GB2481460A

GB2481460A - Hand digging implement having retaining means for a user's hand

Info

Publication number: GB2481460A
Application number: GB201010834A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Richardson; Ramin Fakour-Zaker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-26
Filing date: 2010-06-26
Publication date: 2011-12-28
Also published as: GB201010834D0

Abstract

A hand digging implement comprises a device shaped to fit a userâ€™s hand and having retaining means 7 to hold the implement on the userâ€™s hand. There front of the implement may have a blade 3 which maybe interchangeably attached to the implement by means of screws 4. The blade may be replaced by a toothed blade. The implement may have a low frontage and high sides. The implement may be designed to fit within the userâ€™s hand by means of moulded finger 2 and thumb protectors. The thumb protectors maybe formed from moulded indentations on either side of the implement, thereby making the implement suitable for use in either of the userâ€™s hands.

Description

HAND DIGGER

BACKGROUND

Construction workers often find themselves using their hand to dig in areas that are spatially restrictive and limiting to manoeuvrability.

Our product aims to overcome the restrictions that are applicable to various hand held digging tools such as the traditional spade or trowel.

A recent example of a problem encountered that this product would resolve was one that an acquaintance in the building trade described. He was trying to dig a channel in a wet room for a small waste pipe to be laid; the channel had to be 12 inches deep but only a few inches wide. The problem was that a spade is too wide for such a narrow channel, while their trowel was too tapered and flat to adequately pick up the coarse material that needed to be removed.

Whilst the job was eventually completed with some difficulty, the task would have been made much simpler and safer with use of a hand digger -saving time and effort.

The product was originally designed with construction in mind but after some market research it was soon realised that gardening could also feature in its functionality.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

To overcome the problem the present invention is based on the design of a digger bucket. It is a hand held tool that provides a more natural digging action and has the capacity for large but manageable amounts of material.

I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: * Figure 1 shows how sometimes using traditional digging tools can prove awkward due to various restrictions, in this case digging a hole for a fence post means that the spade is too large for the required hole, even if it could fit there would be no room for leverage.

* Figure 2 shows how this product would overcome the aforementioned problem by easily fitting within the dig area and simply being used as an extension of the users hand.

* Figure 3 shows how the product would fit comfortably within the users hand and the adjustable rubber strap 1 and the moulded finger protector 2.

* Figure 4 shows how the product has been designed on the basis of a digger bucket i.e. high sides, low frontage and large capacity.

* Figures 5 and 6 show how the blades 3 may be changed easily and quickly using crosshead screws 4.

* Figure 7 shows the capacity to scoop large yet manageable amounts of materials.

* Figures 8 and 9 show how the top of the product has an inbuilt channel 5 to accommodate the user's forearm providing more comfort and manoeuvrability throughout use.

* Figure 10 shows the side profile of the product and the inbuilt indentation 6 that provides protection for the users thumb during use.

* Additional drawings detail different aspects of the product.

To overcome the problem the present invention is a digging tool that comfortably fits within the users hand. To ensure a comfortable fit, an adjustable rubber strap is fitted and the users fingers are protected within the moulded finger protector (figure 3).

The product is designed on the basis of a digger bucket (figure 4). The product benefits from high side and low frontage creating enough capacity to scoop large but manageable amounts of material (figure 7).

As the product will be used for a variety of materials, interchangeable blades will be available: a toothed blade' for coarse material such as rubble and stones, and a flat blade' for softer material such as soil and sand. These blades can be easily removed and changed quickly with a crosshead screwdriver (figures 5 and 6).

A further design of the product to ensure comfort is the channel running along the top of the product. As the part of the product will be running underneath the users forearm the channel has been incorporated so that the arm rests comfortably within the plastic moulding and helps with manoeuvrability throughout use (figures 8 and 9).

On the side of the unit the moulding has an indentation (figure 10), the purpose of which is to protect the users thumb when digging as the natural position of the thumb when holding the product would otherwise leave it susceptible to injury.

The basic hand unit version of the product will be produced using injection-moulded plastic and the interchangeable blades from steel. There will also be available a product made from a more durable form of metal.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A hand digging tool for coarse materials and sofler soils designed to maximise the amount of material excavated whilst protecting the users hand and allowing maximum manoeuvrability.
2. A hand digging tool according to claim I, in which coarse and soft materials can be excavated by the use of interchangeable blades that are fixed using crosshead screws.
3. A hand digging tool according to claim 1, in which maximum material can be collected and excavated as the product has been designed using low frontage and high sides providing a large but manageable capacity.
4. A hand digging tool according to claim i, in which the protection of the hand is provided by a moulded fmger protector and moulded indentations on either side of the product to shelter the thumb and making the product ambidextrous.
5. A hand digging tool according to claim i, in which manoeuwability is guaranteed by the product fitting within the users hand comfortably by using the adjustable rubber strap.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A hand digging tool for coarse materials and softer soils that is made from a single plastic moulding and incorporates a finger protector on top of the product and ambidextrous thumb protectors on either side of the mould along with a digging blade at the front and buckle attachments on either side, all within the single moulding.2. A hand digging tool according to claim 1, in which manoeuvrability is guaranteed by the product fitting within the users hand comfortably by using the adjustable Velcro strap. *..S * S S...S..... * . * . . * *.* ..*. * . * . S *SS *.S*.:r: INTELLECTUAL . ... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No: GB 1010834.8 Examiner: H Yates Claims searched: 1-5 Date of search: 14 October 2010 Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims X 1,2and5 US6471272B1 Walker; see figures X 1,2and5 US5937627A McKittrick; see figures X 1,3and5 US5716087A McNeil PPC mc; see figures X 1,2and3 GB2298158A Peta (UK) Ltd; see figures X 1,2and5 US6598266B1 Elliott; see figures X land3 US7347469B1 Renganathan; see figures X 1 and 3 US2003/127871 Al Campbell; see figures X 1 and 3 FR2722218 Al Sanchez; see figures 2 and 4 X 1 CN201253432Y Jiawei; see figure and abstract translation Categories: X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive A Document indicating technological background and/or state step of the art.Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention.same category.& Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after. hut with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk t::r: INTELLECTUAL . ...* PROPERTY OFFICEField of Search:Search of GB, EP. WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC AQ1B The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report WPI & EPODOC International Classification: Subclass Subgroup Valid From AQ1B 0001/02 01/01/2006 AQ1B 0001/04 01/01/2006 AQ1B 0001/22 01/01/2006 Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk