GB2183432A - A multi-purpose implement - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-purpose implement for horticultural or agricultural use, comprises an elongate shaft (12) having a blade member (19) at one end with a free edge portion (21) for performing horticultural or agricultural tasks, an arm (22) pivotally attached to the shaft by means of a pivot (24) and carrying a contact member (26) at or adjacent one end: the arm (22) can be turned about the pivot (24) by means of a handle mechanism (37) joined to the end (25) of the arm (23) remote from the counter member (26) by a flexible sheathed cable (31) allowing gripping actions of the blade (19) and plate (26) to be performed by squeezing the handle mechanism (37) at the remote end of the shaft (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A multi-purpose implement The present invention relates to a multi-purpose implement, and particularlyto an implement specificallyadaptedforagricultural and/or horticultural use.

In particular, the present invention provides an implement having a relatively fixed blade at the end of an elongate shaft which is useableasa hoe and for other purposes.

Conventional hoesfall into two maintypes,the so-called "Dutch" hoe has a hoe blade of approx imately flat shape lying in a plane which forms an acute angleto the length of the shaft, the blade having a cutting edge at the side remote from the attachment to the handle and extending transversely ofthe length ofthe handle. In use such hoes are operated with a forward and downward pushing action driving the cutting edge ofthe blade awayfrom the user into the soil just underthesurface in such a way asto sever the stems of any weeds encountered.The other known type of conventional hoe has a flat blade at the end of the shaftwhich is held, often on a curved rigid supporting arm, ata ratherangletothe length ofthe shaft, normally approaching 90". Such a hoe is used with a "chopping" action.

Both known types of hoe have the disadvantage that although in usetheycanseverweedsfromtheir existing roots they do not incorporate means for removing the weeds from the original site and many weeds of such a propensity for regrowth that a severed stem, providing it is not dried too quickly by the sun orwind, can putdown new roots and continue growing unabated.

The present invention seeks to provide an implement, useable as a hoe, in which this problem can be overcome easily without it being necessary for the operator separately to gather the severed weeds.

The present invention also seeks to provide an implement having a multiplicity of other uses in the garden environment, enabling a user, for example, to pick fruit at a distance greaterthan the normal reach, without requiring ladders or platforms, and which can also be used to pick up light items from the ground avoiding unnecessary bending.

According to the present invention,therefore, an implementforhorticultural or agricultural use comprising an elongate shaft having at one end a blade member fixedly mounted thereto, the blade member extending away from the shaft and having a free edge portion for performing horiticultural or agricultural operations, is further provided with an arm pivotally attached to the shaft and carrying at or adjacent one endthereofacontactmemberand meansforturning the arm about its pivotal connection to the shaft whereby to cause the contact member to approach or move away from the blade.

Various different forms of contact member are envisaged within the scope ofthe invention defined hereinabove. In a preferred embodimentthe contact member is relativelyflat plate, although it may have one or more flanges extending transversely offthe general plane ofthe plate and formed along one or more of the edges ofthe plate. Alternatively, however, the contact member may be in the form of aforkwith two or more prongs, and in place of prongs a mesh contact member may be employed.

In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention the said means forturning the arm include a cable leading to an operating lever mounted on the shaft atthe end thereof remote from the blade. The cable is preferably a sheathed type having an inner cable attached at one end to the said operating lever and at the other end to the said pivoted arm carrying the plate, an outer sheath extending from the operating lever to the shaft where it is carried in appropriate mountings to enable itto resist tension applied to the inner cable by operation ofthe lever.

Preferablythesaid pivoted arm is a second order lever, namely one having an intermediate pivot and a first lever arm extending in one direction on one side ofthe pivot and a second lever arm extending in the opposite direction on the other side of the pivot. In such an embodiment the contact member may be carried on one lever arm whilstthe connection means forthe end ofthe inner cable can be carried on the other lever arm.

The said connection means forthe inner cable, for connecting itto the said other arm may be adjustable along the length ofthearmwherebytovarvtheforce applied bythe contact memberforagiven tension in the cable.

In the preferred embodiment the shaft istelescopically adjustable in length and the cable is carried thereon by attachment or mounting means which allow a surplus length of cable to form a loop thereof to permitthe extension oftheshafttotake place.

The bladefixedly mounted to the shaft and/orthe contact member (whatever its form) may be removably mounted on the shaft and/orthe arm respectively to allow removal thereof for replacement with a blade and/or contact member having a different width for the performance of different tasks. For example, particularly narrow blade and plate combinations may be employed for hoeing between plants in a row whereas rather wide blade and plate configurations may be used when hoeing between rows. The multiple purpose tool ofthe present invention can also be used for other tasks because ofthe provision ofthe pick-up formed bythe pivoted arm and the contact member.For example, fruit growing out of reach can be plucked simply by placing the blade and contact member on either side and squeezing the operating levergentlyto contactthe fruit. When being used as a hoe the implement of the present invention provides the advantage over conventional hoes that any weeds severed by the blade can be gripped by squeezing the leverto close the contact member on to the blade, and can be immediately deposited in a pile or in a The drawing(s) originallyfiled was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a laterfiledformal copy.

