(12, UK Patent Application <19, GB m,2 386813 (i3)A
`
`(43) Date of A Publication 01.10.2003
`
`INT CL7
`A01D 34/82
`
`UK CL (Edition V )
`A1F FHA
`
`Documents Cited
`WO 2002/006212 A1
`US 4738084 A
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`DE 004428373 C1
`
`Field of Search
`UK CL (Edition V)A1F
`INT CL7 A01D
`Other: On-line: WPI, EPODOC, JARIO
`
`(21) Application No 0306962.2
`
`(22) Date of Filing 26.03.2003
`
`(30) Priority Data
`(31) 10214679
`
`(32) 28.03.2002
`
`(33) DE
`
`(71) Applicant(s)
`GARDENA Kress & Kastner GmbH
`(Incorporated in the Federal Republic of Germany)
`Hans-Lorenser-Strasse 40,89079 Ulm,
`Federal Republic of Germany
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`{56)
`
`(58)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor(s)
`Vincent Reichart
`
`(74) Agent and/or Address for Service
`Elkington and FiTe
`Prospect House, 8 Pembroke Road,
`SEVENOAKS, Kent, TIVI13 1XR,
`United Kingdom
`
`(54) Abstract Title
`Adjustable handle for a lawnmower
`
`(57) A ground working machine, particularly a lawnmower is described, which is provided with a handle 5 on
`a telescopic tube 3 and whose length can be adjusted in order to adapt to operators of different heights. It Is
`consequently possible to bring the position of the handle 5 to different heights, but simultaneously with a
`higher positioned handle to increase the spacing (a + b) with respect to the lawnmower casing 1. This makes it
`possible to adapt to the stride of the operator.
`
`G C
`D2 386 813
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`A
`At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy. TTI
`Exhibit 1007 - Page 1
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`Exhibit 1007 - Page 2
`Exhibit 1007 - Page 2
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`FIG 3
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`b
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`g
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`bo
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`to
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`TTI
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`Exhibit 1007 - Page 3
`Exhibit 1007 - Page 3
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`P 41566 GB
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`2386813
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`GROUND WORKING MACHINE, PARTICULARLY LAWNMOWER
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`[001] The invention relates to a ground working machine, particularly a
`lawnmower having a handle arranged in spaced manner from a machine
`5 casing on a linkage and whose position relative to the casing is variable.
`
`[002] It is known that engine-driven ground working machines, particu­
`larly lawnmowers, can be pushed and guided by means of a handle,
`which is fitted to a linkage. In the case of self-propelled lawnmowers the
`10 handle can also have different operating elements, which are to be ori­
`ented in such a way that the operator can operate the ground working
`machine in an ergonomic position.
`
`[003] DE 35 32 830 C2 discloses a self-propelled lawnmower, in which
`15 a linkage with a handle is pivotable both about a horizontal axis and also
`about a vertical axis. The aim of the lateral pivotability is to also be able
`to guide the machine from the side. The vertical pivotability of the link­
`age is to be utilized in order to offer the handle in a readily accessible
`height to operators of different heights.
`
`[004] However, in connection with the vertical pivotability about the hori­
`zontal axis, with a higher handle position the operator has a reduced
`horizontal spacing with respect to the mower. This is also the case in
`another guide rod known from DE 44 28 373 C1. In practice, the han-
`25 dling of mowers with such a pivotable linkage is unfavourable for per­
`sons having widely differing body heights and sizes.
`
`[005] The problem of the invention is to provide a ground working ma­
`chine of the aforementioned type, which can be equally easily handled
`30 by persons having different body sizes and heights. The solution ac­
`cording to the invention is described in claim 1.
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1007 - Page 4
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`P 41566 GB
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`[006] The inventive correlation of height and horizontal position of the
`handle advantageously leads to the fact that in the case of taller per­
`sons, who generally also have a larger stride, there is also a greater
`stepping freedom behind the ground working machine, e.g. a mower or a
`grass collector fitted thereto. Advantageously the pushing angle, i.e. the
`angle of the connecting line of the handle to the machine casing, re­
`mains largely unchanged with respect to the horizontal. Preferably the
`linkage in the use position is fixed to the casing with a pushing angle ori­
`entation independent of the handle position. Thus, for all body heights
`and sizes a good force introduction can be obtained during pushing.
`
`[007] The handle position change can e.g. be obtained by a swivel con­
`nection between the handle and the linkage. However, preferably the
`length of the linkage, particularly in the case of a constant angular orien­
`tation with respect to the casing, is variably adjustable and lockable.
`
`[008] In a preferred development of the invention the linkage comprises
`in simple manner a telescopically constructed tube, in which the tele­
`scoped tube parts are provided with spaced openings for the passing
`through of locking pins or bolts. It is particularly advantageous to lock
`the telescoped tube parts by clamping devices in their length and which
`are operable by a box nut and fix the telescoped tube parts in a positive
`and/or non-positive manner with respect to one another.
