Abstract:
A weeding tool for selectively engaging, gripping and removing a weed from the ground. The weed extraction device utilizes an elongated handle with a remotely operable weed engagement jaw on an angular offset ground engagement end. A jaw activation lever pivotally extends from the handle that also becomes a fulcrum after the jaw closes on the weed to remove the weed from the ground after it has been electively gripped in one continuous motion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to gardening tools and more specifically to weeding tools that are used for digging up and removing weeds by the root. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Prior art devices of this type have relied on a variety of different designs for removing weeds from the ground; see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,865,348, 4,281,866, 4,630,366, 4,016,876 and 6,505,869. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,348, a weed puller is disclosed having a handle with a V-shaped weed engagement notch extending from one end. A foot engagement portion extends from the weed notch allowing the user to hold the device in position and then with the handle move in a rocking manner to pull the weed. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,866 shows a weed puller and ejector in which a V-shaped slot extends from an elongated handle with an ejector element deployable therein from a remote spring urged plunger. 
   A weed cutting and extracting tool is claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,366 wherein an adjustable handle is illustrated having a flat retaining spring with a blade that holds the weed after it is cut. 
   A weed extractor can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,876 in which a bit portion defines a weed engagement jaw that is selectively closed by remote handle and spring urged pivot arm. 
   Finally, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,869 describes a combination weeding tool in which a rod attachment has multiple attachment fulcrum allowing for a single weed extraction lifting blade and multiple tined rake deployable about the fulcrum ring. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A combination weed engagement and extraction tool for selective one-step gripping and lever action removal of a weed by its roots from the ground. The device combines a jaw activation lever with a fulcrum to enhance the weed engagement leverage needed to pull the weed from the ground. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective, front, side and top view of the weed pulling device of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial side elevational view thereof; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial top plan view thereof illustrating the jaw closing in broken lines; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial side elevational view thereof showing the device of the invention before engaging a weed and engaged on the weed in broken lines; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial side elevational view thereof showing the invention engaging the weed and removing it in broken lines; and 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of an alternate form of the invention having an offset engagement handle and telescopically extensible shaft. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a weed puller  10  can be seen having a handle portion  11  and a weed engagement portion  12 . The handle portion  11  has an elongated handle shaft  13  with an end handgrip portion with a contoured end handgrip  14  thereon. The weed engagement portion  12  extends from the distal end of the handle shaft  13  with a flat jaw support element  17  extending angularly from a flat mounting portion  18  thereon. The distal end of the handle shaft  13  is bifurcated by a slot  19  extending inwardly for receiving the mounting portion  18  therein. The pair of longitudinally spaced and aligned apertures at A extend through respective bifurcated portions  20  and  21  and correspondingly aligned apertures in the mounting portion  18  there between. Fasteners F extend through the so aligned apertures securing the weed engagement portion  12  thereto as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. 
   The angularly offset flat jaw support element  17  has an angular offset area of reduced transverse dimension at  23  with a plurality of bi-angularly longitudinally spaced notches at  24  there along defining a gripping surface jaw  24 A as best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. A movable opposing jaw element  25  has an engagement lever  26  and an activation lever  27  and is pivotally secured to the jaw support element  17  via a pivot pin  28 . The engagement lever  26  and activation lever  27  are angularly disposed to one another to impart a “lever” action upon movement in relation to the jaw support element  17  as indicated by directional activation arrow  29 . 
   The jaw engagement lever  26  has a plurality of “teeth” formed along its gripping edge  26 B with a spring  26 C extending there from to the jaw support element  17  portion in longitudinally alignment with said handle shaft as best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. 
   The activation lever portion  27  has a control rod  29  pivotally extending there from at  30  to a movable ground engagement leverage arm  31  that pivotally extends from the handle shaft  13  in spaced longitudinal relation to the mounting portion  18  of the weed engagement portion  12  as best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the drawings. The activation arm  31  is angularly disposed from the handle shaft  13  having a shaft engagement pivot pin  32 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, the weed puller  10  of the invention can partially be seen in use as hereinbefore described with the angular offset area of reduced transverse dimension at  23  with the bi-angular spaced notches  24  and opposing movable jaw element  25  to form co-planar weed pinching jaw assembly that is to be positioned about a weed  34 . The user (not shown) by moving the weed puller  10  forward about the weed  34 , the activation arm  31  pivotally extending from the handle shaft  13  will simultaneously engage by the ground G retracting the control rod  29  and correspondingly closing the movable jaw element  25  towards the fixed gripping jaw surface  24 A defined by the angular offset area of reduced transverse dimension at.  23  thus firmly gripping the weed  34  at its base there between as shown in broken lines and in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. 
   By moving the handle portion  11  arcuately downwardly the ground engaging activation arm  31  acts as a fulcrum pulling the weed  34  easily from the ground G as shown in broken lines in  FIG. 5  of the drawings in broken lines. 
   Once the weed  34  is removed, the opposing jaws  24 A and  25  will be effectively released from the weed  34  engagement position by moving back the handle portion  14 . It will be evident to those skilled in the art that upon disengagement from the ground the opposing jaw lever  26  is automatically returned to its open position by a return spring  26 C to effectively reset the device for its next weed engagement as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3  of the drawings. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6  of the drawings, an alternate form of the invention can be seen in which the handle shaft  13  has been modified to form an adjustable handle  40  having a base handle shaft portion  41  with a telescopically disposed parallel offset upper handle grip portion  42  within. Inter-engaging release button  43  allow for the release and alternately locking of the respective handle portions  41  and  42 A for extension or collapsation. It will be evident that the offset handgrip portion  42  provides additional leverage advantage by efficiently reducing the distance to the ground that the handle must travel to effectively “lever out” the gripped weed  34 , as noted. This alternate handle will provide for dual use of the weed puller  10  of the invention by effectively elongating or foreshortening of the handle  40  which may be required in desired use configuration employed by the user in various weed removal venues. It will also be evident from the above descriptions that the primary form of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  of the drawings can also be telescopically adjustable in handle length if so required. 
   It will thus be seen that a new and novel weed extractor device has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.