IMPROVEMENTS IN RAKES
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAKES" 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 hand rakes for raking hay, grass, or the like, and
comprises the novel construction and combination of parts as hereinafter described
whereby a very strong yet light rake, is produced at a 'small cost.
The improved rake consists essentially of a wrought metal head (having circular
passages through it) formed of two fluted strips, and provided with a handle-
'socket, hollow rake-teeth, and a hollow semi-tubular bow-brace.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 is a top view of a rake constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating a modification.
:
Figure 3 is a vertical section of. a portion of the rake head and teeth shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the rake head in the line xx Figure 1. the
handle-socket and bow brace being removed.
Figure 5 is a similar view showing a modified form of the strips of which the
head is formed, the handle-socket and handle being shown, while the brace is
removed..
-
Figure 6 is a top edge view of the two strips from which the head is made.
Figure 7 is a section of the handle-socket.
•
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the inverted U-shaped iron bow
'brace bent into curved form but not flattened at its middle and ends.
**
Figure 9 is a front view of the same flattened at its middle and on one end.
2.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a metal tube from which a tooth. is formed;
and
Figure 11 is a modified form of the handle socket.
.
A indicates the head, B the teeth, C the handle-socket, and E the bow-brace of
the improved rake.
-
In Figure 1 the head is shown as straight, while in Figure 2 it is curved. - In
the said straight head the rake teeth are placed at a greater distance apart and are
of greater length than in the curved rake head.
Davies al
2

page_text: The length of the curved rake head is preferably about fifteen (15) inches, and
the straight head about twenty (20) inches. The teeth for the straight rake are
preferably about 13, inches apart and about four (4) inches in length. while the
teeth of the curved rake are about an inch apart and three (3) inches long, but
these proportions may be varied to suit circumstances.
To make the. rake head A, I employ narrow strips a a of rolled metal, the, said
strips being formed with semi-circular depressions 6b and with edge flanges c c as
shown in Figure 4, or with a middle rib c as shown in Figure 5. These strips, by
being rolled with depressions bb and flanges c c, or a rib c¹ serve, when brought
together, to form slightly tapered circular receptacles for the teeth, and are very
stiff and strong although quite light. In rolling the metal strips I make the parts
which form the circular receptacles for the teeth with a slightly downward taper,
so that the teeth when in position will not have a chance to rise between the strips
as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the Drawings. The head pieces a a described
are rivetted together upon the teeth, after the teeth are in their proper places. To
make the teeth B I employ sheet metal, rolled or bent into tubular form as shown
in Figure 10. The tubes for the teeth have their upper ends slightly drawn in to
form a taper thereon, while their lower-ends are, drawn down to a rounded or
pointed shape, as shown, by any of the well known drop-press processes.
The teeth, after being placed in between the strips a a, and the said strips
rivetted together, are themselves rivetted at d by burring down their upper ends
upon the rake head. The handle socket C is flanged and formed of either wrought
metal malleable iron, or cast metal, and it is rivetted to the head, as shown, by its
flanged portion.
The bow-brace E is formed of straight semi tubular, or inverted Ū shaped
metal, bent or bowed, and flattened at f to fit the handle D.and be rivetted thereto,
and also flattened and bent downward at g, g to fit against the front of the rake
head and be rivetted thereto, as shown in the Drawings. This brace is a very light,
strong and stiff one for a rake head.
The rake described, whether with straight or curved head, is exceedingly strong
and durable, and yet very light and cheap, and will be found far preferable to cast
metal or wooden rakes.
I may use scrap or hoop iron which is rolled cold by polished rolls as such iron,
although thin and light, will, on account of its being rolled cold, be rigid or stiff
enough without flanging it at its edges, or ribbing it at its middle. I prefer
however to use flanged or ribbed metal which is rolled' hot.
To form the handle socket a piece of sheet iron is shaped and doubled together
to form a socket with flanges, and the flanges are rivetted to the head of the rake
the said flanged portion having a V-shaped recess to fit over the centre rib of the
rake head as seen in Figure 11.
The rake shown in Figure 1 is specially applicable for garden use, and that in
Figure 2 for field use.
In the manufacture of the within described metal rake, all the 'parts (excepting
the handle) after being put together, may be tinned so as to prevent rust and give
neatness of finish.
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
:
I
First. A rake-head provided with a suitable handle-socket and formed of two
wrought metal strips aa having upwardly tapered semi circular depressions bb
and rivetted upon the top of the rake teeth, substantially as, and for the purpose,
described.
.
Second. The rake-teeth, formed of tubular wrought metal tapered at the tops,
rounded at the points, and rivetted upon the rake head, substantially as, and for
the purpose, described.
3
2.
Third. The bow-brace of the rake formed of a piece of inverted U-shaped metal
bent or bowed, the said piece of metal being flattened at its middle and rivetted

page_text: to the handle and flattened at its ends, bent down and rivetted to the head,
substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination of the rake head A formed of strips a a b b, the rake
teeth B, and the U-shaped metal bow-brace E, substantially as, and for the purpose,
described.
Fifth. A metallic rake the head of which is formed of two wrought metal
ribbed strips a a having upwardly-tapered semi-circular depressions b b formed in
them; and provided with a wrought metal handle socket C, and with separated or
single wrought metal hollow teeth B confined between the strips by rivets, and
kept from vertical movement by being rivetted upon the top of the strips,
substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of the wrought metal flanged handle socket C, the
wrought metal rake-bead A formed of ribbed strips a a, and the tubular rake-
teeth B, substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.