Abstract:
A manually operable weed remover consists of a cluster of pivotable and rotatable spikes attached to a handle. When positioned over the center of a weed and downward pressure is applied, either by pushing on a bar handle or stepping on a foot rest, a bottom flange is forced up by the ground surface as the spikes are forced into the ground around the weed. The spikes are directed through apertures in the moveable flange and movement of the flange causes the spikes to close around the root of the weed. The insertion motion of the spikes further causes the spike mounting device to rotate relative to the handle and the weed. Thus, as the spikes are being inserted into the ground, the spikes rotate thereby separating the weed root from the adjacent ground. The weed may then be pulled from the ground by upward pressure on the tool.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to garden tools and, more specifically, to a manually operable weed remover which utilizes pivotal and rotatable spikes to capture a weed and its attendant root structure. 
         [0003]    2. Background Information 
         [0004]    There are many types of garden tools which can be utilized to remove stubborn weeds from the lawn and garden. Most of these tools rely upon sharpened blades of one type or another where such blades are fixedly secured to a handle, and usually substantial manual effort is required to remove weeds. Further, these types of prior art garden tools are not particularly suited for removing weed root structures. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,241, which is incorporated herein by reference, a weed removal tool is disclosed having a handle, an elongated shaft and a cluster of pivotable spikes attached to the lower end of the shaft/handle. When positioned over the center of a weed and downward pressure is applied, either by pushing on a bar handle or stepping on a foot rest, a bottom flange is forced up by the ground surface as the spikes pass through openings in the flange and into the ground around the weed. The spikes are directed through apertures in the moveable flange and movement of the flange causes the spikes to close around the root of the weed. The weed may then be pulled from the ground by upward pressure on the tool. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    While the design of the weed removal tool set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,241 is satisfactory, removal of the weed may be made easier if an action of the weed removal tool further separated the dirt surrounding the weed&#39;s root from the root. Accordingly, the disclosed concept provides for a weed removal tool wherein a spike support assembly is rotatably coupled to the handle/shaft. The spike support assembly also includes an actuation rod that engages a helical cam slot on the shaft. The interaction of these components as the user presses the weed removal tool down over a weed cause the spikes to twist about the weed root and thereby separate the dirt surrounding the weed&#39;s root from the root. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the weed removal tool. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded/cut away view of the upper portion of the weed removal tool. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the lower portion of the weed removal tool. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the lower portion of an alternate embodiment of the weed removal tool. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the spike support assembly. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view showing the two positions of the spike support assembly. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    As used herein, “coupled” means a link between two or more elements, whether direct or indirect, so long as a link occurs. 
         [0015]    As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other. 
         [0016]    As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. 
         [0017]    As used herein, directional terms, such as, but not limited to, “upper,” “lower,” and “lateral” correspond to the orientation of the weed removal tool from the perspective of a user holding the tool. Such directional terms are not limiting upon the claims. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a weed removal tool  10  includes a long hollow tubular shaft  12  and a spike support assembly  50 . The weed removal tool  10  may include a release assembly  100 , which is preferably a slide hammer, as described below. 
         [0019]    The shaft  12  is generally circular and has an upper end  14 , a medial portion  16  and a lower end  18 . A handle assembly  20  is disposed at the shaft upper end  14  and a foot rest assembly  22  is disposed at the shaft lower end  18 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the handle assembly  20  preferably includes an ergonomic inverted “V” shaped grip  24 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the foot rest assembly  22  includes a radially extending platform  26  that is fixed to the shaft  12 . The shaft lower end  18  also includes at least one, and preferably two, cam slots  30 . The cam slots  30  extend at least partially helically over the shaft lower end  18 . In the preferred embodiment, the cam slots  30  are helical and have a relatively steep pitch. For example, where the shaft  12  has a diameter of between about 0.5 and 1.0 inch and more preferably about 0.75 inch the cam slots  30  extend vertically between about 1.5 and 3.0 and more preferably about 2.75 inches while wrapping about 90 degrees over the shaft  12 . In an alternate embodiment, shown in  FIG. 4 , the cam slots  30  have a generally straight lower portion  32  and a generally helical upper portion  34 . The cam slots  30  cause the spike support assembly  50  to rotate as described below. The cam slots  30  are, preferably, disposed about 180 degrees apart on the shaft  12 . The distal tip of the shaft lower end  18  may include a circular flange  40  with a descending sidewall  42  as described in detail below. The shaft medial portion  16  may include at least one longitudinal slot  44  as described in detail below. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the spike support assembly  50  includes an elongated inner rod assembly  52  and a spike assembly  54 . The inner rod assembly  52  includes an elongated actuation rod  56  having an upper end  60  and a lower end  62 . The inner rod assembly  52  may include a release assembly rod  104  as described below. The actuation rod  56  has a non-circular cross-section which is, preferably, square. The actuation rod  56  includes at least one, and preferably two, radially extending cam followers  58 . The cam followers  58  are sized to be disposed within, and operatively engage the cam slots  30 . The actuation rod  56  is movably disposed within the shaft  12  and is structured to move between a first, lower position and a second upper position. 
         [0021]    The spike assembly  54  includes a plurality of spikes  64 , a spike mounting plate  65 , and a spike guide  67 . The spike assembly  54 , preferably, includes a spike mounting plate cap  66  and a bearing  68 . In the preferred embodiment the spikes  64  are, essentially, nails having an elongated body  70  with a first end  72  having a head  74  and a pointed second end  75 . Also in the preferred embodiment, the spike mounting plate  65  has a generally flat circular body  63  with a non-circular central opening  76  and a plurality of spike openings  78  therethrough. The central opening  76  is sized to allow the actuation rod  56  to pass therethrough, but is only slightly larger than the actuation rod  56 . The spike openings  78  are disposed about the periphery of the spike mounting plate  65  at a first radius. The spike mounting plate cap  66  has a circular body  80  with an axially extending sidewall  82  and central opening  84  sized to allow the actuation rod  56  to pass therethrough without contacting the spike mounting plate cap  66 . The spike mounting plate cap sidewall  82  is structured to be, and is, coupled to the spike mounting plate  65  thereby defining a plenum  86  between the spike mounting plate cap body  80  and the spike mounting plate  65 . The spikes  64  are pivotally coupled to the spike mounting plate  65 . That is, each spike head  74  is disposed in the plenum  86  with each spike body  70  extending through a spike opening  78 . The optional bearing  68  has a central opening  69  sized to allow the actuation rod  56  to pass therethrough without contacting the bearing  68 . 
         [0022]    The spike guide  67 , preferably, has a generally flat circular body  90  having a plurality of openings  92  sized to allow a spike  64  to pass therethrough. The spike guide openings  92  are disposed in a generally circular pattern, said spike guide openings  92  defining a circle with a second radius. The second radius is smaller than the first radius. 
         [0023]    The spike assembly  54  is assembled and operates as follows. The actuation rod  56  extends through the spike mounting plate cap central opening  84  and the spike mounting plate non-circular central opening  76 . The spike guide  67  is fixed to the distal tip of the actuation rod lower end  62  with the actuation rod  56  disposed at the center of the spike guide  67 . The spikes  64  are further disposed through the spike guide openings  92 , with just the tips of the spike second ends  75  extending past the spike guide  67 . Because the spike guide openings  92  are at a smaller radius than the location where the spike first ends  72  are coupled to the spike mounting plate  65 , the spikes  64  are angled toward the center of the spike guide  67 . The spike mounting plate  65  is rotatably coupled to the shaft lower end  18 , preferably to the circular flange descending sidewall  42 . That is, the circular flange descending sidewall  42  has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the spike mounting plate  65  and the spike mounting plate  65  is rotatably disposed in the pocket defined by the circular flange  40  and its descending sidewall  42 . The bearing  68  may be disposed between the spike mounting plate cap  66  and the shaft  12 . 
         [0024]    As noted above, the actuation rod  56  is movably disposed within the shaft  12  and is structured to move between a first, lower position and a second upper position. Thus, in this configuration, when the actuation rod  56  is in the first, lower position, the spike guide  67  is spaced from the shaft lower end  18  and the spikes  64  are generally spaced apart from each other. As the actuation rod  56  moves to the second upper position and the spike guide  67  moves closer to the spike mounting plate  65 , the spikes  64 , and more specifically the spike second ends  75 , are drawn substantially together. It is this action that allows the weed removal tool  10  to grasp a weed, as described below. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the spike assembly  54  has a plurality of spikes  64  structured to pivot between a first, open position, wherein the spikes  64  are generally spaced apart from each other, and a second, closed position, wherein a portion of the spikes  64  are drawn substantially together. 
         [0025]    The weed removal tool  10  is assembled and operates as follows. As noted above the spike assembly  54  is rotatably coupled to the shaft lower end  18 . The actuation rod  56  is disposed within the shaft  12  with the cam followers  58  disposed within the cam slots  30 . Initially, the actuation rod  56  and the spike assembly  54  are in their respective first positions. A user then places the weed removal tool  10  over a weed with the weed centrally disposed below the spike guide  67 . The user holds onto the handle assembly  20  and substantially maintains the orientation of the shaft  12  relative to the user. That is, the user does not allow the shaft  12  to rotate substantially. As the user moves the weed removal tool  10  downwardly, the spike second ends  75  engage the ground in a circular pattern about the weed. When the spike guide  67  engages the ground, or more specifically, crushes the weed against the ground, the spike guide  67 , essentially, becomes vertically fixed. That is, the spike guide  67  cannot move downwardly. 
         [0026]    Thus, as the user continues to move the shaft  12  towards the ground, preferably using the foot rest assembly  22  to apply additional force, the following happens. First, because the spike assembly  54  is rotatably coupled to the shaft  12 , the spikes  64  move vertically downwardly with the shaft  12 . Thus, the spikes  64  begin to move through the spike guide openings  92  as the spike guide  67  cannot move downwardly. As the spikes  64  move through the spike guide openings  92 , the spikes  64  dig into the ground. Also, as described above, as the spike guide  67  moves toward the spike mounting plate  65 , the spikes  64 , and more specifically the spike second ends  75 , are drawn substantially together. 
         [0027]    At the same time, and because the actuation rod  56  is fixed to the spike guide  67 , when the spike guide  67  becomes, essentially, vertically fixed, the shaft  12  moves vertically relative to the actuation rod  56 . As the actuation rod  56  has cam followers  58  disposed in the cam slots  30  on the shaft  12 , the actuation rod  56  is forced to rotate. That is, as the cam followers  58  travel through the helical cam slots  30 , the actuation rod  56 , and therefore the spike guide  67 , are forced to rotate relative to the shaft. Further, because the spike mounting plate  65  is rotatably coupled to the shaft  12 , the spike mounting plate  65  and the spikes  64  also rotate relative to the shaft  12 . Further, because the actuation rod  56  is non-circular and passes through the spike mounting plate non-circular central opening  76  and because the spike mounting plate non-circular central opening  76  is only slightly larger than the actuation rod  56 , the rotation of the actuation rod  56  is also transmitted to the spike mounting plate  65  via this interface as well. Thus, as the spike assembly  54  moves to the second position, the spike assembly  54  also rotates relative to the shaft  12 . Thus, the spike assembly  54  both grasps and twists the weed, thereby allowing for easy removal of the weed. 
         [0028]    It is noted that in the alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , when the cam followers  58  are disposed in the generally straight lower portion  32  of the cam slots  30 , the actuation rod  56  maintains its orientation relative to the shaft  12 , thereby allowing the spikes  64  to initially dig straight into the ground. However, when the cam followers  58  are disposed in the generally helical upper portion  34  of the cam slots  30 , the engagement of the cam followers  58  within the generally helical upper portion  34  of the cam slots  30  causes the actuation rod  56  to rotate relative to the shaft  12 . 
         [0029]    As set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,241, the actuation rod  56  may extend past the top of the shaft  12 . Thus, the actuation rod  56 , as well as the spike assembly  54 , may be returned to the first position by pressing on the exposed top of the actuation rod  56 . However, the preferred embodiment includes a release assembly  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the release assembly  100  includes a external handle  102  and the release assembly rod  104 , noted above. The release assembly rod  104  is disposed within the shaft  12  at a location above the actuation rod  56  and may move longitudinally therein between an upper position and lower position. The external handle  102  is structured to move said release assembly rod  104  from the upper position to the lower position. 
         [0030]    That is, the external handle  102  is a tubular member sized to be disposed about the shaft medial portion  16  and has at least one inwardly extending coupling  106  structured to engage the release assembly rod  104 . The external handle coupling  106  extends through the shaft medial portion  16  at least one longitudinal slot  44  and is coupled to the release assembly rod  104 . Preferably, the shaft medial portion  16  includes two longitudinal slots  44  disposed about 180 degrees apart on the shaft  12 . Further, the external handle coupling  106  is preferably at least one rod  108  extending through the release assembly rod  104  and through both the longitudinal slots  44 . The external handle  102  may be weighted. The lower end of the release assembly rod  104  engages the upper end of the actuation rod  56 . 
         [0031]    In this configuration, as a user pulls a weed, the actuation rod  56  moves the release assembly rod  104  into the upper position. Thus, after a user has pulled a weed, the user may grasp the external handle  102  and move the external handle  102  towards the shaft lower end  18 ; this causes the release assembly rod  104  to move downwardly and into the actuation rod  56 . As the release assembly rod  104  is move into the lower position, the actuation rod  56  is returned to the first lower position and the spike assembly  54  is returned to the first position, thereby releasing the weed. 
         [0032]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.