GB2189371A - Lawn aerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A lawn aerator comprises a box with handle and hollow punches. Foot pressure pushes the hollow punches into the lawn, removing a core of lawn and roots each time the implement is stood on. The cores collect in the box provided which is emptied each time the box is full. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lawn Aerator The implement consists of 3 basic components, a box which is open at the top, hollow tubular Punches which are fitted to the bottom of the box, and a handle attached to the box.

The principle of operation is the place box on the lawn surface and to press on the top of the box with a foot pushing the tubular punches into the soil.

Slugs of lawn roots and soil will be ejected through the hollow punches into the box where they will collect until emptied out by the operator.

The novelty of this implement is the design of the hollow punch which is made from a thin wall metal tube.

This tube is spun between reducing rollers which tapers the external diameter, this swaging process lengthens the tube and diminishes the wall thickness towards the small end.

In operation the slugs easily pass up through the internal tapered bore of the punch because once passed the cutting rim there is no resistance.

Also because the external dia. of the punch produces a tapered hole in the lawn there is little resistance to the withdrawal of the implement.

In conclusion, one can say that the reduced resistance of this punch, dispenses with the ejector springs fitted to lawn aerators sold to-day.

Because there are no springs resisting the foot pressure this aerator is much easier to operate.

The punches may be made of moulded plastic.

1. A manually operated aerator such as described in the drawings and specifications which is of all metal construction.

2. A manually operated aerator as in claim 1 where the method of fixing the punches to the box bottom is by welding.

3. A manually operated aerator as in claim 1 where the punch is made of plastic and heat fused or retained by adhesive to the box bottom.

4. The punch delicate design feature is paramount to be protected and not copied by any alternative manufacturing process, as in claim 1.

5. The manual operated aerator such as in claim 1 power operated.

6. Punches as in claim 4 adapted to power operated drum type machines.

7. Punches as in claim 4 used for coring holes in soil for planting bulbs, plants, roots, etc.

8. Punches as in claim 4 used for sample coring of cheese, butter, fats, apples and the like.

Amendment to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1-8 above have been deleted or textually amended.

(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows: CLAIMS 1. An unsprung lawn aerator comprising (a) an open top box with outwardly disposed flanges at the rim of the box; (b) a handle secured to and extending upwardly from the box; and (c) hollow tines attached to the base of the box and directed downwardly, the tines having an upwardly increasing taper both internally and externally; all arranged so that the user, by holding the handle and pressing the aerator downwards with a foot across the top of the box, the tines enter the lawn to cut slugs and thereby aerate the lawn and the slugs cut by the tines move upwardly in the tines with repeated use to enterthe box through open upper end of the tines.

2. An aerator as claimed in claim 1 in which the tines are made from spun-tapered thin wall metal tube.

3. An aerator as claimed in claim 1 in which the tines are made of plastic.

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

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Lawn Aerator The implement consists of 3 basic components, a box which is open at the top, hollow tubular Punches which are fitted to the bottom of the box, and a handle attached to the box. The principle of operation is the place box on the lawn surface and to press on the top of the box with a foot pushing the tubular punches into the soil. Slugs of lawn roots and soil will be ejected through the hollow punches into the box where they will collect until emptied out by the operator. The novelty of this implement is the design of the hollow punch which is made from a thin wall metal tube. This tube is spun between reducing rollers which tapers the external diameter, this swaging process lengthens the tube and diminishes the wall thickness towards the small end. In operation the slugs easily pass up through the internal tapered bore of the punch because once passed the cutting rim there is no resistance. Also because the external dia. of the punch produces a tapered hole in the lawn there is little resistance to the withdrawal of the implement. In conclusion, one can say that the reduced resistance of this punch, dispenses with the ejector springs fitted to lawn aerators sold to-day. Because there are no springs resisting the foot pressure this aerator is much easier to operate. The punches may be made of moulded plastic. CLAIMS

1. A manually operated aerator such as described in the drawings and specifications which is of all metal construction.

2. A manually operated aerator as in claim 1 where the method of fixing the punches to the box bottom is by welding.

3. An aerator as claimed in claim 1 in which the tines are made of plastic.

3. A manually operated aerator as in claim 1 where the punch is made of plastic and heat fused or retained by adhesive to the box bottom.

4. The punch delicate design feature is paramount to be protected and not copied by any alternative manufacturing process, as in claim 1.

5. The manual operated aerator such as in claim 1 power operated.

6. Punches as in claim 4 adapted to power operated drum type machines.

7. Punches as in claim 4 used for coring holes in soil for planting bulbs, plants, roots, etc.

8. Punches as in claim 4 used for sample coring of cheese, butter, fats, apples and the like.

Amendment to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1-8 above have been deleted or textually amended.

(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows: CLAIMS

1. An unsprung lawn aerator comprising (a) an open top box with outwardly disposed flanges at the rim of the box; (b) a handle secured to and extending upwardly from the box; and (c) hollow tines attached to the base of the box and directed downwardly, the tines having an upwardly increasing taper both internally and externally; all arranged so that the user, by holding the handle and pressing the aerator downwards with a foot across the top of the box, the tines enter the lawn to cut slugs and thereby aerate the lawn and the slugs cut by the tines move upwardly in the tines with repeated use to enterthe box through open upper end of the tines.

2. An aerator as claimed in claim 1 in which the tines are made from spun-tapered thin wall metal tube.