Abstract:
A hoe includes a handle and a blade. In some embodiments, the handle and the blade are connected via a connection member. The connection member permits flexing, which reduces how much shock is transmitted to the user with digging motions. In some embodiments, the blade includes one or more sections at different angles. The different angles accomplish a gripping effect, which reduces how much the hoe is driven out of the ground, as it is being pulled. Accordingly, fewer interruptions and digging motions are needed to cover an area, which one permits to finish faster. In some embodiments, the blade has a mouth that permits some of the soil to flow through it, as the hoe is being pulled. The flow may reshuffle the soil. Optionally, a tooth protrudes such that it further cuts the flow of the soil.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/831,962, filed on Jun. 6, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
         [0002]    This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/859,353, filed on Jul. 29, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A hoe is a tool for use in gardening, such as for breaking up soil.  FIG. 1  shows a hoe  100  in the prior art. Hoe  100  has an oblong handle  192  and a blade  198 . Blade  198  is typically thin, rectangular, and planar. Blade  198  is oriented such that, if handle  192  were considered to have an axis, that axis would be almost perpendicular to a plane of blade  198 . 
         [0004]    A user holds handle  192 , and then swings it downwards quickly in a digging motion, so that blade  198  digs into the ground by a few inches. The user then pulls, or drags, handle  192  so that a flat side of blade  198  is pulled against the soil to break it up. Accordingly the type of hoe  100  is also called a pull hoe. 
         [0005]    There are problems with using a pull hoe. First, as soon as the pulled hoe breaks up a clump of soil, further pulling or dragging results in the hoe being driven out of the ground. To continue hoeing, the user needs to pause, and repeat the downward digging motion, which takes more time. 
         [0006]    Second, every time the downward digging motion is indeed repeated, as blade  198  hits the ground, a shock is transmitted via handle  192  into the body of the user. Repetitive shocks can be tiring to the user. Elderly people tending their gardens are even more vulnerable to these repetitive shocks. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present description gives instances of improved hoes, the use of which may help overcome problems and limitations of the prior art. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, a hoe includes a handle and a blade, which are connected via a connection member. The connection member permits flexing, which reduces how much shock is transmitted to the user with every digging motion. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, a hoe includes at least a handle and a blade. The blade includes one or more sections at different angles. The different angles accomplish a gripping effect, which reduces how much the hoe is driven out of the ground, as it is being pulled. Accordingly, fewer interruptions and digging motions are needed to cover an area, which one permits to finish faster. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, a hoe includes at least a handle and a blade. The blade has a mouth that permits some of the soil to flow through it, as the hoe is being pulled. The flow may reshuffle the soil. Optionally, a tooth protrudes such that it further cuts the flow of the soil. 
         [0011]    These and other features and advantages of this description will become more readily apparent from the following Detailed Description, which proceeds with reference to the drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hoe in the prior art. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a conceptual side view of a soft dig pull hoe made according to embodiments. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a steel spring embodiment of a connection member that can be the connection member in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating an embodiment of how an end of a steel spring can be attached to a distal end of a handle, such as the handle of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating an embodiment of how an end of the steel spring of  FIG. 3  can be attached to an end of a hoe blade such as the hoe blade of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a coil spring embodiment of a connection member of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view illustrating an embodiment of how the coil spring of  FIG. 6  can be attached to a handle and to a hoe blade such as the handle and the hoe blade of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of an earth-gripping pull hoe made according to embodiments. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8B  is a side view of salient aspects of the hoe of  FIG. 8A  for illustrating the concept of a griping angle according to embodiments. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8C  is a side view of salient aspects of a hoe with a bent working portion according to embodiments. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an earth-gripping hoe with a mouth made according to embodiments. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a hoe with a mouth and a tooth made according to embodiments. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a view of a projected perimeter of a mouth of the hoe of  FIG. 10  in a plane perpendicular to an axis of a handle of the hoe of  FIG. 10 , further illustrating a geometric property arising from a tooth feature according to embodiments. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a section of an earth-gripping hoe with a mouth and a tooth made according to embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    As has been mentioned, the present description is about improvements in pull hoes. Embodiments are now described in more detail. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a conceptual side view of a hoe  200  made according to embodiments. Hoe  200  is configured for a user to hoe soil, such as in a garden. An embodiment of a hoe based on  FIG. 2  can also be called a soft dig pull hoe. 
         [0028]    Hoe  200  includes a handle  220 . Handle  220  has a user end  222  that is configured to be grasped by the user. Handle  220  also has a distal end  224 . 
         [0029]    Handle  220  has an overall length that can take any dimension. In some embodiments the length is less than  2 ′, for use primarily when kneeling. In other embodiments, the length is over  3 ′, for use primarily when standing up. 
         [0030]    Distal end  224 , and possibly entire handle  220 , is made from at least a first material, such as wood, plastic metal and so on, or a combination of the first material with another material. The first material has a first consistency, for example as can be manifested by macroscopic properties of distal end  224 . For example, different types of wood have different consistencies, depending on the wood itself. Further, different types of metal have different consistencies, and so on. 
         [0031]    Hoe  200  also includes a connection member  270 . Embodiments of connection member  270  are described in more detail later in this document. Connection member  270  is directly attached to distal end  224 , or is coupled to it, for example via one or more additional components. 
         [0032]    Connection member  270  can be made from at least a second material that has a second consistency. Typical candidates for the second material include steel, as will be seen in more detail below. The second consistency can be different from the first consistency of distal end  224 . For example, even if both connection member  270  and distal end  224  were made out of steel, they could differ in macroscopic properties such as tensile strength, and so on. 
         [0033]    Hoe  200  moreover includes a blade  280 . Blade  280  has a working portion  282  that is configured to contact the soil. Working portion  282  can be made as is known in the art, or as in further embodiments. Blade  280  also has an attachment portion  284 . Attachment portion  284  is directly attached to connection member  270 , or is coupled to it, for example via one or more additional components. 
         [0034]    Attachment portion  284 , and possibly entire blade  280 , can be made from at least a third material. The third material can be steel or other material hard enough to dig into the ground, upon impact. The third material has a third consistency, which can be different from the second consistency of connection member  270 . For example, even if both connection member  270  and attachment portion  284  were made out of steel, they could differ in macroscopic properties such as tensile strength, and so on. In particular, the second material could be more easily flexible than the third material. Because of the flexibility, the impact transmitted from blade  280  to handle  220  can be reduced. 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is conceptual, and not limiting. For example, connection member  270  is shown simply next to handle  220  and blade  280 , without showing the manner of coupling of attachment. Sample such manners will be described later in this document. 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a steel spring  370 . Steel spring  370  can be used as connection member  270  in  FIG. 2 . Steel spring  370  can optionally include one or more steel spring holes  376 ,  377 , for attachment as will be seen later in this document. 
         [0037]    Steel spring  370  can be flexible and resilient. The flexibility is what reduces the impact transmitted to the user, while the resilience permits the original shape to be restored. After some experimentation, good dimensions for steel spring  370  were found to be as follows: 
         [0038]    Thickness ⅛″. The thickness is perpendicular to the drawing of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0039]    Width: 1¼″. The width is seen as height, i.e. the short dimension, in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0040]    Length: 7″. The length is the long dimension in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0041]    Steel spring holes  376 ,  377  can be large enough to allow a ¼″ bolt through them. 
         [0042]    A steel spring can be attached to a handle in a number of ways. An example follows. 
         [0043]      FIG. 4  shows a portion of a handle  420 , which could be as handle  220 . Handle  420  has a distal end  424 , which could be as distal end  224 . Handle  420  has a handle opening  425  at distal end  424 . 
         [0044]    A side view of a steel spring  470  is shown, which could have similarities with steel spring  370 . Steel spring  470  is partly received in handle opening  425 . Accordingly, steel spring  470  can flex, thus being able to occupy positions such as positions  471 ,  472 . Positions  471 ,  472  are shown spaced widely, for clarity. In reality, while steel spring  470  might flex, it might not flex as widely as positions  471 ,  472  suggest. 
         [0045]    In some embodiments, handle  420  has at least one handle hole  426 . Where, as here, handle hole  426  encounters handle opening  425 , handle hole  426  may extend past handle opening  425  until it exits handle  420 . 
         [0046]    Steel spring  470  has at least one steel spring hole  476 . In addition, the hoe would further include a bolt  444 , inserted through handle hole  426  and steel spring hole  476 . Bolt  444  can be approximately ¼″ diameter. 
         [0047]    Moreover, a nut  445  can be screwed on to bolt  444 . After screwing, nut  445  can become more permanently attached to bolt  444 , for example by soldering. 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  shows only a single set of a handle hole  426 , steel spring hole  476 , bolt  444  and nut  445 , but that is only for clarity. In reality, two sets could be used, and so on. For example, steel spring  370  has two steel spring holes  376 , both of which would be inserted in a handle opening. 
