Patent Application
20090038283
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
This invention relates generally to the field of lawn care and more specifically to a COMBINATION BLOWER, EDGER AND TRIMMER AND METHOD FOR TENDING VEGETATION.
Complete lawn care includes trimming areas that lawn equipment operators cannot access easily with heavier mowers; such as, operating handheld power tools along defined lawn perimeter routes (i.e., sidewalks, driveways, patios and landscape beds) to edge vegetation where blowers can readily disperse unwanted vegetation debris (i.e., lawn clippings or fallen leaves) back into interior lawns where vegetation debris is atypically seen; and trimming vegetation along interior lawn routes (i.e., around trees, fence lines and other property improvements) where blowers are not operated. Carrying out separate lawn trimming tasks has traditionally required different and separate lawn tools, namely, a string trimmer, a stick edger, a blower or a combination of such devices could fatigue an operator when power tools tend to interfere with each other. For instance, a grounds keeper may carry, transport and operate a string trimmer, leading the operator far within the interior of a lawn without the need of additional fast moving heated blower parts to the operation. Lawn rhizomes can grow vigorously onto sidewalks, into sand traps and over other firm ground surfaces for long periods of time before being edged and dispersed into lawns which may not require another operating tool. Providing similar balance and power with an all-in-one edger, trimmer and blower tool can justify the need for combining individual lawn tools together on a convenient lawn care linked route.
Efforts have been taken to combine lawn care operation along lawn care routes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,471 discloses separate operating heads, such as a string trimmer head or a blower head that can be attached and detached from the same power plant and drive train, saving the expense of a second motor. This system requires that a significant subassembly of the tool be removed and replaced by another tool, requiring the worker to carry separate tools and to change operating heads on the tool which significantly lengthens the lawn care route.
U.S. Patent Application Publication Number US 2002/0007559 discloses a string trimmer with a specially designed shroud that is supposed to help the rotating string of the string trimmer to function as a blower. While it has long been known that the rotating string of the string trimmer provides some blowing forces, they tend to be spread out 360° degrees and even this reference discloses debris deflecting in line with the operator, which provides little benefit in concentrated airflow, noise isolation and debris removal from sidewalks and so forth. The primary shortcoming of this invention is that the rotary operation could become messy with potentially dangerous flying material and the operable blower system has cooling qualities far removed from inner sensitive plastic components.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,253 B1 discloses a lawn apparatus that can be converted from a string trimmer into a bi-rotary blade cutter and that it can be modified to attach a blower flute or scroll to direct air flow generated by a cooling fan which is part of the string trimmer spool and designed to cool the motor of the apparatus. Motor housings designed to trap in heat and vacuum in debris near tool assemblies could start on fire similar to when dryer vents catch on fire from built up lint. When combining lawn tools into this invention, airfoil blades can rapidly swing back and forth with the string trimmer line which can build up heat from friction and melt the string line or the airfoils can loosen and fly off towards bystanders. The motor and tool combined weight at the tool load end is not ideally positioned for the operator to carry or balance a load near an operator's vertical axis. Furthermore, the sharp airfoil blades can shred the more elastic string line when the airfoil blades create lift to bend the more sensitive string line. This invention further discloses exposed bidirectional parts like springs that can hold debris in and lock the blades into an open position at all times. During lawn growing seasons, lawn heights can grow between 4 to 10 inches putting this invention at a disadvantage for lawn edging with an electric motor because the required thin string line filament can melt faster than long and thick string line filament; especially when motors are not designed to cut taller turfgrass like St. Augustine grass. There is a closed flue at the top of the motor that doesn't allow heat to rise naturally and a similar devise may have just been recalled on July 2007 for heat related problems.
Another example of a multi-purpose lawn tool is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,592 B2 and U.S. Provisional Pat. No. 60/696,738 whereby the trimmer/blower is described as an inoperable blower when the string trimmer head and impeller is made operable. Accordingly, the operable string trimmer head and inoperable blower provides an air inlet cover to pull in hot gases inside the large vertical blower by an operable impeller with notches which in turn could cause sensitive string line filament to seize or melt. This invention further describes a closed air inlet cover, that is, a closed chimney when the string trimmer head is made operable which prevents hot gases from naturally rising. In addition, the operable string trimmer head consists of a hub assembly for holding in debris which can grind into smaller particles and wear out sensitive exposed blower material; especially when impeller notches are used to vacuum debris upward into the blower from a lawn surface. The string trimmer head and impeller are made operable along a lawn interior trimming route known not only for gathering mower clippings, but also trimmer clippings in close proximity of the inoperable blower and operable vacuum. Hot air pressure can warp the movable blower housing possibly causing loud noises by the constantly rotating impeller which could disturb the operator and bystanders. The invention clearly shows that the impeller is not designed for vertical equilibrium as the impeller hovers over the string trimmer. Operating alongside a corresponding edging route will make this bent shaft illustrated invention more uncomfortable to operate. Another drawback to the invention is the impeller is not made silent during trimming operation. Accordingly, an air inlet cover that shuts off the operable blower function of a constantly rotating impeller requires more energy to operate and is wasteful on fuel. The air inlet cover, hand lever and other surplus weight of this invention is heavier than typical lawn power tool sources. Consequently, the weight distribution at the tool end requires the motor to be heavier than typical lawn tool power sources which either throws the invention out of balance or creates more weight at the motor end. It can only take a moment to go from lawn edging to lawn trimming to normal-duty or heavy-duty blowing operation, that is, 256 different lawn care combinations make this invention impractical to operate because of having to remove a harness followed by setting the tool down on the ground, turning the motor off, having to move a long distance to the tool assembly to activate the tool assembly and continued by twice the effort to crank the motor back on for tending vegetation. When the accessory cutting guard is attached to this invention the rotating string will be significantly exposed to the side of an operator which is not as safe as having a cutting guard aligned with a lawn edge in front of an operator at all times. It would be more affordable to provide a balanced lawn tool with an impeller open to ambient air at all times, to add a small secondary wheel at the string trimmer head apex to impel heat and debris away from sensitive plastic materials without adding weight or extra tool load to a fixed point translation or rotary motor output which doesn't waste fuel during cutting operation, encourages the use of a cutting guard and improves the equilibrium of the tool in order to link contrasting lawn care routes comfortably and safely together with a lawn edging route.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,623 B2 discloses a primary handle having a transverse secondary handle. The disadvantage of this invention is that safety could be jeopardized when attempting to rotate the secondary handle into a mock vertical edging position because the throttle control handle slips away from an index finger as soon as the tool assembly is rotated into a new operating position. Furthermore, the secondary handle is described as rotating away from an operator into a stowed position which orientates the operator's stride closer to dangerous cutting tool regions. Best use tool standards should never encourage operation of a tool from a stowed position because labor standards are usually unassociated with inoperable stow positions of tools. Furthermore, lawn tools should never be stowed in a cardboard box after being operated at high temperatures with electric current or gasoline power sources because cardboard is made of combustible material. This invention becomes cumbersome to operate when the secondary handle must be set on the ground to loosen or tighten a clamp each time lawn care functions are changes. The primary handle decline grip of this invention does not counterbalance with the secondary grip which remains parallel to the lawn surface when held making this invention a disadvantage to hold and operate at all times. The clamp must not remain loose in this invention or the secondary handle will slide out of socket from vibration which is also potentially dangerous. Both handle grips are transverse over the boom which doesn't hold a center of gravity in three dimensional space when rotated. The secondary handle and grip can collapse when operated and consequently injure the operator. This invention does not stress the importance of keeping the clamp locked during operation which could pose a problem when switching back and forth during 256 possible trimming, edging, normal-duty, and heavy-duty blowing combinations. The harness will roll up and down between horizontal to vertical operation which disorientates the operation. Finally, the transverse secondary handle grip could easily become tangled up with a harness when properly rotated. Thus, the accessory harness of this invention is less likely to be used by an operator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,749 requires a large volute to house an impeller which obstructs the view and length of combined string line material and adds weight to the tool assembly. The blower has more sensitive flat surface material to prevent from warping during combined trimming and blower operation. The invention requires two or more nozzles to be interchanged to adjust the air discharge pattern of the blower. The invention is unable to pivot a vertical impeller up and down to evenly distribute a uniform diagonal vortex. The diagonal vortex is required to steer debris laterally away from corners and longitudinally over tall curbs at a lower vortex end as debris is prevented from deflecting upward at a higher vortex end. This invention is at a disadvantage because the trimming and edging routes require one or more additional tool attachments to be carried, assembled and used in order to correspond with a blower route. The lawn tool doesn't offer a line of symmetry on the front handle to provide comfortable lawn care along corresponding lawn edging and heavy-duty blower routes which is a big disadvantage of this invention. Hence, it would be good to offer a lawn tool that can disperse mower clippings and lawn trimmings safely over tall curbs and away from corners with a heavy-duty more downward blast of concentrated airflow with the same nozzle or an upright motor to hold the lawn tool in a heavy-duty position.
A number of field tests have been performed on patent application Ser. No. 11/585,707, filed on Dec. 9, 2006, because of 3 tools being combined into 1 to do work in about half the time which can build up heat. In one such test, a 2×4×8 inch piece of wood was subjected to Ser. No. 11/585,707 with operable 17 inch diameter string line filament and a 6 inch operable impeller inside a covered blower and further tested with operable 17 inch diameter string line filament and an operable impeller with an uncovered blower to simulate the power and heat effects of lawn edging after 20 minutes of lawn edging. The test comparison showed that the Ser. No. 11/585,707 torque dropped nearly in half when the blower was covered. The Ser. No. 11/585,707 test further showed that heat significantly built up in the combined tool assembly when the blower was covered. Another finding showed that the uncovered blower test caused the operable blower performance to drop nearly 25%, but the tool bearing heat continued rising beyond the string line filament seizing point with a covered blower. The Ser. No. 11/585,707 lab tests addressed a need to cut off the rotating string when the blower is made operable to save on fuel consumption and to further protect lawn furniture during blower operation. However, cutting string line off is after the trimming and edging operation has been completed doesn't address heat generation with the covered blower and the steps can become cumbersome. The Ser. No. 11/585,707 tests further showed that ambient air travels through the uncovered blower when heat is released from to stabilize the tool temperature. The Ser. No. 11/585,707 tests concluded that the impeller or primary wheel should stop operation when the string line filament is made operable with a secondary wheel outside of the blower.