`
`[009] According to a further development of the invention the telescopic
`tube can be fitted to the machine casing with the aid of an articulation
`and can be pivoted about the latter from the use position into the non­
`use position. The articulation and telescopic tube can be advanta­
`geously positioned and constructed in such a way that in the telescoped
`state, the telescopic tube with the handle does not project over the ma­
`chine casing. If with such a construction the telescopic tube is held on
`the articulation so as to pivot by at least 1300, there is no need to re­
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`5
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1007 - Page 5
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`P 41566 GB
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`move the telescopic tube for collapsing onto the machine casing. This
`construction offers the advantage that the machine casing, together with
`the telescopic tube and handle can be easily fitted in the preassembled
`state into a common packing and the space requirement for the machine
`when not in use is not significantly greater than the dimensions of the
`machine casing.
`
`[010] According to a further development of the invention in the interior
`of the telescopic tube can be placed a spiral cable as the electrical con­
`nection between the machine drive and the operating elements on the
`handle. As a result of this construction it is possible to shorten the tube
`without any risk of the cable becoming damaged. According to an ad­
`vantageous development, the telescopic tube part located on the side of
`the handle and also the actual handle can be made from electrically in­
`sulating material, so that a good electrical safety insulation is provided.
`
`[011] The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter relative to
`embodiments and the attached drawings, wherein show:
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`5
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`Fig. 1 The arrangement of a telescopic steering column according to
`the invention on a lawnmower casing.
`
`Fig. 2 The arrangement according to fig. 1, but with the telescopic
`steering column reduced to its minimum dimensions when out of
`operation.
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`25
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`Fig. 3 The side view of a lawnmower similar to fig. 1, but with
`representations of different handle and linkage positions.
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`30
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`Fig. 4 The plan view of the lawnmower of fig. 1 without the 'guiding
`telescopic tube.
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1007 - Page 6
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`P 41566 GB
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`[012] Figs. 1 and 2 reveal that to the top of the casing 1 of a lawn-
`mower, which is only diagrammatically shown with respect to its con­
`tours, is fitted a tongue 2 on which the lower part 3a of a telescopic tube
`3 is pivotably placed with the aid of a threaded bolt 4. The engine cowl­
`ing is designated 6. The bolt 4 passes in a horizontal plane, so that the
`telescopic tube 3 is also pivoted about a horizontal axis. In the use posi­
`tion, the telescopic tube is preferably connected with a substantially con­
`stant angular orientation to the casing. The pivotability of the telescopic
`tube about the horizontal pivoting axis also makes it possible to pivot
`from the use position of fig. 1 into a non-use position according to fig. 2
`or a not expressly shown parking position with the telescopic tube stand­
`ing upright over the mower casing. Fig. 2 shows that pivoting can take
`place over an angle of 1350, if it is assumed that the telescopic tube 3 in
`the position according to fig. 4 is roughly parallel to the ground and in the
`position according to fig. 1 is at a angle of e.g. 4 〇0 to the ground. Thus,
`the tube part 3a must be fitted to the tongue 2 in such a way that at least
`in the position according to fig. 1 it is locked at an angle to the ground
`and this is possible in known manner by corresponding stop members.
`As a function of the ground working machine model, the angle can differ
`from the indicated value.
`
`[013] As will be explained relative to figs. 3 and 4, this construction Of­
`fers the possibility of adapting the height of the handle 5 to the operator,
`whilst simultaneously also ensuring that the length of the telescopic tube
`3 is increased when the handle 5 is positioned higher, so as to give the
`operator the necessary stepping freedom.
`
`[014] Fig. 3 diagrammatically shows the lawnmower casing 1 with the
`wheels 7, which may or may not be driven and with an indicated bound­
`ary line 8 corresponding to the blade circular path, which is also visible
`in fig. 4. The minimum spacing a between said blade circular path 8
`must also exist in the case when the telescopic tube 3 has its minimum
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1007 - Page 7
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`P 41566 GB
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`length and which is indicated in fig. 3 with the handle position 5'. In this
`position the length of the telescopic tube 3 essentially corresponds to
`that of the tube part 3a. This ensures that the person then operating the
`lawnmower, who is consequently relatively short, maintains the neces­
`sary minimum spacing a with respect to the blade circular path 8.
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`[015] If the lawnmower is operated by a significantly taller person, the
`telescopic tube 3 can be extracted to its full length, the tube length then
`corresponding to the length of the tube parts 3a and 3b and the handle
`takes up position 5 with a significantly greater height assuming that the
`angular arrangement, i.e. the inclined position of the telescopic tube 3
`about angle has remained constant. As a result the spacing of the
`handle 5 in this position is greater by the amount than the spacing a with
`respect to the blade circular path 8 and naturally also with respect to the
`casing 1. The taller operator then has the handle 5 available to him at
`an ergonomic height. Due to the greater distance from the lawnmower
`casing 1 his stride is not impaired and he can push the lawnmower with
`a more favourable force introduction.
