WO2005079549A1

WO2005079549A1 - Gardening tool

Info

Publication number: WO2005079549A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/000461
Authority: WO
Inventors: Derek Christopher Hoole
Original assignee: Derek Christopher Hoole
Priority date: 2004-02-14
Filing date: 2005-02-14
Publication date: 2005-09-01
Also published as: GB0403345D0

Abstract

A gardening tool for weed removal or bulb or seed dispersal comprising an elongate main body (10), a tool head (20), a movable arm (30), operating means (40) for said movable arm, and guide means (50), wherein said main body (10) has a top and bottom end, said tool head (20) depends from said bottom end of said main body (10), said movable arm (30) extends from said main body (10) adjacent to said tool head (20), said guide means (50) is attached to said main body (10) and terminates adjacent to said tool head (20), said operating means (40) being capable of manipulating said movable arm (30) between a lower position where it cooperates with said tool head (20) and an upper position where it is displaced from said tool head (20).

Description

Gardening Tool

This invention relates to gardening tools, specifically to tools used for the removal of weeds from soil and for the planting of seeds or bulbs.

The growing popularity of gardening is putting many people at risk of back pain. Back pain is the UK's leading cause of disability affecting 1.1 million people. It is estimated to cause the loss of 119 million working days annually - at a total cost of almost £4 billion a year to employers. Indeed, gardening accounts for approximately half of the number of back-pain sufferers in the UK, and is a particular problem in people over 35. Gardening can cause muscle strains and sprains, and lead to spasms in the back. Weeding and planting can be dangerous tasks when the back is bent and stretched too far and for too long. Many part-time gardeners are not aware of how to lift properly, how to avoid back strain and what to do if it occurs.

The sensible use of well-designed tools can be an enormous help in reducing the possibility of back pain. Examples of existing weed removal tools used to minimise bending and promote good posture (thereby reducing the chance of injury or pain) are disclosed in JP2002142501 and JP1997028101. Such tools are generally constructed with a long handle, a clamping means and an operating means, thereby allowing the user to remain upright at all times, and using the operating means (e.g. a trigger) to open and close the clamping means, facilitating grabbing and removal of any chosen plant material.

Specifically, JP2002142501 discloses a long-handled tool comprising two clamping pieces at one end, which can be opened and closed through the use of a lever mounted near the opposite end of the tool. When the lever is pulled, the two clamping pieces fit closely together, grabbing a weed with sufficient gripping strength such that it may be pulled out by the root and disposed of. JP 1997028101 also discloses a long-handled tool comprising an operating part and a clamping part. The operating part comprises a trigger and a means by which the clamping part can be opened and closed, and the clamping part comprises a fixed hollow jaw and a movable jaw. The movable jaw is displaced from the fixed jaw, and comprises a blade or serrated edge, such that when the tool is inserted into the ground to remove a weed, and the trigger is squeezed, the operating means moves the movable jaw in cooperation with the fixed jaw such that the weed is severed between the jaws.

The problem with these existing weed removal tools is that they are unreliable. The tool disclosed in JP2002142501 will only work if the flat surfaces of the two clamping pieces can contact each other. In a situation where mud, or a stone, or mixtures thereof are located between the two clamping pieces, the two flat surfaces may be prevented from contacting each other, and there will be insufficient grip to remove a given weed by the root. Similarly, the cutting or severing action of the tool disclosed in JP 1997028101 also relies on the movable and fixed jaws being debris-free - stones, mud, sticks, or leaf matter may clog up the jaws and prevent closure, or may be too resilient for the cutting action of the tool to cope with. These tools are also not very versatile, being made with a particular weed or plant in mind, with little adaptability for relatively bigger or smaller plants or weeds. In addition, the prior art tools are mechanically complex and heavy, or have hollow jaws which tend to accumulate undesired debris or matter, e.g. soil, mud, and stones, which will weigh it down. This therefore makes the prior art tools further unsuitable for e.g. elderly gardeners, who may require a lightweight yet highly effective gardening tool.

The present invention aims to provide a solution to these problems by providing a versatile, long-handled gardening tool for use in an upright position, which can be used for weeding, and planting and dispersal of seeds and bulbs. The tool comprises a tool head, a movable arm for gripping and manipulation of plant matter and soil in cooperation with the tool head (either or both of which may be detachable), and a seed/bulb dispersal means.

Thus according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gardening tool, useful for e.g. weed removal or bulb or seed dispersal, comprising an elongate main body, a tool head, a movable arm, operating means for the movable arm, and guide means, wherein the main body has a top and bottom end, the tool head depends from the bottom end of the main body, the movable arm extends from the main body adjacent to the tool head, the guide means is attached to the main body and terminates adjacent to the tool head, the operating means being capable of manipulating the movable arm between a lower position where it cooperates with the tool head and an upper position where it is displaced from the tool head.

The guide means can be arranged so as to enable delivery of matter (e.g. bulbs and seeds etc.) to the bottom end of the main body adjacent to the tool head. The guide means may comprise a tube, attached to and running the length of the main body of the gardening tool, terminating adjacent to the tool head. The tube may be used to target and deliver bulbs, seeds, fertiliser tablets, or plant food into a desired position on the ground, where the dropped item may be further manipulated through the use of the movable arm and/or tool head. The guide means may have a diameter sufficiently large to cope with bulbs such as e.g. amaryllis, daffodil, tulip, or onions.

The movable arm may be biased toward the upper position, for example by way of a spring.

The tool head may comprise a blade for digging (as discussed below), thus enabling digging and the planting of e.g. bulbs and seeds by passing them down the guide means, allowing planting without the need for bending or direct contact with the soil. This tool has a number of advantages over existing weed removal tools, or indeed conventional tools which put the user at risk of back pain or injury. The tool according to the present invention has an elongate body e.g. a long-handle, which allows the user to stand upright thereby decreasing the possibility of muscle fatigue or injury. The tool head may be used in a variety of tasks e.g. digging, hoeing, raking, cultivating, and in conjunction with the movable arm, a user is able to manipulate plant matter, soil, weeds, or bulbs or seeds which can be targeted and delivered to the ground through the guide means.

The present inventor has in fact found that the present invention can allow a person suffering from back injury to effectively and efficiently perform gardening tasks when they would be wholly unable to do so using prior art gardening apparatus.

The elongate main body may have a handle at the top end e.g. may be curved, to facilitate gripping and handling by a user. The main body may comprise an attached handle to facilitate two-handed use of the tool by a user. The handle may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the main body, or at an angle which makes two-handed use of the tool easier. Hand grips, for example manufactured from rubber, may be fitted to the handle and/or the top end of the main body of the tool.

The tool head may be detachable from the gardening tool. As such the gardening tool may be fitted with a variety of tool head attachments which can be selected depending on the job at hand. A tool head may be attached to the main body of the tool and be fastened through the use of e.g. a tightening screw. Other means of fastening the detachable tool head are envisioned and will be well known to a person skilled in the art.

The tool head may comprise a blade for digging. The blade may be substantially rectangular or square with a sharpened bottom edge (e.g. analogous to a blade fitted to a spade), or the blade may be trowel shaped, i.e. have a curved bottom edge and be arcuate in transverse section. Other blades for digging and cultivating are envisioned and will be known to a person skilled in the art.

The tool head may comprise a fork, rake or cultivator, with a plurality of tines attached to a back or top tine support. A tool head comprising a fork may have tines which are strong and straight, for example three or four. The ends of the tines may be pointed and sharp to facilitate spearing or forking of any desired material e.g. soil or plant matter. A tool head comprising a rake may have many flexible tines, which may be thinner than the tines on the tool head comprising a fork. The tines may be attached to a top or back tine support. Relative to the main body of the gardening tool, the tines on the rake may depend from the top or back tine support at a generally perpendicular angle, or the tines may be arranged in a fan shape, or other configuration to maximise the raking capacity of the tool. The tines may be curved or bent at the distal end to further improve the raking capacity of the tool and facilitate it's use by a person standing upright and holding the tool in a generally downward direction. A tool head comprising a cultivator may comprise a plurality of tines (e.g. three) which are curved or bent for example by 180 degrees such that the distal ends of the tines run substantially parallel to the proximal ends of the tines.

The tool head may comprise a hoe attachment for loosening and disrupting weeds from soil. The tool head may comprise an edging iron - a substantially demi- or semi-circular shaped blade with a sharpened circumferential edge for use in edging of lawns and flower beds. The tool head may comprise a stop or similar flat surface, against which e.g. leaf litter may be gathered. Other tool head attachments for other garden tasks are envisioned and will be well known to a person skilled in the art.

The movable arm may comprise a fulcrum which may be pivotally mounted on the main body of the gardening tool, adjacent to the tool head, for example it may be mounted on a pin running through the main body of the tool. The movable arm may additionally comprise a tool head cooperating section, and a base. The base may be attached to an operating means which comprises a spring which is biased to maintain the movable arm in an upper position i.e. displaced from the tool head. The operating means can be employed by a user of the tool to move the movable arm from the upper position to a lower position where it cooperates with the tool head. In doing so, the clamping action of the movable arm against the tool head serves to trap, grasp or grip any desired material (e.g. a bulb or soil), which can be manipulated according to the users needs.

The use of the movable arm in conjunction with the variable tool head pieces means that the tool is suitable for a number of garden tasks e.g. planting bulbs, planting bedding plants, crop picking, cultivating, weeding, edging, and raking/lifting of leaf litter.

The operating means may comprise a rod attached to the base of the movable arm which runs along the main body of the tool and terminates at the top end of the main body. The rod may be formed into a lever or trigger at it's terminus, such that manipulation e.g. by pulling or squeezing of the lever or trigger causes the movable arm to move from the upper position to the lower position. Letting go of the lever or trigger will allow the spring to contract and restore the movable arm to the upper position where it is displaced from the tool head. Other means of manipulation of the movable arm are envisioned and will be well known to a person skilled in the art. The main body of the gardening tool may be hollow and the rod of the operating means may be positioned within the hollow main body, thereby protecting it from physical damage or inclement weather.

The tool head cooperating section may be detachable from the movable arm. The tool head cooperating section may slip onto the movable arm and be fastened in place with the aid of for example a tightening screw. Other means of attachment and fastening of the tool head cooperating section to the movable arm are envisaged and will be well known to a person skilled in the art. The tool head cooperating section of the movable arm may comprise a plurality of prongs or tines (e.g. three) attached to a top tine support, which may be of the same length or of variable lengths. The tool head cooperating section may comprise a rake useful for example when collecting leaf litter using a tool head comprising a blade, stop, or similar flat surface. Other variations of the tool head cooperating section are envisaged and will be well known to a person skilled in the art. The choice of tool head cooperating section may be influenced by the choice of tool head, such that the tool head and the tool head cooperating section complement each other in terms of function. For example, if the tool head is a digging blade, the tool head cooperating section may comprise a three pronged fork. In contrast, if the tool head cooperating section comprises a rake the tool head may comprise a blade, stop or similar flat surface to act as a stop against which raked up material such as leaf litter may be gathered.

The main body of the gardening tool may comprise a stirrup, positioned for use with downwardly directed foot pressure to facilitate entry of a tool head comprising an e.g. digging blade or cultivator, into the ground.

