Patent ID: 6324764
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: A01G

Abstract:
A hedge trimmer assembly, comprising:a head assembly including a rotatable trimmer head and a debris shield;a cutting line extending from the rotatable trimmer head;a pole, the head assembly being pivotably coupled to a first end of the pole;an adjustable head locking assembly for selectively locking the head assembly into a static position relative to the pole;a first handle extending from the pole;a motor for rotating the rotatable trimmer head, the motor being coupled to a second end of the pole;a trigger operationally coupled between the motor and the rotatable trimmer head for selectively activating the rotatable trimmer head when the trigger is squeezed:said pole having a pivot hole and a locking hole proximate said first end;wherein said head locking assembly includesa pair of generally parallel spaced walls extending outwardly from a surface of said debris shield, each of said walls having a pivot aperture and a plurality of locking apertures, said locking apertures being positioned in spaced relationship to each other in an arcuate arrangement around said pivot aperture,said pivot apertures being aligned with said pivot hole of said pole,a pivot pin being coupled to said walls and said pole such that said pivot pin is inserted through said aligned pivot apertures and said aligned pivot hole, whereby said head assembly is pivotable around said pivot pin, anda locking pin, said locking pin being selectively couplable to said walls and said pole such that said locking pin extends through an aligned pair of said locking apertures and said locking hole in said pole whereby said head assembly is prevented from pivoting relative to said pole;said pole having a bend in a medial portion of said pole to define a first portion extending between said first end and said bend and a telescopic second portion extending between said second end and said bend;said motor being chosen from the group of motors consisting of a DC electric motor, an AC electric motor, and a gas engine;an alternate handle extending outwardly from said pole for facilitating gripping and control of the hedge trimmer assembly during use;said trigger being located on said first handle for permitting squeezing of said trigger by a user while gripping said first handle;an alternate trigger operationally coupled between the motor and the rotatable trimmer head for selectively activating the rotatable trimmer head when the alternate trigger is squeezed, said alternate trigger being located on said alternate handle for permitting squeezing of said alternate trigger by a user while gripping said alternate handle;an arcuate pole handle extending outwardly from said pole proximate said bend, said pole handle being for facilitating positioning of the head assembly during use;wherein said pole handle is coplanar with said first and second portions of said pole;said debris shield being arcuate and having outer ends said outer ends lying in a plane in which said cutting line rotates when said trimmer head is activated;said first handle having a gripping portion extending orthogonally outward from a plane in which said first and second portions of said pole lie; andsaid first handle having an extension portion extending between said gripping portion and said pole such that said gripping portion is offset from said pole.