GB2474965A

GB2474965A - Pruning hook

Info

Publication number: GB2474965A
Application number: GB1019486A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shih-Piao Wu
Original assignee: Jiin Haur Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Jiin Haur Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-11-18
Filing date: 2010-11-18
Publication date: 2011-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2030-11-18
Also published as: GB2474965B; GB201019486D0

Abstract

A pruning hook includes an extension pipe or pole20a cutting unit10disposed on an upper end of the extension pipe, an operation cord30movably mounted on the extension pole and connected with the cutting unit, two guide rollers40rotatably mounted on the upper end of the extension pole and abutting the operation cord, a swing member50pivotally mounted on the upper end of the extension pole by a first pivot member13, a turning member60swivelably mounted on the swing member by a second pivot member51, and two auxiliary rollers61rotatably mounted on the turning member and abutting the operation cord. When the operation cord is moved, the auxiliary rollers and the guide rollers guide movement of the operation cord so that the operation cord is moved smoothly. The pruning hook may have an angle adjusting device to adjust the angle of the cutting device relative to the pole.

Description

PRUNING HOOK WHOSE OPERATION CORD IS MOVED SMOOTHLY

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 is used to shear branches of a tree at a higher location and comprises an extension pipe, a cutting unit disposed on the 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, and a control handle pivotally mounted on the extension pipe and connected with the operation cord to drive and move the operation cord relative to the extension pipe. Thus, the operation cord is driven by the control handle to open or close the cutting unit so as to perform a cutting action.

However, the operation cord easily touches and rubs the wall of the extension pipe to produce a friction between the operation cord and the extension pipe so that the operation cord is not moved smoothly. In addition, when the cutting unit is deflected relative to the extension pipe to change the angle of the cutting unit, the operation cord touches and rubs the wall of the extension pipe frequently and violently so that the operation cord is easily worn out due to the friction.

* 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, two opposite guide rollers rotatably mounted on the upper end of the extension pipe and abutting the operation cord to guide movement of the operation cord, a swing member pivotally mounted on the upper end of the extension pipe by a first pivot member, a turning member swivelably mounted on the swing member by a second pivot member, and two opposite auxiliary rollers rotatably mounted on the turning member and abutting the operation cord to guide movement of the operation cord.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a pruning hook whose operation cord is moved smoothly.

According to the primary advantage of the present invention, when the operation cord is driven upward and downward, the two auxiliary rollers and the two guide rollers are rotated to guide movement of the operation cord so that the operation cord is moved smoothly and stably during the cutting process, thereby facilitating the user operating the pruning hook in an energy-saving manner.

According to another advantage of the present invention, when the operation cord is deflected by the cutting unit an angle adjustment of the * cutting unit, the turning member and the swing member are deflected by the operation cord so that the two auxiliary rollers and the two guide rollers can separate the operation cord from the extension pipe so as to prevent the operation cord from directly touching or rubbing the inner wall of the extension pipe and to prevent the operation cord from being worn out due to friction, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the operation cord.

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 perspective enlarged view of the pruning hook as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the pruning hook as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the pruning hook as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a schematic operational view of the pruning hook as shown in Fig. 1 in use.

Fig. 6 is a schematic operational view of the pruning hook as shown in Fig. 2 in adjustment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially toFigs. 1-4, a pruning hook 1 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an extension pipe 20, a cutting unit 10 disposed on an upper end 22 of the extension pipe 20, an angle adjusting device 11 mounted between the upper end 22 of the extension pipe 20 and the cutting unit 10 to adjust an angle of the cutting unit 10 relative to the extension pipe 20, an operation cord 30 movably mounted on the extension pipe 20 and connected with the cutting unit 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 30 to drive and move the operation cord 30 relative to the extension pipe 20, two opposite guide rollers 40 rotatably mounted on the upper end 22 of the extension pipe 20 and abutting the operation cord 30 to guide movement of the operation cord 30, a swing member 50 pivotally mounted on the upper end 22 of the extension pipe 20 by a first pivot member 13, a turning member 60 swivelably mounted on the swing member 50 by a second pivot member 51, and two opposite auxiliary rollers 61 rotatably mounted on the turning member and abutting the operation cord 30 to guide movement of the operation cord 30.

