Patent Publication Number: US-2003230225-A1

Title: Planting device having adjustable handle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a planting device, and more particularly to a planting device having an adjustable handle.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] Various kinds of typical planting devices have been developed for transplanting plants, cabbages, or the like, or for fertilizing and drilling purposes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 537,525 to Gasser, U.S. Pat. No. 551,421 to Walter, U.S. Pat. No. 557,483 to Bryson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,165,821 to Twitchell, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,230,846 to Pettett, etc., disclose several of the typical planting devices and comprise a pair of planting jaws or blades pivotally or rotatably secured to a housing or the like, for opening soil or the like. However, both the planting jaws or blades are pivotally or rotatably secured to the housing, such that the pivotal coupling of the planting jaws or blades to the housing may be become the weaker portions such that the planting jaws or blades may have a good chance to be disengaged from the housing after use. The planting device do not include a stronger jaw or blade for solidly engaging or digging into the soil.  
       [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,582 to Keskilohko, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,314 to Leini disclose two further typical planting devices and comprise a stronger and fixed jaw or blade for engaging or digging into the soil, and a movable planting jaw or blade pivotally or rotatably secured to the fixed jaw, for opening soil or the like. However, when the movable planting jaw or blade is rotated away from the fixed jaw, a widely opening may be formed between the fixed jaw and the movable jaw, such that the soil may have a good chance to move into the opening formed or defined between the fixed jaw and the movable jaw or blade, and such that the plants may not be erectly or suitably planted through the space or opening formed or defined between the fixed jaw and the movable jaw or blade.  
       [0006] In addition, the various kinds of typical planting devices include a handle that have a fixed length, and that may not be adjusted to different length according to the users&#39; height, such that the taller users may have to bow their bodies and to place the plants into the lower planting tubes for transplanting or fertilizing and drilling purposes.  
       [0007] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional planting devices.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a planting device including a fixed and strong planting housing for solidly engaging and digging into the soil and for preventing the soil from entering into the planting housing.  
       [0009] The other objective of the present invention is to provide a planting device including an adjustable handle that may not be adjusted to different length according to the users&#39; height, for allowing the taller users to place the plants into the adjustable planting housing to transplant or fertilize and drill the soil without bowing their bodies.  
       [0010] The further objective of the present invention is to provide a planting device including a latch device for latching or locking the pivotal jaw to the planting housing after digging into and opening the soil, and for preventing the soil from entering into the planting housing again, and for allowing the plants to be easily planted through the planting housing.  
       [0011] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a planting device comprising a housing for engaging into soil, the housing including a rear wall, and two side walls for defining a chamber in the housing and for receiving a plant to be planted, and the housing including a bottom opening formed therein, and a pivotal jaw including an upper portion pivotally secured to the side walls of the housing, and including a lower portion rotatable toward and away from the rear wall of the housing, to move the soil out of the chamber of the housing when the lower portion of the pivotal jaw is moved away from the rear wall of the housing, for allowing the plant to be engaged into the chamber of the housing, and the pivotal jaw and the side walls and the rear wall of the housing forming and defining an enclosed peripheral portion for preventing the soil from entering into the chamber of the housing when the lower portion of the pivotal jaw is moved away from the rear wall of the housing.  
       [0012] A conduit is secured on top of the housing, and a tube is secured to the housing and the conduit, for securing the tube to the housing. At least one fastener is engaged through the tube and the rear wall of the housing, and a collar is engaged on the fastener and engaged in the tube for reinforcing the tube.  
       [0013] A handle is adjustably secured to the tube. A barrel is adjustably engaged in the conduit and secured to the handle. The tube includes an upper portion having a groove formed therein, a ring engaged onto the upper portion of the tube and having a pair of ears, and a fastener securing the ears together to secure the handle and the tube together.  
       [0014] A panel is adjustably secured to said tube and including a bottom portion, and a board is secured to said tube and spaced from a bottom portion of said housing, for determining an engagement of said housing into the soil.  
       [0015] A duct is secured to the pivotal jaw for rotating the pivotal jaw toward and away from the rear wall of the housing. A handle is adjustably secured to the duct. The duct includes an upper portion having a groove formed therein, a ring engaged onto the upper portion of the duct and having a pair of ears, and a fastener securing the ears together to secure the handle and the duct together.  
       [0016] One or more fasteners are engaged through the duct and the pivotal jaw, and a collar is engaged on the fastener and engaged in the duct for reinforcing the duct. One or more catches are extended from the housing and extended inward of the chamber of the housing for engaging with the pivotal jaw, and for retaining the pivotal jaw at an outward position.  
       [0017] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a planting device in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the planting device;  
     [0020]FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the planting device;  
     [0021]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the planting device;  
     [0022]FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  of FIG. 4; and  
     [0023]FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the operation of the planting device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0024] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS.  1 - 5 , a planting device in accordance with the present invention comprises an excavating or planting housing  10  including a chamber  11  formed therein, and formed or defined by a pair of side walls  12  and a rear wall  13 , and including a bottom opening  14  and a front opening  15  formed therein and communicating with the chamber  11  thereof, for allowing the housing  10  to be easily and solidly engaged into the soil. The housing  10  includes an orifice  16  formed and provided in the upper portion thereof, and formed and defined by a peripheral fence  17  which is preferably inclined upwardly and outwardly.  
     [0025] A conduit  20  includes a bore  21  formed therein, and includes a lower portion  22  engaged into the orifice  16  of the housing  10  and having an inclined outer peripheral surface  29  formed thereon (FIGS. 5, 6) for mating or engaging with the inclined peripheral fence  17  of the housing  10 , and for allowing the conduit  20  to be solidly secured on top of the housing  10  with such as a force-fitted engagement. The conduit  20  preferably includes a peripheral rib  23  extended outward from the lower portion  22  thereof for forming or defining a peripheral shoulder  24  in the lower portion  22  thereof and for receiving or engaging with the peripheral fence  17  of the housing  10 , and for further solidly securing the conduit  20  on top of the housing  10 .  
     [0026] A barrel  30  has a lower portion  31  slidably received in the bore  21  of the conduit  20 , and has a chute  32  provided on top thereof, for allowing the plant  90  (FIG. 6) to be planted to be easily engaged into the bore  39  of the barrel  30  via the chute  32 . The plant  90  may then move through the bore  21  of the conduit  20 , and then moved into the chamber  11  of the housing  10 . The lower portion  22  of the conduit  20  is engaged in the orifice  16  of the housing  10 , and the lower portion  31  of the barrel  30  is slidably engaged in the bore  21  of the conduit  20 , such that the plant  90  may be stably guided to move through the bore  21  of the conduit  20  and then to move into the chamber  11  of the housing  10 .  
     [0027] A tube  40  includes one or more, such as two holes  41  formed in the lower portion thereof, for receiving fasteners  42  which may be threaded or engaged through the holes  43  of the rear wall  13  of the housing  10  and which may be threaded with lock nuts  44 , in order to solidly secure the tube  40  to the housing  10 . The tube  40  may thus be solidly secured to the housing  10 , for facilitating the engagement of the housing  10  into the soil. As best shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and  6 , one or more, such as two spacers or collars  45  are further provided and engaged onto the fasteners  42  respectively, and engaged in the lower portion of the tube  40 , for increasing the strength of the tube  40 , or for reinforcing the tube  40 , and for preventing the tube  40  from being deformed or compressed by the fasteners  42 .  
     [0028] The conduit  20  includes a seat  26  provided or extended from the rear portion thereof, and having a recess  27  formed therein for receiving the middle portion of the tube  40 , and having one or more screw holes  28  formed therein, such as having two screw holes  28  formed or provided beside the recess  27  of the seat  26 . A bracket  47  may be engaged onto the tube  40  and the seat  26 , and one or more fasteners  48  may be engaged through the bracket  47  and threaded with the screw holes  28  of the seat  26 , for solidly securing the tube  40  to the conduit  20 , and thus for solidly securing the conduit  20  to the housing  10 .  
