US 4,377,212 AGranted

Pendulum action cultivating hoe

OwnerJohn R. Malson, Sr.inventor

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Abstract

A pendulum action cultivating hoe utilizes an elongated handle on the lower end of which is mounted a vertically inverted U-shaped support frame. The support frame pivotally mounts a second upright vertically positioned U-shaped blade frame having a blade portion which is drawn back and forth through the soil to be cultivated and whose motion is limited by a rod member mounted between the side arms of the frames.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A hand-operated, pendulum action, cultivating hoe comprising:

(a) an elongated handle;
(b) an integral, vertically inverted, U-shaped, rigid support frame formed of plate metal comprising:
(i) a horizontal cross strap;
and
(ii) a pair of similar shaped, downwardly-extending, laterally-spaced, opposed vertical side straps, the upper end portion of each said vertical side strap being formed as a strap-like continuation of one end of said cross strap and the lower end portion of each said vertical side strap being formed as a plate section in the same plane as the plane of and as an enlarged extension of the upper end portion of the vertical side strap of which it is a part and having an upwardly-curved arcuate slot formed therein;
(c) bracing means integrally connecting said elongated handle to said support frame cross strap in transverse perpendicular relation thereto and vertically angled such that when said support frame vertical side straps are vertical said handle is at a substantially 45.degree. vertical angle with respect to the horizontal;
(d) an integral, upright, vertically-positioned, U-shaped, rigid blade frame formed of metal strap, said blade frame comprising:
(i) a rectangular, ground-engaging, horizontal cross strap providing a blade member having forward and rearward upwardly beveled cutting edges formed on the long edges thereof;
and
(ii) a pair of similar shaped, upwardly extending, laterally spaced, opposed vertical side straps, said blade frame vertical side straps being formed as respective strap-like continuations of the ends of said cross strap blade member and being pivotally mounted at their upper ends outwardly of and on the upper end portions of said support frame vertical side straps, said blade frame vertical side straps being arranged to swing on said support frame vertical side straps with the respective mating vertical side strap surfaces, including the surfaces of said support frame vertical side strap plate sections mating with said blade frame vertical side straps being in close opposing relation;
and
(e) a horizontal cross bar extending between said blade frame vertical side straps and mounted with each respective outer end thereof passing through a respective said arcuate slot in a respective said support frame vertical side strap plate section and through a respective lower end of a said blade frame vertical side strap, said cross bar having means on the outermost ends thereof to prevent lateral axial movement thereof and residing at an elevated position above said blade frame blade member so that during use of said hoe and as said blade frame pivots on said support frame proximate the top thereof, said cross bar moves at said elevated position forward and rearward in said arcuate slots enabling said ground-engagable blade member to have limited off-center bidirectional swing on said support frame and dig into and cultivate the soil being hoed and said cross bar to serve as a depth gauge therefor in a selected short or long sweep synchronized with the natural pendulus motion of the arms of the user and said support frame vertical side straps serve to stabilize and oppose lateral movement of said blade frame vertical side straps.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A hand-operated, pendulum action, cultivating hoe comprising:

(a) an elongated handle;
(b) an integral, vertically inverted, U-shaped, rigid support frame formed of plate metal comprising:
(i) a horizontal cross strap;
and
(ii) a pair of similar shaped, downwardly-extending, laterally-spaced, opposed vertical side straps, the upper end portion of each said vertical side strap being formed as a strap-like continuation of one end of said cross strap and the lower end portion of each said vertical side strap being formed as a plate section in the same plane as the plane of and as an enlarged extension of the upper end portion of the vertical side strap of which it is a part and having an upwardly-curved arcuate slot formed therein;
(c) bracing means integrally connecting said elongated handle to said support frame cross strap in transverse perpendicular relation thereto and vertically angled such that when said support frame vertical side straps are vertical said handle is at a substantially 45.degree. vertical angle with respect to the horizontal;
(d) an integral, upright, vertically-positioned, U-shaped, rigid blade frame formed of metal strap, said blade frame comprising:
(i) a rectangular, ground-engaging, horizontal cross strap providing a blade member having forward and rearward upwardly beveled cutting edges formed on the long edges thereof;
and
(ii) a pair of similar shaped, upwardly extending, laterally spaced, opposed vertical side straps, said blade frame vertical side straps being formed as respective strap-like continuations of the ends of said cross strap blade member and being pivotally mounted at their upper ends outwardly of and on the upper end portions of said support frame vertical side straps, said blade frame vertical side straps being arranged to swing on said support frame vertical side straps with the respective mating vertical side strap surfaces, including the surfaces of said support frame vertical side strap plate sections mating with said blade frame vertical side straps being in close opposing relation;
and
(e) a horizontal cross bar extending between said blade frame vertical side straps and mounted with each respective outer end thereof passing through a respective said arcuate slot in a respective said support frame vertical side strap plate section and through a respective lower end of a said blade frame vertical side strap, said cross bar having means on the outermost ends thereof to prevent lateral axial movement thereof and residing at an elevated position above said blade frame blade member so that during use of said hoe and as said blade frame pivots on said support frame proximate the top thereof, said cross bar moves at said elevated position forward and rearward in said arcuate slots enabling said ground-engagable blade member to have limited off-center bidirectional swing on said support frame and dig into and cultivate the soil being hoed and said cross bar to serve as a depth gauge therefor in a selected short or long sweep synchronized with the natural pendulus motion of the arms of the user and said support frame vertical side straps serve to stabilize and oppose lateral movement of said blade frame vertical side straps.

9 more elements