Vegetation cutter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028432-B2
Application number	US-201414274907-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2014
Priority date	May 31, 2013
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A vegetation cutter comprises: a frame rod having a longitudinal axis and a front end; a rotary cutter mounted on the front end of the frame rod; a drive motor for driving the rotary cutter; a grip disposed around the frame rod and having an external surface to be held by a user; a power switch trigger arranged on the grip for energizing the drive motor; and a safety lock mechanism for rendering the power switch trigger inoperative when the safety lock mechanism is in a lock position and for rendering the power switch trigger operative when the safety lock mechanism is in a release position. The safety lock mechanism includes a manipulating knob for selectively setting the safety lock mechanism in the lock position and in the release position. The manipulating knob is disposed on the grip at a position circumferentially opposite to the power switch trigger and is turnable around an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame rod to selectively bring the safety lock mechanism to the lock position and the release position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vegetation cutter comprising:
a frame rod having a longitudinal axis and a front end;
a rotary cutter mounted on the front end of the frame rod;
a drive motor for driving the rotary cutter;
a grip disposed around the frame rod and having an external surface to be held by a user;
a power switch trigger arranged on the grip for energizing the drive motor; and
a safety lock mechanism for rendering the power switch trigger inoperative when the safety lock mechanism is in a lock position and for rendering the power switch trigger operative when the safety lock mechanism is in a release position, the safety lock mechanism including a manipulating knob for selectively setting the safety lock mechanism in the lock position and in the release position,
wherein the manipulating knob is disposed on the grip at a position circumferentially opposite to the power switch trigger and is turnable around an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame rod to selectively bring the safety lock mechanism to the lock position and the release position.

2. A vegetation cutter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the manipulating knob is urged via an urging arrangement to normally stay at a neutral position bringing the safety lock mechanism to the lock position and is turnable toward a clockwise direction and toward a counterclockwise direction apart from the neutral position when forced by the user, to bring the safety lock mechanism to the release position by turning in either direction.

3. A vegetation cutter as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the manipulating knob has a manipulation surface curved and extending circumferentially over and along the external surface of the grip and having a middle portion with two ends, and has two first protrusions formed on the manipulation surface at the two ends of the middle portion, respectively.

4. A vegetation cutter as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the manipulation surface further extends circumferentially beyond the first protrusions and the manipulating knob further has second protrusions formed on the manipulation surface beyond and apart from the respective first protrusions.

5. A vegetation cutter as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the urging arrangement comprises one or more springs.

6. A vegetation cutter as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the grip disposed around the frame rod is arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the frame rod.

Assignees

• Makita Corp

Inventors

• Ifuku Yasuo
• Nomura Akihiro

Classifications

• A01D34/416 Primary

  Flexible line cutters · CPC title

• A01D2034/907

  Control levers for portable mowing machines · CPC title

• A01D34/90 Primary

  for carrying by the operator · CPC title