     [0029] A panel  50  is further provided and includes one or more, such as two channels  51  formed therein for receiving the fasteners  42 , and for allowing the panel  50  to be adjustably secured to the tube  40  and the housing  10 . The panel  50  includes a board  52  attached to the bottom thereof, for engaging with the ground  53  (FIGS. 5, 6). The panel  50  may thus be adjusted relative to the tube  40  and the housing  10  to any required height by adjusting the fasteners  42  along the channels  51  of the panel  50  respectively and relatively. The distance between the board  52  and the bottom opening  14  of the housing  10  may be used to determine the engagement of the housing  10  into the soil or the ground  53 , best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.  
     [0030] The tube  40  includes a groove  49  (FIG. 1) formed in the upper portion thereof and communicating with the bore  46  thereof, for increasing the resilience or clampability of the tube  40 . A handle  60  includes a hand grip  61  provided on top thereof, and includes a lower portion  62  slidably and adjustably received in the bore  46  of the tube  40 . A ring  63  is engaged onto the upper portion of the the tube  40 , and includes two ears  64  formed or provided thereon. A fastener  66  is engaged through the ears  64  for clamping the ring  63  and the handle  60  and the tube  40  together, and for allowing the handle  60  to be adjusted relative to the tube  40  to the required height. As shown in FIG. 3, a quick release lock  67  may further be provided and engaged with the fastener  66  and the ears  64  for quickly locking the tube  40  to the handle  60  with the ring  63 .  
     [0031] The barrel  30  also includes a seat  33  provided or extended from the rear portion thereof, and having a recess  34  formed therein for receiving the middle portion of the handle  60 , and having one or more screw holes  36  formed therein, such as having two screw holes  36  formed or provided beside the recess  34  of the seat  33 . A bracket  68  may be engaged onto the handle  60  and the seat  33 , and one or more fasteners  69  may be engaged through the bracket  68  and threaded with the screw holes  36  of the seat  33 , for solidly securing the barrel  30  to the handle  60 , and for adjustably securing the barrel  3  to the conduit  20  and to the handle  60 .  
     [0032] The side walls  12  of the housing  10  each includes an aperture  18  formed in the upper portion thereof, and either or both of the side walls  12  each includes a catch  19  extended inward of the chamber  11  of the housing  10  from the middle or lower portion of the side walls  12  respectively. A pivotal jaw  70  includes two side fences  71  each having a hole  72  formed in the upper portion thereof and aligned with the apertures  18  of the side walls  12  of the housing  10 , for receiving fasteners or pivot shafts  73 , and for allowing the pivotal jaw  70  to be rotatably or pivotally secured to the housing  10 .  
     [0033] The pivotal jaw  70  includes one or more orifices  74  formed therein for receiving fasteners  75 . A duct  80  includes one or more, such as two holes  81  formed in the lower portion thereof, for receiving the fasteners  75  which may be threaded with lock nuts  76 , in order to solidly secure the duct  80  to the pivotal jaw  70 . The duct  80  may thus be solidly secured to the pivotal jaw  70 , for rotating the pivotal jaw  70  relative to the housing  10 . As best shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and  6 , one or more, such as two spacers or collars  77  are further provided and engaged onto the fasteners  75  respectively, and engaged in the lower portion of the duct  80 , for increasing the strength of the duct  80 , or for reinforcing the duct  80 , and for preventing the duct  80  from being deformed or compressed by the fasteners  75 .  
