Ill_ ■關 1丨1»國_圓 11Hllll
`
`(i2) United States Patent
`Nie et al.
`
`(i〇) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,648,805 B2
`May 16, 2017
`
`(54) LOCKING DEVICE, TELESCOPIC ROD AND
`MOWER COMPRISING THE LOCKING
`DEVICE
`
`(71) Applicant: CHERVON INTELLECTUAL
`PROPERTY LIMITED, Road Town
`(VG)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Fangjie Nie, Nanjing (CN); Qian Liu,
`Nanjing (CN)
`
`(73) Assignee: Chervon (HK) Limited, Wanchai (HK)
`
`(* ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/517,233
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 17, 2014
`
`(65)
`
`(30)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2015/0108728 A l
`Apr. 23, 2015
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Oct. 23, 2013
`
`(CN) ........................... 2013 1 0502603
`
`(51)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`A0IB 76/00
`A0ID 34/00
`A0ID 34/82
`F16B 7/14
`F16B 7/10
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC .......... A01D 34/824 (2013.01); F16B 7/1418
`(2013.01); F16B 7/105 (2013.01); F16B
`7/1454 (2013.01); Y10T 403/32467 (2015.01);
`Y10T 403/595 (2015.01)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`None
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(56)
`
`4,492，170 A * 1/1985 Solomon
`
`6，101，678 A * 8/2000 Malloy
`
`6,347,777 B” 2/2002 Webber
`
`(Continued)
`
`A47B 9/08
`108/146
`. B62B 5/06
`16/430
`A47C 7/402
`248/188.5
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Office Action issued on
`Canadian patent application No. 2,868,272, dated Dec. 15, 2015, 4
`pages.
`Primary Examiner 一 Jacob Knutson
`Assistant Examiner — Hilary L Johns
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or tirm — Greenberg Traurig, LLP
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A locking device includes an operating lever, a base and a
`repulsion generating member, wherein the operating lever
`has a releasing position and a locking position relative to the
`base, and the repulsion generating member is arranged
`between the base and the operating lever and generates a
`repulsion force for application to the operating lever during
`movement from the releasing position to the locking posi­
`tion. When the operating lever does not completely reach the
`locking position due to abnormal operation, the repulsion
`generating member will cause the operating lever to return
`to the releasing position thereby provide an indication. The
`locking device can thus provide an indication when the
`locking operation does not reach the correct position,
`thereby avoiaing user confusion and abnormal operation.
`4 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`100
`
`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 1
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`

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`US 9,648,805 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,401,866 Bl* 6/2002 Roy ........................ E06C 7/44
`182/204
`7,624,998 B2* 12/2009 Barlow .............. AO ID 43/063
`280/47.371
`2004/0208687 A1 * 10/2004 Sicz ......................... B62J 1/08
`403/109.3
`2011/0042539 Al*
`2/2011 Melic ................ E04G 21/3233
`248/354.7
`
`cited by examiner
`
`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 2
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 16, 2017
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`Sheet 1 of 9
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`US 9,648,805 B2
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`100
`/
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`FIG.1
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 3
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 16,2017
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`Sheet 2 of 9
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`US 9,648,805 B2
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`FIG.2
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 4
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 16, 2017
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`Sheet 3 of 9
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`US 9,648,805 B2
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`FIG3
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 5
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`May 16, 2017
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`Sheet 4 of 9
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`US 9,648,805 B2
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`FIG4
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 6
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`May 16, 2017
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`Sheet 5 of 9
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`US 9,648,805 B2
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`FIGS
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 7
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`May 16, 2017
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`Sheet 6 of 9
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`US 9,648,805 B2
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`FIG.6
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 8
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 16,2017
`May 16, 2017
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`Sheet 7 of 9
`Sheet 7 of 9
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`US 9,648,805 B2
`US 9,648,805 B2
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`12 -
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`.9“....ifiii!.1.15....Q....aiifi
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`u..,..Mcwhqufiafguwirwuwfi
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`.I..........2...1..
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`I.L..
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`TTI
`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 9
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 9
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`I
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`13
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 16, 2017
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`Sheet 8 of 9
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`US 9,648,805 B2
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`! 2 —
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`" ™ ™
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`13” b
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`FIG. 8
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 10
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 16, 2017
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`Sheet 9 of 9
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`US 9,648,805 B2
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`FIG9
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 11
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`US 9,648,805 B2
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`2
`The present disclosure also provides a mower including a
`main body, four wheels supporting the main body and a
`pushing handle connected to the main body. The pushing
`handle includes a telescopic rod, wherein the telescopic rod
`includes an inner tube, an outer tube and a locking device,
`wherein the inner tube is slidably connected to the outer
`tube, the locking device locking the relative position
`between the inner tube and the outer tube, wherein the
`locking device comprises a pivoting shaft, an operating
`lever, a base and a repulsion generating member, the base
`being sleeved on the outer tube and the pivoting shaft being
`arranged on the base, one end of the operating lever being
`provided with a locking member for rotating around the
`pivoting shaft relative to the base, the repulsion generating
`member being arranged between the base and the operating
`lever and generating a repulsion force for applying to the
`operating lever during the movement of the operating lever
`from the releasing position to the locking position.
`The beneficial effect of the described devices lies in that,
`owing to the repulsion generating member being arranged
`between the base and the operating lever, the repulsion force
`is applied to the operating lever during the movement from
`the releasing position to the locking position, therefore,
`when the operating lever does not completely reach the
`locking position due to abnormal operation, the operating
`lever will return to the releasing position because of the
`repulsion force, and thereby provide an indication to the
`user. The described devices can also prevent the relative
`sliding between the inner tube and the outer tube of the
`telescopic rod of the mower when the inner tube and the
`outer tube do not extend to the position during the operating
`process.
`
`LOCKING DEVICE, TELESCOPIC ROD AND
`MOWER COMPRISING THE LOCKING
`DEVICE
`
`RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION
`
`of CN
`benefit
`the
`claims
`application
`This
`201310502603.7, filed on Oct. 23, 2013, the disclosure of
`which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
`
`FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
`
`The present disclosure relates to the field of garden tools,
`and more particularly to a locking device, and a telescopic
`rod and a mower including the locking device.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
`
`For electric tools having a pushing rod or an operating
`rod, in order to reduce volume during transportation and
`storage, the pushing rod or the operating rod is generally
`designed as two or more retractable sections. Therefore, a
`locking mechanism is needed to lock the relative position
`between the two sections of the pushing rod when stretching
`the pushing rod. Current locking mechanisms are located
`between a locking position and a releasing position, and
`cannot completely reach the locking position when the two
`sections oi the pushing rod are retracted to the desired
`position. At that moment, the fastening force for the relative
`position between the two sections of the pushing rod is
`relatively small, therefore the pushing rod may be retracted
`during operation, which can affect the normal operation of
`the user.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`The objective of the present disclosure is to provide a
`locking device, and a telescopic rod and a mower including
`the locking device, which can provide an indication when
`the locking operation of the user does not reach the correct
`position, and thereby avoiding user confusion and abnormal
`operation.
`To obtain the above objective, the present disclosure
`provides a locking device, including an operating lever, a
`base and a repulsion generating member, wherein the oper­
`ating lever has a releasing position and a locking position
`relative to the base, and the repulsion generating member is
`arranged between the base and the operating lever and
`generates a repulsion force for application to the operating
`lever during the movement of the operating lever from the
`releasing position to the locking position.
`The present disclosure further provides a telescopic rod,
`including an inner tube, an outer tube and a locking device,
`wherein the inner tube is slidably connected to the outer
`tube, the locking device locking the relative position
`between the inner tube and the outer tube, wherein the
`locking device includes a pivoting shaft, an operating lever,
`a base and a repulsion generating member, the base being
`sleeved on the outer tube and the pivoting shaft being
`arranged on the base, one end of the operating lever being
`provided with a locking member for rotating around the
`pivoting shaft relative to the base, the repulsion generating
`member being arranged between the base and the operating
`lever and generating a repulsion force for applying to the
`operating lever during the movement of the operating lever
`from the releasing position to the locking position.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary locking
`device according to the description which follows.
`FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the locking device of FIG.
`1 used in a telescopic rod.
`FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the telescopic rod of FIG.
`
`2.
`
`FIG. 4 is a sectional schematic view of the locking device
`of the telescopic rod of FIG. 2 in a releasing position.
`FIG. 5 is a sectional schematic view of the locking device
`of the telescopic rod of FIG. 2 in a locking position.
`FIG. 6 is a sectional schematic view of the locking device
`of FIG. 2 between the releasing position and the locking
`position.
`FIG. 7 is also a sectional schematic view of an exemplary
`locking device between the releasing position and the lock­
`ing position according to the description which follows.
`FIG. 8 is also a sectional schematic view of an exemplary
`locking device between the releasing position and the lock­
`ing position according to the description which follows.
`FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a mower including the
`telescopic rod of FIG. 2.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Exemplary locking devices will now be described in
`detail with reference to the drawings and specific embodi­
`ments.
`1, a locking device 100 includes a base
`As shown in
`10, a pivoting shaft 11, an operating lever 12 and a repulsion
`generating member 丄3. rhe pivoting shaft 11 is arranged on
`the base 10, and one end of the operating lever 12 is
`
`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 12
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`

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`US 9,648,805 B2
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`3
`provided with a locking member 12a for rotating around the
`pivoting shaft 11 relative to the base 10, and the repulsion
`generating member 13 is arranged between the base 10 and
`the operating lever 12.
`In the illustrated device, the repulsion generating member
`13 is a torsion spring with one end 13a connected to the base
`10 and the other end 13わ connected to the operating lever 12.
`When the operating lever 12 is in a releasing position, the
`torsion spring is in a natural condition, and when the
`operating lever 12 is in a locking position, the torsion spring
`is in a compressed condition. When the operating lever 12 is
`in the releasing position, a relatively small pretension force
`may be applied to the torsion spring.
`FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the locking device of FIG.
`1 used in a telescopic rod. As shown in FIG. 2, a telescopic
`rod 20 includes an inner tube 21, an outer tube 22 and the
`locking device 100. The inner tube 21 is slidably connected
`to the outer tube 22, and the locking device 100 locks the
`relative position between the inner tube 21 and the outer tube
`22. The base 10 of the locking device 100 is sleeved on the
`outer tube 21.
`As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the outer tube 22 is provided with
`a through hole 22a and a compression member 22b which
`moves radially along the tube 22b. When the operating lever
`12 is rotated to the locking position, the locKing member 12a
`passes through the through hole 22a to compress the inner
`tube 21. The locking member 12a may also directly apply a
`force to the inner tube 21, and the compression member 22b
`is used to enable the locking member 12a to fix the inner
`tube more firmly.
`Furthermore, the inner tube 21 has a hole 21a and the
`outer tube 22 has a hole 22c, and the operating lever 丄2
`further includes a locking reinforcement member 12b which
`can be engaged with the hole 21a and the hole 22c simul­
`taneously. In the illustrated example, the locKing reinforce­
`ment member 12b is a post.
`Additionally, the other end of the operating lever 丄2
`opposite to the locking member 丄2a is provided with a
`mction portion 12c, and when the operating lever 12 is
`rotated to the locking position, the friction portion 12c is
`tightly engaged with the outer wall 10a of the base 10.
`The illustrated, exemplary locking device may be oper­
`ated as follows: when the locking device 100 is in the
`released state, the operating lever 12 is in the releasing
`position, and then the torsion spring is in a natural condition
`or maybe applying a relatively small pretension force. When
`the inner tube 12 and the outer tube 22 need to be locked, the
`operating lever is rotated towards the locking position by the
`user. At that moment, the operating lever 丄2 needs to
`overcome the torsion F1 of the torsion spring, and the arm
`of the force relative to the pivoting shaft l l is LI, therefore
`the moment of torque is LI *F l. When the operating lever 丄 2
`is rotated to the locking position, the friction portion 丄2c is
`tightly engaged with the outer wall 10a of the base 10. The
`mction force of the inction portion 12c applied by the outer
`wall 10a is F2, and the arm of the force relative to the
`pivoting shaft 11 is L2, therefore the moment of torque is
`L2*F2. As long as L2*F2 is larger than Ll *F1, the operating
`lever 12 will be maintained in the locking position.
`When the user rotates the operating lever 12 from the
`releasing position towards the locking position, the operat­
`ing lever will stay in a middle position between the releasing
`position and the locking position due to the abnormal
`operation oi the user. For example, in this embodiment,
`since the relative position between the inner tube 21 and the
`outer tube 22 is not stretched to a preset position, the hole
`21a is not aligned with the hole 22c, and the locking
`
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`4
`reinforcement member 12b can only be inserted into the hole
`22c, as in the situation shown in FIG. 5. Because the locking
`device 100 in the illustrated example further includes the
`repulsion generating member 丄3， the operating lever 丄2
`needs to overcome a torsion F1' of the torsion spring, and the
`arm of the force relative to the pivoting shaft 11 is Ll',
`therefore the moment of torque is L l'^Fl'. In that case, the
`operating lever will return to the releasing position under the
`action of the torsion FI', which provide an indication to the
`user that the operating lever 12 is not locked in position,
`thereby reminding the user to check whether the relative
`position between the inner tube 21 and the outer tube 22 are
`stretched in position.
`In the illustrated example the repulsion generating mem­
`ber 13 is a torsion spring, but the present disclosure is not
`limited to this. In other embodiments, the repulsion gener­
`ating member 13 may also be a tower-shaped spring 13' or
`two magnets 13"a and 13"b arranged opposite to each other,
`as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively.
`The example shown in FIG. 7 has similar structures and
`operating process to that shown in FIG. 1 and the difference
`only lies in that the repulsion generating member is a
`tower-shaped spring 13'. One end 13'a of the tower-shaped
`spring 13' is connected to the base 10 and the other end 13'Z?
`is connected to the operating lever 12. When the operating
`lever 12 is in the releasing position, the tower-shaped spring
`13' is in a natural condition or applies a relatively small
`pretension force. When the operating lever 12 is in the
`locking position, the tower-shaped spring 13' is in a com­
`pressed condition. When the operating lever 12 is positioned
`between the releasing position and the locking position, the
`operating lever 12 will return to the releasing position under
`the action of the elastic force of the tower-shaped spring 13'
`so as to provide an indication to the user.
`The example shown in FIG. 8 has similar structures and
`operating process to the example shown in FIG. 1 and the
`difference only lies in that the repulsion generating member
`includes two magnets 13”a and 13”わ arranged opposite to
`each other. One magnet 13"a is arranged on the base 10 and
`the other magnet 13"b is arranged on the operating lever 12.
`The two ends of the two magnets 13”a and 13”わ opposite to
`each other have the same polarity, for example, both are N
`pole. When the operating lever 12 is in the releasing
`position, the distance between the two magnets 13"a and
`13”わ is relatively large, therefore the repulsion force caused
`by the two magnets 13"a and 13"b is relatively small. When
`the operating lever 12 is in the locking position, the distance
`between the two magnets 13”a and 13”わ is relatively small,
`therefore the repulsion force caused by the two magnets
`13”a and 13”わ is increased. When the operating lever 12 is
`positioned between the releasing position and the locking
`position, the operating lever 丄2 will return to the releasing
`position under the action of the repulsion force between the
`two magnets 13”a and 13”わ so as to provide an indication to
`the user.
`Additionally, in the above examples the operating lever
`has a rotating movement relative to the base, but the present
`disclosure is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the
`operating lever may also have a linear movement relative to
`the base, as long as the operating lever has a releasing
`position and a locking position relative to the base.
