US3601962A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fruit harvester with offset fruit removing device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-05-22
•
Granted: 1971-08-31
•
Expires: 1989-05-22
Abstract
Abstract An attachment for a fruit harvester incorporating a plurality of rotary elements oriented in substantially vertical alignment with each rotary element including an offset beater in the form of a bar or tine which orbits about a rotational axis in a manner to engage fruit adjacent its connection with the stem for dislodging the fruit from the stem and causing the dislodged fruit to move in an outward trajectory in relation to the canopy of the tree toward the fruit harvester which serves as a device for catching and collecting the fruit.
Inventors
- 👤 Curtis J Townsend
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:43
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A fruit harvesting mechanism comprising an elongated member adapted to be inserted into the foliage of a fruit tree, means supporting said member for rotation about an axis spaced from and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the member for moving the member in a circular path, said support means including a plate member having first and second sides and being attached to said elongated member at a point spaced from its center on the first side, a drive shaft rigidly affixed to said plate at its center on the second side, and means driving said drive shaft for moving said member in a circular path to engage the fruit of the fruit tree adjacent the connection of the fruit with the stem for disconnecting the fruit from the stem.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A fruit harvesting mechanism comprising an elongated member adapted to be inserted into the foliage of a fruit tree, means supporting said member for rotation about an axis spaced from and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the member for moving the member in a circular path, said support means including a plate member having first and second sides and being attached to said elongated member at a point spaced from its center on the first side, a drive shaft rigidly affixed to said plate at its center on the second side, and means driving said drive shaft for moving said member in a circular path to engage the fruit of the fruit tree adjacent the connection of the fruit with the stem for disconnecting the fruit from the stem.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 together with counterweight means attached to said plate to counteract unbalanced forces during rotation of the elongated member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 together with a roller freely journaled on said elongated member for engaging the fruit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said counterweight means includes an offset weight, and removable locking means for removing and locking the weight in position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure as defined in claim 4 together with shield means between said elongated member and said counterweight means for preventing entanglement of the foliage with the elongated member and counterweight means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 together with a plurality of additional elongated members oriented in substantially vertical alignment and being of substantially identical construction, and means rotating all of said elongated members in the same direction, and means supporting all of said elongated members for angular displacement about a vertical axis to enable the elongated members to project outwardly for passing through the canopy of a citrus fruit tree in a linear direction and being disposed in acute angular relation to a radius of the tree perpendicular to the path of linear movement, said drive means driving said elongated members causing rotation thereof in a direction to provide an outward trajectory to citrus fruit harvested from the tree.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |