GB2026824A

GB2026824A - Gardening implement

Info

Publication number: GB2026824A
Application number: GB7832401A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BRIDGE STORAR Ltd
Current assignee: BRIDGE STORAR Ltd
Priority date: 1978-08-05
Filing date: 1978-08-05
Publication date: 1980-02-13

Abstract

A gardening implement comprises an elongate handle 10 having secured to one end thereof a generally planar blade member 14, the blade member extending transversely of the handle 10 and being inclined generally at 45 DEG to the latter. A plurality of teeth 15 extend from an edge of the blade member 14 in a direction away from said one end of the handle 10, and are disposed in the general plane of the blade member. By rotating the handle 10 through 180 DEG about its longitudinal axis, the gardening implement can be switched between hoeing and raking positions in which the blade member 14 is oriented respectively generally parallel to and generally perpendicular to the ground. Portions 17 at both ends of the blade member 14 are bent upwardly to facilitate hoeing under obstructions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Gardening implement This invention relates to a gardening implement, principally for use in hoeing and raking.

According to the present invention, there is provided a gardening implement comprising an elongate handle, a generally planar blade member extending transversely of the handle and being secured to one end thereof, the plane of the blade member being inclined generally at 45 degrees to the direction of extent of the handle, and a plurality of teeth extending from an edge of the blade member in a direction away from said one end of the handle, the teeth being disposed in the general plane of the blade member One or both transverse ends of the blade member can be bent at an angle to the remainder of the blade member.

Desirably, portions of said edge of the blade member between adjacent teeth are chamfered.

The blade member and teeth can be stamped out of metal sheet as a unitary element.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of one embodiment of a gardening implement according to the present invention.

Figure2 is a side view of the gardening implement shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section along the line 111-111 in Figure 1: and Figures 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the gardening implement of Figures 1 to 3 when used respec tivelyforhoeing and raking.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, the gardening implement shown therein comprises a handle 10 in the form of an elongate rod 11 which has a configurated portion 12 at one of its ends for ease of manual grasping. An end of the rod 11 remote from the configurated portion 12 has an attachment portion 13 extending therefrom, to which a blade member 14 is secured.

In the illustrated embodiment, both the attachment portion 13 and the blade member 14 are made of metal and are secured together by welding.

The blade member 14 is generally planar and extends transversely of the rod 11 on both sides of the latter, the plane of the blade member 14 being inclined at substantially 45" to the longitudinal axis of the rod 11. A series of teeth 15 extend from one edge of the blade member 14 away from the adjacent end of the rod 11, and are disposed in the general plane of the blade member 14. Portions 16 of said edge of the blade member are chamfered so as to form a cutting edge, the outer ends of the teeth 15 being likewise chamfered. Portions 17 at both transverse ends of the blade member 14 are bent upwardly from the remainder of the blade member so as to be inclined relative thereto.

The blade member 14 and teeth 15 are preferably stamped out of metal sheet as a unitary element, the end portions 17 being subsequently bent to their final configuration and the chamfer being applied to the edge portions 16 of the blade member and the outer ends of the teeth 15 by a coining operation.

The configuration of the teeth 15 is such that two such unitary elements can be staped out at the same time with the teeth of one element being formed by the spaces between adjacent teeth of the other element.

Referring now to Figure 4, the gardening implement described above is used for hoeing by orienting the blade member 14 so that its central portion is generally parallel to the ground. The cutting edges formed by the edge poetions 16 and the ends of the teeth 15 can then be used for removing weeks in the manner of a conventional hoe. Hoeing under or alongside obstructions can be performed using one or the other of the end portions 17, the blade member then being oriented so that the apropriate end portion lies parallel to the ground.

Using the present implement, hoeing is made easier than with a conventional hoe because of the castellated formation of the teeth 15 and the edge portions 16 of the blade member. The teeth serve to penetrate the ground and break it up without substantial resistance being presented by the ground to the entry of the blade member.

Referring to Figure 5, the gardening implement is used for raking by orienting the blade member 14 so that it is generally perpendicular to the ground. The teeth 15 can now be used to rake the ground in the manner of a conventional garden rake.

Thus, by virtue of the blade member being inclined at 45 degrees to the handle, the gardening implement can be switched between its hoeing and raking positions by the simple expedient of rotating the handle 10 through 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis. This is of great advantage since it is often necessary to rake away debris after hoeing of an area of ground has been performed, and the present invention enables this to be done without the need to change implements between the hoeing and raking operations.

Although in the embodiment described above both end portions 17 of the blade member 14 bent upwardly, it is in principle possible to bend only one of the end portions in this manner. In addition, the assembly of blade member 14, teeth 15 and an attachment portion 13 can be made detachable from the rod 11 so that it can be used with any desired form of handle.

