Backpack leaf blower

A leaf blower to be worn by a user. The leaf blower including a frame having a back plate defining a back plate plane and a blower system coupled to the frame. The blower system includes a motor having drive shaft, the drive shaft defining an axis, and the axis forms an angle with respect to the back plate plane between about 5 degrees and about 35 degrees.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a leaf blower and, more particularly, to a backpack leaf blower.

A leaf blower is a gardening tool that propels air out of a nozzle to move yard debris, such as leaves, twigs, and the like. Typically, these devices include a power source, such as an internal combustion or electric motor, driving a blower that in turn exhausts air under pressure. In most leaf blower designs, the air exhausted from the blower must travel through some type of elbow or bend before it can be directed through the output, reducing efficiency of the device. Furthermore, existing leaf blower designs generally position the motor (usually the heaviest part of the leaf blower) far away from the user's back, increasing the strain on the user and making the device uncomfortable to wear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, the invention includes a leaf blower to be worn by a user, the leaf blower including a frame having a back plate defining a back plate plane and a blower system coupled to the frame. The blower system includes a motor having a drive shaft, the drive shaft defining an axis, and wherein the axis forms an angle with respect to the back plate plane between about 5 degrees and about 35 degrees.

In other embodiments, the invention includes a leaf blower to be worn by a user, the leaf blower including a frame having a back plate and a base plate extending from the back plate, wherein an angle is formed between the back plate and the base plate. The leaf blower also includes a blower system coupled to the base plate of the frame. Further, the angle between the back plate and the base plate is between about 55 degrees and about 85 degrees.

In still other embodiments, the invention includes a leaf blower to be worn by a user, the leaf blower including a frame having a back plate defining a back plate plane and a blower system coupled to the frame. The blower system includes a housing defining a chamber and an impeller at least partially positioned within the chamber and having an axis of rotation. The housing defines a working plane substantially perpendicular the axis of rotation of the impeller, wherein the working plane of the housing forms an angle with respect to the plane of the back plate between about 55 degrees and about 85 degrees.

In still other embodiments, the invention includes a leaf blower to be worn by a user, the leaf blower including a frame and a blower system coupled to the frame. The blower system includes a housing defining a chamber and an impeller at least partially positioned within the chamber and having an axis of rotation. The housing defines a working plane substantially perpendicular the axis of rotation of the impeller. The leaf blower also includes an output tube defining an axis therethrough where the axis of the output tube is substantially aligned with the working plane

In still other embodiments, the invention includes a leaf blower to be worn by a user, the leaf blower including a frame having a back plate defining a back plate plane, and a blower system coupled to the frame. Where the blower system includes a motor having a center of gravity, and wherein a distance between the back plate plane and the center of gravity is less than half a length of the leaf blower when the distance and the length is measured perpendicularly from the back plate plane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4illustrate a leaf blower10to be worn by a user like a backpack. The leaf blower10includes a frame14, a harness (not shown) for securing the frame14to the user, a blower system18coupled to the frame14, and an output hose22for directing the blower's exhaust. During use, the blower system18produces a high pressure air flow capable of clearing leaves, twigs, and other debris from a given area. In the illustrated embodiment, the orientation of the blower system18on the frame14allows the output hose22to be attached without the use of an elbow or other curved ducting. As such, the present invention has reduced air resistance, which increases the efficiency of the device.

Illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the frame14of the leaf blower10provides a mounting point for the blower system18and is shaped to be worn comfortably by the user. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame14is substantially “L” shaped, having a back plate26defining a back plate plane30, and a base plate34extending from a bottom38of the back plate26and defining a base plate plane42. When the leaf blower10is worn, the back plate26of the frame14contacts the user's back and is generally aligned with the user's spine (FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the back plate26may be contoured to better correspond to the curvature of a user's back. In other embodiments, the back plate26may include padding, such as foam or fabric, to increase comfort.

The base plate34of the frame14extends from the back plate26proximate the bottom38, and forming an angle A therewith. The angle A is preferably between about 55 degrees and about 85 degrees, and in the illustrated embodiment is about 65 degrees.

Illustrated inFIGS. 1,2and4, the blower system18is coupled to the frame14and includes a motor46, an impeller48driven by the motor46, and a housing50at least partially encompassing the impeller48and having an air inlet54and an air outlet58. During use, the motor46drives (e.g., rotates) the impeller48causing it to draw air into the air inlet54to be exhausted through the outlet58under pressure. More specifically, the illustrated blower system18is a centrifugal type blower, having an impeller48that draws air axially through the inlet54to be centrifugally forced out the outlet58.

In the illustrated embodiment, the blower system18is coupled to the frame14by three vibration isolating members62(e.g., rubber gaskets, springs, and the like). In the illustrated embodiment, the vibration isolating members62extend between the blower system18and the frame14(e.g., the base plate34). During use, the vibration isolating members62at least partially absorb and dissipate any vibrations formed by the blower system18during use. In other embodiments, fewer or more isolating members62may be used.

The motor46of the blower assembly includes a drive shaft64defining an axis66therethrough. When the blower assembly18is assembled, the axis66of the drive shaft64forms an angle B with respect to the back plate plane30(FIG. 1). The angle B is preferably between about 5 degrees and about 35 degrees, and in the illustrated embodiment is about 25 degrees. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor46is an internal combustion type motor, however in other embodiments, an electric motor or other type of power source may be used.

The orientation of the motor46with respect to the frame14allows the motor's center of gravity CG to be placed closer to the user's back, thereby making the backpack leaf blower10more comfortable and easier to carry. More specifically, a distance16between the center of gravity CG and the back plate26(i.e., CGD) is less than half the overall length L of the leaf blower10, when each distance is measured perpendicularly from the back plate26(i.e., CGD<L/2).

Referring toFIG. 4, the housing50of the blower system18defines a chamber68defining the air inlet54and the air outlet58. During operation, the motor26rotates the impeller48within the housing50, causing air to be drawn in through the inlet54and exhausted, under pressure, through the outlet58. Although not illustrated, the housing50may include one or more channels or walls to direct air within the chamber68. The housing50also defines a working plane70, substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation66of the impeller48. In the illustrated embodiment, the working plane70forms an angle C with respect to the back plate plane30. The angle C is between about 55 degrees and about 85 degrees, and in the illustrated embodiment is about 65 degrees.

The output tube22extends from the air outlet58of the housing50and directs the high pressure exhaust of the blower system18. In the illustrated embodiment, the output tube22includes a flexible portion74connected to the air outlet58and a rigid portion78extending from the flexible portion74to a tube outlet76. When assembled, the user may adjust the rigid portion78, using it as a nozzle to direct the high pressure air stream from the blower system18. When the flexible portion74is straight and aligned with the rigid portion78(e.g., a “straightened configuration”), the output tube22extends along a tube axis82.

In the illustrated embodiment, the tube axis82of the output tube22is alignable with and to lie in the working plane70of the housing50(FIG. 1). Also, in the illustrated embodiment, when the rigid portion78of the output tube22is in a rested position (e.g., the flexible portion74is straight (the straightened configuration)), the axis82is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the impeller48(and to the axis66of the drive shaft64). By being aligned with and lying in the working plane70of the housing50, the high pressure air flow produced by the blower system18exits directly from the outlet58and through the output tube22without encountering any unnecessary resistance (e.g., by traveling through an elbow tube and the like).

The output tube22also includes a control handle86coupled to the rigid portion78to help the user control the orientation of the output tube22. In the illustrated embodiment, the control handle86includes one or more controls90, such as a trigger or throttle, to set the motor speed, ignition, and the like.

Although the invention is described with regards to a leaf blower, in further embodiments the same geometry and orientations may be used in other designs, such as blower vacs and the like.