CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/940,020, filed November 25, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present disclosure relates to power tools, and more particularly to powered handheld cutting tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Powered handheld cutting tools, such as chainsaws or pruners, include a saw chain driven around a chain guide for cutting objects, such as trees and tree branches. Some powered handheld chainsaws or pruners include an electric motor for driving the chain link blade and a battery for powering the electric motor.

[0004] Saw chains are typically formed with linkages riveted to one another through a common drive link. Each drive link is engaged by a driven sprocket to drive the saw chain around the chain guide. Saw chains for chain guides with lengths up to 610 mm (approximately 24 inches) may be referred to as standard-type chains and may be identified by the number of drive links in the chain. For example, a saw chain for a 610 mm chain guide may have about 84 drive links.

[0005] Standard chains generally include cutting elements attached to every other linkage. The linkage between cutting elements is referred to as a tie strap or skip tooth. Different configurations of saw chains are often categorized based on their chain sequence of cutting elements and tie straps.

[0006] Some saw chains include cutting elements attached to each linkage. Saw chains with these types of saw chain sequences may be referred to as full house chains. A full house chain will have nearly twice as many cutting elements as a standard chain with the same number of drive links.

[0007] Other saw chains may include cutting elements attached to every other linkage and separated by at least one tie strap. These types of saw chains may be referred to as semi-skip chains or skip chains, depending on how many tie straps are included between cutting elements. Semi-skip and skip chains are typically used on chain guides from 610 mm to greater than 813 mm (approximately 32 inches).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The disclosure provides, in one aspect, a handheld cutting tool including a motor, a driven gear coupled to the motor for receiving torque therefrom and a sprocket coupled for co rotation with the driven gear and a housing. The housing includes a motor housing portion in which the motor is located, a drive housing portion in which the driven gear and sprocket are located, and a handle portion extending from one of the motor housing portion or the drive housing portion. The cutting tool further includes a handle guard extending between the handle portion and one of the drive housing portion or the motor housing portion, wherein an interior portion of the handle guard and the handle portion of the housing collectively define an opening through which a user’s hand is positionable for grasping the handle portion, and wherein an exterior portion of the handle guard opposite the interior portion includes a support face that defines a plane relative to the housing. The cutting tool even further includes a guide bar extending from the drive housing portion and a chain supported on the guide bar and engaged with the sprocket such that rotation of the sprocket moves the chain along the guide bar. The support face of the handle guard is configured to support the cutting tool on a horizontal support surface. And, the chain does not intersect the plane.

[0009] The disclosure provides, in another aspect, a handheld cutting tool including a motor, a driven gear coupled to the motor for receiving torque therefrom and a sprocket coupled for co rotation with the driven gear and a housing. The housing includes a motor housing portion in which the motor is located, a drive housing portion in which the driven gear and sprocket are located, and a handle portion extending from the motor housing portion. The cutting tool further includes a guide bar extending from the drive housing portion and a chain supported on the guide bar and engaged with the sprocket such that rotation of the sprocket moves the chain along the guide bar. The cutting tool even further includes a battery pack removably coupled to an end of the handle portion opposite the motor housing portion. The battery pack includes a foot portion defining a plane. A center of gravity of the cutting tool is located above the foot portion when the cutting tool is stood upright on the foot portion, thus permitting the cutting tool to balance only on the foot portion of the battery pack.

[0010] Other aspects and aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a side view of a powered handheld pruner in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, illustrating the pruner supported upon a surface in a horizontal orientation.

[0012] FIG. 2 is another side view of the powered handheld pruner of FIG. 1, illustrating the pruner supported upon a surface in a vertical or upright orientation, with a cover removed to show a cutter.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the powered handheld pruner of FIG. 1, with portions removed.

[0014] FIG. 4 is another side view of the powered handheld pruner of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary chain for the powered handheld pruner of FIG. 1.

[0016] Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of embodiment and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a powered handheld cutting tool, such as a pruner 20, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The pruner 20 includes a housing 24 defining a motor housing portion 28, a drive housing portion 32 and a handle housing portion 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor housing portion 28 and the drive housing portion 32 are oriented with respect to one another at an oblique angle. The handle housing portion 36 is transverse to the motor housing portion 28, such that the handle housing portion 36 and the driver housing portion 32 are oriented at an oblique angle to one another. In other embodiments, the handle housing portion 36 may extend from either the drive housing portion 32 or the motor housing portion 28.

