Patent ID: 7891162

Claim:
A quick connect tool assembly, the assembly comprising (1) a tool head having a socket therein at one end thereof and (2) a handle in the form of an elongated pole for insertion into the socket, said quick connect assembly further comprising: a detent attached to a peripheral surface of said the elongated pole adjacent a forward end of the pole, said detent having a tongue section that projects from the peripheral surface of the pole, and the socket being provided with an axial row of teeth projecting into an interior thereof, the teeth being shaped to allow the detent tongue section to pass axially over the teeth toward said tool head when the pole is inserted axially into the socket and to allow the detent tongue section to engage one of the teeth so as to prevent the pole from pulling out of the socket; wherein the socket comprises a first part provided with a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration and first and second parallel and mutually-spaced longitudinal edges, and a second part engaged with and extending between the first and second longitudinal edges of said first part, said first and second parts coacting to define an interior space of the socket with the interior space being sized to accommodate a forward end of the pole; wherein said tool head comprises a rake head having a plurality of tine members and adapted to be attached to the socket between said first and second parts; and wherein the tine members comprise flat strips of metal bent intermediate their ends so that each tine member comprises a center section and elongated first and second tine sections that are attached to and disposed in converging relation with said center section, and further wherein the socket includes a third part overlying said second part, with said center section of each tine member being captivated between said second and third parts of the socket.