WORKING TOOL WITH ARTICULATING HEAD

A working tool with an articulation mechanism between a tool head and a tool shaft is provided. The working tool includes a tool head and an elongate shaft. The tool head is configured to articulate relative to the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft includes an articulating head connection having a pin. The tool head includes an articulating head attachment configured to couple with the articulating head connection and has at least two receiving openings for receiving the pin. The working tool further includes a shaft for rotation extending through the articulating head connection and the articulating head attachment. The shaft forms an axis of rotation for the tool head.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a handheld working tool with an articulating head relative to a shaft of the working tool.

BACKGROUND

Various handheld working tools may be connected to an elongate pole or shaft, e.g., to extend the reach of the working tool. The elongate pole or shaft may have a telescoping function to extend the reach of the tool head of the working tool to a desired length. However, based on the reach of the working tool and the position of a user, it can be desirable or necessary to position the head of the working tool at an angle relative to the elongate pole or shaft. Moreover, it can be desirable to choose an angle for the working tool among multiple options. Thus, a working tool head that is configured to articulate or rotate to several different positions or angles relative to the elongate pole or shaft may be advantageous.

Accordingly, improved working tools and articulation mechanisms for working tools are desired in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention in accordance with the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the technology.

In accordance with one embodiment, a working tool with an articulation mechanism between a tool head and a tool shaft is provided. The working tool includes a tool head and an elongate shaft. The tool head is configured to articulate relative to the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft includes an articulating head connection having a pin. The tool head includes an articulating head attachment configured to couple with the articulating head connection and has at least two receiving openings for receiving the pin. The working tool further includes a shaft for rotation extending through the articulating head connection and the articulating head attachment. The shaft forms an axis of rotation for the tool head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Moreover, each example is provided by way of explanation, rather than limitation of, the technology. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present technology without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed technology. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similar designations in the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the invention.

As used herein, the terms “first”, “second”, and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms “coupled,” “fixed,” “attached to,” and the like refer to both direct coupling, fixing, or attaching, as well as indirect coupling, fixing, or attaching through one or more intermediate components or features, unless otherwise specified herein. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For exam*, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of features is not necessarily limited only to those features hut may include other features not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive-or and not to an exclusive-or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

Terms of approximation, such as “about,” “generally,” “approximately,” or “substantially,” include values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. When used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction. For example, “generally vertical” includes directions within ten degrees of vertical in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise.

As used herein, “articulating joint” is used to mean a structure in which relative motion is allowed to occur between parts, usually by means of a hinged joint. “Articulation” is used herein to describe the relative motion between parts connected by an articulating joint.

In general, a working tool includes a tool head and an elongate shaft. The tool head is configured to articulate to one of a plurality of angles of articulation relative to the elongate shaft. An articulation mechanism may be operated manually or may be motorized.

Referring now to the drawings,FIG.1illustrates an exemplary working tool10of the present invention. For instance, the working tool10ofFIG.1may be a pruning shear, e.g., a telescoping pruning shear. The working tool10has an elongate shaft14coupled to a tool head12. The tool head12has a functional tool13at a proximal end thereof, e.g., a pruning shear, and an articulating head attachment60at a distal end thereof. The articulating head attachment60is configured to be coupled to an articulating head attachment18disposed at the proximal end16of the elongate shaft14. In this manner, an articulating joint is formed between the elongate shaft14and the tool head12.

The articulating head connection18of the elongate shaft14includes a housing20coupled to the proximal end16of the elongate shaft14. The housing20includes a cylindrical section22at a distal end of the housing20that is configured to be coupled to the proximal end16of the elongate shaft14. For instance, a cylindrical wall24of the cylindrical section22can be configured to surround the proximal end16of the elongate shaft14. The distal end of the cylindrical section22can include an opening formed by the cylindrical wall26for receiving the elongate shaft14. At a proximal end of the cylindrical section22, the cylindrical section22may have a stop surface28extending in a radial direction from a portion of the cylindrical wall26relative to the elongate shaft14that is configured to hold the proximal end16of the elongate shaft14in place. The stop surface28can extend a width from the cylindrical wall to a central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical section22.