[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the pruner 20 also includes a guide bar 40 that extends from the drive housing portion 32. The guide bar 40 supports a saw chain 44 that may be driven about the guide bar 40. Referring to FIG. 5, the saw chain 44 includes a plurality of linkages 44a and a plurality of cutting elements 44b (i.e., saw teeth) that may have any desired configuration, such as full chisel, semi-chisel, chipper, or the like. Adjacent linkages 44a in the plurality of linkages 44a are rotatably attached to one another by a drive link 44c. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one of the cutting elements 44b is supported on each linkage 44a, adjacent a drive link 44c, such that the number of linkages 44a, the number cutting elements 44b, and the number of drive links 44c are approximately equal, and the saw chain 44 is a full house saw chain. In another embodiment by way of example, each linkage 44a supports one or more cutting element 44b such that the number of cutting elements 44b is greater than or approximately equal to the number of linkages 44a and the number of drive links 44c. In yet another embodiment by way of example, at least 90% of the linkages 44a support one or more cutting element 44b. In other embodiments by way of example, at least one linkage 44a supports a plurality of cutting elements 44b.

[0019] By providing additional cutting teeth, the exemplary full house saw chain 44 can improve cutting efficiency for the pruner 20 and reduce vibration generated during the cutting operation for smoother operation, especially at lower speeds, when compared to a standard-type saw chain, semi-skip saw chain, etc. In other embodiments by way of example, the saw chain 44 is any of a standard-type saw chain, a semi-skip saw chain, skip saw chain, or the like, such that use of the pruner 20 is not limited to a single saw chain sequence or configuration. The pruner 20 may also include a chain brake, dampener, or the like (not shown) for resisting movement of the saw chain 44 about the guide bar 40. In some embodiments by way of example, the full house saw chain 44 may be utilized and operated at the lower speeds to alleviate or eliminate the need of a chain brake or the like. In other embodiments by way of example, the pruner 20 may include a chain brake or the like and the exemplary full house saw chain 44 or another sequence/configuration of saw chain.

[0020] The guide bar 40 is movable within the drive housing portion 32 to adjust the tension of the saw chain 44. In some embodiment, the guide bar 40 may be between about 127 mm (approximately 5 inches) and about 305 mm (approximately 12 inches) long. A bumper spike 45 is coupled to and extends from the drive housing portion 55 to engage a workpiece and increase stability by providing a pivot point during a cutting operation. As shown in FIG. 1, a safety or storage cover 46 is selectively and slidably attachable over the guide bar 40 to shield the saw chain 44 during non-operation of the pruner 20. The cover 46 may be oblique, transparent, translucent, flexible, rigid, or a combination thereof. The cover 46 may also be completely removed from the guide bar 40.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 3, the pruner 20 includes a drive mechanism 48 positioned, collectively, within the motor housing portion 24 and the drive housing portion 32 for providing torque to the saw chain 44, causing it to rotate about the guide bar 40. The drive mechanism 48 includes an electric motor 50, which may be, for example, a brushed or brushless DC motor, supported within the motor housing portion 28. The motor 50 includes an output shaft 51 to which a driving gear 52 (e.g., a pinion gear) is coupled for co-rotation. The drive mechanism 48 also includes a gear train 54, positioned within the drive housing portion 32, between the driving gear 52 and the saw chain 44. The gear train 54 includes a driven gear 56 (e.g., a ring gear), an intermediate shaft 58 supporting the driven gear 56 to which the driven gear 56 is coupled for co rotation, and a sprocket 60 coupled for co-rotation with the intermediate shaft 58. The saw chain 44 wraps around the sprocket 60 such that rotation of the sprocket 60 rotates the saw chain 44 about the guide bar 40. More particularly, the sprocket 60 meshes with the drive links 44c of the saw chain 44 to drive the cutting elements 44b about the guide bar 40. [0022] The pruner 20 further includes a trigger 128, upon which a user’s index finger is positioned, to selectively enable the drive mechanism 48. The trigger 128 is mechanically, electrically, or electro-mechanically connected to the motor 50 such that actuation of the trigger 128 by a user advances the saw chain 44 about the guide bar 40 in cutting operation.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the pruner 20 further includes a lubrication system 61 for supplying lubrication (e.g., bar and chain oil) to the drive mechanism 48, the saw chain 44, and/or the guide bar 40. The lubrication system 61 includes a sealable transparent lubricant reservoir 62 such that a level of lubricant within the reservoir 62 may be viewed from outside of the lubricant reservoir 62.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the handle housing portion 36 includes a battery receiving portion 64 disposed opposite the motor housing portion 28. The battery receiving portion 64 is configured to receive at least a portion of a rechargeable battery pack 68 that provides power to the motor 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery pack 68 includes a stem 72, a portion of which (not shown) is received in the battery receiving portion 64, and a foot 76 extending transversely from the stem 72.

[0025] The foot 76 defines a base plane 80 (FIG. 1) that is transverse to the handle housing portion 36. Due to the arrangement of the various portions 28, 32, 36 of the housing 24, the pruner 20 includes a center of gravity CG located above the foot 76 and proximate the intersection of the motor housing portion 28 and the drive housing portion 32. This location of the center of gravity CG permits the pruner 20 to balance only on the foot 76 if stood upright on a horizontal surface 84 (e.g., table, workbench, etc.). In other words, because the center of gravity CG of the pruner 20 is located within the surface area bounded by the foot 76 (partially represented by spaced planes PI, P2 in FIG. 1), the pruner 20 is able to be stood upright on a horizontal surface 84 without tipping over. Although not shown, the center of gravity CG of the pruner 20 is also located between spaced planes coinciding with the width (the dimension perpendicular to the page of FIG. 1) of the foot 76. It should be noted that, although the center of gravity CG is shown in generally the same place when the cover 46 is attached or removed, a weight of the cover 46 may change the center of gravity CG by a negligible or nominal amount. [0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 24 further includes a handle guard 88 that extends between the handle housing portion 36 and the drive housing portion 32. The handle housing portion 36 includes a grip that is grasped by a user while operating the pruner 20. The handle guard 88 includes an interior portion 96 and an exterior portion 100 (FIG. 1). The interior portion 96 faces toward the handle housing portion 36 to define an opening 104 through which a user’s hand may be positioned on the grip 92. The exterior portion 100 is arranged on the handle guard 88 opposite from the handle housing portion 36 and includes a support face 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the support face 108 defines a plane 116. The pruner 20 also includes a removable adjusting tool 112 (FIG. 2) supported on the handle guard 88 for adjusting the tension of the saw chain 44 on the guide bar 40.

[0027] The housing 24 even further includes a knuckle guard 120 that extends between the drive housing portion 32 and the motor housing portion 28 (FIG. 1). The knuckle guard 120 prevents a user’s hand from moving away from the pruner 20 while the user is grasping the motor housing portion 36. The knuckle guard 120 also provides protection for the user’s hand if wrapped around the motor housing portion 28 while the pruner 20 is in use. FIG. 4 illustrates the dimensions of an opening 124 defined between the knuckle guard 120 and the motor housing portion 28.

[0028] With reference to FIG. 1, the pruner 20 is arranged such that the saw chain 44 does not intersect the plane 116 defined by the support face 108. Such an arrangement allows the user to rest the pruner 20 on a level (i.e., horizontal) support surface by means of the support face 108 without contacting the horizontal support surface with the saw chain 44. In addition, the plane 116 does not intersect the foot 76 of the battery pack 68. As such, the foot 76 of the battery pack 68 also would not contact the horizontal support surface upon which the pruner 20, and the handle guard 88 in particular, is placed. In the illustrated embodiment, the plane 116 is generally parallel with the guide bar 40 to prevent the saw chain 44 from intersecting the plane 116. In other embodiments, a small acute angle may be defined between the plane 116 and a longitudinal axis of the guide bar 40 as long as the saw chain 44 does not intersect the plane 116.

[0029] With reference to FIG. 4, the length of the opening 124 is defined by dimension Dl, whereas the height of the opening is defined by dimension HI. In the illustrated embodiment, dimension D1 is at least about 100 mm and dimension HI is about 35 mm or higher. A point P3 on the motor housing portion 28 is below the knuckle guard 120 and about half-way between the motor housing portion 28 and the drive housing portion 32. A lowermost point P4 on the trigger 128 is distanced from the point P3. Dimension D2 defines a distance between the point P3 and the lowermost point P4. In the illustrated embodiment, dimension D2 is about 125 mm or higher.

[0030] Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.