Patent Application
20240066729
The present subject matter is directed generally to tools. Particular aspects of the present disclosure are directed to tools with shear assemblies, such as cutters and loppers.
Tools, such as shears or loppers, are configured to cut members, such as branches, hedges, bushes, etc. Such members may be of various thicknesses, densities, or strengths, which may correspondingly require different amounts of force and repetitive motion to be exerted by the user. Furthermore, a user may require repetitive motion of a cutting member at a tool to cut multiple members.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a tool that can repetitively apply forces for cutting members. Still further aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a tool that can repeatedly apply forces for cutting members and rapidly re-position the tool for repetitively cutting members.
An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a tool. The exemplary tool defines a mutually orthogonal longitudinal direction, transverse direction, and lateral direction. The exemplary tool includes a handle extending along the longitudinal direction. A head is configured to receive a motive force to selectively engage and disengage the tool head. A first gear is operably coupled to the tool head. A compound gear is selectively coupled to the first gear. A shaft extends through the compound gear. The compound gear is affixed to the shaft. An actuating member is coupled to the shaft. Movement of the actuating member along the longitudinal direction selectively engages or disengages the compound gear and the first gear.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to an assembly. The exemplary assembly defines a mutually orthogonal longitudinal direction, transverse direction, and lateral direction. The exemplary assembly includes a tool head configured to receive a motive force to selectively engage and disengage the tool head. A first gear is operably coupled to the tool head. A compound gear is selectively coupled to the first gear. A plurality of gears is configured to transmit energy through the compound gear and the first gear to articulate the tool head. A shaft extends through the compound gear. The compound gear is affixed to the shaft. A handle extends along the longitudinal direction. The handle includes a handle grip configured to selectively articulate along the longitudinal direction. An actuating member is coupled to the shaft through a linkage and coupled to the handle grip. The handle grip is operably coupled to the linkage through the actuating member to form a first position at which the compound gear is operably meshed with the first gear. The handle grip is configured to articulate along the longitudinal direction to form a second position in which the actuating member translates the shaft and compound gear out of engagement with the first gear.
These and other exemplary features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain exemplary principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, the terms “first”, “second”, and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components.
Embodiments of a tool are provided herein that may advantageously control tool head engagement and disengagement. Various embodiments provided herein may allow a user to selectively engage and disengage a tool head without requiring electronic control mechanisms. Manual selective engagement and disengagement may mitigate risks associated with electronic control mechanisms, reduce complexity and weight, and avoid operability issues associated with control mechanism malfunction. Embodiments of the tool provided herein may form a cutting tool, shear, lopper, pruner, or grip. The tool may include an extended handle or boom allowing a user to place the tool head at greater distances from the user. The tool includes a mechanical release mechanism that allows the user to disengage the tool head, such as blades or shears, after performing a cut or shear. The mechanical release mechanism may allow the user to disengage the tool head by applying a force at the handle, such as by pulling a grip section at the handle. The handle or grip section is operably coupled to a cable, wire, or other actuating member coupled to a linkage operably coupled to the tool head. The linkage acts on a shaft or fastener that applies a force, such as to pull a plurality of gears out of engagement. A spring may push the gears into engagement, such as when the user relaxes or releases force applied at the handle. Embodiments of the tool may allow for any gas, electric, or other power unit to operably couple to selectively actuate the tool head and allow the user to manually disengage or reset the tool head to perform further cutting or shearing motions.
Referring to
A pivot member 112 extends at least partially through the tool member 110, 120 to provide a pivoting relationship between the first tool member 110 and the second tool member 120. Second tool member 120 may be fixedly attached to a gear housing 130. For example, a fastener 132 may extend at least partially through second tool member 120 and housing 130 to affix second tool member 120 to housing 130. In some embodiments, fastener 132 extends along the transverse direction 104 at least partially through second tool member 120 and housing 130.
As further described herein, force and movement along longitudinal direction 103 from a user allows for engagement and disengagement of the tool member 110, 120 to and from one another. In various embodiments, a connection member 114 coupled to first member 110 translates along longitudinal direction 103 and allows for first member 110 to rotate at pivot member 112 toward second member 120. In some embodiments, a fastener 116 extends along transverse direction 104 to couple together the first member 110 and connection member 114.
Referring particularly to internal views provided in
In some embodiments, a shaft 136 extends along the transverse direction 104 through first gear 134 to allow rotation along an axis formed at shaft 136. Accordingly, first gear 134 may rotate along a circumferential direction 107 relative to shaft 136.
Referring still to
A third gear 148 is selectively positioned in a gear meshing arrangement with a fourth gear 140. In various embodiments, second gear 144 and third gear 148 together form a unitary component or an integral assembly of separate components. In some embodiments, second gear 144 and third gear 148 together form a compound gear 150. The compound gear 150, including the second gear 144 and third gear 148, is rotatable relative to an axis formed by shaft 146. In some embodiments, third gear 148 forms a radius greater than the second gear 144. In some embodiments, first gear 134 forms an output gear configured to receive energy from operable coupling with the compound gear at the second gear 144. As such, energy received at third gear 148 induces rotation of second gear 144 along circumferential direction 108. Mechanical interfacing of second gear 144 and first gear 134 transfers motive energy to induce rotation of first gear 134 along circumferential direction 107. Rotation of first gear 134 translates connection member 114 along the longitudinal direction 103. Linkage of connection member 114 to first tool member 110 at fastener 116 allows for rotation of first tool member 110 at pivot member 112. Rotation of first tool member 110 toward second tool member 120 allows for cutting, shearing, lopping, or other interaction between the tool member 110, 120, such as depicted with regard to member 106.
In some embodiments, fourth gear 140 and third gear 148 together form a worm drive gear arrangement. In some embodiments, fourth gear 140 forms a worm screw configured to mesh with the third gear 148 forming a worm gear or other appropriate input gear for receiving energy from the fourth gear 140. A shaft 156 extends along the longitudinal direction 103. Fourth gear 140 extends in helical arrangement along the longitudinal direction 103 around the shaft 156. In various embodiments, inserts, washers, bushings, or spacers 142 are positioned at shaft 156, such as to desirably position fourth gear 140 at shaft 156 relative to third gear 148.
In an exemplary embodiment, tool 100 includes the first gear 134 and the second gear 144 in a gear mesh arrangement at which gear teeth from the respective gears interface along the longitudinal direction 103. Second gear 144 and third gear 148 are positioned in adjacent arrangement along the transverse direction 104. Accordingly, third gear 148 is offset along the transverse direction 104 from first gear 134. Fourth gear 140 and third gear 148 are in a gear mesh arrangement and are positioned adjacent to one another along the lateral direction 105.
Referring now to
Referring back to
In an exemplary embodiment of operation of the tool 100, a user may pull actuating member 170 to generate a force along longitudinal direction 103 toward the second end 102. Actuating member 170 may form a wire, a sheathed or sleeved wire, a flexible member, a sheathed or sleeved cable, or other appropriate member configured to transmit force and pull the linkage 160 at the second end 166 (e.g., such member may connect at second linkage 166). Linkage 160 translates the force received along the longitudinal direction 103 to force along the transverse direction 104. Referring to
Referring now to
Referring still to
Referring to
In certain embodiments, tool 100 may include a battery, capacitor, gas power unit, or other gas or electric power unit operably coupled to second gear assembly 220. The power unit may be positioned at or toward the second end 102, such as proximate to a user holding the handle 180.
Housing 130 may form recesses, grooves, or other interfaces configured to retain shaft 136, 146, 156 within housing 130. In certain embodiments, housing 130 may form separable halves that may couple together to retain shaft 136, 146, 156, 216, 226, first gear 134, second gear 144, third gear 148, fourth gear 140, and/or first gear assembly 210. Shaft 136, 146, 156, 216, 226 may include a mechanical fastener, such as, but not limited to, a bolt, a tie rod, a screw, or a shank of a mechanical fastener, or pin, rod, or other appropriate member at which an axis of rotation may be formed. In various embodiments, housing 130 may furthermore contain shaft 216, 226 and at least a portion of second gear assembly 220. In various embodiments, housing 130 is separable along the longitudinal direction 103. One or more fastener interfaces 128 may extend from two or more portions or halves of the housing 130 to allow for selective assembly and disassembly of housing 130. For instance, fastener interface 128 may allow a fastener to extend along the transverse direction 104 to bind two or more portions of housing 130 together.
