Trowel improvements and handle lock

A collapsible hand trowel comprises a rigid scoop that has a forward end terminating at a point, a rear end, and two opposing side flanges that each has a pivot bar aperture therethrough. A handle includes a rear end, a neck, and a forward end that comprises two laterally-extending pivot bars that traverse the pivot bar apertures of the scoop. An upwardly-projecting V-shaped ridge is formed along a longitudinal axis of the scoop and that terminates into two upturned handle catch flanges, each having an inwardly facing hook adapted to retain the neck of the handle therebetween. A handle lock is adapted to prevent the handle from disengaging the handle catch when the collapsible hand trowel is in the extended configuration, and when the handle lock is in a deployed position.

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to gardening and camping tools, and more particularly to a foldable trowel with a handle lock.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Folding trowels are well known to both gardeners and outdoor sports enthusiasts. If made of molded plastic they tend to be quite bulky because the plastic must be reinforced for strength while the trowel is being used. There is at least one folding trowel that combines molded plastic and aluminum, but this again is quite bulky.

One popular compact folding trowel consists of a stamped stainless steel blade that is curved from side to side in a generally uniform manner along its entire length. The handle of this trowel is made of heavy gauge cylindrical steel bar stock. The ends of the arms project through the sides of the trowel blade and the handle pivots around this point. They travel from a closed position where they lay at a shallow angle sloping upward from the point of the trowel, to a deployed position where the two sides of the handle arms slot into receiving notches in a rear bracket that is formed at the back of the trowel blade. Such a trowel is also somewhat bulky.

All such prior art trowels have the drawback that, when significant pressure is applied to the handle during use, which can happen often when digging through dry soil for example, such force may overcome the friction required to collapse the handle, resulting in the trowel collapsing during use and reducing efficiency of use if not injury to the user.

Therefore, there is a need for a collapsible trowel device that has a low profile for ease of storage and transport, and that provides means for preventing collapse of the trowel during use. Such a needed invention would be durable and relatively easy to manufacture and use. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a collapsible hand trowel comprising a rigid scoop that has a forward end terminating at a point, a rear end terminating in an upturned handle catch, and two opposing side flanges that each has a pivot bar aperture therethrough. Preferably the rigid scoop includes an upwardly-projecting V-shaped ridge along a longitudinal axis thereof, the height of the V-shaped ridge rising from proximate the point of the forward end to the upturned handle catch.

A handle includes a rear end adapted for manual holding, a neck, and a forward end that comprises two longitudinally-aligned laterally-extending pivot bars, each pivot bar traversing the pivot bar apertures in one of the side flanges of the scoop. The neck is adapted for selective engagement with the handle catch of the scoop.

The handle catch preferably includes a pair of inwardly opposing hooks adapted to retain the neck of the handle therebetween. The neck of the handle is manually compressible so as to allow the neck to clear the inwardly opposing hooks when compressed.

In embodiments including the V-shaped ridge, the faces of the V-shaped ridge extend out at the rear end of the scoop and are angled upward at close to 90-degrees to those faces, to become two handle catch flanges. Each of the two flanges has one of the inwardly facing hooks. The two hooks of both handle catch flanges are adapted to retain the neck of the handle therebetween.

The handle pivots between a collapsed configuration, wherein the handle is cradled within the scoop, and an extended configuration, wherein the neck of the handle is engaged with and retained by the handle catch of the scoop. In the extended configuration, the handle projects rearwardly away from the rear end of the scoop.

The handle includes a handle lock that is selectively moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The handle lock is adapted to prevent the handle from disengaging the handle catch when the collapsible hand trowel is in the extended configuration, and when the handle lock is in the deployed position.

The handle lock, in one embodiment, comprises a rigid block disposed within the rear end of the handle and the neck, and is adapted for sliding movement along the metallic bar between the deployed position and the stowed position. In the deployed position, a forward portion of the rigid block fits between the metallic bars of the neck to prevent the compression of the neck. In the stowed position the rigid block is slid back substantially within the rear end of the handle, allowing manual compression of the neck to release the neck from the handle catch.

The forward portion of the handle lock may further include a flashlight and an electric switch for delivery power to the flashlight. The handle lock further includes at least one battery operatively connected to the flashlight via the electric switch. The rear portion of the rigid block may further include a tool compartment for holding tools, such as a ferrocerium fire starter rod, or other tools.

