Abstract:
A tool capable of functioning in a first configuration as one type of cutter or pruner and in a second configuration as another type of cutter or pruner has functions to increase the comfort and efficiency of the cutting process. In some embodiments, a pruning saw assembly may be employed with the cutter mechanism for versatility.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/211,382, filed Aug. 28, 2015, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to tools for landscaping and particularly to handheld tools for cutting and pruning, such as pruners, pull saws or lopping shears, that are used to trim plants, trees and other natural growth. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Gardeners and landscapers, both professional and recreational, often desire to prune the limbs of both live and dead ornamental landscape plantings. The process of pruning and/or trimming a tree or plant involves cutting of plants or limbs of varying diameter and density, to achieve a desirable shape. The larger and more robust limbs are often cut using a bypass style cutter, often referred to as loppers, which the smaller more delicate branches are trimmed using a handheld pruner. Alternatively, some pruning practices suggests that plant health is optimized and cutting effort is reduced by using anvil style pruners to cut dead and dry wood. Whereas, the bypass or scissor style pruners are best suited for cutting live plant wood growth. In any use, because of the various pruning scenarios, the task requires the purchase and use of multiple devices and it requires the operator to find and switch pruning devices throughout the process. 
         [0004]    Still further, while a lopper style cutter or bypass style cutter might be suitable for branches or cuttings of a certain diameter, there will still often be plants that are too large to prune using such tools. Oftentimes, saws are used for pruning thicker branches. This results in a further additional tool that must be purchased, maintained and carried by a landscaper or other person to the job sight work area. Also saws are often handheld versions that require a ladder for an extended or elevated use. 
         [0005]    As such, it is an objective of this invention to make the pruning process more convenient and time efficient by reducing the number of tools that have to be used during a pruning, trimming or landscaping process. It is another objective to reduce the number of tools that are necessary for purchase, transport and storage in order to handle multiple landscaping tasks. Still further, it is an objective to provide a tool that is comfortable and easy to use and configure. These and other objectives are addressed by the embodiments of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A landscaping tool in accordance with features of the invention may be selectively utilized as different types of cutters. The tool may be configured and reconfigured into the separate types of cutters as desired. In one embodiment, a set of bypass type cutters is in combination with a set of anvil type cutters. The cutter mechanisms implement features to reduce the distance that the handles of the tool have to travel to capture a branch and the distance that they have to travel toward each other to provide a cutting function. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another feature of the invention, the landscape tool of the invention may have a pruning saw assembly incorporated with the cutter mechanisms of the tool. In that way, in addition to pruning with a cutter, a pruning saw may be implemented. In one embodiment, the saw is a separate element. In another, the handles of the tool are reconfigured for forming and deploying an extended pool saw with the pruning saw at the end of the tool. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a landscaping tool of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  is a disassembled perspective view of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is another side view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is another side view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is another side view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 1  showing a transition between an anvil style cutter and a bypass style cutter. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is another side view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 1  shown as a bypass style cutter. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a landscaping tool of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a disassembled perspective view of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 10A  is a side view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 10B  is another side view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is another side view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is another side view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 7  showing a transition between an anvil style cutter and a bypass style cutter. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is another side view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 7  shown as a bypass style cutter. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a landscaping tool of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a side view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 15A  is a partially disassembled perspective view of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 15B  is a another partially disassembled perspective view of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is another perspective view of the embodiment of the landscaping tool  FIG. 14 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a partial perspective view of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 14  shown implementing a pruning saw assembly. 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a pruning saw assembly from the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  is a side view of the pruning saw assembly of  FIG. 18 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a landscaping tool of the invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 21  is another perspective view of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a pruning saw assembly from the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a pruning saw assembly from the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 24  is another perspective view of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 20  configured as a pole saw. 
           [0037]      FIG. 25  is another perspective view, in partial cross-section, of the embodiment of the landscaping tool of  FIG. 20 . 
