FR2882625A1 - Motorized hedge trimmer for shrubs, has rear part with fixed interposed handle and end handle, where end handle is inclined at specific angle relative to longitudinal axis, and control units of both handles move in direction normal to axis - Google Patents

Abstract

The trimmer has a front part containing a motor, extended by blades and over mounted with a front handle (11) having a manual control unit (6). A rear part has a fixed interposed handle (10) with another manual control unit, and an end handle (20) with a third manual control unit and inclined at 15 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis. The control units of interposed and end handles move in a direction normal to the axis.

Description

The present invention relates to a motorized hedge trimmer.

  It has been known for many years to offer for sale motorized devices, marketed under the name of hedge trimmers, allowing users to cut the branches of shrubs at their convenience.

  A traditional hedge trimmer includes a rear portion equipped with a rear handle, a front portion containing a motor and equipped with a front handle, and a set of blades extending the front portion. The rear handle and the front portion are each provided with a manual control member, and the starting of the motor is triggered by the simultaneous operation of these two control members. In doing so, the set of blades is made to perform very fast back and forth along a longitudinal axis and shears the branches to eliminate.

  However, such a hedge trimmer is particularly difficult for the user, especially when the shrubs are arranged in a substantially vertical plane. Indeed, the hand placed at the back is maintained in an uncomfortable position, and the user is thus faced with increased fatigue and risk of accident.

  To overcome this drawback, it was then proposed hedge trimmers with two control members having a fixed front handle and a rear handle pivotable about a substantially longitudinal axis, the user can thus work in the natural sense of grip of the device.

  Nevertheless, when the distance separating the user from the branches to be cut is greater than the total length of the hedge trimmer but the user can reach them by maximum extension of his arms, the weight of the hedge trimmer constitutes a handicap-hazard handicap. because the efforts to provide to retain it quickly exhaust the user.

  To reduce this risk, it has been proposed, particularly in EP 0 826 299, a hedge trimmer of increased length having a rear double handle device, and equipped with three manual control members. Thus, the user can where appropriate take hold of the hedge trimmer by the two rear handles each provided with a separate control member, the simultaneous actuation of the latter to start the engine. However, in such a device, besides the fact that neither of the two rear handles is pivoting, which is problematic as explained above, the rear handle at the end of the device is shaped like a simple trigger. It is difficult to maintain the device stably only by its rear handles, which is unsatisfactory from a security point of view.

  Since then, other hedge trimmers with three manual control members have been proposed and include a pivotal intermediate handle disposed between the front handle and the rear trigger.

  It has also been proposed a hedge trimmer having a first control member located at the rear of the apparatus, and a second control member positioned on a retaining clip that can, by pivoting about a transverse axis, pass alternately from an advanced position to an end back position. Such a hedge trimmer is advantageous in that it offers the user a true rear end handle, but on the other hand does not allow the user to grasp it in the natural sense of grip according to the cut to be made.

  The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, and consists of a motorized hedge trimmer comprising a rear part equipped with a first manual control member, and a front part containing the motor and intended to be extended by a set of blades, said front portion being surmounted by a front handle equipped with a second manual control member, characterized in that the rear portion comprises a fixed intermediate handle equipped with the first control member, and an end handle equipped with a third manual control member and pivotally mounted about a substantially longitudinal axis.

  Thus, a hedge trimmer according to the invention is both very comfortable to use and has an extended radius of action.

  Advantageously, the stroke of the first control member and the stroke of the third control member are performed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The user therefore always works in pressure on these control members in the natural sense of grip.

  Advantageously, the intermediate handle is provided with a set of annular grooves adapted to engage by complementary shape in a set of grooves equipping the end handle. The annular grooves of each handle are then slid into annular slots defined by the grooves of the other handle.

  Advantageously, the hedge trimmer according to the invention is equipped with a locking member adapted to hold the end handle in an alignment position with respect to the intermediate handle.

  Preferably, a channel is provided between the intermediate handle and the end handle for the passage of the means ensuring the connection between the front portion and the third control member. In addition, this channel is preferably arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hedge trimmer comprises a first casing in which are formed the front part and the intermediate handle. Even more advantageously, it comprises a second casing in which is formed the end handle.

  According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the control members are able to cause the displacement of a trigger member acting on a mechanical switch of the motor. In this configuration, the starting of the motor can be triggered by simultaneous actuation of the control members located respectively, either on the front handle and on the intermediate handle, or on the intermediate handle and the end handle. The third control member is preferably connected to the trigger member via a connecting cable.

