Year: 1897

page_text: I, CHARLES ARTHUR PORT, of 31, Moray Place, Dunedin, in the Colony of New
Zealand, Miner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce a spade, shovel or the like, that while
being capable for use in most ordinary work, will allow any clayey, moist or
wet substance to leave the surface easily without sticking to same
as is now
often the case, resulting in much discomfort and also in much misuse of the
implement from striking its edge against hard substances to free the blade from
clinging matter.
This is accomplished by forming a number of holes or slots in the blade of
the spade or shovel; if slots, they may run in any direction on the blade or be
formed to an ornamental pattern if desired.
It is found, that these perforations allow air to get to a number of places at
once under the material and between it and the blade, and this want of air is the
chief cause of clinging in many cases.
It is obvious that this improvement can be made to any existing make of spades
or shovels, but where great strength was required it would preferably be made in
new ones, as the weakening of the blades by the slots or holes would be com-
pensated for by an increase in the thickness of the blades, and when desired the
cross section between the slots may be of flat-oval section for greater rigidity and
that without any increase in weight and sometimes even with a slight decrease
in same.
Another advantage would sometimes be that the spade or shovel could be
used when working in wet places or under water, to drain the superfluous moisture
off and it could also be used as a sieve when wanted for small quantities as sifting
stones in doing up garden beds or in some of the operations of mining and the
like.
I am aware that fire brasses and the more ornamental descriptions of fire shovels
are often perforated, but these are merely for ornament, the perforations being
generally on the more ornamental varieties, and not for the uses or purposes
herein set forth, as they are omitted in those for hard usage.
Any required number, shape or sizes of holes may be formed in my invention
and the implements may be of any suitable sizes forms or materials.

page_text: Improvements in Spades and Shovels.
I, CHARLES ARTHUR PORT, of 31, Moray Place, Dunedin, in the Colony of New
Zealand, Miner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
_
The object of this invention is to produce a spade, shovel or the like, so that
while being capable of use in most ordinary work, will allow any clayey, moist or
wet substance to leave the surface of the blade easily and without sticking to
same as is now often the case, resulting in much discomfort and also in much
misuse of the implement from striking its edge against hard substances to free the
blade from the clinging matter.
This is accomplished by forming a number of holes or slots in the blade of
the spade or shovel; if slots, they may run in any direction on the blade or be
formed into an ornamental pattern if desired.
It is found that these perforations allow air to get into a number of places at
once under the material and between it and the blade, and that the want of air is
one of the chief causes of the clinging in many cases.
It is obvious that this improvement can be made in any existing make of
spades or shovels, but where great strength is required it would preferably be
made in new ones, as the weakening of the blades by forming the slots or holes
would then be compensated by an increase in the thickness of the blades, and
when desired the cross section between the slots may be flat-oval section, for
greater rigidity and that without increase in the weight and sometimes even
with a slight decrease in the weight as compared with the usual existing spade or
shovel.
Another advantage would sometimes be that the spade or shovel could be some-
times be used when working in wet places or under water, to drain off the surplus
water or moisture, and also for occasional use as a means of sifting stones as in
gardening or in some of the operations in mining or the like.
Referring to the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1, is a blade of a spade or shovel of any make.
Fig. 2, is a cross section of same.
A, is any suitable spade or shovel blade.
B, are long slots preferably smaller at the lower end, cut or formed in the
blade.
C, is a parallel slot, D, is a short slot so as not to weaken the blade as much
as a long one would, where strength is required. E. are holes for the same
purpose, and it is obvious that the exact shape, size or position of the holes or
slots is not essential in this invention.
I am aware that fire brasses and some descriptions of fire shovels are perforated,
but merely for ornament, the perforations being generally in ornamental varieties 4
and not for the uses or purposes herein set forth, as they are generally omitted
in those for hard work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner the same is to be performed declare that what
I claim is:-
In any description of spade or shovel the combination of the blade (such as A,)
with a number of slots or hales (such as R
L
4

page_text: purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
CHARLES A. PORT.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.