Scoop and blade guard for hedge trimmer

A blade guard for a hedge trimmer that can cut trimmings from a hedge includes a cutting arm member with a first set of the cutting blades that extends laterally from the cutting arm member. The blade guard generally includes a first housing member and a second housing member movable between an open condition and a closed condition. A connecting member on the blade guard member that is operable to releasably couple to the cutting arm member. The first housing member and the second housing member in the open condition establish an opening between the first housing member and the second housing member. The blade guard in the open condition is operable to catch the trimmings in the opening between the first housing member and the second housing member. The blade guard in the closed condition is operable to cover the first set of the cutting blades.

FIELD

The present teachings relate to a blade guard and more particularly relate to a blade guard that covers all of the cutting blades on a hedge trimmer in a closed condition and can also serve as a scoop to catch clippings that can be cut by the hedge trimmer when the blade guard forms an opening in an open condition.

BACKGROUND

Typically, hedge trimmers can be used to trim hedges and other greenery around a residence or business. The cutting blades of the hedge trimmer remain exposed during use and storage. A blade guard can be used to cover the blades on the hedge trimmer and then must be removed before use of the hedge trimmer. During a hedge trimming operation, clippings from the hedge can drop to the ground while the user is trimming the hedge. When done trimming the hedge, the user can collect the clippings and then re-attach the blade guard to the hedge trimmer for storage.

SUMMARY

The present teachings generally include a blade guard for a hedge trimmer that can cut trimmings from a hedge. The hedge trimmer includes a cutting arm member with a first set of the cutting blades that extends laterally from the cutting arm member. The blade guard generally includes a first housing member and a second housing member movable between an open condition and a closed condition. A connecting member on the blade guard is operable to releasably couple to the cutting arm member of the hedge trimmer. The first housing member and the second housing member in the open condition establish an opening between the first housing member and the second housing member. The blade guard in the open condition is operable to catch the trimmings in the opening between the first housing member and the second housing member. The blade guard in the closed condition is operable to cover the first set of the cutting blades.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present teachings, their application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

With reference toFIG. 1, the present teachings generally include a blade guard10for a hedge trimmer12. The blade guard10in an open condition can be used as a scoop14to catch clippings16while the hedge trimmer12can be used to trim hedges18or other greenery. With reference toFIGS. 6 and 8, the blade guard10can also be used to cover all of the cutting blades20on the hedge trimmer12when the blade guard10is in a closed condition.

With reference toFIGS. 1,3,4and5, the hedge trimmer12, in the open condition, can be removed from the blade guard10and reinserted into an attachment groove30(FIG. 5) so that the blade guard10can be used as the scoop14to catch the clippings16, while the hedge trimmer12is used, as illustrated inFIG. 1. In doing so, the blade guard10in the open condition can provide an opening32that can form the scoop14. The same opening32can also receive and be closed around the cutting blades20of the hedge trimmer12to contain all of the cutting blades20, so as to not permit contact with the cutting blades20of the hedge trimmer12.

With reference toFIG. 5, the blade guard10can include a first housing member40and a second housing member42that can be rotatably connected to one another. One or more hinge members44can permit the first housing member40and the second housing member42to pivot relative to one another. In one example, two hinge members44are implemented on the blade guard10. The one or more hinge members44can be configured to suspend the first and second housing members40,42at an angle46(FIG. 4) from one another to establish the opening32therebetween, which, in turn, can provide the scoop14.

One or more spring members48can be disposed with each of the one or more hinge members44to bias the blade guard10in the open condition. With the one or more hinge members44and the one or more spring members48, the blade guard10can be biased in the open condition so that the first and second housing members40,42form the angle46that provides the opening32and can establish the scoop14. By way of the above example, one spring member48can be implemented with each of the hinge members44.

With reference toFIG. 3, the hedge trimmer12can include a gasoline powered or electric powered motor50that can cause some of the cutting blades20on a cutting arm member52to move. In this regard, the cutting blades20include multiple fixed cutting blades54disposed among multiple moving blades56, as is known in the art. As the multiple moving blades56move relative to the fixed blades54, portions of the hedge18or other greenery can be cut between the cutting blades20. Each of the moving blades56and the fixed blades54are operably connected to the cutting arm member52.

The cutting arm member52can extend from a housing58of the hedge trimmer12that contains the motor50. The moving blades56and the fixed blades54can provide a first set60of the cutting blades20(both fixed and moving blades54,56) that can extend laterally from the cutting arm member52and a second set62of the cutting blades20(both fixed and moving blades54,56) that can extend laterally in the opposite direction from the first set60of the cutting blades20. It will be appreciated in light of the disclosure that the hedge trimmer12need not have two sets of the cutting blades20. For example and as illustrated inFIGS. 10,11and12, a hedge trimmer200can have a first set202of the cutting blades204and, as such, the hedge trimmer lacks additional sets of the cutting blades204, as discussed herein.

