GB2188523A - Improvements in gardening implements - Google Patents

Abstract

An implement for digging and/or weeding including: an elongate handle member 3; a first member 1 associated with said handle member; and adapted, in use, to be in ground engagement; a second member 5 selectively movable into and out of relative engagement with said first member; and actuating means 7 associated with said handle member and operable to bring about said selective relative engagement of said first and second members. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in gardening implements The present invention relates, in general, to improvements in gardening and the like implements and more particularly, but not exclusively, relates to an improved device four use in performing weeding and the like gardening tasks or functions.

Forease of explanation, throughoutthe ensuing description reference will be made to the use of an implement in accordance with the invention when used in the garden for carrying out tasks such as weeding. It should be realized, however,thatan implement in accordance with the invention will lend itself to usage in a variety of other areas and/or contexts, and that the invention is therefore not to be considered restricted to any preferred embodiment or use described.

In the past a number of attempts have been made to arrive at a means ortool allowing forthe manual eradication of weeds and the like unwanted growth from gardens, flowerbeds etc. The prior art tools have, however, generally suffered from the disadvantage thatthe user invariably found it necessary, when using the tool,to adopt a kneeling position, or perhaps more correctly a position otherthan upright, in order to bring about the desired result. Such a kneeling or otherthan upright position is, of course, even for the normal, healthy person a somewhat uncomfortable position and lends itself to the onset of all forms of muscular complaint. With less healthy persons, as for example aged and perhaps invalid or in some way incapacitated people,the mere physical act of assuming a kneeling or otherthan upright position can involve substantial effort and pain.Furthermore, and once in such a position, the prior art tools by thkir very naturewere somewhat unwieldly in their operation and did not lend themselves to easy use by, for example, aged, invalid or in some way physically incapacitated people.

The present invention attempts to overcome the problems and disadvantages associated with the prior art such tools by providing a form of garden weeder or implement which is simple to operate and at the same time does not call forthe userto have to adopt or assume a kneeling position, or in fact a position other than standing upright. With the arrangement in accordance with the present invention, therefore, weeding may be effected in a simple manner, with a minimum of physical effortand, more importantly, with there being no need for undue or unnecessary bending, stooping or kneeling.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided an implement or apparatus for digging and/orweeding,said apparatus including: an elongate handle member; a first ground-engaging member releasably attached to said handle member; a second ground-engaging member selectively movable into and out of relative engagementwith said first member; and means disposed at the remote end of said handle member operable to bring about said selective relative engagement of said first and second ground-engaging members.

In orderthatthe invention may be more clearly understood and put into practicable effect reference will now be made to a preferred embodiment of a weeder in accordance with the invention. The ensuing description is given byway of non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a weeder in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 represents an exploded sectional view of the ground-engaging end and components ofthe embodiment of Fig. 1, showing the second member in both inoperative (full line) and operative (ghost-line) positions; and Fig. 3 is a view, similarto Fig. 2, of a modified form of tool in accordance with the invention.

As illustrated a weeder in accordance with the present invention includes, as a first component, a first ground-engaging means, in the form of a shaped member, generally designated 1 and provided, at one end thereof, with a tapered section 2. The member 1 may be constructed of any suitable material, be it metal, plastics material or otherwise. In a preferred embodiment, however, a metallic material will be employedinordertoallowforgreaterdurability. In use the member 1 is to be employed for purposes of assisting in the levering aweed orotherunwanted growth from the earth orthe like.

The member 1 is adapted, in use,to be affixed in any known mannerto an elongate handle member3 of any prescribed length. Fixing of the member 1 to the handle member3 may be achieved by means of bolts, rivets or in fact any means known in the art. In the preferred embodiments illustrated a boltand nut arrangement 1 a is employed for purposes offixing the member 1 to the handle member 3. In a practical sense, however, the member 1 may be either per manently secured to the handle member 1, as for example by rivetting or welding, or removably secured thereto, as for example by bolts, whereby to allow perhaps for replacement subsequentto dam age, wear, etc.

Again in the preferred embodiment illustrated the handle member 3 has incorporated therein a vertically extending slot4, the slot4 being adapted, in use, to have located therethrough and movable therein a second member 5, the second member 5 being adapted, in use, to be pivotally movable relative to the member 1 into and out of engagementtherewith.

Preferablythesecond member5will be ofthe shape illustrated, namely a substantial L-shape, whereby to have the "foot" portion 5a thereof disposed parallel to the first member 1 when in the operating position illustrated in phantom in Fig. 2.

To achieve such pivoting movementthe member5 The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

may be pivotally connected to the handle member 3, as for example by pinning at 6. The second member 5 may therefore be seen to be selectively and continuously movable into and out of effective engagement with the first member 1. In the preferred embodiment illustrated a biassing means, in the form of a suitable resilient member, such asforexample a spring means 10, is associated with the second mem ber 5 wh ereby to allowthatsecond member 5, when not in use, to assume a position one of engagement with the first member 1. In an especially preferred embodiment, not illustrated, when not in use the second member Swill be disposed against and in contactwith the handle member 3.

