Implement for removing landscape edging

A tool for removing or raising landscape edging strips has a rigid main frame including two parallel and spaced apart bars, and an elongate upright lever. The lever is pivotally mounted to the main frame near its lower end, by a pivot pin extending through the bars and lever. A base pad is mounted to the main frame at an end remote from the pivot pin. Mounted to the main frame on the opposite side of the pivot pin, are a platform and a downwardly depending arm that supports a first clamp. A second clamp is mounted to the bottom of the lever, and moves arcuately as the lever pivots, to close both clamps about an enlarged upper border portion of the landscape edging material. Further pivoting of the lever, with the base pad against the ground, applied a vertical lifting force to the landscape edging strip, either to elevate and reposition the edging material, or to completely remove the edging material from the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to extraction tools, and more particularly to 
a device for removing landscape edging material from the ground. 
Landscape edging material is frequently employed in landscape gardening, to 
provide a distinct boundary between grassy areas and gardens, flower beds, 
and other landscape features. The edging material is constructed of a 
polymer that provides durability and sufficient rigidity for the material 
to be self-supporting. Typically available in rolls, the edging material 
is formable into linear, elongate strips or curved segments, depending 
upon the desired shape of the landscape feature. 
The edging material has a uniform, generally rectangular cross section or 
transverse profile, with a width of about four inches and a thickness of 
about one quarter inch. Along one side of the strip, the lengthwise border 
or edge is enlarged, and usually has a rounded profile, either circular or 
elliptical. 
In use, the material is cut to the desired length and embedded into the 
ground, with the width oriented vertically and most of the strip 
underground, leaving only the enlarged border exposed. The strip extends 
underground a sufficient distance to prevent the root system of a lawn 
from spreading from one side of the strip to the other, resulting in a 
well defined edge for the lawn, enhancing the appearance of the landscape. 
On occasion, the need arises to remove previously installed landscape 
edging material, or at least alter its position. An entirely new 
landscaping plan may require substantial repositioning or removal, or 
merely slight adjustment of certain boundaries. Over time, strips of the 
material can become completely buried, losing some of their effectiveness 
in halting the advance of grass into flower beds and other features. In 
either event, a spade or other shovel can be used to remove or loosen soil 
on both sides of the strip, and lift or pry the strip loose. This 
approach, however, is time consuming, and disrupts or damages the 
appearance of the landscape, particularly along the grassy areas near the 
boundary. The ground along both sides of the strip is disturbed, whether 
the strip is being removed entirely, or merely being lifted to reposition 
the enlarged border above ground. 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool 
particularly well suited for removing landscape edging material. 
Another object is to provide a device for lifting strips of landscape 
edging material that have become buried beneath the ground, and for 
repositioning the strips to locate their enlarged top borders above 
ground. 
Yet another object is to provide a means for quickly and conveniently 
removing or repositioning landscape edging material, with minimal 
disruption to the surrounding landscape. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To achieve these and other objects, there is provided an implement for 
removing landscape edging material. The implement has an elongate and 
substantially rigid frame means with first and second opposite end 
portions. An elongate and generally upright lever is mounted to the frame 
means at its lower end section between the first and second end portions. 
The lever pivots relative to the frame means about a pivot axis. A first 
clamping means is mounted to the frame means at the second end portion, 
and has a first clamping face parallel to the pivot axis. A second 
clamping means is mounted to the lower end section of the lever and has a 
second clamping face, also parallel to the pivot axis. The second clamping 
means travels in an arc as the lever pivots, between a closed position 
wherein the first and second clamping means cooperate to substantially 
surround an enlarged border of an elongate landscape edging strip with the 
first and second clamping faces engaging opposite sides of the enlarged 
border, and a release position wherein the first and second clamping means 
are relatively remote from one another. 
Preferably, both clamping faces are curved, to conform to the typically 
rounded exterior surface of the enlarged border. A generally flat pad, 
mounted to the first end portion of the frame means, is positioned to rest 
on the ground at a location spaced apart from the first and second 
clamping means when in the closed position. The pad supports the frame 
means as the operator, with one foot on the pad, pivots the top end of the 
lever in the direction toward the pad. With the clamping means closed 
about the enlarged border of the strip, the lever extends upright, to 
facilitate gripping and pivoting of the lever. 
The preferred clamping means are C-shaped clamps, each centered with 
respect to the lever and frame means, and having a width, parallel to the 
pivot axis, at least three times the width of the lever. As a result, the 
clamping engagement occurs over a substantial portion of the surface area 
of the enlarged border, reducing the chance for damage to the landscape 
edging strip as it is being lifted or removed. 
The frame means can include a pair of elongate, parallel and spaced apart 
bars, with the lever being mounted between the bars. The clamp that is 
integral with the bars is mounted to the bars by a clamp support arm, and 
the lever is positioned between the clamp support arm and the pad. A 
platform preferably is mounted to the ends of bars opposite from the pad, 
and near the clamp support arm. The platform is used to drive or push the 
clamps into the ground, to facilitate gripping the enlarged upper border 
of a completely buried edging strip. 
Preferably the lever is positioned to be approximately upright when the pad 
is on the ground and the clamps are engaged about the upper border of the 
edging strip and of sufficient length to extend at least to the waist of a 
typical adult standing erect with one foot on the pad. Pivoting the lever 
to close the clamps and then lift the edging strip, does not require 
bending the back. Due to the positioning of the lever, lifting force is 
applied by moving the lever in the same direction as the initial pivoting 
to the closed position. Thus, lifting action tends to further tighten the 
grip about the upper edge or border of landscaping material. The length of 
the lever, as compared to the substantially shorter distance between the 
pad and the pivot axis, provides a mechanical advantage to facilitate 
lifting the embedded edging strip. A firm, positive grip of the clamps 
upon the upper border is maintained the entire time that a lifting force 
is applied. Accordingly, in situations where the edging material is merely 
raised, rather than completely removed in the ground, the implement 
provides for increased ease and accuracy of positioning the edging strip. 
During lifting or removal of the edging, the lever and frame bars pivot 
about an axis along the pad and substantially parallel to the pivot axis. 
However, since the original pivot axis is directly above the edging strip 
when the clamps are closed about the upper border, the pivoting of the 
lever and main frame initially is equivalent to vertical lifting. As a 
result, force is applied in the direction of maximum efficiency for 
raising the edging material strip, and in a manner that causes minimum 
disruption of the soil on either side of the strip. Thus, in accordance 
with the present invention, landscaping edging material strips can be 
elevated or completely removed, conveniently and with minimal disruption 
to surrounding soil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a landscape gardening 
tool 16, used to lift or remove embedded landscape edging material. The 
material is in the form of an elongate edging strip extending 
longitudinally, shown at 18 in transverse profile. The profile is uniform 
throughout the length of the strip. Edging strip 18 includes a rectangular 
portion 20 buried below ground 22, and an enlarged upper edge or border 24 
running lengthwise along the strip. Border 24 typically has a 
substantially circular profile, but also can be elliptical. Enlarged upper 
border 24 is intended to counteract the tendency of strip 18, over time, 
to become further embedded beneath the ground. As best seen in FIG. 2, 
tool 16 includes a main frame 26 consisting of two rectangular bars 28 and 
30, parallel to and spaced apart from one another. Bars 28 and 30 can be 
constructed of cast iron or other suitable metal, to insure structural 
rigidity. The bars are secured by welding to a base pad 32, along 
respective end portions 34 and 36 of the bars. Opposite end portions of 
the bars, one of which is shown at 38 in FIG. 1, are welded to a platform 
40. Near the platform, a clamp supporting arm 42 projects downwardly and 
toward the pad, i.e. to the left as viewed in FIG. 1. The upper end of arm 
42 is welded to bars 28 and 30, to integrally secure the arm in a centered 
position between the bars. At its lower end portion, arm 42 supports a 
C-shaped clamp 44. 
An elongate lever 46 is mounted to pivot relative to main frame 26, about a 
longitudinal pivot axis 48 (FIG. 2). Lever 46 is rectangular in cross 
section, and supported between bars 28 and 30 so as to be centered with 
respect to the main frame. A lower section 50 of lever 46 extends below 
the bars, and supports a C-shaped clamp 52 opposed to clamp 44. At the 
upper end of the lever is a handle 54. 
As seen in FIG. 4, aligned openings 56, 58 and 60 through bars 28 and 30 
and lever 46, respectively, accommodate a pivot pin 6 that mounts the 
lever for pivoting between bars 28 and 30. Pin 62 includes an enlarged 
head 64 at one end, and is retained within the openings by a cotter pin 66 
and washer 68 at the opposite end of the pin. 
Clamps 44 and 52 oppose one another and are substantially identical in size 
and shape. An inside clamping surface 70 of clamp 44 is curved to conform 
to the rounded exterior surface 72 of upper border 24. Clamp 52 similarly 
has a curved clamping surface 74 which conforms to the upper edge. Each of 
clamps 44 and 52 is oriented with its length dimension and its clamping 
surface longitudinally, i.e. parallel to pivot axis 48. The length of 
clamps 44 and 52 approximately equals the width of base pad 32 and of 
platform 40, and is about twice the combined widths of bars 28 and 30 and 
lever 46, all of which are vertical as viewed in FIG. 2. 
As best seen in FIG. 3, a weld at 76 secures arm 42 to the bars, a weld at 
78 secures clamp 44 to arm 42, and a weld 80 secures clamp 52 to lower 
section 50 of lever 46. 
In FIG. 3, clamps 44 and 52 are shown in the closed position, in which they 
cooperate to substantially surround upper border 24, with clamping 
surfaces 70 and 74 contiguous with exterior surface 72 of the upper 
border, conforming to the exterior surface. This degree of conformity is 
desirable but by no means essential, as upper border 24 (within limits) 
resiliently conforms to the clamping surfaces. The clamping surfaces 
should, however, be rounded and concave toward the upper border, for 
maximum clamping efficiency. As seen in FIG. 3, a portion of clamping 
surface 70 and a portion of clamping surface 74 are disposed beneath 
border 24 when the clamps are closed. 
