Adjustable rake

Abstract

A hand rake having a plurality of tines whose spread is adjustable in width for different operations. The tines extend through a guide at the bottom of the rake handle and are secured at their upper end to a retainer which slides along the handle. A special retainer structure clamps the upper end of the tines tightly so that the rotational position of the retainer is maintained by the tines in a fixed position with respect to the guide position. A split collar and locking nut arrangement facilitate the locking of the retainer with one hand in various adjusted positions along the handle. The handle can be made in two parts for separation when not in use. A hook extends from the guide for hanging the rake when not in use.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. An adjustable hand rake comprising: a handle having a longitudinal extent;   a guide member secured to one end of said handle, said guide member having a plurality of laterally spaced apart holes;   a tine retainer slidably mounted on said handle, said retainer including a transversely extending one piece cage and a one piece transversely extending support plate, said cage having an axial bore through which said handle extends;   said support plate having a transversely extending slot and a transversely extending indentation angularly extending from said transversely extending slot to a bottom edge of said support plate;   a plurality of tines extending through said guide member holes, the upper ends of said tines being bent outwardly, the upper portion of said tines being positioned in said indentation with said upper bent ends extending into said transversely extending slot;   said cage having a transversely extending wide base flange covering said tines upper portion;   said support plate and said cage wide base flange having transversely extending portions extending longitudinally of said slot and parallel to said tines in clamping engagement therewith longitudinally of said outwardly bent portions; and   means rigidly clamping said support plate to said cage wide base flange for rigidly retaining said tines in said indentation for movement laterally within said indentation but otherwise preventing said tines from movement in said indentation, said rigidly clamped tines maintaining said tine retainer in a fixed angular position on said handle with respect to said guide member.   
     
     
       2. An adjustable hand rake according to claim 1 wherein said indentation flares outwardly from said slot. 
     
     
       3. An adjustable rake according to claim 1 wherein said clamping means extends through said cage base flange and said support plate at points spaced outwardly of said tines and between said slot and said lower end of said support plate. 
     
     
       4. An adjustable hand rake according to claim 3 wherein said tine ends are in contact with each other in said longitudinal slot. 
     
     
       5. An adjustable hand rake according to claim 1 wherein said tine ends are in contact with each other in said longitudinal slot. 
     
     
       6. An adjustable hand rake according to claim 1 wherein said tine retainer includes a split collar on said cage and surrounding said handle, a lock nut surrounding at least a portion of said split collar, means for tightening said lock nut on said split collar, and means for wedging said split collar against said handle as said lock nut is tightened on said split collar, whereby said tine retainer can be locked in selected adjusted positions along said handle. 
     
     
       7. An adjustable hand rake according to claim 1 wherein said handle is tubular with a hollow interior, said guide member has a tubular projection extending into said one end of said handle and secured thereby to said handle. 
     
     
       8. An adjustable hand rake according to claim 7 and further comprising a hook having one end portion secured within said tubular projection and another end extending downwardly thereof whereby said rake can be hung from said hook when not in use. 
     
     
       9. An adjustable hand rake according to claim 1 and further comprising a hook secured to said guide member whereby said rake can be hung from said hook when not in use. 
     
     
       10. An adjustable hand rake according to claim 1 wherein said handle is divided into first and second sections and further comprising means for removably securing said handle sections together. 
     
     
       11. An adjustable rake according to claim 10 wherein said handle is tubular with a hollow interior, and said securing means includes a first plug in one end of said first section of said handle, said first plug having a threaded bore, a second plug in an end of said second section of said handle, said second plug having a threaded projection adapted to engage said threaded bore of said first plug. .Iadd. 12. In an adjustable rake having an elongated handle, a transverse prong guide secured to the handle, a prong carrier slidably received on the handle, and a plurality of elongated prongs pivotally secured to the prong carrier and slidably received in said prong guide, an improved means for selectively securing the prong carrier to the handle at any of a plurality of selected positions along the length thereof including opposed resilient means on said carrier and substantially surrounding said handle, the resiliency of each of said opposed means tending to move each away from said handle, each of said opposed means including a cam-like pressure receiving surface, and means for selectively and simultaneously applying pressure to said surfaces to force said opposed means into tight frictional engagement with said handle to secure said prong carrier thereto in a desired position thereon. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. In an adjustable rake having an elongated handle, a transverse prong guide secured to the handle, a prong carrier slidably received on the handle, and a plurality of elongated prongs pivotally secured to the prong carrier and slidably received in said prong guide, an improved means for selectively securing the prong carrier to the handle at any of a plurality of selected positions along the length thereof including opposed means on said carrier and substantially surrounding said handle, each of said opposed means tending to move each away from said handle, each of said opposed means including a cam-like pressure receiving surface, and means for selectively and simultaneously applying pressure to said surfaces to force said opposed means into tight frictional engagement with said handle to secure said prong carrier thereto in a desired position thereon..Iaddend.