WO2021078382A1

WO2021078382A1 - Tool

Info

Publication number: WO2021078382A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/078943
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Kohl; Haceli ÖZTURK
Original assignee: Husqvarna Ab
Priority date: 2019-10-23
Filing date: 2019-10-23
Publication date: 2021-04-29
Also published as: EP4048046A1; CN114599222A

Abstract

A tool (100) includes a handle (110) defining a longitudinal axis (A-A´) along a length of the handle (110). The tool (100) includes a first implement (120) coupled to the handle (110). The first implement (120) is adapted to manipulate soil in a first manner. The tool (100) includes a second implement (130) coupled to the first implement (120). The second implement (130) is adapted to manipulate soil in a second manner different from the first manner. The tool (100) is characterized in that the first implement (120) defines a vertex (140). The vertex (140) is defined as a portion of the first implement (120) disposed at a maximum orthogonal distance (D) from the longitudinal axis (A-A´). Further, the second implement (130) is coupled to the first implement (120) within a region of the vertex (140) of the first implement (120).

Description

TOOL

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to gardening tools. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a gardening tool which provides benefits of different types of tool implements integrated in a user-friendly manner.

BACKGROUND

Gardening tools find ubiquitous applications for many outdoor applications. A grubber and a rake are such gardening tools which are used for multiple roles in gardens and the likes. The grubber is generally used to hoe up soil for the outdoor applications. The rake includes a rake portion with multiple straight tines to rake up soil or weed pieces afterwards. However, there have been concerns regarding functional and structural constraints, particularly due to need to maintain and store different tools for such applications.

There have been efforts in the past to work with different combinations of tools integrally coupled with a handle, so as to take benefit of the grubber or the rake with a single tool. But such efforts fail to address some of the major problems associated with stress on grubber, the rake or the handle of the tool. Moreover, these problems pose hindrance in an optimum working angle and user-friendly implementation of the tool.

An example of a gardening tool is provided in US patent number 2,225,108 (hereinafter referred to as Ί08 reference). The Ί08 reference provides a combination implement which includes on one side coarse operating elements such as rake teeth or cultivator hoes for first breaking the ground and on the other side fine operating implement or rake tines for breaking up the coarser clods of earth. Further, a ground roller is cooperating to reduce the earth to a powder or fine mulch. However, the Ί08 reference comes short of optimizing the structural efficiency of the coarse operating elements and the fine operating implement of the combination implement due to angular limitation. This limitation may also have a bearing on the volume carrying capacity or breaking capacity of the combination implement. Thus, there is a need of an improved gardening tool suitable for multiple jobs while taking advantage of different types of tool implements integrated with the gardening tool.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is an objective of the present invention to solve or at least reduce the drawbacks discussed above. The objective is at least partially achieved by a tool. The tool includes a handle defining a longitudinal axis along a length of the handle. The tool includes a first implement coupled to the handle. The first implement is adapted to manipulate soil in a first manner. The tool includes a second implement coupled to the first implement. The second implement is adapted to manipulate soil in a second manner different from the first manner. The tool is characterized in that the first implement defines a vertex. The vertex is defined as a portion of the first implement disposed at a maximum orthogonal distance from the longitudinal axis. The second implement is coupled to the first implement within a region of the vertex of the first implement. Thus, the present disclosure provides a simple, efficient and user-friendly tool which allows utilization of different types of implements ingeniously coupled to the tool.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second implement extends away from the first implement. This helps to position the second implement almost opposite to the first implement, and both the first implement and the second implement can then be used interchangeably by rotation of the tool around the handle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tool defines a transverse axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and passing through a coupling point of the second implement with the first implement. The second implement extends in a range of around 15 mm around the transverse axis.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the region extends up to a distance of around 15 mm on either side of the vertex. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second implement is coupled to the first implement at the vertex.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first implement is a grubber, and the second implement is a rake. The choice of the first implement and the second implement can be from any suitable implements which find application in gardening.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first implement has a first end which is disposed at a first impact angle when the handle is being used at a first working angle. Further, the second implement has a second end which is disposed at a second impact angle when the handle is being used at the first working angle. The second impact angle is equal to the first impact angle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first impact angle and the second impact angle have an angular variation of less than 5 degrees.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tool further comprising a third implement coupled to the second implement and extending angularly away from the second implement.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the third implement extends orthogonally away from the second implement.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the third implement is orthogonal to the coupling part of the second implement with the first implement.

Other features and aspects of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a tool, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 2A, and 2B show perspective views of the tool with the first implement and the second implement in working positions for a same first working angle, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A, and 3B show perspective views of the tool with the first implement and the second implement in working positions, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C show perspective views of the tool with the first implement, the second implement, and the third implement in working positions, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention incorporating one or more aspects of the present invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of structures and/or methods. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "side", "longitudinal", "lateral", "transverse", "upwards", "downwards", "forward", "backward", "sideward", "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "upward", "inner", "outer", "inward", "outward", "top", "bottom", "higher", "above", "below", "central", "middle", "intermediate", "between", "end", "adjacent", "proximate", "near", "distal", "remote", "radial", "circumferential", or the like, merely describe the configuration shown in the Figures. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation of the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

FIG. 1 illustrates a gardening tool 100. The present disclosure makes reference to a rake, and a grubber, however, the present disclosure may be readily applied with any gardening tool 100 such as, but not limited to, a shovel, a fork and the like. The tool 100 includes a handle 110 defining a longitudinal axis A-A’ along a length of the handle 110. The tool 100 includes a first implement 120 coupled to the handle 110. The first implement 120 is adapted to manipulate soil in a first manner (say to hoe up soil by a grubber 120). The tool 100 includes a second implement 130 coupled to the first implement 120. The second implement 130 is adapted to manipulate soil in a second manner (say to rake up soil or weeds by a rake 130) different from the first manner. As illustrated, the first implement 120 is the grubber 120, and the second implement 130 is the rake 130. Further, the grubber 120 of the present disclosure is illustrated with three teeth 121 (refer FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B), however actual implementation of the grubber 120 can have any numbers of teeth or tines, in any configuration or arrangement as used or known in the art. The choice of the first implement 120 and the second implement 130 can be any implement which finds application in gardening.

The tool 100 has the first implement 120 which defines a vertex 140. The vertex 140 is defined as a portion of the first implement 120 disposed at a maximum orthogonal distance D from the longitudinal axis A-A’. The second implement 130 is coupled to the first implement 120 within a region of the vertex 140 of the first implement 120.

Further, the grubber 120 includes a first part 122, a second part 124 and a third part 126. The first part 122 has a straight shape and is attached to the handle 110. The second part 124 has a curved shape and is attached between the first part 122 and the third part 126. The third part 126 again has a straight shape and a first end 128 which engages with the ground 202 during working by the grubber 120, as illustrated in FIG. 2A. Likewise, the rake 130 has a second end 132 which engages with the ground 202 during operations performed by the rake 130, as illustrated in FIG. 2B.

In some embodiments, the second implement 130 can be coupled to the first implement 120 by welding, riveting, or any other suitable fabrication technique used or known in the art. Further, the second implement 130 can be coupled to the first implement 120 such that the second implement 130 can be readily adjusted or moved within the region of the vertex 140. This will allow to obtain different positions of the second implement 130 with respect to the vertex 140 of the first implement 120 and thereby make the tool 100 more user-friendly.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tool 100 defines a transverse axis B-B’ orthogonal to the longitudinal axis A-A’ and passing through a coupling point of the second implement 130 with the first implement 120. The second implement 130 extends in a range of about 15 mm around the transverse axis B-B’.

In a preferred embodiment, the region extends up to a distance (X, Y) of 15 mm on either side of the vertex 140 along the longitudinal axis A-A’ . The region can also have any other value of the distance (X, Y) depending upon the application, particularly on the choice of the first implement 120 and the second implement 130. In some embodiments, value of the distance X can be different from the value of the distance Y as per the requirement of the second implement 130. Moreover, choice of the coupling point of the second implement 130 can be dependent upon multiple factors such as a curvature of the second part 124 of the first implement 120, shape of the second implement 130 (i.e. the rake 130) among others. Further, the second implement 130 is coupled to the first implement 120 at the vertex 140.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first implement 120 has the first end 128 which is disposed at a first impact angle bΐ when the handle 110 is being used at a first working angle a, making combined reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B. Further, the second implement 130 has the second end 132 which is disposed at a second impact angle b2 when the handle 110 is being used at the first working angle a. The second impact angle b2 is equal to the first impact angle bΐ. In some embodiments, the first impact angle bΐ and the second impact angle b2 can have an angular variation less than 5 degrees, or any other value to suit the application.