Opposite the stop surface28in a radial direction, an extension section30of the housing20can be formed in a perpendicular direction relative to the stop surface28. For instance, the extension section30can be formed by an extension of the cylindrical wall26, e.g., a semi-cylindrical wall32, and an opposite wall34extending generally perpendicular from the stop surface28. The opposite wall34can be a planar wall, e.g., flat and/or straight, or have any curvature or bends as desirable to receive the articulating head attachment60, as will be described in further detail below.

Proximal to the extension section30of the housing20of the articulating head connection18, a receiving section36is formed. The receiving section36may include a receiving opening38formed between the opposite wall34of the extension section30and an upper radial wall40extending in a radial direction of the elongate shaft14, e.g., perpendicular to the opposite wall34. The housing20further includes a receiving section sidewall42extending from the semi-cylindrical wall32of the extension section30to the upper radial wall40. In some aspects of the present invention, the receiving section sidewall42may protrude from the semi-cylindrical wall32in a radial direction.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the receiving section36may receive a shaft for rotation50extending therethrough. The shaft for rotation50may form an axis about which the tool head12is configured to articulate or rotate with respect to the elongate shaft14. The shaft for rotation50may include a head52and an elongate body54. The receiving section sidewall42may include an aperture44through which the elongate body54of the shaft for rotation50can be inserted. The receiving section sidewall42may further include a shaft head stop surface46configured to contact the shaft head52to prevent insertion of the shaft head52through the aperture44. A gasket56, such as an O-ring, may be provided between the shaft head52and the aperture44and/or stop surface46. For instance, as illustrated inFIG.2, the gasket56is configured to surround the elongate body54adjacent to the shaft head52and contact both the aperture44and the stop surface46of the receiving section sidewall42. The elongate body54of the shaft for rotation50may extend through the receiving opening38and out into a receiving space48formed between the receiving opening38, the opposite wall34of the extension section30of the articulating head connection18, and the stop surface28of the cylindrical section22of the articulating head connection18, wherein the receiving space48is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the articulating head attachment60of the tool head12.

As shown inFIGS.1-2, the tool head12includes an articulating head attachment60that is configured to couple to the articulating head connection18of the elongate shaft14. The articulating head attachment60includes a housing62. The housing62of the articulating head attachment60can be integrated with the tool head12, e.g., formed in one piece with a housing of the tool head12, or may be formed separately and coupled to the tool head12, as shown inFIG.2.

The housing62of the articulating head attachment60includes a first sidewall64extending a longitudinal length of the housing62from a proximal end to a distal end. The first sidewall64can include an opening66for receiving a coupling element to couple the housing62to the tool head12if necessary or desired. The housing62includes a second sidewall68extending from the proximal end of the housing62opposite the first sidewall64. An insertion section70extends from the second sidewall68in a radial direction, i.e., generally perpendicular to the second sidewall68. The insertion section70includes an insertion section sidewall72extending from the second sidewall68in a radial direction, i.e., generally perpendicular to the second sidewall68. An end opening74is formed through the insertion section sidewall72and configured to receive the shaft for rotation50therethrough. The insertion section sidewall72may also include one or more sidewall openings76through the insertion section sidewall72. The insertion section sidewall72is configured to be inserted through the receiving opening38and into the receiving section36of the articulating head connection18. An outer surface of the insertion section sidewall72includes one or more channels78configured to receive an O-ring80therein. Each O-ring is configured to provide a frictional engagement between the outer surface of the insertion section sidewall72and an inner surface of the receiving section36of the articulating head connection18. Additionally, the insertion section sidewall72may include one or more connection elements82configured to engage with a corresponding surface of the receiving section36or extension section30of the articulating head connection18. For instance, the connection elements82may be provided on either side of a sidewall opening76. A first connection element82may be configured to engage with the semi-cylindrical wall32and a second connection element82may be configured to engage with the opposite wall34of the extension section30of the articulating head connection18. For instance, each connection element82may have a stop surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the insertion section sidewall72configured to engage with the articulating head connection18.

The housing62of the articulating head attachment60further includes an endwall84extending from the first sidewall64to a distal end of the insertion section70. The endwall84may be formed from an arcuate surface. The endwall84may include a receiving channel86for receiving at least a portion of an articulation mechanism, to be described in further detail below.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the articulating head attachment60is configured to receive the shaft for rotation50through the end opening74of the insertion section70. The shaft for rotation50can extend through an aperture90in the first sidewall64. When the insertion section70is inserted into the receiving section36as shown inFIG.2, the aperture44in the receiving section sidewall42is configured to be aligned with the aperture90in the first sidewall64of the housing62such that the shaft for rotation50extends generally perpendicular relative to a longitudinal direction of the elongate shaft14. One or more fixing elements92, e.g., nuts or bolts, may be provided to secure the shaft for rotation50within the aperture90. In this arrangement, the articulating head connection18and the articulating head attachment are coupled together via the shaft for rotation50, and the articulating head attachment60can articulate or rotate about an axis formed by the shaft for rotation50relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft14.

