| CPC A01B 1/20 (2013.01) [A01B 1/225 (2013.01); A01B 1/227 (2013.01); A01D 7/08 (2013.01)] | 10 Claims |
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1. A garden implement, comprising:
a handle having spaced apart handle ends;
at least one toolhead comprising:
a tool member, and
a pair of flanges coupled to and extending from the tool member and having opposing parallel flange surfaces, each flange including:
a flange bore defined by a flange internal sidewall and a first center,
a pinion segment having a plurality of pinion teeth and a corresponding interspaced plurality of pinion troughs, and
a pinion center axis intersecting the first center and perpendicular to the opposing parallel flange surfaces, the opposing parallel flange surfaces spaced apart by a predetermined first distance;
at least a first fixing member coupled between the pair of flanges and a respective handle end, the first fixing member including:
a first boss projecting along a longitudinal axis relative to the first fixing member, the first boss having parallel first boss surfaces spaced apart by the predetermined first distance, a first boss bore defined by a first boss internal sidewall, and a first boss bore center axis intersecting a first boss bore center and perpendicular to the parallel first boss surfaces, each first boss surface having:
a curved rack segment having a plurality of rack teeth projecting perpendicularly from the first boss surface, the plurality of rack teeth having crowns that radiate toward the first boss bore center axis and roots between the crowns, adjacent pairs of the crowns and the roots forming spaces between the plurality of rack teeth that are arranged in a semi-circle along a minor arc between edges of the first boss, the plurality of rack teeth having a maximum height, measured perpendicularly from the first boss surface, at a midpoint point of the minor arc and a minimum height at both edges of the minor arc, and configured to mesh with at least a portion of the pinion segment of a respective one the pair of flanges; and
a fixing shaft insertably received in at least one flange bore and the first boss bore following coaxial alignment of the pinion center axis and the first boss bore center axis,
wherein each of the plurality of pinion teeth occupies an arc length that is greater than 180 degrees and is configured to maximize a surface area in contact with the curved rack segment in a meshed engagement with the at least the portion of the pinion segment.
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