Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Clipping or Severing Fruit or Flowers from Trees or Bushes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
Improvements in Apparatus or Appliances for Clipping or Severing
Fruit or Flowers from Trees or Bushes.
CONSTANTYN RINGELING of Frederic Estate Caroni Trinidad West Indies Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is to construct a cheap simple and efficient apparatus
for use in clipping or gathering fruit or flowers from trees which are inconvenient and
awkward to reach by other means. I carry my invention into practice by forming a
metal tube, the upper end of which is slid or plugged up, and has a scissors or shear
shaped metal blade formed thereon, or the said blade may be made separately and
rivetted or fixed to the upper or solid end of the said tube by any convenient means,
through the upper and solid end of the tube 1 drill or form a hole in which I place a
round rivet or short bolt on which I place a lower scissors or shear shaped metal
blade which is kept in its place on the boit by means of a rivet head formed. on the
said bolt, or by a nut or other convenient means, to the outer extremity of the lower
blade I attach a string, cord, or chain, which when pulled brings the said lower blade
towards the upper blade, thus it will be seen I give the said applianco a scissors like
action for the purpose of clipping or severing the stalk or branch on which the fruit
or flower is from the tree or bush. A spring connected at one end to the tube, and
the other end to the lower part of the lower blade serving to keep the two blades open
or apart. I also attach by means of hoop iron or strong wire a framework of metal
or other suitable material to the tube to which a bag, or pocket is attached for the
purpose of receiving the fruit or flowers as they are clipped or cut from the trees and
ihus I am able to prevent the fruit or flowers from falling to the ground and getting
bruised or damaged, the said appliance I fix or attach to one end of a stick or pole of
wood or other suitable material of any convenient length in order to be able to obtain
a long reach.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood and explained in detail
I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings on which letters of reference are marked
on corresponding parts alike.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
In this Fig. a is a stick or handle of wood or other suitable material of any
convenient shape and length, at the top end of which I fix or attach a partly hollow
metal tube b, the upper end of which said tube b has a blade c of metal with a lower
cutting edge formed thereon, at the upper end of the said tube b I drill or form a
round hole in which I fix a round metal pin or bolt, on which bolt I place a lower
cutting blade d capable of vibrating thereon, the outer extremity of the said lower
bladed having a string, cord or chain e of any suitable material, length and size
attached thereto and depending therefrom, and which string, cord or chain may be
caused to pass through eyelets or rings attached or fixed into the side of the said stick
or pole a, the lower end of the said chain or cord e may have a loop or ring of any
suitable material, shape and size attached thereto, or formed thereon. By means of
strong metal wire I attach a bag, or receptacle y of net work or other suitable
material to the tube c in any convenient position beneath the shears or cutting blades,
so that the fruit or flowers when clipped or cut from the trees or branches may fall
therein, and thus prevent damage or bruising. A metallic spring h one end of which
is attached to the part b, and the other end to the lower blade d serving to keep the
said blades c and d apart ready for use.

page_text: When the appliance is raised and held up by one or both hands to clip fruit or
flowers from trees or bushes, the string, cord or chain e is pulled downwards, which
causes the lower blade d to rotate on the pin or bolt 2 and rise upwards towards the
upper blade c and sever the fruit or flowers from the branches or trees, which truit or
flowers when severed from the trees fall into the bag or receptacle g.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The improved apparatus or appliance, consisting of the various parts a, b, c, c² d,
ef, g and made of any suitable material, size, shape and weight, to be used in the
manner, and for the purpose, as herein substantially described, set forth and fully
illustrated on the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated 1 1
GRAHAM & GRAHAM,
Agents for Applicant.