In order to secure the articulating head attachment60at a desired angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft14, an articulation mechanism100is provided. In some aspects of the present invention, the articulation mechanism100can be manually operated by a user of the tool10.

FIGS.1-2illustrate a manual articulation mechanism100. A latch102can be coupled to the elongate shaft14. For example, the latch102can include a cylindrical body104configured to receive the elongate shaft14therethrough. The cylindrical body104can have a proximal end106configured to abut a distal end of the cylindrical section22of the housing20of the articulating head connection18. The latch102can have a protruding section108at a distal end thereof. The protruding section108can form a gripping surface for a user to grip to slide the latch in a distal direction along the length of the elongate shaft14. The latch102further includes a pin110received in a pin channel112. The pin110is configured to extend through the pin channel112, which may be formed in or on the cylindrical body104of the latch102, the cylindrical section22of the housing20of the articulating head connection18, or both, as shown inFIG.1. The pin channel112is configured to be offset from the shaft for rotation50in both a radial direction and an axial direction. In other words, the pin channel112is disposed at a radially outward portion of the cylindrical body104and cylindrical section22away from a central longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft14, and the pin110is further separated from the shaft for rotation50in a longitudinal or axial direction. A proximal end114of the pin110is configured to extend from the pin channel112into the receiving space48. One or more stop elements116, e.g., nuts or bolts, may be provided to the pin110to hold the pin110in place with respect to the pin channel112. The latch102may further be provided with a coil spring (not shown) configured to bias the latch102in a locked arrangement, e.g., toward the proximal end16of the elongate shaft14and toward the articulating head connection18and the articulating head attachment60.

Still referring toFIGS.1-2, the articulating head attachment60may include a pin receiver120configured to receive the proximal end114of the pin110therein. The pin receiver120can be received in the receiving channel88on the endwall84and includes two or more receiving openings122spaced apart along a length of the pin receiver120. Each receiving opening122is sized and shaped to receive the proximal end114of the pin110and retain the pin110in place.

Each receiving opening122may correspond to an angle of articulation between the elongate shaft14and the tool head12. For instance, a first receiving opening122may correspond to a 0° angle between the elongate shaft14and the tool head12, i.e., the tool head12extends in longitudinal alignment with a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft14. Each additional receiving opening122can correspond to a non-zero degree angle between the tool head12and the elongate shaft14.

For instance, the tool head12may be configured to articulate to a relative angular position in a range from about −150° to about 150° with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft14at any desired interval therebetween. For instance, receiving openings122may be provided in the pin receiver120to correspond to articulation intervals a of from about 5° to about 150°, such as articulation intervals a of about 10°, 15°, 20°, 22.5°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, 120°, or any other desired articulation interval. The receiving openings122may be equally spaced apart such that the articulation intervals a are equal (i.e., equal angles); or the receiving openings122may be spaced apart by non-equal intervals. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS.1-2, the pin receiver120includes five pin receiving openings122spaced apart along the length of the endwall84to achieve articulation intervals a of about 22.5° in an articulation range from about 0° to about 90°, as best illustrated inFIG.4.

In another aspect of the present invention as illustrated inFIGS.5-6, there may be a motorized articulation mechanism200having a motor202configured to drive the articulation of the tool head12relative to the elongate shaft14. The motor202is coupled to a motor shaft204configured to rotate when the motor202is operated. The motor202can be a cam motor, a stepper motor, a brushless motor, and/or any suitable motor configuration. The motorized articulation mechanism200is provided with a rotation shaft212that corresponds to the shaft for rotation50of the manual embodiment described above, such that the rotation shaft212defines an axis of rotation for the tool head. The rotation shaft212includes a keyed interface that is configured to interface with the first sidewall64to transmit rotation driven by the motor202to the tool head12. One or more stops may be provided to the rotation shaft212to define the articulation angles α. The one or more stops can be in the form of a physical stop feature on the rotation shaft212or a gear system (as described below) and/or one or more Hall sensors provided to sense the amount of rotation of the rotation shaft212and control the motor202to initiate and/or cease driving rotation of the rotation shaft212to achieve a desired articulation angle α.

In one configuration of the motorized articulation mechanism200shown inFIG.5, at an opposite end of the motor shaft204from the motor202, a bevel gear set206may be provided to couple a bevel gear pinion208of the motor shaft204to a bevel gear210coupled to the rotation shaft212. The bevel gear210can be press fit onto an end of the rotation shaft212or coupled in any other suitable manner to the rotation shaft212.

In another aspect of the motorized articulation mechanism200shown inFIG.6, the motor shaft204can be provided with a worm gear system226. A worm gear228may be provided on the motor shaft204. The worm gear228can be machined with the motor shaft204or press fit onto the motor shaft204. The rotation shaft212can include a cooperating gear230configured to cooperate with the worm gear228. The cooperating gear230can be press fit onto the rotation shaft212or coupled in any other suitable manner to the rotation shaft212.

Turning back toFIG.3, the housing20of the articulating head connection18and the housing62of the articulating head attachment60may both be formed from a hollow construction to enable one or more elements to pass continuously through the elongate shaft14, the housing20of the articulating head connection18, the housing62of the articulating head attachment60and into the tool head12. For instance, one or more wires or cables may extend through the elongate shaft14, the housing20of the articulating head connection18, the housing62of the articulating head attachment60and into the tool head12. In one aspect of the present invention, as illustrated inFIG.3, a wire94having a 13 mm diameter may extend continuously through the elongate shaft14, the housing20of the articulating head connection18, the housing62of the articulating head attachment60and into the tool head12without impacting articulation of the tool head12relative to the elongate shaft14. In this arrangement, one or more elements of the tool head12can be powered or driven, e.g., via cable(s) or wire(s) extending from a source distal from the tool head12, e.g., coupled to or within the elongate shaft14.

Further aspects of the invention are provided by one or more of the following embodiments:

A working tool includes a tool head and an elongate shaft. The tool head is configured to articulate relative to the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft includes an articulating head connection having a pin. The tool head includes an articulating head attachment configured to couple with the articulating head connection and has at least two receiving openings for receiving the pin. The working tool further includes a shaft for rotation extending through the articulating head connection and the articulating head attachment. The shaft forms an axis of rotation for the tool head.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the tool head is configured to articulate relative to the elongate shaft at an angle in a range from about −150° to about 150° from a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the tool head is configured to articulate relative to the elongate shaft between a plurality of positions spaced apart by an angle in a range from about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the at least two receiving openings comprises from two to fifteen receiving openings.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein each receiving opening corresponds to a relative angular position between the tool head and the elongate shaft.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein each of the openings are equally spaced apart such that each relative angular position between the tool head and the elongate shaft is spaced apart by an equal angle.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the articulating head connection further comprises a latch, wherein the latch is coupled to the pin, wherein in a locked position of the latch, the pin is received in one of the receiving openings of the articulating head connection, and in an unlocked position of the latch, the pin is displaced from each of the receiving openings such that the tool head is permitted to rotate about the shaft for rotation.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the latch comprises a latch body surrounding the elongate shaft, a channel formed in the latch body for receiving the pin, and a coil spring configured to bias the latch toward the locked position of the latch.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the articulating head connection comprises a housing, wherein the shaft for rotation extends through the housing of the articulating head connection, and a receiving opening surrounding the shaft for rotation. The articulating head attachment comprises a housing, wherein the shaft for rotation extends through the housing of the articulating head attachment. At least a portion of the housing of the articulating head attachment is positioned within the receiving opening of the housing of the articulating head connection.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, further comprising a motorized articulation mechanism configured to drive articulation of the tool head relative to the elongate shaft, wherein the motorized articulation mechanism comprises a motor, a motor shaft, and a gear system configured to couple the motor shaft to the shaft for rotation.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the gear system comprises a bevel gear system or a worm gear system.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, further comprising at least one stop configured to define articulation intervals of rotation of the tool head relative to the elongate shaft.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the at least one stop comprises a physical stop surface and/or at least one hall sensor to sense rotation of the shaft for rotation.

The working tool of any one or more of the embodiments, further comprising a cable or wire extending continuously through the elongate shaft, the articulating head connection, the articulating head attachment, and into the tool head.