Garden tool device

• US 6,082,795 A
• Filed: 02/08/1999
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph C. Fornelli
• Original Assignee: Joseph C. Fornelli
• Inventors: Fornelli, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERRY, JOHNNY DAN
• Application Number:
  US09/245,670
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 294/19.1, 294/25, 294/26, 294/50.6, 294/50.8, 294/51, 294/57, 294/58, 15/144.1, 15/145, 16/422, 16/426, 16/427, 16/429, 16/430, 43/21.2, 43/25, 56/400.01, 56/400.04, 135/71-73, 172/371, 172/372, 172/375, 224/218, 224/219, 224/222, D 8/10, D 8/13, D 8/107
• US Class Current: 294/58
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 1/00 Hand tools edge trimmers for lawns A01G3/06 ; machines for working soil A01B35/00; making hand tools B21D
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 1/227 Interchangeable blades
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/102 the shape being specially adapted to facilitate handling or improve grip

Abstract

A leveraged gardening tool device having an elongated body, a hand grip, a forearm receptacle at one end of the elongated body and a gardening tool securing mechanism at the other end of the opposing end of the elongated body for receiving and maintaining the shaft of a small gardening tool. The elongated body has an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper and lower portions being separated by an approximate 195° bend in the elongated body. The bend is provided for optimal one-handed use of the gardening tool and results in a decrease in the amount of fatigue traditionally encountered when using a conventional hand-held gardening tool. One embodiment of the invention allows for an assortment of removably engageable gardening tools for use with the gardening tool.

Claims

1. A gardening tool device, comprising:

an elongated body having a first end and a second end, an upper portion and a lower portion, said elongated body having a bend between said upper portion and said lower portion;

a shaft mounting a forearm receptacle;

said shaft attached to the first end of said elongated body for receiving a forearm of a user;

said shaft slidably adjustable with said elongated body,

said forearm receptacle having a lower portion adapted to engage a lower portion of the forearm, and a releasable upper portion adapted to engage an upper portion of the forearm;

a grip attached to and extending away from said elongated body for gripping said gardening tool device, said grip located on said elongated body at a distance from said forearm receptacle sufficient to enable engagement of the forearm of the user within the forearm receptacle and comfortably hold said grip; and

a gardening tool securing mechanism for interchangeably securing one of a plurality of gardening tools to the second end of said elongated body, said secured gardening tool aligned with said second end of said elongated body.

2. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 1, wherein the bend in said elongated body defines an approximately 195°

angle between said upper portion of the elongated body and said lower portion of the elongated body.

3. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said elongated body includes a hollow portion adjacent said first end;

said forearm receptacle rigidly mounted on a first shaft, said first shaft adapted to be removably held in said hollow portion of said elongated body.

4. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 3, further to including:

a shaft securing mechanism in said elongated body and adapted to engage said first shaft to hold said first shaft in a selected position in said upper portion of said elongated body.

5. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 1 wherein said forearm receptacle is U-shaped.

6. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 5 wherein said forearm receptacle has first and second ends;

said forearm receptacle further including a strap having first and second ends, the first end of said strap fixed to the first end of said forearm receptacle, the second end of said strap detachably fixed to the second end of said forearm receptacle.

7. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 1 wherein said gardening tool securing mechanism is a lockdown screw disposed in an aperture in the elongated body, said lockdown screw adapted to releasably hold said gardening tool to the second end of said elongated body.

8. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated body includes a hollow portion adjacent said second end;

said gardening tool rigidly mounted on a garden tool shaft, said garden tool shaft adapted to be removably held in said hollow portion of said elongated body.

9. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 8, wherein said gardening tool securing mechanism releasably secures said gardening tool shaft in said hollow portion adjacent said second end of said elongated body.

10. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 1, wherein said bend forms an obtuse angle between said upper portion and said lower portion of said elongated body.

11. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 10, wherein said bend defines an angle of approximately 195°

between the upper portion and the lower portion of the elongated body.

12. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 11, wherein said bend is adapted to form an angle of approximately 195°

between the gardening tool and the forearm of a user when said gardening tool device is releasably attached to the forearm of the user.

13. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 1, wherein said grip tapers outwardly along its length in a direction away from the elongated body.

14. A gardening tool device, comprising:

an elongated hollow body having first and second ends, an upper portion and a lower portion, said elongated body having a bend, the bend defining an angle of approximately 195°

between said upper portion and said lower portion;

a first shaft positioned inside the first end of said elongated hollow body and slidably adjustable with said elongated hollow body;

a U-shaped forearm receptacle rigidly mounted to said first shaft, said forearm receptacle adapted to receive a user'"'"'s forearm;

a releasable strap extending across the open end of said U-shaped forearm receptacle, said strap adapted to engage an upper portion of the forearm of a user;

a grip attached to and extending away from said elongated hollow body;

a plurality of garden tools each rigidly affixed to a corresponding plurality of second shafts;

each of said second shafts selectively and removably securable inside the second end of said elongated hollow body, said second shafts and said garden tools each aligned with said elongated body when secured in said second end of said elongated hollow body.

15. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 14, wherein said first shaft is adjustably and securably positioned inside said first end of said elongated hollow body.

16. A gardening tool device as recited in claim 14, wherein said first shaft is removably positioned inside said first end of said elongated hollow body.

17. A gardening tool device, comprising:

a) an elongated body having a first end and a second end, an upper portion and a lower portion, said elongated body having a bend between said upper portion and said lower portion;

b) a forearm receptacle attached to said first end of said elongated body;

said forearm receptacle adapted to receive the forearm of a user;

c) said forearm receptacle having a lower portion adapted to engage a lower portion of the forearm, and an upper portion adapted to engage an upper portion of the forearm;

d) a grip attached to and extending away from said elongated body for gripping said gardening tool device, said grip located on said elongated body at a predetermined distance from said forearm receptacle; and

e) a garden tool securing mechanism on said second end of said elongated body to releasably secure a gardening tool to the second end of said elongated body, said secured gardening tool aligned with said second end of said elongated body.