AU2006201075B2

AU2006201075B2 - Gardening tool

Info

Publication number: AU2006201075B2
Application number: AU2006201075A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Clive Robert Gee
Original assignee: Specialist Innovations Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Specialist Innovations Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-03-15
Filing date: 2006-03-15
Publication date: 2006-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-15
Also published as: AU2006201075A1

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

LODGED:

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

ACCEPTED:

PUBLISHED:

RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: Laura Katy Gee Clive Robert Gee LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

GARDEN TOOL DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: AUSTRALIAN PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 2005901237 FILED ON 1 5 th MARCH 2005.

The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the.best method of performing it known to me:

TITLE

"GARDEN TOOL" FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a garden tool, such as a hand-held or hand-operated garden tool for assisting in establishing, cultivating and maintaining gardens and garden beds.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Hand-held and hand operated tools for performing basic gardening tasks such as weeding or cultivation of gardens and garden beds are known. However, it is often the case that one or more different implements need to be used for fulfilling any one particular task in the overall maintenance and cultivation of such gardens. Further, it has been recognised that some known gardening implements can lead to strains or general discomfort in the person using the implement. This can be due, for example, to the necessity of having to bend down or kneel onto the garden or adjacent the garden in order to use the implement and complete the task at hand.

The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of previous hand held garden tools and implements used in garden and garden bed cultivation and maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a garden tool, comprising an elongate handle and a head portion, the head portion comprising: a means for receiving an end of the elongate handle; I- a blade member extending outwardly from the means for receiving the end of the

O

Selongate handle, wherein a width of the blade member decreases and the blade member curves as the blade member extends outwardly; and a pronged portion extending outwardly from the means for receiving the elongate handle and generally oppositely to the blade member, wherein the pronged portion has at least two prongs spaced apart and generally in parallel, and each prong has a bifurcated pointed tip for assisting in the engagement of soil and vegetation.

Preferably, the blade member and prongs of the pronged portion project laterally from the elongate handle and are pitched at an angle in the range of 00 to 600 to the perpendicular of a longitudinal axis of the elongate handle.

Further preferably, the gardening tool has a total of three prongs extending outwardly, spaced apart and parallel to each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side perspective of a tool in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is an upper plan perspective of the tool of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to the Figures, there is shown a gardening tool 10 for use in garden and garden bed cultivation and maintenance activities, such as weeding. The tool 10 includes an elongate handle 12 attached to a head portion 14. In the embodiment shown, the handle 12 is arranged generally perpendicularly to the head portion 14.

The elongate handle 12 comprises a long shaft, having a length that permits a user of the tool 10 to remain substantially upright whilst engaging the head portion 14 of the tool S with earth or ground in use. The shaft is rigid and may be comprised of any sturdy and resilient material, such as wood or metal. Preferably, the shaft is made of a material that is able to withstand a substantial amount of outdoors exposure.

O

The elongate handle 12 is attached at one end 13 to the head portion 14 by a handle engaging means. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the handle engaging means comprises a generally tubular collar 32 having a diameter that is of a size adapted to snugly receive the end 13 of the handle 12. The handle 12 may be simply fitted within the collar 32 or may be further secured with a retaining means (not shown) such as a pin, bolt or other fastener, which passes through the collar 32 and the handle 12.

The head portion 14 further includes a blade member 16, extending laterally outwardly from the collar 32. Preferably, the blade member 16 has a width that decreases as it extends outwardly. The blade member 16 is also preferably curved, terminating in a pointed tip 20. Preferably, the blade member 16 curved through an angle of up to 450 to the handle 12. As an alternative, the blade member may curved through an angle of up to 600. The angle of 600 to the handle is believed to offer the best effect of the blade member 16 in use. The blade member 16 thus has a generally hooked or arcuate shape, having a curved cutting edge 18, as can be seen in Figure 1. This hooked shape with the pointed tip 20 permits ready penetration of the blade member 16 into ground or soil.

The curved cutting edge 18 may be a sharp blade edge, as shown in Figure 1, which is able to slice through ground and vegetation. Alternatively, the curved cutting edge 18 may be serrated (not shown), so as to provide more of a ripping, rather than slicing 0 action.

The head portion 14 further includes a pronged portion 22 extending outwardly from adjacent the end 13 of the handle 12 and in a direction generally opposite to that of the t blade member 16. The pronged portion 22 includes at least two prong members spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other. In the embodiment shown in Figure O 10 2, the prong members 30 extend outwardly from the collar 32 and diverge as they extend outwards. Preferably, the pronged portion 22 has a total of three prong members 30, as this is believed to be the number of prong members 30 that gives the best effect in use of this part of the tool 10. It is preferred that the tool 10 has no more than a total of five prongs Each prong 30 extends and pitches outwardly through an angle of up to about 45 0 to the handle 12. As an alternative, each prong 30 may be pitched outwardly through an angle of about 600. Each prong 30 may be slightly curved as it extends outwardly, as shown in Figure 1.

Each prong 30 has a bifurcated pointed tip 24, defining a fork 36 with at least two times 34. As shown in Figure 2, tines 34 of each fork 36 diverge from each other as they extend outwardly. The forks 36 are thus arranged to engage with a root or stem of a weed or other such vegetation in use, so as to enable the weed to be pulled upwardly and out of the soil.

Optionally, the head portion 14 is further provided with a plate member 28, arranged adjacent an outermost surface of the head portion 14. The plate member 28 may be provided so as to bind the collar 32, pronged portion 22 and blade member 16 of the head portion 14 together or simply to provide added reinforcement and strength to the head portion 14 as a whole.

IIn use, the handle 12 is grasped by an operator, typically adjacent an end furthest from

O

Sthe end 13 received by the collar 32 and also at a point intermediate along the shaft of the handle 12. The head portion 14 may be positioned such that the point 20 of the blade 0 S member 16 points generally towards the ground. The point 20 can then be caused to penetrate the ground by a downwards action, manipulated by the handle 12. The blade 18 is then caused to slice or rip through ground and any vegetation by a generally back and forth motion, similar to the action used when manipulating a known ordinary garden hoe.

If it is desired to break up soil or engage and rip weeds or other vegetation from the soil, the head portion 14 is positioned such that the pronged portion 22 points generally towards the ground. The forks 36 of each prong 30 enter the ground and the tines 34 assist in the engagement of roots or stems of weeds or other such vegetation. Upon pulling the head portion 14 generally upwards by manipulation of the handle 12, the vegetation so engaged between the forks 36 can be pulled outwardly of the soil.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention

Claims

1. A garden tool for use in garden and garden bed cultivation and maintenance, the garden tool comprising an elongate handle attached to and arranged generally perpendicularly to a head portion, the head portion comprising; a means for receiving an end of the elongate handle; O 10 a blade member extending outwardly from adjacent the end of the elongate handle, wherein a width of the blade member decreases and the blade member curves as the blade member extends outwardly; and a pronged portion extending outwardly and generally oppositely to the blade member, the pronged portion having at least two prongs spaced apart and substantially in parallel and each prong having a bifurcated pointed tip for assisting in engaging soil and vegetation.

2. A garden tool according to claim 1, wherein the blade member has a generally hooked shape and terminates in a pointed tip to assist in penetration of soil by the blade member.

3. A garden tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blade member extends outwardly and curves through an angle of up to about 450 to the handle.

4. A garden tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the blade member curves through an angle of about 60' to the handle.

A garden tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the blade member has a curved cutting edge. \O

6. A garden tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the blade member has a (-i serrated edge for ripping soil and vegetation. 0 z

7. A garden tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the prong members extend outwardly through an angle of up to about 450 to a longitudinal axis of the handle.

8. A garden tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the prong members extend outwardly through an angle of about 600 to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

9. A garden tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bifurcated point defines a fork having at least two tines, and the tines of each fork diverge from each other as the prongs extend outwardly.

A garden tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tool has two to five prong members.

11. A garden tool according to claim 10, wherein the tool has three prong members.

12. A garden tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 27 T M DAY OF NOVEMBER 2006. Specialist Innovations Pty Ltd By its Patent Attorneys Janet Stead Associates