Reconfigurable garden tool caddy device for conveniently supporting and transporting one or more garden tools to remote garden locations, and enabling the self-standing of long-handled garden tools in the garden when not in use

Abstract

A reconfigurable garden tool caddy device that is adapted for mounting to the handle portion of a long-handled garden tool, so as to provide the so equipped garden tool with two primary configurations of operation, namely: (i) a self-standing configuration, wherein its stand portion is arranged at a first angle with respect to the handle portion of the long-handled garden tool and supports the garden tool in an upright position at a second angle formed with respect to the ground surface of the garden; and (ii) a transport-work configuration, wherein the stand portion is disposed closely adjacent the handle portion of the garden tool and is releasably retained by a stand retainer structure so that the adapted garden tool can be transported between the garden and a tool shed or like shelter where garden tools are kept from the natural elements when not being used to work the soil of a garden.

1 . A reconfigurable garden tool caddy device for mounting to the handle portion of a long-handle garden tool having a distal working end and a proximal end closet to the gardener so that said long-handle garden tool is provided with a transport-work configuration and a self-standing configuration, said reconfigurable garden tool caddy device comprising:
 a mounting assembly adapted to embrace the handle portion of said long-handled garden tool at a selected distance away from the distal working end of said long-handled garden tool, and including a stand retainer structure; and   a stand portion hingedly connected to said mounting assembly and capable of being configured (i) in a first arrangement during said transport-work configuration, so that said stand portion is disposed closely adjacent said handle portion and is releasably retained by said stand retainer so that the garden tool can be either transported or used to work the soil of a garden, and (ii) in a second arrangement during said self-standing configuration, so that said stand portion is arranged at a first angle with respect to the handle portion of said long-handled garden tool and supports said garden tool in an upright position at a second angle with respect to the ground surface of the garden;   wherein when said long-handle garden tool is arranged in said transport-work configuration, said long-handled garden tool is capable of being transported or used to work the soil of the garden; and   wherein when said long-handled garden tool is arranged in said self-standing configuration, said long-handled garden tool is capable of being supported on the ground surface of the garden in an upright position at an inclined angle with respect to said ground surface of the garden for the convenience and safety of the gardener.   
     
     
         2 . The reconfigurable garden tool device of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting assembly comprises first and section mounting portions adapted to embrace the handle portion of said long-handled garden tool. 
     
     
         3 . The reconfigurable garden tool device of  claim 2 , wherein said stand portion is formed as a unitary structure and hingedly connected to said stand retainer by way of a pivot pin, so that said stand portion rotates about said pivot pin. 
     
     
         4 . The reconfigurable garden tool device of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting assembly comprises first and second mounting portions, embracing opposite sides of the handle portion and interconnecting with releasably secured together, with the handle portion of the garden tool held securely therebetween, thereby preventing said device from rotating about or sliding along the handle portion of said garden tool. 
     
     
         5 . The reconfigurable garden tool device of  claim 1 , wherein said first angle is a first acute angle, and said second angle is a second acute angle. 
     
     
         6 . The reconfigurable garden tool device of  claim 1 , wherein said first angle is an acute angle, and said second angle is an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         7 . The reconfigurable garden tool device of  claim 1 , wherein said stand retainer snap-fits into a rectangular slot formed in said stand portion during the transport-work configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The reconfigurable garden tool device of  claim 2 , wherein said stand portion includes an end structure having semi-circular geometry and being particularly adapted to engage with and support against the handle portion of said garden tool, slightly beyond the mounting position of said mounting assembly along said handle portion, when said garden tool is arranged in its self-standing configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The reconfigurable garden tool device of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting assembly comprises first and second mounting portions with each mounting portion having first and second sides, and wherein both sides of said first mounting portion are provided with plural projections on its inner edge surfaces and are adapted to be releasably engaged with plural corresponding grooves formed on the outer edge surface of both sides of said second mounting portion when said first mounting portion is pressed downward with the handle portion of the garden tool disposed between said first and second mounting portions. 
     
     
         10 . The reconfigurable garden tool device of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting assembly comprises first and second mounting portions with each mounting portion having first and second sides, and wherein one side of said first and second mounting portions are hingedly connected together, while the other side of said first and second mounting portions are provided with plural projections on their inner edge surfaces and are adapted to be releasably engaged with plural corresponding grooves formed on the outer edge surfaces of said second mounting portion when said first portion is pressed downward with the handle portion of the garden tool disposed between said first and second mounting portions. 
     
     
         11 . The reconfigurable garden tool caddy device of  claim 1 , which further comprises a handle clasping structure formed on said stand portion, for securely and releasably clasping the handle portion of another garden tool different from the garden tool to which said reconfigurable garden tool caddy device is mounted. 
     
     
         12 . The reconfigurable garden tool device of  claim 1 , wherein one of said mounting assembly and said stand portion are provided with multiple clips and mounting structures for securely holding garden accessories selected from the group consisting of a small hand tool (such as a trowel or hand hoe), a MP3 music player, a miniature AM/FM radio, and a water bottle. 
     
     
         13 . The reconfigurable garden tool caddy device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said mounting assembly and said stand portion supports and/or bears ornamental structures and/or designs to resemble wildlife and other animal forms for the amusement and pleasure of gardeners and spectators alike. 
     
