US-12622348-B1 - Rake tongs adapter

US12622348B1US 12622348 B1US12622348 B1US 12622348B1US-12622348-B1

Abstract

Interface adapters are shown that allow, with minimal modification, the coupling of two separate rakes for use as ‘scissor yard waste tongs’ while at the same time allowing for their separate use as ‘regular’ rakes. These adapters provide the significant advantage of allowing ergonomically correct motions for their operators, while they minimize the need to bring additional tools in performing their work tasks.

Inventors

Jose N. Velez Gonzalez
Emilio D. Velez Gonzalez

Assignees

Jose N. Velez Gonzalez
Emilio D. Velez Gonzalez

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20251203

Claims (8)

1 . An adapter for converting two rakes into scissor tongs, said adapter comprising: a receiver hosting a central sliding assembly so that the central sliding assembly crosses inside the receiver, said receiver comprising: a top opening securing an upper handle portion of a first rake, and a lower opening securing a lower handle portion of the first rake, both of said top and lower openings having rake portions securing components; said receiver having a central opening having a bolt horizontally across said central opening; and said central sliding assembly comprising a top opening securing an upper handle portion of a second rake, and a lower opening securing a lower handle portion of the second rake, both of said top and lower openings of the central sliding assembly having rake portions securing components; wherein said central sliding assembly has a central notched slot covered by a sliding tab that can be opened through a pressing tab kept over said central notched slot by a spring.
2 . The adapter of claim 1 wherein: said receiver top and bottom openings securing components, as well as said central sliding assembly top and bottom openings securing components include one or more of: screw, nails, rivets, pressure sleeves or chemicals.
3 . The adapter of claim 2 wherein: said central sliding assembly has two offset ends mounted on opposite sides of said sliding assembly.
4 . The adapter of claim 1 wherein: said central sliding assembly has two offset ends mounted on opposite sides of said sliding assembly.
5 . A method for using an adapter for converting two rakes into scissor tongs, said method comprising: providing a receiver hosting a central sliding assembly so that the central sliding assembly crosses inside the receiver, said receiver comprising: a top opening securing an upper handle portion of a first rake, and a lower opening securing a lower handle portion of the first rake, both of said top and lower openings having rake portions securing components; said receiver having a central opening having a bolt horizontally across said central opening; and said central sliding assembly comprising a top opening securing an upper handle portion of a second rake, and a lower opening securing a lower handle portion of the second rake, both of said top and lower openings of the central sliding assembly having rake portions securing components; wherein said central sliding assembly has a central notched slot covered by a sliding tab that can be opened through a pressing tab kept over said central notched slot by a spring.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein: said first rake top and bottom openings securing components, as well as said second rake top and bottom openings securing components include one or more of: screw, nails, rivets, pressure sleeves or chemicals.
7 . The adapter of claim 6 wherein: said central sliding assembly has two offset ends mounted on opposite sides of said sliding assembly.
8 . The adapter of claim 5 wherein: said central sliding assembly has two offset ends mounted on opposite sides of said sliding assembly.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation-in-Part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/129,248 titles “Rake Tongs Adapter”, filed on Mar. 31, 2023, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Additionally, this application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/729,325 titled “Rake Tongs Adapter”, filed on Dec. 7, 2025, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. PATENTS CITED The following documents and references are incorporated by reference in their entirety, Clark (U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,922), Feldman (U.S. Pat. No. 11,229,159), Oakes (U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2020/0305359) and Billado et al (U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2007/0033916). FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to the field of landscaping, and in particular to a tool that allows the users to rake and collect debris with minimal effects to their backs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This section is for the purpose of summarizing some aspects of the present invention and to briefly introduce some embodiments. Simplifications or omissions may be made to avoid obscuring the purpose of the section. Such simplifications or omissions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinence of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art. It is acknowledged that the term ‘comprise’ may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term ‘comprise’ shall have an inclusive meaning—i.e., that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term ‘comprised’ or ‘comprising’ is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process. In one aspect, the invention is about an adapter for converting two rakes into scissor tongs, said adapter comprising: a receiver for hosting a central sliding assembly so that the central sliding assembly crosses inside the receiver, said receiver comprising: a top opening for securing the upper portion of a first rake, and a lower opening for securing the lower portion of the same first rake, both of said top and lower openings having rake portions securing components, a central opening having a bolt horizontally across said central opening and said central sliding assembly comprising a top opening for securing the upper handle portion of a second rake, and a lower opening for securing the lower portion of the same second rake, both of said top and lower openings having rake portions securing components wherein said central sliding assembly has a central notched slot covered by a sliding tab that can be opened through a pressing tab kept over said central notched slot by a spring. In another aspect said first rake top and bottom openings securing components, as well as said second rake top and bottom openings securing components include one or more of: screw, nails, rivets, pressure sleeves or chemicals. In yet another aspect said central sliding assembly has two offset ends mounted on opposite sides of said sliding assembly. In one aspect, the invention is about a method for using an adapter for converting two rakes into scissor tongs, said adapter comprising: a receiver for hosting a central sliding assembly so that the central sliding assembly crosses inside the receiver, said receiver comprising: a top opening for securing the upper portion of a first rake, and a lower opening for securing the lower portion of the same first rake, both of said top and lower openings having rake portions securing components, a central opening having a bolt horizontally across said central opening and said central sliding assembly comprising a top opening for securing the upper handle portion of a second rake, and a lower opening for securing the lower portion of the same second rake, both of said top and lower openings having rake portions securing components wherein said central sliding assembly has a central notched slot covered by a sliding tab that can be opened through a pressing tab kept over said central notched slot by a spring. In another aspect said first rake top and bottom openings securing components, as well as said second rake top and bottom openings securing components include one or more of: