Ergonomic gripping mechanisms of an electric cutting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017295721-A1
Application number	US-201715486148-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 12, 2017
Priority date	Apr 14, 2016
Publication date	Oct 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Ergonomic gripping mechanisms of battery-operated electric cutting apparatus are provided. The electric cutting apparatus may include a cantilevered cutting head, an adjustable telescoping shaft, a rear grip portion, a pistol grip, and a forearm shaft. The adjustable telescoping shaft may be pivotally connected to the cantilevered cutting head. The rear grip portion may have a first end connected to the adjustable telescoping shaft. The pistol grip may have a first end extending at a first angle from the second end of the rear grip portion. The forearm shaft may extend from the second end of the pistol grip at a second angle. The forearm shaft may have a top side comprising a forearm pad having an exterior surface configured to receive a forearm of a user. The exterior surface of the forearm pad may be parallel to an axis defined by a longitudinal extension of the adjustable telescoping shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electric cutting apparatus comprising:
a cantilevered cutting head; an adjustable telescoping shaft pivotally connected to the cantilevered cutting head; a rear grip portion having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the adjustable telescoping shaft; a pistol grip having a first end and a second end, the first end of the pistol grip extending at a first angle from the second end of the rear grip portion; and a forearm shaft extending from the second end of the pistol grip at a second angle, the forearm shaft having a top side and an underside, the top side comprising a forearm pad having an exterior surface configured to receive a forearm of a user, wherein the exterior surface of the forearm pad is parallel to an axis defined by a longitudinal extension of the adjustable telescoping shaft.

2 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a forward grip slidably attached to the adjustable telescoping shaft.

3 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the forward grip comprises:
a base slidably coupled to the adjustable telescoping shaft, a handle pivotally coupled to the base, a grip arranged on one or more surfaces of the handle, and a forward grip release configured to one or both of secure and release one or both of the base to the adjustable telescoping shaft and the handle to the base.

4 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the forward grip release is a spring loaded cam-lock mechanism.

5 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the underside of the forearm shaft comprises a battery attachment mechanism.

6 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 5 , comprising a battery attached to the battery attachment mechanism at the underside of the forearm shaft.

7 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the battery attachment mechanism comprises grooves and the battery comprises ridges, and wherein the battery attachment mechanism is configured to slidably receive the ridges of the battery.

8 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the underside of the forearm shaft comprises electrical connections, the battery is configured to directly connect to the electrical connections, and one or both of the battery and the forearm shaft comprises a release configured to release the battery from the electrical connections.

9 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the underside of the forearm shaft comprises electrical connections.

10 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 9 , comprising an enclosure-free battery configured to directly connect to the electrical connections.

11 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the exterior surface of the forearm pad and the axis defined by the longitudinal extension of the adjustable telescoping shaft is approximately 4.26 inches.

12 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a distance from a center of the pistol grip to a distal end of the forearm pad is approximately 8.5 inches.

13 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is equal to the second angle.

14 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first angle and the second angle is between 115 and 125 degrees.

15 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first angle and the second angle is between 110 and 135 degrees.

16 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cantilevered cutting head comprises a base portion pivotally coupled to the adjustable telescoping shaft at a cutting head pivot, and wherein the cutting head pivot comprises detents to provide a plurality of pre-defined positions within a pre-defined range.

17 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 16 , wherein one or both of:
the pre-defined range is 35 to 50 degrees, and the cutting head pivot comprises at least 6 detents, each of the detents corresponding with a pre-defined position within the pre-defined range.

18 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 16 , wherein one or both of:
the pre-defined range is 25 to 60 degrees, and the cutting head pivot comprises at least 8 detents, each of the detents corresponding with a pre-defined position within the pre-defined range.

19 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable telescoping shaft comprises a lower shaft portion connected to the cantilevered cutting head and an upper shaft portion one or both of coupled to or integrated with the rear grip portion, and wherein the lower shaft portion is arranged to move rectilinearly relative to the upper shaft portion along the axis defined by the longitudinal extension of the adjustable telescoping shaft.

20 . The electric cutting apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the lower shaft portion has a first diameter that is less than a second diameter of the upper shaft portion such that the lower shaft portion is slidable one or both of into and out of the upper shaft portion, and wherein the adjustable telescoping shaft comprises a shaft release configured to one or both of release the lower shaft portion to a slidable position and lock the lower shaft portion in a fixed position.

Assignees

• Sears Brands Llc

Inventors

• Carl Ross

Classifications

• A01D34/4165 Primary

  Mounting of the cutter head · CPC title

• A01D34/4167

  Protection devices · CPC title

• A01D34/902 Primary

  Ergonomic provisions · CPC title