Self-cleaning rake

Abstract

A rake having a self-cleaning mechanism and method of its manufacture. The rake comprises a handle, a body, a plurality of tines extending from the body, a push-rod extending along the handle to the body, and an actuator connected to the push-rod, the actuator having a cleaning bar portion. The cleaning bar portion has a plurality of cleaning channels, one for each tine and is extended and retrieved along the tines when the push-rod actuator is actuated. Each of the cleaning channels has a shape and a size that generally corresponds to a shape and a size of a respective one of the tines. Upon actuation, cleaning bar moves along the tines such that the cleaning channels remove debris from the tines.

1 . A self-cleaning rake, comprising: 
 an elongated handle;    a body connected to the handle;    a plurality of tines connected to one portion of the body;    an actuator guide member disposed in the body;    an actuator configured to move along a portion of the actuator guide member when the actuator is operated to clean the plurality of tines, the actuator comprising 
 an actuator bar portion,  
 a cleaning bar portion comprising a plurality of channels, each of which is adapted to be secured in slidable relation onto at least a portion of a respective one of the tines, and  
 an extender portion connecting the actuator portion and the cleaning bar portion;  
   a grip disposed on the handle and adapted to slide along a portion of the handle; and    a push-rod disposed along the handle and connected to the grip and to the actuator.    
   
   
       2 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot connecting the actuator and the push-rod, the pivot configured so that the actuator pivots relative to the push-rod when the actuator is operated to move along a portion of the actuator guide member.  
   
   
       3 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 1 , wherein the push-rod is disposed within the handle.  
   
   
       4 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring disposed along the push-rod such that the spring is stretched when the actuator is in an extended position to bias the actuator in a retracted position.  
   
   
       5 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring disposed along the push-rod such that the spring is compressed when the actuator is in an extended position to bias the actuator in a retracted position.  
   
   
       6 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of at least one of the channels in the cleaning bar portion varies along the length of the channel.  
   
   
       7 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 1 , wherein the grip and actuator are adapted to move at least a leading edge of the cleaning bar portion near a distal end of one or more of the tines.  
   
   
       8 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 1 , wherein the grip and actuator are adapted to move at least a leading edge of the cleaning bar portion to a position adjacent to the distal end of one or more of the tines.  
   
   
       9 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 6 , wherein at least one channel of the cleaning bar portion is configured such that the bottom of the channel that extends near the distal end on its respective tine is narrower than the top end of the channel.  
   
   
       10 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator bar portion, extender portion, and the cleaning bar portion are one piece.  
   
   
       11 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the channels of the cleaning bar portion extend a length of at least about one quarter of an inch along the tines.  
   
   
       12 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 1 , wherein the body and the actuator comprise plastic.  
   
   
       13 . A method of cleaning debris from the tines of a rake having a handle connected to a housing with a plurality of tines at one end thereof, the method comprising: 
 moving a push-rod along the handle;    moving a cleaning mechanism in response to movement of the push-rod; and    moving a cleaning bar in response to movement of the cleaning mechanism, wherein the cleaning bar includes at least one cleaning channel that substantially surrounds at least one respective tine such that the act of moving the cleaning bar moves the cleaning bar along the at least one tine so as to remove debris located in contact with the at least one tine, and wherein a portion of the at least one cleaning channel extends near the distal end of the at least one tine during a portion of the movement of the cleaning bar along the at least one tine.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one part of the cleaning bar portion of the actuator extends to a location approximately adjacent to the distal end of the at least one tine during a portion of the movement of the cleaning bar along the at least one tine.  
   
   
       15 . A self-cleaning rake, comprising: 
 a handle;    a plurality of tines attached to the body; and    a body attached to the handle, the body comprising a cleaning mechanism having a cleaning member connected to the cleaning mechanism, the cleaning member associated with at least one of the plurality of tines, wherein the cleaning member is secured in slidable relation onto the associated tine and travels along at least a portion of the associated tine to a location near the distal end of the associated tine so as to remove material located on the associated tine.    
   
   
       16 . The rake of  claim 15 , wherein the cleaning member and cleaning mechanism are fabricated as one piece.  
   
   
       17 . The rake of  claim 15 , further comprising guide member formed on the body, and wherein the cleaning mechanism is configured so that at least a portion of the cleaning mechanism moves along the guide member when the cleaning mechanism is operated to clean the plurality of tines.  
   
   
       18 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 15 , wherein the cleaning member travels along at least a portion of the associated tine to a location approximately adjacent to the distal end of the associated tine.  
   
   
       19 . The self-cleaning rake of  claim 15 , wherein the cleaning member travels along at least a portion of the associated tine to a location beyond the distal end of the associated tine.  
   
   
       20 . The rake of  claim 17 , further comprising a pivot connected to the push-rod and the cleaning mechanism, the pivot configured so that the cleaning mechanism pivots relative to the push-rod when the push-rod moves along at least a portion of the actuator channel.