EP4216699A1

EP4216699A1 - Gardening device and method for use thereof

Info

Publication number: EP4216699A1
Application number: EP21794215.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sieberen HOEKSTRA
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-09-23
Filing date: 2021-09-22
Publication date: 2023-08-02
Also published as: NL2026518B1; WO2022066003A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a gardening device, such as a hoeing device, and method therefor, the gardening device comprising: − a head comprising: − a motor that is configured to rotate the gardening attachment around a virtual or real rotational axis; − a transfer component operably connected to the motor and comprising an attachment connector that is configured to receive a gardening attachment; − a boom connectable with the head; − a speed control for controlling a speed of the motor; wherein the head is pivotably connected to a first end of the boom and wherein the gardening device further comprises a pivot control element configured to control a pivot of the head relative to the boom.

Description

GARDENING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USE THEREOF

The invention relates to a gardening device for working a yard and a method for use of the gardening device, for example tilling or hoeing soil in the garden.

Many hand held tools for doing work in the garden or yard exist. Nowadays, due to the availability of relatively compact motors such as electric motors or small combustions engine it is possible to equip many (hand held) garden tools with a motor to ease the effort of using these hand held tools. A disadvantage of equipping a hand held gardening tool with a motor is that, notwithstanding the relative small size of the motor, increases its weight significantly, therefor making it harder to wield the gardening tool.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a gardening device that obviates or at least reduces the aforementioned problem.

This objective is achieved with the gardening device according to the invention, the gardening device comprising:

- a head comprising:

- a motor that is configured to rotate the gardening attachment around a virtual or real rotational axis;

- a transfer component operably connected to the motor and comprising an attachment connector that is configured to receive a gardening attachment;

- a boom connectable with the head;

- a speed control for controlling a speed of the motor; wherein the head is pivotably connected to a first end of the boom and wherein the gardening device further comprises a pivot control element configured to control a pivot of the head relative to the boom.

An advantage of the gardening device according to the invention is that said device allows a user of the device to control an engagement of an attached gardening attachment with the ground. Especially advantageous is that by controlling the engagement of the gardening attachment with the ground the gardening device can be controlled and / or steered with little effort by altering in which direction rotational forces of the gardening attachment act on the ground.

It is noted that the pivot element is configured to pivot around a real or imaginary pivot axis or pivot shaft that is preferably extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the boom.

More specifically, during use of the gardening device the user can pivot the head around the real or imaginary pivot axis or pivot shaft, from a neutral working position to a first steering position by pivoting the head of the gardening device in a first pivot direction. Furthermore, the user can pivot the head from the neutral working position to a second steering position by pivoting the head of the gardening device in a second pivot direction. It is noted that the user can also move the head from the first steering position (back) to the neutral position and from the second steering position back to the neutral position.

By pivoting the head in the first pivot direction to the first steering position the attached gardening attachment engages the ground more at a front side of the head as compared to a back side of the head, wherein the front side refers to the side of the head that is relative further from the user that holds the gardening device, while the back side refers to the side of the head that is relatively closer to the user during use. Pivoting the head in the first pivot direction to the first working position has therefor the effect that relatively more rotational force is applied to the ground by the front side of the attached gardening attachment, which causes the gardening tool to be easily moved in a first steering direction which is substantially parallel to the pivot axis.

By pivoting the head of the gardening device in the second pivot direction to the second steering position, the back side of attached gardening attachment engages the ground compared to the front side of the head. This has the effect that relatively more rotational force is applied to the ground close to the back side of the attached gardening attachment which causes the gardening tool to be easily moved in a second steering direction substantially parallel to the pivot axis and substantially opposite to the first direction.

Furthermore, by moving having the head in the neutral working position, wherein both the front side and the back side of the gardening attachment engage with the ground in a similar fashion, results in the gardening tool staying relative in its place.

It is noted that the first steering direction comprises a direction in which the head is steered when pivoting the head in or to the first pivot direction. The second steering direction corresponds to the direction in which the head is steered when pivoting the head in or to the second pivot direction. Preferably, the first steering direction and second steering directions are opposite.

