AU2002300372B2 - A Multi-function Agricultural Implement - Google Patents

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Applications: STEPHEN ROBERT SNEDDEN STEPHEN ROBERT SNEDDEN HODGKINSON OLD McINNES Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 3, 20 Alfred Street MILSONS POINT NSW 2061 A MULTI-FUNCTION AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Australian Provisional Application No. PR6779 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: A MULTI-FUNCTION AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to agricultural implements and, in particular, to hand-held implements used in fencing. In rural areas, fencing is a major economic activity carried out both by farmers and their employees, and by fencing contractors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many implements used in fencing are known and these include a driving implement used to drive steel posts (which because of their generally Y-shaped cross-section are known as "star pickets"), a device to remove star pickets once they have been driven into the soil, a device to roll and lift logs or wooden fence post, and the like. Each of these implements is relatively heavy and therefore is normally carried by a vehicle driven by the fencer.

However, fencing is increasingly required to be a one-man operation because of economic constraints. Therefore, the situation often arises where the vehicle is parked at one location on a fence line and the fencer must walk back and forth along the fence line in order to carry out various tasks and bring the required implements to the location at which the tasks are to be carried out. It is therefore extremely frustrating, and time wasting, for the fencer to have to make two trips between such a location and the vehicle in order to ensure that all the required implements are at the necessary location.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The aim of the present invention is to at least ameliorate the abovementioned problem by the provision of a multi-function implement which enables a number of functions to be carried out by the same implement. As a minimum, at least two functions are able to be carried out by the implement and these are preferably the driving and removal (pulling) of star pickets.

However, preferably the functions of a log roller/lifter are also included together with an apparatus which enables star pickets to be straightened. A cant hook and a high leverage spanner are also preferably provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a multi-function agricultural implement including: a tubular chassis closed at one (top) end and open at the other (base) end, said chassis including a pair of generally opposed handles and having a length selected to permit a star picket post to be driven, an elongate arm able to be manipulated between a first picket post driving position in which said arm is carried substantially parallel to said cassis, and a second picket post pulling position in which said arm is pivotally mounted on said cassis, one end of said arm carrying a pivoted picket post engaging jaw.

In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, methods of operating the multifunction agricultural implement are also disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which: Fig 1 is a side elevational view of the implement of the preferred embodiment in its post-driving configuration; Fig l a is a plan view of the implement of Fig 2; Fig 2 is a side elevation of the implement of Fig 1 but taken in a direction rotated at 900 relative to the direction of viewing in Fig 1; Fig 3 is a side elevation of the same side of the implement as in Fig 2, but illustrating the implement inverted and in its log rolling and lifting configuration; Fig 4 is a side elevation of the implement as in Fig 3 but viewed in a direction at 90' to the viewing direction of Fig 3; Fig 5 is a plan view of the implement in its post pulling configuration; Fig 6 is a side elevation of the implement in the configuration of Fig Fig 7 is a side elevation of the implement in the post pulling configuration of Figs and 6 but viewing in a direction at 900 to the viewing direction of Fig 6; Fig 8 is a side elevational view of the arm of the implement of Figs 1 to 7 detached so as to show the post straightening operation; Fig 9 is a plan view of the apparatus Fig 8; Fig 10 is a side elevation of the detached arm which is able to be used as a spanner; Fig 11 is a similar view showing the arm in use as a spanner; Fig 12 is a plan view to an enlarged scale of the picket post engaging jaw; and Fig 13 is a side elevation of the implement of Fig 1.

4 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring generally to the drawings, the overall construction of the implement of the preferred embodiment will now be described. The main component is a central chassis 1 which is tubular and preferably of circular cross section. With reference to its orientation as illustrated in Figs 1 and 2, the chassis is closed at its top end by means of an impact plate 2. The chassis 1 is open at its other end, or base 21. The chassis is provided with a pair of opposed handles which are joined by a cross member 4. A curved plate 3 extends between the cross member 4 and the top of the chassis 1. Substantially centrally located on the chassis 1 is a notched cleat 6 which, as best illustrated in Fig 3, is able to co-operate with a ring 7 of a cant hook 8.

An elongate arm 9 is provided which is able to be moved between a number of operating positions. In the first position illustrated in Figs 1 to 2, the arm 9 is held alongside the chassis 1 in a position which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chassis 1. The chassis 1 is provided with three stub axles 10 each of which is provided with a transverse aperture 30 (Fig 4) in its free end. As best seen in Fig 8, the arm 9 is provided with two circular holes 22, 23 and a hexagonal hole 24 which, as to be described hereafter, functions as a spanner socket. In the configuration illustrated in Figs 1 and 2, the arm 9 is retained on the chassis 1 by the holes 22, 23 engaging with the uppermost and middle ones of the stub axles 10. A releasable lynch pin 13 which passes through the transverse aperture 30 in each of the stub axles 10 is used to retain the arm 9 in the position illustrated in Figs 1 and 2.

The arm 9 is able to be removed from the position illustrated in Figs 1 and 2 and inverted relative to the chassis 1. This is the configuration illustrated in Figs 3 and 4 and the circular hole 23 and hexagonal hole 24 pass over the pair of closely spaced stub axles 10. Then a lynch pin 13 is passed through the stub axle 10 closest to the base 21 so as to secure the arm 9 to the chassis 1. In this configuration the arm 9 forms a prolongation of the chassis 1 and provides extra leverage.

In addition, as best seen in Figs 6 and 7, the arm 9 is also able to be located with the circular hole 22 (Fig 8) located over any one of the stub axles 10 and secured thereto by means of a lynch pin 13. In this configuration the arm 9 is able to be used for pulling picket posts.

As best seen in Figs 8 and 9, one end of the arm 9 is a socket plate 17 which carries the hexagonal hole 24. At the other end of the arm 9 are a pair of parallel plates 12. Pivotally mounted between the parallel plates 12 is a link 19 which is maintained in position by a bolt 16 which passes through the plates 12 and one end of the link 19. The other end of the link 19 is welded to a jaw plate 15 having a Y-shaped jaw 25, the detail of which is illustrated in Fig 12.

The various operations of the multi-function implement will now be described commencing with Figs 1 to 2. In the configuration illustrated in Figs 1 to 2 (which may be termed the carrying configuration), the implement is in a compact configuration in which it is readily stored and carried and used as a driver for a star picket post 14. In this configuration the tubular chassis 1 is passed over the upper end of the post 14 and the handles 5 grasped by the fencer. Reciprocating the chassis 1 along its longitudinal axis causes the impact plate 2 to drive the post 14 into the ground to the desired depth. The length of the chassis 1 is selected to enable this driving operation to be conveniently carried out.

In the configuration illustrated in Figs 3 and 4, the implement is in the configuration required to operate as a log roller/lifter. In this configuration the arm 9 is aligned with the chassis 1 and the cant hook 8 is connected to the cleat 6. That portion of the curved plate 3 which extends away from the cross member 4 and beyond the chassis 1 is provided with timber engaging teeth 33 (Fig 1A) which enable a post or log 18 to be gripped. In this configuration the curved plate 3 is engaged with the ground and the cross member 4 used as a footrest whilst the arm 9 is moved in the direction of the arrow illustrated in Fig 3 results in the handle 5 coming into contact with the ground. Continued rotation of the arm 9 in the direction of the arrow illustrated in Fig 3 brings the handles 5 into contact with the ground. In this position the post or log 18 is positioned above the chassis 1 clear of the ground and is cradled between the hook 8 and teeth 33. In this position the post or log 18 may be easily trimmed or cut with a chainsaw without the teeth of the chainsaw coming into contact with the ground.

The curved plate 3 is provided with a elliptical aperture 34 (Figs IA and 5) into which the tip of the hook 8 can pass (as best appreciated from Fig In this position, illustrated in Fig 13, the hook 8 is supported at one end by the cleat 6 and at the other end by the plate 2. Therefore in this position the hook 8 forms a convenient handle by means of which the multi-function implement may be carried from place to place.

Turning now to Figs 5 to 7, the operation of the implement as a device which removes star picket posts 14 once inserted into the ground will now be described. In the configuration illustrated the arm 9 is pivoted about the middle one of the three stub axles 10. The curved plate 3 is brought into contact with the ground so that the chassis 1 is upright and the handle 9 is at a convenient hip height. The jaw plate 15 is engaged with the post 14 and the handle 9 reciprocated in an arc as indicated by the double ended arrow in Fig 6. This motion causes the jaw plate 15 to operate as a cam which repeatedly grasps and lifts the post 14, then releases same and slides down the post a short distance in order to then repeat the lifting action. In this way the post 14 is progressively jacked out of the ground.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the arm 9 can also be pivoted from either one of the other two stub axles 10. Pivoting the arm 9 from the lowermost stub axle 10 can be useful in order to extract posts which have broken off close to ground level. From Fig 12, it will be apparent that the shape of the jaw 25 is designed to closely mate with the profile of the star picket post 14 and thereby ensure a successful engagement.

Turning now to Figs 8 and 9, the arm 9 in the configuration illustrated therein can be used to straighten star picket posts 14. The post 14 can be held in the ground, in which case the post may be straightened before removal or may be straightened so as to be reused in its existing position. Alternatively, the star post 14 can be held in a vice or similar apparatus. If the star post 14 is merely bent, then by adjusting the position at which the jaw plate 15 engages the star post 14, it is possible to bend the star post 14 so as to straighten same. In addition, if the star post 14 happens to be longitudinally twisted, it is also possible to move the arm 9 in the direction of either one of the arrows illustrated in Fig 9. This movement results in untwisting of the star post 14 about its longitudinal axis and is a feature not able to be carried out by other agricultural implements.

Finally, as illustrated in Figs 10 and 11, fence posts 28 are used in conjunction with various bolts, coach bolts and the like 20 which are provided with a conventional hexagonal driving head. The hexagonal hole 24 can be engaged with such bolts 20 and the arm 9 moved in either one of the directions indicated by arrows in Fig 11 to either tighten or undo such bolts 20. The length of the arm 9 ensures that substantial leverage is available, and this is particularly important in undoing bolts which have been in place for many years. Thus the arm 9 is able to function as a spanner and, in particular, a spanner with a long shaft.

The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art and can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The term "comprising" as used herein is used in the inclusive sense of "including" or "having" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of'.

Claims (12)

1. A multi-function agricultural implement including: a tubular chassis closed at one (top) end and open at the other (base) end, said chassis including a pair of generally opposed handles and having a length selected to permit a star picket post to be driven, an elongate arm able to be manipulated between a first picket post driving position in which said arm is carried substantially parallel to said chassis, and a second picket post pulling position in which said arm is pivotally mounted on said chassis, one end of said arm carrying a pivoted picket post engaging jaw.

2. An implement according to claim 1 wherein in said first position said arm is carried alongside said chassis.

3. An implement according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said arm is locatable into a third position comprising a prolongation of said chassis.

4. An implement according to claim 3 wherein said arm in said third position extends from said base, said top end includes a plurality of timber engaging teeth extending to one side of said chassis and a hook means is located intermediate said top and base and to said one side whereby a log is engageable between said hook means and said teeth.

An implement according to claim 4 wherein said handles extend from a side of said chassis substantially opposite said one side, and a rocker means is located adjacent said top and opposite said teeth.

6. An implement according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said arm is detachable from said chassis.

7. An implement according to claim 6 wherein the other end of said arm includes a recess shaped to function as a spanner.

8. An implement being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of pulling or driving a post with an implement, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A method of bending, straightening, twisting or untwisting a post with an implement, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of lifting or rolling a log with an implement, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 9

12. A method of engaging the head of a bolt with an implement, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 2 nd Day of August, 2002 STEPHEN ROBERT SNEDDEN By: HODGKINSON OLD McINNES Patent Attorneys for the Applicant