US3556223A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stone picker and turf maintenance machine
Assignee: BRIDGPORT IMPLEMENT WORKS Inc
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Filing: 1968-06-03
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1988-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A stone picker and turf maintenance machine capable of removing stone and debris from areas to be seeded with a minimum of initial soil preparation. The machine has a series of curved, individually flexible rake fingers or teeth which are adapted for engagement below the surface of the ground to lift stones to the surface. The stones are then engaged by flexible tines rotating on a reel and are moved along the surfaces of the rake fingers. The entrained soil and soil amendments are aerated, pulverized and sifted through the rake fingers. The stones are moved along by the tines within the curvature of the rake fingers and are deposited in a bin.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas G Pardy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:28
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01B; A01B43/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A machine of the class described comprising: a. a soil contacting and sifting member comprising a plurality of individually mounted individually resilient curved teeth adapted for engagement with the ground from the surface thereof to a significant depth below the surface thereof; and b. a rotating reel concentric with said soil contacting member having mounted thereon a plurality of picker tines having a free end and a mounted end, each picker tine individually mounted to the reel and individually resilient, the distance between the free ends of said picker tines and their mounted ends being greater than the distance between the axis of said reel and said free ends of said tines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A machine of the class described comprising: a. a soil contacting and sifting member comprising a plurality of individually mounted individually resilient curved teeth adapted for engagement with the ground from the surface thereof to a significant depth below the surface thereof; and b. a rotating reel concentric with said soil contacting member having mounted thereon a plurality of picker tines having a free end and a mounted end, each picker tine individually mounted to the reel and individually resilient, the distance between the free ends of said picker tines and their mounted ends being greater than the distance between the axis of said reel and said free ends of said tines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, and: c. wheels for supporting said soil contacting member and said reel, all of said wheels being mounted behind said soil contacting member and said reel and within the outer limits thereof whereby said wheels only contact ground previously treated by said teeth and said reel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said teeth are commonly mounted to a plate having two rows of holes therein, said mouNting being by means of carriage bolts performing the dual function of spacing and fixing said teeth to said plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A machine as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said teeth is curved over the major portion thereof substantially in a circle substantially concentric with the axis of rotation of said picker reel with a straighter ground-engaging end to facilitate engagement of said teeth at a significant depth below the surface of the ground.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
A machine of the class described comprising: a. a sifting member comprising a plurality of curved teeth adapted to separate from soil and to guide stones being picked into a container; and b. a rotating reel concentric with said sifting member having mounted thereon a plurality of picker tines having a free end and a mounted end, each picker tine individually mounted to the reel and individually resilient, the distance between the free ends of said picker tines and their mounted ends being greater than the distance between the axis of said reel and said free ends of said tines.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
A machine of the class described comprising: a. a sifting member comprising a plurality of curved teeth adapted to separate from soil and to guide stones being picked into a container; and b. a rotating reel concentric with said sifting member having mounted thereon a plurality of picker tines having a free end and a mounted end, each picker tine individually mounted to the reel and individually resilient, the distance between the free ends of said picker tines and their mounted ends being greater than the distance between the axis of said reel and said free ends of said tines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said tines extend in their unflexed condition to a significant depth below the surface of the ground treated thereby.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein the mounted ends of said tines on said reel are offset relative the axis of rotation of said reel so that when the free end of a tine is in vertical alignment with the axis of rotation of said reel, the mounted end of said tine on said reel will be at the side of said axis of rotation toward said sifting member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A machine as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said tines is a springlike rod with its said mounted end imbedded in a socket formed of resilient material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A machine as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said tines is square in cross section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said tines is a springlike rod with its said mounted end imbedded in a socket formed of resilient material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein the mounted ends of said tines are displaced above said axis of rotation when a tine is in contact with the soil so that the tine will be in a sweeping position best to utilize its flexing construction and its greater length. 12 A machine as defined in claim 11 wherein the free ends of said tines extend into the ground to a significant extent when they are directly below said axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
A machine as defined in claim 11 wherein the mounted ends of said tines on said reel are offset relative the axis of rotation of said reel so that when the free end of a tine is in vertical alignment with the axis of rotation of said reel, the mounted end of said tine on said reel will be at the side of said axis of rotation toward said sifting member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said tines is square in cross section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
A machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said reel comprises a pair of tine mounts located at equal distances from, on opposite sides of, and paralleled to said axis of rotation; said tines mounted to said mounts in two planes spaced from said axis; and said tines cutting across the cylindrical path of rotation of said mounts.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
A machine as defined in claim 5, and: c. wheels for supporting said sifting member and said reel , all of said wheels being mounted behind said sifting member and said reel and within the outer limits thereof whereby said wheels only contact ground previously treated by said sifting member and said reel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |