Ergonomic gripping mechanisms of a handheld air movement apparatus

• US 10,292,559 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transform Sr Brands, LLC (ESL Investments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Transform Sr Brands, LLC (ESL Investments, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carl, Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dung Van
• Application Number:
  US15/486,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20170296022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/24 Hand-supported suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0081 Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/322 for hand-supported suction cleaners

Abstract

Ergonomic gripping mechanisms of handheld air movement apparatuses are provided. A handheld air movement apparatus may include a handle portion and a tool portion. The handle portion may include a grip, a trigger, and a handle pivot. The grip may have first and second ends. The trigger may be positioned toward the first end of the grip and the handle pivot may be positioned toward the second end of the grip. The tool portion may include a housing, a nozzle coupled to the housing, and a handle connection base. The tool portion may provide air movement into and/or out of the nozzle in response to a signal received from the trigger of the handle portion. The handle connection base of the tool portion may be pivotally coupled to the handle portion at the handle pivot to provide directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion.

Claims

1. A handheld air movement apparatus comprising:

a handle portion comprising;

a grip having a first end and a second end,

a user input control positioned toward the first end of the grip, and

a handle pivot positioned toward the second end of the grip; and

a tool portion comprising;

a housing,

a nozzle coupled to the housing, and

a handle connection base,

wherein the tool portion provides air movement one or both of into or out of the nozzle in response to a signal received from the user input control of the handle portion,

wherein the handle connection base of the tool portion is pivotally coupled to the handle portion at the handle pivot to provide directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion, and

wherein the handle pivot comprises a spring loaded mechanism configured to release the handle connection base of the tool portion to allow the tool portion to pivot one or both of up and down with respect to the handle portion.

2. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion is provided at a plurality of pre-defined angular positions.

3. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include 0 degrees and 45 degrees.

4. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include at least one angular position between 0 degrees and 45 degrees.

5. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include 0 degrees and 40 degrees.

6. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include at least one angular position between 0 degrees and 40 degrees.

7. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion is dynamically selectable within a pre-defined range.

8. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pre-defined range is from 0 degrees to 45 degrees.

9. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pre-defined range is from 0 degrees to 40 degrees.

10. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring loaded mechanism is configured to lock the handle connection base of the tool portion in a locked position after a selection of a tool portion position.

11. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle pivot comprises one or more buttons configured to enable the handle connection base of the tool portion to pivot if depressed.

12. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 2, wherein the handle pivot comprises a plurality of detents, each of the detents corresponding with one of the plurality of pre-defined angular positions.

13. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion,

the lower portion is coupled to the nozzle at a first end and the upper portion at the second end, and

the lower portion is tapered such that the first end of the lower portion has a first diameter that is less than a second diameter of the second end of the lower portion.

14. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion,

the upper portion comprises a first end, a second end, a top side, and an underside,

the first end of the upper portion is coupled to the lower portion, and

the second end of the upper portion comprises a fan opening.

15. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 14, wherein the top side of the upper portion comprises the handle connection base.

16. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 14, wherein the top side of the upper portion comprises electrical connections configured to receive a battery configured to power the handheld air movement apparatus.

17. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grip comprises a banana-shaped curved portion between the first end and the second end.

18. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user input control comprises a trigger configured to provide a first amount of the air movement.

19. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 18, wherein the user input control comprises a boost button configured to provide a second amount of the air movement, and wherein the second amount of the air movement is greater than the first amount of the air movement.

20. A handheld air movement apparatus comprising:

a handle portion comprising;

a grip having a first end and a second end,

a user input control positioned toward the first end of the grip, and

a handle pivot positioned toward the second end of the grip; and

a tool portion comprising;

a housing,

a nozzle coupled to the housing, and

a handle connection base,

wherein the tool portion provides air movement one or both of into or out of the nozzle in response to a signal received from the user input control of the handle portion,

wherein the handle connection base of the tool portion is pivotally coupled to the handle portion at the handle pivot to provide directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion, and

wherein the handle pivot comprises a spring loaded mechanism configured to lock the handle connection base of the tool portion in a locked position after a selection of a tool portion position.

21. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 20, wherein the directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion is provided at a plurality of pre-defined angular positions.

22. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include 0 degrees and 45 degrees.

23. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 22, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include at least one angular position between 0 degrees and 45 degrees.

24. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include 0 degrees and 40 degrees.

25. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 24, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include at least one angular position between 0 degrees and 40 degrees.

26. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 21, wherein the handle pivot comprises a plurality of detents, each of the detents corresponding with one of the plurality of pre-defined angular positions.

27. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 20, wherein the directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion is dynamically selectable within a pre-defined range.

28. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 27, wherein the pre-defined range is from 0 degrees to 45 degrees.

29. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 27, wherein the pre-defined range is from 0 degrees to 40 degrees.

30. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 20, wherein the handle pivot comprises one or more buttons configured to enable the handle connection base of the tool portion to pivot if depressed.

31. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion,

the lower portion is coupled to the nozzle at a first end and the upper portion at the second end, and

the lower portion is tapered such that the first end of the lower portion has a first diameter that is less than a second diameter of the second end of the lower portion.

32. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion,

the upper portion comprises a first end, a second end, a top side, and an underside,

the first end of the upper portion is coupled to the lower portion, and

the second end of the upper portion comprises a fan opening.

33. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 32, wherein the top side of the upper portion comprises the handle connection base.

34. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 32, wherein the top side of the upper portion comprises electrical connections configured to receive a battery configured to power the handheld air movement apparatus.

35. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 20, wherein the grip comprises a banana-shaped curved portion between the first end and the second end.

36. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 20, wherein the user input control comprises a trigger configured to provide a first amount of the air movement.

37. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 36, wherein the user input control comprises a boost button configured to provide a second amount of the air movement, and wherein the second amount of the air movement is greater than the first amount of the air movement.

38. A handheld air movement apparatus comprising:

a handle portion comprising;

a grip having a first end and a second end,

a user input control positioned toward the first end of the grip, and

a handle pivot positioned toward the second end of the grip; and

a tool portion comprising;

a housing,

a nozzle coupled to the housing, and

a handle connection base,

wherein the tool portion provides air movement one or both of into or out of the nozzle in response to a signal received from the user input control of the handle portion,

wherein the handle connection base of the tool portion is pivotally coupled to the handle portion at the handle pivot to provide directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion, and

wherein;

the housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion,

the lower portion is coupled to the nozzle at a first end and the upper portion at the second end, and

the lower portion is tapered such that the first end of the lower portion has a first diameter that is less than a second diameter of the second end of the lower portion.

39. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 38, wherein the directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion is provided at a plurality of pre-defined angular positions.

40. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 39, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include 0 degrees and 45 degrees.

41. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 40, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include at least one angular position between 0 degrees and 45 degrees.

42. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 39, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include 0 degrees and 40 degrees.

43. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 42, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include at least one angular position between 0 degrees and 40 degrees.

44. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 38, wherein the directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion is dynamically selectable within a pre-defined range.

45. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 44, wherein the pre-defined range is from 0 degrees to 45 degrees.

46. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 44, wherein the pre-defined range is from 0 degrees to 40 degrees.

47. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 39, wherein the handle pivot comprises a plurality of detents, each of the detents corresponding with one of the plurality of pre-defined angular positions.

48. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 38, wherein the handle pivot comprises one or more buttons configured to enable the handle connection base of the tool portion to pivot if depressed.

49. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

the upper portion comprises a first end, a second end, a top side, and an underside,

the first end of the upper portion is coupled to the lower portion, and

the second end of the upper portion comprises a fan opening.

50. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 49, wherein the top side of the upper portion comprises the handle connection base.

51. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 49, wherein the top side of the upper portion comprises electrical connections configured to receive a battery configured to power the handheld air movement apparatus.

52. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 38, wherein the grip comprises a banana-shaped curved portion between the first end and the second end.

53. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 38, wherein the user input control comprises a trigger configured to provide a first amount of the air movement.

54. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 53, wherein the user input control comprises a boost button configured to provide a second amount of the air movement, and wherein the second amount of the air movement is greater than the first amount of the air movement.

55. A handheld air movement apparatus comprising:

a handle portion comprising;

a grip having a first end and a second end,

a user input control positioned toward the first end of the grip, and

a handle pivot positioned toward the second end of the grip; and

a tool portion comprising;

a housing,

a nozzle coupled to the housing, and

a handle connection base,

wherein the tool portion provides air movement one or both of into or out of the nozzle in response to a signal received from the user input control of the handle portion,

wherein the handle connection base of the tool portion is pivotally coupled to the handle portion at the handle pivot to provide directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion, and

wherein;

the housing comprises an upper portion and a lower portion,

the upper portion comprises a first end, a second end, a top side, and an underside,

the first end of the upper portion is coupled to the lower portion, and

the second end of the upper portion comprises a fan opening.

56. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 55, wherein the directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion is provided at a plurality of pre-defined angular positions.

57. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 56, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include 0 degrees and 45 degrees.

58. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 57, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include at least one angular position between 0 degrees and 45 degrees.

59. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 56, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include 0 degrees and 40 degrees.

60. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 59, wherein the plurality of pre-defined angular positions include at least one angular position between 0 degrees and 40 degrees.

61. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 56, wherein the handle pivot comprises a plurality of detents, each of the detents corresponding with one of the plurality of pre-defined angular positions.

62. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 55, wherein the directional height adjustment of the tool portion with respect to the handle portion is dynamically selectable within a pre-defined range.

63. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 62, wherein the pre-defined range is from 0 degrees to 45 degrees.

64. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 62, wherein the pre-defined range is from 0 degrees to 40 degrees.

65. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 55, wherein the handle pivot comprises one or more buttons configured to enable the handle connection base of the tool portion to pivot if depressed.

66. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 55, wherein the top side of the upper portion comprises the handle connection base.

67. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 55, wherein the top side of the upper portion comprises electrical connections configured to receive a battery configured to power the handheld air movement apparatus.

68. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 55, wherein the grip comprises a banana-shaped curved portion between the first end and the second end.

69. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 55, wherein the user input control comprises a trigger configured to provide a first amount of the air movement.

70. The handheld air movement apparatus of claim 69, wherein the user input control comprises a boost button configured to provide a second amount of the air movement, and wherein the second amount of the air movement is greater than the first amount of the air movement.