         [0049]    A challenge is that, implementing handle opening  425  and handle hole  426  removes material from distal end  424 , to which stresses will be applied by steel spring  470  from the digging motion. To preserve the structural integrity of distal end  424  in the face of such stresses, embodiments of a hoe could further include a metal pipe section  450 . Pipe section  450  can surround at least a portion of distal end  424 . As such, pipe section  450  would also surround at least a portion of steel spring  470  that is received within handle opening  425 . 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 4 , pipe section  450  reaches, from the sides of handle  420 , up to steel spring  470 . Such is preferred but not necessary. 
         [0051]    Where bolts are used, pipe section  450  can accommodate. For example, it could have one or more pipe holes  456 , and bolt  444  can be inserted through one or more pipe holes  456  in addition to the other holes mentioned above. 
         [0052]    Pipe section  450  will necessarily have some thickness above and beyond the thickness of handle  420 . That may be not aesthetically nice, plus it may pose a slight hazard to the user. Accordingly, in some embodiments, pipe section  450  has the same diameter as handle  420  and is flush with it. For manufacture, a portion of distal end  424  can be beveled down before pipe section  450  is applied, as will be seen later in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 5  shows a blade  580 , which could be as blade  280 . Blade  580  has a working portion  582 , which could be as working portion  282 . Blade  580  also has an attachment portion  584 , which could be as attachment portion  284 . Attachment portion  584  has at least one, here two, attachment holes  586 , of which only one is indicated so as not to clutter the drawing. 
         [0054]    A side view of a steel spring  570  is shown, which could have similarities with steel springs  370  and  470 . Steel spring  570  has at least one, here two steel spring holes  577 , of which only one is indicated so as not to clutter the drawing. 
         [0055]    A hoe made as in  FIG. 5  also includes at least one bolt  544 ; in fact, there are two, of which only one is indicated. The indicated bolt  544  is inserted through attachment hole  586  and steel spring hole  577 . Moreover, a nut  545  can be screwed on to bolt  544 , similarly to what was described above. 
         [0056]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a coil spring  670 . In embodiments, coil spring  670  serves as connection member  270  of  FIG. 2 . An example is now described. 
         [0057]      FIG. 7  shows a portion of a handle  720 , which could be as handle  220 . Handle  720  has a distal end  724 , which could be as distal end  224 . 
         [0058]    A side view of a coil spring  770  is shown, which could have similarities with coil spring  670 . Coil spring  670  is attached to distal end  724  via a joint  777 , which can be made of steel. Accordingly, coil spring  770  can flex, to absorb shock. 
         [0059]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , a portion of distal end  724  actually internally extends within a portion of coil spring  770 . The dimensions are such that the desirable amount of flexing is permitted. This internal extending is not necessary to practice the invention, and joint  777  can alternately be located more to the right in other embodiments, than is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 7  shows a blade  780 , which could be as blade  280 . Blade  780  has a working portion  782 , which could be as working portion  282 . Blade  780  also has an attachment portion  784 , which is soldered to spring  770 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a hoe  800  made according to embodiments. An embodiment of a hoe based on hoe  800  can also be called an earth-gripping pull hoe. 
         [0062]    Hoe  800  includes a handle  820 , which could be as handle  220 . Handle  820  has a user end  822 , which can be configured to be grasped by a user, as user end  222 . Handle  820  also has a distal end  824 , which could be as distal end  224 . 
         [0063]    Hoe  800  also includes a blade  880 . Blade  880  has an attachment portion, which is not indicated separately. The attachment portion is coupled to distal end  824 , which can be implemented in many ways. For example, the attachment portion can be attached to distal end  824 . Or a connection member can be coupled between the distal end and the attachment portion, as described above, starting from  FIG. 2 . 
         [0064]    Blade  880  further has a working portion configured to contact the soil, and which is not indicated individually. The working portion includes at least a first section  881 , and a second section  883  that is at a gripping angle from first section  881 . The gripping angle occurs because, equivalently, sections  881  and  883  are at different angles with respect to a portion of hoe  800 , such as, for example handle  820 . 
         [0065]    The gripping angle can be implemented by starting with a single metal segment and bending it. The gripping angle can be defined from sides of the working portion that face handle  820 , which would be the inward side of the bending and therefore have a value of less than 180°. The outward side of the bending would therefore have a value larger than 180°. Of course, a value of 180° would correspond to no bending at all. 
         [0066]    The gripping angle can have the result that hoe  800  is not driven out of the earth, upon breaking up a clump of soil in front of the blade  880 . Rather, section  883  tends to remain dug in the soil, thanks to the gripping angle. For embodiments such as that of  FIG. 8A , the gripping angle can have a value of less than 170°. A good value is approximately 135°. 
         [0067]    Referring briefly to  FIG. 8B , the concept of the gripping angle is now explained in more detail. In the example of  FIGS. 8A and 8B , sections  881 ,  883  are large enough to include practically the entire working portion. Moreover, sections  881 ,  883  are substantially flat, and the entire transition from section  881  to section  883  takes place along a spine  888 , which can thus be a crease, or a fold in the single metal segment. In that case, section  881  lies along line  807  and section  883  lies along line  808 . Gripping angle  811  can be defined as shown, as the angle subtended between lines  807  and  808 , and from sides of the working portion that face handle  820 . 
         [0068]    In other embodiments, sections  881 ,  883  need not be large enough to include the entire working portion. They can be infinitesimally narrow, while the working portion is bent, and far from each other along the working portion. An example is now described. 
         [0069]      FIG. 8C  is a side view of salient aspects of a hoe  835  with a handle  839  and a working portion that is bent. A first section  841  is infinitesimally small, near handle  839 , and is on a plane, or has a tangent along line  847 . A second section  843  is infinitesimally small, near the end that digs, and is on a plane or has a tangent along line  848 . The transition from first section  841  to second section  843  takes place rather gradually. Gripping angle  851  is defined from lines  847 ,  848 , and from sides of the working portion that face handle  839 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an earth-gripping hoe  900 . Hoe  900  includes a handle  920 , which could be as handle  220 . Handle  920  has a user end  922 , which can be configured to be grasped by a user, as user end  222 . Handle  920  also has a distal end  924 , which could be as distal end  224 . 
         [0071]    Hoe  900  also includes a blade  980 . Blade  980  has an attachment portion, which is not indicated separately. The attachment portion can be coupled to distal end  924 . This coupling can be implemented in many ways. For example, the attachment portion can be attached to distal end  924 . Or a connection member can be coupled between the distal end and the attachment portion, as described above, starting from  FIG. 2 . 
         [0072]    Blade  980  also has a working portion that is configured to contact the soil, and which is not indicated separately so as to not clutter the drawing. The working portion has sections  981 ,  983 , which are joined at a spine  988 . 
         [0073]    The working portion also has a mouth  986  according to embodiments. For purposes of this description, a mouth is an opening in the working portion of a hoe&#39;s blade. A mouth can be made by a cutout in the working portion. Mouth  986  is bounded by a perimeter  985 , of which only two sides are indicated. 
         [0074]    Mouth  986  is configured to allow the soil to flow therethrough, according to a flow  999 , when blade  980  is in the soil and the user pulls handle  920 . Accordingly, mouth  986  reduces the resistance the user faces when using an earth-gripping hoe such as hoe  900 . 
         [0075]    In the particular case of  FIG. 9 , at least a portion of perimeter  985  is coextensive with spine  988 . This has the benefit of reducing resistance, given that section  983  can remain dug in the earth. It is not necessary however that a mouth be implemented that way, or even in only one of sections  981 ,  983 . In fact, a mouth can be implemented according to embodiments where a hoe is not earth-gripping. An example is now described. 
         [0076]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a hoe  1000  made according to embodiments. Hoe  1000  includes a handle  1020 , which could be as handle  220 . Handle  1020  has a user end  1022 , which can be configured to be grasped by a user, as user end  222 . Handle  1020  also has a distal end  1024 , which could be as distal end  224 . 
         [0077]    Hoe  1000  also includes a blade  1080 . Blade  1080  has an attachment portion, which is not indicated separately. The attachment portion can be coupled to distal end  1024 . Coupling can be implemented in many ways. For example, the attachment portion can be attached to distal end  1024 . Or a connection member can be coupled between the distal end and the attachment portion, as described above, starting from  FIG. 2 . 
         [0078]    Blade  1080  also has a working portion  1082 , which is configured to contact the soil. Working portion  1082  can be flat, or bent as described above. 
         [0079]    Working portion  1082  also has a mouth  1086 , which is bounded by a perimeter  1085 . Mouth  1086  is configured to allow the soil to flow therethrough, according to a flow  1099 , when blade  1080  is in the soil and the user pulls handle  1020  from user end  1022 . 
         [0080]    Working portion  1082  further has an optional tooth  1087 . Tooth  1087  can protrude such that the soil flowing through mouth  1086 , according to flow  1099 , is cut by tooth  1087 . Cutting would be from the top, given the position of the tooth. The tooth can also be in other positions. Cutting can condition the soil better. Optionally and preferably, tooth  1087  terminates at a sharp point, for cutting better the flow  1099  of flowing soil. Moreover, the working portion could include further one or more teeth, and so on. 
