WO2008095516A1

WO2008095516A1 - Pruning shears with a saw which can be opened out

Info

Publication number: WO2008095516A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/003268
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfons Alber
Original assignee: Ziz Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-02-07
Filing date: 2007-04-27
Publication date: 2008-08-14
Also published as: EP2148560A1; ITMI20070225A1

Abstract

When pruning trees, frequent changing between pruning shears and a handsaw is required. An embodiment of the present invention provides pruning shears for cutting twigs and branches, the pruning shears having, in addition to two pruning-shear blades, an additional handle blade which can be folded in and opened out and can be used for severing thick branches. Changing between different tools is therefore no longer required.

Description

Pruning shears with fold-out saw

The present invention relates to the technical field of hand tools. In particular, the present invention relates to a pruning shears for cutting branches and branches.

Pruning shears are used to remove branches and twigs and generally have two scissor blades that can be used to cut off the branch. However, if the branch to be removed is too large in strength, the use of a hand saw is required to separate the branch from the tree. The hand saw is therefore used because the pruning shears is not able to separate a branch that is too strong, for example because the cutting blades of the shears are too small or the force required for this is too great.

The fruit farmer must now, depending on the strength of the branches to be cut back and forth between different tools back and forth. The currently not needed tool (either the pruning shears or the handsaw) is housed for example in a bag and brought out as needed. This constant tool change requires skill in order to avoid injury. Furthermore, valuable time is lost through the tool change.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved secateurs for cutting twigs and branches.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a pruning shears for cutting and / or sawing branches and branches comprising a first blade and a counterpart for scissor-cutting the branches or branches, a third blade for cutting the branches or branches and at least one handle wherein the third blade is movably connected to the handle and can be brought into a cutting position when opening from a rest position and wherein the third blade is protected in the rest position by the handle. The counterpart is designed as a second blade or dull (eg anvil-like)

In other words, a pruning shears is provided, which not only has two scissors-like cooperating cutting blades, with which the branches can be cut off, but also a further blade, which can be unfolded or extended if necessary, in order to separate stronger branches.

When retracted or folded, this third blade is protected by the handle. For example, it is located inside the handle or laterally next to the handle. In any case, the blade side of the third blade is in the folded state protected by the handle so that injury to the user when operating the secateurs is avoided.

If the branch to be severed is too thick, the third blade can be extended or unfolded to allow, for example, a sawing of the branch. The unfolding is done, depending on the design of the secateurs, forward or backward. If the third blade folds out or moves forward (ie in the direction of the first two blades), then it can be used in the unfolded state (ie in the cutting position) without the user having to reach around. Instead of the two scissor blades, he now uses the third blade to cut off strong branches. The extension or unfolding can for example be done automatically by pressing a button with the help of suitable Ausklappmittel or extension means. Also, the unfolding or extending, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, carried out to the rear, so that can be cut with the two blades on the front and sawed with the third blade on the back of the secateurs. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the third blade can be brought into different cutting positions when opening from the rest position. Depending on the requirement, therefore, a corresponding cutting position can be selected.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the third blade is movably connected with two handles.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the third blade has a sawing area with saw teeth for sawing the branches in the cutting position.

In this way, thick branches can be cut through, which are not severable with a simple blade or scissors. A tool change is no longer required. The user can optionally choose between the secateurs function and the sawing position. It is a

Locking mechanism is provided which allows the use of the first two or the third blade.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pruning shears comprise a locking mechanism or a locking device, which is designed for fixing the third blade in the cutting position.

In this way, for example, it can be prevented that the third blade from the cutting position dissolves when the branch is sawn off. This can be a

Risk of injury can be further reduced, since an unwanted collapse or retraction of the third blade is prevented. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the locking device is designed for automatically fixing the third blade in the cutting position, wherein the locking device for folding the third blade into the rest position is manually unlockable.

When the blade is unfolded, the locking device locks automatically as soon as the blade is fully unfolded. From this rigid position, the third blade can be solved by the locking device is operated accordingly, for example, by pushing back a corresponding lever or a release button is pressed.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the pruning shears further comprise a second locking device for fixing the third blade in the rest position.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second locking device is designed for automatically fixing the third blade in the rest position, wherein the second locking device for unfolding the third blade into the cutting position is manually unlockable.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the third blade is designed bent along its longitudinal axis in order to enable energy-saving sawing.

Due to the curved design of the saw blade, sawing round branches or trunks can be facilitated. It should be noted that the saw profile of the third blade may have different shapes. For example, it may have a sawtooth-like shape or a shark-tooth-like shape consisting of alternating convex and concave sawing edges.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the handle has a first shell and a second shell, between which the third blade is in the rest position.

The saw blade is thus protected in the rest position by both sides of the first and second shell.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the handle has a recess to allow a manual unfolding of the third blade from the rest position to the sawing position.

For example, the third blade is completely covered by the handle in the rest position except for the part which is located in the region of the recess. The recess allows a user-side gripping of the blade, followed by a withdrawal from the rest position.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the third blade in the sawing position with the handle at an angle which is between 90 ° and 155 °, to allow a comfortable sawing.

By this angling of the handle of the unfolded blade, a higher compressive force or tensile force can be exerted on the blade to a enable more powerful sawing. In a preferred embodiment, the angle between the blade and handle between 125 and 145 °.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the pruning shears further comprise a snap mechanism, which is designed for automatically unfolding the third blade from the rest position to the sawing position.

For example, the snap mechanism is a mechanism having a spring element which is biased upon folding of the blade. If a corresponding unlocking mechanism is actuated, then the blade automatically unfolds with the aid of the prestressed spring.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the pruner includes a shifting mechanism for automatically extending the third blade from the rest position to the sawing position.

The displacement mechanism may, for example, in addition to a correspondingly biased spring element longitudinal guide device of the third blade, in which the blade is guided along the longitudinal axis of the handle to allow extension of the blade from the rest position to the sawing position. In the extended state then locks the locking mechanism to prevent accidental retraction of the blade.

If the locking mechanism is released, the blade against the

Spring force are pushed back into the handle housing. In the retracted position again takes place a snap into a locking position. For this example, a second locking mechanism is provided. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the Verriegelungsvorrichrung on a spring element, which is designed for automatically actuating the locking device. In this way, an automatic locking of the blade can be provided both in the rest position and in the cutting position.

Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the blades are made of steel or ceramic. The handles are partly made of deformable materials so that e.g. a risk of injury is reduced.

Further embodiments and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the figures.

1 shows a first schematic representation of a pruning shears according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a second schematic representation of the pruning shears of Fig. 1 seen from another side.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a saw blade according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 shows a schematic representation of a saw blade according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of a saw blade according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a part of a handle with subsequent saw blade in the unfolded state according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic representation of a locking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic representation of the pruning shears according to another embodiment of the present invention.

9 shows a schematic partial view of the secateurs with a displacement mechanism according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

The illustrations in the figures are schematic and not to scale.

In the following description of the figures, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar elements.

1 shows a schematic representation of the pruning shears 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention in plan view. The pruner 100 essentially comprises a first handle 104 and a second handle 106, which are each rigidly connected to a blade 102 and a blade 101, respectively. The two handles 104, 106 are rotatably coupled to each other via a rotating mechanism 108 to enable scissor-type cutting of branches or the like.

Furthermore, a spring element 109 is provided, which allows automatic opening of the pruner. When merging the two handles 104, 106, the spring element 109 is biased.

The handle 104 has a large recess in its Lineren, in which the cutting blade 103 can be folded. For this purpose, the cutting blade 103 is connected via a rotating mechanism 107 with the handle 104. Via the rotating mechanism 107, the blade 103 can be folded in and out along the arrow 112.

The blade 103 has saw teeth for sawing the branches. Furthermore, the blade 103 has a notch 111, which serves for the user-side receiving and unfolding of the blade from the handle 104. For this purpose, a small recess 110 is provided in the handle 104.

Fig. 2 shows the pruning shears of Fig. 1 rotated by 90 °. It can be seen a part of the locking device 701, with which the blade 103 is held both in the folded-in rest position and in the deployed vaginal position. The locking device 701 comprises, for example, a spring element in the form of a leaf spring which automatically holds the blade 103 in the folded-in position and can only be released by applying a certain minimum force. The same applies to the vaginal position. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the blade 103 is disposed laterally adjacent to the handle 104 both in the rest position but is concealed by it (as seen in FIG. 1). From the other side, the blade 103 is covered by the second handle 106.

3 shows a schematic representation of a saw blade 103 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The saw blade 103 is bent along the longitudinal direction, to enable a force-saving sawing of branches. For unfolding, the saw blade 103 has a region 301 with a notch 111 into which the user's fingernail can engage.

As an alternative to the notch 111, a protuberance projecting from the blade 103 may also be provided.

4 shows a further embodiment of a saw blade 103, this time not with sawtooth-shaped saw elements 302 (see FIG. 3), but with saw elements 402 whose cutting edges are concavely curved.

Furthermore, the rotating mechanism 107 has a projection 401, against which a locking abuts when the saw blade 103 is folded in and / or out. An example of such a lock is given in FIG.

Fig. 5 shows a saw blade 103 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The saw blade 103 has sawing elements 501, which have an alternately convex and concave sawing edge. In this way, when sawing a higher tensile force in the movement of the saw to the user is required. In turn, the force required to push the saw away from the user is reduced. Fig. 6 shows a portion of the secateurs according to another embodiment of the present invention. The saw blade 103 includes here in the unfolded state with the handle 104 an obtuse angle, which is in the range of 120 °. The image shown in FIG. 6 is a partial detail. The area of the pruning shears adjoining the parting line 601 is not shown.

