GB2120511A

GB2120511A - Hand tool

Info

Publication number: GB2120511A
Application number: GB08312968A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith William Eustace Webster
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-05-13
Filing date: 1983-05-11
Publication date: 1983-12-07
Also published as: GB2120511B; GB8312968D0

Abstract

A hand tool of the nature of a digging implement comprising an elongate shaft 1 having rigidly mounted on one end thereof a ground-engaging member 3 comprising a digging blade or tines extending away from the axis of the shaft at an oblique angle thereto and a footrest 4 arranged substantially at right angles to the blade or tines. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hand tool The invention relates to hand tools and more particularly to digging implements such as might be used in gardening. The disadvantages of traditional hand tools such as garden forks and spades are well known: they require the expenditure of large amounts of effort on behalf of the user and are prone to cause the user discomfort and, not infrequently, back injury.

It is an object of the invention to provide a hand tool of the nature of a fork or spade which is constructed so that less effort is expended by the user or at least so that less strain is placed upon the user's back than is the case with conventional forks and spades.

According to the invention there is provided a hand tool which is generally of the nature of a digging implement comprising an elongate shaft having rigidly mounted on one end thereof a ground-engaging member comprising at least one digging blade extending away from the axis of the shaft at an oblique angle thereto and a footrest disposed between the shaft and the blade or blades and arranged substantially at right angles to the blade or blades. The blade may resemble that of a conventional spade or shovel or alternatively the blade may be formed as a series of tines to resemble a conventional garden fork.

The arrangement may be such that the shaft extends at an angle in the range 1200--1400 to the digging blade or blades and preferably the angle is in the region of 1300. Preferably the shaft is straight and the inner end or ends of the digging blade or blades are offset from the axis of the shaft. Advantageously the footrest is disposed to one side of the shaft and extends between the shaft and the inner end or ends of the digging blade or blades. The end of the shaft remote from the ground-engaging portion is preferably formed with a handle and advantageously a second handle is disposed part-way along the length of the shaft. This second handle may be disposed to the same side of the shaft as is the footrest, but preferably the second handle is adjustable both along the shaft and around the shaft.

The footrest, against which pressure is exerted by the user's foot in operation of the tool, may be plate-like. The footrest preferably overlies the whole or a substantial part of the blade or blades so that pressure on the user's foot is spread over a large area as compared with a conventional fork or spade.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garden fork; Figure 2 is a scrap perspective view of a garden spade; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of garden fork; Figure 4 is a scrap perspective view of a modified form of garden spade; and Figures 5a to 5h illustrate the method of using the tools of Figures 1 to 4.

In Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a garden fork comprising a shaft 1 provided at one end with a handle 2 and at the other end with a ground-engaging member 3 formed in conventional fashion with a series of tines 8 which extend from the shaft at an angle of around 1300.

A footrest 4 is secured to the inner ends of the tines and extends substantially at right angles to the tines and at an oblique angle with respect to the shaft. An adjustable handle 5 is mounted on the shaft by means of a member 6 which encircles the shaft so that the handle 5 can be moved both along the shaft and around the shaft, and is fixed to the shaft by means of a ciamping screw 7 which is preferably formed with an enlarged head so that it can be operated manually without the need for a spanner or screw-driver.

In Figure 2 there is shown a hand tool which is generally similar to that shown in Figure 1 but in which the ground-engaging head is formed as a space 9 and in which the footrest 4 is a generally rectangular plate-like member.

In Figure 3 there is shown a hand tool in the form of a garden fork. The tool of Figure 3 is different from that shown in Figure 1 by reason of the fact that in Figure 3 the tines 8 are offset from the lower end of the shaft 1 by the width of the foot rest 4. It will also be seen that the inner ends of the tines are formed with projecting elbows 9 which in use of the tool form a fulcrum with the ground.

In Figure 4 there is shown the head of a hand tool generally similar to that shown in Figure 2 except that the spade 9 is offset from the end of the shaft 1 by the width of the footrest 4.

Referring to Figures 5a to 5h there is shown a method of using the tools of Figures 1 to 4. In Figures 5a and 5b there is illustrated the starting position from above and in front respectively. In Figure Sc one foot is placed on the footrest so that the tool can be pressed into the ground by body weight. In Figure 5d the blade of the tool is shown inserted into the ground after which the tool shaft is levered upright as shown in Figure 5e this levering movement being continued as shown in Figures 5f and 59 to disengage soil from the ground. It will be noticed that during this levering movement the footrest forms a fulcrum with the ground about which the tool is rotated. As shown in Figure 5h the tool is then lifted to deposit soil in any convenient position to the side or in front.

1. A hand tool of the nature of a digging implement comprising an elongate shaft having rigidly mounted on one end thereof a groundengaging member comprising at least one digging blade extending away from the axis of the shaft of an oblique angle thereto and a footrest disposed between the shaft and the blade or blades and arranged substantially at right angles to the blade or blades.

2. A hand tool according to claim 1, wherein the shaft extends at an angle in the range of 1 200

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Hand tool The invention relates to hand tools and more particularly to digging implements such as might be used in gardening. The disadvantages of traditional hand tools such as garden forks and spades are well known: they require the expenditure of large amounts of effort on behalf of the user and are prone to cause the user discomfort and, not infrequently, back injury. It is an object of the invention to provide a hand tool of the nature of a fork or spade which is constructed so that less effort is expended by the user or at least so that less strain is placed upon the user's back than is the case with conventional forks and spades. According to the invention there is provided a hand tool which is generally of the nature of a digging implement comprising an elongate shaft having rigidly mounted on one end thereof a ground-engaging member comprising at least one digging blade extending away from the axis of the shaft at an oblique angle thereto and a footrest disposed between the shaft and the blade or blades and arranged substantially at right angles to the blade or blades. The blade may resemble that of a conventional spade or shovel or alternatively the blade may be formed as a series of tines to resemble a conventional garden fork. The arrangement may be such that the shaft extends at an angle in the range 1200--1400 to the digging blade or blades and preferably the angle is in the region of 1300. Preferably the shaft is straight and the inner end or ends of the digging blade or blades are offset from the axis of the shaft. Advantageously the footrest is disposed to one side of the shaft and extends between the shaft and the inner end or ends of the digging blade or blades. The end of the shaft remote from the ground-engaging portion is preferably formed with a handle and advantageously a second handle is disposed part-way along the length of the shaft. This second handle may be disposed to the same side of the shaft as is the footrest, but preferably the second handle is adjustable both along the shaft and around the shaft. The footrest, against which pressure is exerted by the user's foot in operation of the tool, may be plate-like. The footrest preferably overlies the whole or a substantial part of the blade or blades so that pressure on the user's foot is spread over a large area as compared with a conventional fork or spade. The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garden fork; Figure 2 is a scrap perspective view of a garden spade; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of garden fork; Figure 4 is a scrap perspective view of a modified form of garden spade; and Figures 5a to 5h illustrate the method of using the tools of Figures 1 to 4. In Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a garden fork comprising a shaft 1 provided at one end with a handle 2 and at the other end with a ground-engaging member 3 formed in conventional fashion with a series of tines 8 which extend from the shaft at an angle of around 1300. A footrest 4 is secured to the inner ends of the tines and extends substantially at right angles to the tines and at an oblique angle with respect to the shaft. An adjustable handle 5 is mounted on the shaft by means of a member 6 which encircles the shaft so that the handle 5 can be moved both along the shaft and around the shaft, and is fixed to the shaft by means of a ciamping screw 7 which is preferably formed with an enlarged head so that it can be operated manually without the need for a spanner or screw-driver. In Figure 2 there is shown a hand tool which is generally similar to that shown in Figure 1 but in which the ground-engaging head is formed as a space 9 and in which the footrest 4 is a generally rectangular plate-like member. In Figure 3 there is shown a hand tool in the form of a garden fork. The tool of Figure 3 is different from that shown in Figure 1 by reason of the fact that in Figure 3 the tines 8 are offset from the lower end of the shaft 1 by the width of the foot rest 4. It will also be seen that the inner ends of the tines are formed with projecting elbows 9 which in use of the tool form a fulcrum with the ground. In Figure 4 there is shown the head of a hand tool generally similar to that shown in Figure 2 except that the spade 9 is offset from the end of the shaft 1 by the width of the footrest 4. Referring to Figures 5a to 5h there is shown a method of using the tools of Figures 1 to 4. In Figures 5a and 5b there is illustrated the starting position from above and in front respectively. In Figure Sc one foot is placed on the footrest so that the tool can be pressed into the ground by body weight. In Figure 5d the blade of the tool is shown inserted into the ground after which the tool shaft is levered upright as shown in Figure 5e this levering movement being continued as shown in Figures 5f and 59 to disengage soil from the ground. It will be noticed that during this levering movement the footrest forms a fulcrum with the ground about which the tool is rotated.As shown in Figure 5h the tool is then lifted to deposit soil in any convenient position to the side or in front. CLAIMS

2. A hand tool according to claim 1, wherein the shaft extends at an angle in the range of 1 200 to 1400 to the digging blade or blades.

3. A hand tool according to claim 2, wherein the angle is in the region of 1300.

4. A hand tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the shaft is straight and the inner end or ends of the digging blade or blades are offset from the axis of the shaft.

5. A hand tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the footrest is disposed to one side of the shaft and extends between the shaft and the inner end or ends of the digging blade or blades.

6. A hand tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the end of the shaft remote from the ground-engaging portion is formed with a handle and wherein a second handle is disposed part-way along the length of the shaft.

7. A hand tool according to claim 6, wherein the position of the second handle on the shaft is adjustable.

8. A hand tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.