Concrete mixing hoe

Abstract

A hoe for facilitating manual intermixing of materials initially in heterogeneous phases, particularly dry concrete pre-mix and water, includes an elongated straight handle having a rear longitudinal portion adapted to be grasped within a person's hands, and a blade which is attached to and depends perpendicularly downwardly from the front transverse end of a front longitudinal portion of the handle. The blade has substantially parallel front and rear surfaces and has in front and rear elevation views thereof an outline shape approximating that of an inverted isosceles triangle having a generally straight, horizontally disposed upper base, and straight symmetric sides which angle downwardly and inwardly towards a vertical center line of the blade, the lower ends of the sides terminating in the vertex of the triangle. At least one pair of vertically spaced apart, stepped-diameter circular holes is provided through the thickness dimension of the blade, preferably consisting of a first, lower hole located proximate the vertex and centered on the vertical center line of the blade, and a second circular hole of larger diameter located above and vertically aligned with the lower hole. Movement of the blade through a nascent slurry of dry concrete pre-mix components including finely divided Portland cement particles, sand and gravel aggregate and water to intermix the aforementioned ingredients is facilitated by passage of water and less viscous slurry through the lower hole, and passage of gravel aggregate, sand and more viscous slurry through the larger diameter upper hole. Preferably, the blade vertex is truncated by an arcuately curved, convex edge to minimize drag on the blade as the vertex contacts the bottom wall of a mixing tray or wheelbarrow and dragged or pushed along to perform the mixing action.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.