AU2013207665B2

AU2013207665B2 - Lever spear

Info

Publication number: AU2013207665B2
Application number: AU2013207665A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Noel Gessner; Peter Nicol
Original assignee: PRONG Co Pty Ltd
Current assignee: PRONG Co Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-07-25
Filing date: 2013-07-22
Publication date: 2017-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-22
Also published as: AU2013207665A1

Description

- 1 - 2013207665 22 Μ 2013

LEVER SPEAR

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tool for digging and removing rocks and 5 plant roots from the ground. The invention is not limited to this application but the invention is described with reference to this application in the body of the specification by way of example.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0 Plant roots and rocks are generally removed from the ground by digging them out with a shovel, pick axe or crow bar. Often several different tools will be required to dig the ground and lever the plant root or rock from the ground. The actions of digging and levering often require a great deal of strength and can cause a person back strain where they must manipulate the tool to effect leverage of the unwanted 5 rock, plant root or like object.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternate tool that overcomes at least in part one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages. 20

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a lever spear including: a shaft portion having a bend adjacent a first end wherein the bend forms an obtuse angle; 25 a head portion attached to or integral with the first end of the shaft portion; -2- 2013207665 22M2013 said head portion having a leading edge that is distal from the first end; and a support portion attached or integral with the shaft portion and positioned adjacent the bend and on the other side of the bend to the head portion, the support portion extends laterally from the shaft portion. 5 Preferably the bend in the shaft is between 145 and 175 degrees to provide an optimum angle for the head portion to enter the ground. More preferably the bend is between 150 and 160 degrees. Most preferably the bend is substantially 156 degrees.

Preferably the support portion is integral with the shaft portion. More 0 preferably the support is welded to the shaft portion.

Preferably the support portion is shaped and positioned such that it can act both as a foot rest to allow the user to apply pressure with a foot, and a fulcrum to lever an object out of the ground.

Preferably the support portion is adapted to provide grip when used as a foot 5 rest. Preferably the support portion has a textured finish on an upper surface to provide grip for a foot. Preferably the textured finish is a corrugated surface.

Preferably the support portion has a triangular shape.

Preferably the head portion has a tongue portion and a blade portion. Preferably the tongue portion is located inside the shaft portion. Preferably the 20 tongue portion is fixed to the head portion by welding. Preferably the blade is substantially wedge shaped narrowing to the leading edge.

Preferably the leading edge of the blade has a “v” shaped notch or groove for assisting gripping of the plant root, rock or other unwanted object.

In one embodiment of the lever spear, the shaft portion is a long shaft. The 25 long shaft provides good leverage and reduces stress on the user’s back. -3- 2013207665 22M2013

When the lever spear has a long shaft, preferably the lever spear is between 1500 mm and 1600 mm in length. Preferably the long shaft is fitted with a cap at a second end of the shaft portion.

In a further embodiment of the lever spear the shaft portion is a short shaft. 5 When the lever spear has a short shaft, the lever spear is preferably between 1000 mm and 1100 mm in length. When the lever spear has a short shaft, a second end of the shaft portion preferably includes a handle to facilitate its use. Preferably the handle is a “T” handle or a “D” handle. More preferably the handle is a “D” handle.

The lever spear may be made of metal. Preferably the lever spear is made of 0 steel. Preferably the shaft portion is made from hollow high tensile steel tubing. Preferably the steel tubing is substantially cylindrical in cross section.

In a further aspect the present invention broadly resides in a lever spear including: a shaft portion having a bend adjacent a first end; 5 a head portion attached to or integral with the first end of the shaft portion, said head portion having a leading edge that is distal from the first end; wherein the bend in the shaft portion assists the head portion in entering the ground at an optimum angle; and a support portion attached or integral with the shaft portion and positioned 20 adjacent the bend and on the other side of the bend to the head portion wherein said support portion is configured to act both as a foot rest for the user to apply pressure and a fulcrum to lever an object out of the ground.

The features described with respect to the first aspect can be applied to the second aspect of the invention. -4- 2013207665 22 Μ 2013

The lever spear may be used to remove plant roots and rocks from the ground, but its use is not so limited.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 5 In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a long shaft lever spear according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 0 Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of a long shaft lever spear according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a long shaft lever spear according to a first embodiment of the present invention shown in position in the ground;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic top view of a long shaft lever spear according to a 5 first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is an expanded diagrammatic view of a blade of a long shaft lever spear according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a short shaft lever spear according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 20 Figure 7 is a diagrammatic side view of a short shaft lever spear according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic side view of a short shaft lever spear according to a second embodiment of the present invention shown in position in the ground;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic top view of a short shaft lever spear according to a 25 second embodiment of the present invention; and -5 - 2013207665 22 Μ 2013

Figure 10 is an expanded diagrammatic view of the blade of a short shaft lever spear according to a second embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 5 With reference to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a first embodiment of a lever spear 10. The lever spear 10 has a long shaft 11 and a head 13. The long shaft 11 gives the lever spear 10 a length of 1500 mm to 1600 mm. This length provides good leverage and reduces stress on the user’s back.

