WO2007096101A1

WO2007096101A1 - Device for increasing the force which can be applied to a digging tool, such as a shovel, spade and the like

Info

Publication number: WO2007096101A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/001378
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesco Cozzo
Original assignee: Dy & Vy S.R.L.
Priority date: 2006-02-21
Filing date: 2007-02-16
Publication date: 2007-08-30
Also published as: ITMI20060312A1

Abstract

A device (1) for increasing the force which can be applied to a digging tool, such as a spade, shovel or the like, comprising at least one resting element (2) which is adapted to be connected movably to the handle (3) of a spade or shovel, can be oriented with a preset orientation with respect to said handle of the shovel or spade, and allows resting of the tibia of the operator who holds the shovel or spade.

Description

DEVICE FOR INCREASING THE FORCE WHICH CAN BE APPLIED TO A DIGGING TOOL, SUCH AS A SHOVEL, SPADE AND THE LIKE Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for increasing the force which can be applied to a digging tool, such as a shovel, spade or the like.

More particularly, the invention relates to a device for increasing the force which can be applied to a digging tool, which allows the operator to apply a more effective action to such digging tool, increasing the performance of the tool. Background Art

As is known, digging tools such as spades, shovels and the like are commercially available which require the operator who grips them to press with the sole of his foot on the edge of the shovel or spade, so that it penetrates the ground, and so that the operator can then act on the handle or grip of the digging tool so as to lift a selected amount of soil, sand or the like.

This digging action is therefore performed mainly by using the force that the operator can apply to the edge of the shovel or spade by way of the action of his foot and therefore by using all of his body weight, which rests on the edge of the shovel or spade, to apply the digging force.

However, although this operation is easy to perform even for an operator who is not skilled at using a spade or shovel, it is not very effective dynamically, due to the posture that the operator assumes with respect to the shovel or spade, when he places his foot on the end portion of the shovel or spade, particularly on the edge of the digging part of the tool.

In this situation, the operator in fact tends to rest his own weight on the foot which in turn is placed on the edge of the spade or shovel, and, the body of the operator, while pushing, inevitably tends to lean over and reach beyond the handle or grip of the shovel or spade, with the consequence that the digging action is not as effective as it could be. If the body of the operator does not remain exactly aligned with the handle of the shovel or spade but instead reaches beyond it, the force applied by the operator to the shovel or spade is in fact not directed parallel to the handle or grip of the shovel but has a component at an angle to the handle, with the consequence that the maximum possible force is not transmitted to the shovel or spade.

All this leads to a greater effort for the operator and consequently to reduced work effectiveness. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for increasing the force which can be applied to a digging tool, such as a spade, shovel or the like, which allows the operator to optimize the force that he generates and to transmit it completely to the digging tool.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for increasing the force which can be applied to a digging tool, which allows the operator to achieve better digging effectiveness with respect to known types of tools, with a reduced effort.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for increasing the force which can be applied to a digging tool, which can be applied to the handle or grip of any digging tool. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device for increasing the force which can be applied to a digging tool which is relatively simple to provide and at competitive costs.

This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a device for increasing the force which can be applied to a digging tool, such as a spade, shovel or the like, characterized in that it comprises at least one resting element which allows resting of the tibia of the operator who holds the digging tool.

Advantageously, the resting element is preferably adapted to be connected movably to the handle of a digging tool. Conveniently, the resting element can also be oriented with a preset orientation with respect to the handle of the digging tool and/or can perform a translational motion along a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the handle, so as to adjust its distance from the handle. Brief Description of the Drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the device according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the present invention, applied to a shovel;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention. Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, the device for increasing the force which can be applied to a digging tool, generally designated by the reference numeral 1 , comprises at least a resting element 2, which is adapted to allow resting thereon of the tibia of an operator when the operator grips a handle 3 of a digging tool 4, such as for example a shovel, spade or the like.

The resting element 2 is conveniently connected to a supporting structure 5, which can be applied to the handle or grip 3 of the digging tool or is already integrated with it.

This supporting structure preferably comprises a collar 6, which surrounds the handle 3 in the digging tool 4 and from which at least one arm 7, adapted to support the resting element 2, protrudes. As an alternative, the device according to the invention can have a pair of resting elements 2 and therefore a pair of supporting arms 7 which protrude symmetrically with respect to the collar 6 which is arranged so as to surround the handle 3 of the digging tool.