With reference toFIGS. 6,7and8, the blade guard10can be configured to permit all of the cutting blades20of the hedge trimmer12to be placed between the first and the second housing members40,42of the blade guard10so as to cover both the first set60and the second set62of the cutting blades20when the blade guard10is moved to the closed condition. With reference toFIG. 8, the first housing member40of the blade guard10can include a middle channel70on an interior surface72that can hold a portion of the cutting arm member52. The middle channel70can be disposed between a first side channel74and a second side channel76. When the middle channel70of the first housing member40receives the cutting arm member52of the hedge trimmer12, the side channels74,76can also receive the first set60and the second set62of the cutting blades20in each of the side channels74,76, respectively.

The second housing member42of the blade guard10can include a middle channel80on an interior surface82of the second housing member42that can hold a portion of the cutting arm member52. The middle channel80on the second housing member42can be disposed between a first side channel84and a second side channel86. When the middle channel80of the second housing member42receives a portion of the cutting arm member52of the hedge trimmer12, the side channels84,86of the second housing member42can also receive the first set60and the second set62of the cutting blades20in each of the side channels84,86, respectively.

With reference toFIGS. 3 and 5, the first housing member40and the second housing member42can cooperate to from an aperture90through which the cutting arm member52of the hedge trimmer12can be inserted. With reference toFIG. 9, the blade guard10through the aperture90can slide over the cutting arm member52and the cutting blades20. With reference toFIGS. 6 and 8, the blade guard10can, when in the closed condition, completely cover both sets60,62of the cutting blades20and the cutting arm member52of the hedge trimmer12. In one example, an end portion92of the blade guard10adjacent to the aperture90can abut a portion of the housing58of the hedge trimmer12.

With reference toFIG. 7, when the blade guard10is in the open condition, a user100(FIG. 1) can remove the hedge trimmer12from the blade guard10. The user100can then insert the first set60of the cutting blades20or the second set62of the cutting blades20into the attachment groove30, as shown inFIG. 3. With reference toFIG. 5, the attachment groove30can define an elongated channel102along one side of the blade guard10that can be formed in the second housing member42. It will be appreciated in light of the disclosure that the attachment groove30can be formed on the first housing member40in lieu of (or in addition to) the second housing member42.

The attachment groove30can further include one or more connecting members104that can be adjacent to the attachment groove30. The one or more connecting members104can generate a magnetic field. In one example, the one or more connecting members104can be one or more magnets106that can be affixed to the second housing member42of the blade guard10. The one or more magnets106can be configured to releasably connect to the cutting arm member52and thus can secure the first set60of the cutting blades20(or the second set62of the cutting blades20) within the attachment groove30. The attachment groove30may contact and hold the first set60or the second set62of the cutting blades20in the attachment groove in addition to the releasable connection between the connecting members104and the cutting arm member52. The attachment groove30can also just cover the first set60or the second set62of the cutting blades20while only relying on the connecting members104to releasably secure the blade guard10to the cutting arm member52.

In this arrangement, the user100(FIG. 1) can keep the blade guard10in the open condition and can have the blade guard10attached to the first set60of the cutting blades20on the hedge trimmer12. To this end, the user100can use the hedge trimmer12to trim the hedge18or other greenery and the clippings16can be caught in the scoop14established by the opening32formed by the blade guard10while in the open condition, as illustrated inFIG. 1. It will be appreciated in light of the disclosure that the open condition of the blade guard10can provide the scoop14because the first and the second housing members40,42provide a v-shape110. The v-shape110can provide the opening32that ultimately can serve as the scoop14. The blade guard10can catch the clippings16from the hedge18or other greenery in the scoop14while the first set60of the cutting blades20of the hedge trimmer12can be kept within the attachment groove30of the blade guard10. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the user100need not use the blade guard10in the open condition.

With reference toFIG. 5, the first housing member40of the blade guard10can include one or more latch members112that can secure to one or more respective flanges114that can extend from the second housing member42. The one or more latch members112can connect to the one or more flanges114, respectively, and can overcome a spring force generated by the one or more springs48that can be associated with the one or more hinge members44of the blade guard10. By doing so, the user100(FIG. 1) can latch the blade guard10closed and thus can keep the blade guard10in its closed condition. It will be appreciated in light of the disclosure that the blade guard10can be placed into the closed condition or placed into the open condition whether the hedge trimmer is or is not contained within the opening32of the blade guard10.

With reference toFIGS. 4 and 8, the one or more hinge members44can include a first block member120and a second block member122. The first block member120can be formed on the first housing member40and the second block member can be formed on the second housing member42. The first block member120can have an abutting surface124and the second block member122can have an abutting surface126. When the blade guard10is in the closed condition (FIG. 8), the abutting surfaces124,126on the first and second block members120,122, respectively, are spaced from one another. When the blade guard10is in the open condition (FIG. 4), the abutting surfaces124,126on the first and second block members120,122, respectively, come into contact with one another. When the abutting surfaces124,126contact one another, the blade guard10can be held in the open condition. The one or more spring members48can maintain the abutting surfaces124,126in contact with each other.

