GB2216375A

GB2216375A - Improvements relating to weeding devices

Info

Publication number: GB2216375A
Application number: GB8906502A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Staniland Burgis
Original assignee: AARROW DYNAMICS ENG Ltd
Current assignee: AARROW DYNAMICS ENG Ltd
Priority date: 1988-03-22
Filing date: 1989-03-21
Publication date: 1989-10-11
Also published as: GB8906502D0; GB8806777D0

Abstract

A weed extractor has a tool (2) pivoted at the lower end of a shaft (1) held upright in operation. One end of the tool has a fork (4) for weed engagement and, between that and the pivot (3), a downwardly extending fulcrum (5) for engaging the ground. On the other side of the pivot (3) there is a footrest (6) and either its balance or spring urges the tool into substantial alignment with the shaft (1), but with both the fork (4) and footrest (6) on the same side of the shaft axis. The fork (4) is driven into the ground adjacent a weed, which is levered out primarily by foot operation. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements Relating to Weeding Devices" This invention relates to weeding devices.

A common form of weeding implement is a small hand tool with a V-shaped fork at the extremity of a prong. Behind this there is downward projection or formation to provide a fulcrum. The fork is speared into the ground to embrace the root of the weed, and then the implement is levered back about the fulcrum. This eases the weed up and out of the ground. While this is tolerable for just a few weeds, it is back-breaking work when there is a mass of them.

It is the aim of this invention to make such weed extraction easier and more comfortable.

According to the present invention there is provided a weed extractor comprising a shaft for holding upright and a tool pivoted at its lower end, the tool having a weed-engaging fork at one end and a downwardly projecting fulcrum between that fork and the pivot, and a footrest on the other side of the pivot.

The tool will preferably be pivotable into a position where it is substantially aligned with the shaft, the fork then being lowermost and the footrest being adjacent the shaft. This is conveniently engendered by a spring, but it may be simply due to a weight imbalance of the tool about the pivot.

In this substantially aligned position the fork will preferably be on the same side of the shaft as the footrest so that the axis of the shaft is in front of the fork as the extractor is presented to a weed.

Thrusting downwards into the ground with the shaft upright will therefore not tend to shift the tool from the rest position: indeed the footrest end will tend to be urged even mare firmly against the shaft.

When the fork has been so dug in, a foot pressed on the footrest, aided by further downward pressure on the shaft, levers the tool backwards until the fulcrum engages the ground. Further pressure then causes the fork to rise, easing out a weed, until the footrest engages the ground.

For a better understanding of the invention, one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lower end of a weed extractor, and Figures 2 to 4 show in sequence the extraction of a weed.

The extractor has a shaft 1 which, when upright with its lower end near the ground, can be held at a comfortable height by the operator. At this lower end there is a tool 2 pivoted about a pin 3 transverse to the shaft. At one end the tool has a V-shaped fork 4 and is then bent to form a rearwardly or downwardly projecting fulcrum 5, depending on the attitude of the tool. On the other side of the pivot pin 3, the tool has a cross bar providing a footrest 6. The tool may be made from a single piece of sheet metal of substantial thickness, this providing cheeks 7 which embrace the lower end of the shaft 1 and which receive the ends of the pivot pin. Concealed within the channel formed by these cheeks, but indicated by a dotted line in Figure 2, there is a spring 8 which urges the tool into the position of Figures 1 and 2, that is with the footrest 6 abutting the shaft 1. The fork 4 is then offset from the axis of the shaft, to the same, rear side as the footrest.

The operation has been outlined above and will be manifest from Figures 2 to 4.

It will also be seen that the footrest 6 gives the option of using either foot.

Another advantageous feature is that, apart from the fork 4, no sharp point or edge bears on the ground which would be damaging to lawns. The fulcrum 5 is wide and gently curved, and the footrest 6 has quite a substantial flat rear face to spread the load if a foot does press it hard down.

Claims

1. A weed extractor comprising a shaft for holding upright and a tool pivoted at its lower end, the tool having a weed engaging fork at one end and a downwardly projecting fulcrum between that fork and the pivot, and a footrest on the other side of the pivot.

2. A weed extractor as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tool is pivotable into a position substantially aligned with the shaft, the fork being lowermost and the footrest being adjacent the shaft.

3. A weed extractor as claimed in Claim 2, wherein spring means urge said tool into the substantially aligned position.

4. A weed extractor as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the tool has a weight imbalance about the pivot so that with the shaft upright and the tool clear of the ground it swings to said substantially aligned position.

5. A weed extractor as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the relationship of the fork and the footrest to the pivot is such that, in the substantially aligned position, the fork and footrest are both on the same side of the shaft.

6. A weed extractor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.