By the locking mechanism, the saw blade 103 is locked or fixed in the position shown in Fig. 6. Further unfolding of the saw blade 103 to an angle of 180 ° between the handle 104 and the saw blade 103 is not possible. This allows comfortable sawing.

However, embodiments are also provided in which other angles between the saw blade 103 and the handle 104, for example 180 ° or 90 °, depending on the application.

Fig. 7 shows a partial section of the pruning shears in the region of the locking device 701, 702, 703, 401. The saw blade 103 is shown only to the dividing line 704. The locking mechanism includes a lever 701 that can move about axis 702 along arrow 705. The lever 701 is retained by a spring 703. In the position shown in FIG. 7, the lever 701 keeps the saw blade 103 from moving further in the direction of the arrow 706. Also, other embodiments of the locking mechanism are possible. For example, the locking mechanism can be reversed, so that the saw blade 103 in the illustrated state can not be folded (ie can not be moved against the direction of arrow 706). 8 shows a schematic representation of a pruning shears according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The pruning shears has a stopper element 801, which ensures that the saw blade 103 can not be unfolded arbitrarily far and is stopped when reaching the cutting position. Depending on the desired fold-out angle, abutment surfaces 401 or 802 are provided for this purpose which rotate with the cutting element 103 and abut against the element 801 when the cutting position is reached.

By a corresponding spring mechanism (not shown in Fig. 8), the cutting edge 103 is held in the folded state in the handle 104.

Fig. 8 further shows a locking mechanism 803 which allows the optional use of either the first two fingers or the third blade.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic representation of a displacement mechanism for automatically extending the cutting blade 103 from the rest position to the sawing position along the arrow 902. For this purpose, the handle 104, for example, a rail 901, in which two pins 903, 904 run, which on the blade 103 are attached. The blade 103 can thus be pushed in or out along the rail 901 out of the housing, which is formed from the handle 104. For automatically pushing out the blade 103 from the handle housing, for example, a spring element 906 is provided, which is biased upon insertion of the blade into the housing 104. By loosening a corresponding locking mechanism (not shown in Fig. 9) then the blade 103 snaps out of the housing.

Instead of or in addition to the spring 906, a pin 905 may be provided on the blade 103, which in the retracted state fits into the recess 907 and which serves for manually pulling the blade out of the housing. In the extended state, a locking mechanism is automatically actuated to fix the blade in the extended state, so that a safe sawing is possible.

In addition, it should be noted that "comprising" does not exclude other features or steps and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. "It should also be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments are also in combination may be used with other features or steps of other embodiments described above, and reference numerals in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

Claims

Patent claims

A pruning shears for cutting and sawing branches and branches, the pruner (100) comprising: a first blade (101) and a counterpart (102) for scissor-cutting the branches or branches; a third blade (103) for cutting the branches or branches; at least one handle (104, 106); wherein the third blade (103) is movably connected to the handle (104) and can be brought into a cutting position when opened from a rest position; and wherein the third blade (103) is protected in the rest position by the handle (104).

2. Pruning shears according to claim 1, wherein the third blade (103) when opening from the rest position in different cutting positions can be brought.

3. Pruning shears according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the third blade with two handles (104, 106) is movably connected.

A pruning shears according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third blade (103) has a serrated sawing area (105) for

Sawing the branches in the cutting position.

The pruning shears of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a first locking device (401, 701, 702, 703) for fixing the third blade (103) in the cutting position.

A pruning shears according to claim 5, wherein the first locking device (401, 701, 702, 703) is adapted to automatically fix the third blade (103) in the cutting position; and wherein the first locking device (401, 702) for folding the third blade (103) in the rest position manually unlocked.

A pruning shears according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a second locking device for fixing the third blade (103) in the rest position.

The pruning shears of claim 7, wherein the second locking device is adapted to automatically fix the third blade (103) in the rest position; and wherein the second locking device for unfolding the third blade (103) in the cutting position is manually unlocked.

A pruning shears according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third blade (103) has a curved shape along its longitudinal axis to allow for effortless sawing.

A pruning shears according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle (104) comprises a first shell and a second shell, between which the third blade (103) is in the rest position.

11. Pruning shears according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the third blade (103) in the sawing position with the handle (104) includes an angle which is between 90 ° and 155 °, to enable a comfortable saw 2xι.

The pruning shears of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a snap mechanism for automatically unfolding the third blade (103) from the rest position to the sawing position.

13. A pruning shears according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a sliding mechanism for automatically extending the third blade (103) from the rest position to the sawing position.

14. Pruning shears according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle (104) has a recess (110) to allow a manual unfolding of the third blade (103) from the rest position to the sawing position.

15. Pruning shears according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a spring element (703) for automatically actuating the first

Locking device (401, 701, 702, 703).