U.S. patent application number 09/533895 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-08 for garden tool with back strain relief feature.
Invention is credited to Johnson, Gerald R..
Application Number | 20010037886 09/533895 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25537668 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010037886 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnson, Gerald R. |
November 8, 2001 |
Garden tool with back strain relief feature
Abstract
The disclosed invention is a means of providing a means of
removing unwanted plants from a specific area of soil. The
invention is comprised of a blade that is adapted to penetrate the
surface of the soil and moving substantially parallel to the
surface thereof. Proper movement of the blade is assisted by fins
positioned on the sides of the blade, and act similarly to the
rudder of a boat. The blade has a support member that has one end
attached to the blade and the other end is capable of receiving a
handle. The handle is configured in an arcuate shape to better
facilitate grasping and holding by the user. This combination
allows the user to grasp the handle, one hand on each side of the
support member and blade, and push the invention forward
undercutting the undesirable plant roots, thereby killing them.
Minimal disruption of the soil is experienced, thereby optimizing
the efficiency of work done by the user.
Inventors: |
Johnson, Gerald R.;
(Atascadero, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Steven E Shapiro Esq
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP
11377 West Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles
CA
90064
US
|
Family ID: |
25537668 |
Appl. No.: |
09/533895 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09533895 |
Mar 21, 2000 |
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08991871 |
Dec 16, 1997 |
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6044914 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
172/377 ;
294/50.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01B 1/08 20130101; A01B
1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
172/377 ;
294/50.8 |
International
Class: |
A01B 001/00; A01B
001/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A garden tool comprising in combination: a blade, the blade
comprising a blade base including a right edge and a left edge and
a cutting edge, the cutting edge suitable for cutting through soil
and plant roots; the blade further including a right fin being
continuous with said right edge and a left fin being continuous
with said left edge, the fins being positioned substantially
orthogonal to said blade base and disposed in a parallel
orientation one to another; and an elongated support member having
a first end and a second end, the first end including a handle
suitable for grasping by a user and the second end being capable of
securing said blade thereto, whereby the user can grasp the handle
of the combination thereby orienting the blade at the surface of
the soil and push forward on the handle causing the blade to
penetrate the surface of the soil, the forward movement slicing the
roots of undesirable plants growing thereon while the fins maintain
linear movement of the blade the combination allowing efficient
function by the user.
2. The garden tool as described in claim 1, wherein said cutting
edge of said blade is oriented at an angle with respect to said
elongated support member and thereby similarly oriented to the
forward movement of said blade.
3. The garden tool as described in claim 2, wherein the angle of
said blade is between 20 and 30 degrees from perpendicular to the
movement of said blade.
4. The garden tool as described in claim 2, wherein the angle of
said blade is such that the right edge is positioned behind the
left edge of said blade.
5. The garden tool as described in claim 1, wherein said right fin
is higher than the left fin.
6. The garden tool as described in claim 5, wherein said right fin
extends at least 38 mm above said base blade and the left fin
extends at least 25 mm above the base blade.
7. The garden tool as described in claim 1, wherein said blade is
manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of
steel, thermoplastic, aluminum and composite carbon fiber.
8. The garden tool as described in claim 1, wherein said handle is
comprised of an arcuate structure, the elongated support joined to
the handle at the midpoint of the handle.
9. A garden tool comprising in combination: a blade, the blade
comprising a blade base including a right edge and a left edge and
a cutting edge, the cutting edge suitable for cutting through soil
and plant roots; the blade further including a right fin being
continuous with said right edge and a left fin being continuous
with said left edge, the fins being positioned substantially
orthogonal to said blade base and disposed in a parallel
orientation one to another; a shortened support member having an
upper end and a lower end, the lower end being capable of securing
said blade thereto; a handle suitable for grasping by a user, the
handle also including a mounting member with one end fixed to the
handle and the other end being capable of receiving the upper end
of said shortened support member; and a locking means capable of
releasably securing the handle to said shortened support member at
more than one position, thereby providing variation in the distance
from the handle to the blade, thus allowing adjustability for users
of varying stature, whereby the user can grasp the handle of the
combination thereby orienting the blade at the surface of the soil
and push forward on the handle causing the blade to penetrate the
surface of the soil, the forward movement slicing the roots of
undesirable plants growing thereon while the fins maintain linear
movement of the blade the combination allowing efficient function
by the user.
10. The garden tool as described in claim 9, wherein said cutting
edge of said blade is oriented at an angle with respect to said
elongated support member and thereby similarly oriented to the
forward movement of said blade.
11. The garden tool as described in claim 10, wherein the angle of
said blade is between 20 and 30 degrees from perpendicular to the
movement of said blade.
12. The garden tool as described in claim 10, wherein the angle of
said blade is such that the right edge is positioned behind the
left edge of said blade.
13. The garden tool as described in claim 9, wherein said right fin
is higher than the left fin.
14. The garden tool as described in claim 13, wherein said right
fin extends at least 38 mm above said base blade and the left fin
extends at least 25 mm above the base blade.
15. The garden tool as described in claim 9, wherein said blade is
manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of
steel, thermoplastic, aluminum and composite carbon fiber.
16. The garden tool as described in claim 9, wherein said handle is
further comprised of an arcuate structure, the elongated support
joined to the handle at the midpoint of the handle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention herein relates to a hand held garden tool and
more specifically to a class of garden tool that is intended to
assist in removing unwanted plants.
[0003] 2. Overview of Prior Art
[0004] Since the beginning of time, mankind has been plagued with
the competition of unwanted plants in relation to desirable plants
with regard to water, nutrients and sunlight. As such, long ago
tools were created to assist in the task of removing the unwanted
plants to aid in the growth of the desirable plants. In the most
basic form, the desirable plants produce food for the person who
tilled the soil, aiding in their survival, but also ornamental
displays such as lawns, playing fields and flower gardens benefit
from agron cultivation.
[0005] Various attempts in the form of tools have been made to
assist in this process of tilling the soil. The most traditional
includes a hoe. This tool includes a blade that is capable of
striking the soil and penetrating its surface, cutting the roots of
the unwanted plants and allowing the soil to be "turned over" onto
the plants, suggesting their demise. Two problems exist. First, the
physical work required to move the mass of the soil accompanied
with the work of "chiseling" the soil loose is excessive and
unnecessary. This results in great energy expenditure by the user,
resulting in minimal time at task before becoming physically tired
and forced to stop.
[0006] The second problem is when the hoe is brought down slicing
the ground in a substantially vertical orientation, many of the
roots of the plants may be left undamaged, and left to grow back.
The result is extra work to do a less than adequate job. Much of
the prior art reflects this level of function or more accurately
the lack of function. The first of which is disclosed by Lucan in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,812. Here a traditional blade of a hoe is
accompanied by a tool intended to pull weeds.
[0007] In a similar fashion, Voss disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,377,211 a hoe with a curved blade and a hooked cutting edge. The
limitations are previously disclosed are apparent here as well.
[0008] A curb weeder is disclosed by Albertson in U.S. Pat. No.
4,546,831 in which the functions and limitations of the previously
disclosed are consistent with the exception that the blade of this
device is of a minimal size and cupped for use on small areas such
as the cracks of sidewalks and therefore not functional in an open
area as a hoe would typically be used.
[0009] Another device that was disclosed was by Parker in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,334,583. Here a shovel like device is disclosed that is
intended to perform many functions pertaining to yard work The
blade is substantially flat to the longitudinal handle and
therefore this makes the device function more as a shovel than a
hoe with regard to tilling the soil, but the limitations as
discussed still apply in that soil would typically be uprooted and
turned after every digging stroke.
[0010] A trenching tool was disclosed by Lee in U.S. Pat. No.
