GB2187371A - A garden tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A garden tool has a single tine in the shape of a hook and means (eg socket 10) for attachment to an elongate handle. The tip 14 of the hook has a point, for example a chisel point, and the outside edges of the hook have an externally directed cutting edge 20, 24. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A garden tool This invention relatestoagardentool,theprimary use of which is for tilling the g round. The tool however has a large number of other uses, as will become apparent.

According to the invention, t: ere is provided a garden tool comprising a tine generally in the shape of a hook, meansforattaching a handle to the tine, a pointatthetipofthetineand a cutting edge on the outside ofthe tine.

The tool could be sold with orwithouta handle attached.

Preferablythetine has a main working portion adjacent the tip and extending generally at right anglestothe line ofthe handle,when the handle is attached, and the outward facing edge ofthis working portion has a straight cutting edge.

The straight cutting edge preferably extends an equal distance on eithersideofan imaginary line which isa continuation ofthe line of the handle.

The tine may have a secondary working portion extending at an angle of 90 or greaterto the main straight portion. This secondary straight portion can also have an external cutting edge which may be straight or curved.

The point at the tip of the tine can conveniently be formed by a chisel point, such as is found at the tip of some picks.

The invention will now befurther described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan viewofatool in accordance with the invention; Figure2isaperspectiveview; and Figure 3 is an end view.

The tool has a socket 10 which a handle 12 (Figure 2) can be fitted. The handle will be a long, straight handle such as would be used for a hoe.

Thetool has three working portions; atip 14, a main limb 16 and an auxiliary limb 18.

The tip 14 has a chisel point (Figure 2) and curves in slightly from the limb 16.

The limb 16 has a cutting edge 20 formed on its outward facing side. The edge 20 is straight and extends an equal distance on both sides of a centre line 22 which is coaxial with the handle.

the limb 18 also has an external cutting edge 24.

In use, the tool can be used to till the ground by allowing thetipto entertheground with the limb 16 upright. The depth oftilling can be controlled by the down force exerted on the tool. Because a very narrow furrow is tilled, the tool is very useful for weeding around existing plants or bulbs. The tool can be useful in extracting single weeds, for example from a lawn.

The tool can be used in the same orientation to make asmalltrench in which to plant certain plants, for example potatoes or to makeashallowgroove in the soil inwhichto plantseeds.

Thetool can be used as a light duty pick.

Thetool can be used with the handle uprighttocut turf,forexample at the edge of a flower bed or adjacent a paved area. A downward force is applied so that the cutting edge 20 cuts the grass and soil beneath.

The tool can be used with the cutting edge 20 flat on the ground and with a pushing action as a dutch hoe or as a scraper, for example to scrape away ice on a flat surface. With a pulling action it can be used to level off tilled ground.

The tool can be used with a swinging motion with the cutting edges 20and 24 leading, to clear undergrowth such as nettles using the cutting edges to cut the stems of the nettles. This use requires a particularliy strong handle, so the socket 10 should be capable of takingasubstantial handle.

The tool is preferably constructed byforging.

1. A garden tool comprising a tine generally in the shape of a hook, meansforattaching a handletothe tine, a point at the tip ofthe tine and a cutting edge on the outside ofthe tine.

2. A garden tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the point is a chisel point.

3. A garden tool as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the working edge ofthe chisel point extends at right angles to the plane of the hook.

4. A garden tool as claimed in any preceding claim and having a main working portion adjacentthetip and extnding generally at right angiesto the line ofthe handle, when the handle is attached, the outward facing edge ofthis main working portion having a straight cutting edge.

5. A garden tool as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the straight cutting edge extends an equal distance on eithersideofan imaginary line which is a continuation ofthe line of the handle.

6. A gardentool as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, which has a secondaryworking portion extending at an angleof90orgreatertothemainworking portion and having an external cutting edge.

7. A garden tool as claimed in Claim 6,wherein the cutting edge of the secondary working portion runs into the cutting edge of the main working portion.

8. A garden tool as claimed in any preceding claim and having a handle attached.

9. A garden tool substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A garden tool This invention relatestoagardentool,theprimary use of which is for tilling the g round. The tool however has a large number of other uses, as will become apparent. According to the invention, t: ere is provided a garden tool comprising a tine generally in the shape of a hook, meansforattaching a handle to the tine, a pointatthetipofthetineand a cutting edge on the outside ofthe tine. The tool could be sold with orwithouta handle attached. Preferablythetine has a main working portion adjacent the tip and extending generally at right anglestothe line ofthe handle,when the handle is attached, and the outward facing edge ofthis working portion has a straight cutting edge. The straight cutting edge preferably extends an equal distance on eithersideofan imaginary line which isa continuation ofthe line of the handle. The tine may have a secondary working portion extending at an angle of 90 or greaterto the main straight portion. This secondary straight portion can also have an external cutting edge which may be straight or curved. The point at the tip of the tine can conveniently be formed by a chisel point, such as is found at the tip of some picks. The invention will now befurther described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan viewofatool in accordance with the invention; Figure2isaperspectiveview; and Figure 3 is an end view. The tool has a socket 10 which a handle 12 (Figure 2) can be fitted. The handle will be a long, straight handle such as would be used for a hoe. Thetool has three working portions; atip 14, a main limb 16 and an auxiliary limb 18. The tip 14 has a chisel point (Figure 2) and curves in slightly from the limb 16. The limb 16 has a cutting edge 20 formed on its outward facing side. The edge 20 is straight and extends an equal distance on both sides of a centre line 22 which is coaxial with the handle. the limb 18 also has an external cutting edge 24. In use, the tool can be used to till the ground by allowing thetipto entertheground with the limb 16 upright. The depth oftilling can be controlled by the down force exerted on the tool. Because a very narrow furrow is tilled, the tool is very useful for weeding around existing plants or bulbs. The tool can be useful in extracting single weeds, for example from a lawn. The tool can be used in the same orientation to make asmalltrench in which to plant certain plants, for example potatoes or to makeashallowgroove in the soil inwhichto plantseeds. Thetool can be used as a light duty pick. Thetool can be used with the handle uprighttocut turf,forexample at the edge of a flower bed or adjacent a paved area. A downward force is applied so that the cutting edge 20 cuts the grass and soil beneath. The tool can be used with the cutting edge 20 flat on the ground and with a pushing action as a dutch hoe or as a scraper, for example to scrape away ice on a flat surface. With a pulling action it can be used to level off tilled ground. The tool can be used with a swinging motion with the cutting edges 20and 24 leading, to clear undergrowth such as nettles using the cutting edges to cut the stems of the nettles. This use requires a particularliy strong handle, so the socket 10 should be capable of takingasubstantial handle. The tool is preferably constructed byforging. CLAIMS

1. A garden tool comprising a tine generally in the shape of a hook, meansforattaching a handletothe tine, a point at the tip ofthe tine and a cutting edge on the outside ofthe tine.

2. A garden tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the point is a chisel point.

3. A garden tool as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the working edge ofthe chisel point extends at right angles to the plane of the hook.

4. A garden tool as claimed in any preceding claim and having a main working portion adjacentthetip and extnding generally at right angiesto the line ofthe handle, when the handle is attached, the outward facing edge ofthis main working portion having a straight cutting edge.

5. A garden tool as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the straight cutting edge extends an equal distance on eithersideofan imaginary line which is a continuation ofthe line of the handle.

6. A gardentool as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, which has a secondaryworking portion extending at an angleof90orgreatertothemainworking portion and having an external cutting edge.

7. A garden tool as claimed in Claim 6,wherein the cutting edge of the secondary working portion runs into the cutting edge of the main working portion.

8. A garden tool as claimed in any preceding claim and having a handle attached.

9. A garden tool substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.