GB2246937A

GB2246937A - New variable device for digging

Info

Publication number: GB2246937A
Application number: GB9017385A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Michael Pollard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-08-08
Filing date: 1990-08-08
Publication date: 1992-02-19
Also published as: GB9017385D0

Abstract

The invention describes a device for gardening, comprising a handle 1, a variable angle base 5 and attachments 4 to form a spade, or fork, or shovel or hoe, with an arrangement for holding the whole together to stay rigid at various angles to allow for the angle to be varied at any stage of the work, and arranged for such activities as digging to take place with the operator in a mostly upright position. <IMAGE>

Description

NEW VARIABLE NNGLE DEVICE FOR DIGGING NND SIMILARX FOR GARDENING, HORTICULTURAL OR RELATED ACTIVITIES This invention relates to a new device whose purpose is to work over the ground, as in digging, for gardening or horticultural work When a spade is used, the blade is dug into the ground and then the handle or shaft is pushed backwards, and downward to lift the soil from the ground. To do this the operator has to bend over considerably. The same would apply for a garden fork, or a shovel, or any similar piece of equipment.

The purpose of this invention is to make the lifting of the soil or material easier, and avoid a great deal of the bending required by the user, and make the whole operation less tiring.

The invention concerns a device for gardening, horticulture, agriculture or similar, comprising of a handle, a variable angle base and attachments to form a tool such as a spade or fork or shovel or the like, with a means of holding the whole together to stay rigid at various angles to allow the base angle to be varied at any stage of the work.

The invention concerns a spade or fork or similar device, the present device allows the angle between the bottom part (blade or forks or similar) to alter during the course of work, such that the bending moment applied to the handle or shaft is applied by the operator in a more upright manner.

The device is a combination of shaft or handle member, a bottom blade, plate, fork or similar, hinged at the point of connection, with a catch arrangement to hold the bottom part fixed at a number of different angles, adjusting during use.

Thus according to the invention, the handle or shaft is free to rotate about the pivot joint at the top of the blade, fork or similar and be retained by a clip or pin or similar at its different anglers.

The arrangement of the release clip or pin is via a rod, wire or otherwise, taken up towards the handle top, away from the lower section so that it can be operated whilst still in the upright position by the operator.

The specification details of the invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows an elevation on its side Figure 2 shows an elevation on the front In this example, the handle (1) is made from timber attached to a steel box section (2) which in turn is attached to a pin (3).

Pin (3) forms the pivot arrangement. The blade (4) is attached to the pin (3) also via guide plates (59 Attached to the blade (4) are guide plates (5) which also have notches around the periphery into which a catch device (6) fits. Therefore when the catch device (6) is engaged into the guide plates (5) the whole mechanism is rigid, but when the catch device (6) is released by the release wire (7) the handle can change angle without the blade (4) moving. The release wire (7) is pulled through the handle end (8). The release wire (7) is also attached to the spring (9). When the blade is dug into the ground it would be parallel with the handle (1). After being driven, the release wire (7) would disengage the catch device (6) which would allow the handle to be pushed away from the operator, but the blade (4) would not move.

The catch device (6) would then be released when the handle had been moved as far as possible for the operators comfort, the catch device (6) would then re-engage with the guide plates (5), thus the whole becoming rigid again. The handle (1) would then be pulled towards the operator and lift the soil out of the ground.

Nfter turning over the soil the catch device (6) would be released and the blade (4) swung back into position parallel with the handle (1) for further use, as a spade.

When the blade (4) is at 90" to the handle (1) and locked, the device can be used by banging vertically on the ground to firm up, or break up the clods of soil When the blade (4) is at 90" to the handle (1) and locked, the whole device can be turned over and used in a similar manner to a hoe, , with the blade (4) now vertical and the handle (1) at an angle nearer parallel to the ground.

The above description is used by way of an example only. It is understood that any variation of design enters into the scope of the invention.

Thus the handle may be different material such as wood, metal, alloy, plastic; and could have a plain shaft a tee bar end or so forth. The guide plates may be made from steel, alloy, plastics or the like. The blade may be made from steel, alloy, plastic, or so forth. It is clear that the scope of the invention covers for all types of materials and other cross sections, for example, square or round handles, flat or curved blades. Any part could be made from a metal like mild steel or aluminium, or stainless steel, but could be an alloy, ferrous, or material such as plastic.

In all cases the material would cause the design detail to change to maintain the strength and stability compatible with the use.

The design structural calculations have not been detailed within the present description.

The working bottom part in contact with the ground could be a blade (4) as shown in the example drawing, or could be forks as in a garden fork, or a different shape to form a shovel type blade or could be hoe shaped, or any conventional or other type of tool end.

The guide plate arrangement could be fitted with a device to allow different bottom attachments to be fixed and interchanged, thus the handle and the variable angle parts could be as one, with different bolt on or clip on or otherwise fixed working parts being attached as required.

The arrangement of the composite parts is covered by the scope of the invention.

can be seen from the proceeding description, the invention is particularly convenient as a garden implement or tool, could be used in gardening, agricultural, horticultural and the like, and could be of particular benefit for people who may be disabled with back problems, or elderly who can work in a more standing position.

The basis of the invention is to allow the minimum amount of operator bending by transferring the usual lifting effort into a pulling effort.

Claims

1) The invention concerns a device for gardening, horticultural, agricultural, or similar work, comprising of a handle, a variable angle base and attachments to form a tool with means of holding the whole together to stay rigid at various angles, to allow for the angle to be varied at any stage of the work.

2) n device according to claim 1 in which the variable angle base has guide plates attached, with notches or similar, around the periphery.

3) n device according to Claim 1 and 2 which can be locked at various angles between the blade or forks or the like and the handle by a catch device attached to the handle which can be engaged with notches or similar in guide plates.

4) n device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 which can lift out the soil or similar by releasing a spring loaded handle lever attached to a wire or similar and attached to the spring.

5) A device according to claim 1 which could be dismantled and different tools attached to the variable angle part by way of a release device.

6) n device according to claim 3 which allows for the release of catches or pins or similar, to release the handle to change the angle of the parts whilst still being attached at the pivot point