The Black and Decker Manufacturing Company

Edwin Joseph Weber

Ralph James Secoura

A portable power tool or appliance, such as a cordless grass shear, may be slidably received within a unitary stirrup. A flexible flap on the stirrup carries a detent button that is automatically snapped into a screw-hole on the clam-shell power tool housing, as the power tool is fully seated within the stirrup. The flap may be flexed manually to release the detent button, thereby facilitating quick disengagement between the power tool and the stirrup. The stirrup carries ground-engaging wheels to facilitate manual movement and guidance of the power tool during its stand-up operation. An extension handle in the form of a tubular wand is secured to the stirrup and extends upwardly therefrom. A top handle with a switch is provided on the end of the wand. An electrical cable is connected to the switch, extends downwardly therefrom within the wand, and exits from the stirrup above the power tool. The end of the cable carries a plug adapted to be received within a receptacle on the power tool. The receptacle has spaced contacts formed as a continuation of the contacts of the tool switch. This provides a parallel connection, bypassing the tool switch and, at relatively low cost, facilitating manual control by the switch on the top handle.

Attaching means for converting a conventional hand-held portable power

Cordless electric tools or the like comprising a power handle and a plurality of diverse tool heads detachably securable thereto. The power handle includes battery means therein and operator controlled switch means, whereas each of the diverse tool heads may include an electric motor and an output means. The tool heads and power handle include interengageable means constructed for quick mechanical and electrical interconnection therebetween facilitating quick connection and disconnection of the power handle from the various tool heads without requiring any special tools or implements. Electrical interconnection is made automatically upon mechanical interconnection. In addition, a battery charger for the battery means may include similar mechanical and electrical connection means operatively engageable with the power handle to afford ready and easy charging of the battery means between uses of the power handle.

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Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Edwin Joseph Weber