COLLAPSIBLE SPADE Russian patent published in 2008 - IPC A01B1/02 

FIELD: agricultural engineering, in particular, horticultural equipment.

SUBSTANCE: collapsible spade has body consisting of two parts which may be fixed by means of locking mechanism in operating position and released in forced manner from operating position, one of said parts being made tubular, and handle inserted into tubular part. Handle inserted into tubular part is joined by means of pivot joint with bayonet. One of handle ends is made spring-loaded. Body tubular part is furnished with converging tip. Pivot joint has two bends and end portions, one of said portions being rigidly connected to bayonet and other portion being inserted into tubular part tip and spring-loaded relative to handle. Other end of handle is provided with stop. End portions of pivot joint are designed so as to be telescopically tightly inserted into tubular part tip, without possibility for rotation upon straightening of bends, to operating position. Other part of spade body is furnished at its one side with inner cavity adapted for receiving of handle and having grip, and with cylindrical surface having locking mechanism and telescopically inserted into tubular part so as to be restrictedly retracted to the extent at which it is fixed in operating position. Other part of body is designed for cooperation of grip with handle stop and for compressing the spring in operating position. There is retainer in upper part of tube. Locking mechanism is adapted for cooperation with retainer in operating position. Retainer may be made in the form of process opening. Locking mechanism may be formed as plate spring-loaded to the outside so as to be restrictedly extended from other part of spade body.

EFFECT: simplified manufacture process and usage owing to convenient gripping and due to position of bayonet relative to spade body to allow spade to be readily set in operating position.

4 cl, 1 dwg