The present invention finds particular application as a hollow extension handle having the cutting or shearing handpiece fitted to one end and the feed to the motor for driving the handpiece connected to the other end and received internally within the extension handle.

Although the present invention will be described with particular reference to one form of the extension handle for use with an air-driven shearing or cutting device, it is to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment, but rather the present invention is more extensive in scope so as to include other arrangements and forms of the extension handle and their use in other applications and with other tools and implements for different purposes.

One application in which cutting handpieces are used is to remove dirt, debris, dags, faecal material, residual food, mud and other foreign material adhered to the outer skin, hide or covering of an animal. This can be done at any time to improve the health or condition of the animal, such as for example during hot weather, or before slaughter of the animal to enable the animal to gain weight or on other occasions. One preferred time of cleaning the animal is immediately prior to slaughter of the animal in an abattoir and the like, such as for example cleaning the hides of cattle to remove material which could possibly contaminate the meat obtained from the animal during subsequent processing of the meat in the abattoir or similar. In this application, shearing devices, such as for example rotary shearing handpieces, are used to remove the foreign matter before or during slaughter of the animal and particularly before the animal is cut to remove the hide or skin. Owing to increasingly more stringent health regulations, the skin of beasts being slaughtered requires cleaning and removal of foreign matter to a far greater degree than was previously required, and certainly before the animal undergoes any cut or incision. This has necessitated cleaning parts of the skin of the animal that previously did not require cleaning, or more fully cleaning the skin in certain areas that formerly required cleaning, particularly parts of the skin which are relatively less accessible, such as for example the underbelly of the animal and the area between the hind legs of the animal and the like.

One problem in using existing cutting implements or handpieces arises from the manner in which the cattle are treated prior to and during cleaning, in that the cattle are located in a crush or similar made from iron bars to maintain the cattle in a more or less captive position as they undergo any treatment or operation. In one example, the head of the animal is located in a yoke or similar to immobilise part of the animal. However, the animal is still free to move its legs, which it often does in panic when being cleaned, such as by kicking out in alarm. When the animal is in the crush, the operator holding the handpiece must crouch or bend down in order to satisfactorily clean the underbelly of the animal, which necessitates the operator being located very close to the body of the animal so that the required areas can be cleaned. In this position, the operator is extremely vulnerable to injury, either through being crushed between adjacent animals or between the animals and the iron bars of the crush or other fitments forming the crush in which the animal is held, or being kicked by the animal which is often in a state of high anxiety and panic causing it to kick out indiscriminately.

In many instances, workmen suffer from broken hands, wrists, arms or the like, either through being, squeezed between two adjacent animals, or between the animal and the iron framework of the crush or its fitments, or by being kicked by the animal being cleaned. Owing to the type of handpiece currently being used, generally referred to as short reach handpieces, it is necessary for the workman to be located close to the animal or inside the crush, so that all parts of the body and skin of the animal can be cleaned adequately before slaughter of the animal.

A further problem arises from the nature of the environment in which such short reach handpieces are used, in that the environment is often wet and slippery due to the use of aqueous solutions to clean the animals and disinfect the equipment being used. The presence of water and moisture further contributes to accidents occurring and the tool being inadvertently or accidentally dislodged from the grasp of the operator, particularly when it is being held by one hand only as the operator uses the other hand to steady himself or to hold onto part of the crush for support and the like.

Therefore, there is a need to provide an implement which is suitable for cleaning the skin or covering of a beast, such as for example in preparation for the beast being slaughtered or during slaughter, or for generally improving the health or condition of the animal, which implement is safer for the operator to use, and which is more manoeuvrable and flexible, allowing greater areas of the animal to be cleaned than previously possible, including providing longer reach whilst the operator is located farther away from the animal in order to reduce the risk of injury, such as for example by the operator being able to be located outside the crush, clear of the framework and fitments of the crush, and/or not having to be located between two adjacent animals in the crush or the like.