3,782,770 in which a narrow, shovel head is used where the angle
between the shovel head base and the longitudinal handle is less
than 180 degrees. This device includes a shovel head that is
intended to scoop and hold soil thereon. Such a device would be of
minimal value as a weeding device for the reasons already
disclosed. In addition, the handle of this and all of the formerly
disclosed are longitudinal in form. This works fine for carrying an
item, but to apply a pushing force to a handle of this design, as
would be desirable in a weeding tool, would be very
inefficient.
[0011] The handle issue was addressed by Gabriel in U.S. Pat. No.
4,865,372 in which a shovel-like apparatus was disclosed including
bicycle-like handle bars that are attached to a longitudinal member
which is in turn mounted to a type of shovel head. Handle bars of
this type are useful when pushing the shovel head such as when
shoveling snow or other material that can be "dozed" and lifted
Here both hands can be placed side by side, allowing for an
effective transfer of force from the user to the device with
minimal twist on the user's spine. The twist is what puts the
user's spine in a precarious position by being susceptible to
injury from applied force. Though the disclosed device does address
this issue it is not suitable for slicing under soil due to the
size, weight and complexity of the shovel head.
[0012] Disclosures that are directed to slicing under the soil to
kill unwanted plants are very limited. One device was disclosed by
Buchanan in U.S. Pat. No. 3,604,518. Here a triangular base is
fastened to a longitudinal handle by two vertical risers attached
to the triangular base. The device is pulled or pushed just below
the surface of the ground to destroy the roots of the unwanted
plants. Problems include guiding or steering the device and the
inefficient method of power transmittal by use of a longitudinal
handle as previously supported.
[0013] The disclosure by Page in U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,746 shows a
longitudinal support with a handle on one end and a flat blade on
the other end. As previously, the blade is adapted to penetrate the
surface of the soil and destroy the root system of the unwanted
plants with minimal energy expenditure by the user. The handle is
simply a longitudinal rod positioned substantially parallel to the
blade. A grip is included on the longitudinal support to assist in
grasping the longitudinal portion with one of the user's hands,
while the other is on the handle.
[0014] The device is an improvement over much of the art in regard
to the task of weeding, but guiding or steering the blade would
still be difficult at best especially in soil that includes a fair
amount of weed roots, but the biggest problem is stress on the
user's back. Because of the position of the user's hands on the
device, the user's body must be rotated when applying force in a
forward manner. This results in a torsional load on the user's
spine and reduces the ability to apply force to the device to do
work.
[0015] In the realm of hand held weeding tools, numerous
disclosures exist that are intended to remove a single weed and its
root system at a time. Such disclosures include Lee, Green, Plecki
and Hostetter in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,244,241; 5,188,340; 5,060,997 and
4,456,075 respectively. Each if these devices includes a
substantially linear shank each with some type of hook or blade
structure mounted thereto. The devices vertically penetrate the
soil next to a plant and allow for rotation to secure the root of
the plant so that the user can then extract the plant and root from
the soil. Such devices are not functional on large areas because of
the time requirement to extract each plant, one at a time, and they
are only of value on larger plants, typically broadleaf type
plants, and not effective on grasses.
[0016] Finally, a type of lever devices for removing plants were
disclosed by Combs, Townsend, Jr. and Vernon, et al. in U.S. Pat
Nos. 4,779,685; 5,257,666 and 4,790,585 respectively. Here the
common denominator includes a longitudinal lever in the form of a
handle with one end adapted to penetrate the soil. The benefit to
such a category of weed pullers is that, in many cases, great
forces can be transferred by the user to extract a plant. The
inadequacy is that it is slow, again because of the limitation of
displacing only one plant at a time. In many cases a large area
needs to be worked and small grasses and weeds are the biggest
concern. The large plants can be extracted one at time by hand if
necessary, because there are usually few of them, otherwise motor
powered implementation is relied upon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The object of the disclosed invention is to provide a means
of destroying unwanted plants from an area of soil. The invention
is comprised of a blade that is adapted to penetrate the surface of
the soil, moving substantially parallel to the surface of the
ground. Movement of the blade is assisted by fins positioned on the
sides of the blade, acting similar to the rudder of a boat. The
blade has a support member that has one end attached to the blade
and the other end being capable of receiving a handle.
