Compact bed edging machine

• US 6,874,581 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Burroughs Sprayer MFG Inc., E-Z Trench Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jerome C Burroughs, Roger D. Porter
• Inventors: Porter, Roger D., Burroughs, Jerome C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US09/966,477
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 172/15, 172/16, 172/17, 172/42, 172/43, 172/120, 172/123, 172/749, 172/108, 172/118, 172/125, 371/425, 37/94, 37D/IG.8, 405/174, 405/179, 405/180, 405/181
• US Class Current: 172/42
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/08 with digging wheels turning round an axis E02F5/109 takes precedence; with digging wheels per se E02F3/18

Abstract

A combination machine for trenching, for forming the edge of a bed, and for laying and burying tubing, cable, piping, and the like. The machine includes steerable caster wheels mounted on the rear of the machine which, together with a single front wheel, allow for a tight turning radius when using the machine. The machine also includes a blade height adjustment which allows for the trenching or edging blade depth to be readily adjusted in a substantially infinite variation. Other aspects of the present invention include an edging machine and a trenching machine, both being of a compact design. Both include an extendable handle which, in a preferred embodiment retracts or folds to allow for the volume of space occupied by the machines to be minimized, preferably, to the extent that either of such machines can typically be carried in a trunk of a standard automobile.

Claims

1. A soil bed edge forming machine, comprising:

a frame;

a motor connected to said frame;

a soil bed edge forming blade;

said motor being drivingly connected to said soil bed edge forming blade;

an elongated handle connected to said frame, said handle having a first portion configured for moving between a retracted position and an extended position; and

said first portion being configured such that upon said first portion being in said retracted position, the height of said machine is significantly reduced.

2. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least two caster wheels connected to said frame.

3. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle includes a hinge for allowing said movement of said first portion of said handle between said retracted position and said extended position.

4. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle includes a second portion and further comprising a hinge connected to both said first and second portions for allowing said first portion of said handle to pivot between said retracted position and said extended position;

and further comprising a locking member for locking said first portion of said handle in said retracted position and in said extended position.

5. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said handle includes a second portion; and

further comprising;

a hinge connected to both said first and second portions for allowing pivotal movement of said first portion of said handle between said retracted position and said extended position; and

a receiver connected to said frame for receiving said first portion of said handle when said handle is in said retracted position.

6. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said handle includes a second portion; and

further comprising;

a hinge connected to both said first and second portions for allowing pivotal movement of said first portion of said handle between said retracted position and said extended position; and

a receiver connected to said frame for receiving said first portion of said handle when said handle is in said retracted position and for holding said first portion of said handle in a generally horizontal position.

7. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle includes a hinge for allowing pivotal movement of said first portion of said handle between said retracted position and said extended position, such that upon said first portion of said handle being in said retracted position, each of the length, width, and height dimensions of said soil bed edge forming machine is less than 33 inches.

8. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle includes a hinge for allowing pivotal movement of said first portion of said handle between said retracted position and said extended position, such that upon said first portion of said handle being in said retracted position, the volume occupied by said soil bed edge forming machine is less than 10 cubic feet.

9. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle includes a hinge for allowing pivotal movement of said first portion of said handle between said retracted position and said extended position, such that upon said first portion of said handle being in said retracted position, the length dimension of said soil bed edge forming machine is less than 32 inches.

10. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle includes a hinge for allowing pivotal movement of said first portion of said handle between said retracted position and said extended position, such that upon said first portion of said handle being in said retracted position the width dimension of said soil bed edge forming machine is less than 27 inches.

11. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle includes a hinge for allowing pivotal movement of said first portion of said handle between said retracted position and said extended position, such that upon said handle being in said retracted position the height dimension of said soil bed edge forming machine is less than 20 inches.

12. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle is configured such that upon said first portion of said handle being in said retracted position, each of the length;

width, and height dimensions of said soil bed edge forming machine is less than 33 inches.

13. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame includes a forward portion and a rearward portion, and further comprising:

an arm connected to said forward portion of said frame; and

a front wheel connected to said arm; and

said arm being movable between a transport position for holding said soil bed edge forming blade generally above the surface of the soil, and an edging position for causing said soil bed edge forming blade to be engaged with the soil for forming a soil bed edge.

14. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame includes a forward portion and a rearward portion, and further comprising an arm pivotally connected to said forward portion of said frame;

a front wheel connected to said arm;

said arm including an outwardly extending handle for use in carrying said soil bed edge forming machine; and

said arm being movable between a transport position for holding said soil bed edge forming blade generally above the surface of the soil and an edging position for causing said soil bed edge forming blade to be engaged with the soil for forming a soil bed edge.

15. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame includes a forward portion and a rearward portion, and further comprising an arm pivotally connected to said forward portion of said frame;

a front wheel connected to said arm;

said arm being movable between a transport position for holding said soil bed edge forming blade generally above the surface of the soil and an edging position for causing said soil bed edge forming blade to be engaged with the soil for forming a soil bed edge; and

a lock for selectively locking said arm in at least one of said transport and edging positions.

16. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame includes a forward portion and a rearward portion, and further comprising an arm connected to said forward portion of said frame;

a front wheel connected to said arm;

said arm being movable between a transport position for holding said soil bed edge forming blade generally above the surface of the soil and an edging position for causing said soil bed edge forming blade to be engaged with the soil for forming a soil bed edge; and

a spring-biased locking pin for selectively locking said arm in at least one of said transport and edging positions.

17. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame includes a forward portion and a rearward portion, and further comprising an arm pivotally connected to said forward portion of said frame;

a front wheel connected to said arm;

said arm including a handle for use in carrying said soil bed edge forming machine;

said arm being movable between a transport position for holding said soil bed edge forming blade generally above the surface of the soil and an edging position for causing said soil bed edge forming blade to be engaged with the soil for forming a soil bed edge; and

a spring-biased locking pin for selectively locking said arm in at least one of said transport and edging positions.

18. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said handle includes a second portion and wherein said first portion is of greater length than said second portion.

19. A soil bed edge forming machine, comprising:

a frame;

a motor connected to said frame;

a soil bed edging blade;

said motor being drivingly connected to said soil bed edging blade;

a handle connected to said frame, said handle having a first portion movable between an extended position and a retracted position;

said first portion being configured such that upon said first portion being in said retracted position, the height of said machine is significantly reduced; and

a lock for selectively locking said handle in said extended and retracted positions.

20. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 19, wherein said frame includes a forward portion and a rearward portion, and further comprising an arm connected to said forward portion of said frame;

a front wheel connected to said arm;

said arm being movable between a transport position for holding said soil bed edging blade generally above the surface of the soil and an edging position for causing said soil bed edging blade to be engaged with the soil for forming a soil bed edge; and

a spring-biased locking pin for selectively locking said arm in at least one of said transport and edging positions.

21. A soil bed edge forming machine, comprising:

a frame;

a motor connected to said frame;

a soil bed edging blade;

said motor being drivingly connected to said soil bed edging blade;

a handle connected to said frame;

means for retraction of said handle from an extended position to a retracted position such that the height of said machine is significantly reduced upon said handle being in said retracted position; and

a lock for selectively locking said handle in said extended and folded positions.

22. A soil bed edge forming machine, comprising:

a frame having a forward portion and a rearward portion;

a motor and wheels connected to said frame;

a soil bed edging blade;

said motor being drivingly connected to said soil bed edging blade;

a handle connected to said frame, said handle including a first portion and a second portion;

a hinge connected to both said first and second portions for allowing said movement of said handle between a retracted position and an extended position;

said first and second portions being configured such that the height of said machine is significantly reduced upon said handle being in said retracted position;

a receiver connected to said frame for receiving said first portion of said handle when said handle is in said retracted position;

a lock for selectively locking said handle in said extended and retracted positions;

an arm pivotally connected to said forward portion of said frame;

a wheel connected to said arm;

said arm being movable between a transport position for holding said soil bed edging blade generally above the surface of the soil and an edging position for causing said soil bed edging blade to be engaged with the soil for forming a soil bed edge;

a spring-biased locking pin for selectively locking said arm in at least one of said transport and edging positions; and

each of the length, width, and height dimensions of said soil bed edge forming machine being less than 33 inches upon said handle being in said retracted position.

23. A soil bed edge forming machine as defined in claim 22, wherein said first portion of said handle is in a generally horizontal position upon said handle being in said retracted position.

24. An earth working machine, comprising:

a frame;

a motor connected to said frame;

an earth working blade;

said motor being drivingly connected to said earth working blade;

a handle connected to said frame;

means for retraction of said handle from an extended position to a retracted position such that the height of said machine is significantly reduced upon said handle being in said retracted position; and

a lock for selectively locking said handle in said extended and retracted positions.

25. An earth working machine, comprising:

a frame;

a motor connected to said frame;

an earth working implement configured for working soil;

said motor being drivingly connected to said earth working implement; and

a handle connected to said frame, said handle having a first portion movable between an extended position and a retracted position;

said first portion having an extreme end extending to a first height upon said first portion being in said extended position, and upon said first portion being in said retracted position, said extreme end of said first portion extends to a second height, said second height being substantially less than said first height, such that upon said first portion being in said retracted position, the effective height of said machine is significantly reduced.

26. An earth working machine, comprising:

a frame;

a motor connected to said frame;

an earth working implement configured for working soil;

said motor being drivingly connected to said earth working implement; and

a handle connected to said frame, said handle having a first portion movable between an extended position and a retracted position;

said machine extending to a first length upon said first portion being in said extended position, and upon said first portion being in said retracted position, said machine extends to a second length, said second length being substantially less than said first length, such that upon said first portion being in said retracted position, the effective length of said machine is significantly reduced.

27. An earth working machine, comprising:

a frame;

a motor connected to said frame;

an earth working implement;

said motor being drivingly connected to said earth working implement;

an elongated handle connected to said frame, said handle having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being configured for moving between a retracted position and an extended position; and

said first portion and said second portion being configured such that upon said first portion being in said retracted position, the height of said machine is significantly reduced.

28. A method of earth working, said method comprising:

providing an earth working machine having a frame with a frame portion and a motor connected to said frame;

providing an elongated handle connected to said frame, said handle having a first portion configured for moving between a retracted position and an extended position;

providing said earth working machine with an earth working implement;

moving said first portion of said handle to said extended position in order to be operable for use in moving said frame and working the soil with said earth working implement;

moving said earth working machine by applying force to said first handle member while said first handle member is in said extended position;

rotating said earth working implement with said motor to work the soil; and

moving said first portion of said handle to said retracted position, said first portion being configured to have an extreme end extending to a first height upon said first portion being in said extended position, and upon said first portion being moved to said retracted position said first portion being configured such that said extreme end extends to a second height substantially less than said first height, such that the effective height of said earth working machine is significantly reduced by said moving of said first portion to said retracted position.

29. An earth working machine, said machine comprising:

a frame having a generally longitudinally extending frame portion;

a motor connected to said frame;

an earth working implement configured for working the soil;

said motor being drivingly connected to said earth working implement; and

said frame including an elongated handle, said handle having a first portion and a second portion, said second portion being configured for moving between an extended position, wherein said second portion of said handle is configured to be operable for use in moving said frame and working the soil with said earth working implement, and a retracted position, wherein said second portion of said handle extends generally parallel to and adjacent to said first portion.

30. An earth working machine, comprising:

a frame;

a motor connected to said frame;

an earth working implement;

said motor being drivingly connected to said earth working implement;

said frame including an elongated handle, said handle having an elongated first portion and an elongated second portion, said second portion being configured for moving between an extended position, wherein said second portion is generally aligned with said first portion, and a retracted position, wherein said second portion extends generally above and adjacent said motor and at a generally acute angle with respect to said first portion.

31. An earth working machine, comprising:

a frame;

a motor connected to said frame;

an earth working implement;

said motor being drivingly connected to said earth working implement;

said frame including an elongated handle, said handle having an elongated first portion and an elongated second portion, said second portion being configured for moving between an extended position, wherein said second portion extends generally parallel to said first portion, and a retracted position, wherein said second portion extends generally above and adjacent said motor and at a generally acute angle with respect to said first portion.