HARVESTING TOOL

OUTIL DE RECOLTE

English Abstract

A paddle tine configured to attach over an exi sting pickup tine on a
harvester reel tube. The paddle
tine includes an elongated body portion having a longitudinal cavity which
receives the existing
pickup tine therein. A reel tube clip at the proximal end of the elongated
body has an arcuate
portion that matingly receives an arcuate portion of the harvester reel tube
laterally adjacent to
opposing lateral sides of the existing pickup tine. A fastener clip has an
arcuate portion that
matingly receives another arcuate portion of the harvester reel tube such that
the arcuate portion
of the fastener clip and the arcuate portion of the reel tube clip
cooperatively encompass the
harvester reel tube and rigidly secure the paddle tine onto the harvester reel
tube over the existing
pickup tine.

French Abstract

Il est décrit une dent en palette configurée pour sattacher sur une dent de ramassage existante sur un tube du rabatteur. La dent en palette comprend une partie de corps allongée ayant une cavité longitudinale qui reçoit la dent de ramassage existante dans cette dernière. Une pince de tube du rabatteur à lextrémité proximale du corps allongé a une partie incurvée qui reçoit, par accouplement, une partie incurvée du tube du rabatteur latéralement adjacent à des côtés opposés de la dent de ramassage existante. Une pince de fixation a une partie incurvée qui reçoit, par accouplement, une autre partie incurvée du tube du rabatteur de sorte que la partie incurvée de la pince de fixation et la partie incurvée de la pince de tube du rabatteur couvrent le tube du rabatteur et fixe la dent en palette rigidement sur le tube du rabatteur sur la dent de ramassage existante.

Claims

CLAIMS
1. An auxiliary tine configured to attach over an existing pickup tine on a
harvester reel tube,
the auxiliary tine comprising:
an elongated body portion having a proximal end and a distal end defining a
longitudinal
length and first and second lateral sides defining a lateral width, the
elongated body portion
further having a longitudinal cavity extending through the longitudinal
length, the
longitudinal cavity receiving the existing pickup tine therein;
a reel tube clip fixed at the proximal end of the elongated body portion, the
reel tube clip
having an arcuate portion configured to matingly receive an arcuate portion of
the harvester
reel tube laterally adjacent to opposing lateral sides of the existing pickup
tine;
a fastener clip having an arcuate portion configured to matingly receive
another arcuate
portion of the harvester reel tube such that the arcuate portion of the
fastener clip and the
arcuate portion of the reel tube clip cooperatively encompass the harvester
reel tube to
secure the auxiliary tine onto the harvester reel tube over the existing
picktip tine.
2. The auxiliary tine of claim 1, further comprising:
a paddle portion at the distal end of the elongated body portion, the paddle
portion having
a lateral width greater than the lateral width of the elongated body portion.
3. The auxiliary tine of claim 2, wherein the paddle portion includes a web
portion and a
reinforced portion at a distal end of the web portion, the reinforced portion
having a
thickness greater than the web portion.
4. The auxiliary tine of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elongated
body portion is arced
fronl the distal end to the proximal end forming a concave side and a convex
side when
viewed in a side elevation from one of the first and second lateral sides.
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5. The auxiliary tine of any one of clairns 1 to 4, wherein a longitudinal
notch extends through
the reel tube clip and into the proximal end of the elongated body portion,
the longitudinal
notch receiving a proximal portion of the existing pickup tine.
6. The auxiliary tine of any one of clairns 1 to 5, wherein an outer
surthce of the arcuate
portion of the reel tube clip includes an outwardly-projecting ledge and
wherein a distal
end of the arcuate portion of the fastener clip includes an inwardly-
projecting flange,
whereby the inwardly-projecting flange of the fastener clip engages with the
outwardly-
projecting ledge of the reel tube clip.
7. The auxiliary tine of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the arcuate
portion of the reel tube
clip extends laterally from each of the first and second lateral sides of the
elongated body
portion defining a lateral width of the arcuate portion of the reel tube clip.
g. The auxiliary tine of any one of clairns 1 to 7, wherein the arcuate
portion of the fastener
clip has a lateral width proximate the lateral width of the arcuate portion of
the reel tube
clip.
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Description

HARVESTING TOOL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to harvesting equipment, and more particularly to a
paddle tine for use
with a harvester reel tube.
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART
Typical harvesting headers include a plurality of thin pickup tines fixed with
a rotating harvester
reel tube that rotates to sweep crops into the header machine. In some
instances it is desirable to
include a larger -paddle" type tine for feeding more of the crop into the
header machine. Slipping
a paddle tine over the existing pickup tine is desirable so that the pickup
tine does not have to be
removed, and so that the reel can be converted back to the standard thin
pickup tines by simply
removing the auxiliary paddle tines.
Therefore, there is a need for a device that is easily installed over an
existing pickup tine on a
harvester reel tube. Such a needed invention would be relatively rigid and
durable so as to
handle the forces experienced during use. The present invention accomplishes
these objectives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present device is a paddle tine for use with a pickup tine fixed with a
harvester reel tube of
a harvesting header or other machine. The paddle tine comprises an elongated,
rigid body having
a central cavity therethrough from a proximal end thereof to proximate a
distal end thereof. The
elongated body is adapted to slide over the pickup tine of the harvester reel
tube.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-07-11

An attachment mechanism is fixed with the proximal end of the elongated body.
Preferably
the attachment mechanism includes one or more resilient clips. In some
embodiments each
resilient clip includes a relatively resilient inner portion fixed within a
relatively rigid outer
portion.
hi some embodiments, the attachment mechanism further includes a pair of loops
projecting
away from each of the clips, such that the paddle tine may be slid over the
pickup tine and
secured to the harvester reel tube with the resilient clips, a pair of
plastic, resilient fastening
ties being threaded through each of the loops and about the harvester reel
tube to further secure
the paddle tine to the harvester reel tube. In some embodiments these
fastening ties are replaced
with hook-and-loop fastening strips. In some embodiments the fastening ties or
hook-and-loop
fastening strips are applied to embodiments of the paddle tine devoid of the
loops.
Two opposing paddle webs project laterally away from the elongated body
proximate the distal
end. Preferably each of the two opposing paddle webs includes a reinforced
bottom portion
having a thickness greater than a web portion thereof
In some preferred embodiments, the attachment mechanism includes at least one
retaining ledge
famed as part of each resilient clip. A resilient fastener clip is further
included for encompassing
the harvest reel tube and at least a portion of the resilient clips. The
fastener clip has inwardly-
projecting flanges, such that the retention clip may be secured over the
harvest reel tube and the
resilient clips of the proximal end of the elongated body to secure the paddle
tine to the harvester
reel tube.
The present invention is a device that is easily installed over an existing
pickup tine on a harvester
reel tube. The present device is relatively rigid and durable so as to handle
the forces experienced
during use. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from
the following more detailed description_ taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings,
which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-07-11

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a harvester reel tube having pickup tines
fixed therewith, the paddle
tine of the present invention positioned over the pickup tines;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention showing two different types of
attachment
mechanisms;
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the invention, taken along line 4-4 of
FIG. 3;
FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view of a fastener clip exploded away from
a distal end of
an elongated body of the paddle tine;
FIG. 5B is a perspective view of FIG. 5A but with the fastener clip affixed
with the distal end
of the elongated body; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5B through a
longitudinal axis of
the elongated body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following
explanation
provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling
description for these
embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be
practiced
without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions
have not been
shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description
of the
embodiments.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and
the claims, the
words "comprise," "comprising," and the like are to be construed in an
inclusive sense as
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-07-11

opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of
"including, but not
limited to." Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural
or singular number
respectively. Additionally, the words "herein," "above," "below- and words of
similar import,
when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and
not to any particular
portions of this application. When the claims use the word "or" in reference
to a list of two or
more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word:
any of the items
in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in
the list. When the word
"each" is used to refer to an element that was previously introduced as being
at least one in
number, the word "each" does not necessarily imply a plurality of the
elements, but can also
mean a singular element.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an auxiliary tine 10 in the form of a paddle tine 10
for use with an existing
pickup tine 16 fixed with a harvester reel tube 15 of a harvesting header or
other machine (not
shown). The auxiliary paddle tine 10 comprises an elongated, rigid body 20
having a longitudinal
central cavity 25 therethrough from a proximal end 22 to proximate a distal
end 28 thereof
defining a longitudina.1 length and first and second lateral sides defining a
lateral width of the
elongated body 20. The elongated body 20 is adapted to slide over the existing
pickup tine 16
of the harvester reel tube 15 (FIG. 4). As most existing pickup tines 16 are
curved or arched,
preferably the elongated body 20 is arched from the distal end 28 to the
proximal end 22 from a
side view (FIG. 4). A front side 21 of the elongated body 20 forms a concave
side 24 and the
rear side 29 forms a convex side (FIGS. 3 and 4). The front side 21 and rear
side 29 preferably
each include a longitudinally-aligned notch 50 for receiving therein portions
of the existing
pickup tine 16. Preferably the elongated body 20 is made from a rigid
injection-molded plastic
material.
An attachment mechanism 30 is fixed with the proximal end 22 of the elongated
body 20.
Preferably the attachment mechanism 30 includes one or more resilient reel
tube clips 31 (FIGS.
1, 3 and 4) having an arcuate portion configured to matingly receive an
arcuate portion of the
harvester reel tube 15 laterally adjacent to opposing lateral sides of the
existing pickup tine 16.
The reel tube clip 31 has a lateral width. The longitudinal notch 50 extends
through the reel tube
clip 31. In sonic embodiments each resilient reel tube clip 31 includes a
relatively resilient inner
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-07-11