The long shaft 11 is made from a substantially cylindrical tube of high tensile 0 steel to afford durability and strength. The long shaft 11 has a cap 18 at the opposite end from the head 13. It has a bend 12 adjacent the head 13. The head 13 has a wedge shaped blade 14 and a tongue 19. The tongue 19 fits inside the long shaft 11 as shown in Figure 2. The tongue 19 is welded to the shaft 11. The bend 12 forms an obtuse angle in the long shaft 11 of between 145 and 175 degrees. Preferably 5 the bend is substantially 156 degrees. This angle ensures that the head 13 enters the ground at an optimum angle when the lever spear is used in digging as shown in Figure 3. If the bend angle is less than 145 degrees the head 13 is prone to skidding on the surface of the ground. With reference to Figure 5, the head 13 is shown with a blade 14 to break the ground and cut through roots. The blade 14 has a “v” 20 shaped notch 15 to cooperate with roots or other objects to provide grip when levering the object from the ground.

The long shaft 11 has a lateral support 16 positioned adjacent the bend 12 and on the other side of the bend 12 to the head 13. The support 16 is triangular in shape and forms a foot lever for the user to apply pressure when digging, and a 25 fulcrum to lever an object out of the ground 20 as indicated in Figure 3. Preferably 2013207665 22 Μ 2013 -6- the support 16 and the bend 12 in the long shaft 11 are each configured to provide optimum positioning of the lever spear to remove items from the ground.

The support 16 is made of high tensile steel and is fixed to the long shaft 11 by welding. The support 16 has a corrugated finish 17 on the uppermost side of the 5 support 16 to provide grip when using the support 16 as a foot lever.

With reference to Figures 6 to 9, there is shown a second embodiment of a lever spear 30. The lever spear 30 has many of the features of the first embodiment 10. Accordingly the lever spear 30 has a head 33 with a blade 34 and a tongue 39. With reference to Figure 10, the blade 34 has a “v” shaped notch 35 to cooperate 0 with roots or other objects to provide grip when levering the object from the ground.

The lever spear 30 has a short shaft 31 made from a substantially cylindrical tube of high tensile steel to afford durability and strength. The short shaft 31 gives the lever spear a length of 1000 mm to 1100 mm. The short shaft 31 has a “D” shaped handle 38 at the opposite end from the head 33. The handle 38 allows the 5 user to apply downward pressure when digging and levering. The short shaft 31 has a bend 32 adjacent the head 33. The head 33 is attached to the short shaft 31 by welding. The bend 32 forms an obtuse angle in the short shaft 31 of between 150 and 160 degrees, and preferably substantially 156 degrees. This ensures that the head 33 enters the ground at an optimum angle when used in digging. 20 A triangular support 36 of high tensile steel is fixed by welding to the short shaft 31 adjacent the bend 32 and on the other side of the bend 32 to the head 33. The support 36 has a corrugated finish 37 on the uppermost side of the support to provide grip. 2013207665 22 Μ 2013 -7-

ADVANTAGES

An advantage of the preferred embodiments of the lever spear is that a single tool can dig the ground and lever to remove rocks, roots and other like objects.

Another advantage of the preferred embodiments of the lever spear is that the 5 tool enters the ground at the optimum angle due to the obtuse bend in the shaft. The configuration of the head and the support on the lever spear combine to provide optimum positioning of the tool to assist in removing roots from the ground. A further advantage of the preferred embodiments of the lever spear is that the support feature can act both as a foot lever for the user to apply pressure and a 0 fulcrum to lever an object out of the ground.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations 5 thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. 20

Claims

1. A lever spear including: a shaft portion having a bend adjacent a first end wherein the bend forms an obtuse angle; a head portion attached to or integral with the first end of the shaft portion; said head portion having a leading edge that is distal from the first end; and a support portion attached or integral with the shaft portion and positioned adjacent the bend and on the other side of the bend to the head portion, the support portion extends laterally from the shaft portion, wherein the head portion has a tongue portion and a blade portion, the tongue portion located inside the shaft portion, and wherein the tongue portion is welded to the shaft portion.

2. A lever spear as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bend in the shaft portion is between 145 and 175 degrees.

3. A lever spear as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the bend in the shaft portion is between 150 to 160 degrees.

4. A lever spear as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the support portion is shaped and positioned such that it can act both as a foot rest to allow the user to apply pressure with a foot, and a fulcrum to lever an object out of the ground.

5. A lever spear as claimed in claim 4 wherein the support portion has a textured finish on an upper surface to provide grip for a foot.

6. A lever spear as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the support portion is substantially triangular in shape.

7. A lever spear as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the support portion is welded to the shaft portion.

8. A lever spear as claimed in claim 7 wherein the blade portion is substantially wedge shaped narrowing to the leading edge.

9. A lever spear as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the leading edge has a “V” shaped notch or groove for assisting gripping of the plant root, rock or other unwanted object.

10. A lever spear as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the shaft portion is between 1500 mm and 1600 mm in length to provide good leverage.

11. A lever spear as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the shaft portion is between 1000 mm and 1100 mm in length.

12. A lever spear as claimed in claim 11 wherein a second end of the shaft portion includes a handle to facilitate its use.

13. A lever spear as claimed in claim 12 wherein the handle is selected from a “T” handle or a “D” handle.

14. A lever spear as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the shaft portion is made from hollow high tensile steel tubing.