Patent Application
20050242597
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention generally relates to tools and, more particularly, to hand-operated tools for lawn and gardening tasks and the like.
A variety of different hand-operated tools are commonly used for lawn and gardening tasks such as, for example, rakes, spades, shovels, hoes, forks and the like. These hand tools typically have a tool head and a generally straight cylindrically-shaped handle extending rearwardly from the tool head along a central longitudinal axis. In some instances, a rear end of the handle is provided with a D-shaped grip. The tool head is typically made of a metal such as, for example steel while the handle is typically of a lighter material such as wood fiberglass, plastic, or plastic.
While these prior hand-operated tools may be adequate to perform intended lawn and gardening tasks under some conditions, they can be difficult and uncomfortable to grasp and hold, particularly with two hands, and can require the operator to have a relatively large amount of hand strength. This can particularly be a concern when the hand tools are used by women, elderly, or handicapped users. Additionally, prior art tools typically are designed for a single purpose resulting in the need for many different types of tools. There is a desire for multi-purpose tools which can reduce the total number of tools needed by a user. Furthermore, there is a never ending desire to improve certain characteristics of such hand-operated tools such as, for example, quality, reliability, versatility, weather-resistance, high strength, low weight, and low manufacturing costs. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved hand-operated tools.
The present invention provides a hand-operated tool which overcomes at least some of the above-noted problems of the related art. According to the present invention, a hand-operated tool comprises, in combination, a tool head and a handle extending from the tool head. The tool head is pivotably secured to the handle to pivot between first and second configurations. A lock is operable to releasably lock the tool head relative to the handle in each of the first and second configurations.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a hand-operated tool comprises, in combination, a tool head and a handle extending from the tool head. The handle includes a handle member having a loop handle forming a rear grip. The handle member has a forward grip spaced apart from the rear grip and located forward of the rear grip and he forward grip includes a knob.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a hand-operated tool comprises, in combination, a tool head having a plurality of tines, a handle extending from the tool head, and a cutting member secured to the head and having a point at a free end.
From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of various preferred embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance in the technology of hand-operated tools. Particularly significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing a high quality, reliable, adjustable, versatile, and easy to use tool with improved operational performance. Additional features and advantages of various preferred embodiments will be better understood in view of the detailed description provided below.
These and further features of the present invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and drawings, wherein:
It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the hand-operated tools as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, materials, configurations, and shapes of the various components will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate visualization and clear understanding. In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example, for clarity or illustration. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation of the tool illustrated in the drawings. In general, up or upward refers to an upward direction within the plane of the drawing in
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, to those who have knowledge or experience in this area of technology, that many uses and design variations are possible for the improved hand-operated tools disclosed herein. The following detailed discussion of various alternative and preferred embodiments will illustrate the general principles of the invention with reference to a mulching tool for use in lawn and garden environments. Other embodiments suitable for other applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the benefit of this disclosure such as, for example, other hand operated-tools for lawn and garden environments and hand-operated tools used in construction, farm, and like environments.
Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a hand-operated tool 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated hand-operated tool 10 includes a tool head 12 selectively movable between a plurality of positions or orientations so that the tool 10 has a plurality of different configurations or forms, and a handle 14 rearwardly extending from the tool head 12 and including a plurality of grips 16, 18 located along the length of the handle 14. The illustrated tool 10 is in the form of a mulching tool where the tool head 12 is selectively movable between a forward facing position so that the tool 10 is in the configuration of a fork (best shown in
The illustrated handle 14 includes an arm 20, a rear grip 18 fixed in position at a rear end of the arm 20, and a fore grip 16 manually movable between desired locations along the arm 20 to selectively adjust the longitudinal length between the grips 16, 18 and thus the grasping distance of the user and the longitudinal length between the fore grip 16 and the tool head 12 and thus the effective length of the tool 10. The arm 20 preferably comprises metal such as, for example, cold rolled steel but can alternatively comprise any other suitable material. The fore and rear grips 16, 18 preferably comprise plastic material such as, for example, polypropylene The illustrated arm 20 and grips 16, 18 are each formed as separate components and operably fastened together but it is noted that any combination of the arm 20 and grips 16, 18 can alternatively be formed as a unitary, that is one-piece, member. It is also noted that while the illustrated tool 10 is provided with a fixed length handle 14, the tool 10 can alternatively be provided with an adjustable length handle.
As best shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the illustrated arm 20 is sized and shaped to cooperate with the fore and rear grips 16, 18 and the tool head 12 as described in more detail hereinafter. The illustrated arm 20 has a substantially straight upper or main portion 22 forming a central longitudinal axis 24 for the handle 14 and a substantially straight lower or head portion 26 forming a central longitudinal axis 28 of rotation for the tool head 12. The illustrated upper and lower portions 22, 26 form an acute angle therebetween so that the tool head 12 extends from the handle 14 at a desired angle. The illustrated upper and lower portions 22, 26 form an acute angle of about 6 degrees therebetween but any other suitable angle can alternatively be utilized. The illustrated lower portion 26 has a length suitable for receiving the tool head 12 therein as described in more detail hereinafter. The arm 20 preferably has a length such that the total length of the tool 10 is from about 50 to about 60 inches and more preferably has a length such that the total length of the tool is about 56 inches but any suitable length can be utilized.
The illustrated arm 20 is tubular-shaped but alternatively can be at least partially solid. The illustrated arm 20 is oval-shaped in cross-section to cooperate with the fore grip 16 to prevent rotation of the fore grip 16 relative to the arm 20 as described in more detail hereinafter but the arm 20 can alternatively have a cross-section of any other suitable shape. The illustrated arm 20 is also sized to closely receive the tool head 12 therein at its lower end but the arm 20 can alternatively be sized to closely slide into the tool head 12. The illustrated head portion 26 of the illustrated arm 20 is provided with openings 30 in a forward-rearward direction for securing the tool head 12 to the arm 20 as described in more detail. The illustrated head portion 26 is also provided with a forward facing opening 32 sized and shaped to cooperate with a tool head lock 34 as described in more detail hereinafter. Also the illustrated arm 20 is sized to closely extend into the fore and rear grips 16, 18 but can alternatively be sized to extend over portions thereof. The main portion 22 of the illustrated arm 20 is provided with openings 36 in a lateral direction for securing the rear grip 18 to the upper end of the arm 20 as described in more detail. The main portion 22 of the illustrated arm 20 is also provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart openings 38 on a rear side of the main portion 22 for selectively securing the fore grip 16 to the arm 20 in a plurality of positions as described in more detail. The illustrated arm 20 is provided with seven fore grip openings 38 but any other quantity can alternatively be utilized.
As best shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the fore grip 16 includes a body 40 selectively movable along the arm 20 and a manually releasable lock 42 to selectively secure the body 40 in a plurality of positions along the longitudinal length of the arm 20 to adjust the distance between the rear grip 18 and the fore grip 16 and the distance between the fore grip 16 and the tool head 12. The illustrated fore grip lock 42 is adapted so that the body 40 is adjustable to a finite number of fixed positions defined by the seven openings 38 in the arm 20. It is noted, however, that the fore grip lock 42 can alternatively have any other quantity of fixed positions or can alternatively be adapted so that the body 40 is infinitely adjustable along the longitudinal length of the arm 20.
The illustrated fore grip body 40 includes a generally cylindrical-shaped main portion 44 and a knob portion 46 extending from the main portion 44. The illustrated main portion 44 is sized and shaped to form a first gripping or grasping surface 48 for the user wherein the users hand is placed over and around the outer surface of the main portion 44. The main portion 44 forms a longitudinally extending passage 50 for closely receiving the arm 20 therethrough so that the body 40 can slide long the length of the arm 20. The illustrated passage 50 is provided with an oval-shaped cross-section which cooperates with the oval-shaped cross-section of the arm 20 so that the body cannot rotate relative to the arm as it slides along the length of the arm to maintain the fore grip 16 in its desired orientation. It is noted that the passage 50 and/or the arm 20 can alternatively have cross-sections of any other non-circular or other suitable shape and/or other means for preventing rotation of the fore grip 16 can be provided. The rear side of the illustrated main portion 44 is provided with an opening 52 sized and shaped for cooperating with the fore grip lock 42 as described in more detail hereinafter. The illustrated knob portion 46 extends forwardly away from the arm 20 and downwardly toward the tool head 12 from a lower end of the main portion 44. The illustrated knob portion 46 is sized and shaped to form a second gripping or grasping surface 54 for the user wherein the users hand is placed over and around the knob portion 46. It is noted that the fore grip 16, the main portion 44, and/or the knob portion 46 can alternatively have any other suitable size and/or shape.
The illustrated fore grip lock 42 includes a lock pin 56 adapted to engage the openings 38 of the arm 20 to rigidly lock the fore grip 16 and the arm 20 together, a release arm or lever 58 adapted to manually move the lock pin 56 at least from a locking position wherein the lock pin 56 engages one of the openings 38 to a releasing position wherein the lock pin 56 is free of the openings 38, and a spring member 60 adapted to resiliently bias the lock pin 56 into the locking position. The illustrated release lever 58 is located within the rear opening 52 of the body 40 and pivotably mounted to the body 40 about a laterally extending pivot axis 62. The illustrated pivot axis 62 is formed by a laterally extending axle 64 extending through an opening 66 in the release lever 58 and openings 68 on opposed lateral sides of the rear opening 52 of the body 40. The illustrated axle 64 is a dowel pin but any other suitable type of axle can be alternatively utilized. The illustrated lock pin 56 is secured to a lower end of the release lever 58 so that it is carried by the release lever and extends radially inward toward the central longitudinal axis 24 of the arm 20. The lock pin 56 is sized and shaped to be closely received into the openings 38 in the arm 20. The illustrated spring member 60 is located at an upper end of the release lever 58 to resiliently bias the upper end of the release lever 58 in a radially outward direction and the lower end of the release lever 58 in a radially inward direction so that the lock pin 56 is biased towards its locking position. The illustrated spring member 60 is a V-shaped wire spring secured in grooves 70, 72 formed in the body 40 and the release lever 58. It is noted that any other suitable type of spring member 60 can alternatively be utilized. It is also noted that the fore grip lock 42 can alternatively take any other suitable form.
Assembled in this manner, the user can selectively release the fore grip lock 42 to adjust the position of the fore grip 16, and thus the distance between the fore grip 16 and the rear grip 18 and the distance between the fore grip 16 and the tool head 12, by depressing the upper end of the release lever 58 against the bias of the spring member 60 to outwardly pivot the lower end of the release lever 58 and move the lock pin 56 to its releasing position so that the body 40 can longitudinally slide along the arm 20 to a desired position. When the user releases the release lever 58, the spring member 60 resiliently pivots the release lever 58 to automatically move the lock pin 56 towards its locking position. If the lock pin 56 does not engage one of the openings 38, the user slides the body 40 toward a desired position until the lock pin 56 resiliently snaps into one of the openings 38 to secure the fore grip 16 to the arm 20 in the desired position. The above steps are repeated to return the fore grip 16 to its original position or to move the fore grip 16 to any other desired position.
The illustrated rear grip 18 includes a generally cylindrical-shaped body 74 and a loop handle 76 extending from the body 74. The body 74 forms a downward facing socket 78 for receiving the upper end of the arm 20. Openings 80 extending in a lateral direction are provided at the socket 78. The illustrated rear grip 18 is rigidly secured to the arm 20 by a rivet 82 extending laterally through the openings 36, 80 in the arm 20 and the body 74. It is noted that the rear grip 18 can be alternatively secured to the handle arm 20 in any other suitable manner and can be either fixed in position or adjustable. The loop handle 76 extends rearwardly from the body 74 so that a gripping or grasping portion 84 is generally an extension of the arm 20 along the longitudinal axis 24 of the arm 20. The gripping portion 84 is generally cylindrical but is ergonomically shaped for comfortable grasping by the user. A loop portion 86 extends between upper and lower ends of the gripping portion 84 at a rear side of the rear grip 18 to form a laterally extending opening 88 for passage of a portion of the users hand therethrough when grasping the rear grip 18. It is noted that the rear grip 18, the body 74 and/or the loop handle 76 can alternatively have any other suitable size and/or shape.
The illustrated tool head 12 is secured to the lower end of the handle 14 in a manner in which the tool head 12 is movable between a plurality of orientations relative to the handle 14. The illustrated tool head 12 selectively rotates or swivels about the axis 28 formed by the head portion 26 of the arm 20. The manually releasable tool head lock 34 is provided to selectively secure the tool head 12 in the desired positions. The illustrated tool head 12 can be selectively secured by the tool head lock 34 in two positions relative to the handle 14. It is noted, however, that the tool head lock 34 can alternatively secure the tool head 12 in any other quantity of fixed positions or can alternatively be adapted so that the tool head 12 can be secured in an infinite number of positions.
The illustrated tool head 12 is in the form of a fork (best shown in
The illustrated tool head 12 also include a cutting member 102 in the form of a blade or the like. The cutting member 102 can be advantageous to open plastic bags and the like such as, for example, mulch bags. As best shown in
As best shown in
The illustrated tool head lock 34 is provided to releasably secure the tool head 12 in both the fork configuration (best shown in
The illustrated lock member 122 is a generally U-shaped spring member having a pair of legs 128 joined at one end and a pair of opposed pins 130 outwardly extending from free ends of the legs 128. The illustrated lock member 122 resiliently biases the pins 130 in an outward direction but the pins 130 can be independently moved inwardly against the bias of the lock member 122. The lock member 122 is preferably formed of stainless steel but can alternatively be formed of any other suitable material. The illustrated lock member 122 is sized and shaped to be positioned within the tool head connector portion 92 with the pins 130 extending through the openings 100 at the upper end of the tool head connecting portion 92. When the tool head 12 is oriented with either of the pins 130 aligned with the opening 120 in the swivel housing 96, the pin 130 engages the opening 120 to lock the tool head 12 against rotation about the axis 28 relative to the swivel housing 96 and the handle arm 20. It is noted that the opposite pin 130 is inwardly moved against its outward bias because it engages an inner surface of the swivel housing socket 114 which does not permit the pin 130 to extend fully outward.
As best shown in
Assembled in this manner, the user can selectively release the tool head lock 34 to adjust the orientation of the tool head 12, and thus the configuration of the tool 10 (best shown in
It is apparent from the foregoing detailed description that the present invention provides improved hand-operated tool 10 which is relatively comfortable to use, requires relatively low hand strength, and is extremely versatile in that a single preferred tool can replace a number of prior art tools to accomplish the same tasks. It should be appreciated that the single tool 10 according to the illustrated embodiment can be used to open mulch bags and spread mulch rather than using a prior art fork, rake, and utility knife to do the same task. It is also apparent that the improved tool 10 is reliable and has relatively low manufacturing costs.
From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that various modifications, additions and other alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present invention. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the benefit to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
This application claims priority benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/567,388 filed on Apr. 30, 2004, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60567388 | Apr 2004 | US |
