Patent ID: 7644569

Claim:
A hand tool comprising: a handle; a tool head connected to the handle; a plurality of tine members, each tine member having a lower section attached to the tool head and a working section extending outwardly from the tool head, the lower section of each tine member comprising first and second lateral surfaces with longitudinal lengths, a back edge surface with a transverse length extending between the lateral surfaces, and first and second vertical surfaces, the first vertical surface extending between the first lateral surface and the back edge surface, and the second vertical surface extending between the back edge surface and the second lateral surface; and means to permanently secure the tines to the tool head, said means comprising a continuous line of weld located between the lower section of each tine member and the tool head, the line of weld extending continuously along the full longitudinal length of the first lateral surface, along the full length of the first vertical surface, along the full transverse length of the back edge surface, along the full length of the second vertical surface, and partially over a section of the second lateral surface, said section ranging from substantially halfway not to exceed a distance of three quarters of the longitudinal length of the second lateral surface, whereby the means to permanently secure the tines to the tool head establishes an elongated, diagonal fracture line across each tine.