`The present disclosure further provides a mower includ­
`ing the above telescopic rod. Flu. 9 is a schematic view of
`the telescopic rod used in the mower. The operating prin­
`ciple of the mower 200 will not be descnbed in detail herein.
`Certainly, the telescopic rod may also be used in other
`garden tools having a pushing rod (e.g. a handle) or an
`
`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 13
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`

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`US 9,648,805 B2
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`5
`operating rod, such as a trimmer or a pole saw. A telescopic
`rod 20 of the mower may be locked by the locking device
`100. Due to the abnormal operation of the user, the operating
`lever 12 will automatically return to the releasing position
`when it is positioned in a middle position between the
`releasing position and the locking position, thereby provid­
`ing an indication to the user that the inner tube and the outer
`tube are not locked in position. As such, the exemplary
`devices can prevent the relative sliding between the inner
`tube and the outer tube when the inner tube and the outer
`tube are not in the locking position during the operating
`process, and thereby prevent the risk of damaging the user.
`The present disclosure describes a repulsion generating
`member arranged between the base and the operating lever,
`therefore when the operating lever is positioned between the
`releasing position and the locking position due to abnormal
`operation, the operating lever will return to the releasing
`position because of the repulsion force, and thereby provide
`an indication to the user. As such, the exemplary devices can
`prevent the relative sliding between the inner tube and the
`outer tube of the telescopic rod when the inner tube and the
`outer tube do not extend to the position during the operating
`process, and thereby prevent the risk of damaging the user.
`The above illustrates and describes basic principles, main
`features and advantages of the present disclosure. Those
`skilled in the art should appreciate that the above embodi­
`ments do not limit the present disclosure in any form.
`Technical solutions obtained by equivalent substitution or
`equivalent variations are intended to fall within the scope of
`the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A mower, comprising:
`a main body;
`four wheels supporting the main body; and
`a handle connected to the main body, the handle com­
`prising a telescopic rod, wherein the telescopic rod
`comprises:
`an inner tube;
`an outer tube; and
`a locking device, wherein the inner tube is slidably
`connected to the outer tube, the locking device
`locking the relative position between the inner tube
`and the outer tube, wherein the locking device com­
`prises:
`a pivoting shaft;
`an operating lever;
`
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`a base; and
`a repulsion generating member,
`the base being sleeved on the outer tube and the
`pivoting shaft being arranged on the base, a first
`end of the operating lever being provided with a
`locking member for rotating around the pivoting
`shaft relative to the base, the repulsion generating
`member being arranged between the base and the
`operating lever and generating a repulsion force
`for application to the operating lever during the
`movement of the operating lever from the releas­
`ing position to the locking position,
`wherein the inner tube has a first through hole and the
`outer tube has a cooperating second through hole, the
`operating lever further comprises a locking rein­
`forcement member for engagement with the first
`through hole and the second through hole simulta­
`neously when the first through hole and the second
`through hole are aligned and the locking member is
`moved towards the locking position, and
`wherein a second end of the operating lever opposite to
`the first end of the locking member is provided with
`a friction portion, and when the operating lever is
`rotated to the locking position the friction portion is
`frictionally engaged with the outer wall of the base.
`2. The mower according to claim 1, wherein the repulsion
`generating member is a torsion spring with one end con­
`nected to the base and the other end connected to the
`operating lever, when the operating lever is in the releasing
`position, the torsion spring is in a natural state, and when the
`operating lever is in the locking position, the torsion spring
`is in a compressed state.
`3. The mower according to claim 1, wherein the repulsion
`generating member is a tower-shaped spring with one end
`connected to the base and the other end connected to the
`operating lever, wherein when the operating lever is in the
`releasing position, the tower-shaped spring is in a natural
`state, and when the operating lever is in the locking position,
`the tower-shaped spring is in a compressed state.
`4. The mower according to claim 1, wherein the repulsion
`generating member comprises two magnets arranged oppo­
`site to each other, one magnet is arranged on the base and the
`other magnet is arranged on the operating lever, and two
`ends of the two magnets opposite to each other have the
`same polarity.
`
`TTI
`Exhibit 1001 - Page 14
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