxiliary head  28  by an actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment means  46  shown in greater details in FIG.  4 . 
     The rake  10  further includes a biasing means for biasing the auxiliary rake head  28  towards the open configuration. The biasing means includes a resiliently deformable biasing sleeve  48  mounted on the rake handle  12 . The biasing sleeve  48  defines a biasing sleeve first longitudinal end  50  and an opposed biasing sleeve second longitudinal end  52 . The biasing sleeve  48  is sized such that when the auxiliary rake head  28  is moved towards the clamping configuration shown in FIG.  3 . The biasing sleeve first longitudinal end  50  abuttingly contacts the actuating sleeve  38  and the biasing sleeve second longitudinal end  52  abuttingly contacts the main head base component  20 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, slidable movement of the actuating sleeve  38  towards the main head base component  20  resiliently compresses the biasing sleeve  48 . In such a stage, the biasing sleeve  48  having an inherent tendency to resiliently spring back towards its uncompressed state biases the actuating sleeve  38  away from the main head base component  20  and thus through the actuating rod  40  biases the auxiliary rake head  28  towards the open configuration. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the biasing sleeve  48  includes an helicoidal-type spring coiled around the rake handle  12 . Alternatively, the biasing sleeve  48  could take the form of a tubular sleeve made out of an elastomeric resin or any other suitable forms. 
     A main stabilizing structure  54  stands transversally across the main tines  22 , intermediate the main tine proximal distal ends  24 ,  26 . As shown in greater details in FIG. 4, the main stabilizing structure  54  includes a pair of main stabilizing plates  56 . A stabilized segment of the main tines  22  are sandwiched between the main stabilizing plates  56 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the main stabilizing plates  56  merge integrally with each other above one of their longitudinal peripheral edges and channels  58  are formed in the merging segment to allow through passage of the main tines  22 . 
     The auxiliary hinge means  30  preferably includes a first and a second hinge plate  60 ,  62  positioned transversally relative to the main and auxiliary rake heads  18 ,  28 . The first and second hinge plates  60 ,  62  each have a corresponding set of spaced apart first and second hinge plate eyelets  64  (only one of which is shown in cross section in FIG. 4) extending integrally from one of their respective longitudinal peripheral edges. 
     The first and second hinge plate eyelets  64  are positioned in side-by-side relationship relative to each other so as to define a common eyelet channel as is well known in the art. An hinge rod  66  extends through the eyelet channel so as to pivotally join together the first and second hinge plates  60 ,  62  about an adjacent longitudinal edge thereof. 
     The first hinge plate  60  is attached to one of the stabilizing plates  56  while the second hinge plate  62  is attached to the auxiliary tines  32  by an auxiliary tine attachment component  68 . The auxiliary tine attachment component  68  extends transversally across the auxiliary tines  32  adjacent the auxiliary tine proximal ends  34 . The auxiliary tine attachment component includes a pair of auxiliary attachment plates  70 . An attached segment of the auxiliary tines  32  is sandwiched between the auxiliary attachment plates  70  so as to retain the latter. 
     The actuating sleeve  38  preferably includes a rod-to-sleeve attachment section. The rod-to-sleeve attachment section includes a sleeve spacing segment  72  extending radially away from the actuating sleeve  38  in a generally perpendicular relationship relative to the sleeve longitudinal axis. The rod first longitudinal end  42  is pivotally attached to the sleeve spacing segment  72  by a rod first hinge pin  74 . 
     As shown more specifically in FIG. 4, the actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment means includes an actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment component. The actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment component defines a rod spacing segment  76  extending away from the auxiliary attachment plates  70  in a direction generally parallel to the auxiliary tines  32 . 
     The actuating rod-to-auxiliary head attachment component  78  also defines a hinge hook segment  80  extending integrally from the rod spacing segment  76 . The rod second longitudinal end  44  is pivotally attached to the hinge hook segment  80  by a rod second hinge pin  82 . 
     The actuating rod  32  preferably defines a rod angled segment  84  adjacent the actuating rod first longitudinal end  42 . The rod angled segment  84  extends at an angle designated by the reference letter “A” in FIG. 3 relative to the actuating rod longitudinal axis  86 . The rod angled segment  84  is configured and sized so as to create a spacing  88  between the actuating rod  40  and the rake handle  12  and the auxiliary rake head  32  is both in the open and clamping configurations as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     The angled segment  84  thus prevents mechanical interference between the actuating rod  40  and adjacent components during use of the rake. The angled segment  84  also ensures that when the rake  10  is being used with its auxiliary rake head  28  in the opened configuration and with the auxiliary tines  32  raking the ground surface, pressure imparted on the auxiliary tines  32  is adequately zectorially transmitted to the actuating sleeve  38 . 
