GB2489231A

GB2489231A - Soil working hand tool

Info

Publication number: GB2489231A
Application number: GB201104688A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Hardy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-03-21
Filing date: 2011-03-21
Publication date: 2012-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-21
Also published as: GB2489231B; GB201104688D0

Abstract

A soil-working hand tool, comprises a shaft 2 and a socket 1 mounted at one end thereof. First and second blades 3, 5 are mounted in the socket and project forwardly there from, each blade having a cutting edge which is directed away from the shaft. A third blade 4 is mounted between the first and second blades and projects forward of the shaft by a shorter distance than the other two blades. The blades may be triangular in profile, with the cutting edge representing the base of the triangle. The cutting edge may be curved. The soil working tool maybe in the form of a Dutch hoe.

Description

SOIL-WORKING HAND TOOL

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a soil-working hand tool, for example a hoe.

Background to the Invention

The hoe is probably one of the oldest hand tools used in cultivation of food crops, and it continues in use even now. It is essentially a cutting blade on a pole, and there are variants that enable the blade to be pushed away from the user, or drawn towards them.

There have been many attempts to improve the efficiency of the hoe.

For example, GB2186774A discloses a double-bladed hoe which can be used in either direction, i.e. towards or away from the user. GB2336284A discloses a hoe having a second blade mounted below and parallel to the main blade. In one variant, a third blade is mounted below the second blade. US1 699933 dis-closes a double hoe of the type which is drawn towards the user, wherein the second blade is mounted on and extends from the first blade so that the cutting faces are parallel.

While all of these offer some advantages over the simple, single-bladed, hoe, it has now been found that efficiency of cultivation can be further in-creased.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a soil-working hand tool comprising a shaft mounting at one end thereof first and second forwardly-directed blades, each presenting a cutting edge directed away from the shaft, and a third blade mounted between the first and second blades and projecting forward of the shaft by a shorter distance than the other two blades.

The blades are each preferably of generally triangular form, with the base of the triangle represented by the cutting edge, and are generally flat, alt-hough they may alternatively be curved so that the cutting edge is curved in a plane transverse to the axis of the shaft. Equally, the cutting edge may lie on a straight line or in a curve in the plane of the blade. It will be appreciated that the curve may extend in more than one plane at the same time.

The vertical spacing between the cutting edges is suitably of the order of 25mm. Other features of the invention are set out in the claims.

It has been found that the tool of the invention can cultivate soil more ef- fectively, and with less physical effort on the part of the user, than a conven-tional hoe.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the inven-tion: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hoe; Figure 2 is a corresponding view of the head end of the hoe of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the head of the hoe shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a top plan view of the head of the hoe.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

Referring first to Figure 1, the hoe is in the form of a triple-bladed Dutch hoe, with a socket portion 1 receiving the end of a shaft 2 (which is suitably formed from wood, steel, aluminium, or plastics). First, second and third blades 3, 4 and 5 are mounted in and project forward from the socket portioni. Each blade consists of an open generally triangular portion 3a, 4a or 5a extending from neck portions 3b, 4b or Sb of varying lengths, extending from the socket portion 1, and carrying a cutting edge portion 3c, 4c or Sc. The first or upper and second or centre blades 3 and 4 are generally planar, with just the cutting edge portions being slightly angled upwardly relative to the remainder of the blade, while the lower blade S has a more pronounced curved portion such that the cutting edge portion Sc is approximately parallel to the plane of the upper blade 3. The blades extend outwardly from the socket portion so as to diverge away from each other.

The upper blade 3 extends the furthest distance from the socket portion, while the centre blade 4 extends the shortest distance from the socket portion 1.

The blades 3-S are conveniently formed of steel, preferably stainless steel to prevent corrosion in use.

This arrangement of blades enables clumps of soil to be trapped be- tween the upper and lower blades and broken by the central blade, thus render-ing cultivation of soil, particularly heavier soil, easier. A finer tilth can be achieved more quickly, and with fewer strokes, than with a conventional hoe because of the trapping action of the outer blades and the subsequent cutting action of the central blade. The hoe of the invention is also advantageous for chopping manure and distributing it into the soil.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A soil-working hand tool comprising a shaft mounting at one end thereof first and second forwardly-directed blades, each presenting a cutting edge directed away from the shaft, and a third blade mounted between the first and second blades and projecting forward of the shaft by a shorter distance than the other two blades.
2. A hand tool according to Claim 1, wherein each blade is of gener-ally triangular shape with the cutting edge representing the base of the triangle
3. A hand tool according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein each blade is gen-erally planar.
4. A hand tool according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein each blade is curved whereby the cutting edge is curved in a plane transverse to the axis of the shaft.
5. A hand tool according to any preceding claim, wherein each cut-ting edge lies in a straight line.
6. A hand tool according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each cut-ting edge is curved when viewed from above.
7. A soil-working hand tool, substantially as described with reference to, and/or as shown in, the drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: 1. A soil-working hand tool comprising a shaft mounting at one end thereof first and second forwardly-directed blades, vertically separated in use, each presenting a cutting edge directed away from the shaft, and a third blade mounted below the first blade and above the second blade and projecting for-ward of the shaft by a shorter distance than the other two blades.2. A hand tool according to Claim 1, wherein each blade is of gener-ally triangular shape with the cutting edge representing the base of the triangle 3. A hand tool according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein each blade is gen-erally planar.4. A hand tool according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein each blade is curved whereby the cutting edge is curved in a plane transverse to the axis of the shaft.5. A hand tool according to any preceding claim, wherein each cut-ting edge lies in a straight line.0') 6. A hand tool according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each cut- 0 ting edge is curved when viewed from above.II') 7. A soil-working hand tool, substantially as described with reference 0 to, and/or as shown in, the drawings.