WO1997032463A1

WO1997032463A1 - Garden implement

Info

Publication number: WO1997032463A1
Application number: PCT/AU1997/000136
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jack Phillip Kegg; Christopher John Kegg
Original assignee: Vuko Products Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1996-03-08
Filing date: 1997-03-07
Publication date: 1997-09-12
Also published as: AUPN852496A0; CA2248353A1

Abstract

A garden implement comprising an elongate handle (5), a shell member (1) fixed to the handle (5), a movable shell member (2) pivotally mounted on the shell member (1), and linkage means (7) connecting the shell members (1, 2) to a grip sleeve (6) on the handle (5). The shell members (1, 2) may be spread from a closed position to an open position by movement of the grip sleeve (6). Each of the shell members has an edge margin comprising a plurality of tynes (14, 17), and when the shell members (1, 2) are in the closed position the tynes (14) of one shell member (1) are interdigitated with the tynes (17) of the other shell member (2).

Description

GARDEN IMPLEMENT

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an improved garden implement, and in particular to a pick-up rake for gathering leaves, garden refuse and the like.

BACKGROUND

Leaves, garden refuse and the like are normally swept by a rake or broom into a heap, and then picked up with the assistance of a second implement such as shovel, fork, broom pan or the like. A disadvantage of picking up leaves and garden refuse in this manner is that a user must hold two implements and generally will have to crouch or bend over to perform the task.

Australian Patent Application No. 49119/79 discloses a garden tool which is a combined rake and gripper. The garden tool comprises a fixed jaw mounted to an elongate handle, with a movable jaw hinged to the fixed jaw. The fixed jaw has rake teeth, whilst the movable jaw is of a larger similar shape without rake teeth.

The movable jaw is operably movable between an open and closed position such that leaves and the like may be gripped by the jaws and lifted. A disadvantage of such a garden tool is that in order to rake leaves or the like, the movable jaw must be latched in an open position, which tends to obstruct a users view of the material to be collected by the rake.

The present invention seeks to overcome the abovementioned disadvantage of prior known pick-up rakes. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention consists in a garden implement comprising a first shell member affixed to or integral with an elongate handle, a second shell member pivotally connected to said first shell member, and an operating means, whereby said first and second shell members may be spread from a closed position to an open position by actuation of said operating means, characterised in that each of said first and second shell members has an edge margin comprising a plurality of tynes, and wherein when said first and second shell members are in said closed position said tynes of said first shell member are interdigitated with the tynes of said second shell member.

Preferably said operating means comprises a bias means which biasediy urges said shell members to said closed position.

Preferably said operating means comprises a sleeve connected to said bias means and slidable along said handle and a linkage means, and wherein one end of said linkage means is pivotally connected to said sleeve and its other end is pivotally connected to said second shell member.

Preferably said first and second shell members are opened by sliding said sleeve along said handle away from said shell members.

Preferably said bias means is a tension coil spring sleeved upon said handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with shell members in a closed position.

Figure 2 is an end view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1 with shell members in an open position.

Figure 4 is an end view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in

Figure 1 with shell members in an open position.

MODE OF CARRYING OUT INVENTION

With reference to Figures 1 to 4, the garden implement comprises a fixed shell member 1 hinged to a movable shell member 2 by a hinge 11. Preferably both shell members 1 and 2 and hinge 11 may be of flexible plastic material, with hinge 1 1 comprising a flexible thin and/or grooved section to allow bending thereabout.

An upper wall 12 of the fixed shell member 1 is attached to an elongate handle

5, and a lower wall 13 of the fixed shell member 1 has an edge margin comprising a plurality of tynes 14. The movable shell member 2 has an upper wall 15 and a lower wall 16 which also has an edge margin comprising a plurality of tynes 17.

The handle 5 is attached to the fixed shell member 1 along its upper wall 12 by means of a socket 9, or alternatively in a not shown embodiment, may be attached to the upper wall 12 by rivets, screws or other fasteners.

A rod 7 pivotally interconnects the movable shell member 2 and a grip sleeve 6 which is slidable on the handle 5. The grip sleeve 6 is connected to one end of a coil tension spring 8 sleeved upon the handle 5. The other end of coil tension spring 8 is connected to the handle 5 via anchorage sleeve 10.

The coil tension spring 8 biasedly urges the shell members 1 and 2 to a closed position in which the tynes 14 of the shell member 1 are interdigitated with the tynes 17 of the shell member 2 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

By sliding the grip sleeve 6 against the force of the spring 8 along the handle 5 in direction A, the movable shell member 2 is moved to the open position via the movement of the rod 7 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. When the grip sleeve 6 is released, the coil tension spring 8 urges the grip sleeve 6 to slide back along the handle 5 to it's original position, thereby urging the shell members 1 and 2 to return to the closed position.

A user may thus use the tynes 14 of the garden implement to rake leaves and the like into a heap when the shell members 1 and 2 are in the closed position. The shell members 1 and 2 may be opened for the purpose of gripping and lifting leaves and the like by sliding grip sleeve 6 along the handle 5. Upon releasing the grip sleeve 6, the shell members 1 and 2 return to the closed position. When raking in the closed position using tynes 14, a user has a substantially unobstructed view of the leaves and the like being raked.

In further not shown embodiments the various components of the garden implement may differ in material, shape, configuration and size. In a not shown embodiment the shape of the shell members may differ, and it further may be that the fixed shell member is integral with the elongate handle. Furthermore the shape and configuration of the mechanism to open the shell members may use a bias means which differs to the coil spring of the preferred embodiment, whilst a different linkage means to that of the rod may be used to interconnect the grip sleeve and the shell member.

Claims

1 A garden implement comprising a first shell member affixed to or integral with an elongate handle, a second shell member pivotally connected to said first shell member, and an operating means, whereby said first and second shell members may be spread from a closed position to an open position by actuation of said operating means, characterised in that each of said first and second shell members has an edge margin comprising a plurality of tynes, and wherein when said first and second shell members are in said closed position said tynes of said first shell member are interdigitated with the tynes of said second shell member

2. A garden implement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said operating means comprises a bias which biasedly urges said shell members to said closed position.

3. A garden implement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said operating means comprises a sleeve connected to said bias means and slidable along said handle and a linkage means, and wherein one end of said linkage means is pivotally connected to said sleeve and its other end is pivotally connected to said second shell member.

4. A garden implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first and second shell members are opened by sliding said sleeve along said handle away from said shell members

5 A garden implement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bias means is a tension coil spring sleeved upon said handle.