GB2352607A - Weeding fork - Google Patents

Abstract

A tool (1, figure 1) for the lifting of plants from the soil comprises a fork (20, figure 1) with a plurality of tines (22, 23, 24, figure 1) and a shaft 10 adapted to be held by a user. There is further provided a ground abutment and reaction member 26 extending rearwardly from the shaft 10 at or near the foot of the shaft 10. The arrangement is such that after the fork (1) is driven into the ground the fork (1) can be pivoted about the ground abutment and reaction member 26. There may be three tines (22, 23, 24, figure 1), central tine (23) being shorter than the outer tines (22, 24) and being set back from the outer tines. There may be a bar 25 to assist with inserting tool (1) into the soil.

Description

2352607 Title - Tool This invention relates to a tool, and in particular

to a tool for the lifting and removal ofvegetation from the soil.

The need to remove undesired plant growth, hereinafter referred to as weeds, from the soil is common in many situations such as gardens, commercial nurseries, parkland etc. In many cases, such plants are removed for reasons which are aesthetic or to prevent them interfering with the growth of other plants, whether purely decorative or commercially important. In some cases, 10 however, the removal of weeds is necessary due to their hannfal effects, eg due to toxicity, and is sometimes even required by legislation. Many weeds, including some which have such harmful effects, are difficult to lift from the soil. They may, for instance, have deep and/or fibrous roots. The effective eradication of such weeds 15 may therefore be difficult to achieve, with the result that the weeds recur. One notable example of such a weed is ragwort, in respect of which relevant legislation is in place. Failure to deal effectively with the presence of ragwort carries heavy penalties. There has now been devised a tool which is particularly effective in lifting weeds, and which 20 overcomes or substantially mitigates the shortcomings of known tools. According to the invention, there is provided a tool for the lifting of plants from the soil, which tool comprises a fork with a plurality of tines and a shaft adapted to be held by a user, there being finther provided a ground abutment and reaction member extending rearwardly from the shaft 25 at or near the foot of the shaft, the arrangement being such that after the fork is driven into the ground the fork can be pivoted about the ground abutment and reaction member. The tool according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it is particularly effective in lifting weeds from the ground. The effort required to lift extensively rooted weeds is less than 30 with other tools, resulting in less physical exertion being required to remove large quantities of weeds. In addition, the weeds can be lifted with the roots substantially intact so that the risk of 2 the weeds recurring is reduced.

The ground abutment and reaction member is preferably a plate extending from a point near the top of the fork tines. Most preferably, the member is curved upwards and connected to the fork or the shaft so that the member is braced against deformation when the tool is pivoted about the member.

The fork most preferably has three tines. Preferably, the tines have a length of between 5cm and 15cm, eg about 10cm. The tool has been found to be particularly effective if the overall width of the fork is between about 4cm and 8cm, eg about 5cm.

Where the fork comprises three tines, it is prefer-red that the central tine is somewhat reduced in length compared with the outer tines. For example, the central tine may be approximately I cm shorter than the outer tines. In addition, it may be advantageous for the tip of the central tine to be slightly set back in relation to the tips of the outer tines. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous in that, in use, the outer tines effectively straddle the rootball of the plant enabling it to be lifted substantially whole from the ground.

Means are preferably provided to assist in driving the fork into the ground. Such means preferably comprises a bar or the like positioned to one or both sides of the tool, such that a user can drive the tool downwards using his foot.

The tool according to the invention may be manufactured from materials, and using techniques, which are conventional for the manufacture of such implements. The shaft may, for instance, be of metal tube or wood. The fork is preferably formed in steel or similar metal and may be cast as an integral unit formed with a suitable socket to receive the end of the shaft. A suitable handle may be provided at the upper end of the shaft. Such a handle may have a conventional form and be attached to the shaft by conventional means.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which 3 Figure I is a front view of a tool according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the lower part ofthe tool ofFigure 1, as driven into the ground adjacent a plant to be lifted; and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the tool pivoted backwards to lift the plant. Referring first to Figure 1, a tool according to the invention is generally designated 1 and comprises a shaft 10 to the upper end of which a handle 12 is fitted in conventional fashion. The 10 lower end of the shaft 10 locates in a generally tubular socket 21 formed in the upper part of a fork unit 20. A fork comprising three tines 22,23,24 depends from the lower end of the socket 21. A footbar 25 extends transversely near the upper part of the fork to each side of the tool 1. A reaction brace 26 is fitted to the rear of the fork unit 20, the reaction brace 26 having a curved limb 26a which extends rearwardly from the top of the fork and a second limb 26b extending up 15 to join the socket 21 at a point near the top thereof As can be seen from Figure 1, the central tine 23 is of slightly reduced length in comparison with the other tines 22,24. The tip of the central tine 23 is also slightly set back in relation to the tips of the other tines 22,24. 20 In use, the user positions the fork adjacent a weed 30 to be lifted and drives the fork into the ground, using his foot on whichever side of the footbar 25 is most convenient, until the curved limb 26a of the reaction brace contacts the ground (see Figure 2). The tool 1 is then rocked backwards such that the tool I pivots about the curved limb 26a of the brace 26, lifting the plant 25 out of the ground as shown in Figure 3.

The tool 1 is particularly useful for the removal of a weed such as ragwort, the arrangement of the tines 22,23,24 being particularly effective in removing the weed's rootball.

4

Claims (13)

Claims

1. A tool for the lifting of plants from the soil, which tool comprises a fork with a plurality of tines and a shaft adapted to be held by a user, there being further provided a ground abutment and reaction member extending rearwardly from the shaft at or near the foot of the shaft, the arrangement being such that after the fork is driven into the ground the fork can be pivoted about the ground abutment and reaction member.

2. A tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the ground abutment and reaction member is a plate extending from a point near the top of the fork tines.

3. A tool as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said member is curved upwards and connected to the fork or the shaft so that the member is braced against deformation when the tool is pivoted about the member.

4. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fork has three tines.

5. A tool as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the tines have a length of between 5cm and 15cm.

6. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fork comprises three tines, and the central tine is somewhat reduced in length compared with the outer tines.

7. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fork comprises three tines and the tip of the central tine is slightly set back in relation to the tips of the outer tines.

8. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the overall width of the fork is between about 4cm. and 8cm.

9. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising means to assist in driving the fork into the ground.

10. A tool as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said means comprises a bar or the like positioned to one or both sides of the tool, such that a user can drive the tool downwards using his foot.

11.A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shaft is of metal tube or wood.

12. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fork is formed in steel or similar metal and is cast as an integral unit formed with a suitable socket to receive the end of the shaft.

13. A tool for the lifting of plants from the soil, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures.