Improvements in Fruit and Flower Pickers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1895-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
Improvements in Fruit and Flower Pickers.
I REGINALD HADDAN of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co. of 18 Buckingham
Street Strand W.C. London, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, a communication to me from abroad by The Clauss Shear Company
of Fremont, State of Ohio, United States of America, and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in fruit and flower pickers adapted to
hold the stem of the flower or fruit preparatory to, and after, the picking operation,
and the invention consists in certain features of construction, and combinations of
parts, hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fruit and flower picker embodying this invention.
Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on lines 3-3, Figs. 1 and 2.
This improved fruit and flower picker comprises two handle bearing jaws A, A,
that are pivotally secured to each other at a between the jaw proper and the handle
in the usual manner. The two handle-bearing-jaws traverse each other at their
pivotal connection with each other, and the one handle bearing jaw is slotted, as
at A', to accommodate the location and operation of the companion jaw. The two
jaws at one side of the instrument are provided respectively with an inwardly
projecting flange A² extending longitudinally of the respective jaw, and the jaws,
at the opposite side of this device, are provided respectively with a blade A³ also
arranged lengthwise of the respective jaw, and projecting inwardly somewhat
farther than the inwardly projecting flange of said jaw. Elastic packing B such
for instance as cork, asbestos, or rubber, preferably the latter, is interposed between
the inwardly projecting flange and blade of each jaw, said packing in the separated
or open position of the jaws, protruding somewhat at or being flush with the cutting
edge of the blade, as shown at b, Fig. 3. The stem of the flower or fruit to be
picked by this improved device, is engaged and held by the packing of the
co-operating jaws upon closing the jaws together. The packing is compressed in
the operation of the device without serious injury to the stem of the flower or fruit,
and the latter is picked by the co-operating blades. The stem of the fruit or
flower is held by the packing after the picking operation until the same is deposited
in the basket or receptacle at hand for receiving it. The blade and flange of each
jaw are preferably made to converge somewhat (see Fig. 3) toward their free end
so as to provide the recess between said flange and blade with receding side walls
into which recess, packing B is forced, and the packing when in place within said
recess, cannot become displaced from between the side walls of the recess.
spring C is shown secured to the back or outer side of each jaw, preferably
removably by means of a screw c, and thence extends to and preferably somewhat
beyond the free end of the jaw, as at C', Fig. 2, at which end of the jaw the spring
is bent inwardly, as at C2, which inwardly projecting member of the spring engages
the outer end of the packing and prevents end wise displacement of the packing.
By the construction hereinbefore described, the packing when requiring renewal,
can readily be removed from between the outer ends of the engaging blade and
flange of the jaw.
A

page_text: A spring D, provided between the handles of the jaws acts in the direction to
retain the jaws in their open or inoperative position, said spring being suitably
secured to the inner side of the handle of one of the jaws, and having its free end
engaging the inner side of the handle of the other jaw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A fruit and flower picker comprising two handle bearing jaws pivotally
secured to each other substantially as indicated, said jaws at one side of the device,
being provided, respectively, with an inwardly projecting flange, and at the opposite
side of the device having, respectively an inwardly projecting blade, the blade and
flange of each jaw being arranged lengthwise of the jaw, elastic packing B inter-
posed between said flange and blade, and means for preventing displacement of
said packing, substantially as set forth.
2. A fruit and flower picker comprising two handle-bearing-jaws pivotally
secured to each other substantially as indicated, said jaws at one side of the device,
being provided respectively with an inwardly projecting flange, and at the opposite
side of the device having respectively and inwardly projecting blade, the blade and
flange of each jaw being arranged lengthwise of the jaw, elastic packing B inter-
posed between said flange and blade and a spring engaging the outer end of and!
preventing endwise displacement of said packing, substantially as set forth.
3. A fruit and flower picker comprising two handle-bearing-jaws pivotally
secured to each other substantially as indicated, each jaw being provided with a
flange A2 and a blade A³ wider than the flange, packing B interposed between the
flange and blade of each jaw, and removable springs C engaging the outer ends of
the packing, all arranged and operating substantially as set forth.
4. A fruit and flower picker comprising two handle-bearing-jaws A pivotally
secured to each other at a, each jaw being provided with a flange A2, and a
blade A which blade and flange are arranged and constructed to form, between
them, a recess having receding side walls; packing B interposed between the flange
and blade of each jaw; means for preventing end wise displacement of the packing,
and the spring D, all arranged and operating substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of May 1895.
R. HADDAN.