초록 ▼

Handle configurations are disclosed for powered implements having a shaft, allowing the implements to be holdable by both hands of a user. An exemplary implement has an elongated shaft having first and second end portions. A first handhold is adjustably mounted to the shaft and extends outwardly the

Handle configurations are disclosed for powered implements having a shaft, allowing the implements to be holdable by both hands of a user. An exemplary implement has an elongated shaft having first and second end portions. A first handhold is adjustably mounted to the shaft and extends outwardly therefrom. A second handhold is adjustably mounted either to the shaft or to an elongated member coupled to the shaft. The elongated member can include a mounting portion and a handle portion providing the second handhold. The mounting portion mounts to the first end portion at a mounting location. The first and second handholds allow operation of the implement by a user with arms in respective neutral arm positions and hands in respective neutral gripping positions. The elongated member allows transmission of a force applied to the second handhold by the user through the elongated member and to the elongated shaft at the mounting location.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An implement holdable by a user during use of the implement, comprising: an elongated shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion;a first handhold adjustably mounted to the shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom at an angle to the shaft;an elongated member including a moun

1. An implement holdable by a user during use of the implement, comprising: an elongated shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion;a first handhold adjustably mounted to the shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom at an angle to the shaft;an elongated member including a mounting portion and an opposing handle portion, the handle portion having a second handhold extending radially outwardly from the elongated member at an angle and in a direction opposite to a direction of the first handhold, and the mounting portion being mounted to the first end portion of the shaft at a mounting location, the elongated member being pivotable relative to the shaft about the mounting location between an extended position, in which the elongated member is on the opposite side of the user's body from the shaft, and a retracted position, in which the elongated member is on the same side of the user's body as the shaft when the user is holding the implement; anda bracing member coupling together the shaft and the elongated member, the bracing member being movable between a retracted position corresponding to the retracted position of the elongated member, and an extended position corresponding to the extended position of the elongated member, the bracing member being pivotably coupled to the shaft by a mounting bracket, and pivotably coupled to the elongated member by a slide-bearing, the slide-bearing being retained in a raceway extending lengthwise along the elongated member, the raceway including a first end adjacent the mounting portion and a second end spaced apart from the first end along the elongated member in a direction toward the second handhold, the slide-bearing being located at the first end of the raceway when the elongated member is in the retracted position, and located at the second end of the raceway when the elongated member is in the extended position;wherein the first handhold and the second handhold are parallel to each other and configured such that the implement can be held and operated by a user with both arms of the user being in respective neutral arm positions in which the user's arms are at the user's sides, and the upper arm and forearm of each of the user's arms form a right angle at the elbow, and such that both hands of the user are in respective neutral gripping positions in which the thumb of each hand is oriented upwardly, and the wrist and forearm of each of the user's arms are aligned with each other; andthe elongated member is configured such that a first force applied by the user to the first handhold relative to a second force applied by the user to the second handhold is transmitted through the elongated member and applied to the elongated shaft at the mounting location. 2. The implement of claim 1, further comprising a power source and an energetic device on the first end portion of the elongated shaft, wherein the energetic device is coupled to and operated by the power source, and the mounting location of the elongated member is adjacent the energetic device. 3. The implement of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second handholds comprises a control for controlling operation of at least the power source. 4. The implement of claim 2, wherein the energetic device is selected from the group consisting of rotating cutters and fluid-discharge nozzles. 5. The implement of claim 2, wherein the energetic device comprises a fluid-discharge nozzle. 6. The implement of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is pivotable relative to left and right sides of the elongated shaft. 7. The implement of claim 1, wherein an angle defined between the elongated shaft and the elongated member is continuously adjustable between the retracted position and the extended position. 8. The implement of claim 1, wherein the first handhold is positionally adjustable along the shaft and rotatably adjustable about the shaft. 9. The implement of claim 1, configured as a landscaping implement. 10. The implement of claim 9, selected from the group consisting of vegetation trimmers, edgers, pressure-washer wands, and blowers. 