AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND DISCHARGING FALLEN LEAVES, HOPS, PAPER, AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES.
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert Smith, of Goudhurst, in the County of Kent,
for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND
DISCHARGING FALLEN LEAVES, HOPS, PAPER, AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES.",
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Albert Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th May 1881.
ALBERT SMITH, of Goudhurst, in the County of Kent. "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND DISCHARGING FALLEN LEAVES, HOPS, PAPER,
AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES."
This apparatus is intended to collect the fallen leaves and other refuse matter in
parks and gardens, and it is applicable to the lifting up of any light substances
(such, for instance, as hops, flocks of wool, waste paper, and orange peel), from the
ground or floors of buildings and other places, and the discharging of these
substances when so collected into baskets or other receptacles.
The apparatus consists substantially of a stick (it may be a walking stick) fitted
at its lower end, with a block of wood or other suitable material, to which are
secured a number of pointed steel pins or prongs, preferably of tapering form.
These pins pass through a perforated disc or plate of metal which is connected
with and operated by means of a sliding rod passing through the wooden block,
and lying alongside the stick. Metal eyes serve to retain the said rod in
position.
The perforated disc may be either rivetted or fitted adjustably to the sliding
rod. The pins or prongs serve to collect the leaves, hops, paper, and other sub-
stances, and when a sufficient quantity has been collected the perforated disc is
advanced by means of the sliding rod, and will discharge the mass of collected
substances from off the prongs. Leaves thus collected will occupy less space in a
basket or barrow than when swept up in the ordinary way.
If desired the sliding rod may be passed centrally through a hollow rod or stick
instead of lying alongside of it, and the pins or prongs may be withdrawn through
the block or plate of metal in order to discharge the leaves or other substances from
the prongs.
The sliding rod and perforated disc may be fitted with springs of metal or
rubber if desired, so as to constitute a trigger for discharging the collected
substances from the prongs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Albert Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd November
1881.
ALBERT SMITH, of Goudhurst, in the County of Kent. "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND DISCHARGING FALLEN LEAVES, HOPS, Paper,
AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES."
This apparatus is mainly intended to collect the fallen leaves and other refuse
matter in pleasure grounds and gardens, but it is also applicable to the lifting up
of any light substances (such, for instance, as hops, flocks of wool, waste paper,
and orange peel), from the ground or floors of manufactories and other places,
and the dicharging of the substances when so collected into baskets or other
receptacles.
The construction and use of this improved apparatus will be understood on
reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents in its complete
form one of these instruments suitable for use in a garden as a "leaf lifter,"
Fig. 2 being an enlarged view of the upper and lower parts of the leaf lifter, and
Fig. 3 being an inverted plan view taken on the line 1, 2, of Fig. 2.
In these Figures A is a stick (it may be a walking stick) fitted at its lower end
with a block B of wood or other suitable material, to which are secured a number
of pointed steel pins or prongs C, preferably of tapering form.
The said prongs
are each formed with a shoulder c, and are threaded at their butt ends to receive
nuts c¹ after the said ends have been passed through holes drilled in the block B,
by which means the pins are firmly attached to the said block. These pins C pass
through a perforated disc or plate of metal D, which plate is securely connected
with a sliding rod d which passes through the wooden block B and lies alongside
the stick A, metal eyes d¹ serving to retain the said rod in a position parallel to
the stick, and guide it when it is moved longitudinally.
The perforated disc may be either rivetted or fitted adjustably by means of
nuts d to the sliding rod d. The pins or prongs C serve to pick up and collect
the leaves, hops, paper, and other substances, and when a sufficient quantity has
been thus collected the perforated disc D is advanced by means of the sliding
rod d (the upper end of which is conveniently bent to form a handle for the
operator), and will cause the discharge of the mass of collected substance from off
the prongs.
Leaves thus collected in layers will occupy less space in a basket or
barrow than when swept up in the ordinary way.
The perforated plate or disc D may be adjusted upon the rod d by means of
the nuts as the prongs wear away, so as not to overshoot the points of the
prongs.
If desired the sliding rod may be passed centrally through a hollow rod or stick
instead of lying alongside of it, and the said hollow rod or stick may be slotted to
allow of the sliding rod within it being operated longitudinally so as to cause the
disc to discharge the leaves from off the prongs. The pins or prongs may also be
withdrawn through the block or plate of metal in order to effect the discharge of
the leaves or other substances from the prongs without departing from the tenor
of my Invention.
The sliding rod d and perforated disc D may be fitted with springs "of metal or
rubber if desired so as to constitute a trigger for discharging the collected substances
from the prongs, a retaining catch for the rod d being used therewith; but I
preferably employ a band of rubber E (as shewn in the Drawing, Figures 1 and 2),
or an equivalent elastic medium (such as a coiled spring) for the purpose of
bringing the rod d and the perforated plate D into their normal position after they
have been moved by hand so as to push the leaves or other substances from off
the prongs C.

page_text: By the use of a leaf lifter thus constructed much sweeping, stooping, and soiling
of the hands is avoided, and leaves may be removed from between and under plants
or shrubs which could not be touched by a broom or a rake without risk of
damaging them.
Its use in theatres for removing orange peel, paper, and other rubbish from the
flooring will be obvious.
Having now set forth the nature of my said Invention of "An Improved
Apparatus for Collecting and Discharging Fallen Leaves, Hops, Paper, and similar
Substances," and having explained in what manner the same may be carried into
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim,―
A stick or rod fitted at one end with prongs, preferably of steel, for the collection
of leaves, hops, flocks of wool, and other substances lying on the ground or on
floors of buildings, in combination with a sliding rod, to which is attached a per-
forated disc or its equivalent for discharging the said substances from off the
prongs, substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert Smith, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ALBERT SMITH. (L.S.)