The gardening tool may be manufactured from stainless steel, or aluminium or other lightweight material. The tool head, movable arm, and guide means may also be manufactured from a durable and resilient plastics material. The tool head can be manufactured from stainless steel which results in low friction when it is inserted into the ground, making it easier to use. The tool can also be very light - the handle may be manufactured as a hollow tube, for example out of aluminium, and the reduced weight means that the tool is easier to use, and less tiring. The tool can also be well balanced - the weight of the main body and position of the handle can counteract the weight of the tool head resulting in a gardening tool which is easier to use.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts for gardening work comprising a gardening tool, and an at least one guide means, the gardening tool comprising an elongate main body, a tool head, a movable arm, operating means for the movable arm, wherein the main body has a top and bottom end, the tool head depends from the bottom end of the main body, the movable arm extends from the main body adjacent to the tool head, the operating means being capable of manipulating the movable arm between a lower position where it cooperates with the tool head and an upper position where it is displaced from the tool head, and the guide means being attachable to the main body of the tool, the guide means terminating adjacent to the tool head when attached to the main body of said gardening tool.

The kit may include more than one guide means, for example as removably attachable tubes of various diameters, which can be selected for the job at hand, and attached to the tool accordingly. For example, a guide means for delivery and dispersal of large plant bulbs may be included in the kit, together with a guide means with a smaller diameter which could be used to deliver and disperse for example, seeds.

The guide means may be removably attachable to the main body of the tool.

The kit of parts may additionally comprise an at least one additional tool head, which may comprise a rake, hoe, digging blade, fork, edging iron or cultivator. Other tool head attachments are envisaged and will be well known to a person skilled in the art.

The kit of parts may additionally comprise an at least one additional tool head cooperating section. The at least one additional tool head cooperating section may comprise a fork, blade, stop, or similar flat surface. Other tool head cooperating sections are envisaged and will be well known to a person skilled in the art.

A hopper or storage vessel, for example manufactured of plastic may also be included in the kit (or the gardening tool of the first aspect of the present invention). The hopper may be removably attachable to the guide means, and the hopper may be filled with bulbs or seeds, and attached to the top of the guide means, thereby facilitating the delivery and dispersal of large quantities of seeds or bulbs.

A preferred embodiment of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a gardening tool with the movable arm in an upper position, displaced from the tool head: (A) side elevation, and (B) front elevation; Figure 2 shows a gardening tool in three dimensional view with the movable arm in an upper position, displaced from the tool head;

Figure 3 shows the detachable guide means with: (A) small bore and (B) larger bore;

Figure 4 shows detachable tool head sections: (A) rake, (B) Hoe, (C) Edging iron, (D) Cultivator, and (E) Edging iron attached to the gardening tool; and

Figure 5 shows leaf gathering attachments for the gardening tool; (A) tool head cooperating section comprising rake attachment, and (B) tool head section comprising a stop.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a gardening tool (5) comprises a main body (10) having bottom (11) and top ends (12), a tool head (20), a movable arm (30), operating means (40), and guide means (50). The main body (10) comprises a handle (60) at the top end (12), and an attached handle (70) to facilitate two-handed use of the tool (5). The tool head (20) comprises a digging blade (80), and the movable arm (30) comprises a tool head cooperating section (90), a fulcrum (100) and a base (110). The fulcrum (100) of the movable arm (30) is mounted on a pin (120) running through the main body (10) of the tool (5). The base (110) of the movable arm (30) is attached to operating means (40) which comprises a rod (140) attached to and running substantially parallel to the main body (10) of the tool (5), terminating at the top end (11) in a lever (150). The operating means additionally comprises a spring (145) which is biased to maintain the movable arm (30) in an upper position where it is displaced from the tool head. Operation of the lever (150) by a user of the tool (5) causes the movable arm to move from the upper position to a lower position where the tool head cooperating section (90) cooperates with the tool head (20), allowing the user to manipulate any desired material such as soil or plant bulbs.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, guide means (50) comprises a tube (160) of either small bore (Figure 3A) or large bore (Figure 3B) and clips (170) which facilitate attachment of the guide means (50) to the main body of the tool.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, the tool head (20) comprises a rake attachment (Figure 4A; 180) comprising a top tine support (190) and fastening means (200). The tool head (20) shown in Figure 4B shows a hoe attachment (210). The tool head (20) shown in Figure 4C shows an edging iron attachment (220). The tool head (20) shown in Figure 4D shows a cultivator attachment (230). Figure 4E shows a gardening tool (5) fitted with a detachable tool head (20) comprising an edging iron attachment (220).

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, Figure 5 A shows a tool head cooperating section (90) comprising a rake attachment (250) useful for example in raking up leaf litter, and Figure 5B shows a tool head (20) comprises a stop (260), against which debris such as leaf litter can be collected.

Claims

1. A gardening tool comprising an elongate main body, a tool head, a movable arm, operating means for said movable arm, and guide means, wherein said main body has a top and bottom end, said tool head depends from said bottom end of said main body, said movable arm extends from said main body adjacent to said tool head, said guide means is attached to said main body and terminates adjacent to said tool head, said operating means being capable of manipulating said movable arm between a lower position where it cooperates with said tool head and an upper position where it is displaced from said tool head.

2. A gardening tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide means extends the length of said main body, terminating at said top end of said main body, so as to facilitate the delivery and dispersal of items dropped into said guide means.

3. A gardening tool as claimed in any of the previous claims wherein said main body additionally comprises a handle, said handle being attached to said main body so as to facilitate two-handed operation of said gardening tool.

4. A gardening tool as claimed in any of the previous claims wherein said tool head is detachable from said main body.

5. A gardening tool as claimed in any of the previous claims wherein said tool head comprises a blade for digging.

6. A gardening tool as claimed in any of claims 1-4 wherein said tool head comprises a fork, rake or cultivator, said fork, rake or cultivator having a plurality of tines attached to a back or top tine support.

7. A gardening tool as claimed in any of claims 1-4 wherein said tool head comprises a hoe, edging iron, or stop.

8. A gardening tool as claimed in any of the previous claims wherein said movable arm comprises a tool head cooperating section, a fulcrum, and a base, said fulcrum being mounted on a pin attached to said main body adjacent to said tool head, said base being attached to said operating means, said operating means additionally comprising a spring, said spring being biased to maintain said movable arm in said upper position, said operating means being capable of pivoting said movable arm between said upper position where said tool head cooperating section cooperates with said tool head and said lower position where said movable arm is displaced from said tool head.

9. A gardening tool as claimed in any of the previous claims wherein said operating means comprises a rod attached to said base of said movable arm and said top end of said main body, said rod running substantially parallel to said main body of said gardening tool, said rod terminating in a lever or trigger for operation by a user to pivot said movable arm from said upper position to said lower position.

10. A gardening tool as claimed in any of the previous claims wherein said tool head cooperating section of said movable arm is detachable from said movable arm.

11. A gardening tool as claimed in any of the previous claims wherein said tool head cooperating section of said movable arm comprises a fork, said fork comprising a plurality of tines attached to a top tine support.

12. A gardening tool as claimed in any of the previous claims wherein said main body additionally comprises a stirrup, said stirrup being located above and adjacent to said tool head.

13. A gardening tool as claimed in any of the previous claims wherein said tool head is manufactured from stainless steel or a resilient and durable plastic.

14. A gardening tool as claimed in any of the previous claims wherein said main body is manufactured from stainless steel, aluminium, or mixtures thereof.

15. A kit of parts comprising a gardening tool, and an at least one guide means, said gardening tool comprising an elongate main body, a tool head, a movable arm, operating means for said movable arm, wherein said main body has a top and bottom end, said tool head depends from said bottom end of said main body, said movable arm extends from said main body adjacent to said tool head, said operating means being capable of manipulating said movable arm between a lower position where it cooperates with said tool head and an upper position where it is displaced from said tool head, and said guide means being attachable to said main body of said gardening tool, said guide means terminating adjacent to said tool head when attached to said main body of said gardening tool.

16. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 15, additionally comprising an at least one additional tool head.

17. A kit of parts as claimed in either of claims 15 and 16, additionally comprising an at least one additional tool head cooperating section.

18. A gardening tool substantially as herein described with reference to and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings.