Self-cleaning rake
A rake having a self-cleaning mechanism and method of its manufacture. The rake comprises a handle, a body, a plurality of tines extending from the body, a push-rod extending along the handle to the body, and an actuator connected to the push-rod, the actuator having a cleaning bar portion. The cleaning bar portion has a plurality of cleaning channels, one for each tine and is extended and retrieved along the tines when the push-rod actuator is actuated. Each of the cleaning channels has a shape and a size that generally corresponds to a shape and a size of a respective one of the tines. Upon actuation, cleaning bar moves along the tines such that the cleaning channels remove debris from the tines.
This application in a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/761,859, titled “SELF-CLEANING RAKE,” filed Jan. 20, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,254, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of rakes and specifically to the field of self-cleaning rakes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Yard and garden rakes have been in use for many decades. Some of the first rakes to be patented date back to the 1800s. A common problem encountered throughout the history of the rake is that leaves and other yard debris continuously become trapped in the tines of the rake during use. This has led to many designs for clearing the tines during the raking process, to thereby speed up the removal of debris. The designs fall mainly into three categories which are described below. In addition, most of the designs include a cleaner handle located along the rake handle that is connected to some sort of actuating rod or cable that actuates the cleaning mechanism at the rake tines.
The first category of designs includes rotating or pivoting cleaning bars or tines. These designs mainly utilize a pivot joint along the row of tines about which a cleaning rack rotates. The tines are partially surrounded by channels in the cleaning rack. As the cleaner handle is moved, the cleaning rack, which is mounted to the pivot joint, rotates about the pivot so that the channels rotate along a path that leads them along some or all of the length of the tines, thereby removing entrapped debris. In an alternative design, the tines are mounted on the pivot joint and when the cleaner handle is actuated the tines rotate to a flat position in line with the handle and are retracted through a cleaning rack. The pivot joint required by this type of design is complicated and somewhat delicate, leading to increased risk of failure of the cleaning mechanism.
The second type of design involves the movement of a support/cleaning bar along the length of the tines. In this type of design, the tines are retracted through a cleaning bar that provides support to the tines. In variations of this design, the cleaning bar is moved along the length of tines to remove entrapped debris. The cleaning bar of these designs acts as a support bar at or near the top of the tines and moves along the length of the tines. The tines of these designs are typically long and flexible, typical of leaf rakes. As the tines and cleaning bar move in relation to each other, the tines are pulled inward by the narrower cleaning bar. The movement inward, or closer together, of the tines can actually increase the binding force on debris caught between the tines and therefore lead to a failure of the cleaning process as the debris binds the cleaning bar and slows or stops it's progress. Additionally, the requirement of these designs, that the cleaning bar travel the length of the tines, requires either a long motion of the cleaning handle or complex linkages to amplify a slight motion of the cleaning handle into longer motion of the cleaning bar. Both of these options are undesirable. The cleaning motion should be short and easy and the linkage should be simple in order to minimize cost and limit the possibility of failure.
The third type of design involves mechanisms that slide a cleaning bar along a relatively short pathway to clean the tines through use of components that only slide along various parts of the rake. However, the rakes falling into this category are either only of the type that can be used for raking dirt or they include actuation components that are exposed and can become damaged or fouled.
From the above, it is apparent that there is a need for a self-cleaning rake that can be used for gathering lawn debris and utilizes a relatively short cleaning stroke by the user. There is a further need for a self-cleaning rake with a simple yet sturdy design that is inexpensive to manufacture and provides reliable performance while minimizing maintenance by the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe self-cleaning rake, methods for making and using the self-cleaning rake have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope as expressed by the claims that follow, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments” one will understand how the features of the system and methods provide several advantages over traditional systems and methods.
In one embodiment, the self-cleaning rake comprises an elongated handle having a rake end, a handle end and a middle portion, a body lying generally in one plane and having an attachment end that is attached to the rake end of the handle. A tine end is located opposite the attachment end and a central portion is disposed between the attachment end and the tine end. A plurality of tines extend from and are fixed to the tine end of the body. An actuator bar channel is formed in the central portion of the body comprising a pair of major sides and a pair of minor sides, and an actuator bar is disposed within the actuator bar channel and extends generally parallel to the tine end of the body. A grip is disposed about the outside of the middle portion of the grip and adapted to slide along the handle. A push-rod having first and second ends is disposed along the handle and connected at the first end to the grip and connected at the second end to the actuator bar. A cleaning bar is disposed along the tine end of the body and has a plurality of channels, each of which is adapted to surround at least a portion of a respective one of the tines. A first extender channel is formed in the body and extends from the actuator channel to the tine end of the body. A first extender connecting the actuator bar to the cleaning bar wherein the actuator bar, the push-rod and the first extender are all enclosed within the self-cleaning rake when in a retracted position. In another embodiment, the above-described self-cleaning rake also includes a second extender channel formed in the body and extending from the actuator channel to the tine end of the body and a second extender connecting the actuator bar to the cleaning bar.
