Earth ripping apparatus

Claim 1

A RIPPING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORTING SHANK ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH FOR RIPPING; SAID SHANK BEING FORMED TO DEFINE A WEDGESHAPED TIP; A RIPPER TOOTH LOOSELY FITTED ON SAID TIP BY A RETAINING PIN AND ADAPTED TO BE POSITIVELY LOCKED THERETO; SAID TOOTH COMPRISING A WEAR PLATE EXTENDING ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF SAID SHANK AND TERMINATING IN A STEPPED SURFACE; AN ELONGATED GUARD ALSO EXTENING ALONG THE LEADING EDGE AND HAVING THE LOWER END THEREOF FORMED TO BE RECEIVED BY THE STEPPED SURFACE OF SAID TOOTH TO ASSIST IN POSITIVELY LOCKING THE TOOTH AND GUARD TO THE SHANK AND TO EACH OTHER; A RETAINING PIN EXTENDING THROUGH ALIGNED HOLES FORMED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID GUARD AND SAID SHANK, SAID HOLES HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DIAMETER, AND CAMMING SURFACES ON SAID PIN BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE HOLES IN SAID GUARD WHEREBY SAID LOWER END OF SAID GUARD MAY BE ROTATED INTO SEATING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STEPPED SURFACE OF SAID TOOTH THEREBY POSITIVELY LOCKING SAID TOOTH AND SAID GUARD TO THE SHANK AND TO EACH OTHER.