GB2124867A

GB2124867A - Cultivating implement

Info

Publication number: GB2124867A
Application number: GB08315868A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jurgen Dambroth
Original assignee: Rux GmbH
Current assignee: Rux GmbH
Priority date: 1982-06-11
Filing date: 1983-06-09
Publication date: 1984-02-29
Also published as: IT8321362A0; FR2528267A1; GB8315868D0; IT1168938B

Abstract

A head on or for a versatile horticultural implement comprises a mounting support (18) which is attached to a handle (28) and to which is secured a plate or plate assembly (10), having about its periphery several differently- fashioned portions (13, 14, 15), such as cutaway portions and/or shaped portions, for varied working operations. For example, an initially circular plate may be fashioned about its periphery to provide portions for various different working operations, such as smooth and sharp edged portions for hoeing, toothed portions for levelling, and portions with wedge-shaped spikes for aerating and raking out furrows. The mounting support may be a socket member bolten to the plate or, alternatively, secured by hooks and brackets. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Versatile horticultural implements and heads therefor The invention relates to versatile horticultural im plements,and headstherefor,forthecultivation and maintenance of gardens, camping sites, churchyards orthelike.

Forthe cultivation and maintenance of beds or borders in gardens or othergreen enclosures several different cultivating implements are generally requires in short succession. That makes it necessary, in orderto avoid a lot of walking due to the fetching or bringing. ofthe implements from and to the tool shed, to geta large number of implements to the work area at the sametime, which, as is well known, is inconvenient and isworth while onlywhen extensive cultivating operations are involved. Frequently, however, onlysmall-scaletasks involving plants are required for the purposes initially set forth, in connection with which the bringing near of a plurality of separate implements is impracticable and bothersome.

In order to avoid these difficulties there are already known, particularlyforthe care of graves in churchyards, small combination implements in the case of which a spade-shaped implement and a rake member are provided at the two ends of a shaft-like component. These implements have to be turned around from time to time for different cultivating operations, the consequence of which is that, after one treatment and the reversal, the implement must be taken hold of at the member contaminated with earth. That is impracticable. Moreover, these multi-purpose imple menus are by no means perfectlydesignedforthe tasks for which provision is made.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the difficulties aforesaid and to solvethe problem of providing for the purposes setforth at the beginning a universal implementwhich is particularly advantageously constructed and yet makes possible a plurality of working operations with optimum efficacy, it being possible to change from one kind ofworking operation to another in the simplest way imaginable.

In accordance with the invention, we provide a head for a versatile horticultural implementfor use in the cultivationand maintenance of ground areas such as gardens, camping sites, and churchyards, said head comprising a mounting support which is attachable to a handle and to which is secured a plate or plate assembly having about its periphery several differently-fashioned portions, such as cutaway portions and/or shaped portions, for varied working operations.

In a preferred embodiment, the head comprises an initially circular plate fashioned about its periphery to provide portionsforvarious different working operations, such as smooth and sharp edged portions for hoeing, toothed portions for levelling, and portions with wedge-shaped spikes for aerating and raking out furrows.

Preferably, the head is to be detachably connected with the handle by way of the mounting support, whereby not only heads for different treatment operations but also alternatively for right-handedness or left-handedness can be fitted to the handle. The mounting support is preferably a socket member for fitting the handle and having a blind end to which is rigidly secured through one of its ends a threaded rod carrying a tightening nut and rigidly united at its other end with a support-forming bracket plate, and the plate has therein a recess opening from its periphery for the pushing ofthe plate from a lateral direction onto the threaded rod, between the bracket plate and the nut prior to tightening the latterto lockthe plate in place.For better support, a spring washer may be displaceably supported on the threaded rod between the nut and the plate. The nut may be formed as a wing nut.

There are preferably fixed on the bracket plate turning-inhibiting pins which can be inserted into holes in the plate to provide a connection fixed against turning.

There may also be secured with the handle any other implements, such,for example, as a lawn rake, when there is integral with the plate first mentioned a retaining plate which is provided with a recess forthe pushing ofthe retaining plate on to the threaded rod with the bracket plate and with holes for receiving the turning-inhibiting pins on the bracket plate.

In a versatile horticultural implement in accordance with a further preferred feature ofthe invention,the handle is connected with the mounting support in a manner enabling the plate to be swivelled into different working positions in relation to the handle.

To this end, the mounting support may comprise devises retaining therebetween a pivot spindle which is engaged by a tenterhook with a threaded stem directed into an adjusting nut arranged on the blind end of a socket member connected with the handle and the tapped bore is continuous with a blind support bore in the blind end ofthe socket member.