According to one aim of the present invention, there is provided a cutting or cleaning implement, such as for example a rotary handpiece, which is provided with an elongate handle or extension handle which enables the operator to grasp the implement in two hands at a far greater distance from the cutting head or surface than was previously available, thereby enabling the implement to have a greater reach resulting in improved safety to and less effort expended by the workman.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an extension handle for use with a motor- driven tool or implement, including a substantially hollow main elongate body portion having a first part adapted for connection to the tool or implement and a control means associated with a second part of the handle for controlling operation of the tool or implement, wherein said main body portion is substantially hollow or provided with a cavity or similar for receiving a conduit aligned axially internally within the elongate body such that the conduit interconnects the control means and the motor, whereby operation of the control means effects operation of the motor and wherein said tool or implement may be operated by an operator when located at a location remote from where the tool or implement is operating. g.

Typically, the extension handpiece of the present invention is a hollow tube. More typically, the hollow tube is of a cylindrical cross-section. More typically, the hollow tube comprises two portions angularly inclined to one another. Even more typically, the two portions are arcuately angularly inclined to each other. Even more typically, the hollow tube may be of a single piece construction or of a two or more piece construction in which the two or more pieces are fitted or joint together or the like.

Typically, the angular inclination of the hollow tube is located at or towards one end. More typically, the angular inclination is located at or towards the first part or end which is the part or end adapted for connection to the tool or implement. Even more typically, the angular inclination is a smooth or gradual transition from one direction of extension to the other direction of extension or section of the handpiece.

Typically, the hollow tube may be made of any length desirable for the application of the device. More typically, the hollow tube is made from plastics material and is provided with a collar or similar at either end.

Even more typically, the length of the tube is fixed or is adjustable in length. Even more typically, the adjustability of length is achieved by having two or more telescopic extension sections.

Typically, the angle of inclination is adjustable.

More typically, the angle of inclination is adjustable by rotating one section of hollow tube with respect to another section of the hollow tube about the central, longitudinal or lengthwise extending axis. Even'more typically, the hollow tube is provided with a fitting allowing lengthwise adjustment, rotational adjustment and/or both forms of adjustment.

Typically, the hollow tube is provided with one, two, three, four or more vent apertures allowing egress of air from within the tube during use of the implement or tool. The apertures may be arranged in any pattern, including a linear array.

More typically, the hollow tube is provided with an adjustment aperture through which adjustment of the operation of the tool may be effected. More typically, adjustment of the speed of the motor of the tool. More typically, the adjustment of the speed of the motor can be effected from outside of the tube through the aperture.

More typically, the control means is an on/off valve or on/off switch associated with the second end of the tube. More typically, the on/off switch or valve is additionally progressively adjustable to alter the speed of revolution of the motor, either by allowing more or less air to flow, or by electronic regulation of the motor. The switch or valve is steplessly adjustable or is stepwise adjustable. More typically, the switch is provided with a preset arrangement for maintaining the speed of the tool or implement at a predetermined speed or rate of operation.

Typically, the motor is an electric motor or air- driven motor. More typically, the conduit is a hose aligned co-axially within the hollow tube for conveying air to the motor, or is a conduit enclosing electrical cable for electrical connection with the electric motor.

Typically, the handpiece is a shearing handpiece or cutting handpiece. More typically, the handpiece is a rotary shearing or cutting device having at least one blade capable of rotation in the plane of the blade. More typically, the plane of rotation of the rotary blade is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the central axis of the extension handle. Even more typically, the handpiece is provided with a plurality of cutting chips, preferably linear cutting chips capable of linear, oscillating, arcuate movement. Even more typically, the chips move substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the blade.

The present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -Figure 1 is a side elevation view of one form of the extension handle and handpiece of the present invention forming the overall tool or implement; -Figure 2 is a top plan view of the extension handle and handpiece of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross-section view taken generally along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In the drawings there is shown one form of the device of the present invention, generally denoted as 2, comprising handpiece 4 and extension handle 20 joined together in combination. Handpiece 4 is located at or towards one end of the device 2 and is provided with a rotary cutting blade (not shown) housed within a cavity formed by the body 6 of the handpiece. Body 6 is provided with a plurality of forwardly extending fingers 7 arranged to extend radially around the forwardly directed circumference of the body of the handpiece. The rotary blade is driven by a suitable motor (not shown) located within barrel 8 of the handpiece. It is to be noted that barrel 8 corresponds to the short reach handle of the handpiece when used conventionally in single-handed operation. Although the motor may be powered by a number of different alternative means, it is usual that the motor may be an electric motor or powered by compressed air, with compressed air being preferred. However, other forms of motors may be used such as hydraulic motors or the like.

