Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01B—SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL
  • A01B1/00—Hand tools
  • A01B1/02—Spades; Shovels
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
  • A01D9/00—Forks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25G—HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS
  • B25G1/00—Handle constructions
  • B25G1/10—Handle constructions characterised by material or shape
  • B25G1/102—Handle constructions characterised by material or shape the shape being specially adapted to facilitate handling or improve grip

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an arrangement for a hand tool, for example a spade, a pitchfork or a shovel, comprising a shaft, which at one of its ends is attached to a tool component and at its other end is executed with a handle.
• a hand tool for example a spade, a pitchfork or a shovel
• a shaft which at one of its ends is attached to a tool component and at its other end is executed with a handle.
• spades and shovels From time immemorial, when centuries first began to till the soil, use has been made in one form or another of spades and shovels. Historical examples of spades have been preserved, which are often made of wood and sheet metal, but which are essentially of similar appearance to present—day spades. No major change has taken place in the appearance of the spade or the shovel. The spade and the shovel have taken on a character which is entirely in accordance with the nature of the soil and with the sense of design and appearance of the local spade maker. The 1930s and 1940s saw the development of a code of practice relating to the execution of hand tools with regard to the length of the shaft and the angle of the implement relative to the shaft.
• the object of the present invention is to make available a hand tool which invites the user to adopt a working position which spares the musculature of the back and instead utilizes the considerably more powerful musculature of the legs.
• This is achieved through the implement component of the hand tool being attached to the shaft in such a way that its principal direction of longitudinal extension forms an angle of the order of 140°—150° with the shaft at the attachment, that the length of the shaft is of the order of 1 — 1.5 , that the shaft s executed at a point approximately half way along its length with a bend, so that the part of the shaft between the handle and the bend forms an angle with the part of the shaft situated between the bend and the tool attachment, that the aforementioned angle is selected so that the first— entioned part of the shaft is approximately parallel with the aforementioned principal direction of longitudinal extension, and that the aforementioned Length of the shaft is selected so that an individual standing on a level surface who takes hold of the handle and the first—mentioned part of the shaft in an area close
• the shaft accordingly has, at Least in those areas which are intended to be gripped whilst the tool is being used, a rounded rectangular cross—section, whereby the major axis of the cross—section lies in a plane passing through the centre line of the parts of the shaft.
• FIG. 1a and 1b illustrate in schematic form shafts in accordance with the invention intended for hand tools
• Fig. 2 iLLustrates the use of such a hand tool
• Fig. 3 iLlstrates the angles and the Lengths which are typical of the invention
• Fig. 4 shows a cross—section through the shaft in accordance with the invention.
• the designation 1 is used generally in respect of a hand tool.
• the shaft 2 of the hand tool in accordance with the invention is attached at one of its ends to a tool component 3, which may be a spade (Fig. 1b), a pitchfork CFig. 2) or a shovel (Fig. 1a).
• a tool component 3 which may be a spade (Fig. 1b), a pitchfork CFig. 2) or a shovel (Fig. 1a).
• a handle 4 which is executed differently for different types of hand tool; see the above-mentioned Figures.
• the handle in accordance with Fig. 1a is typical of a shovel
• the design of handle illustrated in Fig. 1b is commonly used with spades and pitchforks.
• the tool component 3 is attached to the shaft 2 in such a way that it forms an angle of the order of 140°—150° with the principal direction of longitudinal extension 5 of the tool component 3.
• the length of the shaft 2 is of the order of 1 — 1.5 m, i.e. approximately 20-80 '/. longer than a conventional tool shaft.
• the shaft 2 is executed with a bend 6, so that the part 2a of the shaft between the handle 4 and the bend 6 forms an angle V2 with the part 2b of the shaft between the bend 6 and the attachment of the tool component 3.
• the angle V is selected so that the part 2a of the shaft is approximately parallel with the principal direction of longitudinal extension 5 of the tool component 3.
• the angle lies in the range 30°—40°.
• the combination of the shaft length and the values for the angles i and mean that an individual standing on a level surface who takes hold of the hand tool 1 with one hand on the handle 4 and with the other hand on the part 2a of the shaft close to the bend 6 is capable, with an essentially straight spine, both of causing the tool component 3 to rest on the ground, and of using the tool 1 for its intended purpose.
• the shaft length in accordance with the invention also means that the distance between the user's body and the load which is displaced by means of the tool component is significantly smaller than is the case with a conventional hand tool, which involves less mechanical stress on the vertebrae and the muscles.
• the cross—sectional profile of the shaft is also of great significance to the ergonomics of the hand tool.
• the shaft in accordance with the invention exhibits, at least in those areas which are intended to be gripped during use of the tool, a rounded rectangular cross—section, as illustrated in Fig. 4.
• the rounded rectangular form of the shaft is arranged so that the major axis 7 of the cross—section lies in a plane passing through the centre Line 8 of the parts 2a, 2b of the shaft.
• the shaft may be made of a suitable material such as wood, plastic, steel or light alloy, or it may be solid or hollow, and types of handle and implement components other than those lLustrated may be encountered.
• the handle may thus be a rounded end of the shaft.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Soil Sciences (AREA)
• Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, And Fans (AREA)
• Steering Devices For Bicycles And Motorcycles (AREA)
• Passenger Equipment (AREA)
• Hand Tools For Fitting Together And Separating, Or Other Hand Tools (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20372410

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1988
  • 1988-05-24 SE SE8801929A patent/SE461004B/sv not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1989
  • 1989-05-24 EP EP19890906210 patent/EP0415994A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1989-05-24 WO PCT/SE1989/000291 patent/WO1989011213A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1990
  • 1990-11-20 FI FI905730A patent/FI905730A0/fi not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1990-11-20 DK DK275590A patent/DK275590A/da not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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