GB2537585A

GB2537585A - Digging accessory

Info

Publication number: GB2537585A
Application number: GB1503257.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Skaliotis Nicholas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-02-26
Filing date: 2015-02-26
Publication date: 2016-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 2035-02-26
Also published as: GB201503257D0; GB2537585B

Abstract

A digging aid for use with a digging tool such as a fork or spade or the like. The digging aid is formed two sections which are connected together via a pin and slot, the slot maybe J-shaped. The first section is configured to connect, in use, to a stem of the digging tool such that the second section in use provides a platform lying substantially perpendicular to the first section. The second section maybe L-shaped. The platform part may have a central longitudinally extending ridge.

Description

DIGGING ACCESSORY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to digging aids and accessories for use with garden tools such as garden forks and spades.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention is concerned with a retro-fit ground digging aid for fitting on the tines of a fork or the blade of a spade or the like to help with the leg force when using one of the said garden implements and more particularly to a means for retro fitting to the said forks or spades or the like to enable secure mounting to the said forks or spades or the like without the need for bolting means enabling the said digging aid to be rapidly switched from the said fork or spade or the like and with means to adjust the said forks or spades or the like to accommodate different shaft sizes.

Digging aids for retro fitting to garden implements are well known, but suffer drawbacks such as being unable to be readily fitted to the said implements or be readily dismounted once fitted making it complicated to switch the said digging aid from one implement to another.

Patent application 64588/74 is an example of such a retro fitting digging aid.

The said invention could be retro fitted to a fork or spade or the like but to enable the said invention to be switched from a fork or spade or the like requires removals of parts and refitting of the said parts with screws, which in a digging environment is likely to lead to corrosion or misplacement.

The present invention is advantageous in that due to the means of engaging the two units of the invention with each other and the said fork or spade or other implements, the present invention could be switched from a fork or spade or the like rapidly without the need of parts being added or subtracted and that to accommodate different shaft sizes a simple adjustor which is incorporated in one of the said units of the said invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly there is provided by the present invention a digging aid for retro fitting without bolting or permanent means secured means to forks or spades or the like which makes for quick fitting or removal from the said forks or spades or the like thereby enabling rapid and secured fitting to other forks or spades or the like comprising: A two piece assembly with an engineered holding area for securing the first part of the said assembly designated the gripper unit 20 1 to the second part of the said assembly designated the footplate unit 2.

Incorporated in the said gripper unit is an adjustor 3 means for securing together the said assembly whilst simultaneously making 25 any adjustment for different shaft sizes using the said adjustor knob AK.

An anti-slip nut is mounted near the said adjustor knob, the arrangement being such that when mounting the invention to a fork or the like, the gripper unit 1 by way of slots S1 and S2 at the bottom of the said gripper unit is mounted over the tines T of a fork F or the blade of a spade or the like see Fig 1.

In a second movement of the said mounting procedure by holding the said gripper unit to the said shaft SH of the fork or spade or the like, the said gripper unit would be caused to abut the 5 said shaft in front of the said adjustor 3.

In a third movement of the said mounting procedure, the said gripper units holding area HA, engages the swivel bar SB mounted on the footplate unit 2.

In a fourth movement the said adjustor knob AK could be turned to tighten together the said units 1 and 2 and by engaging the anti-slip nut, locks the adjustor 3.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:-Fig 1 shows the invention mounted on the tines of a fork and with numbers and letters pertaining to its parts and with movement direction shown by arrowhead mode.

Fig 2 shows a plan view of the holding area shaped as a reversed 25 G formed on the flange areas FL of the gripper unit and with gripping slots at the bottom.

Fig 3 shows that the swivel bar mounted transversely on the footplate unit is lined up to enter the holding area of the 30 gripper unit.

Fig 4 shows that the swivel bar has entered the holding area and moving in the direction shown by arrowhead.

Fig 5 shows that the swivel bar has fully entered the holding area and moving as indicated by the arrowhead.

Fig 6 shows that the swivel bar has fully entered the holding 5 area and that the shaft of the garden implement shown by dotted line means has abutted the swivel bar.

Fig 7 shows the invention by isometric view mounted to a fork.

Fig 8 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the gripper unit of the present invention.

Fig 9 shows a front view of a second embodiment of the gripper unit of the present invention.

Fig 10 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the footplate unit of the present invention.

Fig 11 shows a second embodiment of the footplate unit as viewed 20 in the general direction of arrow A of Fig 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the said holding area described, it will be seen by the drawings that this area resembles a reversed G shape, with one side being the guide for the said swivel bar, with the other side forming the gripping area, other types of holding area shapes could be employed.

With reference to the said swivel bar and the arms on which it is mounted on the said footplate unit 2, the extremities of the said swivel bar are engineered to allow free movement of the said arms when the said swivel bar is tight in the said holding area.

With reference to the said adjustor 3 more than one of these could be employed and that the area for abutting an implements shaft could be made of most materials or such a material as to create a suction on the said shaft, Fig 4, for connecting the said adjustor to the said gripper unit, a flow drill could be used which would create a secure fitting on the gripper unit or some other type of fitting could be employed, the said adjustor could also have a locking nut LN as shown Fig. With the invention mounted as shown Fig 7, it is now ready for work and could perform as follows: The tines of the fork engages the ground, the operators foot is placed on the footplate unit and by the use of foot and leg 15 power drive the said tines into the ground by a multiplied force created by the invention.

The soil could now be levered out of the said ground by using the grip and shaft of the said fork or any other implement being 20 used such as a spade or the like.

The said footplate unit would now automatically return to the starting position ready to be employed again, or by reversing the mounting procedure switchable to another fork or spade or the like.

A second embodiment of the present invention comprising an alternative gripper unit 20 and footplate 30 is shown in Fig 8 -Fig 11. In this second embodiment, the gripper unit 20 does not include the flange area FN of the first embodiment but rather, forms a J-slot 21 which is of a generally Ir shape.

A second adjustor means 22 (Fig 9) is provided on gripper unit 20 for receiving adjustor knob 23 (Fig 8). The use of a second adjustor knob further increases the grip of gripper unit 20 against shaft and improves the overall stability of the invention when in use.

The further views of the second embodiment of the footplate unit 2 are shown in Figs and 11. Fig 11 shows the footplate unit 2 when viewed from the general direction of arrow A of Fig 10.

The footrest 28 comprises a ridge 24 and a single grip 25 located 10 at the distal end 26 of the footplate unit 2. Two notches 27 are located on each side of the ridge 24 at the distal end of the footrest unit 2.

The angle of the vertical stands Al, A2 relative to the footplate 15 is between 60 and 110 degrees. Preferably the angle is between 80 and 90 degrees.

The angle a formed between the point at which the side walls 29 of the footrest 28 incline downward from the vertical stands Al, A2 to where it meets footrest 28 is preferably between 5 and 25 degrees. More preferably, the angle a is around 12 degrees. The angle a may be up to 50 degrees.

This embodiment may optionally include more than one grip 25 in 25 the footrest, as per the first embodiment.

This second embodiment is operated in substantially the same manner as the first embodiment.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely descriptive of example embodiments of this invention and that modifications can readily be made to these embodiments without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A digging aid for use with a digging tool such as a fork or spade,the digging aid comprising a first arm section configured to connect, in use, to a stem of the digging tool and second arm section connectable to the first arm section via a hinge arrangement, the second arm section in use providing a platform lying substanitally perpendicular to the first section.
2. A digging aid according to claim 1, wherein the second section is single L-shaped piece of metal.
3. A digging aid according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the platform part of the second section is cr) provided with a central longitundinally extending ridge. C\I
4. A digging aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3 a) 20 wherein the second section is connectable to and C\J pivotable about a J-shaped slot formed in the first section.
5. A digging aid according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the platform of the second section lies at an angle of between 60 and 100 degrees relative to the first section.
6. A digging aid as substantially hereinbefore referred to in the decription and the accompanying drawings.