Vegetation pruning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9717185-B2
Application number	US-88976404-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2004
Priority date	Jul 14, 2003
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A vegetation pruning device includes a pair of pivotably coupled handles and a motor having a rotary output drive for driving an endless flexible cutting chain. A guard is moved relative to the chain by pivoting of the handles relative to each other to grip vegetation between the guard and the chain. The motor is actuated by pressing each of a pair of elongate triggers at any position along the length of the triggers.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vegetation pruning device comprising:
a pair of arms adapted to pivot relative to each other about an axis to adjust the angle between said arms, wherein each arm has a handle portion adapted to be gripped by a user and a guard portion;
a motor having a rotary output drive;
an endless flexible cutting element mounted to a support and adapted to be driven relative to said support by said rotary output drive to cut vegetation presented thereto;
a first guard portion adapted to be moved relative to said cutting element by pivoting said arms relative to each other to grip vegetation between said first guard portion and said cutting element;
an actuator provided on both handles portion for actuating said motor, wherein said actuator comprises an elongate actuator member moveably mounted to said handle portion and adapted to be urged towards said handle portion by application of manual pressure at substantially any location along the length of said actuator member to actuate said motor; and
wherein said actuator member on each said handle portion must be actuated in order to actuate the motor.

2. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 1 , wherein said actuator means further comprises a plurality of spaced apart first biasing means for urging at least one said actuator member away from the corresponding said handle portion, and switch means adapted to be actuated by movement of at least part of said actuator member towards the corresponding said handle portion.

3. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 2 , wherein at least one said first biasing means comprises at least one compression spring.

4. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 1 , further comprising first guard means for restricting access to at least part of at least one said actuator member.

5. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 4 , wherein said first guard means comprises at least one first guard member arranged adjacent a respective said actuator member and spaced therefrom.

6. The vegetation pruning device of claim 1 further comprising:
a guard rail for restricting access to at least part of said actuator member, wherein said guard rail defines a first aperture and a second aperture adjacent said first aperture, wherein access to said actuator member is provided via the corresponding said first aperture.

7. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 1 , wherein said first guard portion is provided with at least one protrusion for resisting rotation of vegetation gripped between said first guard portion and said cutting element.

8. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 7 , wherein said first guard portion has a curved edge facing towards said cutting element.

9. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 8 , wherein at least one said protrusion is defined by a respective notch in said curved edge.

10. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 1 , wherein said first guard portion is pivotably mounted relative to one of said arms.

11. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 1 , wherein said motor is mounted to a first said arm.

12. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 11 , further comprising at least one power supply for powering said motor, wherein at least one said power supply is mounted to said first arm on a side therefore opposite to said motor.

13. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 1 , wherein the arms are pivotable between a first position allowing access to said cutting element, and a second position in which the cutting element is substantially inaccessible.

14. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 1 , wherein the first guard portion comprises a substantially parallel pair of side walls defining a channel therebetween for at least partially receiving said cutting element as the cutting element is pivotally displaced towards a second guard portion.

15. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 14 , further comprising at least one stop member to limit pivotal displacement of said arms towards one another for restraining said cutting element at a predetermined pivotal position relative to said first arm so as to remain received within said channel.

16. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 15 wherein said channel comprises an inner surface extending between said substantially parallel side walls defining a debris conveying path communicating with a debris extraction aperture.

17. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 1 , wherein the motor rotary output drive includes a toothed drive wheel.

18. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 1 , wherein said motor has an output gear adapted to rotate about an axis substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said rotary output drive.

19. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 1 , wherein the cutting element is mounted upon a support member and arranged for rotation thereabout under the influence of the rotary output drive.

20. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 19 , wherein the support member includes a driven and a drive wheel around which the cutting element moves as the drive wheel rotates.

21. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 20 , wherein the cutting element rotates within a first plane and the arms of the pair of arms each include a surface which extends either side of this first plane.

22. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 19 , comprising a self adjusting tensioning device to allow automatic adjustment of the support member.

23. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 22 , wherein adjustment of said support member effects tensioning of said cutting element.

24. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 1 , further comprising a variable speed-controller for governing the output speed of the motor.

25. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 1 , wherein the cutting element comprises a chain.

26. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 25 , wherein the motor rotary output drive includes a toothed drive wheel and wherein the teeth of the toothed wheel fit between the links of the chain in use to provide motive force to the chain.

27. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 25 , wherein the chain further includes a plurality of barbs to assist in vegetation pruning.

28. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 22 , further comprising a lubricating device for depositing lubricating material on said cutting element.

29. A vegetation pruning device according to claim 28 , wherein said lubricating device includes a reservoir for lubricating material located within a second said arm.

30. A vegetation pruning device comprising:
a pair of arms adapted to pivot relative to each other about an axis to adjust the angle between said arms, wherein each arm has a handle portion adapted to be gripped by a user and a guard portion;
a motor having a rotary output drive;
an endless flexible cutting element mounted to a support and adapted to be driven relative to said support by said rotary output drive to cut vegetation presented thereto;
a first guard portion adapted to be moved relative to said cutting element by pivoting said arms relative to each other to grip vegetation between said first guard portion and said cutting element;
an actuator provi

Assignees

• Stones Kevin
• Barker David
• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Stones Kevin
• Barker David
• Jarman David

Classifications

• B27B33/14

  Saw chains {(saw chains for slotting or mortising devices B27F5/08)} · CPC title

• B27B17/0083

  Attachments for guiding or supporting chain saws during operation · CPC title

• B27B17/14

  Arrangements for stretching the chain saw · CPC title

• A01G3/08 Primary

  Other tools for pruning, branching or delimbing standing trees · CPC title

• A01G3/086

  Chain saws · CPC title