AU2013100448A4

AU2013100448A4 - Garden Tool

Info

Publication number: AU2013100448A4
Application number: AU2013100448A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Elzbieta Wojtowicz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-01-07
Filing date: 2013-04-10
Publication date: 2013-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-09
Also published as: AU2013100449A4

Abstract

-10 Abstract A working part of a garden tool, the working part comprising a plurality of prongs arranged in spaced relationship, the prongs comprising blades having at least one edge and being configured to define a rear and front portion of the 5 working part, the front portion extending at an angle with respect to the rear portion to define a toothed front portion. 20,-30 28

Description

- 1 Garden Tool Field of the Invention The present invention relates to garden tools. The invention has been devised particularly, although not necessarily solely, in 5 relation to a multipurpose garden tool. Background Art The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part 10 of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere as at the priority date of the application. Several tools are typically needed in order to take care of a garden. A tool is needed to remove dry leaves or debris located in and around the plants. A further 15 tool is needed to remove unwanted plants such as weeds from the garden beds and lawns. Yet another tool is needed to cultivate the ground. Typically, shovels are used for removing unwanted plants from garden beds or lawns. However, using shovels for removing unwanted plants may cut the roots of 20 the plants that are growing in the garden bed. Another disadvantage of removing unwanted plants with a shovel is that soil is removed together with the unwanted plant. This soil is then, after removal of the unwanted plants from the garden bed, returned to the garden bed. 25 Removal of unwanted plants can be also be performed by hand. However, the hand removal is cumbersome. Also, typically, the unwanted plants break off from their roots when being pulled out of the soil with the hand. This means that the roots of the unwanted plants stay in the soil of the garden bed. Thus, there exists the possibility that the unwanted plants may grow back. 30 -2 Another option to remove an unwanted plant is to use a rake or similar tool. However, the spacing between the spikes of the rakes is relatively large. This can make it difficult to grab and to pull unwanted plants with the rake. 5 Another common task of garden work is removal of debris or dry leaves that have fallen onto the plants and their surroundings. On occasions, a rake is used for removing dry leaves and debris. However, the removal of dry leaves or debris with a rake may damage or destroy the plants. Thus, usually removal of dry leaves or debris is performed by hand. This is cumbersome and can lead to injury if the 10 hands are not properly protected. Further, the soil of a garden bed should preferably be cultivated regularly to break up the soil. Breaking-up of soils can be done using a shovel. However, this procedure may damage or destroy the plants. Hand tools have been developed to 15 break up the soil. However, breaking up the soil with these tools is cumbersome and inefficient. This is particularly so if dry and compacted soils are to be broken up. It is against this background that the present invention has been developed. 20 Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a working part of a garden tool, the working part comprising a plurality of prongs arranged in spaced relationship, the prongs comprising blades having at least one edge and being 25 configured to define a rear and front portion of the working part, the front portion extending at an angle with respect to the rear portion to define a toothed front portion. Preferably, the blades comprise a front, a rear and two sides, the front and rear having a greater width than the sides. 30 Preferably, the at least one edge is located at least one side of the blades. Preferably, the at least one edge comprises at least one cutting edge.

-3 Preferably, the sections of the blades located at the rear portion of the working part define a support surface adapted to retain material such as dry leaves and debris. Preferably, the blades are of generally rectangular cross section. 5 Preferably, the blades are of generally rectangular cross section along the length of the blades. Preferably, the cutting edges are located at the rear portion of the blades. Preferably, the cutting edges extend along the length of the blades. Preferably, the blades are each progressively tapered along the length of the 10 blades. Preferably, the blades comprise a pointed end. Preferably, the section of the blades located at the rear portion of the blades may be of substantially the same width along the length of the rear portion of the blades. 15 Preferably, the sections of the blades located at the front portion of the blades are progressively tapered. Preferably, the front portion comprises at least one pointed end. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a working part of a garden tool, the working part comprising a plurality of prongs arranged in spaced 20 relationship, the prongs comprising blades having at least one edge and being configured to define a rear and front portion of the working part, the front portion extending at an angle with respect to the rear portion to define a toothed front portion, wherein the blades are of generally rectangular cross section. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a tool comprising 25 handle means and a working part, the working part comprising a plurality of prongs arranged in spaced relationship, the prongs comprising blades having at least one edge and being configured to define a rear and front portion of the working part, the front portion extending at an angle with respect to the rear portion to define a toothed front portion.

-4 Preferably, the tool further comprises engaging means being adapted to attach the working part to the handle means. Preferably, the engaging means provides the tool with a section linking the handle means and the working part together. 5 Preferably, the engaging means are s-shaped. Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: 10 Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a garden tool in accordance to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the garden tool shown in figure 1; Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the garden tool shown in figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the garden tool shown in figure 1; 15 Figure 5 shows the garden tool shown in figure 1 during removal of dry leaves or debris from plants; Figure 6 shows the garden tool shown in figure 1 during removal of unwanted plants; and Figure 7 shows the garden tool shown in figure 1 during breaking up of the 20 soil and removal of roots. Detailed Description of Specific Embodiment(s) The garden tool 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprises a handle 12 and a working part 14 which is attached to the handle 12. The 25 working part 14 comprises a body 16 having an end section 18 and a plurality of prongs 20. The prongs 20 extend forwardly from the end section 18 and are arranged in a spaced relationship. In this way a fork-like structure is defined. In -5 the arrangement shown, the body 16 has three prongs 20, although any appropriate number of prongs may be used. The garden tool 10 is a multipurpose garden tool adapted to conduct a plurality of 5 garden jobs including removing dry leaves or debris from plants, removal of unwanted plants, and clearing and breaking up of soil. Figure 1 shows the garden tool 10 comprising the handle 12 and the working part 14. The working part 14 is attached to the handle 12 through a linking section 22 10 which establishes a spaced relationship between the working part and the handle. The linking section 22 comprises two ends. An end of the linking section 22 is attached to the handle 12. The opposite end of the linking section 22 is attached to the end section 18 of the working part 14. 15 In the arrangement shown the linking section 22 is s-shaped, which is useful ergonomically. Other configurations of the linking section 22 may be used, including a straight configuration. 20 Referring now to figures 3 and 4, as mentioned before, the working part 14 comprises a plurality of prongs 20 which define a fork-like structure. Each prong 20 comprises a blade 24. Each blade 24 is tapered progressively terminating in a pointed end 25. As will be described with reference to the 25 operation of the garden tool 10, the pointed ends 25 allow the garden tool 10 to penetrate the soil of a garden bed. This facilitates breaking up of the soil or removal of roots and/or any unwanted material located in the soil. Further, the blades 24 are divided into two portions, a rear portion 26 and a front 30 portion 28. The rear portion 26 of each blade 24 is curved. In the arrangement shown, the front portion 28 of each blade 24 is straight. Other configurations of the front portion 28 are possible, including a curved configuration.

-6 The front portion 28 of the blades 24 extends angularly with respect to the rear portion 26. In this way a front toothed portion is formed at the front of the garden tool 10. The front portion 28 may be formed by bending the blade 24 at an angle as shown in the drawings. In the arrangement shown, the angle is about 90 5 degrees, although angles of more or less than 90 degrees may also be suitable. As will be described with reference to the operation of the garden tool 10, the front section 28 of the blades 24 provides leverage during operation of the garden tool 10. This facilitates, for example, extraction of unwanted plants. 10 The working part 14 comprises a support surface 27 adapted to retain, for example, dry leaves or debris. The support surface 27 is defined by the end section 18 and the rear portion 26 of the working part 14. As will be described with reference to the operation of the garden tool 10, the support surface 27 is useful to remove dry leaves and debris within plants. 15 Each blade comprises edges. For example, the blades 24 may be of rectangular cross-section defining a front 25, a rear 27 and two sides 29 and 31 for each blade 24. The front and rear 25 and 27 have a greater width than the sides 29 and 31. In an arrangement, the blades 24 are of generally rectangular cross section 20 along the entire length of the blades 24. The rectangular cross section of the blades 24 provides the blades 24 with edges 30. According to an arrangement, the edges comprise cutting edges 30. The cutting edges 30 may be located at at least one side section of the blade 24 . The 25 cutting edges may extent along the entire length of the blades. Alternatively, the cutting edges may be located at specific locations along the length of the blade. For example, the cutting edges 30 may be located at the rear portion 26 of the blades 24. 30 As will be described with reference to the operation of the garden tool 10, the fact that the blades 24 comprise edges 30 is particularly advantageous during digging and breaking up of soils (see figure 7).

-7 The garden tool 10 is adapted to perform a plurality of jobs including digging, raking, breaking up soil, weeding and clearing the plants and the garden from dry leaves or debris. 5 Figures 5 to 7 shows some of the application of the garden tool 10. Figure 5 depicts the garden tool 10 during clearing of dry leaves or debris located in grass-like plants. The pointed ends of the prongs 20 facilitate the passage of the garden tool 10 through the leaves of the plants that are being cleaned. This is 10 particularly so during cleaning of grass-like plants. Also, as described before, the garden tool 10 comprises a support surface 26 adapted to retain dry leaves or debris included in the plants. The dry leaves or debris are retained by the support surface 27 as the prongs 20 of the garden tool 10 pass through the leaves of the plant that is being cleaned. 15 Figure 6 shows the garden tool 10 during removal of unwanted plants. The pointed ends of the garden tool 10 allow digging under the unwanted plant. Once the tapered ends of the garden tool 10 are located underneath the unwanted plant, the plant can be pulled out by pulling the garden tool 10. As mentioned 20 before the bent prongs 20 provide leverage during extraction of the unwanted plant. This facilities removal of the unwanted plant. Figure 7 shows the garden tool 10 performing a cultivating action for breaking-up of soil. The pointed ends 25 of the garden tool 10 facilities penetration of the 25 garden tool 10 into the soil. The edges 30 of the blades are adapted to cut the soil. This allows the garden tool 10 to be moved sideways. This facilitates the breaking up of the soil and extraction of any roots of the extracted unwanted plant. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are 30 deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, it should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments disclosed.

-8 For example, the blades need not be tapered along their entire length. In an arrangement of the present embodiment, the front portion 28 of the blades 24 may be tapered. In contrast, the blades 24 at their rear portion 26 are not tapered but 5 of constant width. Further, the cross section of the blades 24 may be of any shape such that each of the blades 24 comprise at least one edge. Also, the blades 24 may comprise sharp edges so as to provide the prongs 20 of the garden tool 10 with cutting 10 edges. Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not 15 the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1. A working part of a garden tool, the working part comprising a plurality of prongs arranged in spaced relationship, the prongs comprising blades 5 having at least one edge and being configured to define a rear and front portion of the working part, the front portion extending at an angle with respect to the rear portion to define a toothed front portion, wherein the blades are of generally rectangular cross section.

2. A working part according to claim 1 wherein the at least one edge 10 comprises at least one cutting edge.

3. A working part according to claim 2 wherein the cutting edges extend along the length of the blades.

4. A working part according to claim 2 wherein the cutting edges are located at the rear portion of the blades. 15

5. A working part according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sections of the blades located at the rear portion of the working part define a support surface adapted to retain material such as dry leaves and debris.