Cutlery – Cutting tools – Plural cooperating blades
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-10
2001-01-30
Rachuba, M. (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Cutting tools
Plural cooperating blades
C030S277000, C030S276000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178642
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to hedge clippers.
Hedge clippers are usually provided with auxiliary handles which, for the safety of the operators are set into operation and can be held when both an on-switch on the main handle and also an additional switch activating button in the auxiliary handle remain pressed. When a switch actuation is released, the machine stops immediately. Therefore, it is not possible to operate the hedge clipper with only one hand which can lead to certain risks.
The European patent document EP-A-0 214 455 discloses a hedge clipper in which a C-shaped auxiliary handle is provided and has both legs as well as a web each supporting a control button. Thereby the buttons in all gripping positions of the hand which holds the auxiliary handle can be pressed simply and with good access. Each control button operates independently from the other buttons and acts on a single cable line which is prestressed and arranged in the interior of the hollow auxiliary handle. It can be deviated transversely to its longitudinal axis and because of the transverse deviation its ends tend to displace longitudinally. Since one of the ends of the cable line is fixedly connected in the interior of the auxiliary handle while the other end is arranged displaceably on an actuating element of the deadman switch, therefore during the transfer deviation of the cable line, regardless from which control button, the moveable cable line ends together with the actuating element are displaced and the deadman switch closes the operational current circuit for operation of the hedge clipper.
The known hedge clippers are composed of a plurality of different components, since the cable line is guided in the interior of the C-shaped auxiliary handle over its total length of the C-shape and over three control buttons supported on each C-leg independently from one another. As a result, the known hedge clippers have a relatively complicated construction and are relatively expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hedge clipper which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of present invention resides, briefly stated, in a hedge clipper in which the auxiliary handle has only one button element which is arranged relative to the auxiliary handle so that it is moveable radially outwardly in all directions, and the cable line is driven with it relative to the switch, wherein the cable line is coupled with the button element so as to be exclusively longitudinally deviatable.
When the hedge clipper is designed in accordance with the present invention, it has a small number of parts and a simple construction of the auxiliary handle and therefore can be produced simply in a cost-favorable manner, and also the switch actuation of the deadman switch is especially robust.
Moreover, the actuating force on the auxiliary handle for switch actuation is especially low in any gripping position, and the control button can be handled in each actuation direction so that it is easy accessible and convenient.
Since only one button element is supported on the auxiliary handle in each leg moveably, the auxiliary handle can be produced with great tolerances and low number of components.
The cable line is very short, and shorter than the length of the legs. Therefore, it can be arranged in the handle especially easy and mounted very simply.
The cable line, despite the transfer displacement, remains longitudinally actuatable. Therefore, it is subjected to smaller loads and lower material fatigue.
The cable line is arranged between the supporting points of the button element and guided over a stationary projection of the auxiliary handle between the supporting points. Thereby a transverse displacement of the cable line during the longitudinal actuation is possible in two directions.
The cable line is provided with loops at both ends. Thereby it is especially easy to mount it between the switch actuator and the button element.
A part of the button element which is opposite to the part carrying the end of the cable line forms a guiding incline, in particular a guiding curve for the cable line. Therefore the cable line is guided reliably by abutting against a large surface and also is supported in wear-free manner.
The cable line can be formed in a sine shape. In this construction it is especially easy to be tensioned, so that during the actuation of the button element a very direct response of the switch is obtained.
The cable line is rotatably supported on a suspension pin between the guiding incline of the button element and the mounting, and also is guided on a cam disc which supports the plunger. Therefore during loading of the cable line along its axis, its wear is especially low.
The button element is held in the tensioned position by a spring in the interior of the auxiliary handle. Therefore its operability and position-safety is guaranteed.
The button element is provided substantially at an end of its leg with a transverse web connected to it. Therefore it is especially form-stable and deformation-secure, so that during actuation it guarantees a very direct response of the switch.
The button element is provided with recesses at least on each end of the leg, with stationary cams of the auxiliary handle engaging in the recesses. Therefore the actuation path of the button element over a predetermined actuation stroke in all operational direction is determined or limited, and the button element is secured from falling out from the auxiliary handle.
The button element can be formed as a hollow body provided with many interior ribs. With this construction, it is especially light, bending-resistant and operation-friendly.
The button element can be provided with a centered support in the region of its centering dome located centrally on the upper leg, relative to the auxiliary handle over an elastic loop. In this construction, a very simple restoring mechanism is provided for the button element, so that the button element after the actuation is always returned to its initial position.
The elastic loop which operates as a string is pre-tensioned through a projecting finger of the button element, and a counter finger spaced from it and located opposite to it on the auxiliary handle is held. Therefore, this construction is especially mounting-friendly.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4683660 (1987-08-01), Schurr
patent: 4757881 (1988-07-01), Jonsson et al.
patent: 5150523 (1992-09-01), McCurry
patent: 5233750 (1993-08-01), Wolf et al.
patent: 5724737 (1998-03-01), Stones
patent: 5867910 (1999-02-01), Stegall et al.
patent: 0 214 455 A1 (1987-03-01), None
Flores-S{acute over (a)}nchez Omar
Rachuba M.
Scintilla AG
Striker Michael J.
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