U.S. patent application number 11/682332 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-06 for carrying arrangement.
This patent application is currently assigned to ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Lothar Kotulla, Kai-Ulrich Machens, Johannes Menzel, Christoph Winkler.
Application Number | 20070205237 11/682332 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37951764 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070205237 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Machens; Kai-Ulrich ; et
al. |
September 6, 2007 |
Carrying Arrangement
Abstract
A carrying arrangement for a hand-guided power tool has a
carrying element to be guided across a shoulder of an operator and
a shoulder support arranged slidably in a longitudinal direction on
the carrying element. A friction-reducing element for reducing
friction between the carrying element and the shoulder support is
provided. The shoulder support has a shoulder section and a lateral
support section connected to the shoulder section. The carrying
element is arranged on the shoulder section and the lateral support
section rests against a side of the operator. In this way,
excellent force distribution during operation is ensured.
Inventors: |
Machens; Kai-Ulrich;
(Stuttgart, DE) ; Menzel; Johannes;
(Schwabisch-Gmund, DE) ; Kotulla; Lothar;
(Stuttgart, DE) ; Winkler; Christoph; (Stuttgart,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GUDRUN E. HUCKETT DRAUDT
SCHUBERTSTR. 15A
WUPPERTAL
42289
DE
|
Assignee: |
ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO.
KG
Badstr. 115
Waiblingen
DE
71336
|
Family ID: |
37951764 |
Appl. No.: |
11/682332 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/264 ;
224/617 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D 34/902 20130101;
A45F 3/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/264 ;
224/617 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/12 20060101
A45F003/12; A45F 3/02 20060101 A45F003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 6, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 010 557.5 |
Claims
1. A carrying arrangement for a hand-guided power tool, the
carrying arrangement comprising: a carrying element to be guided
across a shoulder of an operator; a shoulder support arranged
slidably in a longitudinal direction on the carrying element; a
friction-reducing element for reducing friction between the
carrying element and the shoulder support.
2. The carrying arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
friction-reducing element is a slideway provided on the shoulder
support.
3. The carrying arrangement according to claim 2, further
comprising a flexible sliding plate that is provided with the
slideway, wherein in operation the carrying element is resting on
the sliding plate.
4. The carrying arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the
sliding plate is a comprised of plastic material.
5. The carrying arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
shoulder support has at least one loop and the carrying element is
passed through the at least one loop.
6. The carrying arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
shoulder support has a passage and the carrying element is passed
through the passage.
7. The carrying arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the
passage is a tube.
8. The carrying arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
carrying element has free ends each provided with a fastening
element for attaching the carrying element to a power tool.
9. The carrying arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
carrying element has a first section, a second section, and a
releasable buckle connecting the first and second sections, wherein
the shoulder support is arranged on the first section.
10. The carrying arrangement according to claim 1, further
comprising an adjusting device for adjusting a length of the
carrying element.
11. The carrying arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the
shoulder support is a shoulder pad.
12. A carrying arrangement for a hand-guided power tool, the
carrying arrangement comprising: a carrying element to be guided
across a shoulder of an operator; a shoulder support arranged
slidably in a longitudinal direction on the carrying element;
wherein the shoulder support has a shoulder section and a lateral
support section connected to the shoulder section; wherein the
carrying element is arranged on the shoulder section; wherein the
lateral support section is adapted to rest against a side of an
operator.
13. The carrying arrangement according to claim 12, further
comprising a friction-reducing element for reducing friction
between the carrying element and the shoulder support.
14. The carrying arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the
friction-reducing element is a slideway provided on the shoulder
support.
15. The carrying arrangement according to claim 14, further
comprising a flexible sliding plate that is provided with the
slideway, wherein in operation the carrying element is resting on
the sliding plate.
16. The carrying arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the
sliding plate is a comprised of plastic material.
17. The carrying arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the
lateral support section is comprised at least partially of a mesh
material.
18. The carrying arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the
lateral support section and the shoulder section are connected to
one another in an area of the shoulder section that is to be
positioned on a chest part of an operator and in an area of the
shoulder section that is to be positioned on a back of the
operator, wherein the lateral support section and the shoulder
section form an arm opening for an arm of the operator.
19. The carrying arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the
lateral support section has a lower edge and the shoulder section
has a lower edge, wherein the lower edge of the lateral support
section is displaced in a direction toward a free end of the
carrying element.
20. The carrying arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the
shoulder support has at least one loop and the carrying element is
passed through the at least one loop.
21. The carrying arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the
shoulder support has a passage and the carrying element is passed
through the passage.
22. The carrying arrangement according to claim 21, wherein the
passage is a tube.
23. The carrying arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the
carrying element has free ends each provided with a fastening
element for attaching the carrying element to a power tool.
24. The carrying arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the
carrying element has a first section, a second section, and a
releasable buckle connecting the first and second sections, wherein
the shoulder support is arranged on the first section.
25. The carrying arrangement according to claim 12, further
comprising an adjusting device for adjusting a length of the
carrying element.
26. The carrying arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the
shoulder support is a shoulder pad.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a carrying arrangement for a
hand-guided power tool that comprises a carrying element to be
guided across the shoulder of the operator and further comprises a
shoulder support that is arranged slidably in a longitudinal
direction on the carrying element.
[0002] DE 26 11 873 A1 discloses a shaking device with a carrying
strap. The carrying strap is guided in a shoulder support in the
area of the shoulder of the operator. The strap is embodied as a
diagonal strap, i.e., extends across the shoulder of the operator
that is facing away from the power tool and is secured with both
ends on the power tool.
[0003] In such carrying straps, the strap and the shoulder support
are usually designed such that the shoulder support is slidable in
the longitudinal direction along the strap; however, a movement of
the strap relative to the shoulder support is not possible in
operation under load. Therefore, when pivoting the power tool in
operation, the operator must move the shoulder support on his
shoulder and the operator can be impaired by the shoulder
support.
[0004] In the case of such diagonal straps, forces are acting in
the vertical direction as well as in the horizontal direction. The
horizontal forces have the effect that the strap is pressed against
the neck of the operator in the area of the shoulder of the
operator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
carrying arrangement of the aforementioned kind that avoids
impairment of the operator during operation of the power tool.
[0006] In order to prevent that the operator must move the shoulder
support on his shoulder during operation of the power tool, it is
provided that the carrying arrangement has means for reducing the
friction between the carrying element and the shoulder support. By
reducing friction, it is possible for the carrying element to slide
in operation and under load in the longitudinal direction of the
shoulder support. Pivoting of the powertool thus only has the
effect of changing the position of the carrying element relative to
the shoulder support. The shoulder support can stay in place on the
shoulder of the operator. This enables unimpaired working.
[0007] Advantageously, a slideway is provided on the shoulder
support for reducing the friction. In particular, the slideway is
embodied on a flexible sliding plate on which the carrying element
will rest in operation. By designing the sliding plate to be
flexible, the sliding plate will conform easily to the body shape
of the operator. In this way, an ergonomically designed carrying
arrangement is enabled. Advantageously, the sliding plate is made
from plastic material. A sliding plate of plastic material can be
produced in a simple way and can be connected to the shoulder
support, for example, by being sewn on. Relative to conventional
materials of carrying elements such as straps, cables or the like,
plastic material has a minimal coefficient of friction so that the
carrying element can be moved with minimal force expenditure within
the shoulder support when the power tool is connected to the
carrying element.
[0008] In order to be able to receive the lateral forces occurring
in operation of the power tool in an excellent and ergonomic way,
it is provided that the shoulder support has a shoulder section and
a lateral support section that is connected to the shoulder
section. On the shoulder section the carrying element is arranged
and the lateral support section is designed for resting against a
side of the operator. The shoulder section thus receives the forces
acting vertically on the operator while the support section
receives the horizontal forces at the side of the operator. In this
way, it is prevented that the carrying element can move in the
direction toward the neck of the operator and thereby impair or
hinder the operator. Because the lateral support section according
to the invention is directly connected to the shoulder section, a
simple configuration is provided. Existing carrying arrangements
can also be provided with a support section by simply exchanging
the shoulder support. Advantageously, the lateral support section
is comprised at least partially of a mesh material. Mesh material
is very expandable so that an adjustment to the size of the
operator can be realized. Moreover, the mesh material is thin and
air-permeable so that a high carrying comfort is provided.
[0009] Advantageously, the lateral support section and the shoulder
section are connected to one another in an area of the shoulder
section that is to be positioned on the chest part of the operator
and in an area of the shoulder section that is to be positioned on
the back of the operator so that an arm opening for the arm of the
operator is formed. In this way, the shoulder support can be put on
like half a vest by the operator in that the operator pushes his
arm through the arm opening. The shoulder support is secured in
this way in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction on
the operator so that slipping or sliding is prevented. A positional
fixation by additional straps, for example, a hip strap or the
like, is therefore not required. Advantageously, the lower edge of
the lateral support section is displaced relative to the lower edge
of the shoulder section in the direction toward the free end of the
carrying element. In this way, a large arm opening with
comparatively minimal length of the shoulder section can be
realized. In carrying arrangements with an adjusting device for
adjusting the length of the carrying element, the maximum
adjustment travel can be enlarged by means of the displacement
between the lower edges of the shoulder section and the support
section.
[0010] Expediently, the shoulder support has at least one loop
through which the carrying element can be passed. However, it can
also be provided that the shoulder support has a passage through
which the carrying element can be guided. The passage is in
particular embodied as a tube. Expediently, the carrying element
has at its free ends a fastening element, respectively, for
fixation of the carrying element on the power tool. In order to be
able to put on the carrying element in a simple way, it is provided
that the carrying element has a first section on which the shoulder
support is secured and a second section; the first section and the
second section of the carrying element are connected to one another
by a releasable buckle. The operator can secure the two sections on
the power tool, while the power tool is still resting on the
ground. In order to put on the carrying element, the operator will
squat and place the first section of the carrying element across
his shoulder. By closing the buckle that is arranged expediently on
the chest part of the operator, the two sections are connected to
one another and the carrying arrangement is now put on. The
carrying arrangement has advantageously an adjusting device for
adjusting the length of the carrying element. In this way, a simple
adjustment of the carrying element to the body height of the
operator is possible. Advantageously, the shoulder support is
embodied as a shoulder pad. In this way, the forces that are
produced during operation of the power tool can be introduced
excellently into the shoulder of the operator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a power tool that is carried by means of a
carrying arrangement by an operator.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a carrying
arrangement.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic section illustration taken along the
section line Ill-lIl in FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of another carrying
arrangement.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a yet another carrying
arrangement.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the carrying arrangement
of FIG. 5.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of the shoulder pad of
the carrying arrangement of FIG. 5.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of another carrying
arrangement.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a schematic section illustration of a shoulder
support.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The carrying arrangement 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 serves for
carrying a hand-guided motor-operated power tool 3 such as a
trimmer, an olive harvesting device or the like. The carrying
arrangement 1 has a strap 10 provided at each end with a hook 4
with which the strap 10 is secured on the power tool 3. Instead of
the strap 10, it is also possible to employ a different kind of
carrying element, for example, a chain, a cable, or the like. The
strap 10 is embodied as a diagonal strap and is guided across the
shoulder of the operator 2 that is remote from the power tool 3.
The power tool 3 has a housing 7 from which a guide rod 6 projects.
In the housing 7, a drive motor, particularly an internal
combustion engine, is arranged and drives a drive shaft arranged in
the guide rod 6. Depending on the type of power tool, the drive
shaft can rotate or can reciprocate in the longitudinal direction.
One hook 4 is arranged on the housing 7. Two handles 8 are secured
on the guide rod 6. The second hook 4 is arranged on the guide rod
6 in the area between the two handles 8 and the housing 7.
[0021] The strap 10 has a first section 35 that extends diagonally
from the hook 4 arranged on the housing 7 across the back of the
operator 2 and across the shoulder of the operator 2 that is facing
away from the power tool 3. A second section 36 of the strap 10
extends, starting at the hook 4 neighboring the two handles 8, in
the direction toward the first section 35. The two sections 35 and
36 are connected to one another by a releasable buckle 5. The
buckle 5 is provided with an adjusting device 37 with which the
length of the first section 35 of the strap 10 can be adjusted.
[0022] In FIG. 2, the carrying arrangement 1 is shown in more
detail. On the first section 35 of the strap 10, a shoulder pad 11
is arranged in the area of the shoulder 42 of the operator 2. The
shoulder pad 11 has a tunnel-like passage 12 through which the
strap 10 is guided. The shoulder pad 11 extends on the chest part
of the operator 2 approximately to chest level and on the back of
the operator 2 approximately to the level of the shoulder blade;
the shoulder pad 11 supports the strap 10 relative to the shoulder
42 of the operator 2.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a section of the shoulder pad 11. On the
shoulder pad 11, a sliding plate 14 is secured, for example, by
being sewn on. The sliding plate 14 forms a slideway 13 for the
strap 10. The sliding plate 14 extends across the entire length of
the shoulder pad 11 so that the strap 10 rests on the sliding plate
14 with its entire length guided in the shoulder pad 11. The
sliding plate 14 is comprised of a flexible plastic material that
has a minimal coefficient of friction relative to the material of
the strap 10. In this way, the strap 10 can be moved in the passage
12 even when the power tool 3 is attached to the carrying element
1.
