US1985674A - Weeder - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1934. J L, E. BAUER WEEDER Filed Aug. 21, 1955 Patented Dec. 25 1934 \This invention is a hand .weedermrmhoeh ln cultivating some-crops; such as: sugar beets,

onions,- andvcther tubersgit' isnecessary to IIWQlk close to the plants andvthinningzmust beirsdone wlthvthe-fingers. ltiiswtheafpurposeof thepresent invention: to provide'a simplenan'diineit' pensive tool which may be fitted to thelhand "l ofithe'operatoriandiappliedidirectly to a growth to remove the same. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and consists in certain novel features which will be hereinafter first fully described and then particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is an edge elevation of a tool embodying the invention and showing the tool as it appears when in use.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a variation in the form of the tool, l

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing another modification. a In carrying out the present invention there is provided a plate of metal which is bent or folded between its ends, as shown at 1, whereby to produce a blade or cutting portion 2 and a hand portion 3. which are disposed at an acute angle to each other. The blade portion,'as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, hasits side edges diverging somewhat downwardly so as to provide a cutting edge at the lower end which will be of sufficient length to make a cut of appreciable width. The hand portion 3 is to be fitted against the palm of the users hand and at one rear corner it is formed with a lateral extension 4 which is curved upwardly so as to fit comfortably about the base i of, the thumb, as will be understood upon reference to Fig. l. The tongue or extension, 4 is provided with an opening 5 near its end through which is passed a securing strap 6 and at the opposite corner of the device a smaller tongue 7 is turned upwardly and provided with an opening 8 to receive a cooperating strap 9 which is to be fastened to the strap 6 by a buckle 10 in a wellknown manner, the straps passing across the back of the users hand so that the tool will be held firmly but comfortably in position. In advance of the tongues 4 and '7, cooperating straps 11 and 12 are secured to the side edges of the palm por-:

tion of the tool and are connected by a buckle 13 at the back of the users fingers. When the device is in use, the user places his hand over front face of the blade 2, as clearly shown in Fig l". The base of the thumb =-will rest' on the concave surface stithegtongue 'eand the thiimb will extendifl advanc or said tongue-at the outer side of thestrap 12i The strapssahd 9 will be fastened across. the back" of the were hand adjacentthewrist while the-straps Ii -and '12 may be fastened across the hand immediately back of the knuckles or may be passed under the index and second fingers and over the ring and little fingers so that the tool will be firmly held upon the hand without causing any discomfort to the user, and leaving the thumb and first and second fingers free to grasp and pull plants.

The tool is then operated by pressing the edge of the blade 2 into the ground, a slight pressure on the top of the tool causing the blade to penetrate the soil, whereupon aslight pulling or drawing motion. will clean the row to the width of the blade. In the same operation, the thumb and fingers may grasp and remove the surplus plants.

The device is exceedingly simple and inexpensive and is very light so that the user of the tool will not be subjected to any inconvenience or discomfort and will be enabled to very rapidly eradicate the undesirable growths. Thetongues 4 and 7 are curved so as to provide comfortable seats forthe thumb and the edge of the hand and the bendin the tool between the hand and blade portions, thereof is such that the fingers will be relieved of strain while at the same time they will be enabled to apply the desired pressure to the blade. The device'may, of course, be made for either right-handed or left-handed operators, and it will be found particularly useful in sugar beet fields which have been blocked by a cultivator and in which the worker has been herev tofore obliged to work with his fingers alone.

The blade portion of the tool may be given various forms and in Figs. 2 and 3 one edge of the tool is shown with a slight curve at 14 while in Fig. 4 the edges of the tool are straight but diverging, as shown at 15. Various means may be employed for securing the tool upon the users hand and while l, at present, prefer to employ the spaced straps shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, other fastening. devices may be used such as a wide strap 16, shown in Fig. 4, permanently secured to the tool at one edge of the same and a mating strap 17 provided with spaced tongues 18 which are secured at their ends to the opposite edge of the tool. At the meeting edges of the straps 16 and 17 series of hooks 19 are provided In Fig. a single strap 21 is secured to one side edge of the tool, while at the opposite side a strap 22 is secured at the corner which accommodates the base of the thumb and a strap 23 is secured at a point nearer the bend of the tool. The straps 22 and 23 meet at and are secured to a buckle 24 which receives the strap 21 at the back ofthe hand.-

Havingthus described the invention, I claim: 1. A weeder comprising a plate having its end portions disposed at an acute angle to fit into the hand of a user, one of saidend portions constituting a blade with which the fingers of the hand are engaged, said blade being of substantially the aggregate width of the fingers of said hand and having a hoeing edge disposed trans versely thereof, the other of said end portions being of such shape and width as to be'engaged by the palm of the hand, including the base of the thumb, with the thumb disposed at one side of the medial portion of said plate and means for securing-the plate upon the users hand.

2. A weeder comprisnga plate havingits ends disposed at an acute angle and having its medial portion formed intoa curved bend whereby said plate will fit the hand of a user with the fingers crooked around the bend and bearing against one end portion thereof, said last mentioned end portion extending downwardly from the hand and constituting a blade, said blade terminating in a transverse hoeing edge, the other end portion of said plate being of such shape and width as to underlie the palm of the hand and means for securing said palm-engaging portion to the back of said hand.

.3. A weeder comprising a thin plate curved at its medial portionto dispose its ends-at an acute angle, one of said ends constituting a depending blade and the other of said ends constituting a palm-engaging portion whereby said plate will fit the hand of a user with'the fingers crooked around the curved. portion thereof and bearing against the upperportion of said blade end, said blade portion having a width at least equal to the aggregate width of the fingers of the hand with the exception of the thumb, said palm-engaging end havinga widened outer portion shaped to snugly fit the palm, including the base of the thumb, means connected with said palm-engaging end for securing said plate to the back of the hand, said blade having a substantially straight hoeing edge disposed transversely thereof; v

' JOHN L. F. BAUER. [L. s.]

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