Black Decker Inc.

Kevin Stones

David Thomas Barker

David Jarman

James Douglas Marshall

Michael Andrew Milligan

Martyn Riley

Gabriel E Concari

Christopher J Murray

Oleksiy P Sergyeyenko

Steven J Phillips

Andrew Walker

Jason Carl McRoberts

Daniel Bone

Christopher Wade Shook

Wong Kun Ng

Derek Muir

Marco Alessandro Mattucci

Fugen Qin

David N Johnson

Neil Walmsley

Philip Stephen Million

Jonathan Armstrong

Jonathan Priestley

Chris Murray

Shaun Lovelass

David Miller

Marco A Mattucci

Malcolm J Wootton

Steven Hill

Jason Mcroberts

Wong Kung Ng

David Barker

A hand-held power tool is configured to receive an input indicative of a clutch setting for an electronic clutch from the tool operator, where the clutch setting is selectable from a drill mode, an automated drive mode and one or more user-defined drive modes. Each of the user-defined drive modes specifies a different value of torque at which to interrupt transmission of torque to the output spindle. In an automated drive mode, the controller interrupt torque to the output spindle in an automated manner when a fastener being driven reaches a desired stopping position. In a selected one of the user-defined drive modes, the controller sets a value of a maximum current threshold in accordance with the selected one of the user-defined drive modes and interrupts torque to the output spindle when current measures exceeding the maximum current threshold.

Power tool having multiple operating modes

A vegetation cutting device having a housing and a motor mounted in the housing to drive a drive gear. A rotatable eccentric cam mounted on the drive gear. A reciprocating blade assembly having a first blade and a second blade, wherein the first blade is coupled to the rotatable eccentric cam and is arranged to reciprocally move when driven by the rotatable eccentric cam. A cam adjustment mechanism for varying the eccentricity of the rotatable eccentric cam with respect to the drive gear to thereby vary the distance through which the first blade moves.

Vegetation cutting device

A vegetation pruning device includes a pair of pivotably coupled handles and a motor having a rotary output drive for driving an endless flexible cutting chain. A guard is moved relative to the chain by pivoting of the handles relative to each other to grip vegetation between the guard and the chain. The motor is actuated by pressing each of a pair of elongate triggers at any position along the length of the triggers.

Vegetation pruning device

The present invention relates to a blower vacuum device and in particular to a blower vacuum device for use in the collection of garden debris. The device is preferably one which is operable in a blowing mode to generate an air stream for blowing the debris into piles and also operable in a vacuum mode to suck debris into the device.

Blower vacuum device

A handle assembly for a power tool is disclosed, in which the power tool has a housing, a motor provided in the housing, an output shaft adapted to be caused by the motor to execute reciprocating motion, and a blade assembly () extending from the housing along a first axis (A-A). The handle assembly () comprises a front handle (), a rear handle () integral with the front handle () and a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to the housing of the tool, wherein the rear handle () is displaced from the plane (A-A) of the blade assembly () in use. As a result of this, the knuckles of the hand of the user that is gripping rear handle () are raised away from the surface of the object being cut. This provides the advantage that the user's knuckles avoid any grazing or cutting resulting from contact with the object, or with the ground when carrying out low cutting.

Handle assembly for power tool

A handle assembly for a power tool is disclosed, in which the power tool has a housing, a motor provided in the housing, and an output shaft adapted to be caused by said motor to actuate a working member extending from the housing along a first axis (A-A). The handle assembly () comprises a front handle (), a rear handle () integral with the front handle, and a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to the housing of the tool, wherein the front handle () forms an obtuse angle with the axis (A-A) of the working member in use. This last feature makes the power tool more comfortable for a user to operate, provided that the centre of mass of the power tool lies in the region between the front handle () and the rear handle (). This will usually be the case, since the heaviest parts of the tool are generally the working member and the motor housing thereof. Thus the user does not have to stretch his forward arm as far relative to the rear handle () as he would have to do when using the handle assembly of a conventional power tool of this type.

A vegetation trimmer () having a motor () with a motor output shaft (), a cutting head () for cutting vegetation, and a gear mechanism () for transmitting power from said motor output shaft () to the cutting head (). The motor output shaft () has a gear mechanism with a pinion wheel and a fan () mounted thereon. The gear mechanism () further comprises an internal gear wheel () engaging with the pinion wheel () and connected to the cutting head (), whereby the cutting head () rotates in the same direction (B) as the fan does (D) during operation of the motor ().

Vegetation trimmer having a blowing function

A vegetation pruning device () includes a pair () of pivotally coupled arms. A motor bracket () with a rotary output drive () provides drive to a cutting element () which is coupled to the rotary output drive (). The cutting element () is arranged for cutting vegetation () presented thereto.

A vegetation pruning device () includes a pair () of pivotably coupled handles and a motor having a rotary output drive () for driving an endless flexible cutting chain (). A guard () is moved relative to the chain () by pivoting the handles () relative to each other to grip vegetation between the guard () and the chain (). The guard is provided with a pair of curved upper surfaces () having teeth (). The rotary output drive () of the motor is arranged generally coaxially with the axis of pivotal movement of the handles ().

An actuation mechanism for actuating a power tool that includes a cable assembly comprising at least one outer sheath () arranged coaxially around an inner cable (), wherein the inner cable () slides relative to the outer sheath (). The actuation mechanism also comprises an electrical contact () connected to the cable assembly and a plurality of switch members () connected to the cable assembly. The coaxial cable assembly provides the advantage that a power tool with a two handed dual-switching mechanism can be actuated without the need for two independent electrical contacts wired in series, thereby reducing the amount of electrical wiring and components needed. Additionally, an electrical contact is provided with a connecting structure connected to the handle assembly and to the housing and adapted to enable actuation of the tool in a plurality of orientations of the handle assembly relative to the housing.

Actuation mechanism for a power tool

A safety mechanism for a hedge trimmer is disclosed. Thumb catches, together with corresponding locking members are initially biased downwardly relative to corresponding actuator levers, as a result of which actuation of a motor of the hedge trimmer is prevented. This prevents inadvertent one-handed actuation of the hedge trimmer. In order to actuate the hedge trimmer, the user holds one of the actuator leversthe corresponding thumb catchorupwardly, which causes movement of the other thumb catch towards its release position to allow pivotable movement of the actuator leversrelative to a handle of the hedge trimmer. Movement of one of the actuator leversrelative to the handle brings the leverinto engagement with the electrical switch assemblyto actuate the motor of the hedge trimmer. When the actuator leversare released, torsion springs urge the actuator leversand locking members outwardly relative to the handle housing, as a result of which the locking members are urged into a locking position to prevent further actuation of actuator leversuntil the thumb catcheshave again been slid out of their locking position.

Safety mechanism for power tool and power tool incorporating such mechanism

A latch mechanism for a power tool, such as a hedge trimmer, having a housing accommodating a motor and a handle assembly adapted to pivot relative to the housing in a plurality of positions. The latch mechanism includes a lever carrying a first and second retaining member that moves into and out of engagement with the handle assembly for locking and unlocking the handle assembly relative to the housing. The retaining members are biased towards their engaging conditions by a spring. An interlock member on lever cooperates with an arm member to prevent disengagement of the first and second retaining members from the handle assembly when the motor is actuated, and for preventing actuation of the motor when the first or second retaining member is in a retracted condition.

Latch mechanism for pivoting handle assembly of a power tool

A latch mechanism for a power tool is disclosed, in which the power tool has a housing (), a motor provided in the housing, an output shaft adapted to be caused by said motor to actuate a working member, and a handle assembly () adapted to pivot relative to the housing between a plurality of positions. The latch mechanism comprises first detent means having at least one first detent member () adapted to move outwardly from the housing () to engage said handle assembly () to releasably retain the handle in at least one first said position; second detent means having at least one second detent member () adapted to pivot relative to the housing () to engage said handle assembly () to releasably retain the handle assembly in at least one second said position; and biasing means () for urging at least one said first detent member () and at least one said second detent member () towards said handle assembly; wherein said first detent means is connected to said second detent means such that movement relative to the housing of at least one said first or second detent member not engaging the handle assembly releases said handle assembly from the corresponding said first or second detent means.

A drive mechanism for a power tool having a housing, a motor, and an output shaft moving in a reciprocating motion. The drive mechanism comprises a gear plate () adapted to rotate about a first axis (Z-Z) and having a plurality of elongate first teeth () extending perpendicular to the first axis; and a drive conversion mechanism cooperating with the gear plate () to cause reciprocating movement of the output shaft in response to rotation of the gear plate about the first axis. Conventional drive mechanisms having an output shaft with a reciprocating motion generally have bevel gears with teeth formed at 45&#xb0; to the axis of rotation of the gears. By providing a gear plate and a drive conversion mechanism which provides a reciprocating drive force for an output shaft with teeth formed at 90&#xb0; to the axis of rotation of the gear, the gear is cheaper and easier to make as the gear teeth do not have to be formed as accurately as prior art inclined gear teeth. Also, the gear plate does not need to be as accurately located relative to the gear driving it, since some longitudinal movement in the direction of the mutually engaging teeth is possible without the gears ceasing to function correctly.

Drive mechanism for power tool

There is disclosed a power tool comprising a housing (), a motor provided in the housing and having a rotary output shaft, a reciprocating output shaft adapted to be caused by the motor to execute reciprocating motion to actuate a blade assembly, and a handle assembly () comprising a front handle () and a rear handle () integral with the front handle. The handle assembly () is pivotably mounted to the housing of the power tool and is adapted to be fixed in a plurality of orientations relative to the housing. By providing a handle assembly with integrally formed front and rear handles that is pivotable relative to the body of the power tool, this provides the advantage of avoiding the need for a user to hold the tool upside down when using the blade assembly to perform high-up horizontal cutting, instead of holding the tool above the user's head. The present invention also provides the advantage of reducing the extent to which a user must bend down when using the blade assembly to perform low-down horizontal cutting. The power tool may also comprise fixing member adapted to releasably retain the handle assembly () in a plurality of orientations relative to the housing ().

Growing community of inventors

Bishop Auckland, United Kingdom

Kevin Stones