Abstract:
The present invention is a hand held tool for brush and weed removal. It is a long or short handled weed extraction implement having combined features that facilitate easy and efficient weeding of all varieties of short and tall brush, bushes, bamboo, and the like. Further, the present invention is ideal for gathering the brush, weeds, and other debris, without changing tools. The invention is also adapted to loosening and leveling of the soil, again without changing tools. Unlike all other hand held weeding tools, the invention has a file for sharpening the tines and blade elements from time to time during the day while the tool is in the field. The file is mounted axially in the handle for convenience and to protect the file from rusting. The skill normally required for free-hand sharpening of blades is greatly reduced by the unique interfit of the file and elliptical shaped cutting edges. The invention also tends to induce better, safer, more ergonomic work habits among those who use the invention.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    None 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    None 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    None 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention is a hand held tool for brush and weed removal. It is a long or short handled weed extraction implement having combined features that facilitate easy and efficient weeding of all varieties of short and tall brush, bushes, bamboo, and the like. Further, the present invention is ideal for gathering the brush, weeds, and other debris, without changing tools. The invention is also adapted to loosening and leveling of the soil, again without changing tools. Unlike all other hand held weeding tools, the invention has a file for sharpening the tines and blade elements from time to time during the day while the tool is in the field. The file is mounted axially in the handle for convenience and to protect the file from rusting. The skill normally required for free-hand sharpening of blades is greatly reduced by the unique interfit of the file and elliptical shaped cutting edges. The invention also tends to induce better, safer, more ergonomic work habits among those who use the invention. This is particularly important to those who are exposed to prolonged weeding activity. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0007]    Weeding by means of hand tools includes several categories of tools. Broadly, it includes: (1.) Scythes for removal of surface growth, (2.) Various hoes, awls, and rakes for tearing at the roots of the weeds as well as removing surface growth, and (3.) Shovel weeding and cultivating. 
         [0008]    The first category, utilizing hoes and awls probably goes back to the iron-age adz which was used like the modem awl. One example of a modem awl includes the “Pulaski.” Fire crew “hot shot” teams utilize a “Pulaski” type awl for clearing low lying brush, up to 1 or 2 feet high, and chopping down trees, in order to slow the progress of a wildfire. The present invention could augment “hot shot” teams in that half the team would carry the invention and the other half carry Pulaski type awls. The result would be an important increase in the team&#39;s ability to clear fire breaks because the invention combines a scythe feature in combination with robust tines on the opposite edge the tool head is well adapted to rapidly clear brush and tall grass six or more feet high, and would achieve a faster result without as much difficult labor. 
         [0009]    A “Pulaski” has no means of carrying a sharpening tool to reshape and sharpen its cutting edge. As the edge gets worn over the hours it is used, the penetrating power decreases, and the effort to cut through roots increases substantially. When used to clear brush, a “Pulaski” operates like an inefficient scythe, cutting a width of grass about 4 inches wide, for a distance of about 18 inches. The sweep of the blade acts to propel the weeds a distance of a few feet. The user must bend over throughout the cutting stroke, and the work is backbreaking and exhausting. The present invention gives a much broader sweep of the scythe-like cutting, and permits a wider scraping of the ground with the rake feature inherent in the side tines, and the front of the tool head has a combination of tines and a squared cutting edge to break through and cut tough roots and vegetation, all with the same tool. 
         [0010]    Another use for the invention is right-of-way maintenance, wherein the maintenance crew need only utilize the present invention, without having to carry several separate tools such as a scythe, shovel, saw and rake. Such work typically involves working in soil loaded with gravel and cobbles. The hand tools soon lose their sharpness. Loss of sharpness translates into less ability to cut the weeds, brush and bushes. Conversely, it results in more effort needed be stroke to get the job done. The present invention utilizes robust tines, sharpened multiple of cutting surfaces, and a file sharpening means for shaping and lapping the cutting surfaces. 
         [0011]    Another use of the invention is to ease home gardening. Modem gardeners have less free time to devote to gardening. They want to get the weeding done quickly. Because home gardening is generally done on a small scale such as a flower bed, backyard or kitchen garden, it is generally not economical or practical to utilize practices used in the commercial agricultural industry. As a result, a home gardener accumulates a rake, a scythe, a hoe, a shovel, and small versions of these tools, like scoops and trowels, for planting, cultivating and maintaining the garden. Among the most distasteful of the tasks facing a home gardener is that of eradicating weeds from the garden. 
         [0012]    Perhaps the most important object of the invention is in reducing mulculosketal injury among farm workers. In a study of work related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among agricultural workers, conducted by researchers from the University of California, the researchers found: “Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are rising in incidence and account for a majority of workers&#39; compensation dollars. They are increasing in incidence and concern in California, which has just implemented the first occupational health standard for ergonomics in the U.S. . . .” 
         [0013]    “Occupational musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) may affect muscles, tendons, joints, nerves and related soft tissues anywhere in the body. The lower back and upper extremities, including the neck and shoulders, are the most common sites. Because repeated risk factor exposure of the same muscle, tendon, or region may result in injury and inflammation to the affected area, names such as cumulative trauma disorder, repetitive motion injury, repetition strain injury, and occupational overuse syndrome have been applied to these disorders. 
         [0014]    “Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are rising in incidence and account for a majority of workers&#39; compensation costs (Guo et al., 1995). They are increasing in incidence in California, which has consistently experienced injury rates higher than the national average in all industries (Robinson, 1988). Of greatest concern are back injuries which are the most frequently cited cause of disability in persons aged 45 or less (Andersson, 1981), account for most lost time from work (Clemmer et al., 1991), and account for a significant proportion of workers&#39; compensation costs (Nagi et al., 1973; Spengler et al., 1986; Robinson, 1988, Webster and Snook, 1990; Glisan, 1993). 
         [0015]    Concern is also growing about cumulative injuries to upper extremity nerves and soft tissues resulting from repetitive motions. The number of work-related cases of cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) have significantly increased in the past several years and in 1989 accounted for more than half of all work-related illness cases. According to the 1993 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (CDC, 1998) more than 60% of all injury visits were to orthopedists, with “sprains and strains of joints and adjacent muscles” comprising the most frequent diagnosis category for all ages except for persons under 15 years old. Despite surveillance gaps MSD cases appear to be increasing faster than any other occupational illness category (BNA, 1991). In California, “cumulative injuries” claims comprise a share that is twice the size of any other specific injury category (California Department of Insurance et al., 1993). 
         [0016]    The study examined the “ERGONOMIC RISK FACTORS” and concluded: 
         [0017]    “There is evidence that these disorders (MSDs) result from repeated biomechanical stress due caused by ergonomic hazards (USDOL, 1990). Silverstein et al. (1986, 1987) demonstrated a relationship between occupational exposures (specifically those with high force-high repetitious tasks) and pathology 
         [0018]    “Review of California worker&#39;s compensation system reports suggests that 43% of all reported injuries in California agriculture were sprains and strains. Overexertion as a cause of injury for this area was cited for 25% of reported injuries. These data suggest a high proportion of musculoskeletal disorder incidence and ergonomic risk factors . . . . ” 
         [0019]    The study focused particularly on shovel weeding done by agricultural workers, and described the process of such weeding and the risks as follows: 
         [0020]    “3. Shovel Weeding 
         [0021]    “The worker works along a vine row, reaching towards and under the vines with a shovel to cut weeds away with the front edge of the shovel blade. During the cutting movements, moderate to severe trunk flexion (forward bending of 30-90 degrees); and mild to moderate body twisting (20-30 degrees) were observed. 
         [0022]    “Moderate shoulder and arm forces are applied by swinging the shovel with the arms so that the blade impacts and cuts the root of the weed. High static grip forces are sustained by both hands on the shovel handle for periods of 12-33 seconds during the weeding. Workers typically make 50-60 cutting motions per minute. Mild to moderate wrist extension is present throughout the activity. Shoulder extension is moderate (up to 60 degrees). Neck position -is technically close to neutral, but since the trunk is in prolonged flexion of 30-90 degrees, the neck is in a posture that is difficult to maintain for long periods due to muscle fatigue. 
         [0023]    “Mild grip forces are needed to hold the shovel during the 10-11 seconds of walking to the next area to be weeded.” 
         [0024]    The study determined that the TASK TIME was 12-33 seconds of swinging the shovel to cut and 10-11 seconds to walk to the next position for a Total Job Cycle of 22-44 seconds. 
         [0025]    One can infer that over 21,000 cutting strokes a day are typical while weeding. Thus, any feature of the weeding tool which causes the worker, ever so slightly, to adapt to a more upright, more balanced, and less forceful mode of weeding will likely result in less MSD, as well as leading to higher productivity. 
         [0026]    Numerous hand tools have been developed over time for the purpose of facilitating weed removal. However, many of these tools suffer from drawbacks that affect their usefulness. Claw or jaw weeding devices have a pair of blades that are designed to be placed next to the main stem of the weed and dug in below to remove the weed and roots. However, such devices are tedious to use since they may be used on only one weed at a time, they require exact placement, and they call for the user to stoop or kneel to the weed to properly cut the weed and remove it. For those persons suffering from physical impairments or disabilities, bending or kneeling repetitively to remove weeds may be prohibitively difficult, painful, or exhausting. Moreover, if improperly used, such claws or other similar tools may merely cut off the weed at the surface, leaving the severed weed and leaving intact the root structure below. The severed weed may still spread seeds into the garden, and the weed is likely to grow back from the old root system requiring the process to be repeated. 
         [0027]    Both in agricultural work and in home gardening, it is also often necessary to utilize more than one tool to adequately perform the weeding function. First, a hoe, shovel, pick or cultivator is used to loosen up the soil around the weeds. Then a claw, rake, or jaw is used to remove the weeds. Finally, a rake is used to remove the severed weeds. This increases the time and effort necessary for the task of weed removal, making it even less desirable to do. 
         [0028]    An object of this invention is to provide a weeding tool that is capable of efficiently removing both a weed and substantially all of its associated root system, and that does not require the user to kneel, stoop, bend over or grab hold of the weed when it is in the ground, making the tool more available for use by persons having physical limitations. 
         [0029]    Another object of this invention is to reduce the muscular force and the impact upon the limbs and abdomen of the person using the invention by keeping the cutting edges of the tool sharp throughout the time the tool is used. 
         [0030]    Another object is to induce better ergonomic habits in the use of the tool without the person having to read a manual, or adopt an artificial and “unnatural” stance in using the tool. In this manner, the person the person using the invention will avoid musculoskeletal disorders. 
         [0031]    Another object is to allow use of the person&#39;s foot to force the tool into hard-packed ground without losing their balance and without undue coordination. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    The present invention provides a useful and conveniently combined weeding tool that may be used to easily and efficiently remove weeds, dig or level the soil, and plant seeds all without repetitive kneeling or stooping. The invention includes a long or short handle attached to a unique arrangement of cutting surfaces distributed about a preferably concave metal surface. The arrangement is also characterized by a non-symmetrical arrangement of sharpened tines, hollow ground serations, and squared sharpened blades. 
         [0033]    Unlike pointed trenching tools, the front edge of the tool has a combination of a sharpened blade, typically about 1 inch wide, oriented at substantially 70 to 90 degrees to the major axis of the tool, and located just to one side of the major axis of the tool. Immediately on the other side of the major axis of the tool is located at least two, or more, sharpened tines, oriented substantially parallel to the major axis of the tool, and having a length just enough so that the tool, when it contacts hard-pan dirt, will not jerk to the left or the right as the user applies thrust to the tool to cause it to enter the soil. By contrast, a round head shovel inherently wobbles to the one side or the other as the user places their foot on the shovel to drive the round head into the hard ground. 
         [0034]    The weed removal sections of the unique head are found around the periphery of the metal surface and includes a plurality of cutting surfaces and tines. The tines and the rest of the geometry of the surface is formed by a series of metal blanking and forming operations well known to the metal forming industry. 
     
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one of the two preferred embodiments. 
           [0036]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the top surface of the tool head of the other preferred embodiment. 
           [0037]      FIG. 3  is a close up view of the scallop cutting elements along the side  60  of  FIGS. 1  as well as  FIG. 2 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 4  is a close up view of the region  80  and  83  as shown in  FIG. 1 and 2 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 5  is a close view of the file  100  and the top of shaft  20 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the rear of the toolhead of the second preferred embodiment. 