The claims were filed later than the filing date within the period prescribed by Rule 25(1) of the Patents Rules 1982.

container orwheelbarrowfortransportation away from the original site, suitably for destruction.

Conveniently the said arm carrying contact member is resiliently biased to a position holding the contact member and the plates spaced from one another, this resilient bias being overcome upon actuation ofthe said operating lever. The resilient bias means may be, for example, a tension spring stretched between the shaft and the arm or may be a coil spring acting between the shaft and the arm.

To facilitate use of the implement of the present invention for a multiplicity of different uses it is convenientto mountthe operating lever on the shaft in such a way that it can be tu rned a rou nd the shaft to different angular positions thereby enabling the hand of a user to grip the lever in the same orientation whilst, in effect, changing the orientation ofthe blade and the counter member carried on the pivoted arm.

By making the blade and the counter member relatively easily removable it is also possible to form waring blade edges on the end ofthe shaft and a part of it pivoted arm which comes into contact with it upon turning movement ofthe arm aboutthe pivot so thatthe implement can be used, for example for cutting lawn edges and the like.

One embodiment ofthe present invention will now be more particularly described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing the single figure of which is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment. The implement shown is generally indicated with the reference numeral 11 and comprises a shaft 12formed in two parts, namely an outerfirst part 13 and an inner, second part 14 of smallerdiametertelescopically slidable within the first part 13 and lockable by means of a screw threaded clamping ring nut 15 on the lowerend ofthe main shaft member 13.

In the embodiment illustrated the lowertelescopic shaftmember 14 is madefrom tubularmetai, such as steel, and has a flattened end portion 16 into which is fitted a shaft extension member 17 which is held in position ontheflattened portion 16 by rivets 18. In other embodiments (not shown), however, the lower telescopic shaft member 14 may be of different structures such thatthe shaft extension 17 may be integrallyformed with the lower shaft member 14 by casting or other metal fabricating techniques.The shaft extension 17 carries a blade 19 having a first part 20 lying in a plane transversely off and including the line ofthe shaft extension 17 and a second part 21 at an acute angle to the extension to this plane in a direction awayfrom the end ofthe shaft extension member 17.

The pivotally attached to the shaft extension member 17 is a second order lever 22 pivotally connected by a pivot 24to the shaft extension member 17 and comprising a first lever arm 23 extending from the pivot 24 to a position overthe blade 19 and a second leverarm 25 coaxial with the arm 23 and extending in the opposite direction from the pivot 24. The lever arm 23 carries a contact member, in this embodiment in the form of a flat plate 26 having a transverse flange 27 extending generally perpendicularlywith respect to the plane ofthe flat plate 26 and lying in a plane perpendicularto the line ofthe arm 23. A plane of the plate 26 is parallel to the line of the arm 23.

The second arm 25 ofthe lever 22 has an elongate slot 28 formed therein to receive a clamping nut and bolt 29 adjustably positionable along the length ofthe slot 28. The clamp bolt 29 secures the end of an inner cable 30 of a Bowden-type sheathed cable 31 the outer casing 32 of which is secured at a screwed mount 33 carried on an adjuster 34 fixed to the lower shaft member 14. The cable 31 is carried in attachment clips 35,36 on the upper or main shaft member 13, and leads to an operating lever generally indicated 37 comprising a lever body 38 secured to the upper shaft member 13 bya clamp saddle 39 and two screws 40, 41, and an operating lever arm 42 pivotally connected at 43 to the lever body 38.The inner cable 30 of the Bowden type sheathed cable 31 is secured to the lever arm 42, whilst the outer sheath 32 ofthe cable 31 is fitted to a terminal 44 on the lever body 38. The length ofthe cable 31 is such that it is carried in rather loose loops between the lever 37 and clip 36, between the two clips 35 and 36, and between the clip 35 and the mount 34 so that telescopic extensions and contractions ofthe shaft 12 effected by releasing the clamp nut 15 and sliding the lowertelescopic shaft member 14 outwardlyorinwardlyofthe main shaft member 13 can be effected without constraint over the whole of the required range oftelescopic adjustment ofthe shaft.

Atthe upper end ofthe main shaft member 13 is a handle 45 provided for comfort and convenience of the user. The clamping saddle 39 issecured bythe screws 40,41 at a pressure sufficient to retain the lever body 38 securely in position, but allowing the body 38 to be turned angularlyaboutthe main shaft member 13 between the position illustrated in Figure 1 and an alternative position spaced 180"therefrom. The purpose of such adjustment will become apparent hereinbelow.

