GB2292661A

GB2292661A - Gardening tool

Info

Publication number: GB2292661A
Application number: GB9417390A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Digby Lister
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-08-30
Filing date: 1994-08-30
Publication date: 1996-03-06
Also published as: GB9417390D0

Abstract

A gardening tool comprises first and second gripping members 2, 4 which are movably connected together through at least one linkage mechanism 6, 8, the gripping members 2, 4 being movable axially relative to each other and towards and away from each other, said gripping members remaining mutually parallel at all times irrespective of the direction of movement thereof. The gripping members 2, 4, which are of differing lengths, are connected together through the intermediaries of opposed pairs of spaced linkages 6, 8 which are movably secured to a common shaft or rod 10. Barbs 20, 22 are provided on the gripping members 2, 4 to grip a weed to aid its removal, the action of removing a weed from the ground causing the gripping members 2, 4 to be moved towards each other. <IMAGE>

Description

GARDENING TOOL This invention relates to gardening tools and more particularly to a weed-extracting tool.

According to the present invention there is provided a gardening tool comprising first and second gripping members which are movably connected together through at least one linkage mechanism, said gripping members being movable axially relative to each other and towards and away from each other, said gripping members remaining mutually parallel at all times irrespective of the direction of movement thereof.

Said gripping members will preferebly be connected to each other through the intermediaries opposed pairs of spaced linkages which are movably secured to a common shaft or rod, said linkages being movable relative to said shaft or rod so as to cause movement of sala gripping members.

Said gripping members will each include mutually opposed gripping surfaces, each said surface being provided with barbs or other means to increase the grip on a weed or the like when the gripping members are in operative positions.

Preferably, one of said gripping members will be of a greater length than the other of said gripping members.

Said gripping members will be movable from a first non gripping position to a second gripping position by applying axial pressure to said shaft or rod.

In order that the invention may be more readily under stood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gardening tool in accordance with the invention in a first, non-gripping position of operation; Figure 2 is a vie similar to Figure 1 but showing the tool in a second, gripping position of operation; Figure 3 is an end view on Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a detail of part of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gardening tool comprising a pair of gripping members 2 and 4 which are connected together through the intermediaries of opposed pairs 6 and 8 of linkage mechanisms which are connected to a common shaft or rod 10. The rod or shaft 10 is fixedly secured in and to an elongate handle 12 which carries at its lower extremity an enlarged metal member 14.

Said gripping members 2 and 4 have respective gripping surfaces 16 and 18, and as will be best seen from Figure 1 the surfaces 16 and 18 are provided with barbs or other protruding members which are respectively referenced 20 and 22.

The leading ends 2A and 4A of the gripping members 2 and 4 are pointed as best seen in Figure 4, and as will be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the gripping member 4 is greater in length than the gripping member 2.

From Figure 3, it will be appreciated that the gripping members 2 and 4 are generally U-shaped in cross-section, and are each in the form of a cranl:ed elongate member.

Each of the linkage mechanisms 6 comprises links 6A which are connected together near their centres by being mounted pivotally on a spindle 24 carried hy the shaft or rod 10, the out-board ends of the links 6A being pivotally connected to the gripping members 2 and 4 by means of pivot pins 26. Similarly, each of the linkage mechanisms 8 comprises links 8A which are connected together near their centres by being pivotally mounted on a spindle 28 carried by the shaft or rod 10, the outboard ends of the links 8A being pivotally connected to the gripping members 2 and 4 by means of pivot pins 30.

The gripping members 2 and 4 are preferably made of metal, but it will be appreciated that they may be made of other material if preferred.

The barbs or other protruding members on the gripping members 2 and 4 are, as will be appreciated, provided so as to increase the gripping force of the gripping arms when in their operative positions and to bite into a weed to be extracted when in said positions.

In operation, with the gardening tool in a vertical disposition, i.e. with the gripping members lowermost and in the positions shown in Figure i and with the tool disposed relative to a weed (not shown) to be extracted, axial and downward pressure is applied via the handle 12 which causes downward movement of the gripping members 2 and 4, so that firstly the gripping member 4 enters the ground followed closely by the entry into the ground of the gripping member 2. In these positions, the gripping members 2 and 4 are prevented from moving inwardly towards one another due to the presence of the enlarged member 14 against which the rear extremities of the gripping members 2 and 4 abut.

In order to extract the afore-mentioned weed, axial and upward force is applied to the handle 12 which causes the links 6A and 8A of the linking mechanisms 6 and 8 to pivot about their respective spindles and pivot pins 24 and 26 and 28 and 30 so as to move the gripping members 2 and 4 axially relative to the shaft or rod 10 and inwardly relative to each other into the positions shown in Figure 2. Such movement causes the gripping members 2 and 4 to grip the weed, the pressure on the weed being increased due to the presence of the barbs o:r other means 20 and 22.

Continued upward force on the nar!aie 12 will cause the extraction of the weed from the ground.

It will be appreciated from the abo -e, and from Figures 1 and 2, that the links 6A of each ot the linkage mechanisms 6 remain mutually parallel as do the links 8A of each of the linkage mechanisms 8, and that the links 6A and 8A remain mutually parallel. From this and as will be appreciated, the gripping members 2 and 4 remain mutually parallel at all times regardless of the axial disposition of the members relative to the shatt or rod 10.

It will be appreciated that the shape and form of the gripping members 2 and 4 may be other than as shown in the drawings, and that the gripping members may be other than pointed.

Finally, if desired, the gripping tool may be provided with an elongate cross-member in the vicinity of the member 14, or alternatively an enlarged member 14, so as to increase the surface area available for the application of downward pressure when the gripping tool is being inserted into the ground.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A gardening tool comprising first and second gripping members which are movably connected together through at least one linkage mechanism, said gripping members being movable axially relative to each other and towards and away from each other, said gripping members remaining mutually parallel at all times irrespective of the direction of movement thereof.

2. A gardening tool according to Claim 1, wherein said gripping members are connected to each other through the intermediaries of opposed pairs of spaced linkages which are movably secured to a common shaft or rod, said linkages being movable relative to said shaft or rod so as to cause movement of said gripping members.

3. A gardening tool according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said gripping members each include a gripping surface which are mutually opposed.

4. A gardening tool according to Claim 3, wherein said gripping surfaces are each provided with barbs or other means to increase the grip on a weed or the like when the gripping members are in operative positions.

5. A gardening tool according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein one of said gripping members is of a greater length than the other of said gripping members.

6. A gardening tool according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said gripping members are movable from a first non-gripping position to a second gripping position by applying axial presssure to said shaft or rod.

7. A gardening tool substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.