GB2483346A

GB2483346A - Hedge trimmer and switch device thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2483346A
Application number: GB201114467A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Roise; Keith Park
Original assignee: Chevron HK Ltd
Current assignee: Chevron HK Ltd
Priority date: 2010-09-03
Filing date: 2011-08-23
Publication date: 2012-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2031-08-23
Also published as: DE202011051097U1; GB201114467D0; GB2483346B; FR2964298B3; FR2964298A3; AU2011101131A4

Abstract

The invention relates to a hedge trimmer and the switch device thereof. The switch device includes a front operating portion 101 connecting to a front handle 100a of the hedge trimmer, a rear operating portion 201 connecting to a main handle 100b of the hedge trimmer, and a switching element 30 which can be triggered under the cooperation actions of the front operating portion and the rear operating portion, wherein at least a portion of the rear operating portion extends along the circumferential direction of the main handle and is movable along the main handle in its axial direction. The present invention enables the operator to operate the switch of the hedge trimmer easily when the hedge trimmer is rotated; and it enables adjustment to the trimming surface of the hedge trimmer without shutting down the hedge trimmer.

Description

HEDGE TRIMMER AND SWITCH DEVICE THEREOF

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to garden tools, and more particularly to a hedge trimmer and a switch device thereof

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The hedge trimmer is an electrical tool commonly used in gardens and may be used to cut or trim the shrubs or the hedges. As the increasing consciousness and requirement of the people for vegetation ecology and city garden, the hedge trimmer is used more and more widely. The advantages of the hedge trimmer include its high efficiency and convenient usage, etc. However, in actual use, the operator may operate the hedge trimmer by accident because of negligence, and the hedge trimmer may work suddenly and hurt a human body.

Nowadays, the hedge trimmer applies a switch control mechanism which is controlled under cooperation actions of a main handle and an auxiliary handle. For switching on the hedge trimmer, both handles of the operator need to grip on the main handle and the auxiliary handle and press down the switches thereof, and this can improve safety performance of the hedge trimmer. However, most times, the operator needs to rotate the hedge trimmer for different trimming situations, and the position of the operator handle on the handles may change with the rotation of the hedge trimmer, which results in troublesome operation of the switches. To solve the above problem, the developers provide a hedge trimmer with a rotating handle, however, structure of the hedge trimmer is complex and the hedge trimmer should be shut down for rotating the handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a hedge trimmer and a switch device thereof, which enables the operator to operate the switch device comfortably when rotating the machine, and when rotating the machine, the hedge trimmer is still operating normally.

To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention provides a switch device used for a hedge trimmer. The switch device includes a front operating portion connecting to a front handle of the hedge trimmer, a rear operating portion connecting to a main handle of the hedge trimmer and a switching element which can be triggered under the cooperation actions of the front operating portion and the rear opçrating portion, wherein at least a portion of the rear operating portion extends along the circumferential direction of the main handle and is movable along the main handle in its axial direction.

To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention also provides a hedge trimmer. The hedge trimmer includes a housing, a cutting assembly, a motor assembly, a transmission assembly and a switch device connected to the motor assembly, wherein the housing with a front handle and a main handle, the cutting assembly is connected to the housing; the motor assembly and the transmission assembly are arranged in the housing; and the transmission assembly for transmitting rotation of the motor assembly to the cutting assembly is disposed between the motor assembly and the cutting assembly. The switch device includes a front operating portion connecting to a front handle of the hedge trimmer, a rear operating portion connecting to a main handle of the hedge trimmer, and a switching element which can be triggered under the cooperation actions of the front operating portion and the rear operating portion, wherein at least a portion of the rear operating portion extends along the circumferential direction of the main handle and is movable along the main handle in its axial direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the switching element is triggered when the front operating portion and the rear operating portion move towards each other.

Further, the front operating portion includes a front pressing portion and a front connecting rod, the rear operating portion includes a rear pressing portion, a rear connecting rod and a driving lever, wherein the front pressing portion is disposed at the first end of the front connecting rod and the front connecting rod is moved with the front pressing portion, the rear pressing portion is disposed at the first end of the rear connecting lever and extending along the circumferential direction of the main handle, the rear connecting rod is moved with the rear pressing portion, the driving lever is connected to the second end of the rear connecting rod, and said driving lever is moved between a first position where the switching element is in on state and a second position where the switching element is in off state, and when the front operating portion and the rear operating portion move toward each other, the second end of the front connecting rod allows the driving lever to move toward the second position from the first position.

In an embodiment of the invention, the driving lever is angled at 0 degree and 45 degree with respect to the horizontal surface respectively when being disposed in the first position and in the second position, and the second end of the front connecting rod has a slope corresponding to the driving lever.

And in an embodiment of the invention, a torsional spring is disposed between the rear connecting rod and the driving lever, when the driving lever is in the first position, the torsional spring is in the initial state, and when driving lever is in the second position, the torsional spring is in the pressed state.

In an embodiment of the invention, the front pressing portion is T-shaped, and the rear pressing portion is annular shaped and sleeved on the circumferential surface of the main handle.

In an embodiment of the invention, the main handle is disposed between the motor cutting and the transmission cutting, and the transmission cutting, the main handle ancithe motor cutting are arranged to be passed by a common line.

Further, a transmission axis is provided between the transmission cutting and the motor cutting, which passes through the main handle and is used to transmit rotation movement of the motor output shaft in the motor assembly to the transmission assembly.

In the embodiment of the invention, the transmission axis is disposed above the motor output shaft.

To sum up, in the present invention, the rear operating portion is sleeved on the circumferential surface of.the main handle, the switching element is triggered to switch on the hedge trimmer when the front pressing portion is pressed down and the rear pressing portion is pushed forward.Furthermore, since the rear pressing portion is annular shaped, the operator may switch on the hedge trimmer by applying a force on any position of the rear pressing portion, therefore it enables the operator to switch on the hedge trimmer easily even if the main handle is held from different directions.

That is to say, the operator may operate the switch of the hedge trimmer easily when the hedge trimmer is rotated; moreover, the hedge trimmer can be operated normally when the operator rotates the hedge trimmer, therefore it enables to adjust the trimming surface of the hedge trimmer without shutting down the hedge trimmer.

Moreover, in the invention, the main handle is disposed between the motor assembly and the transmission assembly, which results good balance performance of the hedge trimmer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a hedge trimmer according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig.2 is a partial sectional view of the hedge trimmer in Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a complete sectional view of the hedge trimmer in Fig.l; Fig.4a is a front view of the switch device of the hedge trimmer in Fig.lwhich is in off state; Fig.4b is a front view of the switch device of the hedge trimmer in Fig. I which is in on state.

Fig.4c is a three-dimensional view of the switch device in Fig.4b.

Fig.Sa is a front view of the switch device in off state of the hedge trimmer according to the second embodiment.

Fig.5b is a front view of the switch device of the hedge trimmer in Fig.5a which is in on state.

Fig.Sc is a three-dimensional view of the switch device in Fig.5a.

Fig.Sd is a partial enlarged view of area A in Fig.Sc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention may be best understood by reference to the following description of the preferable embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a hedge trimmer according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig.2 is a partial sectional view of the hedge trimmer in Fig.l; Fig.3 is a complete sectional view of the hedge trimmer in Fig. 1; Figs.4a and 4b are schematic views showing the switch device in off state and on state; Fig.4c is a three-dimensional view of the switch device in on state.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4c simultaneously, the hedge trimmer includes a housing 100, a cutting assembly 200, a motor assembly 300, a transmission assembly 400 and a switch device 500 connected to the motor assembly 300. The housing 100 includes a front handle 1 QUa and a main handle 10Db; the cutting assembly 200 is connected to the housing 100; the motor assembly 300 is arranged in the housing 100; the transmission assembly 400 for transmitting the rotation of the motor assembly to the cutting assembly is arranged in the housing 100 and disposed between the motor assembly 300 and the cutting assembly 200. To the persons skilled in the art, the specific constructions of the front handle 1 OOa, the cutting assembly 200, the motor assembly 300, the transmission assembly 400, and the control of the switch device 500 to the mOtor assembly 300 is common knowledge, therefore detailed descriptions are omitted herein.

In the present embodiment, the switch device 500 includes a front operating portion 10, a rear operating portion 20, and a switching element 30. The front operating portion 10 is arranged on the front handle lOOa of the hedge trimmer, the rear operating portion 20 is arranged on the main handle 10Db of the hedge trimmer, and the switch element 30 is triggered under the cooperation actions of the front operating portion 10 and the rear operating portion 20.

In the present embodiment, the front operating portion 10 has two positions which are near to or far from the rear operating portion 20 respectively, and the rear operating portion 20 has two positions which are near to or far from the front operating portion 10. The front operating portion 10 includes a front pressing portion 101 and a front connecting rod 102, the front pressing portion 101 is disposed on the first end 1 02a of the front connecting rod 102 and the front connecting rod 102 is moved with the movement of the front pressing portion 101; The rear operating portion 20 includes a rear pressing portion 201, a rear connecting rod 202 and a driving lever203, the rear pressing portion 201 is disposed on the first end 202a of the rear connecting rod 202 and extends along the circumferential direction of the main handle I OOb, and the rear connecting rod 202 is moved with the movement of the rear pressing portion 201. As shown in Fig.4b, the rear pressing portion 201 also has a collar 201 a for driving the rear connecting rod 202 to move forwards. The driving lever2O3, pivotally connected to the second end 202b of the rear connecting rod 202, has a first position at which the switch element 30 is in off state and a second position at which the switch element 30 is in on state. In the present embodiment, the driving lever203 is angled at 0 degree with respect to the horizontal plane when it is disposed at the first position. Furthermore, the other end 1 02b of the front connecting rod 102 has a slope P of 45 degrees for adapting to the inclined driving lever2O3.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the front pressing portion 101 is T-shaped, and the rear pressing portion 201 is annular and surrounds the circumference surface of the main handle 1 OOb. However, the present invention does not be limited to this embodiment, and in other embodiments, the rear pressing portion 201 may be a half or quarter annular shape, or other pressing elements.

In use, the switch element 30 is in off state initially. As shown in Fig.4a, the pressing portion 101 of the front operating portion 10 is not pressed, that is, the front operating portion 10 is in the position far from the rear operating portion 20. At this moment, if the rear pressing portion 201 is pushed forward, the rear connecting rod 202 will move forward under the driving of the rear pressing portion 201, and the driving lever2O3 will contact the end 102b of the front connecting rod 102 but not move upward to contact a triggering portion 301 of the switch element 30, and no force is applied to the triggering portion 301, therefore the switch element 30 can not be triggered on and the hedge trimmer cannot work. Similarly, only the front pressing portion 101 is pressed down, the front connecting rod 102 will move backward with the front pressing portion 101, and when the front operating portion 10 is moved to the position near the back operating portion 20, the front connecting rod 102 will contact the driving lever 203, and the triggering portion 301 will not be triggered, the switch element 30 is in off state, and the hedge trimmer cannot work.

When the switch element 30 is to be switched on, the front pressing portion 101 and the rear pressing portion 102 are both pressed, that is, the front pressing portion lOt and the rear pressing portion 102 move towards each other. During moving, the driving lever 203 may be blocked by the end portion 1 02b of the front operating portion 102, and the driving lever 203 will move upwards along the slope P, and when the rear operating portion 20 is moved to the position near the front operating portion 10, the driving lever 203 will rotate and form a 45 degree angle with the horizontal plane, a force is applied to the triggering portion 301, the switch element 30 will be switched on for starting the hedge trimmer.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the hedge trimmer also includes a front fastener 104 and a rear fastener 204 for fastening the front operating portion 10 and the rear operating portion 20 to the housing 100 respectively. Additionally, the hedge trimmer includes a front restoring assembly and a rear restoring assembly for resetting the front operating portion 10 and the rear operating portion 20 after the operator releases the hands, thereby switching off the switch element 30 of the hedge trimmer.

The embodiment of the front operating portion 10 and the rear operating portion 20 is common knowledge for a general person skilled in the art, thus it is unnecessary to be described in detail herein.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the rear pressing portion 201 is annular, the operator may switch on the hedge trimmer by applying a force to any positions of the rear pressing portion 201, therefore it enables the operator to switch on the hedge trimmer easily even if the main handle 1 OOb is held from different directions. That is to say, the operator may operate the switch of the hedge trimmer easily when the hedge trimmer is rotated; moreover, the hedge trimmer can be operated normally when the operator rotates the hedge trimmer, therefore it enables to adjust the trimming surface of the hedge trimmer without shutting down the hedge trimmer.

In the present embodiment, the main handle 1 OOb is disposed between the motor assembly 300 and the transmission assembly 400, and the transmission assembly 400, the main handle lOOb and the motor assembly 300 ate arranged to be passed by a common line, which is helpful to enhance the balance of the whole hedge trimmer.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the housing 100 of the hedge trimmer also includes a strengthening rod lOOc which enables the portion for accommodating the transnussion assembly 400 and the portion for accommodating the motor assembly 300 of the housing 100 to be connectçd more stably.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a transmission shaft I OOd is arranged between the transmission assembly 400 and the motor assembly 300. The transmission shaft 1 OOd is arranged to pass through the main handle 1 OOb for transmitting the rotation of the motor output shaft 300a in the motor assembly 300 to the transmission assembly 400. In addition, an axis L3 of the transmission shaft lOOd is positioned above the axis L2 of the motor output shaft 3 OOa. The advantage of such configuration is that handling space C for the operator are provided even though the small motor is used in the hedge trimmer, and further operating comfort of the operator is enhanced.

