Description:FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(Section 10 and rule13)

GARDEN FORK ASSEMBLY

SASI R
Indian #ILLICKAL HOUSE, VANDANMEDU P O, AMAYAR, IDUKKI, KERALA – 685551

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is performed.
TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to a garden fork assembly. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a garden fork assembly comprising a conveniently replaceable tine head.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A “garden fork”, “spading fork”, “farm fork”, or “digging fork” generally refer to a category of gardening implements or tools comprising a handle and a square-shouldered head featuring several (usually four) short, sturdy tines. Conventionally, farm forks have been used for loosening, lifting and turning over soil in gardening and farming applications. The short sturdy tines are so provided to penetrate hard or compact soil to loosen the soil for facilitating crop growth. Crops need appropriate levels of heat, air, water and nutrients, which can be satisfied by soil which is sufficiently porous. For example, soil containing air filled pores of the correct diameter, through which the roots can develop ensures optimum soil structure and drainage. Optimizing the soil structure ensures strong root growth in addition to effective drainage. As such, the sturdy tines of the farm fork help to loosen the soil while moving (or throwing) loose materials such as hay, straw, silage, stones, and manure. This process of preparing the soil before growing crops is useful in the Western Ghat regions where crops such as cardamom, coffee, and pepper are grown.

[0003] Typically, the farm fork is used similarly to a spade in loosening and turning over soil. Since the tines are closely spaced, the tines can be pushed more easily into the ground to rake out stones, weeds, and break up the soil. Traditionally, forks were made of wood, but the majority are now made of forged carbon steel or stainless steel. However, with prolonged use the tines are prone to break. When the tines undergo wear and tear followed by breaking completely, the tines must be welded again for the fork to be effective or useful again. During welding, the weld locations form bumps or protrusions due to the excess welded material which must be again machined using a grinding wheel or grinder to smoothen the surface of the tine. The grinding process removes material and may cause the machined tine surface to be prone to breaking again. A garden fork or farm fork, which comprises a tine that is easily removable or replaceable, is therefore desired.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a long felt but unresolved need for an improved garden fork assembly, which is particularly convenient and easy to use without being prohibitively expensive to manufacture. Moreover, there is a need for an improved garden fork assembly whose tines are easy to replace and provides improved coupling between the handle and the tines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0006] The present disclosure addresses the above-mentioned need for an improved garden fork assembly, which is particularly convenient and easy to use without being prohibitively expensive to manufacture. Moreover, the present disclosure addresses the need for an improved garden fork assembly whose tines are easy to replace and provides improved coupling between the handle and the tines.

[0007] The garden fork assembly comprises a tool head assembly and a handle assembly. The tool head assembly comprises at least four tines extending from a first cross bar in a direction perpendicular relative to the first cross bar. The at least four tines spaced apart along the first cross bar such that each of the four tines are removably attached to the first cross bar using fasteners. The handle assembly comprises a second cross bar configured to couple with the first cross bar via first interlocking elements. The wooden shaft is disposed between two metallic layers and secured to the metallic layers via second interlocking elements. The wooden shaft is affixed to the second cross bar at a first end and affixed to a handle via third interlocking elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and structures disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a structure referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or structure shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.

[0009] FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of a garden fork assembly.

[0010] FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the garden fork assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The following reference numbers are used throughout the description to refer to elements in the figures:
100 - Garden fork assembly
1 – At least four tines
2 – First cross bar
3 – Second cross bar
4 – First interlocking elements
5 – Second interlocking elements
6 – Wooden shaft
7 – metallic layers
8 – handle
9 – Third interlocking elements

[0012] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0013] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings but are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0014] Fig. 1 exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of a garden fork assembly 100. FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the garden fork assembly 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The garden fork assembly 100 includes a tool head assembly and a handle assembly. The tool head assembly comprises at least four tines 1 extending from a first cross bar 2 in a direction perpendicular relative to the first cross bar 2, the at least four tines 1 spaced apart along the first cross bar 2. The handle assembly comprises a second cross bar 3 configured to couple with the first cross bar 2 via first interlocking elements 4. A wooden shaft 6 is disposed between the at least two metallic layers 7. The wooden shaft 6 is secured to the at least two metallic layers 7 via second interlocking elements 5. The wooden shaft 6 is affixed to the second cross bar 3 at a first end and affixed to a handle 8 via third interlocking elements 9. In an exemplary embodiment, the first interlocking elements 4, the second interlocking elements 5, and the third interlocking elements 9 are one of nut and bolt fasteners and screw thread fasteners. In an embodiment, the handle 8 may be made of a wood-based material, a plastic material, a metallic material, a polymeric material, an alloy material, and the like.

[0015] In another exemplary implementation of the present disclosure, each of the at least four tines 1 are removably attached to the first cross bar 2 using fasteners. This means that each of the tines 1 can be separately removed or attached as per user requirement. This design is particularly useful if one of the tines 1 need to be replaced due to damage or excessive wear. Moreover, tines 1 of different thicknesses, lengths, sharpness, etc., may be provided as part of a kit thereby allowing the user to change the tines 1 based on the type of soil that he or she wishes to work. In other embodiments according to the present disclosure, the tines 1 may be entirely replaced by a shovel head or other tool head which can be removably secured to the first cross bar 2. The garden fork assembly 100 allows improved securing or attachment of the head 2 to the handle 1 using one or two fastening elements 5. Therefore, this design allows higher number of products to be manufactured in a given time period in comparison to existing products which require more fastening elements or have more complex designs.

[0016] In the foregoing detailed description of embodiments of the invention, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments of the invention require more features that are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description of embodiment of the invention, which each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

[0017] The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the garden fork assembly 100, disclosed herein. While the garden fork assembly 100 has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the garden fork assembly 100 has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the garden fork assembly 100 is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the garden fork assembly 100 extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may effect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the garden fork assembly 100 disclosed herein in their aspects.
, Claims:I Claim,

1. A garden fork assembly (100) characterized by:
a tool head assembly comprising:
at least four tines (1) extending from a first cross bar (2) in a direction perpendicular relative to the first cross bar (2), the at least four tines (1) spaced apart along the first cross bar (2);
a handle assembly comprising:
a second cross bar (3) configured to couple with the first cross bar (2) via first interlocking elements (4);
a wooden shaft (6) disposed between at least two metallic layers (7), the wooden shaft (6) secured to the at least two metallic layers (7) via second interlocking elements (5), wherein the wooden shaft (6) is affixed to the second cross bar (3) at a first end and affixed to a handle (8) via third interlocking elements (9).

2. The garden fork assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein the first interlocking elements (4), the second interlocking elements (5), and the third interlocking elements (9) are one of nut and bolt fasteners and screw thread fasteners.

3. A garden fork assembly (100) characterized by:
a tool head assembly comprising:
at least four tines (1) extending from a first cross bar (2) in a direction perpendicular relative to the first cross bar (2), the at least four tines (1) spaced apart along the first cross bar (2), wherein each of the at least four tines (1) are removably attached to the first cross bar (2) using fasteners;
a handle assembly comprising:
a second cross bar (3) configured to couple with the first cross bar (2) via first interlocking elements (4); and
a wooden shaft (6) disposed between at least two metallic layers (7), the wooden shaft (6) secured to the at least two metallic layers (7) via second interlocking elements (5), wherein the wooden shaft (6) is affixed to the second cross bar (3) at a first end and affixed to a handle (8) via third interlocking elements (9).

Dated this 18th day of July 2022

Bency Varghese
Patent Agent for the applicant (INPA/2313)