WO1990000107A1

WO1990000107A1 - Implement attachment

Info

Publication number: WO1990000107A1
Application number: PCT/AU1989/000284
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edgar Lewis Pickles
Original assignee: Edgar Lewis Pickles
Priority date: 1988-06-30
Filing date: 1989-06-30
Publication date: 1990-01-11

Abstract

Implement attachment to convert the free end of an implement handle so that the implement may be used as a crowbar or for tilling soil. The implement attachment (10) includes an elongate tubular element (14) having an open end (14a) into which the implement handle (12) is removably accommodated. At the opposite end (14b), the tubular element (14) is joined to a flattened and hardened chisel point element (16). To facilitate attachment to the implement handle, a strap (24) is secured to the periphery of the element (14) at end (14a) and a wedge element (32) is provided which can be driven between the strap (24) and the bifurcated sections (20, 22) of the tubular element (14) to firmly secure the implement attachment (10) to the implement handle (12).

Description

IMPLEMENT ATTACHMENT

This invention relates to an implement attachment.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an implement attachment in the form of a tubular element adapted at one open end thereof to receive therewithin the free end of the handle of an implement and having, at the opposite end thereof, a pointed element and releasable clamping means for clamping the implement attachment to said handle when positioned in said tubular element.

The pointed element may, conveniently, be in the form of a hardened chisel point which may, for example, be attached to the tubular element. The tubular element may be flat at an end adjacent to the pointed element. The releasable clamping means may include a wedge element receivable between the outer periphery of the tubular element and a further element secured to the tubular element whereby, by forcing the wedging element between the tubular element and the further element, the wedge element deforms the tubular element to inwardly press the wall thereof into firm engagement with the implement handle. To facilitate this action, the tubular element may be slotted at two opposed locations extending lengthwise some distance therealong from said one end thereof whereby said one end is bifurcated, the wedging element, when forced between said further element and the tubular element, depressing against the side wall thereof to deform inwardly towards each other opposed portions of the tubular element separated by such slots.

The invention is further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an implement attachment constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary axial section of an end portion of the implement attachment of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a cross section approximately on the line 3-3 in figure 2.

The implement attachment 10 shown in Figure 1 is designed to convert a shovel so that the shovel may be used as a crowbar or for tilling soil. The end of the shovel handle 12 only is shown. The implement attachment 10 includes an elongate tubular element 14 having an open end 14a into which the shovel handle 12 is neatly accommodated. At the opposite end 14b, the tubular element 14 is flattened and is joined neatly to a flattened and hardened chisel point element 16.

To facilitate attachment of the implement attachment 14 to the handle 12, the tubular element 14 is provided at part 14c thereof adjacent end 14a with diametrically opposed slots 17 which extend lengthwise thereof from the end 14a. The end portion 14c is thus bifurcated and presents opposed cantilevered sections 20, 22 which are separated by the slots 17. A clamping attachment 23 incorporating a somewhat overloid strap 24 is secured to the periphery of the element 14 at end 14a so as to extend therearound. It is welded to the section 22 but is not so welded to the section 20 and is, further, so shaped as to present a portion 25 which is spaced away from the periphery of the section 20 (Figure 3). There is thus defined an opening 26 between the outer periphery of the section 20 and the inner periphery of the strap 22 at the portion 25 thereof.

A further component of clamping attachment 23 comprises a wedge element 32 of somewhat arcuate transverse cross section and of tapered conf guration this having a cross section which increases in thickness from a smaller to a larger end thereof. The wedge element does however have at its smaller diameter end, a protrusion 28. The element 32 is slidably retained in the opening 26 so as to be movable lengthwise of the tubular element 14/ adjacent section 20. The strap 24 is made of sufficient width to prevent substantial side-to-side movement of the wedge element 32. In order to effect securement of the implement attachment to the handle 12, the element 32 is slid to a position (not shown) at which the protrusion is adjacent strap 24. Then, after entry of the end of handle 12 into end 14a, the wedge element 32 is driven, by striking the end 32a thereof with a hammer or the like, so as to force the element 32 between the strap 22 and the section 20, in the direction towards chisel point element 16, whereby to close up the slots 17 and compress the sections 20, 22 towards each other to firmly grip the end of the handle 12.

The aforementioned arcuate configuration of the element 32, as viewed in transverse section, is arranged so that the inner periphery of the element 32 conforms with and is in neat engagement with the outer surface of the element 14, whilst the opposite, outer, curved surface of the element 32 is similarly in neat engagement with the inner curved surface of the strap 24 at the portion 25 thereof.

When so positioned and secured, the implement attachment 10 is firmly secured to the handle 12 as shown for example in figure 2, and it is thus possible to use the shovel, in inverted position, as a crowbar making use of the pointed element 16.

The implement attachment 10 may be _.readily removed from the handle 12 by forcing the wedge element 32 in the reverse direction, that is away from the end 14b. Thus, the element may be struck at protrusion 28 to cause such movement.

It will be appreciated that the wedge element 32 when forced between the inner periphery of strap element 24 and the outer periphery of tubular element 14 at 14c slidably and resiliently deforms bifurcated sections 20, 22 against the outer surface of implement handle 12 together forming a clamping means 23 for attaching the implement attachment 14 to the implement handle 12. Of course, other forms of clamping arrangements may be employed.

The described construction has been advanced merely by way of explanation, and many modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An implement attachment comprising a tubular element adapted at one open end thereof to receive therewithin the free end of the handle of an implement and having, at the opposite end thereof, a pointed element, the implement attachment having releasable clamping means for clamping the implement to said implement handle when positioned in said tubular element.

2. An implement attachment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pointed element is in the form of a chisel point.

3. An implement attachment as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said pointed element and said tubular element are separately formed and secured together.

4. An implement attachment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said tubular element is flattened at an end adjacent to said pointed element.

5. An implement attachment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said releasable clamping means includes a wedge element.

6. An implement attachment as claimed in claim 5 wherein said open end of said tubular element is resiliently deformable and said wedge element is slidably retained between an outer surface of said tubular element and a fixed surface of the implement attachment positioned outwardly of and in spaced relationship to said outer surface, whereby said wedge element may be forced between said outer surface and said fixed surface to inwardly deform said tubular element to effect the clamping of said implement attachment to said implement handle.

7. An implement attachment as claimed in claim 6, wherein said fixed surface is defined on a retaining element secured to the tubular element .

8. An implement attachment as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said part of the tubular element is lengthwise slotted whereby to render it resiliently defor able.

9. An implement attachment as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein said wedge element is forcably slidable lengthwise of the said tubular element to effect said clamping of said implement attachment to said implement handle.

10. An implement attachment as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein said retaining element is in the form of a strap and extends at least partway around said tubular element and said wedge element is maintained captive between said outer surface of said tubular element and said fixed surface of said strap element.

11. An implement attachment as claimed in claim 10 wherein, for maintaining the wedge captive, the wedge element has at its wider end a greater cross-sectional dimension measured outwardly of said wedge element which exceeds the outwardly measured spacing between said fixed surface and said outer surface of said tubular element, said wedge element also having, at its narrower end, an outward protrusion which is of greater dimension measured in the direction outwardly from said wedge element than said spacing between outer surface of said tubular element and said fixed surface.

12. An implement attachment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.