Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02488292 2004-11-23
SCRAPING ADAPTOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to the general field of gardening implements and
is
particularly concerned with a scraping blade attachment for rakes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Conventional rakes commonly referred to as "garden" rakes are well known. They
typically include a pole or elongated handle having a crossbar toothed like a
comb at a
distal end thereof. Rakes are commonly used for drawing together cut grass,
hay or the
like. They are also often used for smoothing loose soil or gravel.
Although conventional rakes typically perform their intended purpose
adequately, they
suffer from at least one main drawback. Indeed, most conventional rakes are
typically
inherently limited in their range of usage by the very nature of their
configuration.
The toothed configuration of the cross-bar is typically defined by a set of
tines extending
therefrom. The tines being spaced apart from each other, conventional rakes
are not
particularly well adapted for use as scrapers or as implements for moving or
leveling
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loose material, viscous material or the like such as earth, mud, sand, gravel,
cement or
the like.
Although other types of hand manipulated implements are specifically designed
for
scraping or moving such loose or viscous material, these other types of manual
implements typically include a scraping blade that has proven unsatisfactory
for
performing raking functions commonly associated with rakes such as drawing
together
grass or hay-like material. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an
attachment
allowing for conversion of a rake-type implement into an implement allowing
for both
raking and scraping functions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a scraping attachment
attachable to a
rake for allowing the latter to be used both for raking and scraping
functions.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a scraping adapter
for
attachment to the raking head of a rake, the raking head extending from a
substantially
elongated rake handle, the raking head including a generally elongated head
base
defining a head base longitudinal axis, a head base first longitudinal edge
and a
substantially opposed head base second longitudinal edge, the head base also
defining
a head first side facing substantially towards the rake handle and an opposed
head
second side; the raking head also including a plurality of rake tines
extending outwardly
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from the head base first longitudinal edge in a substantially parallel and
spaced
relationship relative to each other, the scraping adapter comprising: a
substantially
elongated adapter body defining a body longitudinal axis, a body first
longitudinal edge,
a substantially opposed body second longitudinal edge and a pair of
substantially
opposed body longitudinal ends; the adapter body being configured so as to
provide a
substantially longitudinally extending scraping section substantially adjacent
the body
first longitudinal edge; a body-to-head attachment structure for attaching the
adapter
body to the raking head with the head base and body longitudinal axes in a
substantially
parallel relationship relative to each other and the scraping section
positioned
substantially opposite the rake tines. Conveniently, the scraping section
extends
inwardly from the body first longitudinal edge between the body longitudinal
ends.
Typically, the adapter body defines a body first main surface and a
substantially
opposed body second main surface, the body first main surface being configured
and
sized so that at least part of the head second surface is positionable against
the body
first main surface; the body-to-head attachment structure including an
attachment plate,
the attachment plate being configured and sized so as to be releasably
positionable in
at attachment configuration over at least a portion of the head first side; a
biasing
structure for biasing the attachment plate against the head first side when
the head
second side contacts the body first main surface so as to squeeze the raking
head
between the adapter body and the attachment plate.
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Conveniently, the biasing structure includes at least one body attachment
aperture
extending through the adapter body; at least one plate attachment aperture
extending
through the attachment plate; the body and plate attachment apertures being
configured, sized and positioned so as to be substantially in register when
the
attachment plate is in the attachment configuration; at least one attachment
assembly
for extending through the attachment component and plate apertures and biasing
the
attachment plate against the head first surface.
Typically, the attachment plate has a substantially elongated configuration
defining a
first plate longitudinal edge and a substantially transversely opposed plate
second
longitudinal edge; the plate first longitudinal edge being provided with a
plate recess
formed therein; the plate recess is adapted to receive part of the rake handle
when the
attachment plate is in the attachment configuration.
Conveniently, the body first main surface is provided with an abutment
protrusion
protruding substantially outwardly therefrom; the abutment protrusion defining
an
abutment surface configured, sized and positioned for abuttingly supporting
the head
base second longitudinal edge.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the scraping adaptor further
comprises
auxiliary tines extending from the scraping adapter substantially opposite the
scraping
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section; the auxiliary tines being positioned substantially lateral relative
to the rake tines
on at least one side of the rake head when the scraping adapter is attached to
the rake
head.
In at least one embodiment of the invention, the scraping adaptor further
comprises at
least one auxiliary plate, the auxiliary tines extending from the at least one
auxiliary
plate, the at least one auxiliary plate being releasably attachable to the
adapter body so
as to be positioned substantially laterally relative to the raking head when
the raking
head is attached to the scraping adapter.
Advantages of the present invention include that the proposed attachment
allows a
conventional rake to be converted into an implement that can be used for
clearing
surfaces, such as pavements, driveways and the like and/or leveling surfaces
of
material such as freshly poured cement, loose soil or the like.
