Tiller with removable battery

• US 7,963,344 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baetica, Florin, Mooney, P. Wade, Makeev, Olga, Marcil, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Troutman; Matthew D
• Application Number:
  US12/540,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20100051299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 172/42, 172/43, 172/256, 172/259, 172/329, 172/351, 172/354, 172/358, 172/359, 172/362, 172/364, 372/70, 372/71, 56/171, 56/172, 563/22
• US Class Current: 172/43
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 33/028 of the walk-behind type walk-type tractors B62D51/04

Abstract

A tiller can include a frame supported by at least one wheel. An upright assembly can extend from the frame. A drive mechanism can be supported by the frame and include a motor having an output member. A tilling implement can have a drive shaft that is driven by the output member. The tilling implement can comprise at least one tine plate. A slider assembly can communicate with the wheel and be movably coupled along the upright assembly. The slider assembly can be configured to securably locate in at least a first position wherein the wheel is located at a first elevation relative to the frame and a second position wherein the wheel is located at a second elevation relative to the frame. The first and second elevations can be distinct.

Claims

1. A tiller comprising:

a frame supported by at least one wheel;

an upright assembly extending from the frame and including a pair of longitudinal members extending from the frame and defining a first and second pair of slots formed therein;

a drive mechanism supported by the frame and including a motor having an output member;

a tilling implement having a drive shaft that is driven by the output member, the tilling implement comprising at least one tine plate; and

a slider assembly communicating with the at least one wheel and movably coupled along the upright assembly, the slider assembly configured to securably locate in at least a first position wherein the at least one wheel is located at a first elevation relative to the frame and a second position wherein the at least one wheel is located at a second elevation relative to the frame, the first and second elevations being distinct wherein the slider assembly further comprises a housing, a handle and a bar, wherein the housing slides along the longitudinal members and the bar selectively locates into one of the first and second pair of slots in response to manipulation of the slider assembly, wherein the handle moves relative to the housing and the bar moves in response to movement of the handle and wherein an effective length of the bar is reduced upon movement of the handle in a first direction causing opposite ends of the bar to withdraw from a respective pair of slots.

2. The tiller of claim 1 wherein the upright assembly defines a first angle with respect to ground in the first position and defines a second angle with respect to ground in the second position, wherein the first and second angles are substantially equivalent.

3. The tiller of claim 1, wherein the slider assembly is configured to securably locate in a third position wherein the at least one wheel is located at a third elevation relative to the frame, the third elevation being distinct from the first and second elevations.

4. The tiller of claim 2, further comprising a link interconnected between the slider assembly and the at least one wheel, wherein movement of the slider assembly between the first and second positions urges movement of the link which causes the at least one wheel to move between the first and second elevations, respectively.

5. The tiller of claim 4, further comprising a drag bar operably interconnected to the link wherein movement of the slider assembly results in movement of the drag bar.

6. The tiller of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery removably received into a receiving portion defined on the frame and supplying a current to the motor in an installed position wherein the battery is positioned at a substantially centralized location on the frame.

7. A tiller comprising:

a frame supported by at least one wheel;

a pair of uprights extending from the frame and each having a first and second slot formed therein;

a drive mechanism supported by the frame and including a motor having an output member;

a battery selectively retained on the frame and supplying a current to the motor in an installed position;

a tilling implement having a drive shaft that is driven by the output member, the tilling implement comprising at least one tine plate; and

a slider assembly operably coupled with the at least one wheel and slidably communicating along the upright assembly, the slider assembly configured to securably locate on the pair of uprights in at least a first position wherein the at least one wheel is located at a first elevation relative to the frame and a second position wherein the at least one wheel is located at a second elevation relative to the frame, the first and second elevations being distinct wherein the slider assembly comprises a handle that moves relative to the housing and wherein a bar moves in response to movement of the handle such that an effective length of the bar is reduced upon movement of the handle in a first direction causing opposite ends of the bar to withdraw from a respective pair of slots.

8. The tiller of claim 7 wherein the pair of uprights define a first angle with respect to ground in the first position and define a second angle with respect to ground in the second position, wherein the first and second angles are substantially equivalent.

9. The tiller of claim 7 wherein the slider assembly further comprises a housing that slides along the pair of uprights and at least partially houses the bar.

10. The tiller of claim 7, wherein the slider assembly is configured to securably locate on the pair of uprights in a third position wherein the at least one wheel is located at a third elevation relative to the frame, the third elevation being distinct from the first and second elevations.

11. The tiller of claim 8, further comprising a link interconnected between the slider assembly and the at least one wheel, wherein movement of the slider assembly between the first and second positions urges movement of the link which causes the at least one wheel to move between the first and second elevations, respectively.

12. The tiller of claim 11, further comprising a drag bar operably interconnected to the link wherein movement of the slider assembly results in movement of the drag bar.

13. A tiller comprising:

a frame supported by at least one wheel;

a pair of uprights extending from the frame, each upright of the pair of uprights having a first and second slot formed therein;

a drive mechanism supported by the frame and including a motor having an output member;

a tilling implement having a drive shaft that is driven by the output member, the tilling implement comprising at least one tine plate;

a slider assembly operably coupled with the at least one wheel and slidably communicating along the upright assembly, the slider assembly configured to securably locate on the pair of uprights in at least a first position wherein the at least one wheel is located at a first elevation relative to the frame and a second position wherein the at least one wheel is located at a second elevation relative to the frame, the first and second elevations being distinct;

a link interconnected between the slider assembly and the at least one wheel, wherein movement of the slider assembly between the first and second positions urges movement of the link which causes the at least one wheel to move between the first and second elevations, respectively;

a drag bar operably interconnected to the link wherein movement of the slider assembly results in movement of the drag bar; and

a handle that moves relative to the pair of uprights and that urges a bar to selectively locate within the first slots in the first position and locate within the second slots in the second position wherein an effective length of the bar is reduced upon movement of the handle in a first direction causing opposite ends of the bar to withdraw from a respective pair of slots.