GB2164532A - Swing balance spade/fork pull handle digging aid - Google Patents

Abstract

An attachment for a spade or fork which allows an operator to stand in an upright position when digging comprises a hand grip at one end of a steel cable or a steel rod which is connectible to the lower end of the spade or fork handle via a bracket, and a tension spring attached to the hand grip and to a snap on plastics shell which can be snapped on all known handles. The tension spring is restricted in overstretching by a cord passing down the centre of the spring and connected with the shell and hand grip. The steel rod engages the bracket by means of a nipple on the rod, and is screwthreadedly attached to the hand grip. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Swing balance spade/fork pull handle digging aid I Frederick George Cook, of2 1, Westfield Terrace, Longford, Gloucester, seeks patent of the digging and lifting aid hereby described.

It is a known fact that there is available an improved device which when attached to an agricultural lifting device i.e., a garden spade or fork, the said spade or fork has to be of special manufacture with an angle of blade between 20 and 45 , especially 33 , whereas a standard spade orfork has a blade angie of 12". Also to fix the said lifting device an 'eye' ring must be moulded to the lifting head carrying handle, in manufacture.

One of the disadvantages of this device is when the operator releases the second lifting handle, to carry out general duties with his hands, the device falls to the ground, having to be retrieved. Also, when the lifting device is used without the second handle it must be removed, and replaced forfurther use.

Referring to the drawing a swing balance spade/ fork pull handle digging aid comprises ofa spade/fork with either2 a handle end as

straight handle. The swing balance pull handle is attached to the spade/fork handles 2 by a tension spring 3, with a cord stretch resistor passed down centre of spring and tied at each end of spring.

Each end of spring a S-shaped hook is attached.

One hook is passed through centre of pull handle 4, and the other hook is bolted to a snap-on plastic shell 5, which is clipped on to 2 spade handle.

A steel cable 6, with end nipple for retention is passed through hole in base of 4. Pull handle fibre aasher grommet in hole to protect cable wear 7 or fixed steel rod with threaded end is screwed into threaded extension of pull handle for length adjustment.

Lower bracket 8 bolted to bottom of spade/fork handle 2 steel cable 6 passed through hole in lower bracket 8, protected by fibre washer grommet 9; end of cable 6 secured to bottom bracket 8 by pinch bolt 10 for length adjustment; with a fixed steel adjustable rod, and end nipple, without pinch bolt for securing.

1. I claim that in my invention, the lifting device can be attached to any standard manufactured, spade orforkgarden orfarm, with a blade of any angle, in a manner, which enables the device to be secured in a permenant position at each end of the head lifting handle, where the operator can use the spade/fork without having to remove second handle when not in use, and to have available at all times the second lifting handle.

2. As in claim one, any spade/fork farm or garden ofstandard manufacture where the said lifting device is clamped to the bottom of the head lifting handle, where the handle meets the blade by a separate manufactured bracket which is secured with a clamp.

3. As in claim 2, within the clampled on bottom bracket is a pinch bolt forsecu ring and adjusting steel cable, which stretches between bottom fixing bracket andthesecondhandle,which is secured attop handle with end nipple or a fixed steel rod with threaded end which screws into top handle for adjustment, and is fixed to bottom bracket with end nipple, without pinch bolt.

4. As in claim 1-3 where the lifting device is attached to the head carrying handle on any standard farm of garden spade/fork where the second handle is secured to the top of the head carrying handle by a tension spring, the free end of the tension spring is attached to a snap on shell which fits all known handles.

5. As in claim 4 the tension spring allows the second handle to be stretched in any direction when the operator carries out his duties, returning the second lifting handleto holding position when released.

6. As in claim 5, the stretching of the tension spring in any direction is protected from over stretching by a nylon cord passed down centre of spring and secured at each end.

An implement described with reference to 1-10 of the enclosed drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Swing balance spade/fork pull handle digging aid I Frederick George Cook, of2 1, Westfield Terrace, Longford, Gloucester, seeks patent of the digging and lifting aid hereby described. It is a known fact that there is available an improved device which when attached to an agricultural lifting device i.e., a garden spade or fork, the said spade or fork has to be of special manufacture with an angle of blade between 20 and 45 , especially 33 , whereas a standard spade orfork has a blade angie of 12". Also to fix the said lifting device an 'eye' ring must be moulded to the lifting head carrying handle, in manufacture. One of the disadvantages of this device is when the operator releases the second lifting handle, to carry out general duties with his hands, the device falls to the ground, having to be retrieved. Also, when the lifting device is used without the second handle it must be removed, and replaced forfurther use. Referring to the drawing a swing balance spade/ fork pull handle digging aid comprises ofa spade/fork with either2 a handle end as straight handle. The swing balance pull handle is attached to the spade/fork handles 2 by a tension spring 3, with a cord stretch resistor passed down centre of spring and tied at each end of spring. Each end of spring a S-shaped hook is attached. One hook is passed through centre of pull handle 4, and the other hook is bolted to a snap-on plastic shell 5, which is clipped on to 2 spade handle. A steel cable 6, with end nipple for retention is passed through hole in base of 4. Pull handle fibre aasher grommet in hole to protect cable wear 7 or fixed steel rod with threaded end is screwed into threaded extension of pull handle for length adjustment. Lower bracket 8 bolted to bottom of spade/fork handle 2 steel cable 6 passed through hole in lower bracket 8, protected by fibre washer grommet 9; end of cable 6 secured to bottom bracket 8 by pinch bolt 10 for length adjustment; with a fixed steel adjustable rod, and end nipple, without pinch bolt for securing. CLAIMS

1. I claim that in my invention, the lifting device can be attached to any standard manufactured, spade orforkgarden orfarm, with a blade of any angle, in a manner, which enables the device to be secured in a permenant position at each end of the head lifting handle, where the operator can use the spade/fork without having to remove second handle when not in use, and to have available at all times the second lifting handle.

2. As in claim one, any spade/fork farm or garden ofstandard manufacture where the said lifting device is clamped to the bottom of the head lifting handle, where the handle meets the blade by a separate manufactured bracket which is secured with a clamp.

3. As in claim 2, within the clampled on bottom bracket is a pinch bolt forsecu ring and adjusting steel cable, which stretches between bottom fixing bracket andthesecondhandle,which is secured attop handle with end nipple or a fixed steel rod with threaded end which screws into top handle for adjustment, and is fixed to bottom bracket with end nipple, without pinch bolt.

4. As in claim 1-3 where the lifting device is attached to the head carrying handle on any standard farm of garden spade/fork where the second handle is secured to the top of the head carrying handle by a tension spring, the free end of the tension spring is attached to a snap on shell which fits all known handles.

5. As in claim 4 the tension spring allows the second handle to be stretched in any direction when the operator carries out his duties, returning the second lifting handleto holding position when released.

6. As in claim 5, the stretching of the tension spring in any direction is protected from over stretching by a nylon cord passed down centre of spring and secured at each end.

An implement described with reference to 1-10 of the enclosed drawings.