     
         14 . A long-handled garden tool for use by a gardener and having a transport-work configuration and a self-standing configuration, said long-handled garden tool comprising:
 a handle portion of elongated extent, and having a distal working end and a proximal end closet to a gardener during use;   a mounting assembly adapted to embrace said handle portion at a selected distance away from the distal working end of said long-handled garden tool, and including a stand retainer; and   a stand portion hingedly connected to said mounting assembly and capable of being configured (i) in a first arrangement during said transport-work configuration, so that said stand portion is disposed closely adjacent said handle portion and is releasably retained by said stand retainer so that the garden tool can be either transported or used to work the soil of a garden, and (ii) in a second arrangement during said self-standing configuration, so that said stand portion is arranged at a first angle with respect to the handle portion of said long-handled garden tool and supports said garden tool in an upright position at a second angle with respect to the ground surface of the garden;   wherein when said long-handle garden tool is arranged in said transport-work configuration, said long-handled garden tool is capable of being transported or used to work the soil of the garden; and   wherein when said long-handled garden tool is arranged in said self-standing configuration, said long-handled garden tool is capable of being supported on the ground surface of the garden in an upright position at an inclined angle with respect to said ground surface of the garden for the convenience and safety of the gardener.   
     
     
         15 . The long-handled garden tool of  claim 14 , wherein said mounting assembly comprises first and section mounting portions adapted to embrace the handle portion of said long-handled garden tool. 
     
     
         16 . The long-handled garden tool of  claim 14 , wherein said stand portion is formed as a unitary structure and hingedly connected to said stand retainer by way of a pivot pin, so that said stand portion rotates about said pivot pin. 
     
     
         17 . The long-handled garden tool of  claim 14 , wherein said mounting assembly comprises first and second mounting portions, embracing opposite sides of the handle portion and interconnecting with releasably secured together, with the handle portion held securely therebetween, thereby preventing said device from rotating about or sliding along said handle portion. 
     
     
         18 . The long-handled garden tool of  claim 14 , wherein said first angle is a first acute angle, and said second angle is a second acute angle. 
     
     
         19 . The long-handled garden tool of  claim 14 , wherein said first angle is an acute angle, and said second angle is an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         20 . The long-handled garden tool of  claim 14 , wherein said stand retainer snap-fits into a rectangular slot formed in said stand portion during the transport-work configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The long-handled garden tool of  claim 14 , wherein said stand portion includes an end structure having semi-circular geometry and being particularly adapted to engage with and support against the handle portion, slightly beyond the mounting position of said mounting assembly along said handle portion, when said garden tool is arranged in its self-standing configuration. 
     
     
         22 . The long-handled garden tool of  claim 14 , wherein said mounting assembly comprises first and second mounting portions with each mounting portion having first and second sides, and wherein both sides of said first mounting portion are provided with plural projections on its inner edge surfaces and are adapted to be releasably engaged with plural corresponding grooves formed on the outer edge surface of both sides of said second mounting portion when said first mounting portion is pressed downward with the handle portion of the garden tool disposed between said first and second mounting portions. 
     
     
         23 . The long-handled garden tool of  claim 14 , wherein said mounting assembly comprises first and second mounting portions with each mounting portion having first and second sides, and wherein one side of said first and second mounting portions are hingedly connected together, while the other side of said first and second mounting portions are provided with plural projections on their inner edge surfaces and are adapted to be releasably engaged with plural corresponding grooves formed on the outer edge surfaces of said second mounting portion when said first portion is pressed downward with said handle portion disposed between said first and second mounting portions. 
     
     
         24 . The reconfigurable garden tool caddy device of  claim 14 , which further comprises a handle clasping structure formed on said stand portion, for securely and releasably clasping the handle portion of another garden tool different from the garden tool to which said reconfigurable garden tool caddy device is mounted. 
     
     
         25 . The reconfigurable garden tool device of  claim 14 , wherein one of said mounting assembly and said stand portion are provided with multiple clips and mounting structures for securely holding garden accessories selected from the group consisting of a small hand tool (such as a trowel or hand hoe), a MP3 music player, a miniature AM/FM radio, and a water bottle. 
     
     
         26 . The reconfigurable garden tool caddy device of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said mounting assembly and said stand portion supports and/or bears ornamental structures and/or designs to resemble wildlife and other animal forms for the amusement and pleasure of gardeners and spectators alike. 
     
     
         27 . A garden tool caddy system comprising:
 a plurality of long-handled garden tools according to a  claim 11  or  14 , wherein said plurality of long-handled garden tools can be simply bundled together, as a single hand-transportable unit, during the transport-work configuration.   
     
     
         28 . The garden tool caddy system of  claim 27 , wherein said handle clasping structure formed on the stand portion of each said garden tool securely and releasably clasps the handle portion of another garden tool stacked together in said garden tool caddy system. 
     
     
         29 . The garden tool caddy system of  claim 27 , wherein said handle clasping structure of each said reconfigurable garden tool caddy device has resilient properties to clasp the handle portion of any long-handled garden tool with sufficient strength so that the garden tools are held together as a single transportable unit, during the transport-work configuration, and yet be easily detachable to permit usage of the garden tools during gardening (i.e. working) operations.