Year: 1886

page_text: I JOSEPH LEE of Vale House Hampstead Heath, London in the County of
Middlesex Artist do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 has for its object improvements in spades and shovels or spades
which I am able to make very expeditiously and strong with a minimum quantity
of metal and labour.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which is
illustrated a shovel or spade made according to my invention with modifications of
the same.
Figure 1. illustrates a plate W of metal through which an oblong or other hole S
has been punched which ultimately becomes the aperture through which the
handle E of the shovel or spade passes.
Figure 2. illustrates the same plate after passing through a stamp or die which
forms or form the hole S more fully and also the recesses T and U which ultimately
compose a socket for the handle E. In the same stamp I may also form the
heads or bends X and Y which afterwards constitute a most effective tread for
the shoe.
Figure 3 shows the plate W bent round upon the parts X and Y when the two
thicknesses w and w³ are secured together by the rivets w³ after which the
handle E is driven in its position.
Figure 5 is a front view of a similar shovel or spade made with a front plate A
and a separate back plate B as will be hereafter more fully explained.
Figure 4. is a back view of Figure 5.
Figures 6. and 7 are part front elevation and part side elevation of a modification
of Figures 1. 2. and 3.
Figure 8 shows a special means of fastening the handle E in its position without
the help of a screw, nail or rivet, i.e. by means of one or more depressions or
corrugations H which may be used in either of the foregoing modifications.
Referring now to Figure 4. it will be seen that a metallic bent strap B of steel or
wrought iron or it may be of cast metal is rivetted on the back of the blade A or it
may be put on the front if so desired though I prefer the back because of the better

page_text: apperance and the cleaner working of the spade. This strip B I fasten on with
two or more rivets c and c¹ according to the width of the strip. It will thus be
seen that part of the socket for the handle E is formed in the blade A and part in
the strip B. When the handle E is driven into its position it may be secured
against withdrawal by the rivet or nail for I may secure it by a depression or
depressions H in the strip whether it be a part or not of the front plate A or W as
seen at Figure 8 and the depressions may be inade either before the handle is put
in or afterwards according to circumstances.
In some cases I cary the strip B higher and turn it over the top edge of A as
shown at K Figures 6. and 7 which forms a similar tread to that shown by Figure 3.
The same result may of course be obtained by turning the blade A over the edge
of the strap B and in either case the plates are locked together at the upper part
and the rivets have only to keep the lower edge of B secured against the blade A.
In this case also I may use more than two rivets if necessary or so desired. I prefer
the one plate as shown by the three first figures because the bends X and Y when
properly formed are stronger than locking and the corners w* and w³ may be cut
off to any angle such as that shown by the dotted lines w and w7. These blarles
in one piece may be made from either wrought iron or soft steel or other suitable
metal. Generally speaking I find it best to make the major portion of the socket
for the handle E in the back portion of the metal and as small a portion as possible
in the front part though I do not confine myself to this.
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
1st The improvements in spades or shovels worked from a single plate so as to
form the socket blade and improved tread all in one piece substantially as herein
set forth.
2nd The improvements in spades or shovels made from two plates substantially
as herein set forth and illustrated by Figures 4 and 5.
3rd The improvements in shovels made from two plates either of which is turned
over to form the improved tread substantially as herein set forth and illustrated by
Figures 6 and 7.