WO1998004111A1

WO1998004111A1 - Ground working tool

Info

Publication number: WO1998004111A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/013339
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cornelius W. Sulier
Original assignee: Sulier Cornelius W
Priority date: 1996-07-26
Filing date: 1997-07-25
Publication date: 1998-02-05
Also published as: AU3818797A

Abstract

A ground working tool (10) includes a handle (12) and a blade body (14). An elongated handle (12) is attached at one end to the blade body (14), which is defined by undulations to form parallel elongated ridges alternating with parallel elongated valleys. The ridges extend to form teeth on a working end, and the valleys extend to form recessed areas on a working end. Together the teeth and recessed areas form a working edge for furrowing soil. The undulation forming the blade body may be either serpentine-shaped, herringbone-shaped, or any variant thereof. In this way, the working edge is disposed to efficiently furrow through ground soil in response to working force translated from the handle (12) to the blade (14). The handle (12) is formed with alternating wide diameter portions and narrow diameter portions.

Description

GROUND WORKING TOOL Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to ground working tools, and more particularly to an improved blade and handle for a ground working tool.

Background of the Invention

For centuries, the common garden hoe has been used as a ground working tool by a wide variety of people, from weekend gardeners to farmers alike. Indeed, the garden hoe as we know it today is an effective tool for trenching, furrowing, or otherwise working the ground soil.

Simply described, the garden hoe comprises an elongated handle attached at one end to a flat blade, which has a working edge for chopping through the ground surface. The elongated handle provides leverage for swinging the hoe to drive the blade through a hardened, or crusted, ground surface. Once the blade is embedded in the earthen soil, the handle facilitates the ability to pull the blade laterally along the ground surface, thereby furrowing the soil.

The traditional hoe blade has a straight working edge with sharp, right-angled corners defining each side. Due to the flatness of the blade, lateral advancement of the hoe through crusted soil is often difficult. Stated another way, a flat blade has nothing to aid in the breaking the resistance of the soil other than the strength and effort of the user. As a result, people often work the soil by angling the hoe to use one of the corners to pierce and furrow the soil. This substantially reduces the surface area of the blade that contacts the soil, likewise reducing the usefulness of the working edge.

For this same reason, people often work crusted soil by using a hoe with a chopping motion. Rather than embedding the blade into the soil and then pulling it forward to furrow the ground, people often swing the hoe to pierce the soil with the blade, then pivot the handle to break up a small section of crusted soil. This process is repeated over and over as small, adjacent sections of soil are loosened.

Regardless of how the hoe is used, it is appreciated that using this tool to work hardened and crusted soil is intensive, back-breaking work. Accordingly, various modifications have been made to the common garden hoe to improve upon its performance and efficiency. For example, U.S. Patent No. 1,793,290 to Pleas discloses a hoe having a serrated working edge. While such a serrated working edge promotes the cutting of weeds, it does not materially effect the ability of the blade to furrow hardened soil. In , other words, the serrated working edge may effectively slice through weeds in knife-like fashion while it is grazed across the ground surface, but nevertheless suffers the same disadvantages as the common, flat-blade garden hoe. Similarly, U.S. Patent No. 1,848,651 to Peeler et al. discloses a garden implement having sharply defined teeth for cutting weeds and digging into the soil. In addition, the cutting ability is further enhanced by chamfered edges of the toothed working edge. The Peeler et al. tool is also effective in slicing through weeds, and the extended teeth efficiently cut through the soil surface. Like the Pleas tool, however, once the teeth are gouged well below the ground surface, the Peeler et al. tool is difficult to advance through the soil.

While other hoe blade configurations are also known in the prior art, all configurations known to the Applicant suffer the same disadvantages outlined above. Another shortcoming manifested in many prior art hoe blade configurations relates in part to the need to utilize a chopping motion to dislodge and break up the soil, and in part to the relatively high profile of the blade. When using a hoe in tightly confined spaces, such as between adjacent garden plants, the hoe often becomes ensnared in the foliage of the surrounding plants, causing damage thereto. The existence of the foliage necessitates the use of more short chopping strokes, creating additional strain for the user.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, it is a primary aim of the present invention to provide a ground working tool having improved operational efficiency and performance.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a ground working tool having an improved ability to furrow hardened or crusted ground soil.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide a ground working tool that offers less resistance as it is advanced laterally along the ground. Another object of the present invention is to provide a ground working tool designed to minimize the opportunity to ensnare foliage from, and skin or damage, closely surrounding plants.