Mr. Hashimoto at Nippon Kries, Mr. Miyamoto at Chiba-factory and Mr. Nemoto and Yasuda at Marutecs tested the load of a Maruyama CER300 engine on Ser. No. 11/585,707 from a technical standpoint. It was discovered from the CER300 engine lab tests that the load was too high on the engine during certain times of operation. The engine lab test further showed a need to prevent the engine clutch from continuously slipped from more than 500 rpm of motor speed reduction after a load was put on the operable string trimmer by an inoperable blower and operable impeller/drive shaft. Shortening the string line for Ser. No. 11/585,707 addressed part of the problems associated with heat build up when the motor clutch slipped, but removing about 11 inches of string line would be required to improve blower performance by 30% and the operable blower will continue to disturb the string line fluid motion which reduces lawn care quality. The operable impeller and operable string trimmer head will add more fuel and string line filament costs to lawn care operation and will be more time consuming.
The above lawn tool combination shortcomings are limited in addressing current problems associated with making lawn care routes more efficient. Lawn care specialists generally begin lawn trimming operation from a base before blowers are operated to provide a nice lawn appearance. Lateral lawn growth is edged on lawn perimeters along edging routes capable of being linking to interior lawn trimming routes nearest to interior trimming route transport legs. Blower routes are typically operated outside of lawn interiors commonly linked to lawn edging routes to impel debris preferably away from the lawn tool operation into a lawn interior. Trimming routes are dissimilar to blower routes because interior lawn trimming operation generally hides debris whereas lawn edging operation generally exposes significant debris where the blower operation is required to impel and hide debris from an opposite side of a lawn perimeter into lawn interiors. A difficulty associated with completing lawn care operation is the linking of lawn tools to dissimilar lawn care routes which may involve repeated short and long transport routes between lawn care operation. Mowers can be used effectively to remove debris along dissimilar blower routes after mowing is completed, but mowers are limited to horizontal lawn care and they have a difficult time getting into tight corners. Hence, the present invention can be operated from a mower fixed point without having to hold onto power tools, connect tools or loosen and tighten tools by hand.
An outcome when combining lawn tool operation on trimming, edging and blower routes results from the industry's misunderstanding the problem it is addressing. The industry perceives that the problem is rotating the trimmer string plane in two-dimensional xz space, that is, moving a horizontal plane into a vertical plane of a straight shaft trimmer with a 90° clockwise boom rotation for a right-handed operator or counterclockwise for a left-handed operator. In reality, the rotation must be considered in three-dimensional xyz space because the entire lawn care apparatus is being rotated, not simply the working head and so the orientation of the drive shaft housing and handles changes when the cutting head and rotating string are rotated. In some cases, lawn tools can be folded at a tool origin and at a handle origin to align lawn edging routes with an operator, but this extra bending of tools and several presses, twists and turns by an operator obstructs the view and route of edging operation and can eventually damage the lawn tool. Aligning the lawn tool at the tool origin instead of rotating the full devise further positions the operator behind the edging transport route where common walls, elevated curbs, cliffs, parked vehicles, landscape beds and debris can interfere and become dangerous with the operation.
Geometrically speaking, all lawn tools can be held on a boom line of symmetry with the boom forming 12 orthogonal isometries, that is, 8 lateral folds and 4 longitudinal folds with 1 lateral isometry being the closest fold for combining a view of the tool operation and lawn care route together with safety in mind as mentioned in detail below. Longitudinal 90 degree folds for trimming, edging and blowing are generally forbidden for lawn care, but longitudinal folds can be used to orientate tree trimming booms, paint sprayers and the like in vertical equilibrium as a nozzle disperses debris away from possibly exposed safety goggles under equilibrium. Hence, an operator can align a harness central to a vertical line of symmetry to hold a power tool in equilibrium at a fixed point in order to minimize lateral folds between trimming, edging and blowing operation. When limiting lateral folds to lawn care, there are 2 degrees of vertical isometry for every 1 degree of lateral isometry with respect to lawn tools providing a line of symmetry for a boom with 3 degrees of congruent rotation at the fixed point of equilibrium. One fold of symmetrical operation for edging, trimming and blowing will prevent operators from walking sideward or backward to view work, lower the operating fatigue factor by creating less work and reduce danger of being hit by passing motor vehicles that are difficult to see or hear when the motor is blocking the view of an operator.
An example of two lateral folds is to grasp a spatula mounted to a strict 45 degree longitudinal angled boom handle and longitudinally translate the spatula base between a golden blown pancake on a griddle with a transposed grip to flip the pancake over laterally 180° degrees east to west for a golden blown finish on both sides, then the spatula handle can be tilted 90° degrees south to north into a vertical position to slice through the pancake by translation on the front edge of the spatula. Using either hand on the same spatula can produce 1 fold with an underhand grip by tilting the spatula 90° degrees east to west into a vertical position, then by raising the spatula at the same angle of the prior spatula boom handle angle thereby allowing the pancake to be cut in half by translation of the spatula's side edge. Work becomes significantly less for an operator when the pancake analogy is applied to larger and heavier booms. In fact, there is a concern that many common lawn tools operate in a second group rotation which exposes string line to an operator and draws an operating framework further away from the operator transport route. Another concern is to shorten the fold which keeps the throttle control as close to an index finger as possible without considering additional safety factors. The present invention will provide an optimal fold option to operate 3 combined tools in equilibrium on 3 effective corresponding routes, and the current invention can be held in balance as a combined 2 in 1 lawn tool if so desired.
