Bulb planter with twin grips

US7647703B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AMES TRUE TEMPER · US

Inventors

• David Demar · Edgewater, US
• Thomas VanDyk · Ramsey, US
• Roland Charriez · Edgewater, US
• Michael Ballone · New Providence, US
• John Kiely · Morristown, US
• Keith Kristiansen · Stratford, US
• Melissa Fisher · Columbus, US
• Brian J. Conaway · Erie, US
• Mandi Reese · Westerville, US
• Terry M. Birchler · Westerville, US
• Mark C. Eyman · Columbus, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 31, 2005
• Grant date: Jan 19, 2010
• Expiry date: Jan 17, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A01C9/00
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A bulb planter includes a pair of blade halves cooperating to form a tubular tool head and a molded plastic handle body forming a pair of handles. The blade halves are preferably metal and riveted to the handle body. The handle body forms a living hinge for selectively pivoting the blade halves upon movement of the handles. The blade halves pivot toward and away from each other between a soil plug cutting position and a soil plug releasing position upon movement of the handles. A resilient member biases the blade halves toward the soil plug cutting position. The resilient member is preferably an elastomer ring encircling the blade halves. The handles extend in opposed directions substantially perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis and are manually movable against the bias of the resilient member to move the blade halves to the soil plug release position.