An Improved Device for Use as an Horticultural Implement or Toy.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 28th Apr.,
1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Use as an Horticultural Implement or Toy.
We, WILLIAM OSWALD ROWBOTHAM, of Besthorpe, in the County of Notting-
ham, Gentleman, ALFRED TILL, of North Scarle, in the County of Lincoln,
Builder, and FREDERICK WILLIAM ROBERTSON, of Girton, in the County of
Nottingham, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The invention relates to an improved device, which may be used as an horti-
cultural implement for making holes when planting out, or filling pots with
loam or the like, or when used as a toy for boring in the sand, or making sand
or mud pies.
According to our invention the device is comprised of a shaft of a suitable
length, provided at the upper end with a suitable handle.
At the lower end of this shaft is secured an inverted cup shaped receptacle,
formed preferably of metal its closed upper end being preferably provided with a
socket to receive the lower end of the shaft, and thus provide a convenient means
of attaching the two together.
In plan the receptacle is preferably circular, whilst in elevation it is preferably
slightly conical, the upper closed end being of a less diameter than the lower open
end. The latter is provided with a sharp cutting edge, or a saw edge, so that it
may be easily forced into the earth or sand.
When forced into the earth, sand, or the like, the inverted receptacle is filled
with a core, which it retains when the receptacle is withdrawn, thus leaving a clear
hole in which a plant may be readily set.
The core is ejected from the receptacle by a plunger arranged in its interior.
This plunger is preferably secured to and operated by means of a rod, which may
be carried a suitable distance up the shaft, which latter is made hollow for this
purpose.
At the requisite point a slot may be formed in the side of the shaft, and the
upper end of the plunger rod bent so as to project through this slot, and form a
handle to operate the plunger with. Or if preferred the rod may pass through
the whole length of the shaft, and be provided with a handle or button at the top.
When used for filling tree-pots or the like, provisions may be made for adjust-
ing the position of the plunger, so that the implements will only take up the
exact amount of earth required.
The shape of the receptacle may also be modified, so that cores of any required
shape may be obtained, one side of its cutting edge may also if preferred be
made approximately in the form of a garden trowel, and may then be used
in a similar manner when requisite.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1899
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: An Improved Device for Use as an Horticultural Implement or Toy.
1.
We, WILLIAM OSWALD ROWBOTHAM, of Besthorpe, in the County of Notting-
ham. Gentleman, ALFRED TILL; of North Scarle in the County of Lincoln,
Builder, and FREDERICK WILLIAM ROBERTSON, of Girton, in the County of
Nottingham, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The invention relates to an improved device, which may be used as an horti-
cultural implement for making holes when planting out, or filling pots with
loam or the like, or be used as a toy for boring in the sand, or making, sand
or mud pies.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation, and
Fig. 2 a vertical section of our improved device.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
According to our invention the device is comprised of a shaft A of suitable
length, provided at its upper end with a handle B.
At the lower end of this shaft is an inverted cup or bell shaped receptacle C,
formed preferably of metal. This receptacle is secured to the shaft A, by means
of a socket 1) which is adapted to receive the end of the shaft, said socket being
secured to the closed upper end of the receptacle.
In plan the receptacle C is preferably circular, whilst in elevation it is slightly
conical, the closed upper end being of a less diameter than the lower open end
as shown. The lower open end of the receptacle C is provided with a sharp
cutting edge C¹ as shown, or a saw toothed edge, so that it may be easily forced
into the earth or sand by rotating the device.
When forced into earth, sand, or the like, the receptacle C is filled with a
core, which it retains when it is withdrawn, thus leaving a clear hole in which a
plan may be readily set.
The core is ejected in its entirety from the receptacle C, by a plunger or ejector
plate E, placed in the interior of the former. This ejector plate E is preferably
secured to and operated by a rod F, which may be carried axially up the shaft A,
which latter is provided with an axial hole to receive it.
The rod may be carried the whole length of, and out at the top of the shaft A
as shown, its upper end being preferably provided with a knob or button F1,
by means of which, the rod and the ejector plate E connected thereto, may be
raised or lowered. Or the rod may be carried through a lateral opening or
slot, formed at any point in the length of the shaft, and its outer end be either
bent to form, or be attached to a knob or handle.
In some cases the rod F may be carried up the side of the shaft A, or in a groove
formed in its surface, the ejector plate E may also be formed by bending the
end of the rod F into a flat coil.
When used for filling tree-pots or the like, provisions may be made for
adjusting the position of the ejector plate E, within the receptacle C, so that the
latter will only take up the exact amount of earth required.
The shape of the receptacle C may also be modified so that cores of any
required shape may be obtained; one side of its cutting edge may also in some
cases be provided with an extension of approximately the form of a garden
trowel, and may then be used in a similar manner when required.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is-
1. An improved device for use as a horticultural implement or toy comprised
essentially of an inverted receptacle such as C having a cutting edge C¹ a
handle or shaft such as A and an ejector such as E substantially as described.
2. An improved device for use as a horticultural implement or toy comprised
essentially of an inverted receptacle such as C having a cutting edge C¹ a handle
or shaft such as A an ejector plate such as E mounted on a rod E¹ carried up 'the
shaft A substantially as described.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete device
for use as a horticultural implement or toy substantially as described and illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 26th day of March 1900.
WILLIAM OSWALD ROWBOTHAM. .
ALFRED TILL.
FREDERICK WILLIAM ROBERTSON.
Boult, Wade & Kilburn,
Agents for the Applicants.
WILLIAM OSWALD ROWBOTHAM.
ALFRED TILL.
FREDERICK WILLIAM ROBERTSON.
Boult, Wade & Kilburn,
Agents for the Applicants.