Having the average holding height proportional to about the 31 inch average stride of an operator and the lawn cutting plane radius generally set at about 9 inches shows by default that the tangential tool assembly can be orthogonally rotated into 8 tetrahedron rigid bodies with respect to the motor assembly translating into 8 opposite tetrahedron rigid bodies. Therefore, a handlebar affixed to a lawn tool boom may be rotated or translated congruently within 1 orthogonal isometry with respect to a tool assembly and a motor assembly being congruently locked into the same orthogonal isometry. The lawn care apparatus can be bound more specifically to two right isosceles tetrahedrons sharing their smallest legs along the vertical line of symmetry when an operator facilitates a cross-over shoulder harness in relation to a pair of orthogonal handlebar grips aligning to the fixed point between the motor and tool line of symmetry along the longest legs of the right isosceles tetrahedrons. It can be shown that the handlebar orbits without being transverse or collapsing to control lateral and longitudinal oscillation. The fixed point holds the tool assembly in equilibrium with the heavier motor assembly mass being bound to the smaller tetrahedron and the lighter tool assembly mass being bound to the larger tetrahedron. A blower being the first tangential tool on the line of symmetry may be rotated between a vertical and horizontal plane and locked between 1 of 8 right isosceles tetrahedron operating frameworks. Furthermore, the present invention cutting guard, string trimmer head, blower and other attachments may be connected tangential to the line of symmetry and locked into 1 of 8 right isosceles tetrahedron operating frameworks by distributing the weight congruently within symmetrical rigid bodies that orbit at a fixed point. The present invention further allows tool connections from the gearbox or at ground level without a mechanical tool to vertically or horizontally tend vegetation with a line of symmetry from the motor to the tool assembly.
Combining lawn trimming and edging routes reduces transport time which may be why 2 in 1 trimmers continue growing in popularity. Another reason why string trimmers are typically used as edgers is to groom large grounds areas quickly and consistently due to weather, timing and labor constraints. However, combining edging along hard surfaces and trimming deep within interior lawns for long periods of operation can cause more heat to build up at the tool and motor end which can lead to sensitive string line or motors seizing. Furthermore, restricting combined lawn tools to dissimilar routes has more potential to fatigue an operator. Tests on average size ⅓ acre lawns show that a properly designed trimmer, edger and blower can be operated on a lawn care route about twice as fast as more expensive 2 in 1 lawn tools because the blower route will follow a lawn edging return route back to the base. The 2 in 1 trimming and edging operation can facilitate heat reduction by adding a secondary wheel to the cutting tool and by providing a blower with an open airflow section to release heat and air pressure at all times, that doesn't add more load to to the motor operating speed and will exchange heat faster from tools by providing more ambient air through the blower to release significant heat volume out of the tool assembly.
Many times a lawn power tool motor is flipped on its side often moving the piston lower than the crankcase, allowing excess oil to enter the combustion chamber, thereby increasing pollution and denying sufficient lubrication to the piston rod and crankshaft, and this complicated co-rotation frequently places the muffler adjacent to the operator's head. Some manufactures can charge and receive high payment for installing oil pumps to rotate lawn tool motors 360 degrees which doesn't address possible hearing loss, environmental spills, lung or nerve ailments, skin burns, shredding of long hair from motor flywheels, damaged clothing and other potential safety hazards from 360° degree orbital lawn motors. Either an electric motor, gasoline engine or new power source can be held into an upright position at all times with the present invention because the power source is rigidly connected to a handlebar that reverses the motor orientation into an upright position. An upright power source is an important safety concern as more powerful batteries become available that can provide dry as well as wet power cells for mowing, edging, trimming and blowing work which can leak when rotated. In the case of a gasoline engine string trimmer, rotating inexpensive engines can result in crankcase oil finding its way into the combustion chamber, causing the engine to bog down or stall during edging which can shorten the life of the sparkplug and the engine. Gasoline fumes should also be behind an operator during lawn care operations which the present invention provides for. Providing the same upright power source position with similar rotary load capability during trimming, edging, normal-duty blowing and heavy-duty blower work would be a welcome advancement to the US lawn care industry. Many lawn tools provide motors at the tool end, but this feature can force lawn care combinations out of equilibrium where the combined tool downward force is far away from a torso forcing an operator out of balance and draws cutting tools closer to operators. More weight distribution at a tool end increases the possibility of tool damage when an operator slips a grip on one handle which in turn forces the heavier tool end to drop onto the ground. A center of gravity is lost when lawn tools are extended down difficult pond slopes that mowers can not reach or when the tool frequently swings back and forth to cut through thick brush. This may even cause an operator to slip into a pond with an electric motor or the like.
A police force is trained to protect society with a steady hand on a boom trigger at all times which begs to question why lawn care operators are forced to let go of 2 in 1 lawn tool boom triggers or the like when performing lawn edging. A common way to hold onto a 2 in 1 trimming and edging power control trigger is by rotating a handle 90 degrees from a comfortable trimming position into a mock edging position which pulls an index finger 90 degrees inversely away from the power control trigger and leaves the cutting angle offset. The quickest way for straight shaft trimming operators to correct the mock edging angle is to remove the cutting guard which permits string line filament to be raised to waist level for a vertical lawn edging position. Lifting the handle to provide a vertical cut without a cutting guard puts magnitude stress on an operator's torso, the longer string line load wastes fuel and is hard on expensive moving parts that can draw more debris back towards the operator. Bent shaft 2 in 1 trimmers are commonly operated for edging about twice as far as straight shaft 2 in 1 trimmers for edging because even numbered group rotations provide longitudinal symmetry to the side of an operator which is a disadvantage compared to straight shaft edgers that align closer to the transport route, but the straight shaft cutting angle is inferior which forces more professional lawn care providers to buy and operate vertical steel edgers. Reversing the present invention boom motor assembly with the boom tool assembly permits accurate cutting with a cutting guard without having to buy a steel edger for a straight cut.
Before trimming and edging lawns there are objects like glass, rocks and trash that should be removed before they become dangerous projectiles. Hence, the operating route should be progressing in front of the operator. On the other hand, orientating string trimmer heads between horizontal and vertical planes is not as simple as a 90 degree turn of a handle and may complicate the 2 in 1 trimming and edging process. Combined edging and trimming tools should be equipped with a cutting guard that blends vertical wall protection for trimming with lateral wall protection for edging to further restrict harmful flying objects from dispersing towards an operator. Cutting guards not only should protect an operator from flying objects during vertical edging and horizontal trimming operation, but can also reduce wear and tear to clothing and lower chemical cleaning costs. Electrical wires, limbs, bystanders and property overhangs should be viewed by the operator at all times to avoid accidents. The present invention cutting guard not only aligns symmetrically in front of the operator between the lawn cutting surface to protect the operator, but the wing ends can be extended as 90° degree vertical guides to show when to stop edging under overhangs with a lawn tool that can clip wires or vegetation rather easily. Proper attire like ear plugs, glasses, hard boots and full clothing to conceal long hair and the like should be properly fitted and comfortable to wear to further prevent lawn care accidents. Keeping the cutting tool substantially in front yet offset from the operator helps to avoid being hit by oncoming traffic, prevents the operator from tripping over stoops, discourages lawn care providers from walking backwards, prevents operators from slipping off curbs or walls and averts landscapers from running into stationary or moving objects in line with the work area which the present invention provides for.
A perception that rearward debris motion should be avoided during lawn edging can be misleading when lawn tools can be offset at a diagonal angle with forward momentum of an operator which can immediately provide windshield protection to an operator where debris is released low and away from an operator whereas lawn edging clippings dispersed forward are scooped up higher with centrifugal force and impelled towards an operator after being able to gain momentum without immediate windshield protection during common headwind edging operation. Tests show that dispersing debris forward during the edging process is an interesting problem because it actually encourages debris shields to be removed from many inferior lawn tools without addressing centrifugal string line motion that tends to scoop up debris and hurl it back towards an operator. Hence, there are key safety benefits to consider that would allow debris to fly low to the ground with less thrust to the left side of an operator when facilitating an immediate shield guard whereas debris can be thrusts upward in front of an operator which is likely to allow flying debris to gain momentum without a windshield guard. When the edging operation is to the right of an operator the present invention has a blower nozzle that acts as a windshield to stop debris from gaining momentum in a headwind. The present invention assists operators with safety both with forward and rearward rotary tool motion by maintaining the lawn edging operation offset from the operator transport route which is further assisted by a handlebar that pivots the trimming operation offset from the operator to enhance lawn care safety no matter what symmetrical position the present invention is operated from.
Lawn edging of St. Augustine grass between 2006/2007 supported a need to cool off the present invention during prolonged trimming and edging routes and that heat must be able to escape upward as ambient air follows through the blower without interference to string line motion. Therefore, the present invention now employs a permanently open blower section that faces an operator and a permanently closes blower section facing a string trimmer head. The string trimmer head consists of a secondary wheel to impel debris and heat away from the tool assembly. The secondary wheel works like a radiator on an automobile and even blasts debris away during trimming and edging operation without vacuum. In addition, the primary wheel of the present invention is connected to the boom allowing the motor to be released from the primary wheel when the blower air inlet and air outlet are open and the blower is made inoperable. The present invention trimming and edging operation also saves about 25% on fuel costs by reducing the motor load when the cutting tool is operated. The present invention also eliminates overall weight of the motor by translating the motor clutch to the tool assembly after reducing the weight of the impeller cover and by shrinking the height of the blower housing section to limit airflow and heat problems associated with combining lawn tools. Therefore, the present invention eliminates the need of a blower air inlet and air outlet cover to drastically reduce heat in the tool assembly during trimming and edging operation. The motor rotary power is axial translated by a shifter about midway between the motor and tool assembly without the drive shaft being connected to an impeller to further eliminate the need of bending over to handle heavy levers near the cutting tool. The present invention 4 in 1 lawn tool operation provides substantially equal motor speed whether completing trimming, edging, regular-duty or heavy-duty blowing which should be given serious consideration for this invention. The motor load of the present invention can be kept steady with a slightly more downward force put on either handlebar grip between the harness to align the string line filament leading tip at a ground surface instead of deep into the ground by a wheel and rigid blade which can cause damage to mechanical devices and vegetation.
