Multi-purpose gardening tool

The present invention is directed to a multi-purpose gardening tool. In one preferred embodiment, the tool includes an arcuate central base. Extending from one end of the base is an arcuate scoop adapted to dig into, scoop up and transport a quantity of material. Extending from an opposite end of the base is a substantially V-shaped cutter having a sharpened peripheral edge for cutting through roots and the like. Preferably, the base, scoop and cutter are aligned and have a common radius of curvature to define a smooth bottom surface. The tool includes a handle extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool. To protect a hand of a gardener gripping the handle, the handle offset from the peripheral edges of the scoop and cutter and the handle is supported at opposite ends by a pair of solid circular supports.

If you were to search for Multi-purpose gardening tool using relaxed search criteria, these patents would come up:

I claim:

1. A gardening tool comprising: a) a base having a lower surface and an upper surface; b) a scoop extending from the base and defining a first end of the tool, the scoop including acurved portion having a peripheral edge for digging and a second portion extending between the curved portion and the base for transporting material; c) a cutter extending from the base and defining a second end of the tool, the cutter including atapered portion having a sharpened peripheral edge for cutting; d) a handle extending in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool and being offset in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tool from the upper surface ofthe base, an upper surface of the scoop and an upper surface of the cutter, an extent of the handle in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool being offset from an extent of the curved portion of the scoop in the direction parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the tool and being offset from an extent of the tapered portion of the cutter in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool; and e) a first handle support affixed to one of the base, the scoop and the cutter anda the handle.

2. The gardening tool of claim 1 wherein the base, scoop and cutter are arcuate in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tool.

3. The gardening tool of claim 2 wherein the base, scoop and cutter have a common radius of curvature.

4. The gardening tool of claim 3 wherein the first handle support is a disk having a diameter equal to the common radius of curvature.

5. The gardening tool of claim 1 wherein the lower surface of the base, a lower surface of the scoop and a lower surface of the cutter are aligned and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool.

6. The gardening tool of claim 1 wherein the base and the scoop are comprised of a single piece of material.

7. The gardening tool of claim 1 wherein the base and cutter are comprised of steel, the cutter has a greater thickness than the base and is welded to the base.

8. The gardening tool of claim 1 wherein the base, scoop and cutter are comprised of stainless steel.

9. The gardening tool of claim 1 wherein first handle support is affixed to the base and a first end of the handle, the first handle support extending from the upper surface of the base to the handle and the tool further includes a second handlesupport affixed to the base and a second end of the handle, the second handle support extending from the upper surface of the base to the handle.

10. A gardening tool comprising: a) a base having a lower surface and an upper surface; b) a scoop extending from the base and defining a first end of the tool, the scoop including a curved portion having a peripheral edge for digging and asecond portion extending between the curved portion and the base for transporting material; c) a cutter extending from the base and defining a second end of the tool, the cutter including a tapered portion having a sharpened peripheral edge for cutting; d) a handle affixed to the base and extending in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool and being offset in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tool from the upper surface of the base, an upper surface of the scoop andan upper surface of the cutter; and e) a first handle support affixed to the base and the handle and a second handle support affixed to the base and the handle, the first and second handle supports being offset from an extent of the curved portion ofthe scoop in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool and being offset from an extent of the tapered portion of the cutter in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool.

11. The garden tool of claim 10 wherein an extent of the handle in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool being offset from an extent of the curved portion of the scoop in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe tool and being offset from an extent of the tapered portion of the cutter in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool.

12. The gardening tool of claim 10 wherein the base, scoop and cutter are arcuate in direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tool.

13. The gardening tool of claim 12 wherein the base, scoop and cutter have a common radius of curvature.

14. The gardening tool of claim 13 wherein the first and second handle supports are disks having a diameter equal to the common radius of curvature.

15. The gardening tool of claim 10 wherein the lower surface of the base, a lower surface of the scoop and a lower surface of the cutter are aligned and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool.

16. The gardening tool of claim 10 wherein the base and the scoop are comprised of a single piece of material.

17. The gardening tool of claim 10 wherein the base and cutter are comprised of steel, the cutter has a greater thickness than the base and is welded to the base.

18. The gardening tool of claim 10 wherein the base, scoop and cutter are comprised of stainless steel.

19. A gardening tool comprising: a) a base having a lower surface and an upper surface; b) a scoop extending from the base and defining a first end of the tool, the scoop including a curved portion having a peripheral edge for digging and asecond portion extending between the curved portion and the base for transporting material; c) a cutter extending from the base and defining a second end of the tool, the cutter including a tapered portion having a sharpened peripheral edge for cutting; d) a handle offset from and extending in a direction parallel to a line of action of the tool that extends between a distal end of the curved peripheral edge of the scoop and a distal end of the sharpened peripheral edge of the cutter, an extent of thehandle in the direction parallel to the line of action of the tool being offset from an extent of the curved portion of the scoop in the direction parallel to the line of action of the tool and being offset from an extent of the tapered portion of thecutter in the direction parallel to the line of action of the tool; and e) a first handle support affixed to one of the base, the scoop and the cutter and the handle.

20. The gardening tool of claim 19 wherein the first handle support is affixed to the base and a first end of the handle, the first handle support extending from the upper surface of the base to the handle and further including a second handlesupport affixed to the base and extending from the upper surface of the base to a second end of the handle.

21. The gardening tool of claim 19 wherein a lower surface of the scoop and a lower surface of the cutter are aligned and extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool.