Switching mechanism for an outdoor robotic tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12035658-B2
Application number	US-201816607804-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2018
Priority date	Apr 27, 2017
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

An outdoor robotic tool ( 100 ) comprising a switching assembly ( 104 ) comprising a carry handle ( 106 ) and a stop button ( 108 ) is disclosed. The carry handle ( 106 ) and stop button ( 108 ) are connected such that the raising of the carry handle ( 106 ) results in the stop button ( 108 ) being activated and vice versa. The activation of the stop button ( 108 ) results in the outdoor robotic tool ( 100 ) being rendered inoperable in some way. A lift-indication mechanism ( 126 ) may be present, which renders the outdoor robotic tool ( 100 ) inoperable if it is lifted. Either or both of the switching assembly ( 104 ) and lift-indication mechanism ( 126 ) may be present on the outdoor robotic tool ( 100 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A switching mechanism for an outdoor robotic tool, the switching mechanism comprising:
a switching assembly comprising a carry handle and a stop button having activated and deactivated states and being configured to be pressed by a user, the stop button being operatively connected to the carry handle such that raising of the carry handle results in the stop button entering the activated state and depression of the carry handle results in the stop button entering the deactivated state; and
a switch in communication with the stop button for switching the outdoor robotic tool between an operable state in the deactivated state of the stop button and an inoperable state in the activated state of the stop button,
wherein the carry handle and stop button each pivot about a common pivot axis.

2. A switching mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the carry handle and stop button are rigidly connected to each other.

3. A switching mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the carry handle and stop button are integrally formed.

4. A switching mechanism according to claim 1 , further comprising a latching mechanism for maintaining the stop button in one of the activated state or the deactivated state.

5. A switching mechanism according to claim 4 , wherein the latching mechanism is also configured to maintain the stop button in the other of the activated state or the deactivated state.

6. A switching mechanism according to claim 5 , wherein the latching mechanism includes a detent and at least one indentation for receiving the detent, the receipt of the detent within the or each indentation causing latching of the latching mechanism.

7. A switching mechanism according to claim 6 , wherein the latching mechanism includes two indentations, a first indentation corresponding to the activated state of the stop button and a second indentation corresponding to the deactivated state of the stop button.

8. A switching mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the switch is a micro switch.

9. A switching mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the carry handle includes a stroke limitation mechanism for limiting the movement of the carry handle.

10. A switching mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein the stroke limitation mechanism includes a blocking element and an engagement element, contact between the blocking element and the engagement element defining a limit of the movement of the carry handle.

11. An outdoor robotic tool including a switching mechanism, the switching mechanism comprising:
a switching assembly comprising a carry handle and a stop button having activated and deactivated states and being configured to be pressed by a user, the stop button being operatively connected to the carry handle such that raising of the carry handle results in the stop button entering the activated state and depression of the carry handle results in the stop button entering the deactivated state; and
a switch in communication with the stop button for switching the outdoor robotic tool between an operable state in the deactivated state of the stop button and an inoperable state in the activated state of the stop button,
wherein the carry handle and stop button each pivot about a common pivot axis.

12. An outdoor robotic tool according to claim 11 , wherein the outdoor robotic tool is a robotic lawnmower.

13. An outdoor robotic tool according to claim 11 , wherein the outdoor robotic tool further comprises:
a body;
a lift-indication mechanism having an activated state and a deactivated state and being in communication with the body; and
the switch in communication with the lift-indication mechanism for switching the outdoor robotic tool between an operable state in the deactivated state of the lift-indication mechanism and an inoperable state in the activated state of the lift-indication mechanism.

14. The outdoor robotic tool according to claim 13 , in which the body comprises:
a first body portion;
a second body portion; and
a bridging portion interconnecting the first body portion and the second body portion;
in which the lift-indication mechanism is in communication with the bridging portion.

15. An outdoor robotic tool comprising:
a first body portion,
a second body portion,
a bridging portion interconnecting the first body portion and the second body portion, a lift-indication mechanism having an activated state and a deactivated state and being in communication with the bridging portion,
a switch in communication with the lift-indication mechanism for switching the outdoor robotic tool between an operable state in the deactivated state of the lift-indication mechanism and an inoperable state in the activated state of the lift-indication mechanism, and
at least one of a stop button configured to be pressed by a user and a carry handle,
wherein at least one of said at least one of a stop button and a carry handle is operably connected to said switch.

16. An outdoor robotic tool according to claim 15 , wherein the lift-indication mechanism includes a movable member, the movable member being movable relative to the bridging portion to enable switching between the operable state and the inoperable state.

17. An outdoor robotic tool according to claim 16 , wherein the movable member is pivotable about a rotation axis.

18. An outdoor robotic tool according to claim 17 , wherein the rotation axis is located towards one end of the bridging portion,
wherein the movable member includes a U-shaped element, and
wherein the lift-indication mechanism includes a biasing element for biasing the lift-indication mechanism into the deactivated state.

Assignees

• Husqvarna Ab
• Husqvarna Ab

Inventors

• Svensson Mats
• Younadam Bilader
• Hjalmarsson Anders

Classifications

• A01D34/824

  Handle arrangements · CPC title

• A01D34/828

  Safety devices · CPC title

• H01H21/24

  biased to return to normal position upon removal of operating force · CPC title

• H01H9/22

  for interlocking between casing, cover, or protective shutter and mechanism for operating contacts {(explosion-proof cases H01H9/045; built-in fuses and interlocking mechanisms H01H9/104; by automatic release of circuit breakers H01H71/126)} · CPC title

• H01H3/022 Primary

  Emergency operating parts, e.g. for stop-switch in dangerous conditions · CPC title