The present invention provides a tangential blower, cutting guard and string trimmer that operates and translates along a convenient lawn care route by an ergonomic handlebar control system. The tool assembly folds into one isometry, that is, a narrow and wide framework for edging, trimming, normal blowing and heavy-duty blowing lawn care operations. The narrow blower framework generates more concentrated airflow, having the ability to pull debris out of corners or easily over steep 8 to 10 inch curbs whereas the wide blower framework is used for general purpose fast debris clean up. The handlebar consists of a gearbox to generally regulate orientation of the boom being held at the fixed point between the tool assembly narrow and wide operating frameworks in response to a power assembly maintaining an upright position behind an operator. The gearbox providing one or more side hubs to couple a side control handle held with an incline grip to a power control handle held with a decline grip at a gear center of rotational symmetry. Hence, the incline grip of the side control handle will transpose onto a lateral line of symmetry when held in a narrow operating framework and the decline grip of the power control handle will transpose onto a longitudinal line of symmetry when held in a wide operating framework without being transverse over the boom or collapsing. Affixing the handlebar to a longitudinal and lateral line of symmetry between wide and narrow operating frameworks and setting the harness to a vertical line of symmetry allows operators to significantly balance the lawn care apparatus in 3 dimensional space in order to minimize safety concerns which should be given serious consideration with this invention.
The primary object of the invention is to provide a lawn care apparatus with a center of gravity when performing lawn care operation. center of gravity when performing lawn care operation.
Another object of the invention is to provide the lawn care apparatus with a motor assembly behind an operator breathing passages that remains upright when held.
Another object of the invention is to provide the motor with equal operating speed at wide open throttle when performing combined lawn care apparatus field tests.
A further object of the invention is to provide continuous power from the motor assembly when performing lawn care operation.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide the lawn care apparatus with a tangential tool assembly to combine lawn care operations.
Still yet another object of the lawn care apparatus is to provide the lawn care apparatus with auxiliary tool assemblies at or near a tool assembly origin without the use of a tool.
Another object of the invention is to provide axial and rotary drive motion from the motor assembly to beyond the tangential tool assembly.
Another object of the invention is to provide the tangential tool assembly with a cutting and blowing operating framework.
A further object of the invention is to provide the cutting operating framework with cutting guard protection aligned substantially parallel to the lawn surface.
Yet another object of the lawn care apparatus is to provide the lawn care apparatus with a blower auxiliary tool assembly without the weight of a cutting guard.
Still yet another object of the lawn care apparatus is to provide the lawn care apparatus with a center of gravity between the tool assembly and the motor assembly.
Another object of the invention is to provide the lawn care apparatus with a wide and narrow operating framework with respect to 8 orthogonal isometries.
Another object of the invention is to provide the narrow and wide operating frameworks with a forward translation from a lawn care base locked into 1 orthogonal isometry.
A further object of the invention is to provide the narrow and wide operating frameworks within hands reach without having to loosen or tighten clamps by hand.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide the narrow operating framework with a heavy-duty blower path corresponding alongside a lawn perimeter edging route.
Another object of the invention is to provide the narrow operating framework upward load with balanced downward force at the fixed point.
Still yet another object of the invention is to provide the wide operating framework with a lawn interior trimming path corresponding with legs of the lawn perimeter edging route.
Another object of the invention is to provide the interior lawn trimming and perimeter lawn edging routes with 25% fuel savings by facilitating axial drive motion to rotate 1 tool.
Another object of the invention is to provide the blower route on a return route to the lawn care base alongside the lawn edging route and dissimilar to the interior trimming route.
A further object of the invention is to provide the blower route with a permanent oblong nozzle having a sufficient width and length to discharge air in 1 or more vortex planes.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide the narrow and wide operating frameworks with 4̂4=256 different lawn care combinations.
Still yet another object of the invention is to provide the lawn care apparatus with gas and heat release at all times to prevent harm of sensitive materials.
Another object of the invention is to provide the lawn care apparatus with a cutting guard when a cutting tool is operated aligned symmetrically to the lawn surface to prevent harm to the operator from flying objects.
Another object of the invention is to provide the lawn care apparatus with a shortened lawn care route that consumes less energy.
A further object of the invention is to provide the lawn care apparatus with a series of stabilizers designed for less vibration and noise.
Still yet another object of the invention is to provide the lawn care apparatus with an exclusive narrow operating framework for an auxiliary edger for more rigid lawn care.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide the lawn care apparatus with a skid that helps the tool assembly glide over lawn surfaces.
Another object of the invention is to provide the lawn care apparatus with a fixed point that can affix to a mower fixed point to balance combined loads and forces.
