Rake having enhanced leverage

Abstract

A hand held garden rake configured to enhance downward force for digging and raking. The rake has a rod frame which extends from tines located at the front end of the rake to a brace located at the rear of the rake. The frame is bent to extend back towards the front end of the rake, at which point the frame terminates in an upwardly extending handle. The brace rests on the forearm, so that additional force is developed when the tines of the rake are urged downwardly into the ground. The vertical orientation of the handle is more natural and comfortable than would be a horizontal orientation. The handle is provided with a molded grip for cooperating with a user's hand. The brace has a resilient cushion for comfort when pressing downwardly on the tines.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A hand held gardening implement, comprising 
 a frame member having a longitudinal dimension, a proximal end, and a distal end;    a working element attached to said frame member at said proximal end of said frame member, said working element projecting downwardly and vertically from said frame member;    a brace attached to said frame member at said distal end of said frame member; and    a handle attached to said frame member intermediate said working element and said brace, said handle projecting upwardly and vertically from said frame member.    
     
     
         2 . The gardening implement according to  claim 1 , said working element including a plurality of tines, whereby said gardening implement is a rake.  
     
     
         3 . The gardening implement according to  claim 1 , said brace further comprising an elastic cushion for deforming to distribute force developed by the hand and arm of the user over an increased area of the forearm of the user.  
     
     
         4 . The gardening implement according to  claim 1 , said handle further comprising a molded grip for conforming to the configuration of the human hand.  
     
     
         5 . The gardening implement according to  claim 1 , said frame member comprising rod stock bent to form said working element, said brace, and said handle in sequential fashion from a unitary component.  
     
     
         6 . A hand held gardening implement, comprising 
 a frame member having a longitudinal dimension, a proximal end, and a distal end;    a plurality of tines attached to said frame member at said proximal end of said frame member, said plurality of tines projecting downwardly and vertically from said frame member;    a brace attached to said frame member at said distal end of said frame member, said brace further comprising an elastic cushion for deforming to distribute force developed by the hand and arm of the user over an increased area of the forearm of the user; and    a handle attached to said frame member intermediate said working element and said brace, said handle projecting upwardly and vertically from said frame member, said handle further comprising a molded grip for conforming to the configuration of the human hand, said frame member comprising rod stock bent to form said working element, said brace, and said handle from a unitary, homogeneous component.