Fig.5a to Fig.5d are different views of the switch device according to the second embodiment of the invention. Fig.5a is a front view of the switch device in off state; Fig.5b is a front view of the switch device in on state, Fig.5c is a three-dimensional view of the switch device in Fig.5a and Fig.5d is a partial enlarged view of area A in Fig.5c.

In the embodiment, the switch device 900 includes a front operation portion 60, a rear operating portion 70, and a switch element 80. The assembling method and operating method of the front operation portion 60, the rear operating portion 70, and the switch element 80 are similar to that of the first embodiment, and detailed description about the assembling method and operating method are omitted. Here, detailed description of the second embodiment, which is different from the first embodiment, is provided.

Referring to Fig. Sc and Fig. 3d, in the embodiment, the rear operating portion 70 further includes a torsional spring 704 which is disposed at the end 702b of the rear connecting rod 702, and two ends of the torsional spring 704 are pressed against the rear connecting rod 702 and the driving lever 703. And when the driving lever 703 is angled at 0 degree with respect to the horizontal surface, the torsional spring 704 is in its initial state, and when the driving lever 703 is angled at 45 degree with respect to the horizontal surface, the torsional spring 704 is in its pressed state.

In usc, the switch element 80 is in off state initially. As shown in Fig.Sa, the pressing portion 601 of the front operating portion 60 is not pressed, that is, the front operating portion 60 is in the position far from the rear operating portion 70. At this moment, if the rear pressing portion 701 is pushed forward, the rear connecting rod 702 will move forward under the driving of the rear pressing portion 701, and the driving lever 703 will contact the end 602b of the front connecting rod 602 but not move upward to contact a triggering portion 801 of the switch element 80, and no force is applied to the triggering portion 801, therefore the switch element 80 can not be triggered on and the hedge trimmer cannot work. Similarly, only the front pressing portion 601 is pressed, the front connecting rod 602 will move backward with the front pressing portion 601, and when the front operating portion 60 is moved to the position near the back operating portion 70, the front connecting rod 602 will contact the driving lever 703, and the triggering portion 801 will not be triggered, the switch element 80 is in off state, and the hedge trimmer cannot work.

When the switch element 80 is to be switched on, the front pressing portion 601 and the rear pressing portion 701 are both pressed, that is, the front pressing portion 601 and the, rear pressing portion 701 move towards each other. During moving, the driving lever 703 may be blocked by the end portion 602b of the front connecting rod 602, and the driving lever 703 will move upwards along the slope P', and when the rear operating portion 70 is moved to the position near the front operating portion 60, the driving lever 703 will rotate and form a 45 degree angle with the horizontal plane, a force is applied to the triggering portion 801, and the switch element 80 will be switched on for starting the hedge trimmer. At the moment, a downward force is applied by the torsional spring 704 to the driving lever 703, and if the rear pressing portion 701 is released, then the driving lever 703 will be reset under the force, and the hedge trimmer will stop working.

To sum up, in the present invention, the rear operating portion is sleeved on the circumferential surface of the main handle, the switching element is triggered to switch on the hedge trimmer when the front pressing portion and the rear pressing portion move in directions to close to each other. Furthermore, since the rear pressing portion is annulai; the operator may switch on the hedge trimmer by applying a force on any position of the rear pressing portion, therefore it enables the operator to switch on the hedge trimmer easily even if the main handle is held from different directions.

The embodiment described in the description is just one preferable embodiment of the invention, and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. That is to say, the equivalent changes and modifications according to the contents of the invention may be regarded as falling within the technical scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is: I. A switch device used for a hedge trimmer, comprising a front operating portion connecting to a front handle of the hedge trimmer, a rear operating portion connecting to a main handle of the hedge trimmer and a switching element which can be triggered under the cooperation actions of the front operating portion and the rear operating portion, wherein at least a portion of the rear operating portion extends along the circumferential direction of the main handle and is movable along the main handle in its axial direction.
2. The switch device according to Claim 1, wherein the switching element is triggered when the front operating portion and the rear operating portion move towards each other.
3. The switch device according to Claim 2, wherein the front operating portion comprises a front pressing portion and a front connecting rod, the rear operating portion includes a rear pressing portion, a rear connecting rod and a driving lever, wherein the front pressing portion is disposed at the first end of the front connecting rod and the front connecting rod is moved with the front pressing portion, the rear pressing portion is disposed at the first end of the rear connecting lever and extending along the circumferential direction of the main handle, the rear connecting rod is moved with the rear pressing portion, the driving lever is connected to the second end of the rear connecting rod, and said driving lever is moved between a first position where the switching element is in on state and a second position where the switching element is in off state, and when the front operating portion and the rear operating portion move toward each other, the second end of the front connecting rod allows the driving lever to move toward the second position from the first position.
4. The switch device according to Claim 3, wherein the driving lever is angled at O degree and 45 degree with respect to the horizontal surface respectively when being disposed in the first position and in the second position.
5. The switch device according to Claim 3, wherein a torsional spring is disposed between the rear connecting rod and the driving lever, when the driving lever is in the first position, the torsional spring is in the initial state, and when the driving lever is in the second position, the torsional spring is in the pressed state.
6. The switch device according to Claim 3, wherein the second end of the front connecting rod has a slope corresponding to the driving lever.
7. The switch device according to Claim 3, wherein the front pressing portion is T-shaped.
8. The switch device according to Claim 3, wherein the rear pressing portion is annular shaped, and the annular-shaped rear pressing portion is sleeved on the circumferential surface of the main handle.
9. A hedge trimmer, including a housing having a front handle and a main handle, a cutting assembly connecting to the housing, a motor assembly and a transmission assembly, the motor assembly and the transmission assembly are disposed within the housing, the transmission assembly is disposed between the motor assembly and the cutting assembly and transmits rotation movement of the motor assembly to the cutting! assembly, and the hedge trimmer further comprising: a switch device connecting to the motor assembly, which includes a front operating portion connecting to a front handle of the hedge trimmer, a rear operating portion connecting to a main handle of the hedge trimrñer, and a switching element which can be triggered under the joint actions of the front operating portion and the rear operating portion, wherein at least a portion of the rear operating portion extends along the circumferential direction of the main handle and is movable along the main handle in its axial direction.
10. The hedge trimmer according to Claim 9, wherein the switching element is triggered when the front operating portion and the rear operating portion move towards each othet
11. The hedge trimmer according to Claim 10, wherein the front operating portion includes a front pressing portion and a front eonncting rod, the rear operating portion includes a rear pressing portion, a rear connecting rod and a driving lever, wherein the front pressing portion is disposed at the first end of the front connecting rod and the front connecting rod is moved with the front pressing portion, the rear pressing portion is disposed at the first end of the rear connecting lever and extending along the circumferential direction of the main handle, the rear connecting rod is moved with the rear pressing portion, the driving lever is connected to the second end of the rear connecting rod, and said driving lever is moved between a first position where the switching element is in on state and a second position where the switching element is in off state, and when the front operating portiOn and the rear operating portion move toward each other, the second end of the front connecting rod allows the driving lever to move toward the second position from the first position.
12. The hedge trimmer according to Claim 11, wherein the driving lever is angled at 0 degree and 45 degree with respect to the horizontal surface respectively when being disposed in the first position and in the second position. H
13. The hedge trimmer according, to Claim 11, wherein a torsional spring is disposed between the rear connecting rod and the driving lever, when the driving lever is in the first position, the torsional spring is in the initial state, and when the driving is lever is in the second position, the torsional spring is in the pressed state.
1.4. The hedge trimmer according to Claim 11, wherein the second end of the front connecting rod has a slope corresponding to the driving lever.
15. The hedge trimmer according to Claim 11, wherein the front pressing portion is TV-shaped.
16. The hedge trimmer according to Claim 11, wherein the rear pressing portion is annular shaped, and is sleeved on the circumferential surface of the main handle.
17. The hedge trimmer according to Claim 9, wherein the main handle is disposed between the motor assembly and the transmission assembly.
18. The hedge trimmer according to Claim 17, wherein the transmission assembly, the main handle and the motor assembly are arranged to be passed by a common line.
19. The hedge trimmer according to Claim 18, \vherein a transmission axis is provided between the transmission assembly and the motor assembly, which passes through the main handle and is used to transmit rotation movement of the motor output shaft in the motor assembly to the transmission assembly
20. The hedge trimmer according to Claim 19, wherein the transmission axis is disposed above the motor output shaft.