This invention relates to aids for use in the garden, particularly, but not exclusively, by elderly people, for the storage and transport of items useful in the practice of tending to gardens.

BACKGROUND

US-B-6666465 discloses a garden trolley comprising a frame having: two wheels on an axle of the frame; a foot, forming a third contact point with the ground, whereby the trolley may be parked upright; handles on the frame, by means of which the frame can be tilted to impose all the weight of the trolley on the wheels; sack mounting arms and sack on the arms, for storing garden debris for subsequent disposal; a wire tray above the sack arms to receive tools, seedlings, cuttings etc; and receptors for longer gardening tools such as rakes and hoes.

AU-A-199474199, GB-A-2177895, CA2346150, US5704496, US4452468, US4179132, US3992034, all disclose variations on the above general theme.

Although not gardening aids, US-B-6203033 and US-A-5791667 both disclose bucket- carrying wheelbarrows, comprising a frame, a single wheel at one end and handles at the other end of the frame, and compartments of the frame to receive buckets.

It is an object of the present invention to improve on the design of gardening aids as described above, or at least provide an alternative arrangement.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a gardening aid comprising: a frame having an axle and a wheel at each end of the axle; a foot of the frame spaced from the axle and defining a third contact point for the trolley with the ground; a handle of the frame above the axle and by which the frame may be tilted to lift the foot off the ground, the weight of the trolley being borne solely by the wheels; a bucket mount, comprising arms of the frame, each forming one end of a pair of gimbals mounts aligned along an axis substantially parallel said axle; and

a bucket having corresponding gimbals for demountable reception in said gimbals mounts.

Thus the bucket mounted in the gimbals mounts of the frame of the trolley naturally adopts and retains a horizontal orientation, which orientation is not disturbed when the frame is tilted to put the weight of the trolley over the wheels. When tilted in this way of course, the trolley can be pulled or pushed or otherwise manoeuvred over the ground.

Preferably, said frame is of a metal tubular construction.

Preferably, said arms comprise plastics mouldings received on said tubular frame.

Preferably, said gimbals mounts comprise recesses in said mouldings.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gardening aid comprising: a frame having an axle and a wheel at each end of the axle; a foot of the frame spaced from the axle and defining a third contact point for the trolley with the ground; a handle of the frame above the axle and by which the frame may be tilted to lift the foot off the ground, the weight of the trolley being borne solely by the wheels; a sleeve mounting of the frame; a sleeve, demountably carried by the sleeve mounting; a bag; and a removable base for the sleeve whereby the sleeve may be converted between: an article receptor when said base is in place; and a retainer and mouth for the bag when said base is removed and the opening of the bag is clamped between the sleeve and the sleeve mounting.

Preferably, said sleeve also provides, when said base is removed, a retainer for long handled tools, said sleeve mounting being disposed in the frame above a receptor also mounted on the frame, whereby long tools passing through the sleeve are supported on their ends in the receptor.

Preferably, the gardening aid in as described in both its aspects, wherein said receptor comprises said bucket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 , 2 and 3 are respectively a perspective view, front view and side view of a gardening aid in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the aid of Figure 1 with elements demounted; and Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the aid tilted backwards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, a gardening aid 10 comprises a frame 12 of tubular steel mounting an axle 14 for a pair of wheels 16. In fact, in the drawings, the axle 14 comprises two stub axles 14a, b not connected to one another, but nevertheless sharing the same axis 18 of rotation. The stub axles 14a,b are mounted on brackets 20 at either end of a cross brace 23 connecting together limbs 12a, b of the frame 12. Beyond brace

23, the limbs 12a,b join to form a foot 12c. The foot is adapted, with the wheels 16, to provide a three-point-contact support for the gardening aid 10 when upright on the ground 100.

The cross brace 23 also forms a shallow tray or shelf on which the ends of longer tools such as hoes and rakes may be supported. Velcro® straps (not shown) or the like may be provided on the limbs 12a,b to connect such tools to the frame.

Two arms (not visible) arch perpendicularly outward from the limbs 12a,b. These arms are just below where said Velcro® straps would be located. They are clad with plastic mouldings to form a bucket mount 22a,b. Each arm 22a,b of the bucket mount is provided with a semi circular recess 24a, b so that the bucket mount forms two gimbals mounts.

A bucket 30 forms a part of the gardening aid 10 and comprises a receptor 32 and handle 34. The handle 34 depends from two gimbals 36a,b, the gimbals comprising cylindrical extensions adapted and sized to fit in the recesses 24a, b. The extensions also comprise connectors for the handle 34.

Thus, when received in the recesses 24a, b the bucket is free to tilt about an axis 38 defined by the recesses 24a,b and arranged parallel the wheel axis 18. When the gardening aid 10 is tilted back onto its wheels 16, as shown in Figure 5, the bucket retains a horizontal attitude.

The frame 12 is provided with two handles 40 arranged about 1 metre above ground level so as to be convenient to be grasped by an adult user. In use, the garden tidy 10 is manoeuvred in the same manner as a typical golf trolley. The handles 40 are shaped so that tools that are on strings or have hooks can be slotted onto the handles and be carried on the base 41 of the loop of the handles. The handles are also designed to enable the gardening aid 10 to be manoeuvred in all directions while the wrists of the user are maintained in a neutral position.

Above the gimbals mounts 22a, b, the frame 12 is provided with an elliptical ring-shaped sleeve mounting 50. The mounting 50 is adapted to receive, in a sliding fit, a sleeve 52 provided with a lip flange 54. The lip flange 54 is a snug fit around the mounting 50. The sleeve 52 has an open mouth 56, as well as an open base 58 (not visible in the drawings). The base 58 is defined by an internal rim (not shown) adapted to receive a closure plate 60. The closure plate 60 forms a base for the sleeve 52 so that, when inside the sleeve 52 as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5, the sleeve 52 forms a container to receive garden tools, cuttings, or any other items that the gardener may choose to store there. However, the base is also removable. Indeed, it can be employed alone as shown in Figure 4 with the sleeve 52 removed. This is because the base is provided with clips 62, by means of which it may be clipped onto the frame mounting 50. It then provides a tray. Nevertheless, the more usual application of the sleeve 52 is to support in, an open position, a bag (not shown) passed through the frame mounting 50 and inserted in the bucket receptor 32. The dimensions of the gardening aid 10 and the separation of the frames 50, 22a, b are such that a standard bin-liner, typically used as a refuse sack in the United Kingdom, can have its base within and supported by the receptor 32, but its top opening folded over, from the inside, the mounting frame 50. Then, insertion of the sleeve into the frame 50 retains the bag on the frame 50. At the same time, it also retains the bag open so that items of rubbish are easily inserted into the bag.

A further use for the sleeve 52, when the base 60 is removed, is for the carrying of long instrument tools such as spades, forks, hoes and rakes for example. In this application, the tool is passed through the sleeve 52 and supported on its end in the bucket receptor 32.

Finally, the sleeve 52 is provided with a scallop 66 at its front end. This enables the frame 50 to form a handle 70 at its front, whereby a gardener may support him or herself when standing after performing gardening operations at ground level.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.