The devises are preferably substantially rectangular in form with adjacent supporting surfaces offset to one another through 90 . In a preferred construction, further supporting surfaces are provided between each pair of adjacent surfaces offset at 90 to one another and are inclined to the latter for example at 450 to the latter.

The adjusting nut may be made fast by a welded joint, to the blind end of the socket member connected with the handle, but may, however, be supported to be freelyturnable in a cage fast with the blind end ofthe socket member on the handle. In order that the joint is maintained stationary when the adjusting nut is screwed down, a washer and a split lock washer are located on thethreaded rod between the devises and the adjusting nuts.In orderthatthe adjusting nut can not be contaminated by ground soil thrown up during the working, a spacing bush, fast with the cage, preferablyextendsfromthe lowersurfaceofthecage in axial alignment with the socket member, and the threaded stem ofthetenterhook is elongate and The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

extends th rough the bush into engagement with the adjusting nut.

It is also within the scope ofthe invention that a versatile horticultural implement has a head made up ofseveral shaped plate-section members mounted above one another and attitudinallyadjustable relative to one anotheron the mounting support.

It has proved to be advantageous for increasing the applicability ofthe implement to mountthe shaped plate-section members interchangeably on the mounting support, to which end they may be provided with a hole for mounting same on a threaded stem upstanding from a bottom plate and engageable in a tapped blind axial bore in the blind end of a socket memberto which the handle is secured, or with an elongate slotforpushing the members on to a threaded stem upstanding from a bottom plate and engageable in a tapped blind axial bore in the blind end of a socket member to which the handle is secured.

In orderthatthe shaped plate-section members may be brought into a definite attitude relative to one another on the mounting support, they have preferably arranged thereon complementary catches for the selective locking ofthe shaped plate-sections to one another, the catches preferably comprising protuberances and grooves, or pins and holes, on and in adjacent plate-section members.

The invention will hereinafter be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a plate-section member rigidly connected with a socket memberfitted onto a handle; Fig. 2 shows an initially circular plate-section member fashioned about its periphery to provide several portions for varied working operations; Fig. 3 shows a plate-section member initially of substantially triangular shape fashioned to provide about its periphery portionsforvaried working operations; Fig. 4 shows a mounting supportforthe detachable mounting of shaped plates; Fig. 5 shows an individual shaped plate-section memberforattachmenttothe mounting support of Fig.4;; Fig. 6 shows an implement head in accordance with the invention in various working attitudes; Fig. 7 shows a versatile horticultural implement according to the invention with the plate-section member in side elevation; Fig. 8 shows the head of the Fig. 7 implement in a view from above; Fig. 9 shows the Fig. 7 implement with the head swivelled around; Fig. 10 shows the individual parts ofthe implement of Fig. 7 in an exploded view; Fig. 11 shows the attachment of the head to the socket member in the normal position; Fig. 12 showsthe Fig. 11 arrangementwith the head swivelled around through 45" relative to the socket member; Fig. 13 shows another mounting support of an implement head according to the invention with the plate-section member swivelled through 90 ;; Fig. 14 is a viewfrom above looking on to the mounting support and plate-section member of the implement head shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a side elevation ofthe Fig. 14 arrangement with the head swivelled through 90" relative to the socket member (not shown in Fig. 14); Fig. 16 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 15 but with the head swivelled through 1800 relative to the socket member; Fig. 17 shows an implement head with another plate-section member; Fig. 18 shows a versatile horticultural implement with the head of Fig. 17 in various working attitudes; Fig. 19 shows two shaped plate-section members for an implement head according to the invention;; Fig. 20 shows the members of Fig. 19 in one working attitude; Fig. 21 shows the same members in another working attitude; Fig. 22 shows a mounting support of an implement which includes the plate-section members of Figs. 19 to21; Fig. 23 shows the mounting supportwith an implement head of Fig. 22 and with the two platesection members of Figs. 19 to 21 in one working attitude; Fig. .24 shows various other working attitudes ofthe two plate-section members; Fig. 25 shows a shaped plate-section member in the form of a straight-edged hoe; Fig. 26 shows such a member in the form of a round-edged or pointed hoe; and Fig. 27 shows a shaped plate-section member in the form ofathin-edged hoe.