Various embodiments of the tool 100 may form an extended handle 180 and tool head, such as a shear tool or lopper, at tool member 110, 120. Some embodiments of tool 100 include a release mechanism formed at shaft 146, spring 152, and compound gear 150, allowing a user to open or disengage the tool member 110, 120 from one another after completing a cut by pulling on handle 180 (e.g., toward second end 102). An actuating member 170 is operably coupled to handle 180 or other user hand interface. Actuating member 170 may form a sleeved cable or wire allowing a user to pull linkage 160. Linkage 160 may form a lever that acts on shaft 146 extending along the transverse direction 104 through gears 144, 148. Pulling actuating member 170 articulates linkage 160, such as to pivot at connection interface 162 and articulate shaft 146 along the transverse direction 104. Gears 144, 148 affixed to shaft 146 are accordingly translated along transverse direction 104, such as to selectively disengage gears 144, 148 from first gear 134. Spring 152 is biased to push gears 144, 148 back into engagement with first gear 134, such as when the user relaxes the grip section at handle 180. Embodiments of tool 100 may include mechanical or electrical power units configured to provide power through gear assemblies 210, 220 to articulate gears 134, 144. Embodiments provided herein may particularly allow for any desired power unit to articulate tool member 110, 120 by allowing the user to selectively manually control engagement of tool member 110, 120 to one another in contrast to electronic control systems.
Referring now to
Handle 180 may include a handle grip 182. In some embodiments, handle grip 182 is configured to move or articulate substantially along longitudinal direction 103. For instance, a user may pull handle grip 182 along longitudinal direction 103 toward power unit 200. Handle grip 182 is mechanically coupled to actuating member 170, such as a sleeved cable or wire. As provided herein, actuating member 170 is attached to linkage 160 such that movement of handle grip 182 along longitudinal direction 103 causes actuating member 170 to articulate linkage 160. Pulling actuating member 170 toward power unit 200 articulates linkage 160, such as to pivot at connection interface 162 and articulate shaft 146 along the transverse direction 104. Gears 144, 148 affixed to shaft 146 are accordingly translated along transverse direction 104, such as to selectively disengage gears 144, 148, or compound gear 150 generally, from first gear 134. Spring 152 is biased to push gears 144, 148 back into engagement with first gear 134, such as when the user relaxes the handle grip 182 at handle 180.
In some embodiments, handle grip 182 at handle 180 is operably coupled to linkage 160 through actuating member 170 to form a first position at which second gear 144 is operably meshed with first gear 134. Operation of power unit 200 may transmit energy through gear assemblies 210, 220 and through gears 140, 150, 134 to articulate a tool head 115, such as to engage or close members 110, 120 to one another as described herein. A user may pull or otherwise articulate handle grip 182 along the longitudinal direction 103 to form a second position at which compound gear 150 is disengaged from first gear 134 such as described herein. In some embodiments, articulation of handle grip 182 along the longitudinal direction 103 allows for translation of second gear 144 to disengage from first gear 134. Disengagement of the compound gear 150 from the first gear 134 and tool head 115 may allow for re-positioning of the tool head 115 to an open position, such as to disengage or open members 110, 120 from one another as described herein.
It should be appreciated that embodiments of tool 100 provided herein may form the tool head 115 including members 110, 120 as shearing, cutting, lopper, or other appropriate cutting tool members. In some embodiments, members 110, 120 may form gripping tool or other compound gripping motion (e.g., pliers) interfaces. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, first tool member 110 and second tool member 120 may be referred to as first attachment member 110 and second attachment member 120, or first gripping member 110 and second gripping member 120, or first cutting member 110 and second cutting member 120.
Referring now to
In various embodiments, method 1000 includes at 1010 transmitting power through a gear assembly (e.g., compound gear 150, gear 134) to drive a tool head (e.g., tool member 110, 120) to a closed position. Driving the tool head to the closed position may include articulating tool members to shear, lop, cut, clamp, or exert other forces onto a member positioned between the tool members (e.g., tool member 110, 120). In some embodiments, transmitting power includes transmitting power from a battery, capacitor, or gas or electric motor, or other electric or gas power source or motor. Transmitting power may include a user action, such as pushing a button, flipping a switch, or interfacing with another control surface. In still various embodiments, transmitting power may include a hand-operated user interface, such as a manually driven actuator, pulley, or other appropriate mechanical interface.
Method 1000 may include at 1020 applying a pulling force at a handle (e.g., handle 180) to disengage the gear assembly from transmitting power to the tool head. For instance, referring to
In some embodiments, method 1000 includes at 1030 discontinuing the pulling force at the handle to allow the gear assembly to engage in gear mesh arrangement to transmit power to the tool head.
In some embodiments, method 1000 at 1022 pulling the gear assembly from a gear meshing arrangement. For instance, referring to
In still some embodiments, disengaging the gear assembly from gear meshing arrangement allows the tool head to articulate to an open position. In still various embodiments, method 1000 may include at 1024 ratcheting or springing the tool head into an open position after disengaging the gear assembly from the gear mesh. For instance, referring to
Further aspects of the invention are provided by one or more of the following clauses:
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
The present disclosure claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/401,229, filed Aug. 26, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63401229 | Aug 2022 | US |