It is to be noted that any form of the rotary handpiece can be used. However, a particularly preferred form of the handpiece is described in the specifications of Australian patent nos. 564603 and 554220.

Barrel 8 is provided with trigger 10 for controlling operation of the motor and hence the rotary blade, and thus the cutting tool or implement. Trigger 10 is exposed through aperture 12 provided in the forward end of tube 22 forming the main body of extension handle 20.

Aperture 12 in one form is a slot or elongate cut-out extending from the end of tube 22 in the region of trigger 10. A collar 14 is provided at or towards the end of tube 22, not only to assist in connecting tube 22 to barrel 8 but also to maintain trigger 10 in the depressed position which is the-on-position in use of device 2, allowing rotation of the rotary blade to cut or severe any material contacting the blade. Alternatively, trigger 10 can be operated normally to control the rotation of the blade or can be held in the"on"position by a suitable detente or stop, or have a mechanism for maintaining a preset speed of rotation.

Tube 22 is a hollow tube of substantially circular cross-section, typically made from plastics material, and is substantially elongate. Tube 22 is made up of two sections 24a, 24b angularly inclined to each other towards the end of tube 22 connected to handpiece 4. Although-the angular inclination may adopt many configurations, it is to be noted that the two portions 24a, 24b are arcuately inclined to one another so that there is a smooth transition from one portion to the other portion to further contribute to the<BR> safety of using device 2. Other arrangements for/ determining the shape of the hollow tube can be used allowing adjustment of part 24b with respect to part 24a depending upon the use for which the device is to be put or the like. An adjustment aperture 16 is provided at or towards the end of tube 22 near the handpiece 4 through which the speed of the motor may be adjusted by a suitable means, or the tension applied between the rotary blade and d other cutting surfaces of the handpiece.

A number of vent apertures 26, typically three or more, are provided at or towards the other end of tube 22 to allow exhaust air to egress from inside tube 22 during operation of device 2, as will be explained in more detail later in this specification. An airtight conduit 28 in the form of a hose, pipe or similar is located coaxially within tube 22 and extends from one end of tube 22, where it is connected to the motor of the handpiece in an airtight fashion, to the other end where it is provided with a control means 30 in the form of an on/off valve, or a progressively opening valve arrangement for controlling the admission of air to conduit 28. valve 30 is connected to one end of another conduit, hose, pipe or similar, 32, which in turn is connected at the other end to a reservoir or supply of compressed air (not shown). End cap 34 seals the end of tube 22 associated with valve 30. The end of conduit 28 extends through end cap 34.

Alternatively, in the embodiment provided with an electric motor, conduit 28 houses an electrical cable or similar for electrically connecting the electric motor to a suitable power supply, such as the mains electrical power.

An electrical switch and available speed controller is provided to electrically control the speed of the electric motor of this embodiment.

In operation of the device 2 of the present invention, compressed air is supplied from hose 32 to conduit 28 through valve 30 so that air flows when valve 30 is open.

Air admitted to conduit 28 flows along the length of this conduit and is introduced into the handpiece, as shown by arrow A of Figure 3, to operate the motor. Spent air is exhausted from the motor through the normal exhaust ports or vents of the air motor to flow within tube 22 but outside of conduit 28, as shown by arrows B of Figure 3, and along the inside of tube 22. Spent air travels back along tube 22 where it is exhausted from device 2 through vents 26 to outside atmosphere, as indicated by arrows C of Figure 1.

The speed and operation of the handpiece can be controlled by movement of valve 30 by an operator holding tube 22.

Thus, the speed and direction of the air motor can be controlled from a location remote from where the master is located.

Device 2 can be manipulated by a workman holding tube 22 at desired locations in both hands and flexibly moving the tube 22 to guide the position of the handpiece as desired. As tube 22 is essentially elongate, it is of sufficient length to be able to be gripped by both hands and manipulated and controlled to cut or shear as desired, and the workman is able to stand at a safe disEa-nce~~from the animal being cleaned, including outside the crush or similar, in order to clean the animal without risk of injury usually caused by being located close to the animal. This and other advantages of using the device of the present invention are apparent from the description of the invention.

The described arrangement has been advanced by explanation and many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and novel combination of features herein disclosed.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope.