Lawn and garden tool with boom having adjustable length and detachable boom sections

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018332766-A1
Application number	US-201715599615-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 19, 2017
Priority date	May 19, 2017
Publication date	Nov 22, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A lawn and garden tool having a handle, a tool head and an adjustable length boom, wherein the boom includes telescoping first and second boom sections. The tool includes a connector assembly having a lock adapted to selectively lock the boom sections relative to one another at any one of a plurality of telescopic locations. The connector assembly further includes a latch adapted to maintain engagement of the boom sections relative to one another, wherein the latch may be manipulated by an operator to selectively allow separation of the boom sections.

First claim

1 . A lawn and garden tool comprising:
a handle; a tool head; an adjustable length boom extending between the handle and the tool head, wherein the boom comprises: a first boom section comprising a first end connected to the handle; and a second boom section comprising a first end connected to the tool head, and further wherein a second end of either the first or second boom section is telescopically received within a second end of the other of the first or second boom section; and a connector assembly adapted to secure the first boom section to the second boom section, wherein the connector assembly comprises:
a lock positioned at or near the second end of one or both of the first and second boom sections, wherein the lock is adapted to selectively lock the first boom section relative to the second boom section at any one of a plurality of telescopic locations; and
a latch attached to either the first or second boom section, the latch movable between: a first position, wherein the latch prevents separation of the first boom section from the second boom section; and a second position, wherein the latch allows separation of the first boom section from the second boom section.

2 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool head comprises a motor operably powering a rotatable cutting head.

3 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator in communication with the latch, the actuator adapted to move the latch between its first and second positions.

4 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 3 , wherein the actuator comprises a lever disposed on an exterior surface of the first boom section.

5 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 1 , wherein the lock comprises a collet attached to the second end of either the first or second boom section, and a compression sleeve attached to the other of the first or second boom section, wherein the compression sleeve is movable along its respective boom section and is threadably engageable with the collet.

6 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 5 , wherein the compression sleeve is movable, relative to the collet, between: a first position, wherein the first boom section is movable relative to the second boom section; and a second position, wherein the first boom section is immobilized relative to the second boom section.

7 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 1 , further comprising a variable-length extension cable passing through the first and second boom sections, the cable electrically connecting the handle to the tool head.

8 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the extension cable is helically coiled.

9 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 1 , wherein the handle supports a power source.

10 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 9 , wherein the power source is a battery.

11 . A lawn and garden tool comprising:
a handle supporting a power source; a tool head supporting a motor operably connected to a rotatable cutting head; a variable length boom extending between the handle and the tool head, wherein the boom comprises: a first boom section comprising a first end connected to the handle; and a second boom section comprising a first end connected to the tool head, and wherein a second end of either the first or second boom section is telescopically received within a second end of the other of the first or second boom section; and a connector assembly adapted to secure the first boom section to the second boom section, wherein the connector assembly comprises:
a collet attached to the second end of the first boom section, and a compression sleeve movable along the second boom section; and
a latch attached to either the first or second boom section, the latch movable between: a first position, wherein the latch prevents separation of the first boom section from the second boom section; and a second position, wherein the latch allows separation of the first boom section from the second boom section.

12 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 11 , wherein the sleeve is adapted to selectively engage the collet and immobilize the first boom section relative to the second boom section when the second boom section is positioned at any one of a plurality of telescopic locations relative to the first boom section.

13 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 11 , wherein the latch is positioned at or near the second end of the first boom section, the latch adapted to engage a receiver at or near the second end of the second boom section to prevent separation of the first and second boom sections.

14 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 13 , further comprising an actuator adapted to disengage the latch from the receiver.

15 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 11 , further comprising an actuator adapted to selectively move the latch from the first position to the second position.

16 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 11 , wherein the sleeve comprises a female thread adapted to threadably engage a male thread formed on the collet.

17 . The lawn and garden tool of claim 11 , wherein the collet defines one or more longitudinal slits adapted to allow radial compression of the collet.

18 . A method of assembling, adjusting and disassembling a lawn and garden tool, the method comprising:
assembling a first boom section with a second boom section, wherein the first boom section comprises a first end connected to a handle, and the second boom section comprises a first end connected to a tool head, wherein a second end of either the first or second boom section is telescopically received within a second end of the other of the first or second boom section; adjusting a distance between the handle and the tool head by telescopically sliding the boom sections relative to one another; securing the first boom section relative to the second boom section using a connector assembly, wherein the connector assembly comprises:
a lock positioned at or near the second end of one or both of the first and second boom sections and a latch attached to either the first or second boom section;
engaging the lock to fix a position of the second boom section relative to the first boom section; disengaging the lock to allow telescopic movement of the second boom section relative to the first boom section; sliding the first and second boom sections away from one another; moving the latch from a first position, wherein the latch prevents separation of the first boom section from the second boom section; to a second position, wherein the latch allows separation of the first boom section from the second boom section; and separating the first boom section from the second boom section.

Assignees

• The Toro Co

Inventors

• Ackerman Lavern L
• Lebrun Joseph J

Classifications

• A01D34/824

  Handle arrangements · CPC title

• B25F5/02 Primary

  Construction of casings, bodies or handles {(B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence)} · CPC title

• A01D34/902

  Ergonomic provisions · CPC title

• A01D34/90

  for carrying by the operator · CPC title

• A01D34/412

  having rotating cutters · CPC title