Concrete vibrator

Abstract

A concrete vibrator includes a housing, a strap, an electric motor, a flexible shaft, a vibrator head, and battery pack. The strap is removably coupled to the housing. The electric motor s coupled to the housing. The flexible shaft has a first end coupled to the motor and an opposite, second end. The vibrator head is coupled to the second end of the shaft. The vibrator head is configured to receive torque from the motor and the shaft to cause the vibrator head to vibrate. The battery pack is coupled to a battery receptacle defined on the housing. The battery pack is configured to provide electric current to the electric motor to drive the motor and the shaft. The concrete vibrator is operable in a messenger bag configuration in which the strap is used to carry the concrete vibrator with the housing in a horizontal orientation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A concrete vibrator comprising:
 a housing;   a strap coupled to the housing;   an electric motor coupled to the housing;   a flexible shaft having a first end coupled to the motor and an opposite, second end;   a vibrator head coupled to the second end of the shaft, the vibrator head configured to receive torque from the motor and the shaft to cause the vibrator head to vibrate; and   a battery pack coupled to a battery receptacle defined on the housing, the battery pack configured to provide electric current to the electric motor to drive the motor and the shaft;   wherein the concrete vibrator is operable in a messenger bag configuration in which the strap is used to carry the concrete vibrator with the housing in a horizontal orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle extending from the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 2 , wherein the handle includes a first end having a first attachment feature and a second end having a second attachment feature, the strap having a first strap end configured to be coupled to the first attachment feature and a second strap end configured to be coupled to the second attachment feature. 
     
     
         4 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 3 , wherein the first end of the handle is bifurcated at the first end to define a first arm and a second arm spaced from the first arm, and the first attachment feature is a post extending between the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         5 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle extending from the housing, wherein the concrete vibrator is operable in a briefcase configuration in which the housing is supportable in the horizontal orientation with the handle providing the support for the concrete vibrator. 
     
     
         6 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a front surface from which the first end of the flexible shaft protrudes, an opposite rear surface, and a plurality of side surfaces spanning the front surface and the rear surface. 
     
     
         7 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 6 , further comprising a handle extending from one of the side surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 6 , wherein the strap is configured to be coupled to one of the side surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . A concrete vibrator comprising:
 a housing having a front surface, an opposite rear surface, and a plurality of side surfaces spanning the front surface and the rear surface;   an electric motor coupled to the housing;   a flexible shaft having a first end coupled to the motor and projecting from the front surface of the housing, the flexible shaft having an opposite, second end;   a vibrator head coupled to the second end of the shaft, the vibrator head configured to receive torque from the motor and the shaft to cause the vibrator head to vibrate;   a battery pack coupled to a battery receptacle defined on the housing, the battery pack configured to provide electric current to the electric motor to drive the motor and the shaft; and   a tether coupled to the housing, the tether being configured to be engaged by an external structure.   
     
     
         10 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 9  wherein the housing has a stepped surface positioned between the front surface and the rear surface thereof, the tether being coupled to the stepped surface. 
     
     
         11 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 9 , further comprising a shroud surrounding the first end of the flexible shaft and coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 11 , wherein the tether is coupled to the shroud. 
     
     
         13 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 9 , wherein the tether includes a tether mount removably coupled to the housing by a fastener and a tether ring which is secured to the housing by the tether plate. 
     
     
         14 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 13 , wherein the tether mount is removably coupled to a shroud which surrounds the first end of the flexible shaft and is coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         15 . A concrete vibrator comprising:
 a housing defining an interior volume;   an electric motor coupled to the housing;   a flexible shaft having a first end coupled to the motor and projecting from the housing, the flexible shaft having an opposite, second end;   a vibrator head coupled to the second end of the shaft, the vibrator head configured to receive torque from the motor and the shaft to cause the vibrator head to vibrate;   a battery pack coupled to a battery receptacle defined on the housing, the battery pack configured to provide electric current to the electric motor to drive the motor and the shaft; and   at least one means for preventing ingress of matter into the interior volume of the housing.   
     
     
         16 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 15 , wherein the means is a battery latch cover which is movable between a protection position in which ingress of matter into the interior volume of the housing is prevented by the battery latch cover and a battery engaging position in which the battery engages the battery receptacle, and the battery and the battery latch cover together prevent ingress of matter into the interior volume. 
     
     
         17 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 16 , further comprising a spring configured to bias the battery latch cover to the protection position. 
     
     
         18 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 15 , wherein the housing includes a fastener recess on an outer profile thereof, the fastener recess being configured to receive a fastener, and the means is a plug engaged with the fastener recess to prevent ingress of debris or fluid into the fastener recess and thus the interior of the housing via the fastener recess. 
     
     
         19 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 15 , further comprising a switch configured to control operation of the electric motor, wherein the means is a switch cover surrounding the switch. 
     
     
         20 . The concrete vibrator of  claim 19 , wherein the switch cover is deformable to permit operation of the switch while the switch cover surrounds the switch.