portion 36 fixed within a relatively rigid outer portion 35, the resilient
inner portion 36
accommodating a shoulder of the existing pickup tine 16.
In Some embodiments, the attachment mechanism 30 includes a pair of loops 32
(FIG. 2)
.. projecting away from each of the reel tube clips 31, such that the
auxiliary paddle tine 10 may
be slid over the existing pickup tine 16 and secured to the harvester reel
tube 15 with the resilient
reel tube clips 31, a pair of plastic, resilient fastening ties 33 being
threaded through each of the
loops 32 and about the harvester reel tube 15 to further secure the auxiliary
paddle tine 10 to the
harvester reel tube 15. In some embodiments the fastening ties 33 are replaced
with hook-and-
loop fastening strips 34. In some embodiments the fastening ties 33 or hook-
and-loop fastening
strips 34 are applied to embodiments of the auxiliary paddle tine 10 devoid of
the loops 32 (not
shown), and simply fasten around the resilient reel tube clips 31.
Two opposing paddle webs 40 project laterally away from the elongated body 20
proximate the
distal end 28. The opposing paddle webs 40 define a lateral width greater than
the lateral width
of the elongated body portion 20. Preferably each of the two opposing paddle
webs 40 includes
a reinforced bottom portion 41 having a thickness greater than a web portion
42 thereof (FIGS. 1
and 3).
In some embodiments, the attachment mechanism 30 includes at least one
retaining ledge 37
(FIGS. 5 A-6) formed as part of each resilient reel tube clip 31. Such a
retaining ledge 37
preferably is oriented facing substantially towards the distal end 28 of the
elongated body 20. A
fastener clip 60 is further included. The fastener clip 60 has an arcuate
portion to matingly receive
another arcuate portion of the reel tube 15 such that the arcuate portion of
the fastener clip and
the arcuate portion of the reel tube clip cooperative encompass the harvest
reel tube 15. The
fastener clip 60 has inwardly-projecting flanges 65 and is resilient, such
that the reel tube clip 31
may be secured over the harvest reel tube 15 and the resilient reel tube clips
31 of the proximal
end 22 of the elongated body 20 to secure the auxiliary paddle tine 10 to the
harvester reel tube
15. The arcuate portion of the fastener clip 60 has a lateral width proximate
the lateral width of
the arcuate portion of the reel tube clip 31.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-07-11

Preferably in such embodiments a distal side of the resilient clips 31 each
include a smooth outer
surface 38 (FIG. 5 A) from the retaining ledge 37 to the proximal end 22 of
the elongated body
20, such that the inwardly-projecting flanges 65 of the fastening clip 60
contact the smooth outer
surface 38 to separate the inwardly-projecting flanges 65 apart as the
resilient fastening clip 60
engages the resilient clips 31. Once the inwardly-projecting flanges 65 clear
the retaining ledges
37 the inwardly-projecting flanges 65 snap back toward each other to engage
the retaining ledges
37 and maintain the elongated body 20 on the harvester reel tube 15. Further,
each resilient clip
31 preferably includes an outer lip 39 to laterally retain the resilient
fastening clip 60 thereon.
While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described,
it will be apparent that
various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention.
Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by
.the appended claims.
Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the
invention should
not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be
restricted to any specific
characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that
terminology is associated.
In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to
limit the invention
to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above
Detailed Description
section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the
invention
encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways
of practicing or
implementing the invention.
The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not
intended to be
.. exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or
to the particular field
of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and
examples for, the
invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent
modifications are
possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant
art will recognize.
Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other
systems, not
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Date Regue/Date Received 2022-07-11

necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various
embodiments
described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.
Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems,
functions, and
concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further
embodiments of the
invention.
Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above "Detailed
Description." While the
above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes
the best mode
contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention
can be practiced in
many ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably while still
being
encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular
terminology used
when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be
taken to imply that the
terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific
characteristics, features, or
aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated.
While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim
forms, the inventor
contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim
forms. Accordingly,
the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the
application to pursue such
additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.
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Date Regue/Date Received 2022-07-11

Representative Drawing