GB2032235A - Gardening tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A gardening tool (2) comprises an elongate handle (4) and a gardening head (6) having a curved hoeing surface (8) and prongs (10) and attached to the handle (4) such that the head (6) can be rotated about bolt (30) with respect to the handle (4) in order to enable the operating angle of the head (6) to be adjusted, as a link member (32) is located in appropriate aperture (22). A foot rest (42) is provided on the handle (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A gardening tool This invention relates to a gardening tool.

Accordingly, this invention provides a gardening tool comprising an. elongate handle, a gardening head having a curved hoeing surface, and a connecting arrangement for connecting the handle to the gardening head such that the gardening head can be rotated with respect to the handle in order to enable the operating angle of the gardening head to be adjusted ton suit individual persons using the gardening tool.

The adjustable head will enable persons using the gardening tool to work with the maximum degree of comfort and the minimum degree of physical effort.

The curved hoeing surface can be used for hoeing and various other gardening purposes such for example as weeding, trenching, banking, lawn edge trimming and turf cutting.

Advantageously, the gardening head is provided with a plurality of prongs. The prongs will then enable the gardening tool to be additionally used as a rake or a tilling implement. Usually, the prongs will be positioned opposite the curved hoeing surface.

If desired, as an alternative to having a gardening head provided with the prongs, the curved hoeing surface may extend entirely around the periphery of the gardening head, the gardening head then being in the form of a disc.

Preferably, the gardening head is flat over at least two-thirds of its area. The gardening head is advantageously made from a flat sheet of metal, for example tool steel.

In one embodiment of the invention, the connecting arrangement is such that it comprises a base portion which is fixed to the gardening head, and an outwardly projecting portion which projects away from the base portion and which is provided with a plurality of apertures, the handle being pivotally secured to the outwardly projecting portion, and the connecting arrangement including a link member which connects at one end portion to the handle and at its other end portion in one of the apertures in the outwardly projecting portion thereby to secure the handle in position with respect to the outwardly projecting portion.

The outwardly projecting portion may be bolted to the gardening head.

The link member is preferably a spring biased U-shaped link member.

In another embodiment of the invention, the connecting arrangement is such that it comprises a hinge device having first and second parts which are lockable together by means of a nut and bolt.

The first and second parts may having mating ribbed adjacent surfaces, the ribs constituting indexing means for the first and second parts.

Preferably, the handle is provided with a foot rest.

Also preferably, the handle is provided with an outwardly extending hand gripping member. The hand gripping member may be adjustable in position along the length of the handle, although it can obviously be fixed in position if desired.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a first perspective view of a gardening tool in accordance with the invention looking from the front and one side; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the gardening tool illustrated in Figure 1 looking from the front and other side.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gardening tool 2 comprising an elongate handle 4 and a gardening head 6. The head 6 has a curved portion 8 constituting a hoeing surface and a plurality of prongs 10 which are positioned on the side of the head 6 opposite the curved portion 8.

The handle 4 is connected to the head 6 by means of a connecting arrangement 12. The connecting arrangement 12 has a base portion 14 which is bolted to the head 6 as shown by a nut 16 and a bolt 18. An upwardly projecting portion 20 projects away from the base portion 14 and it is provided with a plurality of apertures 22.

The handle 4 is flattened at its lower end 24 and a plate 26 is positioned inside the flattened end 24 and in effect forms a part of the handle 4. The plate 26 and therefore the handle 4 are pivotally attached to the upwardly projectig portion 20 by means of a nut 28 and a pivot bolt 30.

A U-shaped link member 32 has one end extending through the end 24 and the plate 26 of the handle 4, and a coil spring 34 is supported on this end of the link member 32. One end of the spring 34 abuts against the end 24 of the handle 4 and the other end of the spring 34 abuts against a stop washer 36 which is held in position by a split pin 38 which locates in an aperture in the end of the link member 32 as shown. The other end 40 of the link member 32 extends into a desired one of the apertures 22 to locate the base portion 14 of the connecting arrangement 12 and therefore the head 6 at a desired operating angle with respect to the handle 4.

The position of the other end 40 of the link member 30 can be altered as desired merely by pushing the link member against the spring 34 to cause the end 40 of the link member 30 to come out of its aperture 22. The head 6 and the base portion 14 of the connecting arrangement 12 can then be rotated to a desired angle and the pressure on the spring 34 can then be released whereupon the spring 34 will cause the end 40 of the link member 32 to enter an appropriate one of the apertures 22. The operating angle of the head 6 can thus be adjusted for maximum comfort and minimum physical effort by a person using the gardening tool.If desired, the relative position of the curved portion 8 and the prongs 10 can also be reversed merely by loosening the nut 16 on its bolt 18 and rotating the head 6 but this will usually not be necessary in view of the multiplicity of operating angies allowed by the connecting arrangement 12.

In order to enable maximum pressure to be exerted on the head 6, for example when it is being used to trim the edge of a lawn or to cut turf, the handle 4 is provided with a foot rest 42. The root rest 42 is bolted to the end 24 of the handle 4 by means of pair of bolts 44,46.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the head 6 may be replaced by a flat plate which is circular, oval, triangular, square or rectangular in plan. Also, the handle 4 may be provided with an outwardly extending hand gripping member. Such a hand gripping member may be secured to the handle 4 in the same manner as the foot rest 42 is secured to the handle 4 or, alternatively, the hand gripping member could be secured by a clamp device enabling itto be adjustable in position along the length of the handle 4. Further, the free end of the handle 4 may be provided with orformed to constitute a hand grip.

Claims (15)

1. A gardening tool comprising an elongate handle, a gardening head having a curved hoeing surface, and a connecting arrangement for connecting the handle to the gardening head such that the gardening head can be rotated with respect to the handle in order to enable the operating angle of the gardening head to be adjusted to suit individual persons using the gardening tool.

2. A gardening tool according to claim 1 in which the gardening head is provided with a plurality of prongs.

3. A gardening tool according to claim 2 in which the prongs are positioned opposite the curved hoeing surface.

4. A gardening tool according to claim 1 in which the curved hoeing surface extends entirely around the periphery of the gardening head, the gardening head then being in the form of a disc.

5. A gardening tool according to any one of the preceding claims-in which the gardening head isflat over at least two-thirds of its area.

6. A gardening tool according to any one of the preceding claims in which the gardening head is made from a flat sheet of metal.

7. A gardening tool according to any one ofthe preceding claims in which the connecting arrangement comprises a base portion which is fixed to the gardening head, and an outwardly projecting portion which projects away from the base portion and which is provided with a plurality of apertures, the handle being pivotally secured to the outwardly projecting portion, and the connecting arrangement including a link member which connects at one end portion to the handle and at its other end portion in one of the apertures in the outwardly projecting portion thereby to secure the handle in position with respect to the outwardly projecting portion.

8. A gardening tool according to claim 7 in which the outwardly projecting portion is bolted to the gardening head.

9. A gardening tool according to claim 7 or claim 8 in which the link member is a spring biased U-shaped link member.

10. A gardening tool according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the connecting arrangement comprises a hinge device having first and second parts which are lockable together by means of a nut and bolt.

11. A gardening tool according to claim 10 in which the first and second part have mating ribbed adjacent surfaces, the ribs constituting indexing means for the first and second parts.

12. A gardening tool according to any one of the preceding claims in which the handle is provided with a foot rest.

13. A gardening tool according to any one of the preceding claims in which the handle is provided with an outwardly extending hand gripping member.

14. A gardening tool according to claim 13 in which the hand gripping member is adjustable in position along the length of the handle.

15. A gardening tool substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.