     The main head base component  20  typically includes a cylindrical base sleeve section  90  configured and sized for fittingly receiving at least a portion of the handle first longitudinal end  14 . The portion of the handle first longitudinal end  14  fitted within the base sleeve section  90  is typically secured thereto by a base screw  92  or other suitable means. 
     The base sleeve section  90  also defines a base abutment edge  94  adapted to be used for abuttingly contacting the biasing sleeve second longitudinal end  52 . The main head base component  20  also preferably defines a main tine receiving section  96 . The main tine receiving section  96  preferably has a generally flat configuration and extends integrally from a distal end of the sleeve section  90 . 
     Both the main and auxiliary tines  22 ,  32  preferably extend in a distally diverging configuration defining corresponding fan-like arrays. The main and auxiliary tine distal ends  26 ,  36  are preferably curved so as to define angled distal segments. The main and auxiliary tine distal ends  26 ,  36  are further preferably slightly laterally offset with respect to each other so that individual tines of one of said heads are receivable between the tines of the other of said heads when said auxiliary rake head  28  is in its clamping configuration. 
     As shown more specifically in FIG. 4, the main tines  22  are preferably twisted about their respective longitudinal axis and thus define a twisted segment  98  adapted to increase the overall structural rigidity of the main tines  22 . The main rake head  18  is preferably still further provided with a resilient stabilizing component having a generally “V” shaped configuration. 
     The stabilizing component typically defines a pair of proximally merging and distally diverging stabilizing arms  100 . Each stabilizing arm  100  typically has an integral coiled loop section  102  for increasing its resilient and structural characteristics. The stabilizing arms are preferably attached at the proximal end thereof to the main head base component  20  and at a distal end thereof to the main stabilizing structure  54 . 
     In use, the rake  10  is adapted to be used for both raking and picking up the raked components. During the raking operation, the auxiliary jaw head  28  is in its opened configuration shown in FIG.  2 . The main and auxiliary tine distal ends  26 ,  36  being laterally offset relative to each other and longitudinally spaced from each other they provide a double set of tine tips that improve the overall ergonomic efficiency of every raking stroke. 
     Since the auxiliary tines  32  are attached to the main tines  22 , intermediate and preferably midway between the main tine proximal and distal ends  24 ,  26 , the distance between the main and auxiliary distal ends  26 ,  36  is maintained at a suitable value so as to provide an efficient raking stroke. The biasing sleeve  48  and the configuration of the actuating rod  40  ensures stability of the auxiliary head  28  during the raking stroke. 
     The specific relative positioning between the main and auxiliary raking heads  18 ,  28  also allows an intended user to pick-up raked components through an ergonomic set of steps in a continuous motion with the raking stroke. This, in turn, reduces the risk of having the raked articles such as leaves or the like blown away or otherwise dispersed. 
     The present invention also relates to an adapter that can be easily retro-fitted a conventional rake so as to provide grasping features to the conventional rake. Indeed, the components hereinabove disclosed can easily be retro-fitted to conventional rakes without the need for a special tooling or manual dexterity. 
     In order to retro-fit the grasping component to a conventional rake an intended user merely needs to slidably mount the biasing sleeve  48  over the rake handle  12  until it abuttingly contacts the main head base component  20 . The actuating sleeve  38  is then slid over the handle  12  until it contacts the biasing sleeve  48 . The hinge means  30  is easily attached to the main rake head  18  by withholding, gluing or otherwise attaching one of the hinge plates  60  to the generally stabilizing plates  56 . A combination of the hinge means  30 , the auxiliary head  28  and the actuating rod  40  is easily coupled to the actuating sleeve  38  by using the hinge pin  74  to attach the proximal end  42  of the actuating rod  40  to the spacing segment  72 . 
     The fact that the biasing means for biasing the auxiliary head  28  towards the open configuration mainly uses a biasing sleeve slidably mounted over the rake handle  12  instead of using other types of biasing components reduces the risk of having raked elements such as leaves, grass or the like getting caught in the biasing mechanism and possibly interfering with the latter. The clearance  88  provided between the actuating rod  40  and the rod handle  12  further reduces the risk of having raked elements such as leaves, grass or the like interfering with movement of the auxiliary head  28 .