As best seen in FIG. 3, pin 62 is positioned directly above upper border 24 
and clamps 44 and 52, and lever 46 is substantially upright (although 
slightly inclined), when the clamps are in the closed position about the 
upper border. This arrangement facilitates use of tool 16 by an operator 
standing with one foot on base pad 32 and the other foot on the ground on 
the opposite side of edging material strip 18, i.e. on the right side as 
viewed in FIG. 1. Given this stance, lever 46 is at least approximately 
centered relative to the operator. Moreover, the lever is made 
sufficiently long to extend to at least waist height of the operator, so 
that the operator need not bend over when using the device. 
To insure an appropriate length for the lever, handle 54 can be adjustably 
mounted as shown in FIG. 5, in which a series of apertures 82 along the 
handle can be selectively aligned with corresponding apertures through 
lever 46, secured by a bolt or other appropriate means. 
FIG. 6 shows an alternative form of lever 84 for the device, in which a 
handle 86, preferably of wood, is removably inserted into a socket 88 
formed at the top of lever 84. Handle 86 is elongate and extends in the 
direction of lever extension. 
Similarly, FIG. 7 illustrates a wooden handle 90 that extends in the 
direction of a lever 92. A slot 94 is formed in handle 90, and conforms to 
a bracket 96 that extends outwardly from lever 92. Nut and bolt assemblies 
98 and 100, contained in openings through the handle and bracket, 
removably secure the handle. 
Regardless of whether tool 16 is used to slightly raise embedded landscape 
edging strip 18, or to completely remove the edging strip from the ground, 
the tool first is positioned for use as shown in FIG. 1, with base pad 32 
resting on the ground, and with clamps 44 and 52 near upper border 24 and 
on opposite sides of the upper border. Occasionally, the enlarged border 
is partially or completely beneath ground 22, requiring that the clamps be 
pushed into the ground. To this end, bars 28 and 30 are bent such that 
section 38 and the corresponding end section of bar 30 are approximately 
level, and platform 40 is likewise level. By placing one foot on platform 
40 and shifting his or her weight onto the platform, the operator can 
conveniently force clamps 44 and 52 below ground, to the level of the 
upper border. 
With clamps 44 and 52 aligned with upper border 24, lever 46 is rotated in 
the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, to close the clamps 
about the upper border. At this point, the operator places one foot on 
base pad 32 and continues to pivot lever 46 in the counterclockwise 
direction. Whereas lever pivoting prior to closure was about pivot axis 
48, movement of the lever after closure pivots the lever, and main frame 
26, about an axis 102 along the base pad and parallel to axis 48. The 
distance between base pad 32 and pivot pin 62 preferably is at least three 
times the distance between pivot pin 62 and clamp 52. Due to the length of 
bars 28 and 30 between pin 62 and the base pad, particularly as compared 
to the relatively short length of lever lower section 50, the initial 
pivoting of the main frame and lever about axis 102 carries pin 62 
essentially vertically in the early stages of its arcuate traverse. The 
travel of clamps 44 and 52 is likewise essentially vertical at this stage. 
Thus, the force applied through the clamps to elevate or remove edging 
strip 18 is substantially vertical, for maximum efficiency. 
Due to the weight of the operator, and to the downward force of base pad 32 
as lever 46 is pivoted to lift the edging strip, there is a substantial 
force tending to drive the base pad into the ground, particularly along an 
edge 104 remote from pivot pin 62. The tendency of the base pad to dig 
into the ground, and perhaps damage a lawn or other landscape feature, is 
minimized in that 104 is upturned to provide a smooth, rounded surface 
rather than a sharp corner along the ground. 
During lifting or the edging strip, clamps 44 and 52 remain firmly engaged 
about enlarged border 24 in the closed position. As a result, the pivoting 
of lever 46 and main frame 26 controls the vertical travel of the edging 
strip. The degree of control is particularly advantageous where the intent 
is to elevate a partially buried edging strip, rather than to completely 
remove the strip. 
Due to the length of clamps 44 and 52 in the longitudinal direction along 
upper edge 24, the lifting force is distributed over a relatively large 
surface area of the upper edge. This minimizes any damage to the upper 
edge due to the lifting force or to the closure of the clamps, enabling 
the strip to be raised without damage for continued use, or preserving a 
completely removed strip for future use. 
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, landscape edging material 
embedded into the ground can be raised or completely removed conveniently 
and without unduly disrupting the ground on either side of the edging, to 
better preserve the appearance of landscaping features along the path of 
the edging strip. The tool provides a positive clamping action about the 
enlarged upper border of the edging, in combination with a main frame and 
lever arranged to apply an essentially vertical lifting force after 
clamping, resulting in an efficient, controlled application of lifting 
force. The clamps conform to the upper border and distribute the lifting 
force over a relatively large area of the border, to substantially prevent 
damage to the edging material as it is elevated or removed from the ground 
.