GB2388292A - Flower collector - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for removing and collecting flower heads consists of an open topped container 1 with at least one open ended slit 3 down the side with a blade 4 at the closed end of the slit. In use the flower heads are caught in the slit, severed from the stem by the blade and collected in the container. The device may have a handle or shaped sides for carrying and holding.

Description

l FLOWER COLLECTOR

The invention relates to a container used to remove and collect flower heads Prom plants. Removing flower heads from plants once the flowers have died is a tedious job, which lasts throughout the growing season. Cutting and catching the spent flowers is slow, as each flower has to be cut and collected individually. Pulling the heads off is quicker but this can result in the plant being pulled up by the roots or the flower stem being damaged. My invention cuts off and collects the flower heads in one movement using one hand only thus speeding up and simplifying the task. The invention can also be used to collect flower heads and seed heads used for seed collection or flower heads used in flower arranging or other artistic pursuits.

The invention consists of a container, similar to a large jug, which, instead of having a spout has a vertical open slit. The slit has a sharp blade at its lower end. To use the invention hold the container in one hand by the handle and, using a scooping motion, raise the jug catching the dead flower head in the slit. As the container is raised the flower head slides down the slit until its stem is cut by the blade. The flower head falls into the container, which is deep enough to collect the flower heads in its base.

Dead heading can continue until the container is full of flower heads.

1 ig I shows a view of the collector and its handle. Its open top I, handle 2 and slit 3.

Fig 2 shows a front view of the collector with the slit 3 at the front of the container and the blade 4 at the lower end of the slit.

Fig 3 shows a cross-section of'the container with dead flower heads 7 in it and a flower stem 5, its flower head 6 in the slit 3.

Fig 4 shows a collector without a handle that is grasped by the narrowed and/or shaped waist 8 of the collector.

I:ig 5 shows the collector with two slits 9 for different sized flower stems.

Claims (5)

1. A container for cutting and collecting dead flower heads with a slit down one side which has a sharp blade across the base of the slit.

2. A container as described in Claim I with a vertical handle on the side for carrying

and deadheading.

3. A container as described in Claim I with narrowing half way up the container, instead of a handle, for grasping the container.

4. A container as described in Claim 1 with a second smaller slit for narrower flower stems.

5. A container as described in any preceding claim which is made from metal, plastics material or wood, or from a combination of these materials.