In another embodiment, the invention includes a self-cleaning rake body for use with a rake handle and actuating push-rod. The body includes a generally planar body having an attachment-end configured for attachment to the handle, and is defined by an elongated tine-end opposite the attachment end and a central actuation portion is disposed between the attachment-end and the tine-end. A plurality of tines extend from the tine-end of the body. An elongated actuator bar is enclosed within the actuation portion and extends generally parallel to the tine-end of the body, the actuator bar being adapted to engage the push-rod. An elongated cleaning bar is operably attached to the actuator bar and is disposed along the tine-end of the body. The cleaning bar has a plurality of cleaning channels, each of which is adapted to at least partially surround a portion of a respective one of the tines. The cleaning channels extend a distance of at least one quarter of an inch along the tines and have a cross-sectional area that is larger than a cross-sectional area of the tines, and the cleaning bar is adapted to extend to a distal end of the tines.
In yet another embodiment, a self-cleaning rake includes a handle having a longitudinal axis, a body, a plurality of tines extending from the body, a push-rod connected to the handle and extending to the body, and a push-rod actuator connected to the push-rod and adapted to extend and retrieve the push-rod along the longitudinal axis of the handle. An actuator bar is slidingly attached to the body and connected to the push-rod such that the push-rod can transmit force from the push-rod actuator to the actuator bar. The rake also includes a first extender having a first end and a second end, where the first end is attached to the actuator, bar and the second end is connected to a cleaning bar. The cleaning bar has a plurality of cleaning channels, one for each tine. At least a portion of each of the cleaning channels has a shape and a size that corresponds to a shape and a size of a portion of a respective one of the tines.
The invention also includes a method of manufacturing a self-cleaning rake that includes forming a rake body with an attachment end, forming a tine-end that is wider than the attachment end and forming a central portion of the rake body. The method further includes attaching a handle to the attachment end of the body, housing a plurality of tines within the tine-end of the body, where the tines extend from the body in a direction that is not parallel with the handle and forming a plurality of channels in the central portion of the body, forming an actuator bar in one of the channels, where the actuator bar is adapted to slide up and down the body, and substantially surrounding the tines with a cleaning bar located along the tine-end of the body. The cleaning bar has a plurality of channels, at least one channel for each tine, and the cleaning bar is adapted to move along the length of the tines and connects at least one extender to the actuator bar and to the cleaning bar, where each of the at least one extender has first and second ends, and each of the at least one extender is adapted to connect at the first end to the actuator bar and to connect at the second end to the cleaning bar. In another embodiment, the above-described method of manufacturing a self-cleaning rake can also includes enclosing the plurality of channels of the body with a cover adapted to engage the body and at least partially encapsulating the extenders and the actuator bar.
Another embodiment includes a system of manufacturing a self-cleaning rake, the method includes means for forming a rake body with an attachment end and a tine-end that is wider than the attachment end and a central portion. The system includes means for attaching an elongated tubular handle to the attachment end of the body, means for housing a plurality of tines within the tine-end of the body wherein the tines extend from the body in a direction that is not parallel with the handle, and means for forming a plurality of channels in the central portion of the body. The system further includes means for forming an actuator bar in one of the channels in the central portion of the body that is adapted to slide up and down the body and means for substantially surrounding the tines with a cleaning bar located along the tine-end of the body and having a plurality of channels, where there is at least one channel for each tine, and the cleaning bar is adapted to move along the length of the tines. This embodiment further includes means for connecting at least one extender to the actuator bar and to the cleaning bar, where each of the at least one extender has a first and second end, and each of the at least one extender is adapted to connect at the first end to the actuator bar and to connect at the second end to the cleaning bar.
The invention also includes a method of using a rake that has a handle connected to a housing with a plurality of tines at one end thereof, where and method includes moving the push-rod along the handle and moving a cleaning mechanism in response to the movement of the push-rod. The method further includes moving a cleaning bar in response to movement of the cleaning mechanism, wherein the cleaning bar includes at least one cleaning channel that substantially surrounds at least one respective tine such that the act of moving the cleaning bar moves the cleaning bar along the at least one tine so as to remove debris located in contact with the at least one tine. A portion of the at least one cleaning channel extends beyond the end of the at least one tine during a portion of the movement of the cleaning bar along the at least one tine.
In another embodiment, a self-cleaning rake has a handle connected to a housing with a plurality of tines at one end thereof, and includes means for moving a push-rod along the handle and means for moving a cleaning mechanism in response to movement of the push-rod. The rake also includes means for moving a cleaning bar in response to movement of the cleaning mechanism, wherein the cleaning bar includes at least one cleaning channel that substantially surrounds at least one respective tine such that the act of moving the cleaning bar moves the cleaning bar along the at least one tine so as to remove debris located in contact with the at least one tine, and wherein a portion of the at least one cleaning channel extends beyond the end of the at least one tine during a portion of the movement of the cleaning bar along the at least one tine.
In yet another embodiment, the self-cleaning rake includes a handle, a body attached to the handle, where body comprises a cleaning mechanism, a plurality of tines attached to the body, and a cleaning member connected to the cleaning mechanism. The cleaning member is associated with at least one of the plurality of tines and the cleaning member surrounds the associated tine and travels along at least a portion of the associated tine to a location at least to the distal end of the associated tine and removes material located on the associated tine.
In another embodiment, the self-cleaning rake includes an elongated handle, a body connected to the handle, a plurality of tines connected to one portion of the body, an actuator guide member disposed in the body, an actuator configured to move along a portion of the actuator guide member when the actuator is operated to clean the plurality of tines, where the actuator includes an actuator bar portion, a cleaning bar portion comprising a plurality of channels, each of which is adapted to be secured in slidable relation onto at least a portion of a respective one of the tines, and an extender portion connecting the actuator portion and the cleaning bar portion, and the rake further includes a grip disposed on the handle and adapted to slide along a portion of the handle, and a push-rod disposed along the handle and connected to the grip and to the actuator. In one aspect of this embodiment the rake also includes a pivot connecting the actuator and the push-rod, the pivot configured so that the actuator pivots relative to the push-rod when the actuator is operated to move along a portion of the actuator guide member. In some embodiments, the push-rod is disposed within the handle. In some embodiments the self-cleaning rake further includes a spring disposed along the push-rod such that the spring is stretched when the actuator is in an extended position to bias the actuator in a retracted position. In other embodiments, the rake includes a spring disposed along the push-rod such that the spring is compressed when the actuator is in an extended position to bias the actuator in a retracted position. In some embodiments, the grip and actuator are adapted to move at least a leading edge of the cleaning bar portion near a distal end of one or more of the tines, and/or to a position adjacent to the distal end of one or more of the tines. In some embodiments, the actuator bar portion, extender portion, and the cleaning bar portion are integrated and/or fabricated as one piece.
In another embodiment, the invention comprises a method of cleaning debris from the tines of a rake having a handle connected to a housing with a plurality of tines at one end thereof, the method including moving a push-rod along the handle, moving a cleaning mechanism in response to movement of the push-rod, and moving a cleaning bar in response to movement of the cleaning mechanism, wherein the cleaning bar includes at least one cleaning channel that substantially surrounds at least one respective tine such that the act of moving the cleaning bar moves the cleaning bar along the at least one tine so as to remove debris located in contact with the at least one tine, and wherein a portion of the at least one cleaning channel extends near the distal end of the at least one tine during a portion of the movement of the cleaning bar along the at least one tine. In one aspect of this embodiment, at least one part of the cleaning bar portion of the actuator extends to a location approximately adjacent to the distal end of the at least one tine during a portion of the movement of the cleaning bar along the at least one tine.
In another embodiment, the invention includes a self-cleaning rake that includes a handle, a plurality of tines attached to the body, and a body attached to the handle, the body comprising a cleaning mechanism having a cleaning member connected to the cleaning mechanism, the cleaning member associated with at least one of the plurality of tines, wherein the cleaning member is secured in slidable relation onto the associated tine and travels along at least a portion of the associated tine to a location near the distal end of the associated tine so as to remove material located on the associated tine. In one aspect of this embodiment, the cleaning member and cleaning mechanism are fabricated as one piece. In another aspect of this embodiment, the rake further includes a guide member formed on the body, and wherein the cleaning mechanism is configured so that at least a portion of the cleaning mechanism moves along the guide member when the cleaning mechanism is operated to clean the plurality of tines. In yet another aspect, the cleaning member travels along at least a portion of the associated tine to a location approximately adjacent to the distal end of the associated tine. In some embodiments, the cleaning member travels along at least a portion of the associated tine to a location beyond the distal end of the associated tine. In some embodiments, the rake includes a pivot connected to the push-rod and the cleaning mechanism, the pivot configured so that the cleaning mechanism pivots relative to the push-rod when the push-rod moves along at least a portion of the actuator channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout. The terminology used in the description presented herein is not intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner simply because it is being utilized in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may include several novel features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or which is essential to practicing the inventions herein described.
A cleaning bar 440 of this embodiment is also attached to the body 430 and surrounds tines 432. The embodiment of the body 430 illustrated in
The grip 522 is positioned by the pin 526, a retainer 525 and the two opposing slots 521. The pin 526 is passed through the pin hole 523 of the grip 522 and through the slots 521 of the handle 411. In this embodiment, the pin 526 can be then mated with the pin retainer 525 that holds the pin 527 in the pin hole 523 and in the slots 521. In this embodiment, the pin 526 has a set of internal female threads and the pin retainer 525 is a mating fastener having male threads that fit within the end of the pin 526 and mates with its threads. In other embodiments, the pin 526 has a channel formed around its circumference near the end that is inserted through the grip 522 and the retainer 525 is a snap ring that fits tightly within the channel in the pin 526. The retainer 526 of such embodiments is of a size that does not fit in the pin hole 523 or the slots 521 and therefore effectively retains the pin 526 in the grip 522. In yet other embodiments, the pin 526 can be formed to retain itself in the pin hole 523. In these embodiments, the pin 526 can be formed as a rivet or other such device with two ends that are each larger than the pin hole 523 and therefore retain the pin 526 in its position within the grip 522 and the handle 411.
In this embodiment, the push-rod 428 can be located inside a hollow handle 411 and is therefore not exposed to the external environment. This protects the push-rod 428 from damage that could occur if it were not so protected. Damage to the push-rod 428 of most embodiments could adversely affect the self-cleaning mechanism. In another embodiment, the push-rod 428 can be configured external to the handle 411. In this embodiment, the push-rod 428 can be connected to the pin 526 using a connector 524 that is attached to the end, or near the end, of the push-rod 428. In one embodiment, the connector 524 can be cylindrically shaped and have a larger diameter than the push-rod 428 allowing the pin 526 to pass through a hole in the connector 524 so that the push-rod is connected to the grip 522. In another embodiment, the push-rod 428 itself has a hole formed through its end that the pin 526 is passed through to connect the push-rod to the grip 522. In other example embodiments, a rod end is attached to the push-rod 428 with an eyelet to create the hole in the end of the push-rod 428, or the push-rod 428 itself has an eyelet formed on the end that allows the pin 526 to pass through the eyelet and connect the push-rod 428 to the grip 522. Other embodiments utilize many different mechanisms to connect the push-rod 428 to the pin 526.
The cleaning mechanism 435 of this embodiment is housed in or on the body 430 and consists of a cleaning bar 440, two extender channels 442 that are formed in the body 430, two extenders 443 and an actuator bar 444. Although this embodiment illustrates two extenders 443, other embodiments can include one extender or three or more extenders. The extenders 443 and the actuator bar 444 and cleaning bar 440 can be fabricated as one piece or separate pieces. In other embodiments, the extenders 443 and the actuator bar 444 can be made as one piece, or the actuator bar 444 and cleaning bar 440 can be made as one piece. In an alternative embodiment, the extenders 443, the actuator bar 444, the push-rod 428 and the cleaning bar 440 can be fabricated as one piece. The actuator bar 444 can be an elongated strut with three connection points 447, 448 and 449 that is designed to transmit and distribute actuating force from the push-rod 428 to the two extenders 443. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator bar 444 is an elongated rectangle that connects to the push-rod 428 at the first connection point 447 and to the two extenders 443 at the second and third connection points 448, 449. The push-rod 428 transmits force from the grip 522 to the actuator bar 444, which in turn distributes that force substantially equally to the two extenders 443. The push-rod 428 can be connected to the actuator bar 444 using any suitable means. In other embodiments, the push-rod 428 and the actuator bar 444 can be fabricated to be one piece, the actuator bar 444 and the extenders 443 can be fabricated to be one piece, or the push-rod 428, the actuator bar 444 and the extenders can all be fabricated to be one piece. The shape of the actuator bar 444 can be any shape that is capable of connecting to the push-rod 428 and the extenders 443. For example, shapes such as triangles, arcs or any other polygonal or other shape can be used.