`
`[016] In this embodiment the length setting of the telescopic tube can be
`brought about by not shown clamping devices, which come into action
`through the operation of a box nut 11 and prevent a positive and/or non­
`positive mutual axial adjustment of the tube parts 3a and 3b. Thus, the
`tube parts are also secured against mutual relative twisting, it would
`also be possible to provide the tube parts with transversely directed
`bores for the insertion of locking pins or bolts, so as to be able to carry
`out a length setting in this way.
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`[017] Fig. 4 again shows the position of the minimum spacing 9 with re­
`spect to the machine and in dot-dash line form 10 also the dimensions of
`the outer contour of the lawnmower, without the telescopic tube means
`being folded out.
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1007 - Page 8
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`P 41566 GB
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`Fig. 3 makes it clear that when the telescopic tube 3 is telescoped
`[018]
`to its smallest length, i.e. essentially to the length of the outer tube 3a,
`said tube 3 can be pivoted by an angle of 1800- counterclockwise in
`5 order to take up position 3', which is also shown in fig. 2. As is revealed
`in fig. 3,, the construction is such that the telescoped telescopic tube is
`no longer than the lawnmower casing 1, so that in its position 5" the
`handle is still within the machine contour 10, which means that the tele­
`scopic tube with handle and mower casing in the installed state can be
`10 placed in a common packaging carton. Thus, the machine has a very
`limited space requirement in the non-use position.
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`15
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`Within the telescopic tube it is possible to lay a spiral cable, which
`[019]
`passes from the handle 5 and the operating elements located there to
`the engine 6 or also to a travelling gear as a control cable. This spiral
`cable is able without difficulty to participate in the length changes of the
`telescopic tube 3. There is no cable damage risk.
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1007 - Page 9
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`P 41566 GB
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`CLAIMS
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`1. Ground working machine, particularly lawnmower, with a handle (5)
`5 arranged in spaced manner from a machine casing on a linkage (3) and
`whose position relative to the casing can be variably adjusted, character­
`ized in that the height of the handle and its horizontal spacing are simul­
`taneously variable in such a way that a greater height is associated with
`a greater horizontal spacing.
`
`10
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`2. Ground working machine according to claim 1, characterized in that
`the length of the linkage (3) is adjustable and lockable.
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`3. Ground working machine according to claim 2, characterized in that
`the linkage comprises a telescopically constructed tube (3).
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`15
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`4. Ground working machine according to claim 3, characterized in that
`the telescoped tube parts (3a, 3b) are provided with spaced openings for
`the passage of locking pins.
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`20
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`5. Ground working machine according to claim 3, characterized in that
`the telescoped tube parts (3a, 3b) can be locked in their mutual length
`by clamping devices operable by a box nut (11).
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`25 6. Ground working machine according to one of the claims 1 to 5, char­
`acterized in that the linkage (3) is pivotably fitted to the machine casing
`(1) with the aid of an articulation (2) and is constructed in such a way
`that in the state set to minimum length and pivoted from the use position
`about the articulation, it does not exceed the length of the machine cas-
`ing (1).
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`30
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1007 - Page 10
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`P 41566 GB
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`-8 -
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`7. Ground working machine according to claim 6, characterized in that
`the linkage (3) is held on the articulation (2) so as to pivot by at least
`1300.
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`8. Ground working machine according to claim 3, characterized in that
`in the interior of the telescopic tube (3) is laid a spiral cable in the form of
`the electrical connection between the machine drive and the operating
`elements on the handle.
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`9. Ground working machine according to claim 8, characterized in that
`the part of the telescopic tube (3b) located on the side of the handle is
`made from electrically insulating material.
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`TTI
`Exhibit 1007 - Page 11
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`Application No:
`Claims searched:
`
`GB 0306962.2
`1-9
`
`Examiner:
`Date of search:
`
`Rhys Williams
`8 July 2003
`
`Patents Act 1977 : Search Report under Section 17
`
`Documents considered to be relevant:
`Category Relevant
`Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance
`to claims
`1-9 WO 02/062126 A1
`US 4738084
`-
`DE 4428373 Cl
`
`(GARDENA) Whole document relevant.
`(OGANO) Whole document relevant.
`(WOLF) Whole document relevant.
`
`X ,P
`A
`A
`
`Categories:
`
`X
`
`Y
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`&
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`D ocum ent indicating lack o f novelty o r inventive step
`
`D ocum ent indicating lack o f in ventive step if com bined
`w ith one or m ore other docum ents o f sa m e category.
`
`M em ber of the sam e patent fam ily
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`A
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`P
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`E
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`D o cu m en t in d ic a tin g te ch n o lo g ical background a n d /o r state o f the a rt
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`D o cu m en t p u b lish e d o n ot a fter th e declared prio rity date but b efo re the
`filing d a te o f th is in v e n tio n .
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`P atent d o c u m e n t p u b lish e d on o r after, but w ith prio rity date earlier
`than, th e filin g d a te o f th is ap plication.
`
`Field of Search:
`Search of GB, EP, WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCV:
`A1F
`
`Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC7： _
`A01D
`
`The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report:
`WPI，EPODOC， JAPIO
`
`An Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry
`
`TTI
`Exhibit 1007 - Page 12
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