GB2438036A

GB2438036A - A hoe

Info

Publication number: GB2438036A
Application number: GB0706711A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Stokes-Roberts; Colin Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-04
Filing date: 2007-04-04
Publication date: 2007-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2027-04-04
Also published as: GB2438036B; GB0706711D0

Abstract

A hoe comprises a main body 12, a handle (10, Fig 2) controlling operation of the hoe from one end, a battery located in the main body, a battery powered motor 1, and a pair of blades 4, 5 arranged one superimposed on the other, each being moveable simultaneously, in a reciprocal manner under the action of the motor wherein the direction of movement of one blade is substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of the other. Preferably one of the blades 5 has a substantially straight blade edge and the other blade 4 has a toothed edge.

Description

Motor controlled blades for a garden Hoe

Background

Sowing seeds in unprepared soil is unlikely to succeed in germination. The smaller the seed the greater the need for fine 1 nrl.& soil.

Statement of Invention

The motor operated blades provide two movements to promote rapid air circulation throughout the selected seed bed. One blade would move forward and backwards with the other moving from side to side.

Advantages The gardener can select the speed of the hoe blades necessary for the best results for his type of soil. The simple trigger switch in the Hoe handle would be easy to operate even with gloves on. Clip on blades can be added to both blades should this be necessary for the type of soil. A protective shield may be mounted close to both blades to inhibit stone movement. When switched on the movement of both blades at the same time to agitate a soil bed results in rapid air circulation of the soil bed being possible.

SPECIFICATION

The invention, see figures 1 2 3, provides a reciprocal movement of two blades powered from a single motor 1. Blade 5 moves backwards and forwards whilst blade 4 moves from side to side at the same time. This movement is achieved in the following way.

Fitted to the shaft of the motor is a disc 2 with a small metal peg 3 fitted on the perimeter of the disc. At the base of blades 4 and 5 is a fixed base 6 with four pegs 7. These pegs when fitted into slots in the two blades provide the guides for the blades. Both blades have five slots in an H formation as shown in the drawing figure 1. The centre slot 3A on both blades engage with peg 3 on the centre slots only. Blade 5 slides along the channels B in a forward and backwards motion. The motor has bronze bearings and gear box sleeved bearings providing a high rate of torque transfer. The main body 12 of the Hoe would be from an injection moulding including the top section 13 of the handle 10 which would house both a battery and operating switches not shown. The speed of the Hoe movement would be from the control handle 10. On release of the trigger 15 in the handle 10 the supply to the motor would be cut off. A plug-in point 11 is provided for recharging the battery. Numerous clip-on attachments could be added to the blades for the various soil conditions. A protective shield 17 will be mounted close to both blades in the event of stone movement being a potential problem. The clip-on attachments to the blades 4 and 5 are made secure by the use of spring operated fasteners 16. see drawings figure 3. Each fastener has a pin 16A which when fitted into two special slots on the blades and turned a quarter turn will secure both shield and attachments firmly to the blade. A standard crosshead screwdriver would be used. The plastic or other suitable material shield is attached to the blades by two screws 18 fitted to the brackets 5A and 78.

Claims

CLAIMS -

1. A portable self powered Hoe comprising a main body 12 and a handle lO.one end 13 of which controls the operation of the Hoe.

The Hoe has a battery and is located in the main body 12. A battery powered motor 1 and a pair of blades 4. and 5. arranged one superimposed on the other. The blades being movable simultaneously each in a reciprocal manner under the action of the motor and the direction of' movement of one blade 4 being substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of the other -5.of the two blades.

A Hoe according to claim 1 wherein one blade 5 has a substantially straight blade edge and is arranged to reciprocate backwards and forwards in a direction substantially at right angles to said blade edge and the other blade 4 has a toothed edge and is arranged to reciprocate from side to side in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of the other blade.

Movement of the blades as in claim 2 is made possible by pin 3 fitted into the centre slots 3A of both blades.

Fixed securely onto the injection moulding frame 6. is a base 6A onto which is fitted four posts 7. secured in place by four screws 7A. These screws go through the centres of the posts and together with the posts 7. extend through the four slots on both blades. Tha screws fixed into the main body of the injection moulding at the same time 8110-wing free movement of each blade.

Blade 5. slides along the channel 8 of the frame 6. with blade 4 also fitted into the four posts 7. now moves from side to side on top of blade 5.

The blades can be square or oblong with the edges in contact with the soil either blunted or square edged or tapered to provide a knife like edge.

Various types of clip on attachments can be added to both blades

L

at the blunt ends. This could be in the form of a rake or similar garden tool.

Attached to the injection moulding frame is an optional roller 9.

this can be in the form of wheels skids or sprockets.

The Hoe would be smaller in size and lighter in weight than the traditional hand pushed garden mower the Hoe handle is telescopic and will provide easier handling in difficult garden conditions.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS

CLAIMS

1. A portable self-powered hoe comprising a main body (12) and a handle (10) one end (13) of which controls operation of the hoe, the hoe comprising a battery and, located in the main body (12), a battery powered motor (1) and a pair of blades (4,5) arranged one superimposed on the other, the blades being movable simultaneously each in a reciprocal manner under the action of the motor and the direction of movement of one blade (4) being substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the other (5) of the two blades.

2. A hoe according to claim I wherein the main body (12) comprises a base member (6) havIng at least one guide post which extends through a guide slot provided in each of the blades whereby one blade is guided to move in a first direction and the other blade is guided to move in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the other blade.

3. A hoe according to claim 2 wherein each blade comprises a pair of guide slots which extend parallel with one another and are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the direction to which the slots of the pair extend, each of said slots having at least one guide post extending therethrough.

4. A hoe according to claim 3 wherein the base member comprises four said guide posts, two being spaced apart from the other two in said first direction and two being spaced apart from the other two in said second direction.

5. A hoe according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the or each guide post is secured to the base member by means of a screw which extends through the base member.

6. A hoe according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one blade (5) has a substantially straight blade edge and is arranged to reciprocate g backwards and forwards in a direction substantially perpendicular to said blade edge, and the other blade (4) has a toothed edge and is arranged to reciprocate from side to side in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said one blade (5).

7. A hoe according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each blade comprises a drive slot through which a drive pin extends, said drive pin being off-set from and moveable about an axis of rotation whereby movement of the drive pin about said axis causes said blades each to move in their respective directions of reciprocal movement.

8. A hoe according to claim 7 wherein said pin extends off-set from the centre of a rotatable disc, in a direction parallel with the axis of rotation of the disc, and the motor is operable to rotate said disc.

9. A hoe according to daim 7 or claim 8 wherein the drive slot of each blade extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the guide slot of that blade.

10. A hoe according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the main body comprises a channel formation (8) in which one blade (5) is moveable in a direction perpendicular to the blade edge.

11. A hoe according to claim 10 wherein the main body comprises a base member which defines said channel formation (8) and the blade (5) in said channel formation lies interposed between the base member and the other blade (4).

12. A hoe according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a blade edge for contact with the soil has a blunt, square edge.

13. A hoe according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a blade edge for contact with the soil has a tapered, knife-like edge.

14. A hoe according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one blade comprises means for securing an attachment (17) thereto.

15. A hoe according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising at least one of a roller, skids or sprockets attached relative to the main body.

16. A hoe according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the handle is telescopic.

17. A hoe according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the handle supports a housing for the battery.

18. A hoe according to claim I and substantially as hereinbefore described.