PROPPING TOOL

Abstract

A device for propping up an object, in particular, a long-handled object. The device includes a V-shaped leg apparatus having a pair of legs that are spaced apart from one another but may be compressed towards one another. Leg holder attaches to the long-handled object and the two legs pass through openings formed through the leg holder. A latch is attached to the long-handled object beneath the leg holder, and a slider is selectively movable along the lengths of the two legs and when moved towards the leg holder causes the legs to spread apart and spring outwardly away from the long-handled object, and when moved towards the latch, cause the legs to be brought together and extend parallel to and adjacent the long-handled object. The slider engages with the latch to lock the device in its propping position.

Claims

1. A device for propping up an object, comprising: a. a leg apparatus, comprising an elongated length of material having resiliency and formed in a V-shape with first and second legs extending from a vee portion; b. a leg holder adapted to be fixedly attached to the object and comprising a block that extends away from the object and includes first and second holes formed therethrough that are separated by a bridge of material, wherein the first and second legs extend through the first and second holes, respectively, and the vee portion is securely supported by and positioned adjacent the bridge of material; c. a latch adapted to be fixedly attached to the object and at a position beneath the leg holder and comprising a tongue adapted to be positioned in spaced relation to the object and that extends upwardly towards the leg holder; and d. a slider that comprises a body having third and fourth holes formed therethrough that extend in parallel relation to one another and through which the first and second legs of the leg apparatus are adapted to pass, respectively, and a slotted opening formed therein that is adapted to engage with the tongue of the latch, wherein the slider is selectively movable along the first and second legs towards and away from the latch, wherein when moved away from the latch the first and second legs spring apart from one another and away from the object and wherein when the slider is moved towards the latch, the first and second legs compress towards one another and towards the object.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the leg holder and the latch are integral with one another and a connecting portion extends therebetween.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the slider further comprises opposing side edges each of which is shaped in a concave contour.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a close-up perspective view of a propping tool attached to an object, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a propping tool attached to an object, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of elements of a propping tool, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of elements of a propping tool, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a leg holder, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a slider, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a slider, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of a slider, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a leg apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0035] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a propping tool attached to a rake, in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0036] The present disclosure describes tool for propping up objects, such as long-handled garden tools (e.g., a rake, shovel, broom, hoe, pitch fork), or any other type of object susceptible to falling to the ground when not manually held (e.g., a walking stick, a golf bag). To perform its propping function, the tool serves as two legs of a tripod, with the object itself serving as the third leg.

[0037] Referring to the figures, in an embodiment, is a tool 10 for propping up objects 12, such as, for example, a long handled garden tool (e.g., rake), when not in use and to prevent the user from having to bend over and pick the object up off the ground when desiring to begin use of the tool after having set it down. Tool 10 generally comprises several elements: a leg apparatus 14, a leg holder 16, a latch 18, and a slider 20. While the leg holder 16 and latch 18 are fixedly secured to the tool 12, leg apparatus 14 and slider 20 are movable relative to one another to permit leg apparatus 14 to be positioned between propping and stowed positions.

[0038] Leg apparatus 14 comprises an elongated length of spring steel or other resilient material that is bent such that two legs 22, 24 are formed and intersect at an apex or vee 26 that forms an acute interior angle between the legs when in their neutral, unforced positions. Legs 22 and 24 are of about the same length and can be physically moved towards one another through application of compression force and will naturally spring back to their neutral positions when the force is released. Plastic caps 23, 25 can be attached to the ends of legs 22, 24, respectively, to provide a secure, non-scratch ground contacting element (see FIG. 10).

[0039] Leg holder 16 comprises a block 27 adapted to be fixedly secured to the handle/object to be propped up 12 via screws, rivets, or other conventional fasteners. The block 27 includes two parallel holes 28, 30 extending therethrough along axes that are essentially parallel to one another and the handle/object to be propped up 12 and includes a bridge of material between the two holes. Legs 22, 24 pass downwardly through holes 28, 30, respectively, with the apex/vee 26 being supported by the bridge of material between the two holes 28, 30.

[0040] Latch 18 is fixed to object 10 below leg holder 16 via screws or other conventional fasteners and includes a tongue 31 that is laterally spaced from object 10 and extends upwardly in a direction towards leg holder 16. Tongue 31 interacts with slider 20 to secure tool 10 in its closed position.

[0041] In one aspect, leg holder 16 and latch 18 are integral with one another with a connecting portion 33 extending therebetween (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 10), while in another aspect, the leg holder 16 and latch 18 are formed as separate elements (see FIG. 1). These members can be composed of a hard plastic material, a suitable metal, or other suitable material known in the art.

[0042] Slider 20 includes a pair of holes 32, 34, that extend parallel to one another and through which legs 22, 24 pass, respectively, and an open cavity 36 formed in its bottom that engages with latch 18. Slider 20 is elongated in shape and can include contoured, concave sides 38, 40 to permit comfortable positioning of a user's fingers thereon, as seen in FIG. 2, while moving slider 20 up and down legs 22, 24. In use, slider 20 is moved away from leg holder 16 and towards latch 18 when desiring to use object 12 and not have tool 10 propping up object 12. Movement of slider 20 in this downward manner causes legs 22, 24 to be compressed towards one another, and slider 20 to be secured into latch 18 when moved its full distance away from leg holder 16. Legs 22, 24 become essentially stowed in position along the handle/object 12.

[0043] To open legs 22, 24 such that they spread apart and spring outwardly away from object 12, slider 20 is slid upwardly towards leg holder 16 and away from latch 18. This sliding movement of slider 20 allows the legs 22, 24 to decompress and spring back to their neutral positions with the tips of the legs being spread apart the largest distance and extending in a V pattern to vee 26. Legs 22, 24 will then serve as two legs of a tripod with the object 12 serving as the third leg of the tripod, thus permitting the object to be propped up without assistance from the user, as seen in FIG. 1.

[0044] While various embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.