CA2633857A1

CA2633857A1 - Lawn aerating and weeding tool

Info

Publication number: CA2633857A1
Application number: CA 2633857
Authority: CA
Inventors: Leandre Vachon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-06-05
Filing date: 2008-06-05
Publication date: 2009-12-05
Also published as: WO2009146554A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a combined weed extractor and soil aerator which allows grass roots to grow more deeply and to be more resistant, thus preventing weed germination on a soft soil. This combined extractor and aerator comprises a frame formed of an empty tube acting as a handle and specially made to become a ground plug receptacle. This combined extractor and aerator is such that an initial operation of it will extract a dandelion or other weeds in the form of a ground plug, and a further operation of it will cause the first ground plug to be stored in the empty handle, and so on, up to the full length of the empty handle, thereby allowing easier work and giving an easier way to catch the ground plugs. To empty the handle storage tube, the user has just to turn it upside down and the ground plugs will go out easily. Such is perfect to pour them into a compost tank.

Description

LAWN AERATING AND WEEDING TOOL
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lawn aerating and weeding tool.

More specifically, it relates to a combined weed extractor and soil aerator of inexpensive and compact construction, by means of which dandelions, weeds and other obnoxious growth may be conveniently extracted from the ground and subsequently destroyed so as to prevent further growth of the plants. It is also important to notice that when removing weeds with ground plugs that make a deep round hole, this consequently prevents other weed seeds to have soft soil to grow easily into.

So, the present invention has for principal object to a tool which facilitates the use and the labour by individually picking every weed plug that is removed.
This is possible with the invention which basically consists in replacing the standard handle of a conventional extractor by an empty tube directly connected with a base tubular member so as to allow the empty tube to become a storage for the ground plugs and thus to facilitate and accelerate the work to be done by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Manually operated turf aerators and weed extractors are already known in the art and are available in the market. Most of them either perform lawn aeration or weed extraction, and require manual activation of a lever or piston to eject the plug of weed roots or soil at the end of each extraction cycle. Examples of such manual tools for the removal of plugs from the ground are disclosed in US
patent Nos. 2,210,440 (J.T. Ravary), 6,330,921 (Barber), 6,330,921 (Barber), 5,469,923 (Visser). Of course, manually operating a piston or a device for ejecting the plug after every usage requires time and energy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As aforesaid, the object of the invention is to provide a combined weed extractor and soil aerator which allows grass roots to grow more deeply and to be more resistant, thus preventing weed germination on a soft soil. This combined extractor and aerator comprises a frame formed of an empty tube acting as a handle and specially made to become a ground plug receptacle.
This combined extractor and aerator is such that an initial operation of it will extract a dandelion or other weeds in the form of a ground plug, and a further operation of it will cause the first ground plug to be stored in the empty handle, and so on, up to the full length of the empty handle, thereby allowing easier work and giving an easier way to catch the ground plugs. To empty the handle storage tube, the user has just to turn it upside down and the ground plugs will go out easily. Such is perfect to pour them into a compost tank.

As aforesaid, the above-mentioned tool basically comprises an empty tube serving as the handle.

Preferably, the empty tube has an upper end provided with a grip and a lower end provided with a foot support. Of course, sufficient clearance must be provided within the foot support and the lower end of the tube.

Advantageously, a connector may be provided to reduce the length of the extractor for storage and shipping in the way to reduce the shipping cost.

As may be appreciated, the invention is particularly advantageous inasmuch as it has an increased utility, durability and efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a weed extractor and soil aerator illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the same in position over a dandelion and ready to extract the same;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the lower end of the plant extractor showing the construction of the tubular cutting member;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the tool after a plurality of subsequent uses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE
INVENTION

The improved weed extractor according to the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings comprises an empty end grip 5 for easy usage and better comfort.

It also comprises a tube 6 that is preferably formed of two sections of a low weight material to reduce the total weight of the product.

It further comprises a connector 7 specially made to connect the sections of the tube 6 and thus makes it possible to reduce the length of the tool and reduce the cost of shipping or the storage space.

A foot support 8 is located at a sufficient distance of the lower end 9 of the tube 6 for adequately removing all the weed roots 11.

The lower end 9 of the tube has a cutting edge 10 and is preferably made of an abrasive resistant material shaped to have a reduced sharp cutting edge figure 3 allowing the ground root plugs to move freely up in the tube during each subsequent usage.

In operation, the tool is positioned over a dandelion or other plant to be extracted and the cutting edge 10 of the lower end 9 of the tube is forced into the ground by exerting a downward pressure on the foot support 8. Then, the lower end 9 of the tube is forced into the ground around the root and lifted with the ground plug and the weed root 11 leaving a soil well aerated for better and more resistant grass. When the tool is again used for extracting a plant, the cutting edge 10 is forced downwardly within the ground, around the weed to be extracted in the manner stated before. The downward pressure exerted on the tubular member causes again the weed and the dirt surrounding the same, to press upwardly on the weed or dandelion first extracted and force said first weed upwardly through the tube 6. This operation will be repeated during each subsequent use of the tool until the tube is full or to heavy for smaller user, at witch time it may be empty.

Claims

1. A weed extractor and soil aerator comprising a frame formed of an empty tube acting as a handle and specially made to become a ground plug receptacle.

2. The weed extractor and soil aerator according to claim 1, also comprising an empty top grip allowing the ground plugs to be evacuated by the top of the tube.

3. The weed extractor and soil aerator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a connector to reduce its length for storage and shipping cost.

4. The weed extractor and soil aerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a foot support secured to the tube, and an antifriction base allowing users comfortable foot support.

5. The weed extractor and soil aerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tube has a lower end made of an antifriction material specially designed with reduced diameter and sharp edges.