FIGS. 2A, and 2B illustrates the tool 100 with the first implement 120 and the second implement 130 in working positions, respectively. As illustrated, the tool 100 can be be used interchangeably with the first implement 120 and the second implement 130 just by turning of the tool 100 by around 180 degrees along the longitudinal axis A-A’ of the handle 110. Further, this way the tool 100 can have the same first impact angle bΐ and the second impact angle b2 for the first working angle a. Moreover, the tool 100 will have different working positions of the handle 110, as illustrated in the present figure.

FIGS. 3A, and 3B show perspective views of the tool with the first implement 120 and the second implement 130 in working positions, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the second implement 130 extends away from the first implement 120. This helps to position the second implement 130 almost opposite to the first implement 120, and both the first implement 120 and the second implement 130 can then be used interchangeably by rotation of the tool 100 around the handle 110.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, the tool 100 further includes a third implement 402 which is a brush. The third implement 402 is coupled to the second implement 130 and extends orthogonal to the second implement 130. The third implement 402 extends angularly away from the second implement 130. As will be evident to a person having knowledge in the art, the third implement 402 can be any gardening implement as used or known in the art.

In some embodiments, the third implement 402 is orthogonal to the coupling part of the second implement 130 with the first implement 120. This illustration of the third implement 402 is merely preferable and the present disclosure can be implemented with any coupling position, arrangement, type of the third implement 402.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation of the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

LIST OF ELEMENTS

100 Tool

110 Handle

120 First Implement/Grubber

121 Tooth

122 First Part

124 Second Part

126 Third Part

128 First End

130 Second Implement/Rake

132 Second End

140 Vertex

202 Ground

402 Third Implement a First Working Angle bΐ First Impact Angle bΐ Second Impact Angle

D Maximum Orthogonal Distance

X Distance on side of vertex

Y Distance on side of vertex

A-A’ Longitudinal Axis

B-B’ Transverse Axis

Claims

1. A tool (100) comprising: a handle (110) defining a longitudinal axis (A-A’) along a length of the handle (110); a first implement (120) coupled to the handle (110), wherein the first implement (120) is adapted to manipulate soil in a first manner; a second implement (130) coupled to the first implement (120), wherein the second implement (130) is adapted to manipulate soil in a second manner different from the first manner; characterized in that the first implement (120) defines a vertex (140), wherein the vertex (140) is defined as a portion of the first implement (120) disposed at a maximum orthogonal distance (D) from the longitudinal axis (A-A’); and the second implement (130) is coupled to the first implement (120) within a region of the vertex (140) of the first implement (120).

2. The tool (100) of claim 1, wherein the second implement (130) extends away from the first implement (120).

3. The tool (100) of claim 2, further defining a transverse axis (B-B’) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (A-A’) and passing through a coupling point of the second implement (130) with the first implement (120), wherein the second implement (130) extends in a range of around 15 mm around the transverse axis (B-B’).

4. The tool (100) of any of preceding claims, wherein the region extends up to a distance (X, Y) of around 15 mm on either side of the vertex (140).

5. The tool (100) of any of preceding claims, wherein the second implement (130) is coupled to the first implement (120) at the vertex (140).

6. The tool (100) of any of preceding claims, wherein the first implement (120) is a grubber (120).

7. The tool (100) of any of preceding claims, wherein the second implement (130) is a rake (120).

8. The tool (100) of any of preceding claims, wherein: the first implement (120) has a first end (128) disposed at a first impact angle (bΐ) when the handle (110) is being used at a first working angle (a); the second implement (130) has a second end (132) disposed at a second impact angle (b2) when the handle (110) is being used at the first working angle (a), wherein the second impact angle (b2) is equal to the first impact angle (bΐ).

9. The tool (100) of claim 8, wherein the first impact angle (bΐ) and the second impact angle (b2) have an angular variation of less than 5 degrees.

10. The tool (100) of any of preceding claims, further comprising a third implement (402) coupled to the second implement (130) and extending angularly away from the second implement (130).

11. The tool (100) of claim 10, wherein the third implement (402) extends orthogonally away from the second implement (130).

12. The tool (100) of claim 10, wherein the third implement (402) is orthogonal to the coupling part of the second implement (130) with the first implement (120).