Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for an improved apparatus for removing fruit from a tree comprising a rotatable member rotatably mounted to a frame having a first and a second array of picking arms with each array having a plurality of parallel spaced picking arms. The picking arms extend radially outwardly from the rotatable member with each of the picking arms having a transfer portion, an extracting portion and a retaining portion. The extracting portions define a curvature in a general shape of a hook with the retaining portions defining a barb. Rotating of the rotatable member entraps the fruit between adjacent picking arms with the extracting portions removing the fruit from the tree and with the retaining portions enabling the migration of the fruit along the transfer portion to a collector.

Abstract: This invention involves a fruit harvesting apparatus (10) comprising an extensible handle unit (11) a body attached support unit (12), a fruit picking unit (13) a chute unit (14) wherein improvement comprise an adjustable brake unit (15) which is operatively associated with the chute unit (14) relative to the gravity feed of the fruit (102) therethrough.

Abstract: Apparatus for aiding a picker in harvesting fruit and like items, including a closed container releasably secured to the picker's side at the thigh and having a crush-resistant, flexible hose of a large diameter compared to the item to be picked connecting into the container. The hose and its free end are releasably secured to the arm and hand of the picker. A funnel member partly surrounds the hand, with the hand passing into the funnel area through a side opening in the funnel member. The side opening closely surrounds the wrist so as to prevent any loss of fruit through it. The funnel member connects with the free end of the hose. The rim of the funnel is releasably secured to open between the upper wrist and smallest finger so that the thumb and main fingers of the hand can readily pick fruit and like items and propel or drop them into the funnel, wherefrom they may roll or fall through the hose and into the container.

Abstract: A garden tool having a handle connected to a comb element which is provided with a sinuous serpentine plurality of projecting lobes constructed from a single continuous member of elastic material with the working section supported by and attached to the handle only at the ends of the element, the comb element being characterized by elastic and resilient response when applied to the earth in gardening activities.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for picking fruit from a tree when standing on the ground includes a generally cylindrically shaped, upwardly open receptacle (12) attached to the upper end of an elongate pole (14). A plurality of spaced apart fingers (34) project upwardly from the upper edge portion of receptacle (12). Each finger (34) includes an enlarged base portion (38) composed of downwardly sloping shoulders (40) which extend laterally outwardly from the side edges (41) of fingers (34) to intersect with corresponding shoulders (40) of next adjacent fingers (34). The edge portions of shoulders (40) are sharpened to form cutting edges (44) which cleanly cut the stem of fruit when edges (44) are pushed upwardly against the stem thereby allowing the fruit to drop into receptacle (12).

Abstract: A fruit harvesting assembly of the type including an elongated handle used to cut and collect fruit hanging from trees at a substantial distance above ground. A support frame comprises a base portion attached to the handle means and a head portion having a cutting blade secured thereto. A base portion and head portion are specifically aligned substantially colinear to the longitudinal axis of the handle means wherein the cutting blade and support arms of the support frame are arranged in an angular declining relation to this linear alignment thereby allowing simultaneous positioning of the cutting blade transverse or substantially perpendicular to the stem of the fruit being cut and the support arm in an out of the way location so as to provide clear viewing of engagement of the cutting blade and the fruit being cut.