[0018] The handle is configured in an arcuate or curved shape
similar to a portion of a steering wheel on an automobile. This
allows the user to grasp the handle, one hand on each side of the
support member and therefore also the blade, and push the
combination forward undercutting the undesirable plant roots,
thereby killing them. Minimal disruption of the soil is
experienced, thereby wasted energy in performing this task is
greatly diminished.
[0019] In the preferred embodiment, the handle is adjustable in
height. This modification further allows the user to apply a great
deal of force to the blade without twisting or contorting the
user's body. This biomechanical positioning of the user allows for
greater force production while minimizing stress on the user's
lower back.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a garden tool produced in
accordance with the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a garden tool produced in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a front view of a garden tool produced in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a side view of a garden tool produced in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a top view of the blade portion of a garden tool
produced in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] Mankind has always been plagued with an agricultural war.
The battle against unwanted plants is the greatest fight, in that
other plants compete with desired plants for necessary nutrients in
the soil, water and sunlight. Reducing the competition stacks the
deck in favor of the desired plants flourishing. This means greater
yield for food producing plants and more spectacular flowers and
other ornamental plants. The generic term for this task is referred
to as "weeding" which consists of removing the unwanted weeds.
Mankind's ability to develop tools to make jobs more efficient has
not eluded the process of weeding, but advancements in this area
have been slow coming at best. Very primitive tools that have been
used for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Case and point is the
common garden hoe. This device has remained virtually unchanged in
function and design for decades.
[0026] In the modern day, powered tillers eliminate the need for
mechanical efficiency, but some jobs still necessitate work by
hand. Expense, accessibility to larger equipment and sometimes the
delicate nature of the job demands picking up a tool. When this is
the case, efficiency of the tool is of utmost importance. The
invention disclosed herein maximizes the efficiency of such a
task.
[0027] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of
a garden tool including a handle 10. This handle 10 has a curved or
arcuate shape to allow the user's wrists to be slightly pronated
from neutral, thereby reducing fatigue when the user applies force
thereto as is done in normal of the invention by pushing and
pulling on the handle 10. Near the open ends of the curve are hand
grips 12, thus facilitating grasping by the user. An elongated
support member 14 has one end secured to the handle 10 and the
other end secured to a blade 16. The blade is a critical part of
the invention in that it functions to cut through the ground in a
movement just below and parallel to its surface, slicing through
the roots of the weeds. This kills the weeds by removing their food
supply and does so with minimal energy expenditure by the user
while allowing minimal moisture loss to the soil. The blade 16 is
adapted to accomplish this task by structures including an open
front edge 18 and open rear edge 20. This allows the soil to pass
from the front edge 18 to the rear edge 20 with minimal resistance.
To stabilize the blade 16 when moving under the surface of the
soil, a left fin 22 and a right fin 24 are included, positioned
parallel to each other. These fins act as rudders, stabilizing the
blade as it slices through the earth.
[0028] The invention is used by grasping the grips 12 at the handle
10 with the user's body positioned there between. The user then
pushes forward, causing the front edge 18 of the blade 16 to
penetrate the surface of the soil. The soil passing between the
left fin 22 and the right fin 24 and then freely passing past the
rear edge 20. This process necessitates the severing of any
vertical roots of plants growing in the soil where the blade 16
passed. The front edge 18 of the blade 16 is adapted to cut and
would usually include a sharpened extreme edge and may also be
angled with respect to the direction of movement as depicted by the
arrow 26. This angle assists in slicing through the soil as a knife
would while maintaining linear movement of the blade is ensured by
the fins (22 and 24). Since the process does not lift or turn the
soil or plants, the physical work done by the user to accomplish
the needed task is minimized, thus optimizing the user's
efficiency. In addition, since the soil is not turned over, the
moisture under the surface of the soil is not exposed to the sun,
thus not removing critical moisture from the ground.
[0029] A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 2.
