US3744226A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tree fruit picking apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-11
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1992-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A tree fruit picking apparatus comprising a plurality of rigid support rods affixed to a rotatably driven support frame and diverging outwardly therefrom, each rod carrying several fruitgrasping members each of which defines a fruit-receiving opening to retentively grasp the fruit in its path and free such from its stem. A stationary shield partially surrounds the rotatable support member and is effective to orient the tree branches and also periodically depress the fruit-grasping members and subsequently release them, such that they spring outwardly into the tree branches to grasp the fruits in their paths.
Inventors
- 👤 C Granger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:58
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/24; A01D46/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A fruit picking apparatus comprising a movable support frame adapted to be rotatably driven about an axis, at least one support element attached to said frame and extending outwardly from said axis whereby said element is driven in a generally circular path of travel, at least one fruit-grasping member attached to said support element for circular movement therewith, said fruit-grasping member being movable with respect to said element between a fruit-grasping position and a depressed position, the effective fruit-engaging area of said fruitgrasping member when in said fruit-grasping position being greater than when in said depressed position, and means associated with said support frame for periodically influencing said fruit-grasping member to said depressed position and subsequently releasing it to said fruit-grasping position whereby the effective sweep area of the fruit-grasping member through the foliage is periodically increased and decreased, said means for depressing said fruit-grasping member comprising a stationary shield partially surrounding said rotatable support frame and including passageway means through which said support element passes, said passageway means engaging said fruit-grasping member as it passes through said passageway means to maintain it in said depressed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A fruit picking apparatus comprising a movable support frame adapted to be rotatably driven about an axis, at least one support element attached to said frame and extending outwardly from said axis whereby said element is driven in a generally circular path of travel, at least one fruit-grasping member attached to said support element for circular movement therewith, said fruit-grasping member being movable with respect to said element between a fruit-grasping position and a depressed position, the effective fruit-engaging area of said fruitgrasping member when in said fruit-grasping position being greater than when in said depressed position, and means associated with said support frame for periodically influencing said fruit-grasping member to said depressed position and subsequently releasing it to said fruit-grasping position whereby the effective sweep area of the fruit-grasping member through the foliage is periodically increased and decreased, said means for depressing said fruit-grasping member comprising a stationary shield partially surrounding said rotatable support frame and including passageway means through which said support element passes, said passageway means engaging said fruit-grasping member as it passes through said passageway means to maintain it in said depressed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said fruit-grasping member is provided with a fruit receiving opening, the area of the projection of said opening in a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel being signIficantly greater when said fruit-grasping member is in said fruit-grasping position than when in said depressed position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said fruit-grasping member when in said depressed position extends outwardly from said support element and backwardly opposite to the direction of travel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said fruit-grasping member comprises a narrow closed wicket-like member with opposite ends thereof fastened to said support element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said fruit-grasping member is made of flexible, resilient material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said passageway means is defined by a pair of oppositely disposed walls generally parallel to said path of element travel, said element carrying a pair of said fruit-grasping members disposed on opposite sides of said element and simultaneously engaging said walls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
161 words
A tree fruit picking apparatus to be moved through the tree branches to free the encountered fruits from their stems, said apparatus comprising a rotatably driven support member for rotation about an axis, a plurality of elongated support elements attached to and extending outwardly from said support member for rotation therewith in circular paths, said support elements being axially spaced from each other along said axis, at least one fruit-grasping member carried by each of said support elements, each defining a fruit-receiving opening adapted to capture fruit as the elements are rotated through the tree branches, the fruit-grasping members carried by axially adjacent support elements extending axially toward each other when in fruit-grasping positions, and means for periodically depressing each of said fruit-grasping members axially toward the associated support element to a depressed position and subsequently releasing each fruit-grasping member to said fruit-grasping position, whereby the effective sweep area of the fruit-grasping members through the foliage is periodically increased and decreased.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
161 words
A tree fruit picking apparatus to be moved through the tree branches to free the encountered fruits from their stems, said apparatus comprising a rotatably driven support member for rotation about an axis, a plurality of elongated support elements attached to and extending outwardly from said support member for rotation therewith in circular paths, said support elements being axially spaced from each other along said axis, at least one fruit-grasping member carried by each of said support elements, each defining a fruit-receiving opening adapted to capture fruit as the elements are rotated through the tree branches, the fruit-grasping members carried by axially adjacent support elements extending axially toward each other when in fruit-grasping positions, and means for periodically depressing each of said fruit-grasping members axially toward the associated support element to a depressed position and subsequently releasing each fruit-grasping member to said fruit-grasping position, whereby the effective sweep area of the fruit-grasping members through the foliage is periodically increased and decreased.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said fruit-grasping members comprises an elongated wicket-like member secured at opposite ends thereof to the associated support element to define said fruit receiving opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said wicket-like members is of tapered configuration such that said opening is narrower than the fruit to be picked at a point remote from the associated support element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure set forth in claim 7 wherein said support member includes a generally cylindrical outer surface which easily brushes past the tree branches.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The structure set forth in claim 7 wherein said support elements are arranged in axially spaced groups, the elements of each group lying approximately in the same path of travel, the fruit-grasping members of each group generally extending toward those of the adjacent groups, thereby defining a relatively large fruit-receiving sweep area as the support member is rotated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
The structure set forth in claim 11 wherein said depression means includes a shield member partially surrounding said support member and adapted to be moved into the tree branches, said shield member being provided with a plurality of spaced passageways through which said support elements and fruit-grasping members pass during rotation of said support member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure set forth in claim 12 wherein said shield member is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending branch-maneuvering prongs which may be selectively inserted into the tree to orient the branches for effective fruit picking.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes biasing means associated with said fruit-grasping member for influencing it toward said fruit-grasping position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure set forth in claim 14 wherein said biasing means is yieldable to permit movement of said fruit-grasping member to said depressed position when it engagEs said passageway means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure set forth in claim 15 wherein said fruit-grasping member slidably engages said passageway means when it is in said depressed position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
The structure set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said fruit-grasping members is provided with a fruit receiving opening, the area of the projection of said opening in a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel being significantly greater when said fruit-grasping member is in said fruit-grasping position than when in said depressed position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure set forth in claim 17 wherein each of said fruit-grasping members when in said depressed position extends outwardly from said support element and backwardly opposite to the direction of travel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The structure set forth in claim 11 wherein said depression means comprises a stationary member defining a plurality of passageways aligned with the paths of support element travel, said fruit-grasping members being depressed by said stationary member as they pass through the associated passageways.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure set forth in claim 19 wherein each of said fruit-grasping members slidably engages the associated passageway when in said depressed position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3494117A
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US3552107A
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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) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |