US3603065A - Cam safe switch actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

A lawnmower having a housing supported for movement along the ground by a plurality of wheels. A motor-powered reel is supported for rotation upon the housing and cooperates with a bedknife to cut grass. A bale handle extends upwardly from the housing and has a lever-operated switch disposed thereon for actuation of the motor. Novel safety means is provided to selectively prevent actuation of the switch by the lever.

Description

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1962 .lepson et al.

[72] Inventor EdwlnLWeber Baltimore, Md. 861.3 [9

3,035,386 3,32l,589 5/l967 Persia eta]. Primary Examinerl,ouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. N. Eskovitz [Zl l App]. N0. [22] Filed Sept. 26, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 7, 197i 73] Assignee The Black and Decker Manufacturing Company Attorneys- Leonard Bloom and Joseph R. Slotnik Towson, Md.

r d or d g m m 0AM wnm mm m wm i m w Oy h." n 3M0 1 .mwm m m h M M u wm o m n m. w n. a u It 88 A E na c m md mmm sV Bo Amw.

[54] CAM SAFE SWITCH ACTUATOR 18 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs. [52] US.

56/16.7, cooperates with a bedknife to cut grass. A bale handle extends 200/ I57 upwardly from the housing and has a lever-operated switch we m m) r m N w .m r mm o: n w 6 mm p f n mm it t C mm mm 3 m w mm 8V r em mp s dnl mm 56 dm 4 4 W4 2 d I10 00 A2 [50] Field ofSearch.....................

switch by the lever.

PATENTED SEP 71971 EDWIN J WEBER ATTORNEY CAM SAFE SWITCH ACTUATOR SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a movable switch actuator mechanism which includes manually manipulatable means adapted to shift or alter the path of the movement of an actuator whereby to selectively allow or prevent switch actuation even with actuator movement. The novel switch actuator mechanism of this invention embodies simplicity and reliability, and requires a simple but positive act on the part of the operator to effect said path shift or alteration.

Main objects of the present invention, therefore, are to pro vide a novel movable switch actuator mechanism adapted for use in, for example, an electric switch for a powered tool or the like and which includes means integrated therewith for shifting or altering the path of movement of the actuator so that in one condition, the actuator movement actuates the switch while in another condition, actuator movement cannot actuate the switch.

Further important objects of the present invention are to provide a novel switch actuator of the above character which includes a minimum of parts and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, is simple to operate but requires a positive act on the part of the operator to change from one condition to the other, and is reliable and safe in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the detailed description to follow taken in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an electric lawnmower embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view ofa portion of FIG. 1 illustrating the switch and switch actuator mounting;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with parts broken away and in section showing the parts in the safe position and with the actuator off;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the actuator on";

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but showing the parts in the operating position and the switch off;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the switch on;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 9 taken along the line 7-7 thereof;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the manually manipulatable means of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the line 9-9 thereof.

BROAD STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION Broadly described, the present invention relates to a lawnmower of the type having a housing supported for move ment over the ground, cutting means supported upon said housing and driven by an electric motor, handle means for controlling and manipulating said mower, and switch means including a switch housing mounted on said handle and having a switch therein for turning said motor on and off; that im' provement which comprises actuator means movable through a path to actuate said switch, and means for shifting said actuator means away from said switch whereby movement of said actuator means is ineffective to operate said switch.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a lawn and garden device of the type having a housing supported for movement over the ground, implement means supported upon said housing and adapted to be driven by electric motor means, a control and manipulation handle on said housing, and electric switch means for turning said motor and said implement means on and off; the improvement wherein said switch includes a pivotal lever movable through an arcuate path to actuate said switch, and means operable to shift the pivot axis of said lever, whereby to selectively prevent said lever from actuating said switch.

In still another aspect, the present invention relates to a switch assembly comprising a housing having a switch body mounted thereon, a control plunger slidable on said switch body and normally biased in one direction, a lever having one end engageable with and adapted to move said plunger in a direction away from said one direction, means pivotally mounting said lever upon said housing, said mounting means including a pivot pin having an eccentric portion joumaling said lever, and means for turning said pivot pin, whereby said eccentric portion shifts said lever laterally relative to said plunger, whereby to selectively prevent engagement of said plunger by said lever one end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, a lawnmower, which is one device with which the present invention finds particular use, is illustrated generally at 11 in FIG. I and is seen to include ahousing 13 supported for movement along the ground byfront wheels 15, I7 and rear wheels 19 (only one of which is shown). Areel 21 is rotatably supported upon the housing I3 between thewheels 15, I7 and includes a plurality ofblades 23 which cooperate in scissorlike fashion with astationary bed knife 25 to cut grass. Thereel 21 is powered by an electric motor (not shown) mounted upon thehousing 13 beneath aremovable shroud 27. Abale handle 29 extends upwardly from thehousing 13 and facilitates control and manipulation ofthe mower II. Anelectric switch assembly 31, including anoperating lever 33, is provided at the top of thehandle 29 for turning the motor on and off. As shown, theoperating lever 33 generally follows the contour of thehandle 29 so that the operator can manipulate thelever 33 without releasing his grasp of thehandle 29.

As shown in FIG. 3, theelectric switch assembly 31 includes a two-part,switch housing 35, 36 secured in place on thebale handle 29 by a plurality ofscrews 37. Aswitch 39 is suitably secured in place within thehousing 35 and is connected to leads 4], 43 which in turn are also connected to the motor (not shown) and to a power source. Theswitch 39 has aplunger 45 normally biased outwardly toward the position shown in FIG. 3 in which position theswitch 39 is off. However, theplunger 45 is movable away from this position and inwardly of theswitch 39 to turn the switch on."

To this end, thelever 33 is pivotally supported upon theswitch housing 35 through apivot pin 47 and has a projectingcar 49 positioned opposite theswitch plunger 45. Thepivot pin 47 has a projectingend portion 51 received in anopening 53 formed in theswitch housing part 35, and an enlarged,eccentric midportion 55 upon which thelever 33 is joumaled. The projectingend portion 59 is also supported in an opening 61 in thehousing part 36.

The projectingend 51 of thepivot pin 47 is exposed at the top of the switch housing 35 (as seen in FIG. 2) and is provided with a screw-slot 63 adapted to receive the end of a screwdriver, a coin, or the like. Thus, thepivot pin 47 can be selectively turned about an axis through the end portions 5|, 59 which, through theeccentric midportion 55, laterally shifts the position of the pivot for thelever 33.

Aspring washer 57 is positioned on theend portion 59 and bears against thehousing part 36 thereby biasing thepivot pin 47 toward the left, as seen in FIG. 9. This biases alug 58, formed on a radial face of theeccentric midportion 55, against aboss 60 formed on thehousing part 35. The boss has a pair of arcuately spacedrecesses 62, 64 formed therein which receive thelug 58 in detentlike fashion and releasably hold thepivot pin 47 selectively in two rotated positions.

In the position shown in FIG. 3 and 4, thelug 58 is located in therecess 64 and thepivot pin 47 is positioned so that the pivot axis of thelever 33 is displaced toward the left. At rest, thelever 33 is positioned as shown in FIG. 3 and theswitch 39 is off." When the operator grasps thelever 33 and pivots it in a counter clockwise direction, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper part of thelever 33 engages thehandle 29 before the projectingear 49 can engage the switch plunger 45 (see FIG. 4) and theswitch 39 remains off? This position of thepivot pin 47, then, is known as the "safe" position and is used during mower storage or when it is desired to prevent the mower from accidentally being turned "on.

In the position of thepivot pin 47 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, known as the run" position, thepivot pin lug 58 is located in the recess 62 and the pivot axis of thelever 33 is shifted toward the right relative to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. At rest, thelever 33 is positioned as shown in FIG. 5 and theswitch 39 is off. When thelever 33 is grasped by the operator (who has his hands on the handle 29), counterclockwise pivotal movement of the lever brings theear 49 into contact with and moves theplunger 45 inwardly of theswitch 39 to turn it on. (See FIG. 6). When the operator releases his hand from thelever 33, it moves by gravity back to the FIG. 5 position and theplunger 45 likewise returns to the FIG. 5 position under the force of the switch-biasing means. To help identify the "safe" and "run" positions for thepivot pin 47, suitable indicia 6S printed on theswitch housing 35 aligns with, for example, thecross slot 63 in thepivot pin end 51.

