Combination blower, edger and trimmer and method for tending vegetation

• US 20090038283A1
• Filed: 08/08/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edward P. Hurley
• Original Assignee: Edward P. Hurley
• Inventors: Hurley, Edward P.
• Application Number:
  US11/890,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20090038283A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/12.700
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/84 for edges of lawns or fields, e.g. for mowing close to trees or walls for embankments A01D34/86 takes precedence; edge trimmers A01G3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/902 Ergonomic provisions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

A combined edger, trimmer and blower generally referred to as a lawn care apparatus for tending vegetation. More particularly, a novel handlebar provides a power control handle to maintain a boom on a longitudinal line of symmetry from a fixed point to an upright motor assembly in response to a side control handle rotating and translating the boom from a gearbox to a tangential tool assembly in front of an operator on a lateral line of symmetry. The gearbox including one or more lateral hubs that quick couples the side control handle into either a right or left handed holding position when the fixed point is to the side of an operator. The gearbox further containing one or more orthogonal gears with one or more gear addendum cams to lock the tangential tool assembly into a vertical or horizontal operating position, that is, a narrow or wide operating framework.

Claims

1. A combination blower, edger, trimmer and method for tending vegetation, comprising:

a motor assembly including a motor, a motor housing, a power control handle, one or more power switches and a throttle control trigger;

the motor assembly held upright behind an operator on a boom from a fixed point proximal end to the motor;

a tool assembly including a cutting tool facilitated by a cutting guard mounted tangential to a blower;

the blower mounted to the boom at a tool distal end;

the cutting tool including a string trimmer head having a secondary wheel without a hub facing the blower;

the secondary wheel having an odd numbered air frequencies;

the tool assembly by the boom from the fixed point to the blower;

the blower including an oblong nozzle open to ambient air at all times and a primary wheel with a base plate open to ambient air on a flue side and shielded on the opposite side to cutting tool clippings;

the blower having an open airflow section facing an air inlet and air outlet and a closed airflow section facing the cutting tool;

a drive shaft contained within the boom and extending from the motor assembly to beyond the boom between the primary and secondary wheel plates;

the drive shaft held in equilibrium at a fixed point;

the drive shaft having means for translating axially between the impeller plate and cutting plate by a shifter mounted near the fixed point when the motor is operated at idle speed;

the drive shaft having means for rotating axially the cutting tool or the impeller with respect to the motor operating speed being substantially equal at wide open throttle;

the primary wheel having an odd numbered air frequencies;

the blower being operable alongside lawn perimeter edging return routes;

the cutting tool including a string trimmer head having a detachable spool string line filaments;

a handlebar mounted axial to the fixed point;

the handlebar balanced at the fixed point;

the handlebar having a gearbox mounted longitudinally to the boom;

the gearbox having a left and right lateral hub;

the left hub having a clamp preventing the handlebar diagonal grips from being pulled towards the operator;

the handlebar having the power control handle mounted longitudinal to the axis of the boom behind the fixed point;

the handlebar having a side control handle mounted laterally to the axis of the boom within a gearbox hub in front of the fixed point;

the side control handle coupled to a beveled gear;

the side control handle having means for reversing the axial rotation of the power control handle at the fixed point;

the side control handle having means for reversing the throttle control trigger at the fixed point;

the side control handle having an incline grip for lawn trimming or normal blowing of vegetation;

the incline grip having means for being transposed onto itself;

the incline and decline grips aligning diagonally on either side of the fixed point;

the incline grip aligning with the axis of the boom in a narrow operating framework;

the decline grip aligning with the axis of the boom in a wide operating framework;

the gearbox hub having means for locking the side control handle and power control handle from rotation;

the side control handle being lockable in the gearbox in a plurality of positions to adjust the height of the side control handle;

the handlebar being lockable in a wide and a narrow operating framework;

the cutting guard arranged to protect an operator in the narrow operating framework when lawn edging;

the cutting guard also arranged to protect an operator in the wide operating framework lawn trimming;

the cutting guard having a skid.

2. (canceled)

3. A combination blower, edger and trimmer apparatus for tending vegetation, comprising:

a motor assembly including a motor, a motor housing, and a power control handle;

an elongated boom having an arcuate distal portion wherein a distal end thereof is oriented substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the boom;

the motor assembly generally held upright on a proximal end of the boom and being positioned behind an operator when the boom is held at a fixed point proximate to the proximal end of the motor;

a tool assembly including a cutting tool and a cutting guard mounted tangentially to a blower, the blower including an air discharge nozzle;

the blower being mounted to a distal end of the boom with the tool assembly;

the cutting tool including a string trimmer head;

a drive shaft generally coextensive within the boom and extending from the motor assembly to beyond the distal end of the boom at the blower;

the drive shaft being selectively translatable axially within the boom between an impeller plate and cutting plate by a shifter mounted on the boom when the motor is being operated at idle speed;

the drive shaft selectively rotating the cutting tool or the impeller when the motor is being operated at wide open throttle;

a handlebar mounted over the boom between the motor assembly and the fixed point, the handlebar including a gearbox mounted longitudinally to the boom and adjacent to the fixed point;

the handlebar having a side control handle mounted within the gearbox and extending laterally from the boom, the side control handle selectively reversing the axial rotation of the power control handle in the gearbox, the side control handle selectively reversing the position of a throttle control trigger located at the fixed point;

the side control handle also having an incline and a decline grip for lawn trimming or normal blowing of vegetation;

the incline and decline grips being aligned diagonally between the fixed point;

the gearbox hub having a lock which selectively prevents the side control handle and power control handle from rotation;

a cutting guard having a radian surface and a flared surface which protects an operator when said apparatus is configured for use in lawn edging or lawn trimming.