LAWN RAKE AND CROSS HEAD ASSEMBLY

DRAWINGS

Brief description of the drawings

In the drawings, closely related figures of a like grouping are given the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lawn rake incorporating the present invention, with the handle shown fragmented;

FIG. 1A is a fragmented perspective view of the cross head of the lawn rake shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the lawn rake shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the cross head assembly;

FIG. 4 is a fragmented top view of the cross head assembly shown in FIG. 3, looking down along the tine stems, with some tines omitted for ease of illustration;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through a pair of apertures in the cross arm, taken along section lines 5--5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a tine showing its component elements;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view through a tine mounted on the cross arm, taken along section lines 7--7 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the looped bend of the tine shown in FIG. 7, showing engagement with the cross arm;

FIG. 8 is a fragmented bottom view of the cross head assembly shown in FIG. 3, looking up along the tine stems, with some tines omitted for ease of illustration;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the truncated tee;

FIGS. 10A-D are respectively, front elevation, side elevation, top plan, and bottom plan views, of the truncated tee;

FIG. 10E is a vertical section view of the truncated tee, taken along section lines E--E in FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10F is a side elevation view of the truncated tee mounted on the cross arm, with the tines omitted for ease of illustration;

FIG. 11 is a vertical section view of an alternative truncated tee;

FIGS. 10A-F and FIG. 11 show views of the truncated tee as though it were positioned vertically, for ease of illustration;

FIG. 12A shows engagement of a tine on the cross arm by application of finger force;

FIG. 12B shows the position of the tine of FIG. 12A just prior to snapping into place around the cross arm;

FIG. 12C shows release of a tine from the cross arm by application of finger force;

FIGS. 13A-F show the sequence of steps to cause removal of a tine from the cross arm;

FIGS. 14A and B illustrate sequentially, the front-to-back limits of movement of a tine mounted on the cross arm;

FIG. 14C illustrates the side-to-side limits of movement of a tine mounted on the cross arm;

FIGS. 15A and B illustrate sequentially, representative front-to-back movement and bending of a tine mounted on the cross arm caused by raking action;

FIGS. 16A-C are top views of a lawn rake incorporating the present invention, illustrating directions of movement during raking action;

FIG. 17 is a partial side elevation view showing a lawn rake of the present invention in a leaf and lawn debris pushing mode, and the associated deflection of the tines;

FIGS. 18A-E show fragmented side elevation views of alternative tines usable with a lawn rake of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a side elevation view of an alternative ground engaging tip;

FIG. 20 is a partial bottom view of an alternative cross arm showing slotted apertures for mounting of the tines;

FIG. 21 is a front elevation view of an alternative cross head assembly;

FIG. 21A is a partial top view of the cross head of the alternative cross head assembly of FIG. 21;

FIG. 21 B is a partial bottom view of the cross head of the alternative cross head assembly of FIG. 21;

FIG. 22 is a top view of a cross head showing an alternative arrangement of apertures;

FIG. 23 is a side elevation view of the cross head of FIG. 22, showing the tines mounted thereon, with the truncated tee omitted for ease of illustration;

FIG. 24 is a top view of a cross head showing a second alternative arrangement of tines;

FIG. 25 is a top view of a cross head showing a third alternative arrangement of apertures;

FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of the cross head of FIG. 24, showing the tines mounted thereon, with the truncated tee omitted for ease of illustration;

FIG. 27 is a side elevation view of the cross head of FIG. 25, showing the tines mounted thereon, with the truncated tee omitted for ease of illustration;

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative cross arm showing apertures that are not diametrically opposed;

FIG. 29 is a side elevation view of a tine usable with the cross arm of FIG. 28;

FIG. 29A is an enlarged view of the looped bend of the tine shown in FIG. 29, showing engagement with the cross arm;

FIG. 30 is a partial top view of a cross arm having apertures that are not diametrically opposed, looking in the direction D of FIG. 28; and

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a cylindrical mailing container showing disposition within of the handle, cross head, and tines of a lawn rake of the present invention.