         [0081]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 10 , tooth  1087  is a feature of perimeter  1085  by which mouth  1086  is bounded. In such cases, the tooth can be implemented economically by proper design of the perimeter. In other embodiments, a tooth can be implemented by attaching a nail or equivalent structure next to the mouth. 
         [0082]    Features of a tooth are now described more rigorously, so as to prevent confusion. If a mouth were merely rectangular or circular, no feature would protrude towards the flow of soil, so as to cut it. A tooth, however, protrudes that way. 
         [0083]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 10  handle  1020  is oblong. In fact, it is often a rod. Handle  1020  defines a handle axis  1021  along its length. 
         [0084]      FIG. 11  shows a geometric plane  1121 . Plane  1121  is perpendicular to handle axis  1021  of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 11  shows projected perimeter  1185 , which results from projecting entire perimeter  1085  onto plane  1121 . From this projection, tooth feature  1087  becomes projected tooth feature  1187 . A point  1101  in tooth feature  1187  is a place where tooth feature  1087  has becomes projected. A test line  1107  has the attributes that it is within plane  1121 , and is tangent to projected perimeter  1185  at point  1101 . 
         [0085]    In some embodiments, a test line with the attributes of test line  1107  intersects projected perimeter  1185  at one more point  1111  where tooth feature  1087  is not projected. The specific attribute arises because projected tooth feature  1187  protrudes towards the center of projected perimeter  1185 . It will be appreciated that this would not happen if projected perimeter  1185  were circular or oval—in such cases a test line would leave the entire projected perimeter on its one or other side. A tangent is not defined where projected perimeter  1185  is a point. 
         [0086]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a section of an earth-gripping hoe  1200 , made according to embodiments. Hoe  1200  includes a handle  1220 , which could be as handle  220 . Handle  1220  has a user end  1222 , which is not shown. Handle  1220  also has a distal end  1224 , which could be as distal end  224 . 
         [0087]    Hoe  1200  includes a pipe section  1250 , which could be as pipe section  450 . A portion of distal end  1224  has been beveled down, so that the outer surface of pipe section  1250  is flush with handle  1220 . 
         [0088]    Hoe  1200  also includes a steel spring  1270 , which can be made as described above, with reference to steel spring  370 . Steel spring  1270  can be inserted in a handle opening of handle  1220  that is under pipe section  1250  and not visible, but similar to what was described above with reference to  FIG. 4 . Steel spring  1270  is retained attached to handle  1220  via bolts  1244  that go through pipe section  1250 . 
         [0089]    Hoe  1200  further includes a blade  1280 . It will be appreciated that blade  1280  can be made from a single sheet of steel, properly bent and cut. 
         [0090]    Blade  1280  has an attachment portion  1284 . Attachment portion  1284  is attached to steel spring  1270  via additional bolts  1244 . 
         [0091]    Blade  1280  also has a working portion, which is not indicated separately. The working portion includes a first section  1281 , and a second section  1283  that is at a gripping angle from first section  1281 . The entire transition from first section  1281  to second section  1283  takes place along a spine  1288 . The working portion also has a mouth  1286 , which is bounded by a perimeter  1285 . The working portion further has a tooth  1287  within mouth  1286 . 
         [0092]    This description includes one or more examples, but that does not limit how the invention may be practiced. Indeed, examples or embodiments of the invention may be practiced according to what is described, or yet differently, and also in conjunction with other present or future technologies. 
         [0093]    Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms parts of the common general knowledge in any country. 
         [0094]    A person skilled in the art will be able to practice the present invention in view of this description, which is to be taken as a whole. Details have been included to provide a thorough understanding. In other instances, well-known aspects have not been described, in order to not obscure unnecessarily the present invention. 
         [0095]    Other embodiments include combinations and sub-combinations of features described herein, including for example, embodiments that are equivalent to: providing or applying a feature in a different order than in a described embodiment; extracting an individual feature from one embodiment and inserting such feature into another embodiment; removing one or more features from an embodiment; or both removing a feature from an embodiment and adding a feature extracted from another embodiment, while providing the advantages of the features incorporated in such combinations and sub-combinations. 
         [0096]    The following claims define certain combinations and subcombinations of elements, features and steps or operations, which are regarded as novel and non-obvious. Additional claims for other such combinations and subcombinations may be presented in this or a related document.