MULTI-PURPOSE GARDEN TOOL

Multi-Purpose Garden Tool.

The present invention relates to a multi-purpose garden tool and, in particular , to such a tool suitable for use both as a lawn-edge trimming tool and as a hoe.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-purpose garden tool comprising a tool head carried at one end of the shaft, the tool head comprising:

- a substantially flat blade portion lying generally in the same plane as the shaft and having both a bottom edge along which the blade portion can be advanced, and a leading edge extending upwards from the bottom edge, and

- a soil-deflecting portion provided at the end of the blade portion remote from the leading edge and projecting to one side only of the blade portion, the soil-deflecting portion being arranged to deflect soil to said one side of the blade portion as the latter is advanced on, and in the direction of extent of, its bottom edge with the soil deflecting portion to the rear, the part of the soil-deflecting portion furthest from the bottom edge of the blade portion being formed as a scoop-like member which can be brought into operation to excavate soil by turning the tool around.

This arrangement allows the toolhead to be drawn along a line to displace soil to one side thereby, on the one hand, forming a shallow trench (for example, around the edge of a lawn or for use as a seed drill) while on the other hand, piling up earth as required for the earthing up of plants. Furthermore, by turning the shaft through half a turn, the top part of the soil-deflecting portion can be used to dig individual holes for planting.

Preferably, the bottom edge and the leading edge of the blade portion are formed as cutting edges at least over part of their extent. Advantageously, the leading edge is upwardly inclined towards the end of the blade portion provided with the soil-deflecting portion thereby to provide a pointed lower front end to the blade portion. Due to this arrangement of the bottom and leading edges of the blade portion, the tool can be used not only to trim the edges of a lawn but also as a Dutch hoe, while the point of the blade portion is very useful for breaking up soil, weeding between cracks in paving slabs, and similar tasks.

Additionally, the upper edge of the blade portion can be provided with a curved recess enabling the tool to be used as a hook for drawing plant stems towards the user or for cutting these ste s .

Various other novel aspects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description given by way of example, of a multi¬ purpose garden tool, reference being made to the accompanying drawing the sole Figure of which is a side elevation of the tool head of the tool.

As shown in the drawing, the garden tool comprises a shaft 1 serving as a handle, and a tool head 2 carried at one end of the shaft 1 and secured thereto by means of a taper socket fitting 3 riveted to the tool head 2. The tool head 2 comprises a blade portion 4 and a soil-deflecting portion 5. The blade portion 4 has a bottom working edge 6, and a leading working edge 7 inclined upwardly from the bottom edge 6 at an

^■v 5 anσle of, for example, 47 . The working edges 6 and 7 together define a pointed end 8 of the tool head 2. The shaft 1 is inclined at an angle of approximately 65 relative to the bottom working edge 6. The soil-deflecting portion 5 of the toolhead

10 2 curves round from the blade portion 4 on one side only of this latter portion. The tool head 2 is preferably pressed from a single flat steel plate (for example. No. 14 gauge, 2.13mm), the original outline of this plate in the region of the soil-deflecting- portion

15 5 being indicated by a dashed line in the drawing.

By curving the soil-deflecting portion 5 sufficiently far round, a scoop-like member is produced with a shape similar to that of an inverted cone divided into two along its axis . The upper end of the soil- 20 deflecting portion provides a rounded end 9 to the tool head 2.

A large notch 10 is provided in the upper edge of the tool head 2 and is formed around its periphery with a cutting edge 11.

25 The illustrated garden tool can be put to a number of different uses , the blade portion 4 generally serving for cutting and hoeing while the soil- deflecting portion 5 can be used to displace soil sideways from a line. More particularly, the garden

30 tool can be used for the following functions:

1. Forming a smooth rounded trench at lawn edges by drawing the tool head 2 along the edge with its soil-deflecting portion facing away from the lawn . The soil-deflecting portion 5 causes soil to be thrown clear of the lawn edge when used at a walking pace .

2 . Trimming a lawn edge by applying downward foot pressure on the tool head 2 to cause the bottom working edge 6 to cut into the lawn edge . The leading working edge 7 also performs a trimming function as the tool head 2 is drawn along the s ide of a lawn.

3 . Forming a deep trench at a lawn edge by drawing the tool head 2 along the lawn edge with its rounded end 9 pointing down .

4 . Area weeding , the bottom edge 6 and pointed end 8 acting as a weed hoe as the tool head

2 is drawn backwards and forwards .

5 . Cutting of weed or dead flower stalks by engaging the stalks in the notch 1 0 and pulling towards one .

6. Forming individual planting holes using the rounded end 9 , the tool head 2 being lifted and brought down to str ike the ground with the end 9 .

7 . Forming seed drills or furrows by drawing the tool head 2 along on the straight bottom edge 6 .

8. Earthing-up of potatoes , celery , leeks , etc . , by drawing the tool head 2 along between plant lines .

9 . Selective weeding in rockeries and small beds us ing both the pointed end 8 and rounded end 9. The pointed end 8 is also useful for lawn weeding.

The tool can be used by right or left-handed persons.

In carrying out functions (3) and (6) above, the shaft is rotated through half a turn about its axis relative to its orientation shown in the drawing thereby bringing the rounded end 9 into a downwardly- facing operative position. The forward angling of the shaft facilitates use of the rounded end . Advantageously, the curved edge of the rounded end

9 is sharpened to form a cutting edge.

Various modifications to the described tool are, of course, possible. Thus, for example, the notch

10 can be omitted.

The tool can be made in various sizes such as with a 1.5 m shaft for use in a standing position and with a 0.2 m shaft for use as a small hand tool.