Patent ID: 7299614

Claim:
A rake comprising: at least two tine flames, each tine frame having a plurality of tines coupled thereto; a tine frame coupling for coupling to proximal ends of each of the tine frames; pivot mechanisms coupled between said tine frames and said tine frame coupling; a rake handle coupled at a proximal end to said tine frame coupling, and adapted for being grasped at a distal end for raking activity, the rake handle including at least one locking tab slot; and a locking mechanism adapted to lock said tine frames into an operational rake configuration, and adapted to unlock said tine frames for transition to said non-raking stowage configuration, the locking mechanism including: a locking tab coupled to said tine frame coupling, and positioned within said rake handle, wherein at least a portion of said locking tab externally protrudes said rake handle through said locking tab slot, and wherein said tab is adapted to lock said frame tines into said raking configuration when engaged with a stop of said locking tab slot, and said locking tab is adapted to be pressed to release said tine frames to transition said rake to said stowage configuration, wherein said tine frame slots are substantially axially aligned with said locking tab slots; wherein when said tine frames are unlocked, said tine frames are adapted to have their distal ends pivoted toward the distal end of said rake handle into said stowage configuration with the distal ends of the tine frames being at least in close proximity of said rake handle; wherein in said stowage configuration, said plurality of tines are pivoted toward the distal end of said rack handle and said plurality of tines are meshed; and wherein said rake handle is collapsible.