Battery powered handheld outdoor power equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018317396-A1
Application number	US-201815972080-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 4, 2018
Priority date	May 5, 2017
Publication date	Nov 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A handheld edger includes an electric powerhead coupled to a mounting location, a member, and a cutting assembly. The electric powerhead includes a motor having an output shaft rotating at a first speed about an output shaft axis and a battery configured to power the motor. The member extends from the mounting location and includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion configured to be removable and replaceable to exchange one or more attachments. The cutting assembly coupled to the member includes a drive shaft, a blade coupled to and driven by the drive shaft, and a worm drive coupled to the output shaft of the motor and the drive shaft, the worm drive configured to cause the drive shaft to rotate the blade at a second speed. A gear ratio of the worm drive is larger than 40:1.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A handheld edger comprising:
an electric powerhead coupled to a mounting location, the electric powerhead comprising:
a motor having an output shaft rotating at a first speed about an output shaft axis;
a battery configured to power the motor;
a member extending from the mounting location, the member including an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion configured to be removable and replaceable to exchange one or more attachments; a cutting assembly coupled to the member comprising:
a drive shaft;
a blade coupled to and driven by the drive shaft; and
a worm drive coupled to the output shaft of the motor and the drive shaft, the worm drive configured to cause the drive shaft to rotate the blade at a second speed;
wherein a gear ratio of the worm drive is larger than 40:1.

2 . The handheld edger of claim 1 , wherein the first speed comprises a range of 7000 revolutions per minute (RPM) to 7600 RPM and the second speed comprises a range of 150 RPM to 175 RPM.

3 . The handheld edger of claim 2 , wherein the motor is an 800 Watt electric motor.

4 . The handheld edger of claim 1 , wherein the motor is an 800 Watt electric motor.

5 . The handheld edger of claim 1 , wherein the blade includes one or more tines having a flat profile.

6 . The handheld edger of claim 1 , further comprising a first guide wheel coupled to the drive shaft proximate a first side of the worm drive and configured to freely rotate about a wheel axis.

7 . The handheld edger of claim 6 , further comprising a second guide wheel coupled to a rod extending from a second side of the worm drive and configured to freely rotate about the wheel axis.

8 . The handheld edger of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener inserted into a hole on the drive shaft and configured to maintain the blade on the drive shaft.

9 . The handheld edger of claim 1 , wherein the electric powerhead further comprises a housing and a battery receptacle formed in the housing;
wherein the battery is configured to be inserted into the battery receptacle and removable and replaceable without the use of tools.

10 . The handheld edger of claim 9 , wherein the battery is inserted into the battery receptacle along an axis of insertion perpendicular to the output shaft axis.

11 . The handheld edger of claim 1 , wherein the gear ratio of the worm drive is larger than 43:1 and less than 45:1.

12 . The handheld edger of claim 1 , wherein the member further comprises:
a user interface including one or more user input devices; a gripping portion positioned proximate the user interface; a handle positioned on the upper portion; and a shield coupled to the lower portion of the member and configured to prevent debris from projecting upward.

13 . The handheld edger of claim 12 , wherein the handle is configured to slidable along the member between a first position proximate the gripping portion and a second position further from the gripping portion than the first position.

14 . A cutting assembly for use with a handheld edger comprising:
a drive shaft; a blade coupled to and driven by the drive shaft; and a worm drive coupled to an output shaft of a motor and the drive shaft, the worm drive configured to cause the drive shaft to rotate the blade at a cutting speed; wherein a gear ratio of the worm drive is larger than 40:1.

15 . The cutting assembly of claim 14 , further comprising:
a first guide wheel coupled to the drive shaft proximate a first side of the worm drive and configured to freely rotate about a wheel axis.

16 . The cutting assembly of claim 15 , further comprising
a second guide wheel coupled to a rod extending from a second side of the worm drive and configured to freely rotate about the wheel axis.

17 . The cutting assembly of claim 16 , wherein a length of the rod is customizable to a plurality of lengths.

18 . The cutting assembly of claim 14 , wherein the cutting speed comprises a range of 150 RPM to 175 RPM.

19 . The cutting assembly of claim 14 , wherein the cutting speed is 172 RPM.

20 . The cutting assembly of claim 14 , wherein the blade includes one or more tines having a flat profile.

Assignees

• Briggs & Stratton Corp

Inventors

• Bukowski Patrick H
• Guinta Jeremiah John
• Morrell Thomas Dean
• Ryczek Stephen J

Classifications

• A01D69/02

  electric · CPC title

• A01G3/062 Primary

  Motor-driven edge trimmers · CPC title

• A01D43/16

  with lawn edgers · CPC title

• A01D34/84

  for edges of lawns or fields, e.g. for mowing close to trees or walls ({for embankments A01D34/86 takes precedence;} edge trimmers A01G3/00) · CPC title

• A01D34/68

  with motor driven cutters or wheels · CPC title