As described above, the projectingend 51 of the pivot pin 4'7 is slotted at 63 to receive a screwdriver, coin, and the like for turning thepivot pin 47 from the safe" position to the "run" position. When the operator inserts the screwdriver, coin, or the like into theslot 63, he presses axially against thepivot pin 47 and releases thelug 58 from itsslot 62, 64 so that thepivot pin 47 can be turned. It will be appreciated that while this is relatively easy, it does require a positive act by the operator to make the change from "safe to run. Thus, the likelihood that thepivot pin 47 will be shifted from the safe to the "run" position accidentally is virtually eliminated.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth herein, various additions, substitutions, modifications and omissions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. In a lawn and garden device of the type having a housing supported for movement over the ground, implement means supported upon said housing and adapted to be driven by elec' tric motor means, a control and manipulation handle on said housing, and electric switch means for turning said motor and said implement means on and off; the improvement wherein said switch includes a pivotal lever movable through an arcuate path to actuate said switch, and means operable to shift the pivot axis of said lever, whereby to selectively prevent said lever from actuating said switch.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said shifting means includes a rotatable cam supported upon said switch and pivotally mounting said lever.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said switch includes a switch housing fixed to said handle, said lever being closely disposed to said handle and shaped to generally follow the contou: thereof, said arcuate path of said lever being limited by engagement thereof with said handle, whereby the operator can grasp said lever and said handle during mower operation.

4. Th improvement of claim 3 wherein said lever pivot axis is shiftable from a first position where pivotal movement of said lever through said arcuatc path actuates said switch, to a second position where pivotal movement of said lever is stopped by engagement between said lever and said handle before actuation of said switch.

5v A switch assembly comprising a housing having a switch body mounted thereon, a control plunger slidable on said switch ody and normally biased in one direction, a lever having one end engageable with and adapted to move said plunger in a direction away from said one direction, means pivotally mounting said lever upon said housing, said mounting means including a pivot pin having an eccentric portion joumaling said lever, and means for turning said pivot pin, whereby said eccentric portion shifts said lever laterally relative to said plunger, whereby to selectively prevent engagement of said plunger by said lever one end.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said pivot pin is rotatably supported upon said body and has one end thereof exposed for manual manipulation.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said pivot pin end has a transverse slot therein adapted to receive a screwdriver, coin, and the like for turning said pivot pin and shifting said lever.

8. The assembly of claim 5 which includes stop means limiting pivotal movement of said lever in a direction to engage and move said plunger, said stop means preventing engagement of said plunger by said lever when said lever has been shifted laterally relative to said plunger by said eccentric portion.

9. The improvement of claim 2 which includes detent means releasably holding said cam in selected rotated positions.

10. The improvement of claim 5 which includes cooperable projection and recess means on said pivot pin and said housing for releasably holding said pivot pin in selected turned positions, resilient means normally biasing said pivot pin in an axial direction causing cooperative engagement between said projection and recess means.

ll. In a lawnmower of the type having a housing supported for movement over the ground, cutting means supported upon said housing and driven by an electric motor, handle means for controlling and manipulating said mower, and switch means including a switch housing mounted on said handle and having a switch therein for turning said motor on and off; that improvement which comprises actuator means movable through a path to actuate said switch, and means for shifting said actuator means away from said switch whereby movement of said actuator means is ineffective to operate said switch.

12. The improvement as defined in claim 11 wherein said actuator means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said switch housing, said switch including a plunger normally biased toward an "off" position, said lever being engageable with to move said plunger to an "on position.

13. The improvement of claim 12 wherein said altering means includes a cam pivotally mounting said lever, said cam being movable to shift the pivot axis of said lever from a first position where said lever is engageable with said plunger, to a second position where said lever is prevented from engaging said plunger.

14. The improvement of claim 12 wherein said lever is contoured to generally follow said handle, whereby an operator may grasp and hold said lever and said handle during mower operation.

l5. The improvement as defined inclaim 13 wherein said cam is turnably supported upon said housing and has an eccentric portion journaling said lever, whereby turning movement of said cam turns said eccentric portion and shifts said lever relative to said plunger.

16. The improvement of claim is wherein said cam has one end exposed and provided with a transverse slot adapted to receive a screwdriver, coin, and the like.

17. In a lawnmower of the type having a housing supported for movement over the ground, cutting means supported upon said housing and driven by an electric motor, handle means for controlling and manipulating said mower, and switch means including a switch housing mounted on said handle and having a switch therein for turning said motor on and off; that improvement which comprises actuator means movable through a path to actuate said switch, a cam engageable with said actuator for altering said path of movement of said actuator means, whereby to selectively prevent said switch from being actuated by said actuator means.