In Fig. 1 a plate-section implement 10 is rigidly connected, for example by welding, to a rod in axial continuitywith and on the blind end of socket member 17 for a handle 28. The implement may have somewhattheformwhich is represented in Fig. 2,ora form such as is shown in Fig. 3, or other appropriate form. The two implements 10 and 11 represented in Figs. 2 and 3 are designed for releasable connection with a handle such as is shown in Fig.4,forexample, and to this end have recesses 26 which enablethe implements to be pushed lateral liy on to the threaded rod 20 extending from the blind end ofthe socket member attachable to the handle, afterthe tightening nut 21 has been slackened.The implements 10, 11 moreover have holes 25 into which turning-inhibiting pins 24 on the bracket plate 22 welded to the socket-member-remote end ofthe rod 20 can be inserted and thus prevent any unintended turning of the implement on the handle.

The implements of Figs. 2 and 3 have abouttheir peripheries differently-fashioned portions, for example finish ground portions 13which can serve for hoeing, toothed portions 14which are suitable for crumbling, breaking up, raking or levelling, orwedgeshaped portions 15foraerating orfurrowing. In Fig.3 there is additionally provided a special portion 1 6for most delicate hoeing work. Still other differentformations are, of course, conceivable. In addition other more adapted shapings such, for example, as bends may be provided at the peripheries of the platesection implements.

The mounting support shown in Fig. 4 and compris ing the bracket plate 22, the pins 24, the threaded rod 20 and the tightening nut 21, enables a releasable attachment ofthe implements, as has already been mentioned, so that it is possible to exchange the plate-section implements according to the invention with specific individual implements 12 such, for example, as the lawn comb 29 according to Fig. 5, which mustthen be provided with a recess 26 for fitting same about the rod 20 from a lateral direction and holes 25for reception of the turning-inhibiting pins 24 on the bracket plate 22.

The socket member 18 of Fig. 4 has a conventional socket 1 forfitment over the conically-tapered lower end of a handle such asthe handle 28 of Fig. 1, and a threaded rod 20 is rigidly attached to the blind end of the socket member in axial alignment with the socket member. On the threaded rod are a wing nut 21 and a spring washer23through which the implement, pushed on to the threaded rod above a bracket plate 22 united by welding with the socket-member-remote end ofthe threaded rod, is tightened against the bracket plate. In orderthatthe connection isfast against rotation, the turning-inhibiting pins 24 engage in the holes 25 in the implement. When the implement is to be interchanged, the wing nut 21 is slackened, the implement is lifted out ofthe pins 24 by raising same and is then withdrawn from the mounting support.

Different working attitudes of an implement 19 are shown in Fig. 6, namely on the left while levelling, in themiddlewhilefurrowing and on the rightwhile hoeing.

In the embodiment of Figs. 7 to 10, the implement is denoted 110, the socket member 111 and the handle, 112. As can be seen, especially in Fig. 1 Oe, the mounting supportto which the implement 110 is securedcomprisestwoclevises 1 13 which support a pivot spindle 129. The pivot spindle 129 is engaged by a tenterhook 119 which is supported by its threaded stem 130 in the blind end ofthe socket member 111. To this end, an adjusting nut 117 is welded on to the lower or blind end ofthe socket member 111, as can be seen above all in Fig. 10a,withthetapped bore ofthe nut continuous with a blind tapped bore in the lower or blind end ofthe socket member 111 (see Figs. 7 and 9).

For the assembly of the device, the tenterhook 119 is engaged with the pivot spindle 129 supported by the devises 1 1 3 fast with the implement 110, the washer 115 (Fig. 1 Od) and the split lock washer 116 (Fig. 1 Oc) are then pushed over the threaded stem 130, whereupon the nut 117 on the blind end ofthe socket member 111 is screwed on to the threaded stem 130.

In thatwaythe union between the socket member 111 and the implement 110 is established. A secure connection between the socket member and the implement is created by turning the handle 112, by doing which the washer 115, in the position shown in Fig 7, butts against the upper surfaces 132 ofthe ctevises 113 serving asthespindle-mounting bracket.

If the implement 110 isto be brought into the attitude shown in Fig. 9, the screw coupling is slackened off so that the implement can be swivelled through 900, and then the screw coupling is again tightened, the washer 115then resting against one of the side faces 132 of each of the devises 113 and the socket member and the implement being fixed in this attitude.

In Figs. 7 to 10, the devises 113 have supporting surfaces 132 at the end faces and the side faces, so that the implement 110 can be brought from the normal attitude of Fig. 7 into the attitude of Fig. 9 or an attitude swivelled through 1 80" in relation thereto.

In Figs. 11 and 12 are shown devises 1 14with additional supporting surfaces 133 which are disposed at an angle between O"and 90 , hence at an inclination of perhaps45 ,to adjacent supporting surfaces 132, as shown in the Figs. Because ofthis, the implement 110 can also be brought into an attitude inclined to the socket member 111, as is shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 13 shows an embodiment ofthe invention, in which the socket member 121 connected with the handle 112 has secured overthe blind end thereof a cage member 136 accommodating a nut 1 18forthe adjustment ofthe tenterhook 120 through the threaded stem 131 of the latter, the hook-remote end of the threaded stem being engageable in a blind tapped bore in the blind end of the socket member 121. spacing bush 134, fast with the cage member 136, extendsfrom the lowersurface ofthe cage member 136 in axial alignment with the socket member 121, and the stem 131 ofthetenterhook 120 is substantially longerthan in the Figs. 7 to 10 embodiment as it has to extendthroughthe bush 134 before engaging the nut 1 1 8 for the adjustment of the tenterhook 120. The bush 134 both protects the threaded stem 131 and prevents the nut 118from being situated too close to the ground and possibly being clogged bythe loosened-up soil. In this embodiment, the complete socket member assembly need not be turned with the handle to slacken offthe implement, but only the nut 118 need be turned for that purpose and to that end is in the form of a milled nut as indicated in Fig. 13, but could also be, for example, in the form of a wing nut.

Figs. 14to 16 only showthe different attitudes of the implement 110 in relation to the socket member 111 and the handle 112. With them, in Fig. 14there is represented the normal attitude in aviewfrom above on to the socket member 111 and the implement 122 which in this case has peripheral portions with a face hoe 123, a breaking-up hoe 124 and a weeding hoe 125. In the swivelled attitude of Fig. 15, in side elevation, the narrow hoe portion can be used as a weed cutter 126 and in the other swivelled attitude of Fig. 16, in side elevation, the broad hoeing face can be used as an edge cutter 128 and the one corner 127 for cleaning joints. Many other applications are conceivable and possible through other designs of the implement periphery.

Another embodiment of a plate-section implement 135 is represented in Fig. 17. the implement 135 has a curved edge portion afor hoeing or trimming, a toothed edge portion bfor loosening or crumbling, a straight edge portion cfor scraping, for example of ice from paths in winter, orfor levelling, and a wedge-shaped edge portion dfordigging planting holes or raking out planting or other furrows.

Examples of possibleworking attitudesforthis implement are indicated very schematically in Fig. 18.

Therefrom can be realized the numerous operational possibilities for a single plate-section implement with diversified working portions at its periphery.

The plate-section members 211,212 of Fig. 19 can be pushed by means of the borehole 213 on to a mounting support and can then be turned relative to one anotheraboutthis borehole ora corresponding spindle atthe mounting support, so thatthere result very different operational attitudes. In order that the disk members can be fixed in the respective operational attitude, boreholes 218 are situated in the disk member 211 in the example illustrated, and a peg 217 on the disk member 212 can be inserted into any selected one ofthese boreholes 218.In this waythe most varied operational attitudes can be adopted in the simplest manner, such, for example, asthe attitude of Fig. 20 as a tilling hoe, the attitude of Fig. 21 as a seed drill cultivator as is also indicated in Fig. 24a, orasa ridging cultivatorinaccordancewith Fig. 24b, or as a tamper in accordance with Fig. 24c. Fig. 24d shows how closely hoeing can be effected around plants in one operational attitude,which is,ofcourse, also shown in Fig. 20.

A mounting supportforthe implement in accordance with the invention is shown in Fig. 22. In this example, the shaped plate-section member 211 is placed on the bottom plate 224 on which are turning-inhibiting pins 217 and a threaded rod 225.

The second shaped plate-section member 212 is then placed in the desired attitude on the first plate member 211. Thereon next comes the locking plate 218 and finally the socket member 226, which is provided at its lower or blind end 210 with a blind tapped bore continuous with the tapped boreofa nut 29 welded on to the blind end of the socket member 226, is firmly screwed on to the pile. The security of the set at that time is ensured by a spring washer 228.

While altering the operational attitude, the socket member 226 is slackened off somewhat in order that the one shaped plate-section membercanbeturned relative to the other shaped plate-section member and is then again tightened, as is indicated by the arrows in Figs. 22 and 23. The operational attitude of the implement, for example during weed ripping, can also be gathered from Fig. 23.

Figs 25 to 27 show further different shaped plate-section members, one with a hole 213 for pushing same on to thethreaded rod 225 of the mounting support and the others with oblong slots 2l4forslipping same on to the rod 225 from the side.

The shaped plate-section members manufactured as an edged hoe 219, as a semi-circular hoe 220, and as a precision hoe 221 with whetted edge 223 may at times be combined with similarly-shaped but also otherwise-shaped members logically com plementing same.

Claims

1. A head for a versatile horticultural implement for use in the cultivation and maintenance of ground areas such as gardens, camping sites and churchyards, said head comprising a mounting support which is attachable to a handle and to which is secured a plate or plate assembly having about its periphery several differently-fashioned portions, such as cutaway portions and/or shaped portions, for varied working operations.

2. A head according to Claim 1, comprising an initiallycircularplatefashioned about its peripheryto provide portionsforvarious different working operations such as smooth and sharp edged portions for hoeing, toothed portionsfor levelling, and portions with wedge-shaped spikesforaerating and raking out furrows.

3. A head according to Claim 2, in which the mounting support is a socket memberforfitting the handle and having a blind end to which is rigidly secured through one of its ends a threaded rod carrying a tightening nut and rigidly united at its other end with a support-forming bracket plate, andthe plate has therein a recess opening from its periphery forthe pushing of the plate from a lateral direction onto the threaded rod between the bracket plate and the nut priorto tightening the latter to lock the plate in place.

4. A head according to Claim 3, in which a spring washer is displaceablysupported on the threaded rod between the nut and the plate.

5. A head according to Claim 4, in which the nut is awing nut.

6. A head according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, in which there are fixed on the bracket plate turninginhibiting pins which can be inserted into holes in the plate.

7. A head according to Claim 6, in which integral with the plate first mentioned is a retaining plate which is provided with a recessforthe pushing ofthe retaining plate on to the threaded rod and with holes for receiving the turning-inhibiting pins on the bracket plate.

8. Aversatile horticultural implement comprising a head as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims and a handle detachably connected with the mounting support.

9. Aversatilehorticultural implementcomprising a head as claimed in Claim 2 and a handle connected with the mounting support in a manner enabling the plate to be swivelled into different working positions in relation to the handle.

10. Aversatile horticultural implement according to Claim 9, in which the mounting support comprises devises in the form of brackets retaining therebetween a pivot spindle which is engaged by a tenterhook with a threaded stem directed into an adjusting nut arranged on the blind end of a socket member connected with the handle and the tapped bore of which is continuous with a blind tapped bore in the blind end ofthe socket member.

11. Aversatile horticultural implement according to Claim 10, in which the devises are substantially rectangular in form with adjacent supporting surfaces offsetto one another through 90 .

12. A versatile horticultural implement according to Claim 11, inwhichfurthersupporting surfaces are provided between each pair of adjacent surfaces offset at 900 to one another and are inclined to the latter.

13. Aversatile horticultural implement according to any one of Claims lOto 12, in which the adjusting nut is made fast by a welded joint to the blind end of the socket member connected with the handle.

14. Aversatile horticultural implement according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, in which a washer and a split lockwasher are located on the threaded rod between the devises and the adjusting nut.

15. A versatile horticultural implement according to any one of Claims lotto 13, in which the adjusting nut is supported to befreelyturnable in a cage fast with the blind end of the socket member on the handle.

16. Aversatile horticultural implement according to Claim 15, in which a spacing bush fast with the cage, extends from the lower surface ofthe cage in axial alignment with the socket member, and the threaded stem ofthetenterhook is elongate and extendsthrnugh the bush into engagementwith the adjusting nut.

17. Aversatile horticultural implementcomprising a head according to Claim 1 with a plate assembly secured to the mounting support, and a handle detachably connected with the mounting support, the plate assembly being made up of several shaped plate-section members mounted above one another and attitudinally adjustable relative to one another on the mounting support.

18. A versatile horticultural implement according to Claim 17, in whichthe shaped plate-section members are interchangeably mounted on the mounting support.

19. Aversatile horticultural implement according to Claim 17 or 18, in which the shaped plate-section members are provided with a hole for mounting same on a threaded stem upstanding from a bottom plate and engageable in a tapped blind axial bore in the blind end of a socket member to which the handle is secured.

20. Aversatile horticultural implement according to Claim 17 or 18, in which the shaped plate-section members are provided with elongate slots for pushing the members on to a threaded stem upstanding from a bottom plate and engageable in a tapped blind axial borne in the blind end of a socket member to which the handle is secured.

21. Aversatile horticultural implement according to any one of Claims 17 to 20, in which the shaped plate-section members have arranged thereon complementary catches for the selective locking of the shaped plate-section members to one another.

22. A versatile horticultural implement according to Claim 21, in which the catches comprise protuberances and grooves made on and in adjacent shaped plate-section members.

23. Aversatile horticultural implement according to Claim 21, in which the catches are in the form of pins and holes on and in adjacent shaped platesection members.