Garden implement

Abstract

A garden implement that utilizes a hub motor assembly coupled to a frame. One or more working tools may be selectively coupled to a hub body encompassing a hub motor of the hub motor assembly. The working tools are operative to work soil in a garden or other agricultural setting. The hub motor may include a brushless DC motor driven by an electrical power source. The electrical power source may include a battery or an AC power source. Alternatively, the hub motor may be used to drive a wheel which propels the garden implement.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garden implement comprising:
 a frame comprising a lower frame portion including two spaced-apart leg portions having respective first and second ends, and an upper frame portion comprising two spaced-apart handles;   a hub motor assembly comprising a horizontal non-rotating shaft, a hub motor mounted on the shaft for rotation thereabout, and a hub body encompassing the hub motor and operative to be rotatably driven by the hub motor, the shaft protruding laterally outward from the hub body on a left and right side thereof, the respective first ends of the leg portions of the lower frame portion each being selectively couplable to the shaft on opposite sides of the hub body;   a wheel couplable to the hub body and configured to rotate therewith as the hub body is rotatably driven by the hub motor;   a power supply module coupled to the frame and operatively coupled to the hub motor to provide electrical power thereto; and   a working tool coupled to a working tool mounting portion of the frame and extending downwardly therefrom.   
     
     
         2 . The garden implement of  claim 1 , wherein the working tool mounting portion comprises the second ends of the spaced-apart leg portions of the lower frame portion. 
     
     
         3 . The garden implement of  claim 1 , wherein the working tool comprises a garden hoe. 
     
     
         4 . The garden implement of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor controller operative control the speed of rotation of the hub motor; and   a user control device operatively coupled to the motor controller configured to receive user input from a user and control the speed of rotation of the hub motor dependent on the received user input.   
     
     
         5 . The garden implement of  claim 4 , wherein the motor controller is disposed within the power supply module and the user control device is disposed on the upper frame portion near one of the two spaced-apart handles. 
     
     
         6 . The garden implement of  claim 4 , wherein the motor controller is disposed within the hub body. 
     
     
         7 . The garden implement of  claim 4 , wherein the user control device is coupled to the motor controller via a wired connection. 
     
     
         8 . The garden implement of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply module comprises an AC/DC power converter operative to receive AC power from an external power source and to deliver DC power to the hub motor. 
     
     
         9 . The garden implement of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply module comprises a battery. 
     
     
         10 . The garden implement of  claim 1 , wherein the lower frame portion and the upper frame portion are selectively pivotable relative to each other about an upright axis. 
     
     
         11 . The garden implement of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame support bracket comprising a first bracket portion coupled to the lower frame portion and a second bracket portion coupled to the upper frame portion, the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion being coupled together to thereby couple the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion together. 
     
     
         12 . The garden implement of  claim 11 , wherein the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion are selectively pivotable relative to each other about an upright axis. 
     
     
         13 . The garden implement of  claim 11 , wherein the lower frame portion and the first bracket portion are selectively pivotable relative to each other about a laterally extending axis. 
     
     
         14 . The garden implement of  claim 11 , wherein the upper frame portion and the second bracket portion are selectively pivotable relative to each other about a laterally extending axis. 
     
     
         15 . A garden implement comprising:
 a frame comprising a first end portion including at least one axle support member, and a second end portion comprising a handle;   a hub motor assembly comprising a horizontal non-rotating shaft, a hub motor mounted on the shaft for rotation thereabout, and a hub body encompassing the hub motor and operative to be rotatably driven by the hub motor, the shaft protruding laterally outward from the hub body on at least one of a left and right side thereof, the at least one axle support member being selectively couplable to the shaft;   a wheel couplable to the hub body and configured to engage soil and rotate with the hub body as the hub body is rotatably driven by the hub motor;   a power supply module coupled to the frame and operatively coupled to the hub motor to provide electrical power thereto; and   a working tool coupled to the frame and extending downwardly therefrom, the working tool configured to engage soil as the wheel rotates to move the frame forward.   
     
     
         16 . The garden implement of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a motor controller operative control the speed of rotation of the hub motor; and   a user control device operatively coupled to the motor controller configured to receive user input from a user and control the speed of rotation of the hub motor dependent on the received user input.   
     
     
         17 . The garden implement of  claim 16 , wherein the motor controller is disposed within the power supply module and the user control device is disposed on the second end portion of the frame. 
     
     
         18 . The garden implement of  claim 16 , wherein the motor controller is disposed within the hub body. 
     
     
         19 . The garden implement of  claim 16 , wherein the user control device is coupled to the motor controller via a wired connection. 
     
     
         20 . The garden implement of  claim 15 , wherein the power supply module comprises an AC/DC power converter operative to receive AC power from an external power source and to deliver DC power to the hub motor. 
     
     
         21 . The garden implement of  claim 15 , wherein the first end portion of the frame and the second end portion of the frame are selectively pivotable relative to each other about an upright axis. 
     
     
         22 . The garden implement of  claim 15 , further comprising a frame support bracket comprising a first bracket portion coupled to the first end portion of the frame and a second bracket portion coupled to the second end portion of the frame, the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion being coupled together to thereby couple together the first and second end portions of the frame. 
     
     
         23 . The garden implement of  claim 22 , wherein the first bracket portion and the second bracket portion are selectively pivotable relative to each other about an upright axis. 
     
     
         24 . The garden implement of  claim 22 , wherein the first end portion of the frame and the first bracket portion are selectively pivotable relative to each other about a laterally extending axis. 
     
     
         25 . The garden implement of  claim 22 , wherein the second end portion of the frame and the second bracket portion are selectively pivotable relative to each other about a laterally extending axis.