18. The improvement as defined inclaim 17 which includes means releasably retaining said cam in selected positions.

Claims (18)

1. In a lawn and garden device of the type having a housing supported for movement over the ground, implement means supported upon said housing and adapted to be driven by electric motor means, a control and manipulation handle on said housing, and electric switch means for turning said motor and said implement means on and off; the improvement wherein said switch includes a pivotal lever movable through an arcuate path to actuate said switch, and means operable to shift the pivot axis of said lever, whereby to selectively prevent said lever from actuating said switch.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said shifting means includes a rotatable cam supported upon said switch and pivotally mounting said lever.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said switch includes a switch housing fixed to said handle, said lever being closely dispOsed to said handle and shaped to generally follow the contour thereof, said arcuate path of said lever being limited by engagement thereof with said handle, whereby the operator can grasp said lever and said handle during mower operation.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said lever pivot axis is shiftable from a first position where pivotal movement of said lever through said arcuate path actuates said switch, to a second position where pivotal movement of said lever is stopped by engagement between said lever and said handle before actuation of said switch.

5. A switch assembly comprising a housing having a switch body mounted thereon, a control plunger slidable on said switch body and normally biased in one direction, a lever having one end engageable with and adapted to move said plunger in a direction away from said one direction, means pivotally mounting said lever upon said housing, said mounting means including a pivot pin having an eccentric portion journaling said lever, and means for turning said pivot pin, whereby said eccentric portion shifts said lever laterally relative to said plunger, whereby to selectively prevent engagement of said plunger by said lever one end.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said pivot pin is rotatably supported upon said body and has one end thereof exposed for manual manipulation.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said pivot pin end has a transverse slot therein adapted to receive a screwdriver, coin, and the like for turning said pivot pin and shifting said lever.

8. The assembly of claim 5 which includes stop means limiting pivotal movement of said lever in a direction to engage and move said plunger, said stop means preventing engagement of said plunger by said lever when said lever has been shifted laterally relative to said plunger by said eccentric portion.

9. The improvement of claim 2 which includes detent means releasably holding said cam in selected rotated positions.

10. The improvement of claim 5 which includes cooperable projection and recess means on said pivot pin and said housing for releasably holding said pivot pin in selected turned positions, resilient means normally biasing said pivot pin in an axial direction causing cooperative engagement between said projection and recess means.

11. In a lawnmower of the type having a housing supported for movement over the ground, cutting means supported upon said housing and driven by an electric motor, handle means for controlling and manipulating said mower, and switch means including a switch housing mounted on said handle and having a switch therein for turning said motor on and off; that improvement which comprises actuator means movable through a path to actuate said switch, and means for shifting said actuator means away from said switch whereby movement of said actuator means is ineffective to operate said switch.

12. The improvement as defined in claim 11 wherein said actuator means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said switch housing, said switch including a plunger normally biased toward an ''''off'''' position, said lever being engageable with to move said plunger to an ''''on'''' position.

13. The improvement of claim 12 wherein said altering means includes a cam pivotally mounting said lever, said cam being movable to shift the pivot axis of said lever from a first position where said lever is engageable with said plunger, to a second position where said lever is prevented from engaging said plunger.

14. The improvement of claim 12 wherein said lever is contoured to generally follow said handle, whereby an operator may grasp and hold said lever and said handle during mower operation.

15. The improvement as defined in claim 13 wherein said cam is turnably supported upon said housing and has an eccentric portion journaling said lever, whereby turning movement of said cam turns said eccentric portion and shifts said lever relative to said plunger.

16. The improvement of claim 15 wherein said cam has one end expOsed and provided with a transverse slot adapted to receive a screwdriver, coin, and the like.

17. In a lawnmower of the type having a housing supported for movement over the ground, cutting means supported upon said housing and driven by an electric motor, handle means for controlling and manipulating said mower, and switch means including a switch housing mounted on said handle and having a switch therein for turning said motor on and off; that improvement which comprises actuator means movable through a path to actuate said switch, a cam engageable with said actuator for altering said path of movement of said actuator means, whereby to selectively prevent said switch from being actuated by said actuator means.

18. The improvement as defined in claim 17 which includes means releasably retaining said cam in selected positions.

Images