The present invention is a collapsible trowel device that has a low profile for ease of storage and transport, and that provides a handle lock for preventing collapse of the trowel during use. The present invention is durable and relatively easy to manufacture and use. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 2-4illustrate a collapsible hand trowel10comprising a rigid scoop20that has a forward end28terminating at a point40, a rear end22terminating in an upturned handle catch50, and two opposing side flanges60that each have a pivot bar aperture70therethrough. Preferably the rigid scoop20includes an upwardly-projecting V-shaped ridge240along a longitudinal axis thereof, the height of the V-shaped ridge240rising from proximate the point40of the forward end28to the upturned handle catch50. Such a V-shaped ridge240allow for stamping of the scoop20from a rigid metallic sheet material while maintaining a low height profile compared to the prior art (FIGS. 1 and 2).

A handle30includes a rear end32adapted for manual holding, a neck80, and a forward end38that comprises two longitudinally-aligned laterally-extending pivot bars90, each pivot bar90traversing the pivot bar apertures70in one of the side flanges60of the scoop20. The neck80is adapted for selective engagement with the handle catch50of the scoop20.

The handle catch50preferably includes a pair of inwardly opposing hooks150adapted to retain the neck80of the handle30therebetween. The neck80of the handle30is manually compressible so as to allow the neck80to clear the inwardly opposing hooks150when compressed (FIG. 3). The handle30is preferably made from a semi-rigid material, such as a metallic bar160, that allows momentary manual compression of the neck80. The ends162of the metallic bar160form the laterally-extending pivot bars90, and a central portion165of the metallic bar160is formed into the generally U-shaped rear end32and the neck80of the handle30.

In embodiments including the V-shaped ridge240, the V-shaped ridge240at the rear end22of the scoop20terminates into two handle catch flanges55(FIG. 4), each having one of the inwardly facing hooks150. Faces241of the V-shaped ridge240extend out at the rear end22of the scoop20and are angled upward at close to 90-degrees to the faces241, to become two handle catch flanges55. Each of the two flanges55has one of the inwardly facing hooks150. The two hooks150of both handle catch flanges55are adapted for retain the neck80of the handle30therebetween. Preferably each hook150further includes an inclined top surface260adapted to compress the neck80of the handle30when the hand trowel10is moved into the extended configuration100and as the neck80engages the hooks150.

The handle30pivots between a collapsed configuration110(FIG. 4), wherein the handle30is cradled within the scoop20, and an extended configuration100(FIG. 3), wherein the neck80of the handle30is engaged with and retained by the handle catch50of the scoop20. In the extended configuration100, the handle30projects rearwardly away from the rear end22of the scoop20.

The handle30preferably includes a handle lock120that is selectively moveable between a stowed position130(FIG. 5) and a deployed position140(FIG. 6). The handle lock120is adapted to prevent the handle30from disengaging the handle catch50when the collapsible hand trowel10is in the extended configuration100, and when the handle lock120is in the deployed position140.

The handle lock120, in one embodiment, comprises a rigid block170disposed within the rear end32of the handle30and the neck80, and is adapted for sliding movement along the metallic bar160between the deployed position140and the stowed position130. In the deployed position140, a forward portion178of the rigid block170fits between the metallic bars160of the neck80to prevent the compression of the neck80. In the stowed position130the rigid block170is slid back substantially within the rear end32of the handle30, allowing manual compression of the neck80to release the neck80from the handle catch50.

In one embodiment, the rigid block170further includes at least one pair of laterally extending spring clips180(FIGS. 7A, 7B and 8) for retaining the rigid block170within two sides of the metallic bar160and in either the stowed configuration130or the deployed position140. The finger lock120may also include a raised finger grip250to facilitate sliding of the handle lock120between the stowed position130and the deployed position140.

The forward portion178of the handle lock120may further include a flashlight190(FIGS. 7A, 7B and 8), and an electric switch200for delivery power to the flashlight190. The handle lock120further includes at least one battery210operatively connected to the flashlight190via the electric switch200. A rear portion172of the rigid block170fits between the metallic bars160and the rear end32of the handle30to maintain the rigid block170within the metallic bars160of the handle30. The rigid block170may further include a tool compartment220for holding tools, such as a ferrocerium fire starter rod230and striker plate241(FIGS. 9 and 10), or other tools (not shown). In such an embodiment, the compartment is a notch225molded into the rigid block170that receives the fire starter rod230when in a collapsed configuration234, the fire starter rod230adapted to pivot away from the notch up to 180-degrees into a deployed configuration236. Preferably the metallic striker241plate is adapted to hold the fire starter rod230in the collapsed configuration234unless manually removed from the rigid block170. The fire starter rod230is preferably attached to a rigid, molded substrate235to lend strength to the fire starter rod230.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, various shapes and configurations for the handle lock120may be devised apart from those illustrated herein. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.