RAWINGS
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1891-Accepted, 7th mar, root
arket gan
onstruction, and combination of parts, all as herematter
orth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of my improved implement.
Figure 2 is an underside view of the removable and adjustable foot pressure bar,
orming a part thereof.
Referring by letter. to the drawings, A. represents the handle, and B the blade,
which latter is relatively narrow, as compared with ordinary spades or shovels, and
provided with an upwardly-curved cutting-edge F and a concave face G, the
The projecting foot-rest or pressure
handle A. being attached in the usual manner.
bar C is formed of a separate piece of metal from the blade of the shovel and is
adjustable in respect thereto, and can be maintained in a fixed relation to either
side of the blade, as may be desired.
In the adjustable foot-rest, Figs. 1 and 2, E is an angular opening corresponding
with and fitting around a head El integral with the blade, and D is a slot or recess,
extending on each side of the opening E, corresponding with and admitting the
upper end of the blade D', the upper end of the blade of course being practically
straight to conform to the shape of the slot and permit the foot-rest to be reversed
and secured in position by admitting the upper edge of the blade into the slot, as
will be understood from inspection of the drawings. This foot-rest may be raised
off from the head E', up onto the round handle A, and changed to the opposite side
to accommodate a person using one foot more readily than the other, or for the
purpose of resting either foot. It may be cast from malleable iron, and when one
becomes broken it can easily be removed and a new one substituted.
It is a well known fact that the roots of the dandelion and yellow dock run deeply
into the ground, and it is necessary to remove the whole of the root to prevent the
growth of the plant. I provide an implement whereby a person standing erect
can with foot-pressure easily remove noxious weeds of this description without
materially disfiguring a lawn or bed.
My improvement is also invaluable for transplanting purposes, and can be used
in the same manner as described above. The curved cutting-edge F is of advantage
in cutting roots, as it prevents the implement from slipping off from the root, and
0 the concave face ( serves to retain the earth around the root in transplanting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
11
1. A shovel provided with a narrow blade, and a foot-pressure bar having a
15 socket surrounding the handle and projecting laterally beyond the blade, so as to
form a wide pressure-surface for the foot, said bar having a recess on its under side
to lock on the edge and corner of the blade.

page_text: 2. The combination, with a handle, of a narrow spade-like blade having a con-
cave face and an upwardly-curved cutting-edge, and a foot-pressure bar having an
angular opening corresponding with and fitting around a head at the upper end of
the blade and removable therefrom.
Dated this 10th day of December 1890.