Spring clamp shank assembly

Claim 1

A cultivating tool assembly for attachment to the tool bar of a cultivator frame and comprising: (a) a substantially vertical mounting bracket having a forward end plate for fastening to said tool bar and spaced side plates extending rearwardly from said end plate, said side plates having upper and lower portions; (b) an arm member having a forward end pivotally mounted to said bracket lower portions and having a rearward portion extending substantially horizontally therefrom; (c) a cradle member including spaced side walls mounted to and extending upwardly from said arm member rearward portion; said cradle member having an upper portion spaced above said arm member a distance generally equal to a distance between said bracket upper and lower portions; (d) a control rod having a forward end pivotally mounted to said bracket upper portions and having a threaded rearward portion extending generally horizontally therefrom and parallel to said arm member; (e) a bushing pivotally mounted to said cradle member upper portion with said control rod extending reciprocably therethrough, said control rod being mounted to said bracket and said bushing so as to be continuously positioned parallel to said arm member as said tool assembly intermittently deflects upwardly and downwardly; (f) an adjustment nut threadably affixed to said control rod and positioned rearwardly of said bushing, said nut being selectively positionable along the length of said rod to adjust the effective length thereof and raise and lower said arm member; (g) a coil spring sleeved about said control rod and positioned between said bracket and said cradle member, said spring biasing said cradle member outwardly with said bushing against said nut for absorbing upward shock transients imparted to said arm member; and (h) a tool shank having an elongate, generally horizontally extending upper end secured to said arm member and extending parallel thereto, and elongate and substantially semi-circular mid portion extending from said arm member and curving rearwardly, downwardly and forwardly, and a lower end having a tool tip attached thereto and positioned generally under said cradle member; whereby said tool shank tends to push forwardly and downwardly on said tool tip during use while providing a substantial ability to deflect upwardly and trip over obstacles.