GB2506384A

GB2506384A - Handle for a lawnmower

Info

Publication number: GB2506384A
Application number: GB201217282A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Zetterstrom Smith; Neil Coates; Colin Whittaker
Original assignee: Husqvarna UK Ltd
Current assignee: Husqvarna UK Ltd
Priority date: 2012-09-27
Filing date: 2012-09-27
Publication date: 2014-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2032-09-27
Also published as: CN103688646A; DE102013015813A1; GB2506384B; RU2013142967A; GB201217282D0

Abstract

A handle for a lawnmower comprises at least one elongate arm 10 and a cross member 11 non-parallel to each elongate arm, in which the handle is provided with a switch box 7 mounted on the cross member, the switch box comprising a switch (8), a box body 15 and at least one lever 13 arranged to operate the switch and to be manipulated by a user, each lever being mounted on the switch box body so as to pivot about an axis 14 parallel to the cross member.

Description

HANDLES FOR LAWNMOWERS

This invention relates to handles for lawnmowers, and lawnrnowers having such handles.

Electrically powered lawnmowers typically have a switch box allowing for the selective application of electric current to a motor of the lawnniower. Typically, the switch box will be mounted on a handle of thc lawnrnowcr, near where Ihc uscr will grasp the handle. A switch member will extend to where the user does grasp the handle, and will be manipulated in some way in order to activate or deactivate the lawnmower.

Typically, the handle will comprise at least one elongate arm, having a cross member generally perpendicular thereto. In one common arrangement, two generally parallel elongate arms are provided, with the cross member joining them. The switch box may be provided at the higher end of one of the arms, with a switch member such as a lever protecting towards the user. In an alternative, rather than a single lever, a bale arm can be provided, pivotally mounted on the switch box at one end and pivotally mounted on thc far arm at a far end. In another altcrnativc, the switch box may be provided centrally on the cross member, with levers mounted for pivotal motion about an axis perpendicular to the cross member and the elongate arms.

In any of these cases, manufacturing tolerances can make reliable manufacture of such handles difficult. Typically, the elongate arms and the cross member will be formed of a single tubular member (typically of metal materials, such as steel) bent to form the correct shape. The accuracy of the handle bend geometry can be variable, due to process variation. This can mean that the lever or bale arm may not rest in the optimum position for user comfort when the switch is actuated. In one extreme, the bale arm or lever may contact the cross member bcforc the switching point of the switch is reached; equally the range of movement of the bale arm could end before the bale arm reaches the cross member, which will be uncomfortable for the user who must hold it in this position in order to use the lawnrnowcr.

Furthermore, pivot points for bale arms need to be formed in the handle tubes. This involves punching holes in the tubes. The accuracy of the relative positioning of the holes relative to the handle bends leads to the possibility of inaccuracies in manufacture building up. Again, this can result in incorrect or unergonomic positioning of the lever relative to the cross member, particularly in the activated position of the switch.

Additionally, bale arms are typically formed of bent steel tubing, and as such can be uncomfortable for a user to hold for a long period.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a handle for a lawnmower, the handle comprising at least one elongate arm and a cross member non-parallel to each elongate arm, in which the handle is provided with a switch box mounted on the cross member, the switch box comprising a switch, a box body and at least one lever arranged to operate the switch and to be manipulated by a user, the lever being mounted on the switch box body so as to pivot about an axis parallel to the cross member.

By having the lever mounted on the switch box body, it is no longer necessary to mount the lever directly on the handles, and so any tolerance issues caused by that mounting can be reduced or avoided. Furthermore, as the lever is mounted to pivot about the axis parallel to the cross member and is mounted on the switch box body, it is easier to make sure that the correct range of travel of the lever is properly implemented.

There may be a plurality of levers mounted on the switch box body about the axis and which operate the switch. The levers may be coupled so as to move together, or may be capable of independent niotion.

Each lever may have a range of travel about the axis that takes the lever from a position distant from the cross member, to a position where the lever lies adjacent to the handle. This is considerably niore achievable than with prior art designs, given that the important tolerances are now only of the switch box body (typically mounted on the cross member) and any bends in the cross member in the region adjacent to each lever.

The shape of each lever may follow the shape of the cross member in the region where the lever can lie against the cross member. Where the cross member lies in a plane with each arm (a so-called flat handle), each lever may lie in a plane when iii the position adjacent to the handle. Where the cross member has a bend out of a plane defined by the arms (as in the ease of a so-called upturned handle), each bend of the cross member out of the plane may correspond to a bend in at least one lever.

Typically, the switch box body will be formed from plastic materials, typically moulded; it is easier to achieve acceptable manufacturing tolerances with such moulded material than with shaped metal. Each lever can also be manufactured from plastic materials, typically moulded. Each lever can be formed as a single moulded plastic body; where there are a plurality of levers they can each be moulded as one single plastic body.

The axis may be parallel to a portion of the cross member, the switch box typically, but not necessarily being mounted on the portion of the cross member. There may, or may not, be portions of the cross member that are not parallel to the axis. The portion may be perpendicular to each elongate arm. Typically, the axis will be spaced from the portion. The cross member will typically be, and may entirely or substantially be, generally perpendicular to each elongate arm.

There may be a pair of parallel elongate arms, with the cross member joining the arms.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a lawnmower having a body and a handle according to the first aspect of the invention supported off the body.

Typically, the switch will be an electric switch. The lawnmower will typically be an electric lawnmower, with the switch controlling the operation of the lawnmower.

Typically, the lawnmower will comprise a blade and a motor arranged to drive the blade (typically for rotation); the switch may control the application of electric current to the motor.

There now follows, by way of example only, description of embodiments of the invention, described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic side elevation of a lawnmowcr in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a front perspective view of the upper handle area of the lawnmower of Figure 1, with the switch in the activated state; Figure 3 shows a rear perspective view corresponding to that of Figure 2, with the switch in the deactivated state; l0 Figure 4 shows the samc view as Figure 3, with thc switch in the activated state; Figure 5 shows a front perspective view of the upper handle area of a lawnmower of a second embodiment of the invention, with the switch in the activated state; Figure 6 shows a rear perspective view corresponding to that of Figure 5, with the switch in the deactivated state; Figure 7 shows the same view as Figure 6, with the switch in the activated state; and Figure 8 shows a schematic plan view of the upper handle area of a lawnmower of a third embodimcnt of the invention.

A lawnmower in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. The lawnmower comprises a housing 1 supported by wheels 2. An electric motor 3 is mounted in the housing 1. The motor 3 drives a blade 4 for rotation in a cutting chamber 5 formed on the underside of the housing 1, so as to cut grass which the lawnmower is pushed over.

In order for a user to drive the Iawnrnower over the surface to be mowed, a handle 6 is provided. This will be described in more detail below. The handle 6 will be mounted on the housing through a pivoting mounting, and supports a switch box 7 at the far end from the housing 1. The switch box 7 is positioned in the area of the handle grasped by a user. The switch box 7 housing a switch 8, which controls whether electric power is provided to motor 3 through cable 9. The handle 6 shown in solid lines is a flat handle, which lies in a single plane; an upturned handle is shown schematically at 6a in dotted lines where it diverges from the flat handle, where the dotted portion 6a lies out of the plane.

Turning now to Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, which show the upper part of the handle 6 in more detail, the handle coniprises two parallel arnis 10, which are pivotally mounted on the housing at their lower ends. At their upper ends, they are joined by a cross member 11. It is to be noted that the arms 10 and the cross member 11 can be formed, as is shown in the Figures, of a single steel tube bent as desired to define the appropriate shape, or can be fonned as separate pieces joined together.

The cross member 11 supports the body 15 of switch box 7. The switch box 7 clamps over the cross member at a portion 12 that is perpendicular to the parallel arms 10. In this cmboditnent, the cross member 11 is bent so that the portion 12 lies out of the plane containing the two parallel arms 10, and so can be seen as an upturned handle geometry.

At a far end of the switch box 7 from the cross member 11, there are mounted two levers 13. The levers 13 are rotatably mounted on the switch box body 15 about a common axis 14 that is parallel to the portion 12 and so perpendicular to thc parallel arms 10. The levers 13 extend backwards past the switch box body 15 to thc cross member 11, and correspond in shape to the bends 16 of the cross member 11.

A user can grasp the levers 13 to bring them against the cross member 11 (as shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings). The levers 13 are coupled to the switch 8, so that such movement of either or both levers 13 (depending on the application) activates the switch 8 so as to supply electric current to motor 3. The levers 13 arc spring loaded (or othenvise biased), so as to bias the levers 13 out of the activated position and away from the cross member 11 into the deactivated position shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. In this position, the switch 8 is deactivated and so thc motor is not cnergiscd. The levers 13 therefore carry out a "dead man's handle" function, as they will disengage the motor should the user lose physical contact with the levers 13.

The switch box 7 including the levers 13 will be moulded from plastic material, typically acrylonitrile butadienc styrene (ABS) or glass filled Nylon material. Having a moulded handle allows a significant improvement in user comfort over a metal bale arm. Moulded components are also significantly cheapcr than metal ones.

Furthermore, it is easier to achieve acceptablc manufacturing tolerances with moulded plastic parts than can be achieved forming nietal parts. The correct positioning of the levers 13 relative to the cross member II in the activated position relies mainly on, firstly, the tolcrance of the distance of the pivot point in the switch body 15 to the clamping point of the switch body 15 to the cross member and, secondly, the single pair of bends 16 adjacent to the switch box 7, eliminating many of the sources of

tolerance issues in the prior art.

In a second, alternative, embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, rather than being an upturned handle, the handle is flat. Equivalent integers to those of the first embodiment have been given corresponding reference numerals, raised by 50 with rcspcct to those of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the cross member 61 lies in the same plane as the parallel arms 60, hence providing a flat handle 56. Again, the levers 63 are pivotally mounted on the switch box body 65 about an axis 64 parallel to the portion 62 of the cross member 61 to which the switch box 57 is mounted. The cross member 61 here comprises the straight portion 62 bounded by curved portions 66; the levers 63 are shaped to fit underneath the curved portions 66 and to have the sanie shape.

Again, the levers 63 have an activated position shown in Figures 5 and 7 of the accompanying drawings, in which the switch 8 would be activated and the levers 63 abut the underside of the cross member 61, and a deactivated position where they are distant from the cross member 61 and the switch 8 would be deactivated, shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

As with the previous embodiment, the correct positioning of the levers 63 relative to the cross member 61 in the activated position relies mainly on the tolerancc of the distance of the pivot point in the switch body 65 to the clamping point of the switch body 65 to the cross member 61. Having this tolerance controlled by a single moulded member eliminates many of the sources of tolerance issues in the prior art.

In a further, third alternative embodiment shown in Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings, equivalent integers to those of the first embodiment have been given corresponding reference numerals, raised by 100 with respect to those of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the cross member Ill lies in the same plane as the pail' of parallel arms 110. However, it is formed of three potions; two symmetrical angled portions 120 each joined at a non-perpendicular angle to one of the parallel arms 110, the angled portions 120 being joined by a perpendicular portion 112, which is perpendicular to the parallel arms 110. The switch box 107 is mounted on the perpendicular portion 112.

The switch box 107 is provided, as previously, with two levers 113 pivotally mounted on the switch box 107. However, in this embodiment, the axes 114 about which the levers 113 can pivot arc parallel to the angled portions 120. The levers 113 can lie against the angled portions 120 when pressed against the cross member 111; the correct positioning of the levers 113 relative to the cross member still relies on easy-to-machine parts, mainly the mounting of the switch box 107 on the cross member 111 and the position of the pivotal mounting of the levers 113 within the switch box 107.

This then still represents a handle that is easier to manufacture than was possible in the prior art, whilst providing some freedom as to where the levers 113 are placed.

Claims

SCLAIMS1. A handle for a lawnmower, the handle comprising at least one elongate arm and a cross member non-parallel to each elongate arm, in which the handle is provided with a switch box mounted on the cross member, the switch box comprising a switch, a box body and at least one lever arranged to operate the switch and to be manipulated by a user, the lever being mounted on the switch box body so as to pivot about an axis parallel to the cross member.
2. The handle of claim I, in which there are a plurality of levers mounted on the switch box body about the axis and which operate the switch.
3. The handle of claim I or claim 2, in which each lever has a range of travel about the axis that takes the lever from a position distant from the cross member, to a position where the lever lies adjacent to the handle.
4. The handle of any preceding claim, in which the shape of each lever follows the shape of the cross member in the region whcre the lever can lie against the cross member.
5. The handle of any preceding claim, in which the cross member lies in a plane defined by the arms and each lever lies in a plane when in the position adjacent to the handle.
6. The handle of any of claims 1 to 4, in which the cross member has a bend out of the plane defined by the arms and each bend out of the plane of the cross member corresponds to a bend in at least one lever.
7. The handle of any preceding claim, in which at least one of the box body and each lever is formed of moulded plastic materials.
S. The handle of claim 7, in which each lever is formed as a single moulded plastic body.
9. The handle of claim 8, in which there are a plurality of levers each moulded as one single plastic body.
10. The handle of any preceding claim, in which at least a portion of the cross member is generally perpendicular to each elongate member.
11. The handle of any preceding claim, in which there arc a pair of parallel elongate arms, with the cross member joining the arms.
12. A lawnmower having a body and a handle according to any preceding claim, the handle bcing supported off the body.
13. A lawnrnower, or a handle for a lawnrnower, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, or S to 7, or 8 of the accompanying drawings.