       
    
    
       [0038]    It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the sequence of operations as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes of various illustrated components, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate visualization and clear understanding. In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example, for clarity or illustration. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a landscaping tool in accordance with features of the present invention. The landscaping tool embodiment  10  provides features of both an anvil style pruner or cutter and a bypass style pruner or cutter. The type of cutter may be selected by a user when needed and the tool can be readily and easily configured as desired. Handles of the tool  10  may be rotated around a center axis for choosing which style of cutter is to be used. 
         [0040]    More specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the tool  10  includes opposing handles  12   a , 12   a  that are arranged to pivot about a center shaft  14  and provide a cutting force for the tool. Each of the handles  12   a , 12   b  may be rotated around the center shaft  14  for selection of the particular style cutter blades that are to be utilized. The handles may be covered with a suitable plastic or foam  13  for comfort. To that end, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A , tool  10  includes opposing blade elements  16  and  18  that are mounted side by side and also configured to pivot or rotate around the center shaft  14 . A portion of the blade elements  16 , 18  each form one-half of a particular cutter. That is, the end  20  of blade element  16  forms one portion of an anvil style cutter while the other end  22  forms one portion of a bypass style cutter. Similarly, blade element  18 , at the forward end, provides a portion of the anvil style cutter while the rear end provides the other portion of the bypass style cutter. (see  FIG. 1B ). The various handles, blade elements and other elements as described herein are formed of a suitable material such as a metal that provides the strength and cutting edges and surfaces of the tool. 
         [0041]    More particularly, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , the blade elements  16  and  18  are coupled together by the center shaft  14  and are configured to rotate together about the center shaft. A spring device  24  is incorporated with the blade elements  16 - 18  and around the center shaft  14  and in a conventional manner operates on the blade elements to bias both the bypass style cutter and anvil style cutter to an open position as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 , for example. As discussed further herein, the various handles  12   a ,  12   b  will act on the sections of the blade elements that extend at the rear end  22  to engage the various handles, in order to close the blade elements with a cutting force. 
         [0042]    Turning to  FIGS. 2-4 , blade element  16  includes an anvil section  30  that provides an anvil surface  32 . Blade element  18  provides an anvil blade section  34  with an edge  36  that bears against anvil surface  32 , such as for cutting a branch or plant growth. That is, when handles  12   a , 12   b  are squeezed together, the anvil blade section  34  is brought against anvil section  30  so that edge  36  bears on surface  32  to provide a cut. To provide the cutting force, the handles  12   a , 12   b  couple with blade guards  40 ,  42  that capture the portions of the blade elements  16  and  18  at the rear end  22  of those blade elements as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , there are a pair of blade guards  40 ,  42  associated with each of the handles  12   a , 12   b . As such, there are blade guards on each side of tool  10 . The distance separating each of blade guards  40 , 42  from the other corresponding blade guards in the pair will vary such that the blade guards  40  for handle  12   a  fit inside the blade guards  42  of handle  12   b , so as to allow a scissor action of the tool. The blade guards have appropriate openings for the passage of center shaft  14  such that the blade guards and handles, as well as the blade elements  16  and  18  pivot around the center shaft  14 . In one embodiment of the invention, the handles and blade guards are not coupled with the spring  24  acting on the blade elements and therefore are free to rotate around the center shaft  14 . The center shaft might be held in place and the assembly held together by an appropriate threaded bolt/nut configuration, for example, or other suitable attachment mechanism. 
         [0043]    To operate the tool  10  such that closing the handles  12   a , 12   b  will close sections of the blade elements  16 , 18 , blade stop elements extend between the blade guards. The blade stop elements may be held between the blade guards again by an appropriate threaded bolt/nut configuration or some other configuration for maintaining their position between the blade guards for engaging the blade elements  16 , 18  at the rear end  22 . Referring to  FIG. 1A , blade guards are cut away on one side of the handles  12   a , 12   b  for illustrating the blade stop elements  44  associated with handle  12   a  and  46  associated with handle  12   b . In accordance with one embodiment as illustrated, the blade stop elements may be cylindrically shaped elements configured to bear against the blade elements  16 , 18  as discussed herein. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the bypass style cutter consists of two bypass blade sections  50 , 52 . The bypass blade elements are configured to bypass each other and form a scissors action to cut. Bypass blade section  50  is a part of blade element  16  and forms a unitary blade element along with anvil section  30 . Similarly, bypass blade section  52  is part of blade element  18  and forms a unitary blade element along with the anvil blade section  34 . Accordingly, the anvil style cutter and the bypass style cutter operate in conjunction such that action on one such cutter by the handles is translated to the other cutter. 