11. The implement of claim 1, configured as a pressurized fluid-discharge device. 12. The implement of claim 1, further comprising a third handhold adjustably mounted to the second end portion of the elongated shaft. 13. A handle kit for a powered implement, comprising: a first handle member configured to be adjustably mounted to a shaft of the implement so as to extend radially outwardly from the shaft at an angle to the shaft;an elongated member including a second handle member extending radially outwardly from the elongated member at an angle and in a direction opposite to a direction of the first handhold, the elongated member being mountable to the shaft at a mounting location, the elongated member being pivotable, when mounted to the shaft, relative to the shaft about the mounting location between an extended position, in which the elongated member is on the opposite side of the user's body from the shaft, and a retracted position, in which the elongated member is on the same side of the user's body as the shaft when the user is holding the implement; anda bracing member configured to couple together the shaft and the elongated member when installed on the shaft and the elongated member, the bracing member being movable between a retracted position corresponding to the retracted position of the elongated member, and an extended position corresponding to the extended position of the elongated member, the bracing member being pivotably couplable to the shaft by a mounting bracket, and pivotably couplable to the elongated member by a slide-bearing, the slide-bearing being retained in a raceway extending lengthwise along the elongated member, the raceway including a first end adjacent the mounting portion and a second end spaced apart from the first end along the elongated member in a direction toward the second handle member, the slide-bearing being located at the first end of the raceway when the elongated member is in the retracted position, and located at the second end of the raceway when the elongated member is in the extended position;the first handle member and the second handle member being configured so that the implement can be operated by a user with both the user's arms being in respective neutral arm positions in which the user's arms are at the user's sides, and the upper arm and forearm of each of the user's arms form a right angle at the elbow, and both the user's hands being in respective neutral gripping positions in which the thumb of each hand is oriented upwardly, and the wrist and forearm of each of the user's arms are aligned with each other; andwherein the elongated member is configured such that at least a portion of respective forces applied to the first and second handle members by the user is transmitted via the elongated member and applied to the shaft at the mounting location when the elongated member is coupled to the shaft. 14. The handle kit of claim 13, wherein the implement is selected from the group consisting of vegetation cutters and pressurized-fluid-discharge devices. 15. An implement for cutting vegetation, comprising: an elongated shaft comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion including a cutting head coupled thereto;a motor coupled to the shaft and configured to provide power to the cutting head;a first handhold adjustably mounted to the shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom at an angle to the shaft;an elongated member including a mounting portion and a handle portion, the handle portion comprising a second handhold extending radially outwardly from the elongated member at an angle and in a direction that is opposite to a direction of the first handhold, and the mounting portion being pivotably mounted to the first end portion of the shaft at a pivot location such that the elongated member is pivotable relative to the shaft about the pivot location between an extended position, in which the elongated member is on the opposite side of a user's body from the shaft, and a retracted position, in which the elongated member is on the same side of the user's body as the shaft when the user is holding the implement; anda bracing member having a first end portion pivotably mounted to the shaft, and a second end portion pivotably mounted to a linear bearing on the elongated member, the bracing member being movable between a retracted position corresponding to the retracted position of the elongated member, and an extended position corresponding to the extended position of the elongated member, the bracing member being pivotably coupled to the shaft by a mounting bracket, the linear bearing comprising a slide-bearing retained in a raceway, the raceway extending lengthwise along the elongated member, the raceway including a first end adjacent the mounting portion and a second end spaced apart from the first end along the elongated member in a direction toward the second handhold, the slide-bearing being located at the first end of the raceway when the elongated member is in the retracted position, and located at the second end of the raceway when the elongated member is in the extended position;wherein the first and second handholds are parallel to each other and configured such that a user can operate the implement with both arms in respective neutral arm positions in which the user's arms are at the user's sides, and the upper arm and forearm of each of the user's arms form a right angle at the elbow, and such that both hands are in respective neutral gripping positions in which the thumb of each hand is oriented upwardly, and the wrist and forearm of each of the user's arms are aligned with each other.