In an embodiment according to the invention the first steering direction and the second steering direction depend on the rotation direction of the attached gardening attachment, i.e. when the rotation direction is reversed, both the first direction and the second direction will be reversed as well. For example, when the head is viewed from the perspective of the user during operation of the device, depended on the rotation direction, the head may move left when moving in the first steering direction and to the right when moving in the second steering direction. It will be clear that these directions are reversed when the rotation direction is reversed.

It is noted that the speed with which the head of the gardening device moves in the first steering position and the second steering position depends on both the rotational speed of the gardening attachment and the amount of pivot that is applied by the user (e.g. the distance moved in the first pivot direction or second pivot direction). Thus, the user can control the speed of which the device is steered by controlling both the rotational speed of the garden attachment as well as by controlling the amount of pivot it applies.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the device may further comprise a gearing system that is provided in the transfer element and/or in the motor, wherein the gearing system is configured to reduce a rotational speed of the motor.

An advantage of providing a gearing system is that the rotational speed of the motor may be regulated, and preferably may be regulated automatically.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first end of the boom comprises a forked end having two blades wherein the head is pivotably connected to the forked end by means of an axle that extends between the two blades of the forked end, and preferably extends perpendicular to a boom axis.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the head is pivotably attached to the boom in a stable and sturdy fashion without using complex parts.

In an embodiment according to the invention the pivot control element comprises a transfer element with a first end operatively connected to the head and operatively connected at a second end to a steering handle that is attached to the boom, and wherein the transfer element is configured to translate a movement of the steering handle to a corresponding pivot of the head.

An advantage of this embodiments is that the user an easily control the pivot of the head by moving the steering handle.

In an embodiment of the invention, the boom and/or the transfer element may be configured to be extendable and retractable to change a relative length of the boom.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the boom and/or the transfer element may be adapted to a used that is to use the device according to the invention. Therewith, the device is easily useable by any user, independent of the length or size of the user.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the head comprises one or more protective covers. An advantage of this embodiment is that the user of the device is protected from debris that is flung by the device during use thereof.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the head comprises one or more guards, for example wire guards, that extend substantially orthogonal to the rotational axis of the head, and wherein the size of the wire guards corresponds with a diameter of the head and wherein the one or more guards are configured to limit the working range of the attachment.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the device is protected against engaging with nearby objects such as trees, fences etc.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the transfer element comprises a a first end that is connected to the head and a second end that is connected to the steering handle, wherein the transfer element is configured to translate the movement of the steering handle to a corresponding rotational movement (i.e. pivotal movement) of the head.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the user can easily control the pivot of the head without having to bend forward or downward. Moreover, the angle of approach of the tool attached to the head can be controlled without the wielder or user having to change its posture.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the transfer element comprises a steering rod.

It is noted that the invention is not limited to the steering rod, but that other embodiments of the transfer element which can be configured to translate the movement of the steering handle to the corresponding pivot of the head are included in the invention. For example, the transfer element comprising a chain and cog system between the steering handle and the head is also included in the invention. It is clear that these embodiments have similar or the same advantages and effects as the embodiment described above.

In embodiment according to the invention the transfer element is positioned above the boom, below the boom, to a side of the boom or might cross the boom, when looking from the user perspective during use of the device.

In a presently preferred embodiment according to the invention the steering handle comprises one or more handles that are pivotably attached to the boom and wherein the transfer element is configured to translate a pivot of the one or more handles to a corresponding pivot of the head.

An advantage of this embodiment is that steering feels natural to the user. Preferably the handle bars have a length of at least 10 centimeters. This has as advantage that the user of the device has to use relatively low force to steer the device due to the handle bars acting as levers.

In an embodiment according to the invention the gardening device is configured to be carried by the user with the steering handle. Alternatively, or additionally the boom comprises strap attachment points to which a strap and/or a harness can be connected with which the user can carry at least a part of the weight of the device.

In an embodiment according to the invention the head comprises an adjustment mechanism which has at least three settings, and which is provided with at least one preloaded tension element configured to hold the head in a neutral working position and wherein the pivot control element is configured to move the head between the neutral working position and a first steering position and between the neutral position and/or a second steering position when the preloaded tension is overcome, and wherein the at least three settings comprises the neutral working position, the first steering position and the second steering position.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the head is in the neutral working position when the user of the device is not actively engaging the pivot control element. This makes the gardening device easier to use since the user only has to engage the pivot control element when he wishes to pivot the gardening tool attached to the device.

In an embodiment the preloaded tension element is a spring, a hydraulic cylinder or any other suitable tension element. In one of the presently preferred embodiments the tension element comprises one or more spring elements. This provides a robust and cost efficient embodiment.

In an embodiment according to the invention the gardening device comprises the gardening attachment.

In an embodiment according to the invention the gardening attachment is a hoeing attachment comprising a connector configured for connecting the hoeing attachment to the attachment connector.

An advantage of this embodiment is that it becomes relatively easy for the user of the device to steer the device while hoeing the garden in order to avoid plants that do not need to be weeded.

In an embodiment according to the invention the hoeing attachment comprises a base plate and one or more tilling elements connected to the base plate.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the ground of the garden can easily be hoed by the hoeing elements.

In an embodiment according to the invention the one or more hoeing elements comprise cutting wheels which are rotatably attached to the base plate on or close to an outer rim of the base plate, preferably along an outer rim of the base plate.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the circular cutting wheels will partly roll over the ground and partly roll through the top surface of the ground, therewith breaking clods of ground into smaller ones and/or preventing the hoeing device from digging in the ground to deep.

Another advantage of this embodiment is that the circular cutting wheels, due to a reduced resistance between the hoeing attachment and the ground, renders steering the device more easily.

It is noted that the gardening attachment having circular cutting wheels as described in the above embodiment and the other relating embodiments below may exist independently of the gardening device according to the invention and may be combined with existing conventional gardening devices.

In an embodiment according to the invention the circular cutting wheels may have a circular shape or other shapes that has some ends that define some imaginary circle, such as star shapes or polygon shapes such as an octagon, hexagon, pentagon or decagon.

In an embodiment according to the invention the circular cutting wheels have different sizes. For example, a first set of the circular cutting wheels may have a different sizes a second set of the circular wheels. For example, the first set of circular cutting wheels may have a circumference of about 5 centimeters while the second set of circular cutting wheels may have a circumference of 3 centimeters.

In a further embodiment according to the invention the circumference of the circular cutting wheels range from 15 centimeters to 1 centimeter.

In an embodiment according to the invention the circular cutting wheels are attached at different radiuses from a center point of the base plate. For example, a subset of the circular cutting wheels might be at a radius of about 7 centimeters from the center point while another subset of the circular cutting wheels might be at a different radius of 5 centimeters from the center point. It will be clear that the radiuses provided in this example are merely provided as examples and that the radiuses might be any distances in the range of 1 centimeter to 40 centimeters and that a plurality of radiuses might be used in the same hoeing attachment.

Having circular cutting wheels that are attached with a plurality of radiuses has as effect that the soil is worked more evenly and that clumps of soil are broken up in finer clumps.

In an embodiment according to the invention cutting wheels with a first circumference are attached around a first radius and cutting wheels with a second circumference are attached around a second radius, and wherein preferably the first circumference is relatively smaller as the second circumference and the first radius is relatively larger as the second radius. This has as an advantage that the hoeing device is easier to steer.

In an embodiment according to the invention the circular cutting wheels are preferably attached orthogonal to the base plate but may alternatively be attached under another angle to the base plate.

In an embodiment according to the invention the circular cutting wheels comprise one or two cutting edges.

In an alternative or further embodiment according to the invention the one or more tilling elements comprise tilling blades.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the tilling blades, due to their shape, cut relatively deep into (an upper surface layer of) the ground, which causes the ground to be worked more thorough.

In a presently preferred embodiment according to the invention the tilling blades are substantially perpendicularly attached to the base plate.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the blades, even when having a relatively short length, will, under the right angle, be able to reach a relatively deep layer of the ground.

In an embodiment the one or more tilling elements and the base plate are a monolithic element.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the hoeing attachment is strong and is not easily damaged. As such, a sturdy and reliable attachment is achieved. In an embodiment according to the invention the garden attachment comprises a brush, preferably a wire brush.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the gardening device can be used to easily clean tiles, pavements etc. The wire brush preferably comprises steel wires, yet may also comprise plastic wires, other types of suitable wires, or combinations thereof. Alternatively, the wire brush may comprise a plurality of chains for wires.

It is envisioned that many other rotating attachments are possible that are included in the invention that are not exclusively limited to work in the garden, other examples included in the invention are a rotatable mop attachment for mopping a floor, a rotatable sanding attachment for sanding a floor, or any other rotating attachment. It is clear that all these applications and embodiments have the same effects and advantages as the other embodiments of the invention.

In an embodiment according to the invention the motor is a combustion engine.

An advantage of providing a combustion engine is that a relatively large amount of power can be delivered to the gardening attachment. Furthermore, a combustion engine has the advantage that the power supply, in the form of a fuel tank, is relatively small, while still providing a long use for the device without refilling the tank.

In one of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention the motor is an electric motor.

An electric motor also provides the advantage that that a relatively large amount of power can be delivered to the gardening attachment. Another advantage of an electric motor is that it has a (very) low noise profile, i.e. produces little noise.

In an embodiment according to the invention the motor is positioned on the head according to a desired weight distribution of the head. Preferably, the motor is positioned in an upright position wherein the motor extends substantial perpendicular parallel to the axis or shaft of the transfer component or in a sideways position wherein the motor extends substantially orthogonal to the axis or shaft of the transfer component in a direction towards the user during use in the neutral working position.

In an embodiment according to the invention wherein the motor comprises an electric motor, the electric motor is configured to be powered by a battery pack and the boom comprises a battery pack receiver and the battery pack receiver is preferably attached to the boom via a sliding element that is configured to be slideable along the boom. To his end the sliding element comprises a sliding rail through which the battery pack can slide when engaged by the user. Preferably, the sliding element comprises a sliding contact to connect with the battery pack. Alternatively to the sliding contacts the sliding element comprises contacts configured to slide with the battery pack, the contacts comprising electric wiring with enough slack to compensate for the sliding of the contacts. Alternatively, the battery pack receiver might be configured for receiving a battery pack connector, wherein the battery pack is configured to be carried by the user, for example, in a backpack and wherein the battery pack connector comprises an electric cable for connecting the battery pack to the battery pack receiver.

An advantage of this embodiment is that, by sliding the battery pack during use, the center of gravity can be adapted. This is extra relevant when the user switches between different types of gardening attachments which have different weight, because it allows balancing the attachments with the battery pack to obtain a good balance for a specific user.

In an embodiment according to the invention, the rotational speed of the gardening attachment during use might be in the range of 25 - 500 RPM, and preferably might be in the range of 50 - 100 RPM. The invention further relates to a method for using the gardening device, the method comprising the steps of:

- providing a gardening device according to the invention;

- attaching a gardening attachment to the rotatable attachment connector;

- holding the gardening device in a working position;

- engaging the gardening attachment to a surface to be worked;

- rotating the gardening attachment by controlling the motor using the speed control; and

- controlling the gardening device by pivoting the head between the neutral working position, the first steering position, and the second working position.

The method according to the invention provides similar advantages and effects as the gardening device.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of presently preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of the gardening device according to the invention being used;

- Figure 2 shows another perspective view of the example of the gardening device of figure 1;

- Figure 3 shows a close up perspective view of an example of the head of the gardening device and multiple examples of gardening attachments; and,

- Figures 4 - 6 shows a close up side view of an example of the gardening device being used in different positions.

In an example of gardening device 2 according to the invention (see figures 1 and 2) gardening device 2 comprises boom 4 to which head 6 is pivotably connected using pivot axle 8. Head 6 comprises electric motor 10 which is powered by battery pack 12 that is attached to boom 4. Electrical wiring (not shown) from battery pack 12 to electric motor 10 may be internal or external to boom 4. Battery pack 12 is moveable over boom 4 in direction D to change the center of gravity of gardening device 2.

Additionally it is noted that the position of pivot axis or shaft 8 might be in a central position to head 6 as shown or may be offset to the center to change the weight distribution of head 6 around pivot axis 8.

Head 6 further comprises hoeing attachment 14 that is removable and operatively connected to electric motor 10 via transfer component 16. Hoeing attachment 14 comprises base plate 18 to which cutting wheels 20 are rotatable attached. It is noted that shown cutting wheels 18 are circular, but that other shapes such as star shapes, and polygon shapes such as an octagon, hexagon, pentagon or decagon are included in the invention as long as the shape has some ends that define some imaginary circle.

Boom 4 further comprises fork 22 with bladed 24 between which pivot axle 8 is attached to rotate around pivot axis P. Head 6 is biased to be in a neutral position by preloaded tension element 26. In this example preloaded tension element is a spring, but other elements, such as a hydraulic cylinder, can also be imagined. In other possible examples preloaded tension element 26 is a spring element attached to pivot axle 8.

Head 6 is further operatively attached to steering element 28 which comprises rod 30 and steering handle 32 having first handlebar 34 and second handlebar 26. Steering handle 32 is pivotably attached to boom 4. Rod 30 is at first end 38 pivotably connected to head 6 and with second end 40 pivotably connected to first handlebar 34. Speed control 42 is attached to second handlebar 36. It is noted that second end 40 of rod 30 may instead be attached to second handlebar 36 and/or that speed control 42 may instead be placed on first handlebar 34 or boom 4. Boom 2 further comprises strap attachment points 44 to which strap 46 is connected.

In an example of gardening device 2 according to the invention, the gardening attachment may comprise hoeing attachment 52, hoeing attachment 54 or wire brush 56 (figure 3). Hoeing attachment 52 comprises base plate 18 that is configured to be accepted by attachment connector 58 and cutting wheels 20. Hoeing attachment 54 comprises base plate 18 that is configured to be accepted by attachment connector 58 and hoeing blades 60 that are substantially perpendicular to base plate 18. Wire brush attachment 56 comprises base plate 18 that is configured to be accepted by attachment connector 58 and wires 62.

During operation the user hold the gardening device 2 using steering handle 32 and strap 44. To begin working the ground the user yield the gardening device 2 such that gardening attachment 14 is on ground G in a neutral working position (figure 4) such that both front end 64 and back end 66 of gardening attachment 14 are on ground 48. The user engages speed control 42 which causes electric motor 10 to rotate. It is noted that the speed control 42 might be partly engaged by the user to control the rotational speed. Transfer component 16 transfers the rotation of electric motor 10 to hoeing attachment 14 which (figure 2) rotated in direction R around axis X. It is noted that the direction R is shown as example and that the reverse of direction R is also included in the invention. In this example, the rotational speed during use is between 25 RPM and 500 RPM, and preferably between 50 and 100 RPM. Due to the rotation of hoeing attachment 14 ground 48 is tiled. When the user notices plant 50 (figure 1) the user moves steering element 32. The movement of steering element 32 is transferred by rod 30 to head 6, causing the head to pivot around pivot axle 8. When the user moves handlebar 34 (figure 2) in first steering direction SI rod 30 transfer the movement to head 10 which pivots in first pivot direction Pl which causes front end 64 to be lifted relative to back end 66 (figure 5) such that mainly back end 66 to make contact with ground 48. This causes the rotational of hoeing attachment 14 to be mainly act on the ground at back end 66 of head 6, which causes head 6 to have a steering effect which moves head 6 relative to ground 48 (figure 2) in direction Ml.

When the user moves handlebar 34 (figure 2) in second steering direction S2 rod 30 transfer the movement to head 6 which pivots in second pivot direction P2 which causes (figure 6) back end 66 to be lifted relative to front end 64 such that mainly front end 64 to make contact with ground 48. This causes rotation of hoeing attachment 14 such that attachment 14 mainly acts on the ground at its front end 64. This causes head 6 to have a steering effect which steers head 6 relative to ground 48 (figure 2) in direction M2.

In the provided example, when gardening device 2 is viewed from the user perspective looking down at head 6, the garden attachment rotates in a clockwise fashion when viewed from a user (top view) perspective. Thus, from the user perspective, when the user pulls the first handlebar 34 (i.e. the right handlebar from the user perspective) towards himself the head will move in direction Ml, which is towards the right from the user perspective. Similarly, when the user pulls second handlebar 36 (i.e. the left handlebar from the user perspective) towards himself the head will move in direction M2, which is towards the left from the user perspective. It will be clear that when the garden attachment rotates in an anti-clockwise fashion the steering directions as presented above will be reversed.

The present invention is by no means limited to the above described presently preferred embodiments thereof. It will be clear that different embodiments or components thereof may be combined in the present invention. The rights sought are defined by the following claims within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.

Claims

1. Gardening device, such as a hoeing device, comprising:

- a head comprising:

- a boom connectable with the head;

2. Gardening device according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the boom comprises a forked end having two blades and wherein the head is pivotably connected to the forked end by means of an axle that extends between two blades of the forked end.

3. Gardening device according claim 1 or 2, wherein the pivot control element comprises a transfer element with a first end operatively connected to the head and a second end operatively connected to a steering handle attached to the boom.

4. Gardening device according to claim 3, wherein steering handle comprises one or more handle bars that are pivotably attached to the boom and wherein the transfer element is configured to translate a pivot of the one or more handles to a corresponding pivot of the head.

5. Gardening device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the head comprises an adjustment mechanism which has at least three settings, and which is provided with at least one preloaded tension element configured to hold the head in a neutral working position and wherein the pivot control element is configured to move the head between the neutral working position and a first steering position and between the neutral position and/or a second steering position when the preloaded tension is overcome.

6. Gardening device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the gardening device comprises the gardening attachment.

7. Gardening device according to claim 6, wherein the gardening attachment is a hoeing attachment comprising a connector configured for connecting the hoeing attachment to the attachment connector.

8. Gardening device according to claim 7, wherein the hoeing attachment comprises a base plate and one or more tilling elements connected to the base plate.

9. Gardening device according to claim 8, wherein the one or more tilling elements comprise cutting wheels which are rotatable attached on or close to an outer rim of the base plate.

10. Gardening device according to claim 8, wherein the one or more tilling elements and the base plate are a monolithic element.

11. Gardening device according to any one of the claims 8, 9 or 10, wherein the one or more tilling elements comprise tilling blades.

12. Gardening device according to claims 11, wherein the tilling blades are perpendicular attached to the base plate.

13. Gardening device according to claim 6, wherein the gardening attachment comprises a brush, for example a wire brush.

14. Gardening device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the motor is an electric motor or a combustion engine.

15. Gardening device according to claim 14, wherein in the case of the motor comprising the electric motor, the electric motor is configured to be powered by a battery pack and wherein the boom comprises a battery pack receiver and wherein the battery pack receiver is preferably attached to the boom via a sliding element that is configured to be slideable along the boom.

16. Method for using a gardening device, such as a hoeing device, the method comprising the steps of:

- providing a gardening device according to any one of the previous claims;

- attaching a gardening attachment to the rotatable attachment connector;

- holding the gardening device in a working position; - engaging the gardening attachment to a surface to be worked;

- rotating the gardening attachment by controlling the motor using the speed control;

- steering the gardening device by pivoting the head between the neutral working position, the first steering position, and the second working position.