The cutting unit 10 includes a fixed blade 14 mounted on the angle adjusting device 11, a movable blade 15 pivotally connected with and movable relative to the fixed blade 14, a guide pulley 12 rotatably mounted on a first side of the movable blade 15, and an elastic member 16 biased between the * fixed blade 14 and a second side of the movable blade 15 to drive the movable blade 15 to move outwardly relative to the fixed blade 14.

The operation cord 30 is mounted on the guide pulley 12 of the cutting unit 10 and is partially extended into the extension pipe 20. The operation cord 30 has a first end 301 protruded outward from the upper end 22 of the extension pipe 20 and secured on the fixed blade 14 of the cutting unit 10 and a second end 302 extended outward from the extension pipe 20 and attached to the control sleeve 21 to move in concert with the control sleeve 21.

The operation cord 30 in turn passes between and is clamped by the two auxiliary rollers 61 and the two guide rollers 40.

The first pivot member 13 and the second pivot member 51 are extended in two different directions which are perpendicular to each other so that the swing member 50 and the turning member 60 are rotatable in two different directions which are perpendicular to each other. Preferably, the first pivot member 13 is extended in a direction perpendicular to that of the operation cord 30, and the second pivot member 51 is extended in a direction parallel with that of the operation cord 30.

The swing member 50 has a lower portion pivotally mounted on the upper end 22 of the extension pipe 20 by the first pivot member 13 and an upper portion connected with the turning member 60 by the second pivot member 51. Thus, the swing member 50 is rotatable about the first pivot member 13.

The turning member 60 has a substantially inverted L-shaped profile and has a lower portion swivelably mounted on the swing member 50 by the second pivot member 51 and an upper portion for mounting the two auxiliary rollers 61. Thus, the turning member 60 is rotatable about the second pivot member 51 and is rotatable in a direction perpendicular to that of the swing member 50.

Each of the two guide rollers 40 has a periphery formed with an annular guide groove 41 to guide movement of the operation cord 30.

The two auxiliary rollers 61 are disposed between the cutting unit 10 and the upper end 22 of the extension pipe 20 and are located above the two guide rollers 40. Each of the auxiliary rollers 61 has a periphery formed with an annular limit groove 62 to limit the operation cord 30. The two auxiliary rollers 61 and the two guide rollers 40 are extended in two different directions which are perpendicular to each other.

In operation, referring to Fig. 5 with reference to Figs. 1-4, when the control sleeve 21 is moved outwardly relative to the cutting unit 10, the operation cord 30 is driven by the control sleeve 21 to drive the guide pulley 12 which drives the movable blade 15 to move toward the fixed blade 14 as shown in Fig. 5 so as to perform a cutting action. At this time, the operation cord 30 in turn passes between and is limited by the two auxiliary rollers 61 and the two guide rollers 40 so that the two auxiliary rollers 61 and the two guide rollers 40 are rotated to guide and limit movement of the operation cord 30, and the * operation cord 30 is moved smoothly during the cutting process. On the contrary, when the pulling force applied on the control sleeve 21 disappears, the movable blade 15 is driven by the restoring force of the elastic member 16 to move outwardly relative to the fixed blade 14 as shown in Fig. 1 so that the movable blade 15 and the fixed blade 14 are opened at a normal state.

As shown in Fig. 6, when the angle adjusting device 11 is rotated relative to the extension pipe 20, the cutting unit 10 is moved by the angle adjusting device 11 to adjust the angle of the cutting unit 10 relative to the extension pipe 20. At this time, the operation cord 30 is deflected by the cutting unit 10, and.the turning member 60 and the swing member 50 are driven by the operation cord 30 so that the turning member 60 is rotated about the second pivot member 51, and the swing member 50 is rotated about the first pivot member 13. In such a manner, when the operation cord 30 is deflected by the cutting unit 10, the turning member 60 and the swing member 50 are also deflected by the operation cord 30 so that the two auxiliary rollers 61 and the two guide rollers 40 can separate the operation cord 30 from the extension pipe so as to prevent the operation cord 30 from directly touching or rubbing the inner wall of the extension pipe 20 and to prevent the operation cord 30 from being worn out due to friction, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the operation cord 30.

Accordingly, when the operation cord 30 is driven upward and downward, the two auxiliary rollers 61 and the two guide rollers 40 are rotated to guide movement of the operation cord 30 so that the operation cord 30 is moved smoothly and stably during the cutting process, thereby facilitating a user operating the pruning hook in an energy-saving manner. In addition, when the operation cord 30 is deflected by the cutting unit 10 an angle adjustment of the cutting unit 10, the turning member 60 and the swing member 50 are deflected by the operation cord 30 so that the two auxiliary rollers 61 and the two guide rollers 40 can separate the operation cord 30 from the extension pipe so as to prevent the operation cord 30 from directly touching or rubbing the inner wall of the extension pipe 20 and to prevent the operation cord 30 from being worn out due to friction, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the operation cord 30.

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; two opposite guide rollers rotatably mounted on the upper end of the extension pipe and abutting the operation cord to guide movement of the operation cord; a swing member pivotally mounted on the upper end of the extension pipe by a first pivot member; a turning member swivelably mounted on the swing member by a second pivot member; and two opposite auxiliary rollers rotatably mounted on the turning member and abutting the operation cord to guide movement of the operation cord.
2. The pruning hook of claim 1, wherein the pruning hook further comprises an angle adjusting device mounted between the upper end of the extension pipe and the cutting unit to adjust an angle of the cutting unit relative to the extension pipe.
3. The pruning hook of claim 1, wherein the pruning hook further comprises: 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; the cutting unit includes: a fixed blade mounted on the angle adjusting device; 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 the fixed blade and a second side of the movable blade to drive the movable blade to move outwardly relative to the fixed blade; the operation cord is mounted on the guide pulley of the cutting unit and is partially extended into the extension pipe; the operation cord has a first end protruded outward from the upper end of the extension pipe and secured on the fixed blade of the cutting unit and a second end extended outward from the extension pipe and attached to the control sleeve to move in concert with the control sleeve.
4. The pruning hook of claim 1, wherein each of the two guide rollers has a periphery formed with an annular guide groove to guide movement of the operation cord.
5. The pruning hook of claim 1, wherein I0 each of the auxiliary rollers has a periphery formed with an annular limit groove to limit the operation cord; the turning member has a substantially inverted L-shaped profile; the two auxiliary rollers are disposed between the cutting unit and the upper end of the extension pipe; the two auxiliary rollers are located above the two guide rollers.
6. The pruning hook of claim 1, wherein the two auxiliary rollers and the two guide rollers are extended in two different directions which are perpendicular to each other; the operation cord in turn passes between and is clamped by the two auxiliary rollers and the two guide rollers.
7. The pruning hook of claim 1, wherein the first pivot member and the second pivot member are extended in two different directions which are perpendicular to each other so that the swing member and the turning member are rotatable in two different directions which are perpendicular to each other; the first pivot member is extended in a direction perpendicular to that of the operation cord; the second pivot member is extended in a direction parallel with that of the operation cord; the swing member has a lower portion pivotally mounted on the upper end of the extension pipe by the first pivot member and an upper portion connected with the turning member by the second pivot member; the swing member is rotatable about the first pivot member; the turning member has a lower portion swivelably mounted on the swing member by the second pivot member and an upper portion for mounting the two auxiliary rollers; the turning member is rotatable about the second pivot member and is rotatable in a direction perpendicular to that of the swing member.
8. A pruning hook substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.