GB2344783A

GB2344783A - Gardening shears

Info

Publication number: GB2344783A
Application number: GB9827545A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yu-Tang Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-12-16
Filing date: 1998-12-16
Publication date: 2000-06-21
Also published as: GB9827545D0; DE29822421U1; FR2789264A3; FR2789264B3

Abstract

A gardening shears is composed of a first member 10 and a second member 30. The first member 10 comprises a first cutting part 12 and a first grip 11. The first cutting part 12 has a first work portion 21, a first middle segment 23 and a first pivoting portion 25 which is fastened with the first grip. The first middle segment is provided with a first transmission portion 27 which has a plurality of first tooth slots 274, 275, 276, 277 and first teeth 271, 272, 273. The second member 30 consists of a second cutting part 35, a rocking arm 33 and a second grip 31. The second cutting part has a second work portion 37, a second middle segment 38 and a second pivoting portion 39. The middle segments of the first member and the second member are pivoted together. The second pivoting portion and the rocking arm are pivoted together. The rocking arm 33 is fastened at one end thereof with the second grip 31 and is provided at other end thereof with a second transmission portion 36 which has a plurality of second teeth 361, 362, 363, 364 and second tooth slots 365, 366, 367. The first transmission portion and the second transmission portion are capable of engaging and disengaging with each other.

Description

GARDENDE SHEARS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a gardening tool, and more particularly to an efficient gardening shears actuated by the transmission gears.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The conventional gardening shears is composed of two blades which are pivoted together by a pivot, and two handles fastened with the blades. The application force of the conventional gardening shears is dependent on the size ratio of the blade and the handle. In other words, the opening size of the tips of the blades is inversely proportional to the force that is needed to attain the severance of a plant twig. The greater the ration of the blade and the handle is, the greater the size of the opening of the tips of the blades. When the handles are shortened, a greater application force is required to accomplish the deed of cutting off a plant twig. On the other hand, if the plant twig is to be severed easily by the shears, the size of the handles must be greater while the size of the blades must be relatively smaller, thereby resulting in the relatively small opening of the tips of the blades. In order to solve the problems described above, a prior art gardening shears was disclosed, as shown in FIG. 1.

The prior art gardening shears consists of a first cutting body 1 and a second cutting body 4. The first cutting body 1 has a blade 101 and a handle 102. The first cutting body 1 is provided with two pivoting points 2 and 3 for pivoting a blade 401 and a handle 402 of the second cutting body 4. The blade 401 and the handle 402 are provided respectively at the opposite ends thereof with a sector gear 403 (404). The sector gears 403 and 404 are engageable with each other. The ratio of the distances between the two pivoting points 2 and 3 and the two sector gears 403 and 404 is smallest at the time when the blades are opened, whereas the ratio is greatest at the time when the blades are closed together. In other words, the ratio is directly proportional to the cutting depth of the blades into a plant twig. The first cutting body 1 must be provided with two stop portions 103 and 104, which are fastened therewith by a plurality of fastening bolts for stopping the blade 401 at the side of the handle 402 such that the blade 401 and the handle 402 are prevented from opening excessively or closing inadequately. In other words, if the blade 401 and the handle 402 are swiveled excessively, the two sector gears 403 and 404 can not be engaged with each other. As a result, the gardening shears is damaged or shortened in its service life span. In addition, the construction of the two stop portions 103 and 104 results in an increase in the material cost as well as the manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a gardening shears which is actuated by transmission gears to prolong its service life span and is cost-effective.

The gardening shears of the present invention is composed of a first member and a second member. The first member consists of a cutting part and a grip. The cutting part has a first work portion, a middle segment, and a first pivoting portion which is fastened with the grip. The middle segment is provided in one side thereof with a transmission portion which has a plurality of first tooth slots and first teeth. The second member consists of a cutting part, a rocking arm, and a grip. The cutting part has a second work portion, a middle segment, and a second pivoting portion. The middle segments of the first member and the second member are pivoted together. The second pivoting portion and the rocking arm are pivoted together. The rocking arm is fastened at one end thereof with the grip and is provided at other end thereof with a second transmission portion which has a plurality of second teeth and second tooth slots. The efficiency of the gardening shears is enhanced by the two transmission portions capable of engaging each other.

The foregoing objective, features, functions, and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a prior art gardening shears in action.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in combination.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention at work.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention at work.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIG. 2, a gardening shears embodied in the present invention is composed of a first member 10 and a second member 30.

The first member 10 consists of a grip 11 and a cutting part 12 which has a first work portion 21, a middle segment 23 and a first pivoting portion 25. The grip 11 is fastened with the first pivoting portion 25. The middle segment 23 is provided with a first transmission portion 27 which has two first teeth 271 and 272, and three first tooth slots 273, 274, and 275, which are formed by the first teeth 271 and 272. The first teeth 271 and 272 are similar in construction to spur gear.

The second member 30 consists of a grip 31, a rocking arm 33 and a cutting part 35. The cutting part 35 has a second work portion 37, a middle segment 38 and a second pivoting portion 39. The middle segment 38 and the middle segment 23 of the first member 10 are pivoted together by a pivoting element 40 such that the two work portions 37 and 21 are complementary to each other. The rocking arm 33 is fastened with the grip 31 such that the rocking arm 33 and the pivoting portion 39 are pivoted together by a pivoting element 41. The rocking arm 33 is provided at one end thereof with a second transmission portion 36 which has three second teeth 361,362 and 363, and two second tooth slots 364 and 365 which are located between the second teeth 361,362 and 363. The second tooth slots 364 and 365 are corresponding in radian and shape to the first teeth 271 and 272 of the first transmission portion 27, whereas the second teeth 361,362 and 363 are corresponding in radian and shape to the first tooth slots 273,274 and 275. The first transmission portion 27 and the second transmission portion 36 can thus mesh with each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first transmission portion 27 of the cutting part 12 and the second transmission portion 36 of the rocking arm 33 are engaged or disengaged with each other at the time when two grips 11 and 31 are moved away from each other or moved toward each other. Now referring to FIG. 4, the second tooth 361 of the rocking arm 33 is engaged with the first tooth slot 273 of the cutting part 12. In the meantime, the first tooth 271 of the cutting part 12 is about to engage the second tooth slot 364 of the rocking arm 33. The angle formed by the two grips 11 and 31 is largest and most favorable to application. When the angle becomes smaller, as shown in FIG. 5, such that the first and the second work portions 21 and 37 form an angle of 35 degrees, the second tooth 362 of the rocking arm 33 is engaged with the first tooth slot 274 of the cutting part 12. In the meantime, the first tooth 272 of the cutting part 12 meshes with the second tooth slot 365 of the rocking arm 33. Now referring back to FIG. 3 in which the grips 11 and 31 have been moved toward each other to the fullest extent, the second tooth 363 of the rocking arm 33 is engaged with the first tooth slot 275 of the cutting part 12, whereas the second teeth 361 and 362 are already disengaged with the first tooth slots 273 and 274.

The gardening shears of the present invention is relatively efficient in view of the fact that it is capable of providing a greater shearing force at the time when the two work portions 21 and 37 are moved toward each other to execute the severance of a tree twig.

When the two grips 11 and 31 of the gardening shears of the present invention are moved away from each other to the fullest extent, a maximum angle is formed between the two work portions 21 and 37. In the meantime, a flat straight side 276 of the first transmission portion 27 is pressed against by an outer side 366 of the rocking arm 33. When the two grips 11 and 31 are moved toward each other to the fullest extent, the two work portions 21 and 37 also move toward each other. In the meantime, a flat straight side 277 of the first transmission portion 27 of the cutting part 12 is pressed against bv an inner side 367 of the rocking arm 33. In view of the fact that the rocking arm 33 and the first cutting part 35 are confined by the first and the second transmission portions 27 and 36, the engagement of the two transmission portions 27 and 36 can prevent the first and the second work portions 21 and 37 from moving away from each other excessively or moving toward each other inadequately. As a result, the gardening shears of the present invention is relatively more durable. In addition, the gardening shears of the present invention is devoid of the stop portions of the prior art gardening shears and is therefore relatively cost-effective.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A gardening shears comprising: a first member consisting of a cutting part and a grip, said cutting part having a first work portion, a middle segment and a first pivoting portion which is fastened with said grip, said middle segment provided in one side thereof with a first transmission portion having a plurality of first tooth slots and first teeth located between said first tooth slots ; a second member consisting of a grip, a rocking arm, and a cutting part having a second work portion, a middle segment and a second pivoting portion, said middle segment of said cutting part of said second member being pivoted with said middle segment of said cutting part of said first member, said second pivoting portion being pivoted with said rocking arm which is fastened at one end thereof with said grip and provided at other end thereof with a second transmission portion opposite to said first transmission portion, said second transmission portion having a plurality of second teeth and second tooth slots located between said second teeth, said second teeth being engageable with said first tooth slots, said second tooth slots being engageable with said first teeth.

2. The gardening shears as defined in claim 1, wherein said first teeth of said first transmission portion and said second teeth of said second transmission portion are similar in shape to spur gear.

3. The gardening shears as defined in claim 1, wherein said first transmission portion of said first member is provided with two flat straight sides; and wherein said second transmission portion of said rocking arm of said second member is provided with two sides corresponding in shape to said flat straight sides.

4. A gardening shears substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.