Abstract: A lawn or garden rake for gathering leaves, grass clippings, twigs, etc. has a handle, a socket with retaining elements for fastening to the handle and flaring crimpable retaining elements for retaining a number of continuous paired tines. Each paired tine includes a continuous elongated beam with spaced longitudinal twists of approximately 90.degree. that divide the tine lengthwise into three portions. The tines are stacked tightly and captured in the socket with third portions stacked directly against one another. In this arrangement, the two end portions of each tine fan outwardly from the second end of the socket. A tine positioning spacer is spaced from the socket along the tines and holds their transverse spacing. At least the outer two tines on each side of are spaced more closely than the others to improve load resistance during raking.

Abstract: A transition piece for use on tools of the type having a tool head with a socket to receive a tool handle. The transition piece includes a hollow cylindrical body and an annular skirt extending from the cylindrical body and encircling the body to define a recess for receiving the end of a tool head socket. A lower portion of the body is provided with slots to define a split end, and such insertion of a tool handle through the transition piece causes the split end to be biased radially outwardly into engagement with the tool head socket. In addition, the transition piece provides a smooth visual transition between the handle and the socket.

Abstract: A sleeve for coupling a tool to a handle includes a collar, a shank and a pair of resilient clips. The collar defines proximal and distal ends, and includes an exterior surface which converges from the proximal end toward the distal end. In addition, the collar includes a central bore for receiving a shaft of the tool. In an especially preferred form, the central bore is so dimensioned as to fit closely around a shaft of the tool. In addition, the exterior surface of the collar meets an interior surface of the central bore at a right or acute angle. Then, the portion of the exterior surface of the collar near the juncture with the interior surface of the central bore acts as a knife edge to scrape deposits such as caked mud from the shaft of the tool as the shaft is inserted into the sleeve.

Abstract: A nipper for pruning sticks, stems and branches is provided with an anvil having locator hooks which partially block the jaw opening of a nipper to limit the size of sticks, stems and branches to be cut. The locator hooks further position sticks, stems and branches for cutting such that larger sizes are subjected to higher cutting forces, and are shaped to enhance retention of sticks, stems and branches for cutting.

Abstract: A spreader including a feed gate having a feed gate opening is provided. The area of the feed gate opening may be varied to adjust the spread pattern and material distribution to accommodate different speeds at which the spreader is operated, and different materials which may be spread. Such adjustment is accomplished by linearly sliding a spread shift plate having a wide and narrow section across one end of the feed gate opening, to open or close off the end portion of the feed gate opening. Such adjustment also varies the area of the feed opening in the spreader hopper.