GB2384157A

GB2384157A - Weeding fork

Info

Publication number: GB2384157A
Application number: GB0200366A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mary Collard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-09
Filing date: 2002-01-09
Publication date: 2003-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-09
Also published as: GB0200366D0; GB2384157B

Abstract

A horticultural fork comprises an elongate shaft 10 having a single pair of tines 12 extending axially from one end of the shaft, the tines comprising an inner divergent portion A and an outer convergent portion B. The shape of the tines 10 makes the fork particularly suitable for removing plants which are a member of the dock family, such as <I>Rumex Cristatus</I>. A step (14 Figure 2) may be provided on the rear of the lower end of the shaft 10 to assist in urging the tines 10 into the ground.

Description

Horticultural Fork This invention relates to a horticultural fork for lifting and removing plants from the soil.

It is often desirable to remove plants from the soil.

The most common reason for this is that the plant has undesirably seeded itself and thus forms a so-called weed. One family of weeds that is prolific in fields and meadows is the dock family (polygonaceae) and particularly the green dock Rumex Cristatus. These weeds grow to a considerable size and look unsightly. Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to remove the plants from an aesthetic point of view and also to prevent the seeds being spread when the field is harvested and subsequently fed as fodder to livestock.

A difficulty of removing docks is that they comprise an extremely long tap root which extends about 0.4 meters into the soil. Accordingly, unless all of the root is removed, the dock will quickly grow back.

I have now devised a horticultural fork for removing docks and other plants having similar roots, which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a horticultural tool comprising an elongate shaft having a single pair of tines extending axially from one end of the shaft, the tines diverging from their outer ends towards a point intermediate their opposite ends and converging from said point towards the end of the shaft.

I have found that a tool having tines of the aforementioned shape is ideal for removing docks and other weeds having long tap roots.

Preferably the tines converge together at the point where they meet the shaft.

Preferably the converging portion of the tines lie in the same plane as the shaft.

Preferably the diverging portion of the tines lie in a plane which is inclined forwardly relative to the plane of the shaft, preferably at an angle of 10 to 200.

Preferably the tines converge at an angle which is

greater than the angle at which they diverge.

Preferably the tines comprise opposed inner edges, each tine having a pair of faces which converge towards its inner edge: this produces a pronounced inner edge for each tine which helps to cut through the soil and grip the roots of weeds.

Preferably the tines comprise respective outer edges, each tine having a pair of faces which converge towards its outer edge: this again helps to cut through the soil.

Preferably the tines are 120 to 200mm in length and are preferably pointed at their axially outer ends.

Preferably the spacing between the tines at their widest point is no more than 50mm.

Preferably the shaft is solid along at least a portion disposed at the end of the shaft to which the tines are joined.

Preferably the opposite end of the shaft is tubular.

Preferably a handle is provided at the opposite end of the shaft, which handle either extends axially or perpendicular to the shaft.

Also in accordance with this invention, as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a horticultural tool comprising an elongate shaft having axially extending tines at one end and a projection extending rearwardly from the shaft at said end, the projection having inclined surface which extends outwardly in the direction of the opposite end of the shaft and which is then turned inwardly towards the shaft at an angle substantially perpendicular thereto, to provide a step for urging the tool into the ground.

Preferably the projection comprises a strip of metal which is joined at its opposite ends to respective spaced apart locations on the shaft.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of horticultural tool in accordance with this invention: Figure 2 is a side view of the tool of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III

of Figure 1; Figures 4A-4D are side views showing the sequence of use of the tool of figure 1; and Figure 5 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of horticultural tool in accordance with this invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a horticultural tool comprising the elongate shaft 10 having a handle 11 at one end and a single pair of axially extending tines 12 at its opposite end.

The handle 11 extends axially of the shaft 10, which is formed of a hollow metal tube. A solid rod 13 of metal is inserted into the opposite end of the tube to provide extra strength at the lower end of the shaft 10.

The tines 12 are formed from solid metals bars which are square in section and which are securely welded to the lower end of the shaft 10. The tines 12 extend axially outwards in the plane of the shaft 10 from a juxtaposed position to a spaced-apart position intermediate their opposite ends, at an angle A of about 250. The tines 12 then diverge towards their outer ends at an angle B of about 100. The divergent portion of the tines 12 lie in a forwardly inclined plane, which lies at an angle C of about 150 to the plane of the shaft. The outer ends of the tines 12 are pointed.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the tines 12 are formed from bars which are square in section. The tines 12 are joined to the shaft 10 such that a diagonally opposed pair of corners of the square section bars of one tine 12 and lie in the same plane as the diagonally opposed pair of corners of the other tine 12. In this manner, a corner of each bar extends along the inner most portion of the respective tine 12, thereby providing a pronounced inner edge. Likewise, a corner of bar extends along the outer most portion of its respective tine 12, thereby providing a pronounced outer edge.

A strip of metal forms a combined ground abutment and step member 14 at the lower end of the shaft 10. The strip is welded at one end to the end of the shaft 10 and extends outwardly in a direction of the opposite end of the shaft for

a distance of about 200mm, whereupon it is turned inwardly at an angle of 900 to the axis of the shaft 10.

Referring to Figures 4A to 4D, in use the tines 12 of the tool are driven into the soil alongside a plant to be removed. If necessary, the user can apply pressure to the tool by resting their foot on the stepped portion of the member 14.

The tool is then pivoted rearwardly and this causes the plant root to become wedged between the converging inner end of the tines 12: the pronounced inner edges of the tines act to securely gasp the root.

As the tool is pivoted rearwardly, the curved outer surface of the member 14 abuts the ground, so that the strip effectively acts as a fulcrum to convert the downwards force on the handle to an upwards force on the plant.

In this manner plants with a long root such as Docks can be removed without difficultly and with minimal disturbance to the surrounding soil.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, in alternative embodiment, the handle 11 may lie perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 10.

Claims

Claims 1. A horticultural tool comprising an elongate shaft having a single pair of tines extending axially from one end of the shaft, the tines diverging from their outer ends towards a point intermediate their opposite ends and converging from said point towards the end of the shaft.
2. A horticultural tool as claimed in claim 1, in which the tines converge together at the point where they meet the shaft.
3. A horticultural tool as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the converging portion of the tines lie in the same plane as the shaft.
4. A horticultural tool as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the diverging portion of the tines lie in a plane which is inclined forwardly relative to the plane of the shaft.
5. A horticultural tool as claimed in claim 4, in which the diverging portion of the tines lie in a plane which is inclined forwardly relative to the plane of the shaft at an angle of 10 to 200.
6. A horticultural tool as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the tines converge at an angle which is greater than the angle at which they diverge.
7. A horticultural tool as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the tines comprise opposed inner edges, each tine having a pair of faces which converge towards its inner edge.
8. A horticultural tool as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the tines comprise respective outer edges, each tine

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having a pair of faces which converge towards its outer edge.
9. A horticultural tool as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the tines are 120 to 200mm in length.
10. A horticultural tool as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the tines are preferably pointed at their axially outer ends. the tines the spacing between the tines at their widest point is no more than 50mm.
11. A horticultural tool as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the shaft is solid along at least a portion disposed at the end of the shaft to which the tines are joined.
12. A horticultural tool as claimed in claim 11, in which the opposite end of the shaft is tubular.
13. A horticultural tool as claimed in claim 11, in which a handle is provided at the opposite end of the shaft to the tines, said handle extending axially or perpendicularly to the shaft.
14. A horticultural tool as claimed in claim 11, comprising a projection extending rearwardly from the shaft at said tine end, the projection having inclined surface which extends outwardly in the direction of the opposite end of the shaft and which is then turned inwardly towards the shaft at an angle substantially perpendicular thereto, to provide a step for urging the tool into the ground.
15. A horticultural tool comprising an elongate shaft having axially extending tines at one end and a projection extending rearwardly from the shaft at said end, the projection having inclined surface which extends outwardly in the direction of the opposite end of the shaft and which is then

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turned inwardly towards the shaft at an angle substantially perpendicular thereto, to provide a step for urging the tool into the ground.
16. A horticultural tool as claimed in claim 11, in which the projection comprises a strip of metal which is joined at its opposite ends to respective spaced apart locations on the shaft.
17. A horticultural tool substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.