With reference toFIG. 4, the first block member120and the second block member122can be configured to hold the blade guard10in the open condition so that the first housing member40and the second housing member42can be held apart from one another at the angle46. Because the abutting surface124can contact the abutting surface126(or vice versa) and stop the pivotal movement of the first and second housing members40,42about the hinge member44, a dimension128(FIG. 8) between the abutting surfaces124,126can be adjusted to provide various values of the angle26between the first housing member40and the second housing member42, when the blade guard10is in the open condition.

With reference toFIG. 4, the blade guard10can have a front side130and a rear side132. The aperture90can be formed on the rear side132. The blade guard10can also have a first side134where the first and second housing members40,42can pivotally couple. The first and second housing members40,42can also have a second side136where the first and second housing members40,42can latch together with the one or more latch members112. The second side136can also include the attachment groove30on the second housing member42.

With reference toFIG. 9, the blade guard10can be slid over the cutting arm member52and the cutting blades20. The blade guard10can slide over the cutting arm member52and the cutting blades20while the blade guard10is in the closed condition. In this regard, the cutting arm member52and the cutting blades20can be inserted into the aperture90. The blade guard10can be advanced along the cutting arm member52and the cutting blades20until the end portion92of the blade guard10abuts or comes close to contacting the housing58of the hedge trimmer12. The hedge trimmer12can be removed from the blade guard10either by opening the blade guard10and removing the hedge trimmer12or by sliding the hedge trimmer12out of the blade guard10through the aperture90.

The cutting arm member52and the cutting blades20can be retained in the blade guard10using friction provided by the interior surfaces72,82(FIG. 8) of the blade guard10contacting the cutting arm member52and the cutting blades20. The blade guard10can also be slid over the cutting arm member52and the cutting blades20while the blade guard10is in the open condition albeit the cutting blades20and the cutting arm members52would contact only a portion of the aperture90.

With reference toFIGS. 10,11and12, a hedge trimmer200can have a first set202of the cutting blades204and, as such, the hedge trimmer lacks additional sets of the cutting blades204in contrast to the hedge trimmer12having the first set60and the second set62of the cutting blades20, as shown inFIG. 7. The hedge trimmer200can similarly include a gasoline powered or electric powered motor210that can cause some of the cutting blades204on a cutting arm member212to move. In this regard, the cutting blades204can include multiple fixed cutting blades214disposed among multiple moving blades216(FIG. 11), as is known in the art. As the multiple moving blades216move relative to the fixed blades214, portions of the hedge18(FIG. 1) or other greenery can be cut between the cutting blades204. Each of the moving blades216and the fixed blades214are operably connected to the cutting arm member212that can extend from a housing218of the hedge trimmer200

In an exemplary method and with reference toFIG. 12, all of the cutting blades20of the hedge trimmer12can be removed from the opening32of the blade guard10. It will be appreciated in light of the disclosure that the hedge trimmer12can be removed from the blade guard10by lifting the hedge trimmer12out of the opening32of the blade guard10while the blade guard10is in the open condition or by sliding the blade guard10off the cutting arm members52and the cutting blades20.

In box304, the user100can connect to the cutting arm member52. In this regard, the one or more connecting members104can releasably couple to the cutting arm member52. When the hedge trimmer12has the first set60and the second set62of the cutting blades20, the first set60or the second set62can be retained in the attachment groove30. When the hedge trimmer200has only the first set202of the cutting blades204, the blade guard10can just attach to the cutting arm member212without retaining any of the cutting blades204in the attachment groove. In box306, the user100can cut the hedge18or other greenery with the blade guard10in the open condition while connected to the hedge trimmer12. In box308, the user100can remove the clippings16from the scoop14of the blade guard10.

In box310, the user100can disconnect the cutting arm member52of the hedge trimmer12from the blade guard10without any tools. In one example, the user100can pull the cutting arm member52of the hedge trimmer12away from the one or more connecting members104. By way of the above example, the user100can overcome the magnetic force that can be established by the one or more connecting members104that can otherwise couple the cutting arm member52,212to the blade guard10.

In box312, the user100can return the hedge trimmer12to the blade guard10. While the blade guard10is in the open condition, the user can place the hedge trimmer12into the blade guard10. While the blade guard10is in the closed condition, the hedge trimmer12can be inserted in the aperture90of the blade guard10. In box314, the user100can insert the cutting arm member52of the hedge trimmer12into the opening32or the aperture90of the blade guard10such that all of the cutting blades20of the hedge trimmer12can ultimately reside within the blade guard10.

While specific aspects have been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes can be made and equivalents can be substituted for elements and components thereof without departing from the scope of the present teachings, as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements, components and/or functions between various aspects of the present teachings are expressly contemplated herein so that one skilled in the art will appreciate from the present teachings that features, elements, components and/or functions of one aspect of the present teachings can be incorporated into another aspect, as appropriate, unless described otherwise above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, configuration or material to the present teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present teachings not be limited to the particular aspects illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present teachings, but that the scope of the present teachings include many aspects and examples following within the foregoing description and the appended claims.