Abstract:
A manually operated aerating and dethatching device includes a housing having a frame. A plurality of tine members is rotatably connected to the frame. Each tine member includes a plurality of outwardly extending tines for engaging a ground surface. The tine members are generally aligned along a longitudinal axis. A first wheel is rotatably connected to the housing. The first wheel has an outer rolling surface offset from an outer end of the plurality of tine members. A handle is rigidly connected to the housing extending generally outwardly and upwardly therefrom. Movement of the handle in an upward direction pivots the tine members on the wheel into engagement with the ground surface wherein a degree of engagement of the tine members with the ground surface can be controlled by the user.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/794,734 filed on Mar. 15, 2013 the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a device for improving a ground surface, and more particularly a manually operated device for aerating, dethatching, and otherwise improving the ground surface. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Overtime, a lawn surface can develop bare spots and become compacted. Thatch can also develop overtime on a lawn and inhibit the ability of water and nutrients to enter the soil. In order to maintain a healthy lawn, it is important that the surface be periodically aerated and or dethatched in order to allow nutrients and water to penetrate into the soil. Aerators may also be used to help reseed a lawn or establish a new lawn, since the seed falls into the openings formed in the ground, which aids in seed germination. 
     Lawn aerators of the type known in the art come in different forms including slit aerators, which slice into the turf and plug aerators which remove a plug of turf. Aerators and/or dethatches are available as motor driven devices and manual devices which are pushed along by a user. Manual aerators require an individual to apply pressure to the aerating head in order to allow the ground engaging tines to enter the soil. Manual aerating devices are typically less expensive to purchase and maintain than the motor driven devices. They are also easier to maneuver to and from the work site. Such devices often typically require a significant amount of exertion by the user and only provide limited results with regard to aeration. However, the ground engaging elements of such aerating devices are prone to clogging and do not sufficiently aerate the lawn. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a manual lawn aerating and dethatching device which is easy to use and is effective in conditioning the soil for growing a healthy lawn. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a manually operated aerating and dethatching device including a housing having a frame. A plurality of tine members is rotatably connected to the frame. Each tine member includes a plurality of outwardly extending tines for engaging a ground surface. The tine members are generally aligned along a longitudinal axis. A first wheel is rotatably connected to the housing. The first wheel has an outer rolling surface offset from an outer end of the plurality of tine members. A handle is rigidly connected to the housing extending generally outwardly and upwardly therefrom. Movement of the handle in an upward direction pivots the housing on the first wheel to move the tine members into engagement with the ground surface wherein a degree of engagement of the tine members with the ground surface can be controlled by the user. 
     The present invention further provides a ground aerating and dethatching device for conditioning a ground surface including an aerating assembly having a frame having a housing secured thereto. The frame has a plurality of spaced posts extending therefrom. A plurality of tine members is rotatably securable to the posts, and each of the tine members has a first set of tines and a second set of tines extending from a common hub. The second set of tines of adjacent opposed tine members overlap each other. A handle is connected to and extends from the aerating assembly. A pair of spaced wheels is rotatably secured to the aerating assembly. The wheels are disposed between the tine members and the handle. The aerating assembly is pivotal on the wheels upon movement of the handle to selectively engage the tines with the ground surface. 
     The present invention still further provides a method of aerating and dethatching a ground surface including: 
     providing an aerating and dethatching device including a housing including a frame; 
     a plurality of tine members rotatably connected to the frame, each tine member including a plurality of outwardly extending tines for engaging a ground surface, the tine members being generally aligned along a longitudinal axis; 
     a first wheel rotatably connected to the housing, the first wheel having an outer rolling surface offset from an outer end of the plurality of tine members; 
     a handle rigidly connected to the housing extending generally outwardly and upwardly therefrom, wherein movement of the handle in an upward direction pivots the tine members on the wheel into engagement with the ground surface wherein a degree of engagement of the tine members with the ground surface can be controlled by the user; 
     rotating the handle upwardly to engage the tines with the ground surface; 
     manually moving the aerating and dethatching device forward and backward over the ground surface; and 
     adjusting the amount of force acting on the tines by pivoting the handle up and down. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a manually operated lawn aerating and dethatching device in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the aerating and dethatching device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is side elevational view of the aerator of  FIG. 1  showing the tine members in engagement with a ground surface. 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of an aerating assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a housing of the aerating assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is rear a perspective view of the frame. 
         FIG. 6A  is a front elevational view of the frame showing a pair of facing tine members. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a tine member. 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the tine member. 
         FIG. 9  is a detail perspective view of a wheel of the aerating assembly. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the aerator of  FIG. 1  showing the aerating and dethatching device pivoted on the wheels to lift the tine members away from and out of engagement with the ground surface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a manually operated lawn aerating and dethatching device  10  is shown. The aerating and dethatching device  10  includes an aerating assembly  12  including a housing  14  including a frame  16  secured thereto. A handle assembly  18  extends outwardly from the aerating assembly  12  to permit a user to operate the device  10 . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 4-6A , the frame  16  includes a plurality of tine members  20  rotatably secured thereto. A user operates the aerating and dethatching device  10  in order to bring the tines members  20  into engagement with the ground surface  22  to aerate and/or dethatch the soil. The frame  16  includes an elongate member  23  having a plurality of spaced ridged posts  24  extending therefrom in a generally orthogonal direction. The member  23  may be attached to the top of the housing  14 . The posts  24  each include one or more axles  26  extending therefrom. The tine members  20  are rotatably secured on the axles  26 . In a preferred embodiment, the end posts  24   a  include a single axle  26   a  extending toward a center of the frame for supporting a single tine member  20 . The posts  24  disposed between the end posts  24   a  preferably include a pair of axles  26  extending outwardly from an end of the post. These axles each include a tine member  20  thereon. Accordingly, the frame  16  can accommodate a plurality of tine members. In the preferred embodiment, six posts are shown in  FIG. 1 ; however, it is within the contemplation of the present invention that the frame may include more or less posts. In a preferred embodiment, the frame  16  may also include an elongate rigid portion  17  from which brackets  19  extend outwardly therefrom and are rigidly secured to the posts  24 . The portion  17  may be attached to the back of the housing  14  and in mechanical communication with the handle  18 . Rigid portion  17  helps to prevent the posts  24  from flexing upwardly when the tines members  20  are downwardly forced into engagement with the ground surface  22  by the user. The frame  16  may be a unitary rigid structure formed or metal such as steel or aluminum. 
     With additional reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the tine members  20  include a hub  28  with a plurality of elongate tines  30  extending therefrom. The plurality of tines  30  include a first and second set of tines  32  and  34 , respectively. The first set of tines  32  are annularly spaced around the hub  28  and extend substantially in a radial direction R. The second set of tines are annularly spaced on the hub  28  and extend outwardly at an angle to the hub in a direction having both a radial R and axial A component. Each of the tines  30  taper as they extend toward a distal end to form a ground engaging point  33 . The individual tines  30  may include relatively flat surfaces that meet in corners to form the side surfaces  35  of the tines. The tine members  20  may be formed of a cast or forged metallic material such as steel or aluminum or other suitable rigid material. 
     The tine members  20  have a diameter D which is defined as the distance from the point  33  of one of the first set of tines to a point  33  of another one of the first set of tines offset generally 180 degrees from the other. The hub  28  includes an opening  38  extending axially therethrough in order to receive an axle  26  attached to the post. The tine members  20  may be rotatably secured to the axle  26  by way of a pin or other fastening device as known in the art. As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the tine members  20  are installed on the axle  26 , opposed tine  20  members on opposed axles will face each other. Accordingly, the second set of tines  34  on one tine member  20  which are extending to some degree in the axial direction tend to overlap the second set of tines on the opposed tine member  20 . Accordingly, the space S between opposed adjacent tine members  20  is covered by the ground engaging tines. Therefore, when the aerating device  10  is used, there are no gaps between the tines that are left so that the ground surface  22  beneath the aerating assembly can be fully aerated and/or dethatched. 
     The tines members  20  are partially covered by the housing  14  which extends generally above the top of the frame  16  and the sides thereof. The front and bottom portions of the aerating assembly are left open in order to allow the tines  30  to engage the ground surface  22  and also to permit access by a user to clean the tines from dirt, grass particles or other debris that may get collected in the tines during the aerating process. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a housing upper portion  42  includes a substantially flat surface  44  forming a support surface adapted to receive one or more weights  46  thereon. The weights may be added or removed by the user in order to assist in forcing the tines  30  into engagement with the ground surface  22 . In one embodiment, the weights may include liquid filled containers. For example, the user may fill one of the containers with water and then insert it onto the support surface. Alternatively, the weights may include bricks, rocks, sand, or other heavy material. Straps  48  may be provided in order to secure the weights  46  onto the support surface  44 . Depending on the condition of the soil, specifically how compacted the soil is, more or less weights may be needed. In soft soil, too much weight may cause the tines  30  to over engage which would make the aerating device  10  difficult to move and could unduly disturb the soil. In such a situation, the user may remove some of the weights in order to obtain a desirable degree of aeration. The upper support surface  44  may be divided into more than one compartment  44   a ,  44   b  having upward extending walls  45  such that the weights  46  may be placed within the compartments and retained therein. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 9 , the aerating assembly  12  further includes a pair of wheels  50  rotatably secured thereto. The wheels  50  may be attached to the aerating assembly  12  such that they extend below the housing. The wheels have a circumference  52  which is offset from the circumference  54  of the plurality of tines as shown in  FIG. 3 . The wheels  50  may be used as a fulcrum to permit a user to pivot the tines  30  into and out of engagement with the ground surface  22 . The wheels  50  are disposed between the plurality of tine members  20  and the handle assembly  18 . Accordingly, one may engage the handle assembly  18  to pivot the tines of the aeration assembly into and out of engagement with the ground surface. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the handle assembly  18  is securely fastened to the aerating assembly  12  and extends from the back of the assembly in a generally upwardly direction. The handle assembly  18  may include first and second elongate members,  56  and  58  respectively, having a first end attached adjacent to the wheels. The second ends of the elongate members may be joined together in a curved arcuate manner forming a handle  60  that may be gripped by a user. The handle assembly  18  may include a third elongate member  62  that extends from a center portion of the handle  60  to a central portion of the aerating assembly  12  and be secured thereto. Attachment points of the first and second members  64  and the attachment point of the third elongate member  66  are offset from each other in order to permit the handle assembly  18  to properly exert force on the aerating assembly. The third elongate member also provides reinforcement to the curved handle  60 . The handle  20  may have width W that permits a user to place their hands fully around the handle on either side of the third member  62 . This feature provides a user with the ability to better control and operate the device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the diameter of the tine members  20  is greater than the diameter of the wheels  50 . Accordingly, when a user wishes to place the tines  30  into engagement with the ground surface  22 , the handle  60  may be lifted in an upwardly direction which lifts the wheels off the ground and places the tines  30  into engagement with the ground surface. In this position, the user may move the aerating device  10  back and forth with the tines engaging and entering the ground, thereby aerating same. The engagement of the tines with the ground will also dislodge thatch that may be present. Engagement of the tine members, and in particular the first and second set of tines, ensures that the ground surface underneath the aerating assembly is fully and properly operated upon and conditioned, i.e., aerated and/or dethatched. 
     If less engagement of the tines  30  into the ground surface is desired, the user may move the handle in a downward position wherein the wheels engage the ground and the tines are pivoted upwardly as shown in  FIG. 10 . The user may now move the device over the ground surface  22  with the weight of the aerating device  10  being supported in part by the wheels  50  and in part by the tines  30 . In this position, less weight is exerted on the tines causing a lesser degree of ground engagement. If the user wishes to fully engage the tines with the ground, they may lift the handle upwardly lifting the wheels off the ground such that any weight, including that from weights  46  placed on the housing  40 , is fully acting on the tines since the wheels are off the ground. In addition, a user may also exert their own downward force along the handle to push the tines  30  into the ground. A component of the user&#39;s force acting along the handle may also be used to move the aerating and dethatching device  10  back and forth over the ground surface  22 . 
     In operation, a user desiring to improve the soil condition of a particular area by aerating and/or dethatching it may engage the aerating and dethatching device  10 . In order to easily transport the aerating device  10  to the area in need of aeration/and or dethatching, the user may rotate the handle  60  downwardly wherein the wheels engage the ground and further pivots the handle downwardly on the wheels to lift the tines  30  completely off the ground. The aerating and dethatching device  10  may now be rolled freely to the desired area. The user may add or remove any desired weights  46  to the top flat surface  44  of the housing in order to obtain the desired level of aeration and ground engagement. In order to begin aerating and/or dethatching, the user may pivot the handle  60  upwardly to lower the tines  30  into contact with the ground. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the user may further lift up the handle  60  to raise the wheels  50  off the ground such that all the weight is acting on the tines  30 . The user may then move the device back and forth in order to aerate, dethatch, or otherwise condition the ground surface. The action of the opposed and overlapping second set of tines  34  and the first set of tines  32  extending in the axial direction work together to fully and completely aerate and loosen the soil. If thatch is present, the back and forth action of the device  10  also acts to detach the lawn. In order further increase the force of the tines acting on the ground surface, a user may pivot the handle  60  up even further and push downwardly along the direction of the handle. This results in a component of the force generated by the user being applied downwardly to force the tines down into the ground. Since the handle is still at an angle, a component of the force applied by the user also moves the aerating and dethatching device  10  either forward or backward depending on the direction of the force. When the aeration and/or dethatching is complete, the user may pivot the handle  60  downwardly so that the wheels  50  engage the ground and the tines  30  are lifted upwardly off the ground. The user may then roll the aerating and dethatching device  10  to another area to be worked on or back into storage. 
     It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. It will also be appreciated that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the disclosed embodiments and the following claims.