  According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, each control member is equipped with a microswitch adapted to interact with that of another control member. This configuration is more expensive, but offers the possibility, in addition to those already defined above, to allow the start of the engine by simultaneous actuation of the control members located on the front handle and the end handle.

  The invention will be better understood with the aid of the detailed description which is set out below with reference to the appended drawing in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hedge trimmer according to a first preferred embodiment of FIG. the invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, after pivoting of the end handle; Figure 3 is an enlarged partial view of the hedge trimmer shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enlarged partial view of the hedge trimmer shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a schematic partial longitudinal sectional view of the hedge trimmer shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 is an enlarged partial schematic view of the connection between the first housing and the second housing of the hedge trimmer shown in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit connecting the microswitches of a hedge trimmer according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention.

  A hedge trimmer 1 according to the invention, as represented in FIGS. 1 to 6, comprises a first casing 2 and a second casing 3 in which a motor 4 is notably housed, the three manual control members 5 to 7 capable of provoking the tripping of said motor 4, as well as the connecting means between these different elements.

  More specifically, the first housing 2 is divided into two shells 2a, 2b substantially symmetrical made by molding in a plastic material. These two shells 2a, 2b define a flat bottom 51 on which rests said hedge trimmer 1 in case of non-use, each have a constituent opening of an intermediate handle 10, a tab constituting a front handle 11 in the form of stirrup, and a rear end having a set of annular grooves 19 parallel to each other and spaced from each other.

  In a conventional manner, a compartment is formed in the central part of each of the two shells 2a, 2b for housing the rotary motor 4 itself fixed in the upper face of a metal plate 27 disposed in a horizontal plane. A vertical drive rod 28 from the engine 4 is slid through a perforation in the plate 27 and meshes with a wheel 8 rotatably mounted about a vertical axis. The plate 27 is extended forward by a set of blades 9 adapted to perform very fast back and forth in translation when the wheel 8 is rotated by the motor 4.

  The first substantially horizontal control member 5 protrudes from the intermediate handle 10 and is pivotally mounted at its rear end against a vertical return spring, and the second control member 6 is attached to the front handle. 11.

  These two control members 5, 6 are able to act on a mechanical switch 12 connected to the motor 4 and arranged between the latter and the intermediate handle 10.

  For this, the front end of the first control member 5 is engaged with the rear end bent downwardly of a substantially horizontal connecting tongue 13 in which is fixed a transverse rod 14 provided with a stop (not shown ) in the lower part, a return spring 16 is interposed between the connecting tongue 13 and said stop. The front end 17 of the connecting tongue 13 is curved upwards and rests in a recess proposed by an annular ring 18 arranged around the motor 4 and slidable along the latter. The stop of the rod 14 is engaged with asperities formed in the first casing 2 so that, in operation, the rod 14 can move axially against its return spring 16.

  The second control member 6 is extended in the casing 2 by a connecting lug 29 which is secured to the ring 18. The actuation of the second control member 6 then has the effect of causing the upward sliding of said ring 18.

  As shown more specifically in FIG. 5, the second casing 3 is disposed at the rear of the first casing 2, and is divided into two substantially symmetrical shells 3a, 3b made by molding in a plastic material, the two shells 3a, 3b exhibiting each a constituent opening of an end handle 20, a transverse double wall constituting a double partition wall 22 provided with a central channel 25 between the end wall 20 and the intermediate handle 10, and a front end having a set of annular grooves 21 parallel to each other, spaced from each other, and adapted to engage by complementary shape in the grooves 19 of the first housing 2. The second housing 3 is equipped with a locking member 15 housed in a recess formed in the shells 3a, 3b, this locking member 15 being slidably mounted about a transverse axis 40, provided with a vertical return spring 41, and being able to hold ir the end handle 20 in an alignment position around the intermediate handle 10 as shown more specifically in Figure 6. After pressing on this locking member 15 against its return spring, the grooves 21 of the second housing 3 are released and can then be slid into the slots defined by the grooves 19 of the first casing 2. Furthermore, the grooves 19 and the grooves 21 are provided with stops (not shown) able to cooperate to limit the angular rotation of the second housing 3, about the longitudinal axis, at an angle of 90 on either side of the alignment position.

