Spring-Mounted Rake Tines for Dual-Direction Raking

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rakes are inefficient for both pushing and pulling motions due to their design, which either leads to tines bending too much or getting stuck in the ground, limiting the effectiveness of the raking process.

Innovation Solution

The rake head remains in the same position, with stiff or somewhat stiff tines flexibly pivoted or mounted with a spring, allowing for bending at least 45 degrees in both directions, and featuring tine ends designed for both pulling and pushing, maintaining grip during pushing motions by adjusting the angle and flexibility of the tines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If flexible tines are used in a rake, then the rake is easier to operate and the flexing does useful work, but the tines cannot hold the load in grip during pulling motion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of rakingVSAvoidload grip

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the tines movable relative to the rake head through pivoting joints or spring mounting, allowing the tines to dynamically adjust their position and angle during raking operations. This enables the tines to flex during pushing motions while maintaining grip during pulling motions, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and load grip reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If stiff tines are used in a rake, then the tines can hold load in grip during pulling motion, but the rake becomes harder to operate and lacks flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload gripVSAvoidease of raking

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the tines movable relative to the rake head through pivoting joints or spring mounting, allowing the tines to dynamically adjust their position and angle during raking operations. This enables the tines to flex during pushing motions while maintaining grip during pulling motions, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and load grip reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the rake head is pivotingly fastened onto the handle to allow turning for pushing or pulling, then the rake can be used for both motions, but it is difficult to turn the rake head's position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepushing and pulling capabilityVSAvoidease of position change

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the tines movable relative to the rake head through pivoting joints or spring mounting, allowing the tines to dynamically adjust their position and angle during raking operations. This enables the tines to flex during pushing motions while maintaining grip during pulling motions, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and load grip reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Length of moving object

If long flexible tines are used for high and thick undergrowth, then the rake can reach deeper, but the tines bend too much or get stuck on the ground during pushing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetine lengthVSAvoidtine stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the tines movable relative to the rake head through pivoting joints or spring mounting, allowing the tines to dynamically adjust their position and angle during raking operations. This enables the tines to flex during pushing motions while maintaining grip during pulling motions, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and load grip reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient raking with both pushing and pulling motions by preventing tines from getting stuck and maintaining load grip, optimizing the use of human strength and reducing effort required for raking.

Implementation Method 1

the stiff or somewhat stiff tines are flexibly pivoted or mounted with a spring onto the rake head, in which the flexibility of the flexible part is such that the power generated on the tines by raking bends the tines at their flexible point at least 45 degrees to both directions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12041881B2Push and pull rake having flexibly attached stiff tines

Publication Date: 2024.07.23 INNOTANK OY

AI summary

The invention comprises a rake that functions in the same position both when pulled and pushed and its stiff tines (39) are flexibly (9) pivoted or fastened with a spring (9) onto the rake head (16) that consists of an axle (16) made of a tubular section that is open is one side and the tines (39) have double ends (17).