The presence of two resting elements 2 allows the device to be used by operators who use the digging tool with either their left hand or their right hand.

Conveniently, the resting element 2 can be turned with respect to the arm 7, for example about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of the handle or grip 3 and therefore coincides with the axis of the arm 7 or for example by using a spherical joint which allows the resting element to rotate about any axis, in order to allow the operator to find the most appropriate position for resting his tibia against the resting element 2 and therefore apply the best digging action with respect also to his own physical build.

Likewise, the position of the resting element 2 can be adjusted in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the handle 3 on which it is fitted, in particular by means of the sliding of the resting element 2 along the arm 7.

The embodiment shown in figure 1 uses, as a spherical joint, a block 8 rigidly coupled to the resting element 2 and provided with an opening 9 which allows to insert the arm 7 and is such as to allow the rotation of the block 8 and of the resting element 2 about the arm 7.

In this case, therefore, the rotation of the resting element 2 occurs about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of the handle 3 of the digging tool 4. Advantageously, it is possible to provide locking means for locking the rotation of the resting element 2, which allow to lock its rotation with respect to the supporting arm 7 once the operator has found the most appropriate position for applying the best possible digging action.

Conveniently, the resting element 2 has a concave shape so as to adapt to the corresponding shape of the tibia of the operator, thus substantially surrounding the tibia and allowing to have an effective support for the tibia.

Advantageously, the resting element 2 can be provided with a pad element 1 1, which constitutes a padding of the resting element 2, in order to allow an even more effective action to the operator. Operation of the device described above is as follows.

The operator, by gripping the handle 3 of the digging tool 4, places his foot on the edge of the shovel or spade or on the resting element 10 provided at the shovel or spade and rests his tibia against the resting element 2, applying all his weight onto the foot rested on the spade while having the contrast provided by the resting element 2, which accordingly allows to make the pressure force converge fully downwardly, i.e., toward the edge of the spade or shovel, so as to start an extremely effective digging action.

In practice it has been found that the device according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows to increase the digging performance of an operator with respect to the effort made.

The device thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, for example, it is possible to provide another embodiment as shown in Figure 2, in which two arms 7 protrude from the collar 6, on a same side, and support the resting element 2, for example by passing transversely through it.

In this case, the arms are connected rigidly to the collar 6 and the resting element 2 cannot rotate about planes which lie at an angle with respect to the plane that contains the handle of the digging tool. The only possible rotation of the device is given by the rotation of the collar 6 about the handle.

In this case also, it is possible to provide two resting elements 2 which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the collar 6 and are therefore each supported by two arms 7.

Moreover, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application no. MI2006A000312 from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A device for increasing the force which can be applied to a digging tool, such as a spade, shovel or the like, characterized in that it comprises at least one resting element which is adapted to be connected to the handle of a spade or shovel and allows resting of the tibia of the operator who holds the digging tool.

2. The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said resting element is connected movably to said handle.

3. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said resting element can be oriented with a preset orientation with respect to said handle of said digging tool.

4. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a pair of resting elements which can be arranged symmetrically with respect to said handle.

5. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a collar which is adapted to be arranged around the handle of said shovel or spade, said collar supporting at least one arm for connection to said resting element.

6. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said resting element can rotate with respect to said arm.

7. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said resting element can perform a translational motion along a direction which is substantially perpendicular with respect to said handle of said digging tool.

8. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said resting element is connected to said arm by means of a spherical joint.

9. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said resting element is concave so as to adapt to the shape of the tibia of the operator.

10. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said resting element is provided with a padding which is designed to be directed so as to make contact with the tibia of the operator.

11. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises locking means which are adapted to allow locking of the resting element in a preset orientation with respect to said arm and with respect to the handle of said shovel or spade.

12. The device according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of arms which protrude from said collar and are adapted to support said resting element.

13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that the arms of said pair of arms pass through said resting element.

14. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two pairs of arms which are arranged respectively symmetrically with respect to said collar, each pair of arms supporting a resting element.

15. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said arms of said pairs of arms are connected rigidly to said collar.

16. A digging tool comprising a device according to one or more of the preceding claims.