Lawn rake with foldable squeegee blade and quick-release connection

Abstract

Lawn rake, characterized in that the rake blade of the lawn rake is designed to be foldable in its longitudinal axis, so that it can be transferred from an unfolded operating position to a folded transport and storage position, in which the width of the rake blade is significantly reduced compared to the operating position.

Description

[0001] Lawn rakes are used to evenly distribute excess water, sand, or topdressing material across lawns, sports fields, or garden areas. They typically consist of a flat, wide rake blade made of rubber or plastic, attached to a long handle. The blade is usually rigidly connected to the handle and is stored or transported as a single unit after use.

[0002] Conventional lawn rakes have two major disadvantages: First, the rigid, non-folding blade takes up considerable storage and transport space due to its width, which is particularly impractical in confined spaces, during shipping, or when transporting the rake in a vehicle. Second, attaching the handle to conventional models usually requires a complex screwing or adjusting process, which is time-consuming and prone to errors.

[0003] The present invention offers a solution to both of the aforementioned problems. The lawn rake according to the invention has two independent innovations, each of which can be implemented separately or in combination with each other: 1. Folding doctor blade: The doctor blade is designed to fold along its longitudinal axis, allowing it to be folded to a fraction of its operating width for transport and storage. The two halves of the doctor blade are connected either by a hinge that permanently joins them or by a detachable screw connection, where the two halves are supplied as separate parts and screwed together on site. The hinged version also includes a locking device – such as a locking screw, a clamp, or a ratchet mechanism – that securely fixes the unfolded doctor blade in its operating position. 2. Quick-release connection: The handle of the lawn squeegee is connected to the base of the squeegee blade via an integrated locking mechanism (quick-release connection). The handle is simply inserted into the designated slot on the base, whereupon the locking mechanism automatically engages and securely fixes the handle. No screwing, adjusting, or using tools is required. The connection is sufficiently stable for operation and can be released without tools by pressing a release button or push button.

[0004] Optionally, the lawn rake can be equipped with an adjustable handle length and a double-sided rake surface to allow for more flexible use.

Claims

[1] Lawn rake, characterized by , that the squeegee blade of the lawn squeegee is designed to be foldable in its longitudinal axis, so that it can be moved from an unfolded operating position into a folded transport and storage position, in which the width of the squeegee blade is significantly reduced compared to the operating position. [2] Lawn rake according to claim 1, characterized by that the two halves of the squeegee blade are permanently connected to each other via a hinge. [3] Lawn rake according to claim 2, characterized by that a locking device, in particular a locking screw, a clamping lock or a ratchet mechanism, is provided which fixes the unfolded doctor blade in its operating position. [4] Lawn rake according to claim 1, characterized by that the two halves of the squeegee blade are designed as separate parts that can be connected to each other by a detachable screw connection. [5] Lawn rake, characterized by, that the handle of the lawn squeegee can be connected to the base body of the squeegee blade via a ratchet mechanism (quick-release connection), whereby the handle automatically locks into place by simply inserting it into a receptacle on the base body and is securely fixed without screws or tools. [6] Lawn rake according to claim 5, characterized by , that the locking mechanism can be released without tools by pressing a release button or push button. [7] Lawn rake according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that both the foldable squeegee blade according to claims 1 to 4 and the quick-release locking mechanism according to claims 5 and 6 are jointly implemented on the same lawn squeegee.