The present invention relates to an adjustable power-cable boom for an electrical tool, particularly but not necessarily exclusively a lawnmower.

A trailing mains power cable is hazardous in many respects, not least in that the cable can become entangled with the tool or the user. The cable can also be easily damaged by the tool thus creating a serious electrical risk. By way of example, mains powered lawnmowers can often be inadvertently pushed across the cable, thus resulting in damage and even severing, thereby leaving an exposed live wire. Similar issues also frequently occur with other electrical tools, such as drills, saws, and hedge trimmers.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to the present invention, there is provided an adjustable power-cable boom for an electrical tool, the boom comprising at least one clamp element for releasably clamping the boom to a support, an arm member which is angularly adjustable at least partway along its longitudinal extent, and at least one attachment element at or adjacent to an end of the arm member for releasably attaching an electrical power cable to the arm member, the arm member being pivotably mountable to the clamp element via a releasable ball joint, and a ball of the ball joint being on one of the clamp element and the arm member, and the other of the clamp element and arm member including a clamp for releasably holding the ball pivotably captive.

Preferable and/or optional features of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 11, inclusive.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of an adjustable power- cable boom, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows the in use power-cable boom on an electric lawnmower, the power-cable boom utilizing a first one of a plurality of clamp elements;

Figure 3 shows the in use power-cable boom attached to a table and utilizing a second one of the clamp elements; and

Figure 4 shows the in use power-cable boom attached to a handle of an electric hedge trimmer via a third one of the clamp elements.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an adjustable power-cable boom 10 which comprises a plurality of clamp elements 12, an adjustable arm member 14, and a plurality of attachment elements 16 on the arm member 14 for holding an electrical power cable 18 thereto.

Each clamp element 12 includes two jaws 20, at least one of which is adjustable. The jaws 20 preferably include a high- friction lining 22 on an interior surface to promote gripping. For example, the lining 22 may be rubber.

A first one 24 of the clamp elements 12 includes two arcuate said jaws 26 and a screw- threaded controller 28 for controlling an angular movement of one of the jaws 20 relative to the other. In this way, the first clamp element 12 can be securely and releasably attached to a support, such as a bar, pole, spar, handle or grip 30, typically having a circular or substantially circular lateral cross-section. See Figure 2.

A second one 32 of the clamp elements 12 includes a U-shaped jaw 34, a flat circular or substantially circular plate jaw 36, and a screw-threaded controller 38 for moving the flat plate jaw 36 relative to the U-shaped jaw 34. The second clamp element 12 can thus be securely and releasably attached to and around an edge of a different support, such as a surface 40, for example, a table or bench. See Figure 3.

A third one 42 of the clamp elements 12 includes an elongate U-shaped jaw 44 and a substantially straight rectilinear jaw 46 having an elongate plate 48 which is movable relative to the U-shaped jaw 44 via a screw-threaded controller 50. The third clamp element 12 can thus be securely and releasably attached to another support, such as a flat handle 52, for example, of a portable hand-holdable electric tool, such as a hedge trimmer. See Figure 4.

The clamp elements 12 are releasably and interchangeably connectable to a proximal end of the arm member 14 via a ball joint 54. Each clamp element 12, in this embodiment, is fixedly provided with a ball 56 of the ball joint 54, and the arm member 14 includes a socket 58 incorporating a releasable clamp 60. In this case, a wing-nut 62 is conveniently used to release the clamp 60, thus opening the socket 58 for insertion of the ball 56. Following insertion, the clamp 60 is closed to trap the ball 56 for pivotable movement therein.

The arm member 14 has a longitudinal extent which is angularly adjustable. In this case, the arm member 14 has a first rigid non-extendable elongate arm part 64, and a second telescopic elongate arm part 66. The two arm parts 64, 66 are hingably interconnected at theirs ends, so that the arm member 14 is articulated. The hinge 68 hinges in one plane. However, the ball joint 54 enables rotation around a longitudinal axis of the first arm part 64, and also angular movement within a plane of the longitudinal extent.

Although the angular adjustment of the arm member 14 in this embodiment is provided by a hinge 68 and the ball joint 54, it is feasible that the arm member 14 could be flexible. In this latter case, flex may be along its entire or substantially entire longitudinal extent, or only along part thereof.

The second telescopic arm part 66 preferably includes two telescopically extendable inner arm elements 70 which are coaxially slidably receivable within an outer arm element 72. Stops are provided at their inner proximal ends to prevent complete extraction. The second telescopic arm part 66 is straight or rectilinear, but it may be curved or arcuate depending on necessity.

Each inner arm element 70 includes at least one said attachment element 16 for releasably holding a portion of an electrical power cable 18 thereto. The attachment element 16 comprises two or more spaced counter-oriented clips 74. A power cable 18 is thus fed into the clips 74 in a serpentine manner and pressed home.

In use, and as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the clamp element 12 is selected based on the portable hand-holdable electrical tool that it is to be used with. The clamp element 12 is then attached to the arm member 14 via the ball joint 54 and releasably fastened directly to the tool or adjacent surface by the jaws 20. The power cable 18 of the electrical tool is clipped to the attachment elements 16. The arm member 14 is then adjusted to suit the user, by angling the arm member 14 on the ball joint 54, adjusting the hinge positioning between the two arm parts 64, 66, and/or by telescopically extending or retracting the inner arm elements 70.

Although two inner arm elements are suggested, one or more than two inner arm elements can be provided.

The arm member may have more than one telescopic part, or the telescopic part may be dispensed with.

More than one hinge may be provided along the longitudinal extent of the arm member, dependent on necessity.

The arm member may include a third arm part which extends from one of the other two arm parts. In this case, for example, the second and third arm parts may extend from the first arm part, and this would be useful in guiding a power cable in a direction away from the tool and user.

The ball joint, hinge and telescopic inner arm elements have suitable resistance to prevent or limit accidental or undesired movement.

Although a plurality of clamp elements are suggested above, only a single clamp element may be provided. In this case, the clamp element may not need to be detachable from the arm member. It is thus possible to provide a simple and cost-effective adjustable power-cable boom for an electrical tool. It is further possible to increase safety when using a hand-holdable electrical tool, such as a lawnmower, hedge trimmer, drill or shears, by use of the boom to direct and hold the power cable out of harm's way without the need of user interaction. The boom can be beneficially attached to a handle or grip, scaffold, table or bench, or even a partition dividing wall, such as in a stables or barn when, for example, using shears.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.