Still yet another object of the invention is to provide the lawn care apparatus with gas and heat release at all times to prevent harm of sensitive materials.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a process for A COMBINATION BLOWER, EDGER AND TRIMMER AND METHOD FOR TENDING VEGETATION comprising: a motor assembly including the motor, a motor housing, a power control handle, one or more power switches and a throttle control trigger, the motor assembly generally held by a boom from a fixed point proximal end to the motor distal end, a tool assembly including a cutting tool facilitated by a cutting guard typically mounted tangential to a blower, the blower mounted to the boom at a tool distal end, the cutting tool generally made up of a string trimmer head having a secondary wheel without a hub facing the blower, the secondary wheel having 5 air vanes for odd numbered air frequencies, the tool assembly generally held in front of an operator 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 arrow orientating the oblong nozzle and tool attachments between 1 orthogonal isometry, a drive shaft contained within the motor assembly at the motor boom end translated 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 to translate 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 to rotate 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 9 air vanes for odd numbered air frequencies, the oblong nozzle operated between about a 2.5 inch blowing width and about a 1 inch width, the blower having 8 or more outer wall fasteners lining up to a plurality of blower attachment fasteners, the blower generally operated alongside lawn perimeter edging return routes, the cutting tool generally made up of string trimmer head having a detachable spool string line filaments 8.5 inches in radius, a handlebar mounted axial to the fixed point, the handlebar balanced at the fixed point, the handlebar orbits without collapsing, 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 boom 5 inches behind the fixed point, the handlebar having a side control handle mounted within a gearbox hub 5 inches in front of the fixed point, the side control handle operated without hand operating a clamp, the side control handle coupled to a beveled gear, the side control handle having means to reverse the axial rotation of the power control handle at the fixed point, the side control handle having means to reverse the throttle control trigger at the fixed point, the side control handle having means to maintain an index finger on the throttle control trigger and the like at all times, the side control handle having an incline grip for lawn trimming or normal blowing of vegetation, the incline grip having means to transpose onto itself, the incline and decline grips line up diagonal between the fixed point, the side control handle rotation vector congruent in relation to the tool assembly coordinate system, the incline grip on the boom line of symmetry in the narrow operating framework, the decline grip on the boom line of symmetry in the wide operating framework, the side control grip having an incline grip of 30 vertical degrees slanted away from the shaft and 15 degrees lateral towards the power control handle, the power control handle having one or more power cut off switches, the gearbox having longitudinal front and rear bores to align the booms, the gearbox hub having means to lock the side control handle and power control handle from rotation, the gearbox having one or more lateral beveled gears, the lateral beveled gears having about 32 teeth, the lateral beveled gears having one or more indents to mount the side control handle, the gearbox having a longitudinal beveled gear, the side control handle having means to crank one or more beveled gear mounted within the gearbox in a 1:1 ratio or the like, the longitudinal beveled gear having about 32 gear teeth or the like, the longitudinal beveled gear operatively connected within the gearbox to the lateral gear with 1 or more fasteners, the fasteners lock in a plurality of positions to adjust the height of the side control handle, the longitudinal beveled gear having means to crank the rotary motor housing in a reverse 1:1 ratio or the like with the side control handle, the longitudinal beveled gear having 2 opposite addendum spaces filled in to form a pair of cam locks, the cam locks having means to lock the handlebar in the wide and narrow operating framework operating without loosening a fastener, the cutting guard having about a 70 degree radian surface to protect an operator in the narrow operating framework with respect to the lawn edge aligning with either side of the cutting guard, the cutting guard having about a 70 degree wall with 10 degree flare outs of protect an operator in the wide operating framework with respect to the lawn surface aligning with the cutting guard wall, the flare outs used as edging guides, the cutting guard having a skid, a lawn care edging route starting near a base or delivery point with respect to the string trimmer head aligned,in a narrow operating framework within a right isosceles tetrahedron isometry framework, a lawn care trimming route coinciding with the lawn care edging route with respect to the string trimmer head aligned within the wide operating framework within the right isosceles tetrahedron isometry framework, a lawn care blower route coinciding with the lawn care edging return route with respect to the oblong nozzle aligned within the wide or narrow operating framework to the lawn surface within the right isosceles tetrahedron isometry framework, and the lawn care apparatus bound within a path of least resistance.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a process for A COMBINATION BLOWER, EDGER AND TRIMMER AND METHOD FOR TENDING VEGETATION comprising the steps of: a motor assembly including the motor, a motor housing, a power control handle, one or more power switches and a throttle control trigger, the motor assembly generally held by a boom from a fixed point proximal end to the motor distal end, a tool assembly including a cutting tool facilitated by a cutting guard typically mounted tangential to a blower, the blower mounted to the boom at a tool distal end, the cutting tool generally made up of a string trimmer head having a secondary wheel without a hub facing the blower, the secondary wheel having 5 air vanes for odd numbered air frequencies, the tool assembly generally held in front of an operator 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 arrow orientating the oblong nozzle and tool attachments between 1 orthogonal isometry, a drive shaft contained within the motor assembly at the motor boom end translated 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 to translate 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 to rotate 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 9 air vanes for odd numbered air frequencies, the oblong nozzle operated between about a 2.5 inch blowing width and about a 1 inch width, the blower having 8 or more outer wall fasteners lining up to a plurality of blower attachment fasteners, the blower generally operated alongside lawn perimeter edging return routes, the cutting tool generally made up of string trimmer head having a detachable spool string line filaments 8.5 inches in radius, a handlebar mounted axial to the fixed point, the handlebar balanced at the fixed point, the handlebar orbits without collapsing, 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 boom 5 inches behind the fixed point, the handlebar having a side control handle mounted within a gearbox hub 5 inches in front of the fixed point, the side control handle operated without hand operating a clamp, the side control handle coupled to a beveled gear, the side control handle having means to reverse the axial rotation of the power control handle at the fixed point, the side control handle having means to reverse the throttle control trigger at the fixed point, the side control handle having means to maintain an index finger on the throttle control trigger and the like at all times, the side control handle having an incline grip for lawn trimming or normal blowing of vegetation, the incline grip having means to transpose onto itself, the incline and decline grips line up diagonal between the fixed point, the side control handle rotation vector congruent in relation to the tool assembly coordinate system, the incline grip on the boom line of symmetry in the narrow operating framework, the decline grip on the boom line of symmetry in the wide operating framework, the side control grip having an incline grip of 30 vertical degrees slanted away from the shaft and 15 degrees lateral towards the power control handle, the power control handle having one or more power cut off switches, the gearbox having longitudinal front and rear bores to align the booms, the gearbox hub having means to lock the side control handle and power control handle from rotation, the gearbox having one or more lateral beveled gears, the lateral beveled gears having about 32 teeth, the lateral beveled gears having one or more indents to mount the side control handle, the gearbox having a longitudinal beveled gear, the side control handle having means to crank one or more beveled gear mounted within the gearbox in a 1:1 ratio or the like, the longitudinal beveled gear having about 32 gear teeth or the like, the longitudinal beveled gear operatively connected within the gearbox to the lateral gear with 1 or more fasteners, the fasteners lock in a plurality of positions to adjust the height of the side control handle, the longitudinal beveled gear having means to crank the rotary motor housing in a reverse 1:1 ratio or the like with the side control handle, the longitudinal beveled gear having 2 opposite addendum spaces filled in to form a pair of cam locks, the cam locks having means to lock the handlebar in the wide and narrow operating framework operating without loosening a fastener, the cutting guard having about a 70 degree radian surface to protect an operator in the narrow operating framework with respect to the lawn edge aligning with either side of the cutting guard, the cutting guard having about a 70 degree wall with 10 degree flare outs of protect an operator in the wide operating framework with respect to the lawn surface aligning with the cutting guard wall, the flare outs used as edging guides, the cutting guard having a skid, a lawn care edging route starting near a base or delivery point with respect to the string trimmer head aligned in a narrow operating framework within a right isosceles tetrahedron isometry framework, a lawn care trimming route coinciding with the lawn care edging route with respect to the string trimmer head aligned within the wide operating framework within the right isosceles tetrahedron isometry framework, a lawn care blower route coinciding with the lawn care edging return route with respect to the oblong nozzle aligned within the wide or narrow operating framework to the lawn surface within the right isosceles tetrahedron isometry framework, and the lawn care apparatus bound within a path of least resistance.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
a is an isometric view of a combination blower, trimmer and edger for tending vegetation illustrating the ( lawn care apparatus) with a line of symmetry on the power control handle in a wide operating framework for trimming inside interior lawns with a cutting guard.
b is an isometric view of the lawn care apparatus of
a is an isometric view of a combination blower, trimmer and edger for tending vegetation illustrating the lawn care apparatus of
b is an isometric view of the lawn care apparatus of
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary isometric of the lawn care apparatus of
a is a top view of the lawn care apparatus of
b is a side view of the lawn care apparatus of
c is a side view of the lawn care apparatus of
d is an exploded isometric view of the lawn care apparatus of
FIG. 5 is a top view of the lawn care apparatus of
a is an exploded isometric view of the lawn care apparatus of
b is a fragmentary isometric view of
c is a fragmentary enlarged side view of 7a illustrating the primary wheel connected to the boom free of the drive shaft with an open and closed airflow section to discharge air at all times.
d is an enlarged fragmentary side view of
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Referring to
Referring to
Still referring to
Still referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Still referring to
Still referring to
where the z=0 rotation matrix represents the tool assembly translation on a lawn route, x=45 is the lateral fold drop of a right isosceles tetrahedron and 2y is the lateral diagonal fold of a right isosceles tetrahedron and the (x, y, z) point of reference 452 is a vector representing the radius orientation of rotating string. The diagonal fold can transform onto the x axis by x=2y times to preserve a line of symmetry on the boom 12. Furthermore, an operator should expect to find the tangential tool assembly 400 orientated diagonal, that is, parallel to the boom 12 in odd numbered folds because the x and y coordinates share the same 45° degree odd numbered transpose. For example, the initial reference point (8.26, 2, 0) 452 was measured from the string trimmer head origin 170 to the string line filament end point 452 to rotate the vector reference point 452 congruently with the boom 12 rotation vector 219 onto one orthogonal isometry 454 from the following data:
Next, a 180° degree x-axis rotation and a 90 degree 3×3 y-z axis addition is rotated with the same reference point (8.26, 2, 0) 452 and transformed into a second orthogonal group rotation 456 from the following data:
Finally, a 720° degree x-axis rotation and a 360° degree 3×3 y-z axis addition is rotated with the same reference point (8.26, 2, 0) 452 and revolved onto itself after 8 group rotations from the following data:
A symmetrical pattern is shows the tool assembly orbits into 8 group rotations where 1 lateral group rotation provides a path of least resistance. Accordingly, second group rotations are more work and expose cutting tools to the operator as shown by the second group reference point (0, 2, −8.26) 452 with the shield guard flipped upside down directly opposite of a lawn surface and more energy is exerted to perform a series of orthogonal rotations. Hence, a single group rotation bound within right isosceles tetrahedron rigid bodies locks the handlebar 30 cams 203 into wide 183 and narrow 185 operating frameworks without the need of loosening clamps or screws and the equilibrium appears to lower potential risk of lawn care injury.
Still referring to
Referring to
Still referring to
Still referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Still Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
An efficient lawn care process that holds the lawn care apparatus in symmetry and in equilibrium between the wide 183 and narrow 185 operating frameworks should help improve the lawn care steps and more energy efficiency.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
