Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a small hand-held garden tool, for example a hedgetrimmer, having an electrically powered powerhead, and a detachable pole assembly. The powerhead can be used alone to cut nearby vegetation or in combination with a pole assembly to reach vegetation farther away. The powerhead has a separate handle and motor chamber, with the pole assembly being secured to the motor chamber. Actuation of the powerhead is controlled by a trigger on the handle. However, when connected to the pole assembly, actuation of the powerhead is controlled by a second trigger on the pole assembly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates generally to a multi-purpose electrically powered hand-held garden tool for cutting vegetation that can be used alone or attached to a pole assembly for extending the reach of the tool. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Most current powered garden tools are hand-held tools used to cut vegetation near the user. However, oftentimes tall bushes or trees are present and a user needs to be able to reach distant growth. In those cases, users often have separate tools with integrated poles to allow the user to reach the vegetation. However, for many garden tools, such as a hedgetrimmer, the tool&#39;s weight and size make controlling and using such a tool difficult. For example, most hedgetrimmers have blade lengths of 18 inches or longer. This issue is exacerbated with gasoline powered tools where the weight of the engine and gasoline contribute significantly to the weight and size of the tool. 
         [0003]    With respect to electrical tools, they are an improvement over gasoline powered tools as electric motors are typically much lighter than gas engines. However, electric tools, which can be either cordless (eg. battery powered) or corded, have their own disadvantages. Battery powered electric tools have the added weight of a battery, and corded electric tools have to contend with cords which can become tangled and cumbersome to pull around. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, all of the above types of tools have the challenge of how to acutate the tool when attached to a pole assembly. When used alone, the tool is controlled by a trigger or other actuation means on the tool itself, however, when attached to a pole the tool is separated from the user, and the user needs a way of actuating the tool from the pole. Therefore, the pole itself must have a separate trigger or actuation means. 
         [0005]    Therefore, it would be desirable to have a small garden tool, such as a hedgetrimmer, that is lighter weight and easy to manoeuvre for use individually and when attached to a pole. Furthermore, it would be desirable to have a simple and cost effective method of attaching and actuating a tool from a pole. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In light of the above need, a brief summary of various exemplary embodiments is presented. Some simplifications and omissions may be made in the following summary, which is intended to highlight and introduce some aspects of the various exemplary embodiments, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Detailed descriptions of a preferred exemplary embodiment adequate to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventive concepts will follow in later sections. 
         [0007]    The powered garden tool includes a powerhead having a housing with a main handle and a motor chamber, and a pole assembly adapted to be releasably connected to the powerhead housing to extend the reach of the blade assembly. The main handle includes a trigger to allow actuation of the tool when the pole assembly is not attached. When the pole assembly is attached, the powerhead is electrically connected to the pole assembly, which includes a second trigger to actuate the tool. 
         [0008]    The present invention further includes powerhead housing where the main handle and motor chamber are separated, and extend rearwardly from a front portion of the housing parallel to one another. 
         [0009]    The pole assembly further includes a coupling member for securing it to the powerhead. The coupling member is secured to the motor chamber of the powerhead, with the components being keyed to one another so that the powerhead is properly aligned with the pole assembly when attached. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
         [0010]    Further features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following description, which is given by way of example and in association with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vegetation cutting tool attached to a pole assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the vegetation cutting tool of  FIG. 1  with the pole assembly in an extended position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1  with the powerhead separated from the pole assembly; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the powerhead of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  is a wire diagram of the powerhead; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  is a wire diagram of the powerhead when attached to a pole assembly; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A  is side view of a coupling member for the pole assembly in an open position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5B  is a top perspective view of the coupling member of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6A  is a side view of the coupling member of  FIG. 5A  in a closed position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6B  is a top view of the coupling member of  FIG. 5A  in a closed position; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  shows the coupling member in a pivoted position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The present invention is directed to a vegetation cutting tool having a powerhead  10  and an extensible pole assembly  12  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 1  shows the pole assembly  12  secured to the powerhead  10  while  FIG. 2  shows them separated. 
         [0023]    The powerhead  10 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 , is a hand-held tool with a blade assembly  14  extending out from a housing  16 . The blade assembly  14  is shown as a hedgetrimmer blade made up of a pair of reciprocating blades that produce a shearing action to cut vegetation. The blade assembly shown in the figures is approximately 8 inches long, and is shorter than conventional hedgetrimmer blades which are typically 18 inches or longer. It should be understood however that other blade types and lengths may be used and fall within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the tool can have an interchangeable blade system that allows other blade assemblies, such as a shearing blade, to be swapped for the hedgetrimmer blade assembly as well. 
         [0024]    The housing  16  includes a motor chamber  18  that holds an electric motor  20  for powering the blade assembly  14 . The housing  16  also includes a main handle  22 , positioned above and parallel to the motor chamber  18 , for a user to grip the tool. The main handle  22  includes a trigger  24  for actuating the motor  20 . Positioned adjacent the main handle  22  is a support handle  26  to provide additional control for the tool. Positioned just forward of the support handle  26  is a safety guard  28  for shielding the user&#39;s hand from the blade assembly  14 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , extending from the rear of the main handle  22  is a power cord  30  for providing electrical power to the motor  20 . An adapter cord  32  is tethered to the power cord  30  using a Velcro strap  31  or other similar attachment means. The power cord  30  has a three-pronged connector  34  which can be connected to the adapter cord  32  (or a corresponding connector  60  on the pole assembly  12 , as discussed later). 
         [0026]    A first end of the adapter cord  32  has a connector  36  that corresponds to the connector  34  for connection therewith, and second end with a standard two-pronged electrical plug  38  that can be connected to an extension cord (not shown) or into a wall outlet for providing power. In this way, when the cutting tool is used alone as a hand-held unit, e.g. without the pole assembly  12 , the power cord  30  is connected to the adapter cord  32 , which is plugged into an electrical outlet. In this configuration, power to the motor  20  is controlled by trigger  24  on the main handle  22 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pole assembly  12  is shown attached and detached from the powerhead  10 , respectively. The pole assembly  12  is also telescopic and can be extended, as shown in  FIG. 1B . A first end of the pole assembly  12  has the connector  60  and a coupling member  40 . A second end of the pole assembly includes a second handle  54  that allows the user to control the powerhead  10  when connected to the pole assembly  12 . The second handle  54  includes a gripping portion  56  and a trigger  58 . A standard two-pronged power cord  62  is located on the second handle  54  and plugs into a wall outlet or to an extension cord to deliver electricity to the power head  10 . An electrical wire  61  located within the pole connects the power cord  62  to the connector  60 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4A  shows a wire diagram of the powerhead  10  when connected to the adapter  32  and  FIG. 4B  shows a wire diagram of the powerhead  10  when connected to the pole assembly  12 . Referring to  FIG. 4A , the powerhead  10  is shown with a motor  20  electrically connected to the adapter  32  via the three pronged connection at connector  34  and  36 . The three prongs are labeled L 1 , N, and L 2 . The trigger  24  of the powerhead  10  actuates a switch  24   a  to turn the motor on an off.  FIG. 4A  shows the switch  24   a  in the “off” position so that prongs N and L 2  are connected to the motor. L 2  is a “dead” wire (eg. not connected to the plug  38 ) and so the motor  20  is not powered. When the switch  24   a  is turned to the “on” position, the prongs L 1  and N are connected to the motor. L 1  and N are “live” wires (eg. connected to plug  38 ) and so electrical power is transferred to the motor  20 . 
         [0029]    Now referring to  FIG. 4B , the powerhead  10  is attached to the pole assembly  12  via connectors  34  and  60 . The trigger  58  on the second handle  54  actuates a second switch  58   a  on the pole assembly. Here actuation of the motor  20  is transferred from the first trigger  24  on the powerhead  10  to the second trigger  58  on the pole assembly. The switch  24   a  on the powerhead  10  is in the “off” position so that N and L 2  are the “live” wires. When the second switch  58   a  is turned “on,” it completes the circuit and actuation of the motor is conducted through prongs N and L 2 . Prong L 1 , which was “live” wire in the powerhead only mode, is now a “dead wire.” Using this design, a simple and cost effective means is provided to transfer control of the powerhead from the powerhead trigger  24  to pole assembly trigger  58 . Furthermore, this design prevents accidental actuation of the tool through powerhead trigger  24  while the pole assembly is attached. 
         [0030]    Now referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the coupling member  40  is shown in more detail. The figures show an over-center type of clamp, but it should be understood that any coupling mechanism can be used and fall within the scope of the invention. The coupling member  40  includes a first section  42  and a second section  44  that are hinged together to open and close, so that in a closed position, it defines a cavity  45 . A locking latch  46  is also hingedly connected to the first section  42 , to lock the second section  44  in a closed position. The locking latch  46  includes a bar  48  that swings over a pair of catches  50  on the second section  44 . The latch  46  includes a gripping portion  52  for a user to lock or unlock the latch  46 . 
         [0031]    When joining the pole assembly  12  to the powerhead  10 , the motor chamber  18  of the power head  10  is inserted into the cavity  45  of the coupling member  40 . The second section  44  is then closed around the motor chamber  18  to engage the first section  42 , and securely hold the power head  10 . The bar  48  of the latch  46  is then swung over the catches  50 , and the gripping portion  52  can be rotated to lie against the first section  42 , which is the locked position. The locked position can be seen in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  (power head not shown). 
         [0032]    By isolating the motor chamber  18  of the housing, a easily accessible and rigid section of the powerhead is provided for attaching the coupling member  40  of the pole assembly. Also, by locating the power cord  30  on the main handle  22 , away from the motor chamber  18 , the power cord does not interfere with the coupling of the pole assembly  12 . Additionally, the motor chamber  18  has a slightly oval shape so that coupling member  40  rotatably aligns the powerhead  10  with the pole assembly  12 . It should be understood that the motor chamber can have any shape, although it is preferred that it be one that automatically aligns the powerhead relative to the pole assembly. 
         [0033]    Now referring to  FIGS. 6A and 7 , a further embodiment of the invention will now be described. The figures show that the coupling member  40  can be pivotably attached to the pole assembly  12 . The coupling member  40  includes a spindle  41  extending from its end, and secure within a bracket  66  on the pole assembly  12 . The bracket  66  has two ears  70  that support the spindle  41  on opposite sides. An pin (not shown) goes through the ears  70  and spindle  41  allowing the coupling member  40  to rotate. A lever  72  is secured to one end of the pin. The lever  72  includes a handle  74  and a cammed end portion  76  that urges the ears  70  toward one another to pivotally lock the coupling member  40  in position.  FIG. 6A  shows the locked position and  FIG. 7  shows an unlocked position. 
         [0034]    The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure