Earth working – Guided by walking attendant; supported – propelled – or held... – Hand tool
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-16
2001-01-30
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Earth working
Guided by walking attendant; supported, propelled, or held...
Hand tool
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179062
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a garden tool, more specifically the present invention is arranged to cut the roots of weeds and the like.
BACKGROUND
Generally, tilling or weeding gardens is done by using a conventional garden hoe which has a shovel that faces downwardly and has a front edge on the shovel which is arranged to dig into the ground. The conventional hoe is used by chopping into the ground which then forces the soil up turning the soil which therefore pulls out weeds. This chopping action of a conventional hoe pulls up large amounts of soil and is a fairly physically demanding process.
Some examples of farming equipment which is arranged to weed soil is shown is U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,581 (Beale), U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,241 (Haukaas) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,504 (Zimmerman). These farming tools are utilised by farmers who are tilling or weeding a lot of acreage and used these tools behind a tractor. These tools are not designed to be used in small gardens, similar to one s found at an individuals home or the like. The above U.S. Patents use a rod which is located at the end of a shank or the like and wherein the rod is located parallel to the ground such that the rod is pulled horizontally against the direction of travel. The rods pull through the ground cutting weeds and tilling the soil.
SUMMARY
The present invention is used as a weeding device and can also be used for thinning vegetables. When the tool is drawn along with some down pressure applied, the shanks penetrate the ground and the wire is pulled along beneath the surface, shearing off the weeds or vegetables. This tool requires less effort than a garden hoe as no chopping action is required and a minimum amount of soil is moved.
The present invention can be used as a tillage tool to pull weeds along vegetable row both before and after weeds have emerged. This tool is faster to use than a garden hoe and digs out weeds more efficiently. Soil disturbance is minimal.
According to the present invention there is provided a garden tool comprising;
a ground engaging portion for engaging the ground and up rooting a plant;
a handle extending upwardly and forwards from the ground engaging portion such that a user can stand upwardly while using the tool;
the ground engaging portion including at least two arms extending downwards and forwards being spaced apart and parallel for digging underneath a surface of the ground;
and a wire coupled to an end of a respective arm extending horizontally therefrom and is coupled to the arms such that the wire has a substantial amount of tension for engaging a root of the plant.
Preferably the ground engaging portion has two outer arms and an inner arm, the outer arms are spaced outwardly from the ground engaging portion such that the inner arm is located in between and in front of the two outer arms, the arms extend downwardly and forwardly forming a substantially “C” shape and the wire is connected to each of the arms at a groove which is cut into the ends of the arms.
Preferably the end of each arm is substantially shovel shaped.
Preferably the wire is located within grooves at the end of each arm.
Preferably a wire housing is located on a top portion of the ground engaging portion at the handle which has a shaft such that a spool can be arranged to rotate about, the spool holds an extra amount of wire such that when the wire at the end of each arm is worn a replacement section of wire can be located at the end of each arm.
Preferably a tensioning mechanism is connected to each arm, a threaded shaft extends coaxial from a respective arm in which a turnbuckle is fastened such that the turnbuckle can be rotated in a first direction thereby forcing the arms outward and the turnbuckle can be rotated in a second direction thereby forcing the arms inward, the outward force on the arms creates the tension on the wire and the inward force on the arms loosens the tension.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1050721 (1913-01-01), Dickson
patent: 2056007 (1936-09-01), Jaenichen
patent: 2397786 (1946-04-01), Gascoigne et al.
patent: 2797628 (1957-07-01), Schrag
patent: 3827504 (1974-08-01), Zimmerman
patent: 3838510 (1974-10-01), Kelly
patent: 4135581 (1979-01-01), Beale
patent: 4913241 (1990-04-01), Haukaas
patent: 5327977 (1994-07-01), Lukuashuk
Battison Adrian D.
Pezzuto Robert E.
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