1. A gardening implement comprising an elongate handle, a generally planar blade member extending transversely of the handle and being secured to one end thereof, the plane of the blade member being inclined generally at 45 degrees to the direction of extent of the handle, and a plurality of teeth extending from an edge of the blade member in a direction away from said one end of the handle, the teeth being disposed in the general plane of the blade member.

2. A gardening implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or both transverse ends of the blade

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Gardening implement This invention relates to a gardening implement, principally for use in hoeing and raking. According to the present invention, there is provided a gardening implement comprising an elongate handle, a generally planar blade member extending transversely of the handle and being secured to one end thereof, the plane of the blade member being inclined generally at 45 degrees to the direction of extent of the handle, and a plurality of teeth extending from an edge of the blade member in a direction away from said one end of the handle, the teeth being disposed in the general plane of the blade member One or both transverse ends of the blade member can be bent at an angle to the remainder of the blade member. Desirably, portions of said edge of the blade member between adjacent teeth are chamfered. The blade member and teeth can be stamped out of metal sheet as a unitary element. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of one embodiment of a gardening implement according to the present invention. Figure2 is a side view of the gardening implement shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section along the line 111-111 in Figure 1: and Figures 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the gardening implement of Figures 1 to 3 when used respec tivelyforhoeing and raking. Referring first to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, the gardening implement shown therein comprises a handle 10 in the form of an elongate rod 11 which has a configurated portion 12 at one of its ends for ease of manual grasping. An end of the rod 11 remote from the configurated portion 12 has an attachment portion 13 extending therefrom, to which a blade member 14 is secured. In the illustrated embodiment, both the attachment portion 13 and the blade member 14 are made of metal and are secured together by welding. The blade member 14 is generally planar and extends transversely of the rod 11 on both sides of the latter, the plane of the blade member 14 being inclined at substantially 45" to the longitudinal axis of the rod 11. A series of teeth 15 extend from one edge of the blade member 14 away from the adjacent end of the rod 11, and are disposed in the general plane of the blade member 14. Portions 16 of said edge of the blade member are chamfered so as to form a cutting edge, the outer ends of the teeth 15 being likewise chamfered. Portions 17 at both transverse ends of the blade member 14 are bent upwardly from the remainder of the blade member so as to be inclined relative thereto. The blade member 14 and teeth 15 are preferably stamped out of metal sheet as a unitary element, the end portions 17 being subsequently bent to their final configuration and the chamfer being applied to the edge portions 16 of the blade member and the outer ends of the teeth 15 by a coining operation. The configuration of the teeth 15 is such that two such unitary elements can be staped out at the same time with the teeth of one element being formed by the spaces between adjacent teeth of the other element. Referring now to Figure 4, the gardening implement described above is used for hoeing by orienting the blade member 14 so that its central portion is generally parallel to the ground. The cutting edges formed by the edge poetions 16 and the ends of the teeth 15 can then be used for removing weeks in the manner of a conventional hoe. Hoeing under or alongside obstructions can be performed using one or the other of the end portions 17, the blade member then being oriented so that the apropriate end portion lies parallel to the ground. Using the present implement, hoeing is made easier than with a conventional hoe because of the castellated formation of the teeth 15 and the edge portions 16 of the blade member. The teeth serve to penetrate the ground and break it up without substantial resistance being presented by the ground to the entry of the blade member. Referring to Figure 5, the gardening implement is used for raking by orienting the blade member 14 so that it is generally perpendicular to the ground. The teeth 15 can now be used to rake the ground in the manner of a conventional garden rake. Thus, by virtue of the blade member being inclined at 45 degrees to the handle, the gardening implement can be switched between its hoeing and raking positions by the simple expedient of rotating the handle 10 through 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis. This is of great advantage since it is often necessary to rake away debris after hoeing of an area of ground has been performed, and the present invention enables this to be done without the need to change implements between the hoeing and raking operations. Although in the embodiment described above both end portions 17 of the blade member 14 bent upwardly, it is in principle possible to bend only one of the end portions in this manner. In addition, the assembly of blade member 14, teeth 15 and an attachment portion 13 can be made detachable from the rod 11 so that it can be used with any desired form of handle. CLAIMS

2. A gardening implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or both transverse ends of the blade member are bent at an angle to the remainder of the blade member.

3. A gardening implement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein portions of said edge of the blade member between adjacent teeth are chamfered.

4. A gardening implement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein ends of the teeth remote from the blade member are chamfered.

5. A gardening implement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the blade member and the teeth are stamped out of metal sheet as a unitary element.

6. A gardening implement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the configuration of the teeth is such that two such unitary elements can be stamped out at the same time with the teeth of one unit being formed by the spaces between adjacent teeth of the other element.

7. A gardening implement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.