           [0041]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the rear showing clip  140  on shaft  20 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 8  is a broken out sectional view along axis  8   a - 8   b  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 9  is a top view showing in dotted lines the elliptical profile of the typical sharpenable cutting edge  88   c . A similar elliptical profile is found in the scallops  61   a ,  61   b ,  61   c , . . . and is sharpenable in the same manner. 
           [0044]      FIG. 10  is a cross sectional of the file, showing a half-round cutting ridge  102  and a flat top cutting ridge  101 . The diameter  86  is matched to the diameter of the sharpenable edges such as shown in  FIG. 4 , at  88   c.    
           [0045]      FIG. 11  is an alternative means of firmly attaching the clip  141  to the shaft  20 , by means of thumbscrew  144  acting through shaft  143  to nut  142  to grip the clip  141  about the shaft  20 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0046]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective drawing of one of two equally preferred embodiments of the weeding tool having a shaft  20 , a socket  30  into which the shaft  20  fits, connected to the socket  30  by screws  31  and  32  is a tool head  40  having an imaginary major axis  90  shown as a dashed line  90  and  91 . The tool head  40  is made as a stamped and trimmed concave or curved metal plate, typically of heat treatable, hardenable steel. The tool head collectively referred to as  40  has a front or nose portion  44  located furthest from the socket  30 , a rear portion  46  located adjacent the socket  30 , a top surface  48  of the curved plate, a bottom surface  50  (seen in  FIG. 6 ) of the curved plate. There is a left edge  60  between the front  44  and rear  46  portions of the tool head, and a right edge  70  between the front  44  and rear  46  portions of the tool plate. 
         [0047]    The front portion  44  has cut and formed in it a portion with a sharpenable cutting edge  80  aligned at substantially 30 to 90 degrees from the major axis  90 ,  91  of the tool head. A beveled edge  81  (seen in  FIG. 4 ) is sharpened to a substantially straight cutting edge. Next to portion  80  is portion  83 . Portion  83  has one or more front tines  84   a ,  84   b ,  84   c , substantially aligned with the major axis  90  of the tool head  40 . The front tines such as  84   a ,  84   b ,  84   c , have one or more sharpenable cutting edges  88   a ,  88   b ,  88   c , between the front tines whereby a stem or a root of a weed or bush is cut by the cutting edge when the front tines are forced against the stem or root. The sharpenable cutting edges  88   a ,  88   b ,  88   c  between the front tines have substantially elliptical shape when viewed from a plan view of the top surface  48  of the tool head  40 . The ellipse results from drilling, milling, or filing the cutting surface at an acute angle by an end mill, drill, or other substantially cylindrical cutting or grinding tool. Because the tool is at an acute angle to the tool head, the result is an elliptical shape. By selecting the minor axis of the ellipse to be slightly larger than a round or half-round fine metal file, the result is that the file will rest in the elliptical shape and will guide even an unskilled person to sharpen most of the edge even though they may hold the file either at too small an acute angle or too large an angle. As a result, even persons who cannot or will not read the instruction manual that accompanies the product will still be able to gain the benefit of a weeding tool that remains sharp despite prolonged use in the field, garden or vineyard. 
         [0048]    Using the flat portion of the file, the worker in the field can also sharpen the bevels front of the tines  87   a ,  87   b ,  87   c , etc. 
         [0049]    The importance of sharpness in reducing MSD and other job related risks of prolonged use of manual weeding tools cannot be overstated. A sharp tool can easily cut even substantial roots, with little force, while a dull tool requires an order of magnitude more time and requires several times the force and the shock to the users body to extract the same root, bush, or weed. 
         [0050]    Very few persons know the concepts necessary to correctly free hand sharpen a blade. The weeding patent literature is virtually devoid of references to re-sharpening weeding tools. Yet weeding tools which use sharp edges to cut weeds lose their sharpness in hours. Further, rust quickly takes the edge off most sharp cutting edges. 
         [0051]    In this invention, the diameter of the file and the diameter  86  of the minor axis of the ellipse are nearly the same so that the round or half-round file which is passed over the edge  88   c , for example, will definitely touch some of the cutting edge  88   c , even though the file may be held at some angle different from the ideal angle for sharping. Normally, that angle is near 20 degrees. Few people have the knowledge, skill and self-discipline to hold the file at the exact angle. But, this design achieves sharpening, by the user, while in the field by selecting the shape of the cutting edge, for example  88   c  , to closely interfit and guides the file  100  when that file is passed between the tines at an acute angle to the tool head. Even as an unskilled person tends to rock the file as they pass it over the cutting edge, the result, inevitably, is to remove slight amounts of metal from the cutting edge and thus provide a new and sharp edge. 
