GB2471774A

GB2471774A - Pruning hook

Info

Publication number: GB2471774A
Application number: GB201011425A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shih-Piao Wu
Original assignee: Jiin Haur Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Jiin Haur Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-07-07
Filing date: 2010-07-07
Publication date: 2011-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2030-07-07
Also published as: GB201011425D0; GB2471774B

Abstract

A pruning hook includes an extension pipe 20, a cutting unit 10, an operation cord 111mounted on the pipe and connected with the cutting unit, a control sleeve 21 mounted on the pipe and connected with the cord, a guide unit 30 including two rollers, and an angle adjusting device 40. The angle adjusting device includes: a first rotation disk 41 having a plurality of peripheral positioning holes 412; a second rotation disk 42 rotatably mounted on the first and having at least one peripheral through hole 422; a mounting sleeve 43 extending through the disks; a retainer 432 secured on the sleeve and abutting the first disk to limit the mounting sleeve onto the first disk; an adjusting cap 44 rotatably mounted on the second disk; at least one fixing pin 444 extending from the cap and through the hole of the second disk and detachably locked into one of the positioning holes of the first disk; a control shaft 441 secured on the cap; a locking member 443 locked onto a distal end of the control shaft; and an elastic member 442 mounted on the control shaft.The guide unit guides and limit the operation cord to prevent it from rubbing the inner wall of the extension pipe so that it is moved easily and smoothly. In addition, the user can adjust the angle between the cutting unit and the extension pipe by operation of the angle adjusting device.

Description

PRUNING HOOK

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shearing tool and, more particularly, to a pruning hook for a gardening purpose to shear branches or leaves at a higher location.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional pruning hook in accordance with the prior art shown in Fig. 10 comprises an extension pipe 60, a fixed cover 61 mounted on the upper end of the extension pipe 60, a rotation cover 52 rotatably connected with the fixed cover 61 by a pivot bolt 64 and an adjusting nut 65, an elastic member 55 mounted on the pivot bolt 64 and biased between the fixed cover 61 and the rotation cover 52, and a cutting unit 50 mounted on the rotation cover 52 to move in concert with the rotation cover 52. The fixed cover 61 has a periphery formed with a first toothed face 62. The fixed cover 61 has a central portion formed with a through hole 63 to allow passage of the pivot bolt 64. The rotation cover 52 has a periphery formed with a second toothed face 56 engaging the first toothed face 62 of the fixed cover 61. The rotation cover 52 has a central portion formed with a shaft hole 53 to allow passage of the pivot bolt 64. The rotation cover 52 has an inner portion formed with a receiving recess 54 located outside of the shaft hole 53 to receive the elastic member 55.

The pivot bolt 64 extends through the shaft hole 53 of the rotation cover 52, the elastic member 55 and the through hole 63 of the fixed cover 61 and protrudes outward from the fixed cover 61. The adjusting nut 65 is screwed onto the pivot bolt 64 and presses the fixed cover 61. In adjustment, when the adjusting nut 65 is rotated and unscrewed from the pivot bolt 64, the fixed cover 61 and the rotation cover 52 are pushed outward relative to each other by the restoring force of the elastic member 55 to detach the second toothed face 56 of the rotation cover 52 from the first toothed face 62 of the fixed cover 61 so that the rotation cover 52 can be rotated relative to the fixed cover 61 so as to adjust the angle between the cutting unit 50 and the extension pipe 60. However, when the adjusting nut 65 is rotated to an excessive extent, the adjusting nut 65 will be loosened from the pivot bolt 64, so that the rotation cover 52 will be detached from the fixed cover 61. On the contrary, when the adjusting nut 65 is locked onto the pivot bolt 64 and the fixed cover 61 too tightly, it is difficult to rotate the adjusting nut 65, thereby greatly causing inconvenience to the user in adjustment of the angle between the cutting unit 50 and the extension pipe 60.

The conventional pruning hook further comprises an operation cord mounted between the extension pipe 60 and the cutting unit 50 to control operation of the cutting unit 50. However, the operation cord easily touches and rubs the inner wall of the extension pipe during movement such that the operation cord is not moved easily and smoothly during operation of the pruning hook. In addition, when the operation cord rubs the inner wall of the extension pipe during a long period of time, the operation cord is easily worn out, thereby decreasing the lifetime of the operation cord.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pruning hook, comprising an extension pipe, a cutting unit disposed on an upper end of the extension pipe, an operation cord movably mounted on the extension pipe and connected with the cutting unit to control operation of the cutting unit, a control sleeve movably mounted on the extension pipe and connected with the operation cord to drive and move the operation cord relative to the extension pipe, a guide unit mounted on the extension pipe and surrounding the operation cord to guide movement of the operation cord, and an angle adjusting device mounted between the extension pipe and the cutting unit to adjust an angle between the extension pipe and the cutting unit.

The guide unit includes two rollers rotatably mounted on the upper end of the extension pipe to allow the operation cord to pass between the two rollers. The angle adjusting device includes a first rotation disk having a periphery formed with a plurality of positioning holes, a second rotation disk rotatably mounted on the first rotation disk and having a periphery formed with at least one through hole, a mounting sleeve extending through the first rotation disk and the second rotation disk so that the first rotation disk and the second rotation disk are rotatable relative to each other about the mounting sleeve, a retainer secured on the mounting sleeve and abutting the first rotation disk to limit the mounting sleeve onto the first rotation disk, an adjusting cap rotatably mounted on the second rotation disk and movable axially relative to the second rotation disk, at least one fixing pin having a first end secured on the adjusting cap to move in concert with the adjusting cap and a second end extended through the through hole of the second rotation disk and detachably locked in one of the positioning holes of the first rotation disk to lock the second rotation disk onto the first rotation disk, a control shaft secured on the adjusting cap to move in concert with the adjusting cap and movable and rotatable in the mounting sleeve, a locking member locked onto a distal end of the control shaft, and an elastic member mounted on the control shaft and biased between the mounting sleeve and the locking member to push the control shaft toward the first rotation disk and to push the fixing pin toward the positioning holes of the first rotation disk.

According to the primary objective of the present invention, the two rollers of the guide unit can guide and limit the operation cord to prevent the operation cord from touching or rubbing the inner wall of the extension pipe during movement such that the operation cord is moved easily and smoothly during operation of the pruning hook.

According to another objective of the present invention, a user only needs to pull the adjusting cap to unlock the second rotation disk from the first rotation disk so as to adjust the angle between the cutting unit and the extension pipe so that the user can adjust the angle between the cutting unit and the extension pipe easily and quickly.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pruning hook in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the pruning hook as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a another perspective view of the pruning hook as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the pruning hook as shown inFig.3.

Fig. 5 is a front cross-sectional view of the pruning hook as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an operational view of the pruning hook as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the pruning hook as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an operational view of the pruning hook as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is an operational view of the pruning hook as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of a conventional pruning hook

in accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1-5, a pruning hook in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an extension pipe 20, a cutting unit 10 disposed on an upper end of the extension pipe 20, an operation cord ill movably mounted on the extension pipe 20 and connected with the cutting unit 10 to control operation of the cutting unit 10, a control sleeve 21 movably mounted on the extension pipe 20 and connected with the operation cord 111 to drive and move the operation cord 111 relative to the extension pipe 20, a guide unit 30 mounted on the extension pipe 20 and surrounding the operation cord 111 to guide movement of the operation cord 111, and an angle adjusting device 40 mounted between the extension pipe 20 and the cutting unit 10 to adjust an angle between the extension pipe 20 and the cutting unit 10.

The cutting unit 10 includes a fixed blade 11 disposed on the upper is end of the extension pipe 20, a movable blade 12 pivotally connected with and movable relative to the fixed blade 11, a guide pulley 121 rotatably mounted on a first side of the movable blade 12, and an elastic member 13 biased between a second side of the movable blade 12 and the fixed blade ii to drive the movable blade 12 to move outwardly relative to the fixed blade 11. The operation cord 111 is mounted on the guide pulley 121 and extended into the extension pipe 20. The operation cord 111 has a first end 112 secured on the fixed blade 11 and a second end 113 attached to the control sleeve 21 to move in concert with the control sleeve 21.

The extension pipe 20 has a peripheral wall formed with an opening 222 to allow passage of the operation cord 111, and the second end 113 of the operation cord 111 extends into the extension pipe 20 and protrudes outward from the opening 222 of the extension pipe 20.

The guide unit 30 includes two rollers 31 rotatably mounted on the upper end of the extension pipe 20 to allow the operation cord 111 to pass between the two rollers 31. Each of the two rollers 31 of the guide unit 30 has a periphery formed with an annular limit groove 311 to limit the operation cord 111. The guide unit 30 further includes a limit plate 32 mounted on the upper end of the extension pipe 20 and abutting the operation cord 111 to limit the operation cord 111, and two spacers 33 mounted between the limit plate 32 and the upper end of the extension pipe 20 to raise the limit plate 32.