         [0045]    More specifically, referring to  FIG. 2 , tool  10  is illustrated to be configured as an anvil style cutter. That is, the anvil section  30  and anvil blade section  34  are positioned at the front of the tool for use. The scissor style cutter and bypass blade sections  50  and  52  are positioned rearwardly and generally in contact with the blade stop elements  44  and  46  as shown. When the handles  12   a , 12   b  are opened or spread apart to a maximum length L as shown in  FIG. 2 , the blade stop elements  44 , 46  do not significantly bear upon the bypass blade sections. As such, the anvil style cutter is open to receive an element to cut, such as a branch  56  or other growth. 
         [0046]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the respective anvil style cutters and bypass style cutters have notches formed therein, both internally along an inner edge in the respective anvil section  30  or anvil blade section  34  and also on externally along an outer edge. Such notches limit the length L that must be utilized in order to open the various cutters for receiving a branch  56 . Specifically, shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the anvil section  30  and anvil blade section  34  each include respective internal notches  60  that are formed in respective surface  32  and edge  36 . That is, for the length of the anvil section and anvil blade section, the respective surface  32  and edge  36  are not carried along in a continuous radius for the length of the sections  30 , 34 . Rather, the internal notches  60  are formed to receive the branch  56 . In that way, the branch may be received between the anvil section and anvil blade section for cutting purposes and may be positioned rearwardly in the anvil style cutter so that a cutting force may be applied with a significantly reduced distance L 1  at the end of the handles  12   a , 12   b . As seen in  FIG. 2 , with dashed lines along the surface and edge  32 ,  36 , a certain handle spread L would be necessary for engaging branch  56 , also the handles would then have to move together for a certain distance to effect the cut. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the notches  60  ensure that the branch  56  may be engaged by the respective surface  32  and edge  36  with the handles closer together than could be achieved with the traditional curved anvil section  30  and blade section  34 . Therefore the distance that the handles have to move toward each other to provide the desired cutting function for the tool is reduced. As a result, a greater amount of squeezing or gripping force may be applied to the handles  12   a , 12   b  for the purposes of cutting branch  56 . As may be appreciated, the gripping strength and therefore cutting strength of a hand is reduced the further the palm and fingers and thumb have to be spread out to apply a force to the handles. Also, the cutting stroke of bringing the handles together for the cutting function is reduced. Thus, the present invention ensures that maximum force may be applied over the shorter distance L 1  for proper cutting as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0047]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, to further reduce the distance L that the handles  12   a , 12   b  must be spread apart and then brought back together again to capture and cut branch  56  and to further reduce the handle distance L 1  for effective cutting and the amount of travel for the cutting function, external notches are used in the opposing bypass blade sections  50 , 52 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , external notches  64  are formed in respective bypass blade sections  50 , 52  at the position wherein the blade stop elements  44 , 46  would engage the blade sections  50 , 52  for operating the anvil style cutter. As such, the distances L and L 1  are again reduced to provide easier use of the tool  10  and a greater cutting force applied to either the anvil style cutter or bypass style cutter in use. The notches  64 , and their respective depths, may be adjusted as desired depending on the dimension of the blade elements  16 ,  18 . As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the notches  64  allow the bypass blade sections  50 , 52  to be engaged at a reduced distance D than the distance that may be required if the stop element acted on the blade elements without the notches  64  of the invention. This also reduces the amount of the distance that the handles have to travel or move toward each other to provide the desired cutting function. Accordingly, the combination of internal notches  60  on the actual cutter, as well as external notches  64  on the opposing blade sections that are acted upon by the handle through the stop elements, provides more comfortable use of the tool, as well as a greater cutting force applied by the tool when the handles  12   a , 12   b  are gripped or squeezed. 
         [0048]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the tool  10  may be readily changed from an anvil style cutter to a bypass style cutter through rotation of the handles  12   a , 12   b  about the center shaft  14 . As noted, while the blade elements  16 , 18  are spring-loaded to be biased apart at the cutting ends, the handles  12   a , 12   b  are free to rotate about the center shaft  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the handles may be rotated such that the blade guards  40 , 42  overlie or capture the sections of the blade elements  16 , 18  proximate end  20 . That is, the blade guards  40 , 42  overlie and capture the anvil section  30  and the anvil blade section  34  as seen, for example, in  FIG. 6 . As such, the tool  10  may then be used as a bypass style cutter with bypass blade sections  50 , 52  open to engage a branch  56 . The bypass blade sections  50 , 52  also include internal notches  68  that are formed in the sharpened edges  51 , 53  of the bypass blade sections  50 , 52 . As may be appreciated, the edges  36  and  51 , 53  may be sharpened to provide for ease of cutting. Surface  32  of the anvil section  30  will generally be more blunt as the sharpened edge  36  bears against surface  32 . Similarly, the respective notches  60 , 68  are also appropriately sharpened or angled, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , for ease of cutting. Internal notches  68  provide for a reduced handle opening or spread distance L as discussed hereinabove with respect to  FIGS. 1-5 . In that way, a branch might be engaged and moved to the back of the blade sections  50 , 52  while allowing a shortened gripping distance L 1  for greater cutting force to be applied by a user squeezing the handles  12   a , 12   b.    
         [0049]    In accordance with another feature, the sections of the anvil style cutter, including anvil section  30  and anvil blade section  34  also include external notches  70  formed in the external or outward edges of the respective sections  30 , 34 . The notches  70  are positioned and configured to engage the blade stop elements  44 , 46  in order to bear down against the spring biased blade elements and close the bypass blade sections  50  against each other for cutting branches and other growth. When the handles are rotated around, the stop elements engage the notches  70 . That is, the tool and the configuration shown in  FIG. 6  operates in a similar fashion to the tool as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  and thus can provide the benefits of the invention in both an anvil style cutter and bypass style cutter in a single tool  10 . The features as disclosed herein provide a greater ease of use, since a person&#39;s hand does not have to spread apart so significantly for engaging a branch or other growth and also provides an improved gripping scenario for application of a greater gripping force when a branch or other growth is to be cut in either configuration of tool  10 . That is, the internal notches in the various blade elements  16 , 18  allow a branch to be engaged with a smaller spread of the handles  12   a , 12   b . Similarly, the external notches reduce the handle spread length. When force is applied, the cooperation of the internal and external notches also provides for a reduced handle spread and the application of a greater cutting force by the hand of the user. 
         [0050]    The tool  10  also includes a latch for keeping the tool in a closed position, such as for storage. To that end, a slidable latch  47 , slides in an appropriately configured slot  49  in one of the blade guards. A finger piece  51  is engaged to slide the latch  47 . When the handles  12   a ,  12   b  are brought together, the latch  47  may be slid into an appropriately configured notch  53  in another of the blade guards. As may be appreciated, if the notch  53  is only on one side, the tool may have to be in an appropriate configuration (bypass or anvil) in order to latch. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 7-13  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein a single tool provides both an anvil style cutter and a bypass style cutter based upon the selected configuration of a user. Referring to  FIG. 7 , tool  100  may be used to operate as both a bypass style cutter and an anvil style cutter similar to other embodiments as discussed herein. Tool  100  is incorporated as a two-handed tool with longer handles that provide more leverage and are brought together to provide a greater cutting force on a branch or growth. Tool  100 , for example, may be used for thicker branches or tougher growth for which the handheld version of  FIGS. 1-6  would not be appropriate. The embodiment as discussed with respect to  FIGS. 7-13  may be used with basically elongated handles  102   a , 102   b  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, as discussed further herein, tool  100  might incorporate other handles that have integral features therein, such as a pruning saw assembly, for further providing additional uses for the tool. 
         [0052]    Turning to  FIG. 7 , tool  100  has an anvil type cutter head  104  that is positioned opposite a bypass style cutter head  106 . Action on the bypass cutter head  106  of the handles  102   a , 102   b  is translated to the anvil cutter head  104  to provide a cutting action. Similarly, when the tool  100  has been configured to act as a bypass style cutter, the bypass cutter head  106  is exposed for cutting as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . In such a version, the bypass tool might often be referred to as a “lopping shear”. Referring to  FIG. 9 , tool  100  includes blade elements  110 , 112  which rotate about a center axis  114 . Each of the blade elements provides one side of each of the anvil cutter head  104  and bypass cutter head  106 . More particularly, as shown in  FIG. 9 , blade element  110  provides an anvil section  116  with an anvil surface  118 . The anvil surface  118  may be integral with the blade element  110  or might be a separate piece as shown in the Figures that is attached by an appropriate bolt  119  or screw. The other side of blade element  110  is a bypass blade section  120 . Similarly, blade element  112  provides an anvil blade section  122  and an opposing bypass blade section  124 . The handles  102   a , 102   b  are coupled with appropriate blade guards  130 , 132  that include latching mechanisms therein for selecting the type of cutting head for the tool  100 . Center axis  114  may include a bolt element  134  with a threaded end  135  that couples with a threaded nut element  136 . Appropriate washers  138  might be utilized as well as a ratchet gear  140  that engages a tooth  142  that is coupled with blade guard  130 , such as through a plate  143 . The ratchet gear  140  bears against tooth  142  as the gear is rotated to provide a clicking sound used for audible feedback for a user. 
         [0053]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , blade guard  130  is configured to be somewhat more narrow than blade guard  132  so as to nest within the blade guard  132  in use. The blade guards also support the latching mechanisms used for configuring tool  100  into a particular type of tool, such as an anvil type cutter or bypass type cutter or lopping shear. As illustrated, the blade guards  130 , 132  rotate with respect to each other along with the appropriate handle  102   a ,  102   b.    
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the blade guards  130 , 132  that are coupled with handles  102   a  and  102   b  include latch mechanisms  150 , 152  for latching the unused sections of the blade elements and translating the force on the handles  102   a , 102   b  to the particular cutting head that is exposed. The latch mechanisms each include a sliding latch  154  coupled to bias springs  156  that are in turn coupled to a base element  158  in the respective blade guards. The springs  156  are held in alignment by post elements  160  on the latch and  162  on the base elements  158 . Each of the latches also includes a lock structure  164  on the latches  154 . The lock structure  164  engages an appropriate cross pin  166  that span between the opposing sides of the blade guards  130 , 132 . Formed in each of the sides of the blade guards are slots  155  in which the latches  154  travel. Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , each of the latches  154  includes slide section  170  that is configured to span between opposing sides of the blade guards and be captured on both sides so as to allow the latch to slide toward and away from the blade elements  110 , 112 . The slide sections  170  also include a forward edge  172  that is configured to engage appropriately configured notches  174 , 176  for coupling each of the blade elements  110 , 112  with a respective handle  102   a , 102   b . Each of the latches  154  also includes an engagement section  180  that may be manually engaged, such as by the hand or fingers of the user to pull the latches  154  along the tracks  155  formed in each of the blade guards  130 , 132 . By gripping the latch  154  proximate to the engagement sections  180 , the latches may be pulled rearwardly as illustrated by arrows in  FIG. 10B and 11  to disengage a particular latch  154  and handle  102   a , 102   b  from a respective blade element  110 , 112 . 
         [0055]    When in use, the latches  154  engage the respective notches  174 , 176  and thus lock the handles  102   a , 102   b  with the blade elements. However, to change between selectable cutting heads, the latches  154  are moved rearwardly to disengage from the blade elements and the blade elements may be rotated together about the center axis  114  so that a different cutting head is available for use. Referring specifically to  FIGS. 10A-12 ,  FIGS. 10A,10B  illustrate the tool  100  of the invention with an anvil style cutter head  104  as the available cutter head. To switch the cutter head, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the latches are engaged at the engagement sections  180  and pulled rearwardly against the bias of the springs  156 . The lock structures  164  of each of the latches  154  will engage the appropriate or respective cross pin. The lock structures  164  are configured or dimensioned to stay engaged with the cross pins  166  against the bias of the spring  156 . Referring to  FIG. 12 , the blade elements  110 , 112  or the handles  102   a ,  102   b  are rotated with respect to each other so as to expose the other blade sections for use. With respect to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the bypass blade sections  120 , 124  are exposed for providing the bypass cutter head  106  for usage. The bypass cutter head  106  or lopper shear is exposed while the anvil cutter head including anvil section  116  and anvil blade section  122  are contained in the blade guards  130 , 132  proximate to the handles. 
         [0056]    As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , each of the anvil blade section  122  and anvil section  116  includes a respective notch  190 , 192  for engagement with the latch mechanisms  150 , 152 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 13 , once the handles or the blade elements have been rotated with respect to the other for exposing a different cutter head, the latches  154  may be manually disengaged from a locked position, such as by pushing them forward as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 13 . The lock structures  164  then disengage from the cross pins  166  and the edges  172  of the latch slide sections then slide into the notches  190 , 192  to again lock the various blade elements  110 , 112  with the respective handles. Then, movement of the handles will cause movement of the various blade elements and thus cause a bypassing action of the bypass blade sections  120  and  124 . One or more of the opposing edges  121 , 123  might be sharpened as illustrated in  FIG. 12  for more efficient cutting. Similarly, the edge of the anvil blade section  122  might also be sharpened for improved cutting. In that way, tool  100  may have multiple purposes, including acting as both a bypass cutter or lopping shear and an anvil cutter, selectively. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 14-19  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein a pruning saw is incorporated into a combination tool that includes a cutting or pruning head. The illustrated embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 14-19  shows the use of handles that are used to drive or operate a cutting head, but also integrate a pruning saw assembly. The embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 14-19  are shown with a cutting/pruning head or mechanism that may be reconfigured between an anvil type cutter and a bypass type cutter. However, the embodiment as illustrated in  FIGS. 14-19  that has an incorporated and integrated pruning saw assembly does not have to be utilized with a reconfigurable device as illustrated, but might be used simply with a dedicated cutting mechanism, such as a dedicated anvil type cutter or a dedicated bypass type cutter. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , a tool  200  incorporates a cutting mechanism. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the cutting mechanism  202  is similar to that discussed herein with respect to  FIGS. 7-13 , for example. The handles  206   a ,  206   b  are used in a traditional sense for cutting. The tool  200  also incorporates an integral pruning saw assembly and feature as illustrated at  204  within at least one of the handles  206   a , 206   b  of the tool  200 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pruning saw assembly  204  is incorporated into handle  206   b . Referring to  FIG. 15 , the pruning saw assembly  204  incorporates a handle  210  and an integral saw blade  212 . The handle  210  portion acts as a portion of the handle  206   b  when the tool  200  is used as a cutter mechanism. That is, the handle  210  portion remains integral with the larger handle  206   b  of the tool until the pruning saw assembly is deployed. As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , movement of the handles in the direction of the arrows allows cutting and pruning as desired. Handle portion  210  is held integral with the handle  206   b  by a latch mechanism  214 . When the latch mechanism is latched, the pruning saw assembly  204  remains with the handle. Selectively, the latch mechanism  214  may be unlatched to release the pruning saw assembly  204 . 