     [0034] The duct  80  includes a groove  83  (FIG. 1) formed in the upper portion thereof and communicating with the bore  82  thereof, for increasing the resilience or clampability of the duct  80 . Another handle  84  includes a hand grip  85  provided on top thereof, and includes a lower portion  88  slidably and adjustably received in the bore  82  of the duct  80 . A ring  87  is engaged onto the upper portion of the the duct  80 , and includes two ears  88  formed or provided thereon. A fastener  89  is engaged through the ears  88  for clamping the ring  87  and the handle  84  and the duct  80  together, and for allowing the handle  84  to be adjusted relative to the duct  80  to the required height. As shown in FIG. 3, the quick release lock  67  may also be provided and engaged with the fastener  88  and the ears  89  for quickly locking the duct  80  to the handle  84  with the ring  87 .  
     [0035] In operation, the handle  60  may be adjustably secured to the barrel  30  with the bracket  68  and the fasteners  69 , and may be adjustably secured to the tube  40  with the ring  63  and the fastener  66  and/or the quick release lock  67 , such that the barrel  30  may be adjustably secured to the conduit  20  to any suitable height. In addition, the other handle  84  may also be adjustably secured to the duct  80  with the ring  87  and the fastener  89  and/or the quick release lock  67 , such that the handles  60 ,  84  and the barrel  30  may be adjusted relative to the tube  40  and the duct  80  and the conduit  20  respectively, to the required height, according to the height of the users.  
     [0036] As shown in FIG. 5, the lower end of the pivotal jaw  70  may be rotated or moved to engage with the rear wall  13  of the housing  10 , in order to enclose the bottom opening  14  of the housing  10 , and for allowing the housing  10  and the pivotal jaw  70  to be engaged into the soil or the ground  53 . The housing  10  and the pivotal jaw  70  include a solid structure, for allowing the housing  10  and the pivotal jaw  70  to be solidly and easily engaged into the soil  53 . The board  52  may be engaged onto the soil or the ground  53  for limiting or determining the engagement of the housing  10  and the pivotal jaw  70  into the soil. The pivotal jaw  70  may then be rotated or moved away from the rear wall  13  of the housing  10  (FIG. 6), for moving or digging or excavating the soil out of the chamber  11  of the housing  10 , and for allowing the plant  90  to be easily engaged into the bottom of the housing  10 .  
     [0037] It is to be noted that, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower end of the pivotal jaw  70  may be forced against the rear wall  13  of the housing  10  when the housing  10  and the pivotal jaw  70  are engaged into the soil or the ground  53 , such that the soil will not be engaged into the space defined between the rear wall  13  and the side walls  12  of the housing  10  and the pivotal jaw  70 . As shown in FIG. 6, when the pivotal jaw  70  is rotated or moved away from the rear wall  13  of the housing  10  for excavating the soil out of the chamber  11  of the housing  10 , the pivotal jaw  70  may be moved beyond the catches  19  which may then retain the pivotal jaw  70  at the outward rotating position as shown in FIG. 6, and may prevent the pivotal jaw  70  and the soil from entering into the chamber  11  of the housing  10 .  
     [0038] It is further to be noted that the catches  19  may engage with the pivotal jaw  70 , in order to retain the pivotal jaw  70  at the outward rotating position. The user thus need not use their hands to hold the handles  60 ,  84  together in order to prevent the pivotal jaw  70  and the soil from entering into the chamber  11  of the housing  10 , such that the users may have their hands to easily load the plant  90  into the bore  39  of the barrel  30  via the chute  32 . The pivotal jaw  70  and the rear wall  13  and the side walls  12  of the housing  10  may form an enclosed and solid peripheral portion for preventing the soil from entering into the chamber  11  of the housing  10 , and for preventing the plant  90  from being tilted by the soil.  
     [0039] Accordingly, the planting device in accordance with the present invention includes a fixed and strong planting housing for solidly engaging and digging into the soil and for preventing the soil from entering into the planting housing, and includes an adjustable handle that may not be adjusted to different length according to the users&#39; height, for allowing the taller users to place the plants into the adjustable planting housing to transplant or fertilize and drill the soil without bowing their bodies, and includes a latch device for latching or locking the pivotal jaw to the planting housing after digging into and opening the soil, and for preventing the soil from entering into the planting housing again, and for allowing the plants to be easily planted through the planting housing.  
     [0040] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.