WO2004052082A1

WO2004052082A1 - Improvements relating to gardening tools

Info

Publication number: WO2004052082A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/005408
Authority: WO
Inventors: Averil Goddard Eggleton
Original assignee: Averil Goddard Eggleton
Priority date: 2002-12-11
Filing date: 2003-12-10
Publication date: 2004-06-24
Also published as: AU2003292407A1; GB0514159D0; GB0228986D0; GB2411561A; GB2411561B

Abstract

A gardening tool has a handle 1 from which extends an integral prong (2). A further prong (3) extends to one side of the axis of the handle 1. The handle (1) and the prong (2) generate a gentle arc which follows the natural line of a hand (projecting from an arm of the user) which grasps the tool. The tip of the prong (3) is slightly longer than the prong (2). This tool can be inserted into small gaps for working the ground and the prongs allow for the soil to be stirred up by rotating the tool about the prong (2), or by tilting the whole tool, by manipulating the handle (1). The tip of the prong (3) can be of forked form for use in engaging the root of a weed after that prong has been inserted into the ground.

Description

"Improvements relating to Gardening Tools" This invention relates to the type of hand held tool used in the garden for light digging work. A particular object of the invention is to provide such a tool which can be used to loosen the soil. According to the invention there is provided a hand-held gardening tool comprising a handle from which projects a pair only of elongated prongs, the first prong constituting an elongation of the handle, whilst the second prong is offset from the axis of the handle.

This form of tool can be used in two ways. In one form of use, the user pushes the two prongs into the soil, allowing the user to move the second prong in an arc around the first prong to carry out gardening activities such as loosening the soil. Because the tool has only two prongs it presents low resistance to being pushed into the soil and can readily be used, by twisting and tilting movements of the handle, to allow the soil to be stirred up in regions where there is little space between plants. In another form of use, the user pushes the second prong into the soil to engage the tip with the root of a weed below ground, using the first prong as a pointer above ground to align the second prong with the weed's root. Preferably the tip of the second prong will be forked for engagement with the weed's root. Ideally the second prong has an arced shape so that it can readily be used to lever upwards on the weed root by pushing downwards on the handle, applying the arced shape of the second prong against the soil as a fulcrum.

It is greatly preferred that the second prong should extend somewhat beyond the tip of the first prong so that, when a user pushes the two prongs into the soil, to be used for stirring the soil, the two prong tips penetrate the soil at about the same moment, due to the angle between the user's arm and the soil level. Also when the user pushes the second prong into the soil lor weeding purposes, the second prong is enabled to penetrate the soil and reach the weed root whilst the first prong, being used as a pointer, remains above soil level.

Desirably the second prong will be arced in a direction away from the first prong, and the two prongs will extend generally parallel to each other for most of their length. The second prong could have cutting edges along at least part of its length, so that it becomes more blade-like in form and offers less resistance to movement in the direction of rotation about the first prong. A forked tip on the end of the second blade can then comprise a division of the blade-like prong tip by one or more elongated wedge-shaped openings.

In a particular rendering of the tool, the second prong is arced away from the first prong and, has a cross-section which transitions from being more round-like near the prong's root, to more blade-like near the prong's tip, and the more blade-like tip is divided to provide a single elongated wedge- shaped opening.

One of the prongs could be provided with a projecting collar near to the end closest to the handle, to act as a depth insertion limiter for the tool.

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of one form of gardening tool of this invention;

Figure 2 is a front, view of an alternative form of gardening tool of this invention; and Figures 3 and 4 are side and tilt-edged views respectively of a third embodiment of the invention.

The tool shown in Figure 1 has a handle 1 from which extends an integral prong 2. A further prong 3 extends to one side of the axis of the handle 1. As can be seen, the handle 1 and the prong 2 generate a gentle arc which follows the natural line of a hand (projecting from an arm of the user) which grasps the tool. The tip of the prong 3 is slightly longer than the prong 2. This tool can be inserted into small gaps for working the ground and the prongs allow for the soil to be stirred up by rotating the tool about the prong 2, or by tilting the whole tool, by manipulating the handle 1.

In the tool shown in Figure 2 a pair of prongs 5A, 5B project from a shaft 6 carried by a handle 1. The prong 5A extends downwardly directly in line with the axis of the shaft 6 whilst the prong 5B is set off to one side of that axis. The tips 7 could be turned upwardly by forming bends at positions 8, but this is not essential. This form of tool can be inserted into the ground and rotated about the axis of the shaft 6 and the prong 5A so that the prong 5B will the stir up the soil. A collar 19 on the prong 5A can act as a depth limiter for the tool. Such a collar could also be provided on one or both of the prongs on the type of tool illustrated in Figure 1

In the form of tool shown in Figures 3 and 4, a handle portion 9 merges smoothly into a first prong 10A, generally in line with the handle. The handle is so designed as to enhance the arc of the prong 10A between a point W, where the handle moulds with the prongs, and a point X on the prong 10A. A second prong 10B extends to one side and is somewhat larger in cross section and is also somewhat longer and stronger. Additionally the prong 10B is formed with cutting edges 11 and 12 along its length which helps in digging into the soil and enables that blade to be used, to an extent, in the manner of a hoe. Whilst the handle 9 and the prong 10A form a slight arc between the points W and X, a somewhat more pronounced arc is formed by the outer face of the prong 10B between the points Y and L I his can be used as a pivot by tilting the handle 9, so as, for example, to lift weeds out of the ground. It is particularly suited to use in levering weeds out of a lawn, with the prong 10B being inserted into the ground to engage the weed root with the forked tip, whilst the prong 10A is used as a pointer, to point at the weed and ensure that the prong 10B enters at the optimum location, before it is used to lever the weed upwards. The end of the prong 10B will be more blade-like at the tip and at this point is divided to provide a single elongated wedge-shaped opening 13. In this design, although the pair of prongs are asymmetric, the handle is generally symmetrical so that it can be used with equal facility by right handed and left handed persons and with the prong 10B projecting in any desired direction when the tool is held in the hand.

The tool of any of the forms as illustrated could be formed from a light weight, strong material, such as aluminium alloy or stainless steel. Preferably though the tool of Figures 3 and 4, in particular, will have a plastics handle portion 9A moulded onto an anchor portion (not shown) on a metal part 9B of the handle which merges into the prongs 10A and 10B. Alternatively the handle portion 9A could be shaped from wood and secured to the portion 9B.

Claims

1. A hand-held gardening tool comprising a handle from which projects a pair only of elongated prongs, the first prong constituting an elongation of the handle, whilst the second prong is offset from the axis of the handle.

2. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the second prong is forked.

3. A tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second prong has cutting edges along at least part of its length, so that it becomes more blade- like in form.

4. A tool according to the combination of claims 2 and 3, wherein the forked tip formed on the other end of the second blade comprises a division of the blade-like prong by one or more elongated wedge-shaped openings.

5. A tool according, to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second prong has an arced shape.

6. A tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second prong extends somewhat beyond the tip of the first prong.

7. A tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second prong is arced in a direction away from the first prong, with the two prongs extending generally parallel to each other for most of their length.

8. A tool according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second prong is arced away from the first prong and has a cross-section which transitions from being more round-like near the prong's root, to more blade-like near the prong's tip, and the more blade-like tip is divided to provide a single elongated wedge-shaped opening.

9. A tool according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein one of the prongs is provided with a projecting collar near to the end closest to the handle, to act as a depth insertion limiter for the tool.

10. A hand-held garden tool of a form substantially as described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel combination of features of a hand-held garden tool as described herein and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.