         [0059]    The latch mechanism  214  as illustrated in  FIG. 16  is located along the handle  206   b  to provide a saw handle with a sufficient length for the length of the blade  212  stored within the handle portion  210 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 16 and 17  the latch mechanism  214  includes a telescoping segment  220   a  that matches with the telescoping segment  220   b  on the handle  210  of the pruning saw assembly  204 . A hinged latch  222  hinges about axis  224  and includes a cam  226  that bears against telescoping section  220   b  through opening  228  when the portions  220   a  and  220   b  are telescoped together as illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . By pivoting the latch  222  as shown by the arrow in  FIG. 17  away from telescoping section  220   a , the cam  226  is moved away from engagement with telescoping section  220   b  and the handle  210  may be slid away from handle  206   b  as shown in  FIG. 17 . In that way, the pruning saw assembly is separated and ready for use. Pruning saw assembly  204  includes saw blade  212  that has a stored position where it is stored inside the handle portion  210  and an extended deployed position. The blade may be extended from portion  210  and is shown extended in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . The assembly  204  also includes a screw tensioner  230  that slides in a track  232  formed within the handle  210  portion. Referring to  FIG. 19 , the tensioner  230  includes a knob  231  and threaded shaft  234  that extends through an appropriately formed opening  236  within one end of the blade  212  that may be rotated to loosen or tighten the end of the blade  212  in relation to the handle portion. To deploy the saw, the tensioner knob  231  and shaft are rotated until tension on the blade it is loosened. Once loose, the tensioner may be slid along the track to push the blade along the length of the handle portion  210  to the extended, deployed position as illustrated in  FIG. 18 . A portion of the track  232  extends along the telescoping portion  220   b . The tensioner is moved along the full length of the track  232  to deploy blade  212  as shown. The tensioner mechanism  230  is then rotated to tighten the blade with the handle portion  210  and lock it into the position as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . Then, the assembly may be used as a pruning saw as needed. To return the assembly  204  back to the tool  200 , the process is reversed. The tensioner  230  is loosened to move again on track  232 , blade  212  is withdrawn to the storage position, and the tensioner is again tightened. The telescoping portion  220   b  is then inserted into telescoping portion  220   a  as shown in  FIG. 17  and the latch is rotated back so that the cam  226  acts on a surface of telescoping portion  220   b  to hold the handle  210  together with the larger overall handle  206   b . When the tool  200  is in the cutter formation as illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , assembly  204  includes a hook  240  at the base end of the saw blade and the assembly that may be used for hanging the tool  200 . 
         [0060]      FIGS. 20-25  illustrate another alternative embodiment of the invention. Specifically,  FIG. 20  illustrates a tool  300  that incorporates a cutter/pruner mechanism  302  in combination with a pruning saw assembly  304 . As discussed with respect to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the cutter mechanism  302  may implement features of the invention as discussed with respect to  FIGS. 8-13  or may incorporate some other cutter mechanism, such as a dedicated anvil type cutter or a dedicated bypass type cutter rather than the reconfigurable mechanism of the invention. As such, the features of the invention as set forth with respect to  FIGS. 20-25  and the pruning saw assembly are not limited to a particular cutter mechanism  302  utilized with the tool  300 . 
         [0061]    The pruning saw assembly  304  is incorporated into at least one of the handles  306   a , 306   b  of the tool  300 . As illustrated in the Figures, the pruning saw assembly  304  is incorporated with handle  306   b  to form a portion of the handle. Turning to  FIG. 21 , the pruning saw assembly  304  incorporates a latch assembly that has a rotating latch element  310  that rotates about an axis  312  in the handle  306   b . Latch element  310  includes a stop element  314  that fits into a notch  316 . When the latch element  310  is rotated to a down position against handle  306   b  as shown in  FIG. 20 , latch assembly  308  holds the pruning saw assembly  304  with the rest of handle to form the elongated handle  306   b . However, when the latch is rotated away from handle  306   b  as shown in  FIG. 21 , the pruning saw assembly may be deployed. 
         [0062]    Specifically, referring to  FIG. 22 , the pruning saw assembly includes a handle portion  320 , a blade  322 , a tensioner mechanism  324 , and a telescoping section  326   a  which acts with a cooperating telescoping section  326   b  on the handle  306   b . As illustrated in  FIG. 22 , telescoping section  326   a  fits inside of telescoping section  326   b . However, other configurations might be utilized for securing the saw assembly with the handle. Blade  322  is stored within the pruning saw assembly  304  within a slot  328  formed in handle portion  320 . In the illustrated embodiment, the blade  322  extends through notch  316  as shown in  FIG. 21 . Accordingly, the stop element  314  might also be slotted so as not to interfere with blade  322  so that latch element  310  may be folded downwardly against handle  306   b.    
         [0063]    To deploy the saw, the latch element  310  is rotated away from handle  306 B as shown in  FIG. 21 . Referring to  FIG. 22 , this also frees up the blade  322  that may be rotated out of slot  328  to a deployed position as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 22 . The tensioner mechanism  324  may be tightened when the blade is in the fully deployed position as illustrated in  FIG. 23 . In such an arrangement, the blade  322  will generally be in a linear alignment with the saw handle  320 . Generally, the tensioner mechanism  324  as illustrated in  FIG. 20  includes a knob  323  that is coupled with a threaded bolt  325  that may be coupled as well with a nut (not shown). Rotation of the knob tightens or loosens the tensioner mechanism for securing the blade as desired. 
         [0064]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, once the latch mechanism has been opened and the blade deployed, the pruning saw assembly  304  and handle portion  320  may be separated from the handle  306   b  and the rest of the tool  300  as shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 . As such, the pruning saw assembly  304  may then be used as a separate pruning saw wherein a user simply grips the handle portion  320  and uses the saw as shown in  FIG. 23 . 
         [0065]    In an alternative embodiment of the invention, once the blade is deployed  322  and tightened into the extended position with the tensioner mechanism  324 , the assembly may be reinserted with handle  306   b  and then relatched such that the latch  310  holds the handle  320  with the larger overall handle  306   b  and the tool  300 . In that way, the pruning saw assembly  304  may be utilized as an extended pole saw with the tool as illustrated in  FIGS. 24 and 25 . More specifically, the handles  306   b  and  306   b  may be utilized along with the cutter mechanism  302  for forming a pole saw as illustrated in  FIGS. 24-25 . The tool shown in  FIG. 24  is shown with a slight angle in the handles once they are extended into the pole saw embodiment. As may be appreciated, the handles could be arranged with the cutter mechanism such that the pole is a straight pole rather than angled. 
         [0066]    The cutter mechanism  302  used with tool  300  may resemble the mechanism as illustrated in  FIGS. 7-13  and may be used to implement one way or extending the handles into the pole shape Other mechanisms might be used to secure the two handles together into a pole form, but in the illustrated embodiment, the cutter mechanism and features thereof might be used to provide the extension. The blade elements in such a mechanism would have appropriate notches for allowing the reconfiguration of the tool between different types of cutter mechanisms. To form the extended pole saw version as illustrated in  FIG. 24-25 , at least one of the latch mechanisms  332  may be unlatched to disengage from a notch of a respective blade element  334 , 336 . The handle  306   a  or  306   b  associated with the unlatched mechanism may then be rotated about the pruner mechanism  302  (or vice versa) in a fashion similar to the way that tool might be configured between different cutter mechanisms. Then the respective unlatched or disengaged latch  330 , 332  may engage into a respective notch  340  or  342  in the same blade element  334 , 336  as shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 25  is a cutaway version of one suitable pruning mechanism  302  for providing such an extended pole saw embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 24 . In typical use, one of the handles is engaged or latched with a respective one of the blade elements  334 ,  336  and acts on the respective blade element to move them toward and away from each other for the cutting function. Since each of the blade elements  334 , 336  are rigid elements, then coupling both handles  306   a ,  306   b  with a single element, the tool may turn into an extended pole structure. Accordingly, by incorporating the latch mechanisms  330 , 332  into notches  340 , 342  associated with just a single blade element, either  334  or  336 , the handles  306   a  and  306   b  are rigidly coupled together to form the elongated pole structure as illustrated in  FIG. 24  for the purposes of having an extended pruning saw or pole saw for implementing the pruning saw assembly  304 . In that way, a user has an extended reach for the purposes of any pruning or trimming tasks. While the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 25  shows the latch mechanisms  330 , 332  incorporated into the blade element  334 , those latch elements or others might also be incorporated into the respective notches formed in blade element  336  for the purposes of providing the pole saw embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 24 . The notches might be arranged on the blade elements to make a more straight pole version with the handles as noted. Furthermore, the blade  322  could be arranged such that the cutting teeth are on the opposing edge and opposite to what is shown in  FIG. 24 . Accordingly, the present invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 20-25  illustrates an embodiment wherein the pruning saw assembly might be used separately ( FIG. 23 ) or in an extended pole saw arrangement ( FIG. 24 ).