US2106047A - Weed cutter - Google Patents

Description

F. J. BIRGE wEED CUTTER Eiled Feb. 2s,v 1957 Jan, 18, 1938.

Patented `an. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES WEED CUTTER Francis J. Birge, Seymour, Ind., assignor to Seymour Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, Seymour, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application February Z6, 1937, Serial No. 127,866

2 Claims.

This instrument relates to hand instruments adapted for cutting weeds, grass, small shrubbery and vines, and for similar purposes. The object of the invention is to provide an instrument for 5 this purpose which shall be economical to construct, light in Weight and convenient in form, and which shall be strong and durable so as to withstand rough usage. The invention consists in certain features and elements of construction in combination, as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a weed cutter embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a topi plan View of the blade, taken as a section, as indicated at line 3-3 on Figure 1 to show portions of the blade-supporting arms and their connecting ferrules.

Figure 4 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 4-4 on Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 5- 5 on Figure 1.

'Ihis tool consists essentially of a blade, A, and .,5 a handle, B, by which the blade is swung in a generally horizontal direction for cutting weeds, grass and the like. The blade is shown as a thin metallic member of oblong shape having its two parallel edges, C and D, sharpened, and also having a cutting edge, E, formed at one end. The handle member is bifurcated to form two arms, F and G, which diverge downwardly for attachment of their lower ends to the blade adjacent its opposite ends. Preferably, the arms, F and G, are integral parts of the handle, B, which may be metal or any suitable wood having the requisite strength and resilience. Just above the point of divergence of the arms, F and G, the handle is provided with a reinforcing member, shown as a bolt or rivet, H, which extends through it in a direction to prevent the wood from splitting upwardly beyond the original point of bifurcation.

At their lower ends the arms, F and G, are fitted with metallic ferrules or sockets, J and K, respectively, each of which is secured to its arm by a bolt, L, extending through the arm and through the ferrule. The ferrule, J, is formed with a lug, M, and the ferrule, K, has a lug, N, said lugs being arranged to overlie the blade, A, and being provided with securing bolts, O, by which the blade is detachably fastened in working position.

It may be understood that to render the blade most effective it should be supported in tension, and to provide this stress a brace or spreader, P,

extends between the arms, F and G, at a point intermediate the reinforcement, H, and the blade, A. The member, l?, is dimensioned so that the arms, F and G, must be sprung and somewhat bent out of their normal straight form, thus providing the desired tension for holding the blade, A, straight and sufciently rigid to perform satisfactorily. 'I'he spreader, P, may be made of metal with its end portions bent at suitable angles to rest against the inner faces of the arms, F and G, and it may be secured in place by suitable bolts, Q.

The handle member, B, may be made from round stock, with flattened sides, B1, throughout the upper portion which serves as the hand grip. The bifurcation of the lower end of the handle thus leaves the arms, F and G, of approximately semi-circular cross-section, as seen in Figure 3, which makes them sunciently strong, but renders them flexible and resilient for the purpose of tensioning the blade, A, as just described. This construction also results in a frame of relatively light weight, thus conserving the strength of the workman instead of tiring him unnecessarily as he uses the tool. As seen in Figure 1, the hand grip portion of the handle, B, is inclined with respect to the plane of the blade, A, instead, of being strictly at right angles thereto, thus permitting the workman to hold the blade in front of him without stooping uncomfortably; this requires the arm, F, to be somewhat longer than the arm, G. For some purposes there is an advantage in having one end of the blade sharpened, as shown at E, and, preferably, this is the end farthest from the workman.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the same is not limited to the particular form herein shown and described, except in so far as ind-icated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In atool, the combination of a blade, a Wooden handle member made from rounded stock and bifurcated through a portion of its length to provide a pair of resilient arms integral with the handle and each of substantially semi-circular cross-section, said arms extending divergently toward opposite ends of the blade with a reinforcement applied to the handle member adjacent the point at which said arms diverge to oppose any tendency of said member to split beyond said point, means securing the ends of the arms to the blade adjacent its opposite ends respectively, and a spreader secured between the arms intermediate their ends and the point of bifurcation, eX- ing them apart and causing them to exert tension on the blade.

2. In a tool, the combination of a blade, a. Wooden handle member made from rounded stock and biiurcated through a part of its length, thus providing a pair of resilient arms integral with 10 the handle and semi-circular in cross-section,

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