Improvement in Fruit Gatherers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1897-Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
Improvement in Fruit Gatherers.
the
I, MARY LOU COLE, Farmer's Wife, of Cotton Valley, in the Parish of Webster, and
State of Louisiana, one of the United States of America, do hereby declare
is
same
be
the nature of this invention, and in what manner
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
to
This invention has for its object to provide a simple and cheap device for gathering
fruit, that will also possess the additional advantage of being effective in removing
fruit from a considerable height without bruising or injuring the same.
To these
ends the invention contemplates a construction which provides a receptacle or metal
bucket having a handle with sharpened edges and a central slot, said receptacle being
manipulated by a jointed rod or pole which has attached thereto a curved shank that
is passed through the slot in the handle and loosely engages therewith to permit the
bucket to properly adjust itself.
In the following specification I have entered into a detailed description of the
invention, reference being has to the accompanying drawings and to letters or
numerals thereon which designate the different parts, and what I consider to be the
novel features of construction are specifically recited in the claim.
In the drawing forming part of this specification,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fruit gatherer constructed in accordance with
my invention.
Figure 2 is a detailed section view through the receptacle.
Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the body of the bucket or
receptacle which is preferably made up of tin in the same manner as an ordinary pail,
and to the upper edges of this body portion is rigidly attached a bail or handle 2, one
side edge at the upper portion thereof being sharpened to present a knife edge as
shown. This handle or bail is also provided at its upper portion with the slot 3 of
sufficient size to receive the shank 4 of the supporting rod or pole.
The supporting rod or pole is preferably made up of several sections which are
connected by a socket and ferrule in the same manner as an ordinary jointed fishing
pole, the shank being rigidly secured to the outer end of the upper section. The
outer end of this shank is curved as shown and engages the slot in the handle, while
the lower end thereof is turned outward and provides for connecting thereto a chain 5
the other end of which is connected to the upper part of the bucket or receptacle.
By this peculiar manner of connecting the bucket or receptacle to the supporting rod
it is permitted to properly adjust itself in gathering the fruit, and also in lowering the
same after a supply has been gathered.
In the operation of the device the bucket or receptacle is manipulated by means of
the pole, and when brought in engagement with the stem of the fruit the sharpened
edge of the handle or bail will act to cut the stem, the fruit dropping into the bucket.
This provides a very simple, cheap and efficient implement for a fruit gatherer in which
operation is quick and will not necessitate climbing a tree, the rod being of sufficient
length to reach the fruit. The bucket or receptacle into which the fruit is gathered

page_text: may be of any convenient size that will permit of its being conveniently
manipulated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is,-
1. In a device for gathering fruit, comprising a bucket or receptacle having a handle
or bail with sharpened edges, and a pole or rod attached to the bucket by which it is
manipulated, substantially as shown and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a device for gathering fruit, the combination with a bucket or receptacle
having a bail or handle with a sharpened side edge and a slot therein, of a supporting
pole or rod having a metal shank attached to the upper end thereof, the projecting
end of the shank being curved, substantially as shown and for the purposes set
forth.
3. In a device for gathering fruit, the combination with a bucket or receptacle, of
a bail or handle secured thereto and having a sharpened edge, said bail or handle being
also provided with a slot in the upper portion thereof, a supporting pole having a
metal shank at its upper end which is curved to engage the slot in the handle of the
receptacle, the inner end of the shank being turned outward and connected to
the body of the bucket or receptacle by a chain, substantially as shown and for
the purposes set forth.
Dated this 19th day of July 1897
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.