In use ofthetool illustrated the blade portion 21 can be driven into the soil or moved overthe surface buy a user gripping the handle 45 and the main shaft member 13ata suitableand convenient position along its length, and the implement can be used as a conventional hoe. However, once weeds have been severed by use ofthe blade 21 the dead weed bodies can be removed from their original site by squeezing thelever42which causestheinnercable30tobe retracted andthe lever22to beturned, in an anti clockwise direction as viewed in the drawing, until the contact plate 26 comes into contact with the plate 21 gripping the weeds between the blade 21 and the plate 26. The implement 11 can then be swung around to any convenient position to release the weeds, either into a collection heap or into a container such as a wheel barrow, and upon release ofthe lever 42 the lever arm 22 is returned to its original position by a biasing spring 46 extending between the first lever arm 23 and a fixed point on the lowershaftmember 14. Thetransverseflange 27 is shaped and positioned such that it closely fits overthe end ofthe blade 21 when the plate 26 is in contacttherewith so asto ensure a close and secure gripping action on smaller weed.

In addition to its use as a hoe, the implement ofthe present invention also has a multiplicity of other uses.

For example, byturning the lever body 38 thorough 1800 as referred to above, it is possible to reverse the position ofthe plate 26 and the blade 21, whilst maintaining the user's grip on the handle 45 and the lever42 inthe same orientation, so that the implement can be used as a pick-up tool for any items atground level such asweeds, litter orthe like.In this configura- tionthetool may also be raised overhead so that the blade 21 and plage 26 can be used to pick fruit and, in orderto avoid bruising,the clamp nut 29 mayforthis purpose be adjusted along the slot 28 to reduce the mechanical advantage of the lever arm 25 thereby reducing theforce applied by the plate 26 and the blade 21 forgiven squeezing force appliedto the lever 42.

Finally, the cooperating edges ofthe shaft extension 17 and the first lever arm 23may be sharpened as shears allowing the implement to be used to trim lawn edgesoreven hedges.

Although not illustrated,the blade 19 and plate 26 may be removable from the shaft extension member 17 and second lever arm 23 respectively, to be replaced by similar cooperating members of different size or different nature. For examplethe flat plates could be replaced by forks having two or more tines, a rake head and gather plate, or wider blade and plate for rapid work on wider areas in some soil.

The implement of the present invention is capable of being used over a wide range of conditions and considerably eases the work load ofthe gardener whilst being helpfulfortheelderlyorinfirm in enabling them to reach the ground without bending.

Claims (18)

1. An implementforhoriticultural or agricultural use comprising an elongate shaft having a blade member at one end, the blade member extending awayfrom the shaft and having a free edge portion for performing horiticultural or agricultural operations, in which there is further provided an arm pivotally attached to the shaft and carrying a contact member at oradjacent one end thereof, and meansforturningthe arm about its pivotal connection to the shaft whereby the cause the contact memberto approach or move away from the blade.

2. An implement as claimed in Claim 1, in which the said meansforturningthe arm includes a cable leading to an operating lever mounted on the shaft at the end thereof remote from the blade.

3. An implement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the contact member is a plate or blade.

4. An implement as claimed in Claim 1 Claim 2, in which the contact member is a forked element.

5. An implement as claimed in anyof Claims 2to 4, in which the cable is a sheathed type having an inner cable attached at one end to the said operating lever and at the other end to the said pivoted arm carrying the plate.

6. An implement as claimed in Claim 5, in which the said pivoted arm is a second order lever having a first lever arm extending on one side of the pivot and carrying the blade and a second lever arm extending on the other side ofthe pivot and carrying connection means by which the end of the inner cable is connected thereto.

7. An implement as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the shaftistelescopically adjustable in length and the cable is carried thereon by attachment or mounting means which allow a surplus length of cabletoforma Ioopthereoftoallowforextensionof theshaft.

8. An implement as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the blade and/orthe contact member is or are removably mounted on the shaft and the arm respectively to allow removal thereof, for replacement with a blade and/or contact member having a different width for the performance of different tasks.

9. An implement as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the said arm carrying the contact member is resiliently biased to a position holding the contact member and blade spaced from one another, this resilient bias being overcome upon actuation of the said operating lever.

10. An implement as claimed in Claim 9 in which the resilient biasing means comprise a tension spring stretched between the shaft and the arm.

11. An implemenent as claimed in Claim 9, in which the resilient biasing means comprise a coil spring acting between the arm and the shaft.

12. An implement as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the attachment means for attaching the cable to the arm are adjustable along the arm whereby to varytheforce applied bythe arm fora given tension in the cable.

13. An implemenent as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the operating lever at the end ofthe shaft is movable to different positions around the shaft whereby to permitthe orientation ofthe blade to be varied for a given orientation ofthe handle.

14. An implement as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the blade is a hoe blade extending away from the shaft in a direction generally parallel to the length ofthe shaft.

15. An implement as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the said arm carrying the contact member is provided with a sharp edge for cooperating with the contacting edge ofthe adjacent part ofthe shaft wherebyto provide a shearing action.

16. An implement as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the blade and the contact memberare carried on a mechanism which causes them both to be displaced with respect to the shaft in substantially equal and opposite directions to move away from one anotherortoapproach one another.

17. An implement as claimed in Claim 15 in which the said mechanism is a pantograph mechanism with substantially equal arms.

18. An implementforperforming horticultural or agricultural tasks, substantially as hereinbefore de scribed with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.