Patent ID: 7819447
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: A01C

Abstract:
1. A gardening tool comprising: a handle assembly having a first member that includes a free end arranged at one end of a horizontal portion that is formed substantially perpendicular to a vertical portion having a forked end, a flattened region is arranged on the vertical portion substantially near the horizontal portion, a through opening being provided in the flattened portion, a second member of the handle assembly being substantially horizontal and having a first end having a pair of forks arranged on opposite sides of the flattened portion, each fork having a through opening arranged on opposite ends of the through opening of the flattened portion and a pivot pin extending there through to pivotally couple the second member to the first member, a second end of the second member having a forked vertical portion having a pair of through openings and being pivotally connected to a third member having an upper vertical element arranged between the forked vertical portion of the second member, an offset middle portion of the third member formed at substantially forty-five degrees to the upper vertical portion of the third member and terminating in a lower vertical portion formed substantially forty-five degrees to the middle portion of the third member, a through opening provided substantially near an end of the lower vertical portion of the third member; a guide collar having two openings, a first opening arranged substantially near a lower end of the vertical portion of the first member of the handle assembly and a second opening arranged substantially near the second vertical portion of third member; a first washer arranged against the second opening of the guide collar and having a through opening, said second vertical portion of the third member extending there through; a second washer arranged apart from the first washer and having a through opening that accepts the second vertical portion of the third member; a spring arranged between the first washer and second washers in compression; a substantially circular second collar having two ends and three lobes, each end and lobe including a through opening, said two ends arranged on opposite sides of the end of the lower vertical portion of the third member; a pivot pin extending through the two ends of the substantially circular collar and the through opening of the end of the lower vertical portion of the third member to connect the handle assembly to the substantially circular collar in a pivotal manner; a pair of blades having an upper end and a rounded lower end and two longitudinal sides, one of said upper ends of one of the blades extending into the forked vertical portion of the first member of the handle assembly and fixed thereto; a first collar pivot pin connecting the one of the longitudinal sides of pair of blades to one of the longitudinal sides of the other blade and one of the lobes of the substantially circular collar; and, a second collar pivot pin connecting the other of the longitudinal sides of the pair of blades to the other of the longitudinal sides of the other blade and to the other of the lobes of the substantially circular collar.