[0024] One embodiment of the carrying arrangement 15 is shown in
FIG. 4. The carrying arrangement 15 corresponds substantially to
that of the carrying arrangement 1. The carrying arrangement 15 has
a shoulder support in the form of a shoulder pad 16 that has
several loops 17. The strap 10 is passed through the loops 17. In
the area in which the strap 10 rests on the shoulder pad 16, the
shoulder pad 16 has a slideway 13. Hooks 4 for attachment to a
power tool are provided on the free ends 9 of the strap 10 that
forms the carrying element.
[0025] A further embodiment for a carrying arrangement 20 is
illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7. The carrying arrangement 28 has a
shoulder pad 21 in which the strap 10 is arranged in a passage 22.
The passage 22 also has a slideway 14 that is shown in FIG. 7. The
strap 10 can thus be moved within the passage 22 even when the
strap 10 is under load.
[0026] The shoulder pad 21 has a shoulder section 19 which
essentially corresponds to the shoulder pad 11 of the carrying
arrangement 1. The shoulder section 19 has a forward area 38 that
is arranged in operation on the chest part of the operator 2 as
well as a rearward area 39 (FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) that in operation is
arranged on the back of the operator 2. At the level of a lower
edge 18 of the shoulder section 19, a lateral support section 24
extends between the forward area 38 and the rearward area 39. The
lateral support section 24 is secured at the forward area 38 and at
the rearward area 39. The shoulder section 19 and the lateral
support section 24 define an arm opening 23 through which the
operator 2 extends his arm 44. The lateral support section 24 has a
lower edge 28 that is displaced relative to the lower edge 18
toward the free end 49 of the strap 10. Because the lower edge 18
is closer to the shoulder 42 of the operator 22, the strap length
that is available for length adjustment is enlarged. The free strap
length that is not arranged within the passage 22 is enlarged. As
indicated by the dashed lines 28', the displacement of the edge 28
relative to the edge 18 can be comparatively large. However, the
support section 24 can be arranged also at the level of the lower
edge 18. In operation, the lateral support section 24 is positioned
in the area of a side 43 of the operator 2 which side is facing
away from the power tool 3. The lateral support section 24 takes up
forces acting in the vertical direction and introduces them into
the operator 2. In this way, on the shoulder section 19 no forces
are acting in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the
shoulder section 19 and the lateral support section 24 can be made
of the same material. However, it can also be provided that the
support section 24 is made from a different material.
Advantageously, the support section 24 is comprised of mesh
material 33, at least in the area underneath the arm 44 of the
operator 2. This is illustrated in FIG. 5 and in FIG. 6.
[0027] In FIG. 8, a further embodiment of a carrying arrangement 25
is shown. The strap 10 of the carrying arrangement 25 is guided in
a shoulder pad 26 on the shoulder 42 of the operator 2. The
shoulder pad 26 has loops 27 through which the strap 10 is passed.
On the shoulder pad 26 a slideway, not illustrated, for the strap
10 is formed on which the strap 10 is resting. The shoulder pad 26
has a shoulder section 31 that extends across the shoulder 42 of
the operator 2. The shoulder section 31 has a lateral edge 32 that
is facing away from the power tool 3. The lateral support section
29 is secured on the lateral edge 32. The lateral support section
29 is secured to the shoulder section 31 across the entire length
of the shoulder section 31. The lateral support section 29 forms an
arm opening 34 for the arm 44 of the operator 2. The lateral
support section 29 is supported on the side 43 of the operator 2
and receives transverse forces. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the
lateral support section 29 is comprised of a different material
than the shoulder section 31, i.e., of an air-permeable mesh
material 33.
[0028] A section view of a further embodiment of a carrying
arrangement 50 is illustrated in FIG. 9. The carrying arrangement
50 corresponds substantially to the carrying arrangement 1. The
carrying arrangement 50 has a carrying element in the form of a
cable 56 provided with means (not illustrated) for length
adjustment and for connection to the power tool. The carrying
arrangement 50 has a shoulder pad 51 on which a tube 55 is
arranged. The tube 55 forms a passage 52 for the cable 56. For
improved distribution of the introduced forces, the shoulder pad 51
can have a support plate 54, indicated in FIG. 9 in dashed lines,
on which the tube 55 is arranged. The tube 55 forms of sliding
surface 53 that reduces friction between the cable 56 and the
shoulder pad 51. The shoulder pad 51 can be provided with a lateral
support section.
[0029] Instead of the cable 56 and the strap 10, other carrying
elements such as a chain or the like can be used also.
[0030] The specification incorporates by reference the entire
disclosure of German priority document 10 2006 010 557.5 having a
filing date of 6 Mar. 2006.
[0031] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it
will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise
without departing from such principles.
* * * * *