The angle adjusting device 40 includes a first rotation disk 41 having a periphery formed with a plurality of positioning holes 412, a second rotation disk 42 rotatably mounted on the first rotation disk 41 and having a periphery formed with at least one through hole 422, a mounting sleeve 43 extending through the first rotation disk 41 and the second rotation disk 42 so that the first rotation disk 41 and the second rotation disk 42 are rotatable relative to each other about the mounting sleeve 43, a retainer 432 secured on the mounting sleeve 43 and abutting the first rotation disk 41 to limit the mounting sleeve 43 onto the first rotation disk 41, an adjusting cap 44 rotatably mounted on the second rotation disk 42 and movable axially relative to the second rotation disk 42, at least one fixing pin 444 having a first end secured on the adjusting cap 44 to move in concert with the adjusting cap 44 and a second end extended through the through hole 422 of the second rotation disk 42 and detachably locked in one of the positioning holes 412 of the first rotation disk 41 to lock the second rotation disk 42 onto the first rotation disk 41., a control shaft 441 secured on the adjusting cap 44 to move in concert with the adjusting cap 44 and movable and rotatable in the mounting sleeve 43, a threaded locking member 443 locked onto a threaded distal end 445 of the control shaft 441, and an elastic member 442 mounted on the control shaft 441 and biased between the mounting sleeve 43 and the locking member 443 to push the control shaft 441 toward the first rotation disk 41 and to push the fixing pin 444 toward the positioning holes 412 of the first rotation disk 41.

The first rotation disk 41 of the angle adjusting device 40 has a central portion formed with a first shaft hole 411 rotatably mounted on the mounting sleeve 43. The second rotation disk 42 of the angle adjusting device has a central portion formed with a second shaft hole 421 rotatably mounted on the mounting sleeve 43. The mounting sleeve 43 of the angle adjusting device 40 has a stepped hollow inside to receive the control shaft 441, the elastic member 442 and the locking member 443. The mounting sleeve 43 of the angle adjusting device 40 has a first end protruding outward from the second rotation disk 42 and a second end protruding outward from the first rotation disk 41 and having a periphery formed with a retaining groove 431.

The retainer 432 of the angle adjusting device 40 is secured in the retaining groove 431 of the mounting sleeve 43. The control shaft 441 of the angle adjusting device 40 is located at a central portion of the adjusting cap 44.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first rotation disk 41 of the angle adjusting device 40 is cOnnected with the upper end of the extension pipe 20, and the second rotation disk 42 of the angle adjusting device 40 is connected with the cutting unit 10. Alternatively, the first rotation disk 41 of the angle adjusting device 40 is connected with the cutting unit 10, and the second rotation disk 42 of the angle adjusting device 40 is connected with the upper end of the extension pipe 20.

In operation, referring to Figs. 6 and 7 with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, when the control sleeve 21 is moved outwardly relative to the cutting unit 10, the operation cord 111 is driven by the control sleeve 21 to drive the guide pulley 121 which drives the movable blade 12 to move toward the fixed blade 11 as shown in Fig. 6 so as to perform a cutting action. At this time, the operation cord 111 passes between the two rollers 31 of the guide unit 30 as shown in Fig. 7 and is limited by the limit groove 311 of each of the two rollers 31 so that the two rollers 31 of the guide unit 30 can guide and limit the operation cord ill to prevent the operation cord 111 from touching or rubbing the inner wall of the extension pipe 20 such that the operation cord 111 is moved smoothly during the cutting process. On the contrary, when the pulling force applied on the control sleeve 21 is removed, the movable blade 12 is driven by the restoring force of the elastic member 13 to move outwardly relative to the fixed blade 11 as shown in Fig. I so that the movable blade 12 and the fixed blade 11 are opened at a normal state.

In adjustment, referring to Figs. 8 and 9 with reference to Figs. 1-5, when the adjusting cap 44 is pulled and moved outward relative to the second rotation disk 42, the fixing pin 444 is detached from one of the positioning holes 412 of the first rotation disk 41 as shown in Fig. 8 to unlock the second 0 rotation disk 42 from the first rotation disk 41 so that the second rotation disk 42 can be rotated relative to the first rotation disk 41 about the mounting sleeve 43 so as to adjust the angle between the cutting unit 10 and the extension pipe as shown in Fig. 9. After adjustment of the angle between the cuffing unit 10 and the extension pipe 20 is finished, the pulling force applied on the adjusting cap 44 is removed, and the control shaft 441 is pushed toward the first rotation disk 41 by the restoring force of the elastic member 442, and the fixing pin 444 is pushed toward the positioning holes 412 of the first rotation disk 41 so that the fixing pin 444 is inserted into and locked in another one of the positioning holes 412 of the first rotation disk 41 as shown in Fig. 5 to lock the second rotation disk 42 onto the first rotation disk 41 again.

Accordingly, the two rollers 31 of the guide unit 30 can guide and limit the operation cord 111 to prevent the operation cord 111 from touching or rubbing the inner wall of the extension pipe 20 during movement such that the operation cord 111 is moved easily and smoothly during operation of the pruning hook. In addition, a user oniy needs to pull the adjusting cap 44 to unlock the second rotation disk 42 from the first r tation disk 41 so as to adjust the angle between the cutting unit 10 and the extension pipe 20 so that the user can adjust the angle between the cutting unit 10 and the extension pipe 20 easily and quickly.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A pruning hook, comprising: an extension pipe; a cutting unit disposed on an upper end of the extension pipe; an operation cord movably mounted on the extension pipe and connected with the cutting unit to control operation of the cutting unit; a control sleeve movably mounted on the extension pipe and connected with the operation cord to drive and move the operation cord relative to the extension pipe; a guide unit mounted on the extension pipe and surrounding the operation cord to guide movement of the operation cord; and an angle adjusting device mounted between the extension pipe and the cutting unit to adjust an angle between the extension pipe and the cutting unit; wherein the guide unit includes: two rollers rotatably mounted on the upper end of the extension pipe to allow the operation cord to pass between the two rollers; the angle adjusting device includes: a first rotation disk having a periphery formed with a plurality of positioning holes; a second rotation disk rotatably mounted on the first rotation disk and having a periphery formed with at least one through hole; a mounting sleeve extending through the first rotation disk and the second rotation disk so that the first rotation disk and the second rotation disk are rotatable relative to each other about the mounting sleeve; a retainer secured on the mounting sleeve and abutting the first rotation disk to limit the mounting sleeve onto the first rotation disk; an adjusting cap rotatably mounted on the second rotation disk and movable axially relative to the second rotation disk; at least one fixing pin having a first end secured on the adjusting cap to move in concert with the adjusting cap and a second end extended through the through hole of the second rotation disk and detachably locked in one of the positioning holes of the first rotation disk to lock the second rotation disk onto the first rotation disk; a control shaft secured on the adjusting cap to move in concert with the adjusting cap and movable and rotatable in the mounting sleeve; a locking member locked onto a distal end of the control shaft; and an elastic member mounted on the control shaft and biased between the mounting sleeve and the locking member to push the control shaft toward the first rotation disk and to push the fixing pin toward the positioning holes of the first rotation disk.
2. The pruning hook of claim 1, wherein the cutting unit includes: a fixed blade disposed on the upper end of the extension pipe; a movable blade pivotally connected with and movable relative to the fixed blade; a guide pulley rotatably mounted on a first side of the movable blade; and an elastic member biased between a second side of the movable blade and the fixed blade to drive the movable blade to move outwardly relative to the fixed blade; the operation cord is mounted on the guide pulley and extended into the extension pipe; the operation cord has a first end secured on the fixed blade and a second end attached to the control sleeve to move in concert with the control sleeve; the extension pipe has a peripheral wall formed with an opening to allow passage of the operation cord; the second end of the operation cord extends into the extension pipe and protrudes outward from the opening of the extension pipe; each of the two rollers of the guide unit has a periphery formed with an annular limit groove to limit the operation cord; the guide unit further includes: a limit plate mounted on the upper end of the extension pipe and abutting the operation cord to limit the operation cord; and two spacers mounted between the limit plate and the upper end of the extension pipe to raise the limit plate; the first rotation disk of the angle adjusting device has a central portion formed with a first shaft hole rotatably mounted on the mounting sleeve; the second rotation disk of the angle adjusting device has a central portion formed with a second shaft hole rotatably mounted on the mounting sleeve; the mounting sleeve of the angle adjusting device has a hollow inside to receive the control shaft, the elastic member and the locking member; the mounting sleeve of the angle adjusting device has a first end protruding outward from the second rotation disk and a second end protruding outward from the first rotation disk and having a periphery formed with a retaining groove; the retainer of the angle adjusting device is secured in the retaining groove of the mounting sleeve; and the control shaft of the angle adjusting device is located at a central portion of the adjusting cap.
3. The pruning hook of claim 1, wherein the first rotation disk of the angle adjusting device is connected with the upper end of the extension pipe or the cutting unit; and the second rotation disk of the angle adjusting device is connected with the cutting unit or the upper end of the extension pipe.
4. A pruning hook substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.