Abstract:
A device for attaching a handle or handlebar to a portable tool to be adjustable about two parallel axes in order to increase the range for the adjustments of position of the handle or handlebar relative to the tool. The device can also be used with existing tools.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for attaching a handle or a handlebar to a portable tool with the cutting head placed in the end of a pole or shaft, such as a clearing saw, a cord trimmer or a hedge trimmer. 
     Different types of engine-powered portable tools, such as clearing saws, rotary trimmers and hedge trimmers, are widely used for work in gardens and forests. In order to facilitate the work even more is it important to improve the ergonomic design of the tool so that the tool will fit the operator even though the working conditions changes and the fact that different operators have different physical conditions. 
     One area of specific importance relates to attaching of the handle or handlebar to tools provided with an engine at one end of a pole or shaft and a cutting head placed at the other end of the pole or shaft. The length of the pole is different for different types of tools depending on the work that the tool is intended to do. These types of tools improve the working conditions for the operator since the tool design increases the range that is reachable for the operator. 
     There are a couple of different approaches known that enable the operator to adjust the handle or the handlebar so that the working conditions for the operator are optimized. 
     One approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,719 in which the handle is slidable along the pole so that the handle can be fastened in a selected position. This approach has the drawback that it is only possible to adjust the position of the handle in one direction, along the pole. 
     Another approach is illustrated in U.S. Design Pat. No. 333,954 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,298. In order to make it possible to optimize the working conditions for the operator, the handle or handlebar is rotatable within the fastening device of the tool. 
     The handle or handlebar is then fastened in a selected position. This approach has the drawback that it allows the operator to select the height of the handle relative the tool but only makes it possible to make marginal adjustments in the axial direction along the pole. The handle can also be moved to a position suitable for transport with the handle parallel to the pole. 
     It is therefor desirable to increase the flexibility of the tools so that the operator will have a better opportunity to adjust the tool so that it will fit the operator, as well as the working conditions, as well as possible. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention that is described in this application solves this problem without substantial changes in the construction and design of existing tools. 
     The new approach, as described in detail hereinafter, makes it possible for the operator to adjust the position of the handle or handlebar in an axial direction along the pole as well as to adjust the height of the handle in relation to the pole and the tool. The handle or the handlebar can also slide sideways in the fastening device if desirable for the operator. 
     The present invention also makes it possible to retrofit existing tools. This could be done by using a single accessory that fits existing tools. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the attached drawings and described in relation to the drawings, whereas 
         FIG. 1  shows a portable tool having a device for attaching the handle or handlebar to the tool according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows the device for attaching the handle or the handlebar to the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows an arm of the device of  FIG. 1 , being detached for clarity. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a tool according the present invention includes an engine  10 , as well as all necessary equipment for the running of the engine  10 , mounted at one end of a shaft or a pole  11 . A cutting head  12  is located at the other end of the shaft or pole  11 . The cutting head  12  can be shaped in different ways depending on what kind of work the tool is designed for. The cutting head  12  could, for example, be a clearing saw or a trimmer head having a filament. A holder  13  for a handle or a handlebar  14  attached to the shaft or pole  11 . The handle or the handlebar is normally equipped with different instruments for control of the engine. The holder  13  can be rotated into a position where the handle is parallel with the pole in order to make it easier to store and transport the tool. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in order to increase the adjustability of the handle or handlebar  14 , the tool provided with an arm  15  that is placed between the handlebar  14  and the holder  13 . This arm  15  is rotatable within the holder  13  and thus permits adjustment of the handle or handlebar  14  in relation to the tool in an axial direction along the pole  12  and of the height of the handle or handlebar  14  above the pole  12 . The length of the arm  15  regulates or determines the range over which the handle or handlebar  14  can be adjusted. The length of the arm  15  can therefor be selected to match the operator&#39;s need for adjustments. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the arm  15  comprises a lower part  16  and an upper part  17  that secures the handle or handlebar  14  to the lower part  16  and to the tool. The lower part  16  includes a cylindrical axle  18  that is placed in the holder  13 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the holder  13  comprises two plate-shaped halves with a cylindrical groove in-between. The axle  18  fits in the groove between the plate-shaped halves that are secured to each other with a screw  21 . The screw  21  also secures the axle  18  in a user-selected position. 
     As best shown by  FIGS. 1 and 2 , this construction makes it possible for the arm  15  to rotate around or pivot about an axis  25  close to or perpendicular to the axial direction of the shaft or pole  11 . The axis  25  that the arm  15  rotates around is normally separated by between 5 and 15 degrees from the perpendicular direction relative the axial direction of the shaft or pole  11  in order to place the cutting head  12  in front of the operator during normal use of the tool. The shaft or pole  11  is, during normal use, supported against the hip of the operator. The angle of the axis  25  that the arm  15  rotates around can be changed as necessary in order to improve the working condition for the operator. 
     The axle  18  has in both ends perpendicular support arms  19 . In the ends of the support arms  19  facing away from the axle  18  is a plate  22  fastened to the support arms  19  so that the plate  22  is running in parallel direction as the axle  18 . The plate  22  has a semicylindrical groove  23  running in the same axial direction as the axle  18 . The semicylindrical groove  23  is shaped so that the handle or handlebar  14  fits in the half cylindrical groove  23 . The handle or handlebar  14  is secured to the lower part  16  by an upper part  17  that is placed so that the handle or handlebar  14  is clamped between the lower part  16  and the upper part  17  by a screw  20 . 
     The axis  24  between the lower part  16  and the upper part  17  about which the handle or handlebar  14  can rotate is alternately referred to herein as the “first axis”. The axis  25  in the holder  13  about which the arm  15  can rotate is alternately referred to herein as the “second axis.” 
     The handle or handlebar  14  fastened between the lower part  16  and the upper part  17  makes it possible for the handle or the handlebar  14  to slide sideways  26  to the operator&#39;s desired position.