EP-4740722-A1 - WORKING IMPLEMENT QUICK RELEASE SYSTEM, METHOD, AND ASSOCIATED POWER TOOLS

EP4740722A1EP 4740722 A1EP4740722 A1EP 4740722A1EP-4740722-A1

Abstract

A lawnmower (100) including a motor (118); a blade (114) having a sharpened edge (116); and a quick release system (126) configured to releasably couple the blade (114) to the motor (118), the quick release system (126) including: a user-actuatable interface (128) movable between an engaged position and a release position; a blade engagement element (132); and a linkage (130) coupled to the user-actuatable interface (128) and configured to drive the blade engagement element (132) between an engaged state and a release state in response to movement of the user-actuatable interface (128) between the engaged and release positions.

Inventors

HOLMAN, CHRISTOPHER A.

Assignees

Techtronic Cordless GP

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20251105

Claims (15)

A lawnmower comprising: a motive device; a blade having a sharpened edge; and a quick release mechanism configured to releasably couple the blade to the motive device, the quick release mechanism comprising: a user-actuatable interface movable between an engaged position and a release position; a blade engagement element; and a linkage coupled to the user-actuatable interface and configured to drive the blade engagement element between an engaged state and a release state in response to movement of the user-actuatable interface between the engaged and release positions.
The lawnmower of claim 1, further comprising a battery compartment configured to receive a battery, wherein the user-actuatable interface is positioned such that movement from the engaged position to the release position is restricted with the battery present in the battery compartment, and wherein restricted movement prevents the blade engagement element from reaching the release state.
The lawnmower of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the user-actuatable interface is restricted against movement from the engaged position to the release position by a key received in a key slot of the lawnmower.
The lawnmower of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the battery is received in a compartment, and wherein the user-actuatable interface is accessible in the compartment.
The lawnmower of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the linkage drives a driving plate in a linear direction in response to the user-actuatable interface moving from the engaged position to the release position, wherein the driving plate drives a driven plate in the linear direction, and wherein the driven plate is slidably interfaced with the driving plate such that the driven plate rotates about a rotation axis oriented parallel to the linear direction when driven by the motive device.
The lawnmower of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the blade engagement element remains in the release state without application of active applied force on the user-actuatable interface.
The lawnmower of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the motive device is incapable of rotatably driving the blade when the blade engagement element is in the release state regardless of a position of a throttle of the lawnmower.
The lawnmower of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the blade has a moment of inertia of at least 0.005 kg·m 2 .
The lawnmower of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the motive device rotatably drives the blade at a maximum speed of less than 4,000 revolutions per minute (RPM).
A method of removing a blade from a lawnmower, the method comprising: removing a battery or user-selectable component from a path of a user-actuatable interface to permit a full range of movement of the user-actuatable interface; and after permitting the full range of movement, moving the user-actuatable interface from an engaged position to a release position, wherein moving the user-actuatable interface causes a lifter to move a blade engagement element from an engaged state to a release state, and wherein the blade is removable with the blade engagement element in the release state.
The method of claim 10, wherein the blade engagement element is spring biased to the engaged state.
The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the user-actuatable interface is movable via rotation about a first rotation axis, wherein the blade engagement element is movable via rotation about a second rotation axis, and wherein the first and second rotation axis are oriented parallel with one another.
The method of any one of claims 10, 11, or 12, wherein the battery or user-selectable component is disposed on a first side of a motor, and wherein the blade engagement element is disposed on a second side of the motor opposite the first side.
The method of any one of claims 10 to 13, further comprising attaching a new blade to the lawnmower, wherein attaching the new blade comprises: aligning the new blade with the blade engagement element while the blade engagement element remains in the release state; and after the new blade is aligned with the blade engagement element, moving the new blade towards one or more actuator pins extending towards the new blade, wherein moving the new blade towards the one or more actuator pins causes the blade engagement element to move to the engaged state.
The method of any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the blade is releasable from the lawnmower without the use of tools.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/717,403, filed on November 7, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to lawn mowers, and more particularly to quick release architecture for quickly engaging and releasing one or more lawn mower blades. BACKGROUND Lawn mowers typically utilize rotating cutting implements, such as rotating blades, with sharpened edges that, when rotated at sufficient speeds, cut lawn and other underlying debris. Lawn mowers are designed to operate over a wide range of use cases and come in a wide variety of styles (e.g., push mower, walk-behind mower, riding mower, standing mower, etc.). The operator may adjust the lawnmower to accommodate different working conditions. For example, in some instances the operator may want to discharge cut clippings onto the ground surface. In other instances, the operator may want to mulch the clippings to create a finer deposition of cut clippings. In yet other instances, the operator may want to use a bagging system to extract the cut clippings from the ground surface. Each of these operations may benefit from a different cutting implement, and more particularly, from a different type of cutting implement. For example, some grass cutting blades perform better without a bagging system. Meanwhile mulching blades are altogether different from other types of cutting implements. Thus, every time the operator wishes to change their mowing technique (i.e., bagging, mulching, side discharge, etc.), the operator must remove the existing cutting implement and install the correct cutting implement. In the case of walk-behind and push lawnmowers, this typically involves propping the lawnmower on its side, removing a nut from a threaded motor output shaft, removing a washer and/or other capture component(s), translating the cutting implement along a length of the shaft, and then repeating these steps in reverse to install the new cutting implement. During installation of the new cutting implement, it is not uncommon for the operator to hold the first-installed components in place on the shaft until the nut is present. This requires the operator to use one hand to hold the components on the shaft while searching for the nut and then utilizing their other hand to secure the nut. Moreover, tightening the nut requires application of torque, typically through a wrench, which can be dangerous if the operator slips and impacts against the sharpened edge of the cutting implement. In addition to changing out cutting implements in view of different mowing operations, it is not uncommon for operators to remove cutting implements for maintenance and upkeep. For instance, mower blades may require sharpening after several uses. While some operators may perform sharpening with the mower blade still attached to the shaft, it is suggested to remove the mower blade from the shaft prior to sharpening. Accordingly, improved quick release architecture for attaching and detaching a lawn mower cutting implement is desired in the art. In particular, a quick release which provides easy installation and removal of the cutting implement while maintaining strong positive engagement with the cutting implement during use of the lawn mower would be advantageous. BRIEF DESCRIPTION Aspects and advantages of the invention in accordance with the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the technology. In accordance with one embodiment, a lawnmower is provided. The lawnmower includes a motor; a blade having a sharpened edge; and a quick release system configured to releasably couple the blade to the motor, the quick release system comprising: a user-actuatable interface movable between an engaged position and a released position; a blade engagement element; and a linkage coupled to the user-actuatable interface and configured to drive the blade engagement element between an engaged state and a release state in response to movement of the user-actuatable interface between the engaged and release positions. In accordance with another embodiment, a method of removing a blade from a lawnmower is provided. The method includes removing a battery or user-selectable component from a path of a user-actuatable interface to permit a full range of movement of the user-actuatable interface; and after permitting the full range of movement, moving the user-actuatable interface from an engaged position to a release position, wherein moving the user-actuatable interface causes a lifter to move a blade engagement element from an engaged state to a release state, and wherein the blade is removable with the blade engagement element in the release state. In accordance with another embodiment, a lawnmower is provided. The lawnmowe