Here the handle 10 and the blade 16 are similar to that previously
disclosed in FIG. 1, but the connection between the handle 10 and
the blade 16 is modified to allow adjustment in the distance there
between. This is accomplished by use of a shortened support member
28 which is capable of receiving the distal end of mounting member
30. The other end of the mounting member 30 is secured to the
handle 10. The mounting member 30 also includes a locking means 32
to releasably secure the mounting member 30 and associated handle
10 at more than one position with respect to the shortened support
member 28 and thereby to the associated blade 16. The resultant
function is different positions between the handle 10 and the blade
16, thus providing height adjustments for various statures of
individuals.
[0030] The locking means 32 can be comprised of a variety of simple
or complex structures. It must be able to transmit torsional as
well as longitudinal force from the mounting member 30 to the
shortened support member 28. This is necessary because longitudinal
and torsional forces are applied to the handle 10 by the user and
must be transmitted to the blade 16 to properly function. For an
item such as this, a simple device is usually preferred such as a
pin that is inserted through a hole in the mounting member 30 and
then through one of several corresponding holes in the shortened
support member 28. Another suitable means includes a set screw
received by a threaded portion in the mounting member 30. The
shortened support member 28 is inserted into the mounting member 30
and the set screw is secured into the shortened support member 28,
using friction to lock one to another.
[0031] The shortened support member could also include a groove,
similar to a keyway, to receive the tip of the set screw, thus
maintaining proper orientation of the blade 16 to the handle 10,
but such a structure is not necessary to the function of the
invention. Numerous other devices and combinations of devices could
be used and are to numerous to describe or show here, but they
would be considered obvious and are therefore innately associated
with this description.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the device as shown in FIG. 2,
the functional components being identical. Here is also seen the
left fin 22 and the right fin 24 and that the latter extends above
the former. This has been found to further facilitate the ease of
motion through the soil 34, at least partially due to the right fin
24 is positioned behind the left fin 22. Therefore the right fin
24, or trailing fin, is more significant in the stabilization of
the blade 16 as it cuts through the soil 34.
[0033] The same version is shown in FIG. 4, only now from a side
view. Here the user 36 is shown positioned behind the invention
with his hands on the handle 10. The height of the handle 10
adjusted to be positioned near the lower portion of the user's 36
chest. This provides the user 36 with an opportunity to generate a
great deal of force on the blade 16 to cut through the soil 34.
[0034] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the blade 16 of the invention as
would be seen opposite to the view of the user. The left fin 22 and
the right fin 24 are shown along with the stem 38 which receives
and is fastened to the shortened support member 28 and the stem 38
is attached to the blade 16. The stem 38 is of a narrow width to
allow the soil to pass with minimal interference while the
invention is being used. Also shown is the angle of the front edge
18 of the blade 16.
[0035] This portion of the invention 16 is most efficiently
manufactured of steel with the stem 38 welded to the blade 16. The
stem 38 provides a means of fastening the shortened support member
28 thereto, but the blade 16, or blade 16 and stem 38 combination
could also be manufactured of aluminum, or even various
thermoplastics or composite carbon fiber. In the case of plastic
and carbon fiber, the blade 16 and stem 38 would more than likely
be one piece that provides the capability of attachment to the
shortened support member 28 (or support member 14 as shown in FIG.
1). In any case the blade 16 must be durable and capable of
providing a front edge 18 that can maintain a sharp edge after
repeatedly wearing against soil and plant roots.
[0036] Further shown in FIG. 5 it is easily seen in this, the
preferred embodiment, that the left fin 22 is positioned in front
of the right fin 24 as is necessitated by the angled front edge 18.
The rear edge 20 is shown to be parallel to the front edge 18 but
this is not necessary to the function of the invention, but is
beneficial for manufacturing efficiency. The angled front edge 18
works with the fins (22 and 24) like a wedge to slice roots and
rough spots in the soil, easing the use of the invention in
accomplishing the task of removing unwanted plants from the
soil.
* * * * *