Additional objects, advantages and other novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects, the present invention is generally directed to a ground working tool. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the tool includes a handle havirig an attachment end and a blade attached to the handle at the attachment end. The blade has an undulating working edge for working the soil. A plurality of teeth are integrally formed with the blade body and are laterally disposed across the blade. Each of the plurality of teeth has a curved working end, wherein the working ends of the plurality of teeth are coincident with the undulating working edge of the blade. In a key aspect of the invention, the undulations defining the working edge cooperate with the plurality of teeth and extend along the blade body toward the attachment end of the handle. This results in a blade body having a corrugated character. The curved working ends of the plurality of teeth thus cooperate with the corrugated shape of the blade body to efficiently furrow through ground soil in operational use. Indeed, it has been found that the corrugated shape of the blade body creates a mechanical advantage and helps to furrow the ground in such a manner as to lessen the force required to advance the blade laterally through the soil.

For purposes of this aspect of the invention, it is significant that the blade body is corrugated. As viewed from an end-view of the working edge, the blade corrugation may be serpentine-shaped, herringbone-shaped, or any other variant thereof. The performance enhancement is a result of the channels, formed by the corrugations, working to plow or wedge away the loosened or dislodged soil, much like the helical channel of a twist-type drill bit enhances the drilling performance and efficiency of a drill. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a low-profile hoe blade is provided. In this regard, the hoe blade includes a backing edge opposite the working edge. The backing edge defines a shallow, arcuately-shaped edge that advantageously achieves a low profile. As a result, the blade is more readily adapted for working ground soil between plants, or other closely-confined spaces, without becoming entangled in, and damaging, plant foliage. This not only reduces the aggravation and strain often associated with the chore of hoeing, but also desirably preserves the integrity and well-being of the surrounding plants. More tool control is maintained since the need for aggressive chopping is reduced. While the hoe blade may be used in a chopping mode, it functions best to remove weeds when used in a plowing mode.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a new and improved handle configuration is provided. In this regard, an elongated handle is provided with a substantially cyclic contour, of alternating wide and narrow diameters. This configuration has been found to achieve advantages over the cylindrical handle of the prior art. The contour fits up in the palm of the hand and the reversed curves of the fingers. This enables the hand to aid in lifting and pulling the tool and reducing the pressure on the fingers as compared with tools having a straight handle. The unique contour also readily adapts the handle for convenient and comfortable use by persons having different sized hands. Persons with small hands may grasp in the narrow locations, while persons with larger hands may grasp in the wide locations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ground working tool, in the form of a garden hoe, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the action the garden hoe constructed in accordance with the present invention as it is advanced forwardly through the soil;

Figure 3A is a close-up view of the working end of the garden hoe illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3B is another close-up view of the working end of the garden hoe shown operating in the vicinity of desirable foliage;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a blade body for a ground working tool, constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is a top view of the blade body illustrated in Figure 4 ; Figure 6A is a cross-sectional end view as taken substantially along line 6A-6A of Figure 4;

Figure 6B is a cross-sectional end view similar to that shown in Figure 6A, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6C is a cross-sectional end view similar to that shown in Figure 6A, illustrating a second alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view as taken substantially along line 7-7 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a ground working tool, with the handle partially broken away and in the form of a scoop, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a ground working tool, with the handle partially broken away and in the form of a shovel, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a ground working tool, with the handle partially broken away and in the form of a wedge, constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 11 is a fragmentary side view illustrating a blade body associated with a connector neck for a ground working tool constructed in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 12 is a elevational view illustrating a contemplated handle configuration, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the invention as illustrated in the drawings. While the invention will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed therein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and eguivalents included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Turning now to the drawings, Figure l illustrates a garden hoe, generally designated as reference numeral 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention. The hoe 10 of the illustrated embodiment is formed by an elongated handle 12 attached at one end to a blade body 14 by a connector neck 15. For purposes of cost-effectiveness and simplicity in construction, the neck 15 is constructed from a segment of curved metal (see Figure 11) and is welded at 13 to the blade body 14 at one end. The other end is fixedly attached to the handle 12. The neck 15 may be riveted to the handle 12, may be connected by a ferrule to the handle, or may be attached by being press-fit into a coaxial bore in the end of the handle.

Consistent with the invention, the handle 12 may be of wood, such as ash, construction. Alternatively, the handle 12 may be fabricated from a lightweight, durable fiberglass or plastic material. Indeed, a variety of materials and configurations will be appreciated by those skilled in the art for constructing a ground working tool in accordance with the invention. For example, the handle 12 may be of much shorter dimension (from that illustrated) as is conventional for a hand tool.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-3, the ground working tool of the present invention is a garden hoe. Alterative embodiments are illustrated in Figures 8-10. These alternative embodiments function, respectively, as a scoop, shovel and wedge. Additional alternative embodiments may be employed as forks, axes and/or diggers.

Frequently, the hoe 10 will be used, as illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B, for cutting weeds 16. Alternatively, the hoe 10 will often be used for working the ground, as by furrowing the soil. The hoe 10 can also be used to dig below ground level, as well as scraping the surface. To achieve these functional goals, the invention is characterized by a uniquely-shaped blade body 14. Broadly, this uniquely-shaped blade body 14 is defined by an undulating configuration. More particularly, and as best shown in Figure 4, the blade body 14 includes a plurality of parallel, elongated ridges 18, alternating transversely with parallel, elongated valleys 19. The ridges 18 extend to form projections or teeth 20 on a working edge 22 that runs the full transverse dimension of the blade body 14. The valleys 19 extend to define recessed areas 21 on the working edge 22 between the teeth 20. The alternating teeth 20 and recessed areas 21, in combination with the ridges 18 and valleys 19, create a working edge 22 that acts to force weed stalks to the recessed areas for pinching and pulling removal from the ground. Furthermore, the alternating ridges 18 and valleys 19 generate a mechanical advantage in furrowing the soil as the blade body 14 is pulled toward the user.

Each of the teeth 20 and recessed areas 21 have a working end that is coincident with, and defines, the working edge 22 of the blade body 14. The working ends of the teeth 20 and recessed areas 21 are preferably honed or sharpened to present a knife-like working edge 22 for the blade body 14.

In a preferred embodiment, the working ends of the teeth 20 and recessed areas 21 present a scalloped shape following the undulations of the blade body 14. In this regard, reference is made to Figures 6A, 6B and 6C, which illustrate alternative embodiments of the blade body 14, constructed in accordance with the invention. Specifically, Figure 6A is a cross-sectional end view as taken substantially along line 6A-

6A of Figure 4. This embodiment illustrates a blade body 14 having a relatively shallow corrugation. Alternatively,

Figures 6B and 6C show alternative blade body 14 con igurations having more defined or pronounced undulations or corrugations. In more descriptive terms, Figure 6B illustrates a blade body 14 with a substantially serpentine undulation or corrugation, while Figure 6C depicts a blade body 14 with a substantially herringbone undulation or corrugation.

For purposes of the invention, and as is illustrated by the embodiments of Figures 6A-6C, the severity or degree, and consequently, the shape of the undulation may vary. Indeed, the corrugations formed by the undulations will preferably be cyclic or periodic as illustrated, but the corrugations may alternatively be aperiodic. For example, the blade body 14 as viewed along line 6A-6A of Figure 4 may be crenulate-shaped. Alternatively, a portion of the blade body 14 may be serpentine-shaped (as shown in Figure 6B) , while another portion may be herringbone-shaped (as shown in Figure 6C) . Suffice it to say that there may be other variants consistent with the teachings herein. For purposes of the invention, the significant aspect is that the blade body 14 is defined by undulations.

It is contemplated that, with shallow undulations as shown in Figure 6A, there exists the easier ability to sharpen the working edge 22 with conventional sharpening apparatus. The ease of sharpening is also enhanced when the undulations are periodic rather than aperiodic.

Functionally, the corrugated shape of the blade body 14 realizes benefits that significantly improve the performance and efficiency of the hoe 10. While the corrugations enhance the strength and structural integrity of the blade body 14, the ridges 18 and valleys 19 channels formed by the undulation help the hoe 10 to plow through the soil, much like the helical channel of a twist-type drill bit helps the drill to advance through the drilled stock (by channelling away loosened or dislodged debris) . Once the blade body 14 of the hoe 10 penetrates the soil, the handle 12 may be pulled to advance the hoe forwardly along the ground. It is contemplated that (as illustrated in Figure 2) , when embedded into the soil, the blade body 14 will be obliguely disposed in relation to the ground surface. Therefore, when force is exerted upon the handle 12 to advance the blade body 14 forwardly along the ground surface, the ridges 18 promote the breaking up of the soil, pushing it up and out over the advancing blade body 14. The loosened or dislodged soil will ride up the valleys 21 and over the top of the blade body 14. In an another key aspect of the invention, each of the opposing corners of the working edge 22 is defined by a hook 24. The hook 24 is formed at the end of a side edge 23 of the blade body 14. The rounded character of the side edge 23 advantageously permits the blade body to effectively operate around and under bushes and plants to remove weeds 16, without causing damage to the desirable foliage (see Figure 3B) . The hook 24 allows the user to slip the blade body 14 between a planted item, such as flower 17, and the stalk or stem of a weed 16. The hook 24 directs the weed 16 away from the plant and down the working edge 22 toward the recessed area 21, where it can be pinched and pulled from the ground for removal.

It has been found that a hoe 10 constructed with a blade body 14 in accordance with the present invention realizes significant efficiency and performance improvement over conventional designs, in so far as the blade body 14 is more effortlessly advanced through the soil. As a result, fatigue and back strain, typically associated with the activity of hoeing, are reduced. In a brief description of the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 8, the blade body 14 may be curved. That is, rather than being substantially planar (notwithstanding the undulations) , the blade body 14 may be arcuately-shaped. In a way similar to the manner in which the blade undulations help the blade body 14 to advance, or slice, through the soil, it will be appreciated that the arcuately-shaped blade body 14 of the scoop may further help to channel dislodged soil and reduce the soil/blade resistance, and thus serve to realize a more effective furrowing aspect of a ground working tool. Referring briefly to Figure 7, a cross-sectional side view of the blade body 14, as taken substantially along line 7-7 of Figure 5, is shown. As illustrated, the working edge 22 of the blade body 14 is chamfered. It will be appreciated that this chamfer 25 provides a honed edge that substantially enhances the ability of the blade body 14 to slice crusted or hardened soil. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, reference is now made to Figure 11. In this illustration, the blade body 14 is associated with an attachment neck 26 which facilitates a low-profile presentation for operational use. As previously mentioned, the benefits achieved by the low profile includes the ability to reach and work soil in closely confined spaces, without becoming entangled in the surrounding foliage.

Finally, reference is made to Figure 12, showing an advantageous handle configuration constructed in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention. Specifically, a specially contoured handle 12 is defined by a substantially cyclic contour, of alternating wide diameter portions 42 and narrow diameter portions 44. This configuration has been found to achieve advantages over the uniformly dimensioned cylindrical handle of the prior art. First, when gripped in the narrow diameter locations, is has been found to provide enhanced grip, and thus the user's hands are less prone to slipping, particularly during times of heavy perspiration. Secondly, the unique contour readily adapts the handle for convenient and comfortable use by persons having different sized hands. Persons with small hands may grasp the spaced narrow locations, while persons with larger hands may grasp the spaced wide locations. In the preferred embodiment, the wide diameter portions

42 have a longer axial dimension and the narrow diameter portions 44 have a shorter axial dimension. However, the handle 12 may be constructed with the wide and narrow diameter portions 42,44 Respectively, having equivalent axial dimensions, or opposite relative lengths. The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment or embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.

Claims

Claims;

1. A ground working tool, comprising: a handle having an attachment end; and a blade body attached to the handle at the attachment end, the blade body having a working edge defined by undulations, the undulating working edge defining a plurality of teeth, each of the plurality of teeth having a curved working end, the working ends of the plurality of teeth being coincident with the working edge of the blade, whereby the curved working ends of the plurality of teeth cooperate with the blade body to efficiently furrow through ground soil in operational use.

2. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 1, wherein the undulations defining the working edge extend longitudinally along the blade body toward the attachment end of the handle, thus defining a corrugated blade body.

3. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 2, wherein the handle includes an elongated shaft having an outer surface of substantially circular diameter, the diameter dimension varying along the length of the outer surface, the diameter dimension variation further being substantially cyclical.

4. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 1, wherein the blade body is crescent-shaped.

5. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth, as observed from an end view, appear substantially serpentine-shaped.

6. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth, as observed from an end view, appear substantially herringbone-shaped.

7. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 1, wherein the working end of each of the plurality of teeth is substantially scalloped-shaped.

8. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 1, wherein the working edge of the blade is substantially crenulate-shaped .

9. A blade for a ground working tool, comprising: a body portion having a working edge for furrowing ground soil; and a plurality of teeth integrally formed with the body portion, the teeth being substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the working edge, each of the teeth having a working end for furrowing through ground soil, the working ends of the plurality of teeth collectively defining the working edge, each working end of the plurality of teeth being disposed to collectively define a corrugated blade body.

10. The blade as defined in Claim 9, wherein the working edge, as observed from a side view, appears substantially straight.

11. The blade as defined in Claim 9, wherein the working edge, as observed from a side view, appears substantially curved.

12. The blade as defined in Claim 9, wherein the plurality of teeth are substantially adjacently disposed across the lateral span of the body portion.

13. The blade as defined in Claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of teeth is substantially semi-cylindrically shaped.

14. The blade as defined in Claim 13, wherein the working end of each of the plurality of teeth is curved about an axis extending predominately normal to the body portion.

15. The blade as defined in Claim 9, wherein the body portion further includes a low-profile, arcuately-shaped backing edge opposite the working edge.

16. The blade as defined in Claim 15, wherein the body portion is substantially crescent-shaped.

17. The blade as defined in Claim 9, further including means for attaching the blade to a handle.

18. A low-profile ground working tool, comprising: a handle having an attachment end; a blade attached to the handle at the attachment end, the blade being defined by a body portion having a working edge disposed for furrowing ground soil, the body portion further having an arcuately-shaped backing edge opposite the working edge; and a plurality of teeth integrally formed with the blade, each of the plurality of teeth having a working end, the working ends of the plurality of teeth being coincident with the working edge of the blade, each working end being curved about an axis normal to the plane of the blade.

19. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 18, wherein the body portion is substantially planar.

20. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 18, wherein the body portion is curved.

21. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 18, wherein the plurality of teeth are substantially adjacently disposed across the lateral span of the body portion.

22. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of teeth is substantially semi- cylindrically shaped.

23. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 22, wherein the working end of each of the plurality of teeth is curved about an axis extending predominately parallel to the orientation of the elongated teeth.

24. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 18, wherein the body portion is crescent-shaped.

25. The ground working tool as defined in Claim 18, wherein the handle includes an elongated shaft having an outer surface of substantially circular diameter, the diameter dimension varying along the length of the outer surface, the diameter dimension variation further being substantially cyclical.

26. A contoured handle for a ground working tool, comprising an elongated shaft having an outer surface of substantially circular diameter, the diameter dimension varying along the length of the outer surface, the diameter dimension variation further being substantially cyclical, whereby the substantially cyclical dimension variation provides an improved handle grip.

27. The contoured handle as defined in Claim 26, wherein the outer surface extends substantially over the length of the elongated shaft.