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A rake comprising a handle with an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion; a pair of oppositely disposed frames pivotally attached to said lower portion, said pair of oppositely disposed frames having a plurality of tines; an articulating mechanism comprising a pair of brackets f

A rake comprising a handle with an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion; a pair of oppositely disposed frames pivotally attached to said lower portion, said pair of oppositely disposed frames having a plurality of tines; an articulating mechanism comprising a pair of brackets fixedly coupled to said lower portion; a pair of rods fixedly coupled between said pair of brackets; a handle collar slidable on said handle, said handle collar coupled to a rod collar by a pair of connecting members, said rod collar slidable on one of said pair of rods; a pair of connector rods hingedly coupled between said rod collar and said pair of oppositely disposed frames; and whereby sliding said handle collar causes said rod collar to slide in sympathy and provides a force to said pair of connector rods to pivot said pair of oppositely disposed frames towards one other or away from one another.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A rake comprising: a handle with an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion;a pair of oppositely disposed frames pivotally attached to said lower portion, said pair of oppositely disposed frames having a plurality of tines;an articulating mechanism comprising: a pair of bracket

1. A rake comprising: a handle with an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion;a pair of oppositely disposed frames pivotally attached to said lower portion, said pair of oppositely disposed frames having a plurality of tines;an articulating mechanism comprising: a pair of brackets fixedly coupled to said lower portion;a pair of rods fixedly coupled between said pair of brackets;a handle collar slidable on said handle, said handle collar coupled to a rod collar by a pair of connecting members, said rod collar slidable on one of said pair of rods;a pair of connector rods hingedly coupled between said rod collar and said pair of oppositely disposed frames;wherein said pair of rods are attached between an upper pivot bracket coupled to said lower portion of said handle, and a lower pivot bracket;wherein each of said frames comprises an upper arm and a lower arm, having said plurality of tines secured thereto;wherein said pair of rods are axially aligned with said handle, wherein said rods are parallel to each other and fulfill the dual function as an extension to the handle and as a guide for the slidable rod collar, allowing for the functioning of the articulating mechanism;wherein said upper arm is pivotally connected to said upper pivot bracket and said lower arm is pivotally connected to said lower pivot bracket;wherein said upper arm is coupled to an upper pivoted disc rotatably mounted on said upper pivot bracket and said lower arm is coupled to a lower pivoted disc rotatably mounted on said lower pivot bracket; and whereby sliding said handle collar causes said rod collar to slide in a synchronized way and provides a force to said pair of connector rods to pivot said pair of oppositely disposed frames towards one other or away from one another. 2. The rake of claim 1, wherein said lower arm is hingedly coupled to one end of said pair of connector rods, and the other end of said connector rod is hingedly coupled to said rod collar slidable on one said pair of rods. 3. The rake of claim 2, wherein said pair of connecting members is coupled on one end to said rod collar and on the other end to said handle collar. 4. The rake of claim 3, wherein an upward sliding movement of said handle collar causes the upward movement of said pair of connecting members, which causes upward sliding movement of said rod collar which causes said connector rods to pull said lower arms which rotate on said pivoted discs to move said pair of oppositely disposed frames toward each other, enclosing material for lifting and disposing said material. 5. The rake of claim 4, wherein said upper pivot bracket comprises a stop mechanism to maintain pair of oppositely disposed frames in said substantially axially aligned position. 6. The rake of claim 1, wherein a portion of each of said pivoted discs comprises gears with teeth that intermesh for mutual rotation of said upper arms and lower arms of said pair of frames. 7. The rake of claim 6, wherein said pair of fixed rods are axially aligned and off centre with said handle providing an advantageous forward position to provide a lever effect over said pair of lower arms and facilitate the swivelling of said connector rods. 8. The rake of claim 7, wherein mid-points of said pair of lower arms are hingedly coupled to one end of said pair of connector rods by eyelets and the other end of said pair of connector rods are hingedly coupled to said rod collar by eyelets, said rod collar slidable on one said pair of fixed rods. 9. The rake of claim 8, wherein said pair of connector rods are in a horizontal front to back angled position from said rod collar to mid-point of said lower arms when in an open raking mode for gathering debris, wherein said connector rods swivel as said rod collar slides upwardly to a final substantially vertical back to front angled position from said rod collar when in a pick-up mode enclosing said debris. 10. The rake of claim 9, wherein an upward sliding movement of said handle collar causes an upward movement of said connecting members, said connecting members rigid in nature, which causes upward sliding movement of said rod collar which forces said connector rods to swivel from an initial horizontal position to a substantially vertical final position pulling said lower arms which rotate on said pivoted discs in a synchronized way with upper arms which also rotate on said pivoted discs, to move said pair of oppositely disposed frames towards each other. 11. The rake of claim 9, wherein a downward sliding movement of said handle collar causes a downward movement of said connecting members, said connecting members rigid in nature, which causes downward sliding movement of said rod collar which forces said connector rods to swivel from an initial substantially vertical position to a final horizontal position pushing open said lower arms which rotate on said pivoted discs in a synchronized way with upper arms which also rotate on said pivoted discs, to move said pair of oppositely disposed frames away from one other.