A NEW AND IMPROVED CON- . STRUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT TO BE EMPLOYED FOR CUTTING, TRIMMING, AND FINISHING THE EDGES AND BORDERS OF GARDEN BEDS AND LAWNS. AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR AND LIKE PURPOSES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 232, Oxford Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Merchant, for an Invention of A NEW AND IMPROVED CON- .
STRUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT TO BE EMPLOYED FOR CUTTING,
TRIMMING, AND FINISHING THE EDGES AND BORDERS OF GARDEN BEDS AND
LAWNS. AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR AND LIKE PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1880.
WILLIAM CLARK, of 232, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, Merchant.
"A NEW AND IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT TO BE
EMPLOYED FOR CUTTING, TRIMMING, AND FINISHING THE EDGES AND BORDERS
OF GARDEN BEDS AND LAWNS, AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR AND LIKE PURPOSES."
The object of this Invention is providing a novel and useful hand implement
which will, with facility, cut and trim the turf and grass edges and borders of
garden beds and lawns; or cut, trim, and clear the edges and passages of channels,
gutters, or other thoroughfares bordered by turf, soil, and grass; or for trenching out
furrows, gutters, and other similar passages or thoroughfares and edgings in private
or public grounds.
In carrying out my Invention I proceed as follows :-
At the end of a handle similar to that of a pitch-fork or hay-rake I fix an
arrangement of cutter plates so constructed that they form between them horizontal
and vertical or diagonal knives; the horizontal knife also forms a base-plate, and
the vertical or diagonal knife (which is attached to and placed at one side of the
horizontal knife) a cutter plate, the cutting edge of which is of a peculiar curved
formation.
The two combined fixed plutes or knives as they are forced along take hold of the
turf and grass in such a manner that the edges or sides of the garden bed or other
similar edging of whatever description along which they are pushed is evenly and

page_text: cleanly cut so as to present a neat and finished trim or border; the cuttings or
refuse as it is cut during the process of trimming as described is thrown off by an
angle or guide plate for subsequent collection.
When it is desired to use the implement for cleaning or trenching out gutters,
channels, or thoroughfares in gardens, fields, private or public grounds, or elsewhere,
I prefer to provide the base or lower cutter plate with one or more side plate
cutters if required, which, as the implement is forced along trench and clear out
the accumulated over-growth and refuse so as to give a clear passage and clean
trim to the bottom and edges of the channel.
The implement can also be used with advantage as a "furrower" for turning up
or preparing the ground for receiving seed, and also weeding overgrowth from
garden beds, and also for cutting out the turf and grass edgings of ornamental
flower beds or paths in private or public grounds.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th May
1881.
WILLIAM CLARK, of 232, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex. "A NEW
CONSTRUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT TO BE EMPLOYED FOR CUTTING;
TRIMMING, AND FINISHING THE EDGES AND BORDERS OF GARDEN BEDS AND
LAWNS, AND FOR OTHER Useful and LIKE PURPOSES."
The object of this Invention is providing a novel and useful hand implement
which will with facility cut and trim the grass and turf edges and borders of
garden beds or lawns; or cut, trim, and clear the edges and passages of
channels, gutters, or other thoroughfares bordered by turf, soil, and grass; or trench
out furrows, gutters, or other similar passages, and also cut and trim the edging.
and borders in privato or public grounds.
In carrying out my Invention I proceed as follows:-
At the end of a handle, similar to that of a pitch fork or spade, I fix an arrange-
ment of cutter plates, so constructed and disposed that they form horizontal and
vertical knives or cutters; the horizontal knife forms also a base plate, and the
vertical knife, which is attached to and placed at right angles to and on one
side of the horizontal knife forms a cutter, which has a peculiar curved formation.
These cutters, when forced along the border of a lawn or garden bed, by means
of their handle or handles, take hold of the turf and grass in such a manner that
tho edging or borders of such garden beds or lawns along which such cutters are
pushed will be evenly and cleanly cut so as to present to the eye a neat and
finished trim; the refuse or cuttings during the process of trimming, as described,
are thrown off by an angle or guide plate.
In order that the Invention may be well understood and explained in detail I
have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings, upon which letters of reference are
marked on corresponding parts on all the Fios alike
Figure 1 represents the implement in elevation.
Figure 2 represents the implement in the position it would assume when at
work whilst being forced along the edge or border of a garden bed or lawn; and
Figure 3 represents the implement in a reversed position as employed when
cutting or scribing out garden beds, or as when being used for other similar
ornamental work.
In these Figures a is the cutting portion of the implement which is secured to
one or more handles b. The implement consists of a vertical knife c, a 'horizontal
knife d (which forms a base plate supporting the implement when at work) and a
guide or angle plato c.
The cutting edge of the knife c has a curved formation; this knife c is fixed to
the horizontal knife d, the two knives being so arranged that when they are forced
along and against the edge or borders of a garden bed or lawn they will take hold
of and cut the turf and grass in such a manner that the edging and ground so
acted upon will be evenly and cleanly cut so as to present a neat and finished
trim
The cuttings and refuse thrown off by the guide plate e during the time the
cutters are at work is subsequently gathered by the back of the knife d into the
box f
When the implement is used for cleaning and trenching out gutters, water
courses, and the like, the knives are first forced along the bottom and one edge of
the channel, and then along the other edge, the action of which clears out the
:

page_text: accumulated overgrowth, and leaves a clean passage or gutter, the back part of the
implement being used to clear away the rubbish.
The implement is intended to be used by hand when employed simply for
cutting and trimming the edges. and borders of garden beds or lawns, but when
required for heavier work, such as ploughing, extra power can be employed as an
auxillary means for forcing the cutters through the soil by attaching to the ring g
or its equivalent a rope, cord, cbain, or shaft, which offers a medium for pulling the
implement along; and in order to render the implement effective for turning up
furrows in garden plots I duplicate the horizontal cutter and guides, as scen at
Fig. 4, and in some cases I reverse the vertical cutter c, turning its curved point
downwards, as seen at Fig. 5; and in order to case the drag or friction of the cutters
when at work the rear of the horizontal cutter plate d may be provided with
rollers.
Having now described the manner in which I carry my Invention into practical
operation, I would have it understood in conclusion that what I claim as new and
as of my Invention is,―
The general construction, combination, and arrangement of the cutters o and d
and guide plate e, or any modification thereof when used as an agricultural
implement, in the manner and for the purpose as herein substantially described,
set forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixteenth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and eighty
one
W. CLARK. (L.S.)