The illustrated body 430 is attached to the handle 411 at its attachment end 434 and houses the tines 432, a spring return mechanism 555 and several components that make up a cleaning mechanism 435, described further below. As mentioned above, the push-rod 428 illustrated in
Referring to
As shown in
When the actuator bar 444 is pushed down by the push-rod 428 of such embodiments, the spring 456 is stretched and applies a resilient return force to return the actuator bar 444 to its rest position at the top of the actuating bar channel 470. In other embodiments, the spring 456 can be connected to the push-rod 428 instead of the actuator bar 444. When the actuator bar 444 is pushed down by the push-rod 428, the actuator bar 444 moves away from the spring bracket 458 and the spring 456 is stretched by its attachment to the spring bracket 458 and the actuator bar 444. The spring 456 then applies a returning resilient force to the actuator bar 444 tending to return the actuator bar 444 to its retracted position. In another embodiment (not shown), the spring brace 458 is mounted below the actuator bar 444 and when the actuator bar 444 is extended by the push-rod 428, the spring 456 is compressed, thereby providing a compressive return force to the actuator bar 444. Additionally, while the illustrated spring 456 is a simple wound spring, any resilient member that can provide the resilient return force can be used. The spring channel 472 is formed in the body 430 generally perpendicular to the actuator bar 444 and intersects the actuator bar channel 470 at the top of the actuator bar 444. The spring 456 is set inside the spring channel 472 and is attached at the bottom end to the top of the actuator bar 444.
Referring to
The length of the slots 521 in the handle 411 determine the length of travel of the cleaning bar 440. In general, the grip 522, the push-rod 428, the actuator bar 444, the extenders 443 and extender channels 442 are designed such that the cleaning bar 440 is displaced along the tines 432 substantially the same distance that the grip 522 is moved down the handle 411. Movement of the pin 526 in the slots 521 controls the movement of the grip 522 along the handle 411. Therefore, in embodiments where the bottom of the cleaning channels 441 extend to the distal ends of the tines 432, the pin 526 travels in the slots 521 a distance that is substantially the same as the length of the tines 432 exposed beyond the bottoms of the cleaning channels 441 in the cleaning bar 440. If the bottom of the cleaning bar 440 is to move beyond the distal ends of the tines 432, then the grip travel, and the travel of the pin 526 during operation, is greater than the length of the tines 432 that is exposed. The length of the slots 521 also provides a positive stop for the travel of the cleaning bar 440, preventing it from being extended too far such that it may become stuck on the ends of the tines 432. This rake 400 includes a cleaning channel 441 for each tine 432, while the cleaning channel 441 can completely surrounds its respective tine 432, as illustrated in this embodiment. An another embodiment (not shown), the cleaning channel 441 can surround at least a portion of its respective tine 432. In yet another embodiment (not shown), the cleaning channel 441 can surround a substantial portion of its respective tine 432. Many embodiments of the invention provide channels that completely surround all of the tines 432 and thus the embodiments are capable of cleaning all of the tines 432 all the way to their distal ends or beyond to effectively and easily allow the user to remove debris from the rake 400.
