Patent ID: 12209743

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to the drawings, examples of the illumination system for a leaf blower of the invention will be described. Referring toFIG.1, an illumination system10for a backpack mounted blower50is shown. The backpack blower50includes a movable blower nozzle52connected to the motor54mounted on frame56. A first and second shoulder strap58and60allow a user to carry the frame52, motor54and nozzle56on the back of the user.

The illumination system10is provided in association with at least one of the shoulder straps58and60, and includes at least one light assembly12including at least one light source14provided in association with a housing member16. The housing member16is integrated into a front portion of at least one shoulder strap58and60of the backpack blower50such that the at least one light source is directed away from the front surface of the shoulder strap58or60. Preferably, a second light assembly12is provided in association with the other strap58or60. As shown in this example, the light source may be a light bar including a plurality of individual light sources14arranged in one or more rows. The light sources14may be high intensity LED sources or other suitable sources. To provide desired illumination, the principal direction of illuminating light provided by each individual light source14may be controlled to illuminate the desired broad area around the person using the blower50. In this example, with the illumination sources arranged in a vertical row, the upper light sources14are directed more downwardly to illuminate an area around 10-15 feet from the user, while the lower light sources may be directed to illuminate between 1-10 feet from the user. If desired, each individual light source14could be adjustable to allow it to be directed in a desired manner. It is also desirable to avoid illuminating light being directed at the user's eyes and the mounting in the housing member16may shield against this, or other structures provided to prevent this.

A battery power supply18is provided in the housing member16, to provide power to the at least one light source14, and may be rechargeable via the power cord20. A switch22to operate the at least one light source14is provided on the housing member16. In an alternate example, the power for the illumination system may be generated from the motor54, and supplied to the light source via appropriate connections. For example, an alternator (and inverter if required) coupled to the drive shaft of a gas powered motor of a backpack blower could provide power the light assembly12. Battery powered blowers may be developed that could supply power from the onboard power supply. There may also be provide a USB port24to allow connection of a smart phone or other mobile device while using the blower. If desired, the housing member14may be removeable from the strap58or60, to allow charging or replacement of batteries if non-rechargeable batteries are used.

If light assemblies12are provided in each strap58and60, a charging connection may be provided to couple the assemblies together for charging, or wireless charging of one of the assemblies12may be provided from the other assembly12for example. In such an arrangement, the straps58and60and therefore light assemblies12may be positioned adjacent one another to allow use of a tightly-coupled electromagnetic inductive or non-radiative charging, or charging bowls or through-surface type chargers that use loosely-coupled or radiative electromagnetic resonant charging that can transmit a charge a few centimeters. Alternately, an uncoupled radio frequency (RF) wireless charging may allow a trickle charging capability at other typical distances between the straps58and60and assemblies12.

It should be evident that the light sources14provided in association with one or both shoulder straps58and60of a backpack blower, allow illuminating light to extend in front of the user over a broad region not dependent on the direction of the movable blower nozzle52. The ability to direct the light over a broad region in front of the user enables much improved visibility as the blower is used, and avoids shadows produced by the nozzle for example. The integration into both straps58and60also may allow the light from a first assembly12to be directed toward the front and left side of the user, while the second assembly12is directed toward the front and right of the user, to illuminate a broad area around the entire front of the user, such as up to 170°.

In an alternate example,FIG.2shows an illumination system100that is separate from the backpack blower50, but attachable to the straps58and60to provide broad illumination in front of the user in a manner similar to the example ofFIG.1. In this example, the illumination system100includes at least one light assembly102including at least one light source104provided in association with a housing member106. The housing member106includes attachment members108and110to attach the housing member106between the shoulder straps58and60of the backpack blower50such that the at least one light source104is directed away from the front surface of the shoulder straps58and60. Preferably, the light assembly102may be a light bar including a plurality of individual light sources104arranged in one or more rows. To provide desired illumination, the principal direction of illuminating light provided by each individual light source104may be controlled to illuminate the desired broad area around the person using the blower50. In this example, with the illumination sources arranged in a generally horizontal row, the light sources104are directed to illuminate an area around 1-15 feet from the user, while the side light sources104may be directed to illuminate the left and right side regions of the user. If desired, each individual light source104could be adjustable to allow it to be directed in a desired manner. It is also desirable to avoid illuminating light being directed at the user's eyes and the mounting in the housing member106may shield against this, or other structures provided to prevent this. The attachment members108and110also may have a length to hang the housing member106at a point between the straps58and60low enough where light does not impinge upon the users eyes. As shown, the attachment members108and110have some length to allow positioning of the housing member106at a desired position relative to the straps58and60, but alternatively could be formed as shorter segments and attachment mechanism to attach to a strap58or60in the space between the straps58and60when worn by a user.

A battery power supply is provided in the housing member106, to provide power to the at least one light source104, and may be rechargeable via a power cord. A switch to operate the at least one light source104is provided on the housing member106. There may also be provided a USB port as in the prior example ofFIG.1. The attachment members108and110may include attachment mechanisms of any suitable type, such as hook and loop fasteners112on the top of the strap portion of the attachment members108and110, that can be wrapped around the straps58and60and attached to itself at a desired location on the strap58and60. Alternatively, there may be provided clips to simply attach the members108and110(or housing106directly) to the straps58and60at a desired location. The attachment mechanisms preferably allow simple and quick positioning of the housing106at a desired position between the straps58and60.

A similar example is shown inFIG.3, wherein a light assembly200may be similar to that shown in the example ofFIG.2, but includes attachment members208and210that may have clips that allow simple attachment to straps58and60. Also in this example, an external power supply212is provided that may be attached to a suitable location on the blower50. For example, in this arrangement, the power supply212may be positioned on the blower nozzle52near the controls of the blower itself mounted on the blower nozzle52. In this manner, an on/off switch214may be provided on the power supply212to operate the light assembly200from that location. In addition, this may allow coupling a nozzle light assembly to the power supply212, such as will be described in the example ofFIG.4. Alternatively, the power supply212may be positioned at another suitable position, and then recharged easily by simply unplugging the light assembly200therefrom.

Turning toFIG.4A, another example of a light assembly300according to the invention is shown to include a strap302, having a plurality of light sources304provided in spaced relation on the strap member302. The light sources304may be side-emitting LED's that direct light away from the front306of the strap302. As seen inFIG.4B, the strap302may be wrapped around the blower nozzle52and attached to itself at any desired position on the nozzle52. The plurality of light sources may extend around the periphery of the nozzle52to provide illuminating light from all points around the nozzle, and avoid shadows from the nozzle itself to interfere with illumination of an area in front of the nozzle52as it is moved during use. If desired, each individual light source304could be adjustable to allow it to be directed in a desired manner. It is also desirable to avoid illuminating light being directed at the user's eyes and the mounting in the strap may include shielding if desired to prevent this.

A battery power supply may be provided in association with the assembly300, such as mounted in association with the strap302, or the light assembly300may be supplied power from an external power supply via a cord308or the like. The power could be supplied via the battery power supply18or112associated with the other illumination systems, and may provide the ability to fully illuminate the surroundings in association with another illumination system.

It should be evident that the light sources304provided in association with the nozzle52in a simple and effective manner. The ability to direct the light to the front of the nozzle52of blower50may be helpful in illuminating the environment in front of the nozzle52as it is moved, and can be helpful in addition to one or more light assemblies that provide illuminating light over a broad region in front of the user as the blower is used, and avoids shadows produced by the nozzle52for example. The assembly300may be attached to the blower nozzle52adjacent the very front for example, to illuminate a broader area. The light produced from the plurality of light sources304positioned around the periphery illuminates the area which is being worked by the airflow from the blower50.

In the examples of the invention, the lighting systems are desirably water-resistant, and rugged, to be used in the environment as intended. The light sources may include diffusers or other features to better disseminate light produced thereby, or could include lenses to allow focusing of light as may be desired.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative examples thereof have been shown and described, and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention described by the following claims are desired to be protected. Additional features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the description. Modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.