NU-HOE

NU-HOE

English Abstract

In this invention the tool embodies a flat surfaced plate whose perimeter
bristles with
hardened, sharpened cutting edges. The tool, because of the central, point-of
balance
placement of a handle stem designed to accept a variety of handle types and
lengths, lies
horizontally flush with the garden soil surface. Garden cultivation, ie.,
sowing and unwanted
vegetation control may be accomplished without lifting, chopping or excessive
bending or
stooping.
Weed control close to or even within the rows of cultured vegetation is aided
by the inclusion
of strategically placed hooking/pulling notches within the perimeter of the
tool's hardened and
sharpened cutting edges. The design and embodiment of the invention herein
described
allows even physically infirm persons to garden with relative ease.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed are
defined as follows:
A manually operable tool for the cultivation of prepared garden soil -
specifically for
the preparation of seed trenches and the covering thereof - and for the
ongoing
control of pest vegetation upon the garden plot.
I claim as property and privilege the unique facilities of the tool, i.e., the
peculiar
horizontal flat design of the main plate of the tool which allows for the
distinctive
push-pull and/or side-to-side, lateral shuttle-like to and fro, sideways-
oscillation of the
tool's main plate with its unique hardened and sharpened perimeter edges and
which
thereby eliminates, with a minimal expenditure of effort, unwanted vegetation
through
the shearing action of the tool.
A tool as defined in Claim #1 in which the perimeter of the tool with its
hardened
sharpened edges is interrupted by strategically positioned indentations or
uniquely
designed notches which function to hook and pull out, unwanted vegetation.
Such
notches may also be equipped with hardened and sharpened metal edges.
A tool as defined in Claim #1 or Claim #2, in which the extremities of the
expanse of
the normally horizontally flat main plate of the tool may be strategically
inclined or
bent upward at or near the notches Figure XVI and XIX which hook and pull out
unwanted vegetation.
The tool being described may also prove time and labour saving during the
initial sowing of
the garden seeds. The gardener, having located the position, extent and
spacing of the
intended rows to be seeded may place the tool in a flat position centrally
upon one intended
and marked row. By raising the handle attached to the fiat tool, the sharp and
pointed leading
edge will penetrate the prepared soil to the desired depth. The tool may then
be pulled

backwards along the entire length of the intended row to be planted. The point
will leave a
trench ready to receive the seeds. When the trench has been seeded, it may be
backfilled by
placing the flat tool at the side of the seeded trench. The handle may then be
raised obliquely
in a manner which allows one sharpened edge (C) to act with a snow plow or
grading effect
as it is pulled alongside the exposed trench of seeds. The trench with its
seeds will be covered
by this action and then tamped down with the flat of tool ready for watering.

Description

CA 02246091 1998-09-14
SPECIFICATION
The invention under consideration is, in essence a mufti-use, manually
operated tool for
cultivating/planting/weeding suitably prepared garden soil.
Most commonly available tools for the preparation and good maintenance of
cultured garden
crops require that the gardener have good ambulation. Most garden hoes,
shovels, scythes,
edgers, etc., usually require the use of both hands and often times one or
both feet.
Most gardening tools require that the gardener have the strength and an
ability to raise and/or
to plunge the sharp tool edges in a chopping or digging manner to prepare the
garden soil for
cultivation. Maintenance of the planted and growing garden bed requires
similar and often
more intense lifting, chopping and bending in the process of controlling
unwanted vegetation.
Modern gardening instructors, in demonstrating the most e~cient use of a
gardeners hoe for
weeding insist that the hoe handle be held in a vertical position. The
gardener's hand should
grasp the handle with his thumbs pointing upward along the handle. The weeding
is then
accomplished with short chopping strokes while keeping the handle in a
vertical position.
These actions allow the garden blade to shallowly enter the garden soil, and
in the process,
sever or uproot the weeds. This process is rather awkward and quite slow.
In tools designed for emplacing gardens and maintaining good order and a
healthy growth
environment for cultured vegetation, the tools have cutting edges which are
designed and
placed in a configuration which require the gardener to do bending, lifting,
and chopping
action to make and maintain a garden. It follows from the above that the
gardener must be
physically fit and ambulatory enough to accomplish such actions.

CA 02246091 1998-09-14
I have found that many of the disadvantages presented by some gardening tools
may be
overcome by using a garden tool which rests its weight upon the garden soil.
This type of
tool requires very little lifting or bending. The garden grooming can be
accomplished in a
professional way and with a small fraction of the time and effort required
when using other
types of garden tools.
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, Figures I through X
are top views
of the invention in some of its various, through not limited, configurations.
Figures XI
through XX depict typical side and end views showing the invention with four
different
handle stems to which longer or shorter handles may be attached. Long handles
would be for
use from an upright or standing position. Shorter handles would be selected
for elevated
garden plots or by persons who are obliged or choose to garden, from a
kneeling position.
The tool to be described in its various configurations is comprised of a flat
plate of durable
composition to which an adjustable or fixed handle (B) of various lengths may
be attached
at or near the plates centre of balance. The plate will or may have hardened
and sharpened
metal cutting edges (A) usually throughout its entire perimeter. The perimeter
of the plate,
in its various configurations will be indented by strategically located weed-
pulling or hooking
notches (C). In some configurations, some portion of the notches (C) may be
slightly
elevated for delicate work.
The most effective use of the tool is the following
Place the flat, bottom surface of the tool upon the garden soil so that the
tool's flat
bottom surface and the garden surface are flush.
Grasp the handle at a comfortable point which allows the plate to rest flush
with the
garden soil.

CA 02246091 1998-09-14
Raise or elevate the handle slightly so that the leading edge (A) of the
tool's flat
bottom surface is angled slightly down and is poised to enter the garden soil.
Push the handle forward while maintaining the downward angle of the tool's
leading
edge (A). When the tool's leading edge (A) is submerged beneath the soil
surface,
the gardener may then proceed to walk forward while maintaining the submerged
position of the tool.
By exercising normal caution, the umwanted vegetation will be sheared off
beneath the surface
of the soil. With practice, a leisurely walking gait may be attained to
quickly complete the
task.
On other occasions and under different circumstances it may be necessary or
desirable to
operate the tool while the gardener remains stationary or is walking backward.
In that
scenario the tool's handle must then first be slightly depressed or lowered.
In doing so, the
rear (A) edges) of the tool are then poised to enter below the soil surface,
alternately,
elevating the tool's handle and thrusting the tool forward and then lowering
the handle and
pulling the tool, aids the process of weeding in more confined spaces.
The hooking/pulling notches (C) are provided for use where additional caution
is necessary
to avoid damage to the cultured vegetation. For instance where undesirable
vegetation
appears in close proximity or amongst the cultured crop, the undesirables may
be "hooked"
out with judicious use of the various hooking/pulling notches (C). As
illustrated in an end-on
view of Figure XVI and XIX, the hooking/pulling notches (C) may be permanently
elevated
to facilitate weeding near or within rows of crops. -

Representative Drawing