         [0052]      FIG. 8  shows the round or half-round file  100  being applied at nearly the correct angle for sharpening scallop  61   a . But, because the diameter of the file is closely matched to the diameter of the scallop  61   a , the file is going to sharpen some portion of the elliptical cutting edge. 
         [0053]    The front tines  84   a ,  84   b ,  84   c , etc., have piercing edges  87   a ,  87   b ,  87   c , formed at the end of the front end of the front tines. These edges enable the tool to break into hard-pan soil, as well as to penetrate into woody trunks of bushes. The sharp edges can be frusto-conical, or conical, or beveled one or more sides, so long as they come to a substantially sharp edge or point. 
         [0054]    As explained in the prior art section, one function and advantage of the invention is that a person steps onto the rear portion of the tool head in order to drive the tool into hard ground will find that the tool does not instantly wobble as does a round point shovel. This is due to the equal lengths of the cutting edge  80  and the tips of the front tines  87   a ,  87   b , and  87   c . Because the weeder presents a relatively wide “wheel base” as it were, the weeder will not cause the person to tumble to one side or the other. This in turn avoids one of the most frequent injuries to a persons back when they are gardening or weeding. 
         [0055]    Along the left edge  60  of the tool head  40  is arrayed cutting means comprising one or more beveled sharpenable cutting edges  61   a ,  61   b ,  61   c , etc. formed in the left edge  60 . The cutting edges are formed in the tool head  40  by either stamped, embossing, heating and embossing, grinding, or mill scallop shaped depressions in the tool head material so as to form thin cutting edges  6 la,  61   b ,  61   c , etc. These edges are adapted to permit cutting of weeds, roots, bushes and soil as the tool head is moved relative to said weeds, roots, bushes, and soil. The cutting edges accomplish this by functioning as a serrated knife. 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the scallop shaped cutting edges can be arrayed along side the tool head  40 .  FIG. 6  shows that the scallop shapped cutting edges can also be on the rear surface  50  along the edge  60 , and indeed, they can overlap with each other and overlap with the scallop shaped cutting edges on the front surface. 
         [0057]    As the person using the tool seeks to clear weeds, he or she either swings the tool against the base of the weeds so that the cutting edges  61   a ,  61   b ,  61   c , etc. contact the weeds and cut them, or, in heavy weeds, the tool can be pushed in a back and forth manner while swing it, to achieve a sawing motion. Then on the opposite swing, the side tines  71   a ,  71   b ,  71   c  engage the weeds and gather them. The end of the return swing to the right is to lift the bundle of weeds like a pitch fork would, and toss the weed bundle, or else deliver the bundle into a container. 
         [0058]    Particularly in fighting wild fires, this technique with this tool is many times faster than using a Pulaski. Likewise, road maintenance crews can achieve much faster results by weeding with the invention than by conventional means. 
         [0059]    Preferably, one or more folded edges  120  and  122  are formed along the rear  46  portion of the tool head  40  and aligned at between 60 and 90 degrees from the major axis of the tool head, such that a user of the tool can apply force to the tool head by placing his foot on either folded edge  120  or  122 , and shoving the tool head  40  into a weed or the earth or both. 
         [0060]    The handle for the tool head  40  is preferably a shaft  20  having a hollow portion  22 , and within that hollow portion is disposed a file  100  adapted to be used to sharpen one or more of the cutting edges located on the tool head. The file  100  is attached preferably to a handle  104 , which embraces the file  100 . The handle has a portion whose outer radius  106  corresponds to the inner diameter  24  of the hollow portion  22  of the shaft such that the file and its handle can be held in frictional gripping connection when the file is placed inside the shaft. The file handle  104  has a substantially hemispherical elastomeric portion  108  such that the user of the tool may comfortably apply axial force to the hemispherical portion when gripping and pushing the weeding tool. 
         [0061]    Along the shaft  20  may be applied an elastomeric coating  26  on part or all of the exterior of the shaft. This helps the user grip the otherwise slippery plastic shaft. The shaft  20  is preferably PVC pipe because that material is plentiful, cheap, and light in weight. 
         [0062]    As a added feature, a can or bottle opener  130  be attached to the tool, preferably at the socket  30  region because of the increased strength inherent in folded metal at that point. An alternate form of bottle and can opener  132  can be formed in the plate of the tool head  40  by piercing, stamping, bending and grinding the footstep  122  on that side to accommodate the cutter/hook portion  133 . 
         [0063]    Onto the shaft can be placed a clip-on bar  140  which attaches to the shaft  20  either by fastener, not shown, or by gripping the shaft  20  by flat-spring action. The clip  140  aids in moving large bushes and to catch long stem weeds.  FIG. 7  shows clip-on bar  140  which grips the shaft  20  and  FIG. 9  shows clamp-on bar  141  which grips the shaft by thumbscrew  144  interfitting with nut  142 . 
         [0064]    In use, the tool is particularly useful for gardening and lawn work, because the sharpened cutting edge  80  may be used effectively to trim growth parallel to sidewalks, and adjacent to sprinkler heads. 
         [0065]    The shaft  20  preferably is long enough to allow the person to stand with proper posture while working, but the person could also cut off a portion of the shaft  20  with a hack saw or other implement, and thus shorten the length of the shaft  20  to suit their needs. The overall design allows this “self-adjustment” feature, because the file is adapted to fit any end-portion of the constant inside diameter of the shaft. 
         [0066]      FIGS. 2 and 6  show the second equally preferred embodiment, wherein additional tines are arrayed along one side  70  of the plate  40 .  FIG. 2  shows the front side of the plate  40 , and  FIG. 6  shows the rear side of plate  40 . In weeding and brush clearance, the additional tines on the side are particularly useful as a rake. While the placement of side tines was described above as being on right edge  70 , they could just as well be on edge  60 , in which case, the cutting edges  61   a ,  61   b ,  61   c , etc. would be on the right side. This would adapt the tool to persons whose dominant hand is the left hand. 
         [0067]      FIG. 8  is a broken out sectional view along axis  8   a - 8   b  as shown in  FIG. 9 . File  100  is at an acute angle to the tine  87   c . Sharpenable edge  88   c  would ordinarily become dull within hours after being used for weeding. The file, stored in the shaft, is used by the worker to sharpen edge  88   c . Because the diameter  86  of the file corresponds closely to the width of the sharpenable edge  88   c , and because the file tends to nest against the elliptical edge and elliptical surface  150 , the file tends to contact the sharpenable edge  88   c  at just the right acute angle. Typically this angle is 20 degrees. Although the worker will rarely hold the file at the correct acute angle for efficient accurate sharpening, the file will, nevertheless, sharpen enough of the edge during most of the strokes by which the file is passed over the sharpenable edge  88   c . This is important because most persons using the shovel have or, will not, or cannot read the instruction manual explaining how to sharpen a metal edge. The purpose of the invention is to encourage sharpening of the cutting edges every few hours, and this means, the sharpening is to be done in the field. 
         [0068]      FIG. 9  is a top view showing in dotted lines the elliptical profile of the typical sharpenable cutting edge  88   c . A similar elliptical profile is found in the scallops  61   a ,  61   b ,  61   c , . . . and is sharpenable in the same manner.  FIG. 10  is a cross sectional of the file, showing a half-round cutting ridge  102  and a flat top cutting ridge  101 . The flat top  101  of the file is useable for sharpening straight edges such as  87   c  and a straight edge along  71  along edge  70  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Returning to  FIG. 10 , the diameter  86  is matched to the diameter of the sharpenable edges such as shown in  FIG. 4 , at  88   c  to reduce rocking of the file as the unskilled or tired worker attempts to sharpen the sharpenable edges of the tool.  FIG. 11  shows an alternative means of firmly attaching the clip  141  to the shaft  20 , by means of thumbscrew  144  acting through shaft  143  to nut  142  to grip the clip  141  about the shaft  20 . The function of the clip as shown in  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 7  is to enable an attack, at a distance, on large or stringy brush and weeds, and to pull the weeds and brush out and control it during handling. 
         [0069]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims: