GB2512624A - Scythe - Google Patents

Abstract

A scythe comprises an elongated blade 7 sharpened along opposed edges, the blade being connected to a handle 1 by a frame 5a, 5b which has an open structure, minimising resistance to movement of the tool when swinging it through herbage in a cutting direction. The frame may be releasably connected to the blade by longitudinally spaced connections 8 giving balanced support for the blade. The blade may be curved in a direction substantially at right angles to the longitudinal edges of the blade and the blade, when viewed in a plan may have curved longitudinal edges 9 which taper inwardly in a forward and/or rearward direction.

Description

This invention relates to horticultural cutting toots, especially scythes.

Traditional scythes are heavy and have the disadvantage that they cut in one direction only. They are also laborious to use, particutarly in heavy and matted herbage.

GB No.789329 describes a tool for cutting herbage having a blade which is sharpened atong opposed longitudinal edges,the blade being connected at one end to a handte.l-Iowever the toot is unbalanced and difficult to use.

An object of the invention isto provide an improved scythe which is adapted particularly for cutting matted herbage but may be used to cut a wide variety of vegetation, including bracken, grass, brambles and even hedges.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a scythe which comprises an elongated btade sharpened along opposed edges, the btade being connected to a handle by a frame which has an open structure minimising resistance to movement of the scythe when swinging it through herbage in a cutting direction. The frame may comprise two or more struts connecting the blade to the handle and the struts may comprise metal strips, which are preferably sharpened along their edges so as to cut tall vegetation when the tool is used in dense vegetation. Provision of an open frame for linking the blade to the handle helps to minimise resistance to movement of the tool as it is swung in use through vegetation in a cutting direction. Also, by providing a linkage consisting of two or more struts to the handle whose points of connection to the blade are spaced lengthwise of the blade, balanced support is given to the blade. Preferably the points of connection of the struts to the blade are joined by a sole plate and the tatter is fixed to the btade. The struts and the sole plate may be part of triangular frame connected at its upper end to the handle and at its tower arm to the blade. This strengthens the structure and enables thinner and/or lighter material to be used for the manufacture of the frame.

The blade is preferably formed with edges which, when viewed in plan, are curved and tapered inwardly at the forward and/or rearward ends. This gives a more efficient slicing action to the tool and adds to the strength of the blade. The blade is also preferably curved in the plane at right angles to the plane of the frame so that the forward and rearward ends of the blade are lifted from the ground in use. This helps to reduce any tendency for the blade to be clogged when swung through different types of herbage and enab!es the user to vary the angle of attack. One suitable material for :1-manufacturing the blade is a hardened,high carbon steel. Alternative materials include nickel/chrome steel A specific example is the steel used for saw blades.

One embodiment of a scythe in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure lisa side elevation of the scythe, Figure 2 is a plan view of the blade Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the section A-A in Figure 1, Figure lb is an enlarged, sectional view taken on the section B-B in Figure land shows the cross-sectional shape of the struts, and Figure ic is an enlarged, sectional view taken on the section c-c in Figure 1 and shows the cross section of the handle and the method of attaching the triangular frame to the handle.

Referring to the drawings, the scythe comprises a handle 1 having a tubular shaft 10, a grip 2 extending outwardly from the shaft and a curved arm support 3. The shaft is preferably made from a stiff, lightweight material such as an aluminium alloy or a structural plastics material such as glass -reinforced resin. In the interests of cost and weight reduction the shaft is preferably a hollow tube.

Extending from the shaft at an angle and height suitable for grasping, the grip 2 may be made from the same kind of material as the shaft. At its proximal end 3a, the shaft 1 is attached to the arm support 3. The latter may be fixed rigidly to the shaft end or may be adjustable,eg by fabricating the part 4 of the shaft as telescopic tube parts so that its length can be adjusted to accord with the length of the users forearm. One or more locking pins, preferably spring -loaded, can be provided to maintain the part 4 at its selected length. Similarly, the lower part of the shaft 10 may be adjustable in a lengthwise manner using a similar kind of construction to accommodate users of various heights.

Some or all of the shaft 10 together with the grip and arm support may be sheathed with a material, such as rubber or plastic, to protect it from knocks, and to make it easier to hold without slippage.

At its distal end lOa the shaft 1 is fixed to a triangular frame 5. The frame is formed from two struts, 5a and Sb, which are fixed to the distal end of the shaft. At their other end the struts are fixed to a sole plate 6 which is releasably attached to a cutting blade 7 by bolts S so that the blade can be removed for replacement with a new blade or for sharpening the existing blade. The bolts may be socket button screws. The sole plate 6 may be a separate item from the struts 5a and Sb or form part of an integral member shaped as the triangular frame S. In the latter embodiment the struts and the sole plate may be formed from the same strip material, eg by bending a length of strip steel into the desired triangular frame. As can be seen from Figure lb the struts Sa and 5b may be sharpened or tapered at their edges 12 to facilitate the movement of the tool through herbage.

Referring particularly to Figures land lb,the struts 5a and Sb may be shaped at their upper ends as semi-circular portions which are fitted into the tubular lower ends of the handle 10. These semi-circular portions may be an interference fit in the shaft or fixed into the shaft,eg by riveting or bonding. Alternatively,the upper portions of the struts 5a and 5b may be fixed to a ring which is dimensioned to slide over the end of the shaft to which it may be attached,eg by riveting or adhesively bonding.

As seen best in Figure 1 the blade 7 is curved in a forward and rearward direction. This facilitates positioning of the blade to attack vegetation in the most effective way and enables the angle of attack to be optimised for users of different heights. Also the forward strut Sb makes a smaller angle with the axis of the shaft 1 than the rearward strut Sa so that vegetation can be cut more effectively over a wider strip in front of the user. Figure 2 shows a plan view of the bladel which has opposite longitudinal sharpened edges 9. As can be seen in Figure 2 the edges 9 are curved so that middle of the blade is widest and the edges taper inwardly towards each end. Sharpening of both edges enables the tool to be used by right and left handed people as well as being capable of being used both on the upswing and the downswing. Preferably the blade is made from carbon steel. This gives a light weight blade which can retain a sharp edge. As an example steels of the kind used to make saw blades are suitable. Preferably the edges are sharpened after drilling the blade for connection to the frame and then tempering the edges.

The blade may be protected when not in use by fitting a shoe enclosing the blade. A tough, flexible, plastics material is suitable for this purpose.