The proposed attachment is designed so as to be attachable to conventional
rakes
through a set of quick and ergonomic steps with requiring special tooling or
manual
dexterity. Also, the proposed device is designed so as to be attachable to a
conventional rake with reduced risks of damaging the rake or the attachment
itself.
Furthermore, the proposed attachment, when combined with a rake or the like,
results in
a lightweight implement allowing for reduction in the efforts required in the
performance
of operations of the implement over prior art implements.
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Still further, the proposed implement is designed so as to be relatively
uncomplicated in
construction, manufacturable through conventional forms of manufacturing, so
as to
produce an attachment device that will economically feasible, long lasting and
relatively
trouble free in operation.
Also, the proposed attachment is designed so as to be relatively compact so as
to
facilitate storage and shipping thereof.
Furthermore, the proposed attachment is designed so as to be attachable to a
conventional rake in such a manner that when combined with the rake it allows
both for
conventional raking features and added scraping features. The raking and
scraping
features being alternatively available by a mere rotation of the conventional
rake handle
about its longitudinal axis. Still further, the proposed attachment is
designed so as to
improve the raking capabilities of the conventional rake when combined with
the latter in
the manner hereinafter set forth.
Still furthermore, the proposed scraping blade attachment is designed so as to
be easily
retro-fittable to conventional rakes and is also designed so as to be easily
manufacturable as an attachment sold with new rakes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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Embodiments of the present invention will now be disclosed, by way of example,
in
reference to the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1, in a partial exploded view with sections taken out, illustrates part
of a scraping
adapter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2, in a partial perspective view with sections taken out, illustrates a
scraping
adapter in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the
scraping
adapter being shown mounted to a raking head part of a conventional rake, the
rake
being partially shown and being illustrated in phantom lines;
Figure 3, in a partial elevational view with sections taken out, illustrates
part of the
scraping adapter shown in Fig. 1;
Figure 4, in a partial transversal cross-sectional view, illustrates a
scraping adapter in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention about to be mounted to
a
raking head.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown a scraping adapter in accordance an
embodiment of
the present invention generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The
scraping
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adapter is shown mounted to the raking head 12 of a conventional rake. The
raking
head 12 extends from an elongated rake handle 14 (only portion of which is
shown).
The raking head 12 includes a generally elongated head base 16 defining a head
base
longitudinal axis.
As shown more specifically in Fig. 4, the head base 16 defines a head base
first
longitudinal edge 18 and a substantially opposed head base second longitudinal
edge
20. The head base 16 also defines a head first side 22 facing substantially
towards the
rake handle 14 and an opposed head second side 24.
As illustrated more specifically in Fig. 2, the raking head 12 also includes a
plurality of
rake tines 26 extending outwardly from the base first longitudinal edge 18 in
a
substantially parallel and spaced relationship relative to each other.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, the scraping adapter 10 includes a substantially
elongated
adapter body 28 defining a body longitudinal axis 30, a body first
longitudinal edge 32, a
substantially opposed body second longitudinal edge 34 and a pair of
substantially
opposed body longitudinal ends 36.
The adapter body 28 is configured so as to provide a substantially
longitudinally
extending scraping section 38 substantially adjacent said body first
longitudinal edge
32.
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The scraping adapter 10 also includes a body-to-head attachment means or
structure
for attaching the adapter body 10 to the raking head 12 with the head base and
body
longitudinal axes in a substantially parallel relationship relative to each
other and the
scraping section 38 positioned substantially opposite the rake tines 26.
Typically, the scraping section 38 extends inwardly from the body first
longitudinal edge
32 between the body longitudinal ends 36. Alternatively, the scraping section
38 could
extend only partially between the body longitudinal ends 36.
As illustrated more specifically in Fig. 4, the adapter body 28 defines a body
first main
surface 40 and a substantially opposed body second main surface 42. The body
first
main surface 40 is configured and sized so that at least part of the head
second surface
24 is positionable against the body first main surface 40.
Typically, the body-to-head attachment means includes an attachment plate 44.
Said
attachment plate 44 is configured and sized so as to be releasably
positionable in an
attachment configuration over at least a portion of the head first side 22.
The body-to-head attachment means also includes a biasing means or structure
for
biasing the attachment plate 44 against the head first side 22 when the head
second
side 24 contacts the body first main surface 40 so as to squeeze the raking
head 12
between the adapter body 28 and the attachment plate 44.
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As illustrated more specifically in Fig. 1, the biasing means typically
includes at least
one and preferably two body attachment apertures 46 extending through the
adapter
body 28. The biasing means also typically includes at least one and preferably
two
corresponding plate attachment apertures 48 extending through the attachment
plate
44.
The body and plate attachment apertures 46, 48 are configured, positioned and
sized
so as to be substantially in register when the attachment plate 44 is in the
attachment
configuration. The biasing means typically further includes at least one and
preferably
two corresponding attachment assemblies for extending through the attachment
component and plate apertures 46 and 48, and biasing the attachment plate 44
towards
the adapter body 28. Typically, each attachment assembly includes a bolt 50
and a
corresponding nut 52. Conventional washer rings 54 may also be used.
Typically, the attachment plate 44 has a substantially elongated configuration
defining a
plate longitudinal axis 56. When more than one body and plate attachment
apertures
46, 48 are used, the body and plate attachment apertures 46, 48 are typically
longitudinally spaced respectively along the body and plate longitudinal axes.
As shown throughout the Figures and illustrated more specifically in Fig. 3,
at least one
and preferably all of the plate attachment apertures 48 typically have a
substantially
elongated configuration so as to define an attachment aperture longitudinal
axis 58.
The attachment aperture longitudinal axis 58 is typically in a substantially
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CA 02488292 2004-11-23
relationship relative to the plate longitudinal axis 56 so as to allow
adjustment of the
longitudinal positioning of the attachment assembly along the plate
longitudinal axis 56.
As illustrated more specifically in Figs. 1 and 3, the attachment plate 44
typically has a
substantially elongated configuration defining a first plate longitudinal edge
62 and a
substantially transversely opposed plate second longitudinal edge 64. The
plate first
longitudinal edge 62 is typically provided with a plate recess 66 formed
therein. As
illustrated more specifically in Fig. 2, the late recess 66 is configured and
sized so as to
receive part of the rake handle 18 when the attachment plate 44 is in the
attachment
configuration.
As illustrated more specifically in Fig. 4, the attachment plate 44 defines a
plate first
surface 68 for contacting the rake head 12 and an opposed plate second surface
70.
The plate second surface 70 typically has a plate bevelled section 72 tapering
inwardly
towards the plate first longitudinal edge 62.
As illustrated throughout the Figures and. more specifically, in Fig. 4, the
body first main
surface 40 is typically provided with an abutment protrusion 74 protruding
substantially
outwardly therefrom. The abutment protrusion 74 defines an abutment surface 76
configured, sized and positioned for abuttingly supporting the head base
second
longitudinal edge 20.
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Typically, the abutment surface 76 extends in a substantially perpendicular
relationship
relative to the body first main surface 40. Typically, the abutment protrusion
74 also
includes an angled protrusion surface 78 extending at an angle between the
abutment
surface 76 and the body main surface 40. Typically, the abutment protrusion 74
also
includes a longitudinally extending reinforcement groove 80 formed therein.
In at least some embodiments of the invention, the scraping adapter 10 further
includes
auxiliary tines 82 extending from the scraping adapter 10 substantially
opposite the
scraping section 38. Typically, the auxiliary tines 82 are positioned
substantially lateral
relative to the rake tines 26 on at least one and preferably both sides of the
rake tines
26 when the scraping adapter 10 is attached to the rake head 12.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the auxiliary tines 82 extend from the
adapter body
28 substantially adjacent the body second longitudinal edge 34. In the
embodiment
shown in Fig. 1, the scraping adapter 10 further includes at least one and
typically two
auxiliary plates 84 (only one of which is shown). The auxiliary tines 82
extend from the
auxiliary plates 84. Each auxiliary plate 84 is typically releasably
attachable to the
adapter body 28 so as to be positioned substantially laterally relative to the
raking head
12 when the raking head 12 is attached to the scraping adapter 10.
Typically, each auxiliary plate 84 releasably attachable to the adapter body
28 using an
auxiliary plate-to-adapter body attachment structure or means. Typically, the
auxiliary
plate-to-adapter body attachment structure or means includes at least one and
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preferably two body auxiliary apertures 86 extending through the adapter body
28 and
at least one and preferably two corresponding auxiliary apertures 88 extending
through
a corresponding auxiliary plate 84. The auxiliary plate-to-adapter body
attachment
structure or means typically further includes at least one and preferably two
corresponding auxiliary attachment assemblies (not shown) for extending
through both
the body and plate auxiliary apertures 86, 88 and squeezing a corresponding
auxiliary
plate 84 against the adapter body 28.
Typically, the adapter body 28 is further provided with at least one and
preferably two
body reinforcement recesses 90 formed therein typically in the body first main
surface
40.
Typically, the scraping adapter 10 is still further provided with at least one
and typically
two hooking apertures 92 extending through the adapter body 28 for allowing
the latter
to be hooked to a suitable support when not in use.
Typically, the adapter body 28 is made out of an integral piece of material.
Typically,
although by no means exclusively, the adapter body 28 is manufactured using
conventional forms of manufacturing such as injection moulding out of a
suitable
polymeric resin. Typically, although by no means exclusively, as illustrated
in Fig. 4, the
adapter body 28 is generally hollow.
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