Combination string trimmer and blower tool

Abstract

A multi-purpose tool powered by an attached power source is used as an air blower capable of delivering a high-velocity stream of air when the multi-purpose tool is in a blower mode of operation and as a rotating string trimmer capable of trimming vegetation when in a trimmer mode of operation. The tool includes a tubular shaft boom and an internal drive shaft configured to be rotated by the power source, and an impeller operatively connected to the internal drive shaft so as to be rotatable within the chamber and a trimmer head positioned below the impeller, the trimmer head operatively connected to the internal drive shaft so as to be selectively rotatable by the power source. The tool also has a blower housing positioned at a distal end of the shaft boom including an enclosed chamber, a plurality of vents leading to the chamber, and a blower nozzle for directing air from the chamber, wherein the impeller is rotatably mounted in the chamber such that the housing defines an air pathway between the vents and the impeller. The multi-purpose tool also includes means for blocking the flow of air between vents and the impeller when the multi-purpose tool is in the trimmer mode of operation and means for disengaging the trimmer head from the internal drive shaft when the multi-purpose tool is in the blower mode.

1 . A portable multi-purpose tool powered by a power source for use as an air blower capable of delivering a high-velocity stream of air when the multi-purpose tool is in a blower mode of operation and also as a rotating string trimmer capable of trimming vegetation when in the multi-purpose tool is in a trimmer mode of operation, the multi-purpose tool comprising: 
 a shaft boom;    a blower housing located at a distal end of said shaft boom, said housing defining an enclosed chamber and comprising at least one vent leading to said chamber and a blower nozzle for directing air out of said chamber;    a drive shaft positioned at least partially within the blower housing, the drive shaft being configured to be rotated by said power source;    an impeller located within said chamber, said impeller being operatively connected to the drive shaft so as to be rotatable within said chamber to deliver a high-velocity stream of air out of said blower nozzle; and    a trimmer head having at least one cutting line positioned below said blower housing, said trimmer head being operatively connected to the drive shaft so as to be selectively rotatable by said power source.    
   
   
       2 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 1  wherein the chamber is a volute shaped chamber having a center coaxial with an axis of rotation of the impeller and a radius which varies around the circumference of the blower housing.  
   
   
       3 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 1  further comprising a selectively positionable air blocking mechanism, wherein the blower housing defines an air pathway between the vents in the blower housing and the impeller, the pathway being open when the multi-purpose tool is in the blower mode of operation so that air flows through the at least one vent and to the impeller, and the pathway being substantially blocked by the air blocking mechanism when the multi-purpose tool is in the trimmer mode of operation so that air is substantially prevented from flowing between the at least one vent and the impeller.  
   
   
       4 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 3  wherein the blower housing is mounted at the distal end of the shaft boom such that the housing is movable between a first and a second position relative the shaft boom such that when the multi-purpose tool is in the blower mode of operation, the housing is in said first position, and when the multi-purpose tool is in the trimmer mode of operation, the housing is in said second position.  
   
   
       5 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 4  further comprising an actuator that moves the housing relative the distal end of the shaft boom between said first position and said second position.  
   
   
       6 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 5  further comprising a support collar positioned at least partially within said blower housing and affixed to a distal end of said shaft boom, said support collar having a restrictor plate forming the air blocking mechanism, wherein when the housing is positioned in the blower mode of operation, the vents in the housing are substantially positioned below the restrictor plate such that the restrictor plate is not between the vents and the impeller, and when the housing is positioned in the trimmer mode of operation, the vents in the housing are substantially positioned above the restrictor plate such that the restrictor plate is between the vents and the impeller and substantially blocks the flow of air from the vents to the impeller.  
   
   
       7 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 6  wherein the actuator is a handle assembly pivotably mounted on the support collar having guides that position the blower housing between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       8 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 1  wherein the trimmer head is operatively connected to the drive shaft through a clutching mechanism configured to selectively clutch the trimmer head when in the trimmer mode of operation and declutch the trimmer head when in the blower mode of operation.  
   
   
       9 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 8  wherein the clutching mechanism comprises a centrifugal clutch affixed to the drive shaft and a clutch drum affixed to the trimmer head, wherein the clutch drum is movable with the blower housing between first and second positions such that the centrifugal clutch nests within and engages the clutch drum when the housing is positioned in the trimmer mode of operation and the centrifugal clutch is positioned outside the clutch drum when the housing is positioned in the blower mode of operation so that the centrifugal clutch does not engage the clutch drum.  
   
   
       10 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 9  wherein the clutching mechanism comprises at least one clutch shoe that engages the clutch drum and a clutch retainer that limits the movement of the at least one clutch shoe when the centrifugal clutch is not nested within the clutch drum in the blower mode of operation.  
   
   
       11 . A portable multi-purpose tool powered by a power source for use as an air blower capable of delivering a high-velocity stream of air when the multi-purpose tool is in a blower mode of operation and also as a rotating string trimmer capable of trimming vegetation when in the multi-purpose tool is in a trimmer mode of operation, the multi-purpose tool comprising: 
 a shaft boom;    a drive shaft operatively connected to a power source and configured to be rotated by said power source;    an impeller operatively connected to the drive shaft so as to be rotated by said power source;    a trimmer head positioned below said impeller, said trimmer head being operatively connected to the drive shaft so as to be selectively rotatable by said power source;    a debris shield configured to protect the operator from flying vegetation clippings, the debris shield comprising a blower housing forming an enclosed chamber in which the impeller is located and an extension guard that extends from the blower housing.    
   
   
       12 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 11  wherein the extension guard is manufactured as an integrated part of the housing.  
   
   
       13 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 11  wherein the extension guard is manufactured as a separate component from the housing and is attached to the housing with fasteners.  
   
   
       14 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 11  wherein the blower housing is located at a distal end of said shaft boom, said housing further comprising a plurality of vents leading to said chamber and a blower nozzle for directing air from said chamber.  
   
   
       15 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 14  wherein the extension guard is positioned on the housing on the side opposite blower nozzle.  
   
   
       16 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 14  further comprising a selectively positionable air blocking mechanism, wherein the blower housing defines an air pathway between the vents in the blower housing and the impeller, the pathway being open when the multi-purpose tool is in the blower mode of operation so that air flows through the vents and to the impeller, and the pathway being substantially blocked by the air blocking mechanism when the multi-purpose tool is in the trimmer mode of operation so that air is substantially prevented from flowing between the vents and the impeller.  
   
   
       17 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 16  wherein the blower housing is mounted at the distal end of the shaft boom such that the housing is movable between a first and a second position relative the distal end of the shaft boom such that when the multi-purpose tool is in the blower mode of operation, the housing is in said first position, and when the multi-purpose tool is in the trimmer mode of operation, the housing is in said second position.  
   
   
       18 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 17  further comprising a support collar positioned at least partially within said blower housing and affixed to a distal end of said shaft boom, said support collar having a restrictor plate forming the air blocking mechanism, wherein when the housing is positioned in the blower mode of operation, the vents in the housing are substantially positioned below the restrictor plate such that the restrictor plate is not between the vents and the impeller, and when the housing is positioned in the trimmer mode of operation, the vents in the housing are substantially positioned above the restrictor plate such that the restrictor plate is between the vents and the impeller and substantially blocks the flow of air from the vents to the impeller.  
   
   
       19 . The multi-purpose tool according to  claim 11  wherein the trimmer head is operatively connected to the drive shaft through a clutching mechanism configured to selectively clutch the trimmer head when in the trimmer mode of operation and declutch the trimmer head when in the blower mode of operation.  
   
   
       20 . A portable multi-purpose tool powered by an attached power source for use as an air blower capable of delivering a high-velocity stream of air when the multi-purpose tool is in a blower mode of operation and as a rotating string trimmer capable of trimming vegetation when in a trimmer mode of operation, the multi-purpose tool comprising: 
 a tubular shaft boom;    an internal drive shaft operatively connected to the power source and configured to be rotated by said power source;    an impeller operatively connected to the internal drive shaft so as to be rotatable within said chamber;    a trimmer head positioned below said impeller, said trimmer head operatively connected to the internal drive shaft so as to be selectively rotatable by said power source;    a blower housing at a distal end of said shaft boom comprising an enclosed chamber, a plurality of vents leading to said chamber, and a blower nozzle for directing air from said chamber, wherein the impeller is rotatably mounted in said chamber such that the housing defines an air pathway between the vents and the impeller;    means for blocking the flow of air between vents and the impeller when the multi-purpose tool is in the trimmer mode of operation; and    means for disengaging the trimmer head from the internal drive shaft when the multi-purpose tool is in the blower mode.