MULTI-DIRECTIONAL BLADE GUARD

Abstract

A robotic garden tool including a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, one or more wheels rotatably coupled to the body, and a cutting assembly coupled to the body. The robotic garden tool also includes a first grass comb positioned between the cutting assembly and the first end, and a second grass comb positioned between the cutting assembly and the second end.

Description

Claims

1) A robotic garden tool comprising: a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;one or more wheels rotatably coupled to the body;a cutting assembly coupled to the body;a first grass comb positioned between the cutting assembly and the first end; anda second grass comb positioned between the cutting assembly and the second end.

2) The robotic garden tool of claim 1, further comprising a first bumper movably coupled to the body proximate the first end, and wherein the first bumper includes a first bumper comb.

3) The robotic garden tool of claim 2, further comprising a second bumper movably coupled to the body proximate the second end, and wherein the second bumper includes a second bumper comb.

4) The robotic garden tool of claim 1, wherein the cutting assembly includes a blade guard defining a guard axis, a motor fixedly coupled to the blade guard, and a cutting blade rotatable with respect to the blade guard about the guard axis.

5) The robotic garden tool of claim 4, wherein the body defines a longitudinal axis passing through the first end and the second end, and wherein the blade guard includes a plurality of ribs, and wherein each rib is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis.

6) The robotic garden tool of claim 4, wherein the blade guard includes a base plate and one or more ribs, wherein at least a portion of at least one rib is spaced a distance from the base plate to define a volume therebetween, and wherein at least a portion of the cutting blade is positioned within the volume when rotating with respect to the blade guard about the guard axis.

7) The robotic garden tool of claim 4, wherein the body defines a longitudinal axis passing through the first end and the second end, wherein at least one of the first grass comb and the second grass comb define a comb width measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the comb width is greater than the blade diameter.

8) The robotic garden tool of claim 1, wherein the body defines a longitudinal axis passing through the first end and the second end, wherein at least one of the first grass comb and the second grass comb include a plurality of teeth forming gaps therebetween, and where at least one gap is shaped so that a datum axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis can pass through a given gap without engaging either of the teeth adjacent the gap.

9) The robotic garden tool of claim 1, wherein the body defines a longitudinal axis passing through the first end and the second end, wherein at least one of the first grass comb and the second grass comb include a plurality of teeth forming gaps therebetween, and wherein each gap is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

10) The robotic garden tool of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first grass comb and the second grass comb is movably coupled to the body.

11) The robotic garden tool of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first grass comb and the second grass comb is fixedly coupled to the body.

12) A robotic garden tool comprising: a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the body defines a longitudinal axis passing through both the first end and the second end; anda cutting assembly coupled to the body, wherein the cutting assembly includes: a blade guard defining an axis of rotation, the blade guard including a base plate and one or more ribs, wherein at least a portion of at least one rib is spaced from the base plate to define a volume therebetween,a cutting blade rotatable with respect to the blade guard about the axis of rotation, and wherein the at least a portion of the cutting blade is positioned within the volume.

13) The robotic garden tool of claim 12, one or more grass combs coupled to the body between the cutting assembly and one of the first end and the second end.

14) The robotic garden tool of claim 12, wherein the cutting assembly further comprises a motor fixedly coupled to the blade guard and configured to rotate the cutting blade with respect to the blade guard about the axis of rotation.

15) The robotic garden tool of claim 12, wherein the blade guard defines a longitudinal blade guard axis, and wherein the one or more ribs are parallel to the blade guard axis.

16) The robotic garden tool of claim 15, wherein the longitudinal blade guard axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body when the blade guard is in a rest position.

17) The robotic garden tool of claim 12, wherein the blade guard includes one or more side guards, and wherein the side guards form the one or more ribs.

18) The robotic garden tool of claim 17, wherein the side guards are removably coupled to the base plate.

19) The robotic garden tool of claim 17, wherein each side guard includes a first portion extending perpendicular to the base plate and a second portion extending perpendicular to the first portion, and wherein the second portion forms the one or more ribs.

20) The robotic garden tool of claim 12, wherein the blade guard includes a lateral axis oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, and wherein the blade guard is symmetric about the lateral axis.