In the embodiment illustrated in
As is also illustrated in
The extenders 443 of such embodiments can be any elongated member capable of resisting compression so that when the actuator bar 444 applies a force to the extenders 443, the extenders 443 transmit that force along to the cleaning bar 440, which is then displaced along the exposed length of the tines 432 as described above. The extenders 443 are encouraged along their curvilinear path by the restrictive passages formed by the extender channels 442. While the extenders 443 may deflect slightly in their passages formed by the extender channels 443, the deflection is limited so that nearly all of the motion of the actuator bar 444 is translated into corresponding motion of the cleaning bar 440 along the tines 432. The extenders 443 are guided in their motion by the extender channels 442. The extender channels 442 are channels attached to or formed in the body 430 and provide lateral limitation to the movement of the extenders 443, thereby ensuring the extenders 443 substantially only move along their curvilinear axes. In this embodiment, the actuator bar 444, the push-rod 428 and the extenders 443 are configured so that they are all enclosed within the self-cleaning rake when in a retracted position. The extender channels 442 illustrated in
The extender channels 442 are cutouts in the body 430 running generally from either end of the actuator bar channel 470 to the tine end 436 of the body 430. Any suitable channel formed in the body 430 that is capable of limiting the lateral motion of the extenders 443 can be used. The channels can be produced simply by removing material from the body 432 itself to form the extender channels 442. These extender channels 442 make the characteristic bend from the plane of the body 430 and handle 411 to the plane of the tines 432. The extenders 443 extend out of the bottom of the tine end 436 of the body 430 where they connect to the cleaning bar 440 via, cleaning bar connections 482. In an alternative embodiment, the extenders 440 extend out of the body of the tine end 436 of the body 430 and are fabricated as one piece with the cleaning bar 440 obviating connections 482. The cleaning bar connections 482 connect the extenders 443 to the cleaning bar 440 and can be bare fasteners that apply a clamping force to the extenders 443 and the cleaning bar 440 or they can be a clamp that is drawn in by a fastener to apply a clamping force to the extenders 443 and the cleaning bar 440. In other embodiments, any other type of connector or clamp can be used.
The cleaning bar 440 is an elongated bar spanning the width of the tine end 436 of the body 430 and extending beyond the last tine 432 on either end. The cleaning bar 440 has a number of cleaning channels 441 equal to the number of tines 432 on the rake 400. The cleaning channels 441 extend within the cleaning bar 440 in individual paths that are each generally collinear with a respective tine 432. The cleaning channels 441 of the illustrated embodiment have a cross-sectional shape that is substantially the same shape as that of the tines 432 and are of an area that is only slightly larger than that of the tines 432. This provides close tolerances between the tines 432 and the cleaning channels 441 leading to a superior cleaning function of the cleaning bar 440, but allows enough space between the tines 432 and the cleaning channels 441 to prevent binding of the cleaning bar 440 when the cleaning bar 440 cleans the tines 432. The cleaning bar 440 and the cleaning channels 441 extend or travel a distance along the tines 432 that is sufficient to provide stability and support during raking and cleaning. The length of the cleaning channels 441 and cleaning bar 440 of the illustrated embodiment is about 2 inches however any such length that can effectively maintain the alignment of the cleaning channels 441 with respect to the tines 432 can be used. Many embodiments utilize lengths of up to or greater than ½ of an inch, while other embodiments utilize a length of at least ¾ of an inch, 1 inch, 1 1/2 inch, 1 3/4 inch, 2 inches or more. The length of the cleaning bar 440 and its cleaning channels 441 provide added stability to the rake 400. A cleaning bar 440 and cleaning channels 441 of a variety of suitable lengths can be used in various embodiments of the invention. The cleaning bar 440 is moved up and down the tines 432 by the extenders 443, which in turn are moved along their curvilinear paths by the actuator bar 444. As mentioned above, the cleaning bar 440 is moved up and down the tines and has at least one portion of its cleaning channels 441 that has a cross-sectional size that is only slightly larger than the cross-sectional size of the tines 432 and is thereby able to scrape any debris from the tines 432.
The body 430 of this embodiment can be made of metal, plastic, fiberglass or other composite, paper or wood-based products or any other substantially rigid material. Some embodiments are manufactured by injection molding as a complete body 430 and channel cover 490 in which the rest of the components are applied and inserted. Some embodiments utilize one unitary piece to build the body 430 in a similar shape as the illustrated finished product, while other embodiments create two parts that are folded or are otherwise attached to one another to form the illustrated embodiment. The tines 432 can be individual pieces of metal, plastic, or other rigid material extending all the way through the body 430 to the attachment end 434 as shown in previous embodiments. In other embodiments, the tines 432 only extend partially through the body 430 or even only slightly into the body 430. In yet other embodiments, several or all of the tines 432 are attached as one piece that is held within the body 432 so that only the bottoms extend from the tine end 436 of the body 430.
In the illustrated embodiment of
The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. As is also stated above, it should be noted that the use of particular terminology when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to be restricted to including any specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. The scope of the invention should therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A self-cleaning rake, comprising:
- an elongated handle;
- a body connected to the handle;
- a plurality of tines connected to one portion of the body;
- an actuator guide member disposed in the body;
- an actuator configured to move along a portion of the actuator guide member when the actuator is operated to clean the plurality of tines, the actuator comprising an actuator bar portion, a cleaning bar portion comprising a plurality of channels, each of which is adapted to be secured in slidable relation onto at least a portion of a respective one of the tines, and an extender portion connecting the actuator portion and the cleaning bar portion;
- a grip disposed on the handle and adapted to slide along a portion of the handle; and
- a push-rod disposed along the handle and connected to the grip and to the actuator.
2. The self-cleaning rake of claim 1, further comprising a pivot connecting the actuator and the push-rod, the pivot configured so that the actuator pivots relative to the push-rod when the actuator is operated to move along a portion of the actuator guide member.
3. The self-cleaning rake of claim 1, wherein the push-rod is disposed within the handle.
4. The self-cleaning rake of claim 1, further comprising a spring disposed along the push-rod such that the spring is stretched when the actuator is in an extended position to bias the actuator in a retracted position.
5. The self-cleaning rake of claim 1, further comprising a spring disposed along the push-rod such that the spring is compressed when the actuator is in an extended position to bias the actuator in a retracted position.
6. The self-cleaning rake of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of at least one of the channels in the cleaning bar portion varies along the length of the channel.
7. The self-cleaning rake of claim 1, wherein the grip and actuator are adapted to move at least a leading edge of the cleaning bar portion near a distal end of one or more of the tines.
8. The self-cleaning rake of claim 1, wherein the grip and actuator are adapted to move at least a leading edge of the cleaning bar portion to a position adjacent to the distal end of one or more of the tines.
9. The self-cleaning rake of claim 6, wherein at least one channel of the cleaning bar portion is configured such that the bottom of the channel that extends near the distal end on its respective tine is narrower than the top end of the channel.
10. The self-cleaning rake of claim 1, wherein the actuator bar portion, extender portion, and the cleaning bar portion are one piece.
11. The self-cleaning rake of claim 1, wherein one or more of the channels of the cleaning bar portion extend a length of at least about one quarter of an inch along the tines.
12. The self-cleaning rake of claim 1, wherein the body and the actuator comprise plastic.
13. A method of cleaning debris from the tines of a rake having a handle connected to a housing with a plurality of tines at one end thereof, the method comprising:
- moving a push-rod along the handle;
- moving a cleaning mechanism in response to movement of the push-rod; and
- moving a cleaning bar in response to movement of the cleaning mechanism, wherein the cleaning bar includes at least one cleaning channel that substantially surrounds at least one respective tine such that the act of moving the cleaning bar moves the cleaning bar along the at least one tine so as to remove debris located in contact with the at least one tine, and wherein a portion of the at least one cleaning channel extends near the distal end of the at least one tine during a portion of the movement of the cleaning bar along the at least one tine.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one part of the cleaning bar portion of the actuator extends to a location approximately adjacent to the distal end of the at least one tine during a portion of the movement of the cleaning bar along the at least one tine.
15. A self-cleaning rake, comprising:
- a handle;
- a plurality of tines attached to the body; and
- a body attached to the handle, the body comprising a cleaning mechanism having a cleaning member connected to the cleaning mechanism, the cleaning member associated with at least one of the plurality of tines, wherein the cleaning member is secured in slidable relation onto the associated tine and travels along at least a portion of the associated tine to a location near the distal end of the associated tine so as to remove material located on the associated tine.
16. The rake of claim 15, wherein the cleaning member and cleaning mechanism are fabricated as one piece.
17. The rake of claim 15, further comprising guide member formed on the body, and wherein the cleaning mechanism is configured so that at least a portion of the cleaning mechanism moves along the guide member when the cleaning mechanism is operated to clean the plurality of tines.
18. The self-cleaning rake of claim 15, wherein the cleaning member travels along at least a portion of the associated tine to a location approximately adjacent to the distal end of the associated tine.
19. The self-cleaning rake of claim 15, wherein the cleaning member travels along at least a portion of the associated tine to a location beyond the distal end of the associated tine.
20. The rake of claim 17, further comprising a pivot connected to the push-rod and the cleaning mechanism, the pivot configured so that the cleaning mechanism pivots relative to the push-rod when the push-rod moves along at least a portion of the actuator channel.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 8, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 1, 2005
Inventor: Scott Dalfors (El Cajon, CA)
Application Number: 11/054,054