An Improvement or Improvements in the Handles of Spades and Shovels, Draining Tools, and Agricultural Forks.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 3rd Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th Mar., 1887..
An Improvement or Improvements in the Handles of Spades
and Shovels, Draining Tools, and Agricultural Forks.
I DAVID YARDLEY of Stamber Mills Stourbridge in the County of Worcester
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My invention consist of the improvement or improvements herein after described in
strengthening the wooden handles of socket spades and shovels draining tools and
agricultural forks. The wooden handles of spades and like articles usually fracture
when great strain is put upon them at or immediately above the top of the socket of
the spade or like article. By my invention the wooden handle is so strengthened that
the breaking of the handle at the part referred to is effectually prevented.
For the purpose of strengthening the wooden handle I apply and fix to the front
and back of the same straps or plates of sheet iron or steel the said front and back
straps extending from about the middle of the tapering or socket part of the handle to
about eight inches above the said tapering part but I do not limit myself to the length
of the said strengthening straps. Each strap or plate has a shoulder for fitting upon
the shoulder at the reduced socket part and the handle proper and the said strap or
plate has the same configuration as that portion of the handle to which it is to be
applied so that when fixed in its place it lies close upon and fits the said handle.
The strengthening straps are riveted in their places by cross rivets. The socket part
of the handle and a portion above the socket part are thus covered and strengthened
at front and back by metal straps leaving the sides of the handle through which the
fastenings are passed for fixing the handle to the socket of the blade or tool uncovered.
By the front and back of the handle is meant those parts which when the handle is
fixed to the blade or tool are situated in planes parallel or nearly parallel to the said
blade or tool. I fasten the wooden handle so strengthened to the metal socket of the
blade or tool by cross rivets passed through the socket and through the uncovered
sides of the wooden handle or I fasten the handle in the socket by means of screws
cross pins or other fastenings which can be removed and replaced. When removable
fastenings are used the handle can be disconnected from the blade or tool and con-
nected to a fresh blade or tool by an unskilled workman so that the handles can be
used again with fresh blades or tools or old handles be replaced by fresh ones.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improvement or Improvements in the Handles of Spades
and Shovels, Draining Tools, and Agricultural Forks.
I DAVID YARDLEY of Stamber Mills Stourbridge in the County of Worcester
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention consists of the improvement or improvements hereinafter described
in strengthening the wooden handles of socket spades and shovels, draining tools and
agricultural forks.
The wooden handles of spades and like articles usually fracture when great strain is
put upon them at or immediately above the top of the socket of the spade or like
article. By my invention the wooden handle is so strengthened that the breaking of
the handle at the part referred to is effectually prevented.
For the purpose of strengthening the wooden handle I apply and fix to the front
and back of the same, straps or plates of sheet iron or steel the said front and back
straps extending from about the middle of the tapering or socket part of the handle to
about eight inches above the said tapering part; but I do not limit myself to the
length of the said strengthening straps. Each strap or plate has a shoulder for
fitting upon the shoulder at the reduced socket part and the handle proper and the
said strap or plate has the same configuration as that portion of the handle to which it
is to be applied so that when fixed in its place it lies close upon and fits the said
handle. The strengthening straps are riveted in their places by cross rivets. The
socket part of the handle and a portion above the socket part are thus covered and
strengthened at front and back by metal straps leaving the sides of the handle through
which the fastenings are passed for fixing the handle to the socket of the blade or tool
uncovered. By the front and back of the handle is meant those parts which when the
handle is fixed to the blade or tool are situated in planes parallel or nearly parallel to
the said blade or tool.
Figures 1 and 2 represent elevations taken at right angles to one another of the
wooden handle of a socket spade or shovel strengthened according to my invention
and Figure 3 represents the same view as Figure 2 with the strengthening straps or
plates in section; Figure 4 represents one of the strengthening straps or plates
detached Figure 5 represents in elevation partly in section the strengthened handle
applied to a socket shovel and Figure 6 represents a strengthened handle applied to a
socket spade.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the
drawing.
a,
bis the ordinary wooden handle a being the handle proper and 6 the tapering
and reduced socket part for fitting into the socket of the spade or shovel or other
tool is the shoulder between or joining the two parts a, b of the handle; e e are

page_text: the front and back strengthening straps or plates made of sheet iron or steel the said
strengthening straps or plates e, e being fixed to the front and back of the wooden
handle ab by the rivets at . The said straps or plates e, e have nearly a semi-
circular figure in cross section (see the separate view Figure 4) and the said straps
are provided with shoulders at e², e for fitting upon the shoulders c of the handle.
When the said strengthening straps or plates are fitted in their places at the front
and back of the wooden handle they lie close upon the said handle as seen in the
section Figure 3, portions of the wooden handles on opposite sides, as shown at gg,
being left uncovered. Through the uncovered sides at g, g at the socket part of the
handle the cross rivet is passed for fastening the said socket part of the handle in
the socket h of the spade or shovel as represented in Figures 5 and 6 where the cross
rivet passing through the uncovered sides of the wooden handle is marked i. Instead
of a single cross rivet two may be used if necessary. It will be seen by an examination
of the drawing that the back and front straps or plates e e extend from about the
middle of the socket part 6 of the handle to about the middle of the other part a of the
handle but the length of the said strengthening straps or plates may be varied.
When the wooden handle has been fitted in the socket h of the spade or shovel as
represented in Figures 5 and 6 those parts of the strengthening straps or plates e, e
on the part a of the handle are situated above the socket h and hence the handle is so
strengthened at the part where it is most liable to fracture that the breaking of the
handle immediately above the top of the socket is prevented.
Instead of fastening the wooden handle so strengthened to the metal socket of
the blade or tool by cross rivets passed through the socket and through the uncovered
sides of the wooden handle as herein before described and represented the said handle
may be fastened in the socket by means of screws, cross pins or other fastenings
which can be removed and replaced. When removable fastenings are used the handle
can be disconnected from the blade or tool and connected to a fresh blade or tool by
an unskilled workman so that the handles can be used again with fresh blades or tools
or old handles be replaced by fresh ones.
In applying my invention to the wooden handles of draining tools and agricultural
forks I construct and apply the parts substantially as herein before described and
represented with respect to the handles of spades and shovels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and
the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is ;-
Strengthening the handles of socket spades and shovels, draining tools and
agricultural forks by applying and fixing to the front and back of the handle
shouldered straps or plates of sheet iron or steel substantially as described and
illustrated, the strengthening straps or plates having the same configuration as and
lying close upon those parts of the handle to which they are applied, the handle so
strengthened being fixed in the socket either by ordinary cross rivets or by removable
fastenings substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing.
DAVID YARDLEY.