The handle member 3 has associated therewith means 7 operable to allowforthe aforemenbtioned selected relative movement of the second member 5 between the positions shown in full and in phantom lines in Fig. 2. Writhe preferred embodiment illustrated the handle member3, constructed ofanysuitable material, is of hollowtubular construction. The actuating means 7 is in the form of a collar member, of a shape substantially complementaryto that ofthe handle member3, and movable longitudinally of the handle member 3 in the direction ofthe arrow B in Fig.

1. The member 7 is operably connected with the member 5 by means of a linkage 8. In the preferred embodiment illustrated the linkage 8 is in the form of a wire, preferably of a metallic material, extending between the member7 and connected to the member 5 as at 9. In a practical sense the linkage 8 may be either releasably or permanently affixed to the second member 5 in any known manner and using any known means. In a further embodiment, not illustrated, the actuating means may be in the form of a handoperated "trigger" operably connected with the member 5 by a suitable linkage.

In use the user, by movementofthe actuating member7 via the linkage 8 will bring the second member Sfrom the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 into the position shown in phantom lines in that same Fig. 2. The arrangement is such that any weed, vegetable material orthe like retained between the members 1 and 5 in the position shown in phantom in Fig. 2 maytherefore be readily shifted, as for example removed from the soil, simply by lifting ofthe overall tool in a vertical direction as required. The arrangement maytherefore be seen to lend itself to an efficient and effective meansforclearing weeds and the like unwanted vegetable matter from a browing area. The elongate handle member avoids the need for any bending by the user.

Turning now to the embodiment of Fig. 3, there is illustrated therein a modified version of the tool or implement of Figs. 1 and 2. The modification resides in the addition thereto of what might be termed a foot member, generally designated as 11. It should be realized thatthe foot member 11 may either be found integrally with the first member 1 (as illustrated), or be capable of ready affixtu re thereto by any suitable means, asforexample by welding, bolting, rivetting or the like. in the preferred embodiment illustrated the foot member 11 constitutes a rearward extension of thefirst member 1. In an especially preferred embodi ment (not illustrated) the foot member 11 may be forked wherebyto facilitate ground engagement.The foot member 11 can serve as a digging memberfor "levering" unwanted weeds or other vegetable material from a tract ofground, with any such material then being capable for being gripped between the members 1 and 5 for pickup and removal to a suitable waste disposal means or receptacle. More specifically, however, the shape of the foot member 11 assists the actual operation thereof. Indeed the portion 11 a, being a rearward extension (in effect) of the first member 1, serves as a means for engagement by the foot of the user whereby to affordeasierground-penetration of the member 11 , with the cu rved portion of that member 11 then providing better leverage.

The apparatus in acccordance with the present invention is also usable for a number of other related tasks, as for example the scraping of unwanted material, such as weeds and the like, from crevices, joins and the like existing in concrete pathways, drives etc., again without necessitating any bending on the part ofthe user. The apparatus could furthermore be employed for purposes of picking up any unwanted material which might be lying loose on a horizontal surface, as for example paper, previouslycutfoliage, etc. In addition,thetool in accordance with the invention could be readily adapted for performing tasks such as aeration, seeding, cultivating in general, and perhaps even for purposes such as hoeing.

In closing it should be realized thatthe aforegoing description refers merely to preferred embodiment of the invention and thatva riations and modifications are possible thereto without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention,the ambit of which is to be determined from the following claims.

Claims (10)

1. An implement or apparatus for digging and/or weeding, said apparatus including: an elongate handle member; a first member associated with said handle member; and adapted, in use, to be in ground engagement; a second member selectively movable into and out of relative engagementwith said first member; and actuating means associated with said handle member and operable to bring about said selective relative engagement of said first and second members.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first member is attachedto said handle member at one end thereof and extends substantially normally therefrom and wherein said second member is selectively movable between respective inoperative and operative positions out of and in engagement with said second member and in and out of engage mentwith said handle member respectively.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said second member is pivotally movable relative to both said first member and said handle member.

4. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said actuating means is in the form of a collar member, of a cross-sectional shape substantially complementary to that of said handle member and disposed around said handle member, said collar member being operably con nected to said second member, by means of a cable, wire or the liketo be disposed internally ofsaid handle member, whereby selective movement of said collar member longitudinally of said handle member gives rise to said relative movement between said first and second members

5.The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said actuating means is in the form of a hand- orfinger-operated trigger means associated with said handle member, said trigger means being operably connected to said second member such that actuation of said trigger means gives rise to said relative movement betwen said first and second members.

6. The apparatus a claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a ground-engaging or foot member associated with said first member, said foot member being shaped wherebyto provide a lever action for levering unwanted vegetable material from soil for subsequent coliection by said first and second members.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claims 6, wherein said foot member is formed integrally with said first member and as an extension thereof, said foot member including, at the free end thereof, a plurality oftinesto assist in ground engagement, etc.

8. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, constructed substantially of a metallic material.

9. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, constructed substantially of a plastics material.

10. An implementorapparatusfordigging and/or weeding, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.