  The substantially horizontal third control member 7 protrudes from the end handle 20 and is pivotally mounted at its rear end against a vertical return spring. This third control member 7 is connected to the front end 17 of the connecting tongue 13 by means of a connecting cable 24 attached to the front end of said third control member 7. For this, this cable of link 24 is slid through the channel 25 passing through the double partition wall 22.

  Furthermore, an input is provided at the rear of the housing 3 for the passage of the power supply cables 26 which also pass through the channel 25 before coming to connect to the switch 12.

  Thus, such a hedge trimmer 1 can be started by simultaneous actuation, either of the first control member 5 and the third control member 7, or of the first control member 5 and the second control member 6.

  In the first case, since the actuation of the first control member 5 tends to force the rear end of the connecting tongue 13 to pivot in the direction of clockwise, and the actuation of the third control member 7 tends to force the front end 17 of the connecting tongue 13 to rotate in the trigonometric direction, it follows that the resultant forces applied to the connecting tongue 13 is directed upwards and forces the latter to translate to the top. In doing so, the front end 17 may alternatively trigger the opening and closing of the electrical circuit by coming into contact with a trigger member presented by the mechanical switch 12.

  In the second case, since the actuation of the first control member 5 tends to force the rear end of the connecting tongue 13 to pivot in a clockwise direction, and the actuation of the second control member 6 tends to force the ring 18 to slide upwards, which results in a rotation of the front end 17 in the trigonometric direction, it follows as previously that the 2882625 7 connecting tongue 13 is brought to translate to the top. Again, the front end 17 may finally alternately trigger the opening and closing of the electrical circuit by coming into contact with the trigger member presented by the mechanical switch 12.

  In both cases, when the user removes his hands from the hedge trimmer 1, the two control members 5, 6 return to their initial position under the action of their respective return spring, and the rod 14 of the tongue of link 13 is translated downwards under the effect of its return spring 16.

  When the user wishes to benefit from the extended range of action proposed by the hedge trimmer 1, he takes hold of the latter by the intermediate handle 10 and the rear end handle 20. It should further be noted that the end handle 20 may advantageously be designed to be inclined approximately downwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis so as to provide better blockage of any force / torque. . Depending on the location of the branches to be sheared, the user then has the opportunity to rotate the end handle 20 around the intermediate handle 10 to find a gripping position that suits him.

  An alternative embodiment of a hedge trimmer according to the invention may consist in the incorporation of microswitches in place of the mechanical switch 12. As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7, each control member is in fact equipped respectively with a microswitch 30, 31, 32. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous insofar as it makes it possible to overcome the constraints related to the use of a mechanical switch 12. Indeed, the use of microswitches 30 to 32 can be alternately open or closed in addition offers the possibility of triggering the start of the engine by simultaneous actuation of the second and third control members.

  Although the invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

  1.- Motorized hedge trimmer (1) comprising a rear part equipped with a first manual control member (5), and a front part containing the motor (4) and intended to be extended by a set of blades (9) , said front portion being surmounted by a front handle (11) equipped with a second manual control member (6), characterized in that the rear portion comprises a fixed intermediate handle (10) equipped with the first control member (5). ), and an end handle (20) equipped with a third control member (7) manual and pivotally mounted about a substantially longitudinal axis.   2.- hedge trimmer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the stroke of the first control member (5) and the stroke of the third control member (7) are performed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.   3.- hedge trimmer (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the intermediate handle (10) is provided with a set of annular grooves (19) adapted to engage by complementarity of form in a set of grooves (21) equipping the end handle (20).   4.- hedge trimmer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is equipped with a locking member (15) adapted to hold the end handle (20) in a alignment position with respect to the intermediate handle (10).   5.- hedge trimmer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a channel (25) is provided between the intermediate handle (10) and the end handle (20) for the passage means (24, 26) providing the connection between the front portion and the third control member (7).   6. hedge trimmer (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the channel (25) is formed in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.   7. Hedge trimmer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a first housing (2) in which are formed the front portion and the intermediate handle (10).   8. Hedge trimmer (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a second housing (3) in which is formed the end handle (20).   9. Hedge trimmer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control members (5 to 7) are able to cause the displacement of a trigger member acting on a switch ( 12) engine mechanics (4).   10.- hedge trimmer according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each control member is equipped with a microswitch (30 to 32) adapted to interact with that of another control member.