Multipurpose Rake

The present invention relates generally to leaf rakes, and more particularly to leaf rakes having a removable handle.

While leaf rakes have been marketed with a wide variety of different types of rake heads, with various types of tines, they typically have two common components--an elongated handle and a rake head. The elongated handle allows the user to stand while raking leaves and other materials, without having to bend over. The various head designs all serve the purpose of collecting leaves or the like in a plurality of tines, so as to collect the material in a single pile.

The major problem with conventional rakes occurs once the leaves or other materials have been collected into a pile. Picking up the leaves and transporting them to a trash container or the like is difficult and cumbersome utilizing rakes. The rake must be gripped on the handle closely adjacent the rake head in order to achieve the necessary leverage to lift a pile of leaves. In attempting to lift the pile, the rake head can easily rotate, rotating the handle within the hand and spilling the leaves.

Furthermore, because of the lack of leverage, it is difficult to lift and move a large amount of material.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved multipurpose rake.

Another object is to provide a multipurpose rake with a rake head which is easily lifted and maneuvered.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose rake which will allow large amounts of material to be easily lifted and moved.

Yet another object is to provide a multipurpose rake which can be utilized as a material collecting and lifting tool.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The multipurpose rake of the present invention includes a head portion having tines along one end thereof, and an elongated handle removably connected to the other end. A hand-hold is affixed on the upper face of the rake head intermediate the tines and the handle end, and is shaped so as to be gripped by a hand. A strap is formed into an upwardly projecting loop, and affixed to the handle end of the rake head. In use, the rake may be utilized in a conventional fashion to collect leaves and other material into a pile. The handle may then be removed, and a hand extended through the loop in the strap so as to grip the hand-hold. The strap will then be located on the forearm of the user, allowing the user to easily grasp and maneuver the rake head. The rake head then serves as an enlarged hand to dramatically increase the amount of material which may be grasped and lifted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person utilizing the multipurpose rake of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the multipurpose rake of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the rake head of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the gripping handle of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the leverage strap of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, in which identical or corresponding components are identified with the same reference character, and more particularly to FIG. 2, the improved rake of this invention is designated generally at 10 and includes a head portion 12 and an elongated handle 14 extending from one end 16 of head portion 12. Rake head 12 has a plurality of tines 18 disposed along one end 20 opposite end 16. Tines 18 have depending teeth 22 which will contact the ground and collect leaves or other material as desired.

Handle 14 is threaded at one end 24 and is received within a threaded socket 26 in end 16 of rake head 12. Although a threaded handle is disclosed, many other methods of removably attaching a handle 14 to rake head 12 are common and known in the art.

A hand-hold 26 is affixed to rake head 12 intermediate tines 18 and end 16, on the upper face 28 of the rake head 12. Referring now to FIG. 4, hand-hold 26 includes a pair of spaced-apart upstanding ends 28 and 30 connected to a base 32, and having an upper cross bar 34 connecting the upper ends of upstanding ends 28 and 30. Thus, a generally rectangular opening 36 is formed. A pair of bolts 38 extend through base 32 and are fastened to rake head 12 with a washer and nut combination 40. The inventor anticipates that many other methods may be utilized to affix hand-hold 26 to rake head 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, a strap 40 is affixed to end 16 of rake head 12 so as to form a loop through which the user's arm may be extended. Each end 44 and 46 of strap 42 has a series of bolts 48 extending therethrough to affix strap 42 to rake head 12.

In operation, it can be seen that rake 10 may be utilized as a conventional rake with handle 14 mounted to rake head 12. Once leaves or other material have been collected into a pile, handle 14 is removed from rake head 12, to allow use of the rake head in picking up and transporting the materials. The user extends a hand 50 through the loop in strap 42 to grasp hand-hold 26, with the user's forearm 52 within strap 42, as shown in FIG. 3. The combination of the strap around the forearm 52 with the grip on hand-hold 26 provides a large amount of leverage and control in lifting and maneuvering rake head 12. In this fashion, rake head 12 can be used as an enlarged extension of the user's arm and hand to lift and transport large amounts of leaves and other materials, as shown in FIG. 1.

Whereas the invention has been shown and described in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that many modifications, substitutions and additions may be made which are within the intended broad scope of the appended claims. For example, handle 14 may be removably affixed to rake head 12 in a variety of manners which allow quick and easy connection and release of the handle to the rake head. Likewise, hand-hold 26 and strap 42 may be affixed to rake head 12 in a variety of different fashions, and could be molded as an integral part of the rake head itself.

It can therefore be seen that the present invention fulfills at least all of the above-stated objectives.