Pruning tool with flexible headpole connection

Claim 2

In a pruning tool comprising means for cutting vegetation, an elongated pole for mounting said vegetation cutting means and means for effecting operation of said cutting means; and means for mounting said cutting means with respect to said pole so that said cutting means may assume an operative cutting position at substantially any angle between about 0° and about 90°, both with respect to the direction of elongation of said pole and a line perpendicular to the direction of elongation of said pole; said mounting means comprising a flexible element operatively connected to said cutting means and said pole.

Claim 3

In a pruning tool comprising a cutting head comprising a first, hook-shaped cutting component and a second cutting component, said second component pivotally mounted with respect to said first component and an elongated base portion affixed to said first component, means for pivoting said second component with respect to said first component for effecting cutting of vegetation, spring means for returning said second component to a non-cutting position with respect to said first component, and a rigid pole; flexible means for mounting said cutting head with respect to a rigid pole so that said cutting head base portion direction of elongation is normally coextensive with said pole direction of elongation but is moveable to positions wherein said base portion direction of elongation makes an angle greater than 0° with respect to said pole direction of elongation.

Claim 4

In a pruning tool comprising a cutting head comprising a first, hook-shaped cutting component and a second cutting component, said second component pivotally mounted with respect to said first component and an elongated base portion affixed to said first component, means for pivoting said second component with respect to said first component for effecting cutting of vegetation, spring means for returning said second component to a non-cutting position with respect to said first component, and a rigid pole; flexible means for mounting said cutting head with respect to a rigid pole so that said cutting head base portion direction of elongation is normally coextensive with said pole direction of elongation but is moveable to positions wherein said base portion direction of elongation makes an angle greater than 0° with respect to said pole direction of elongation.

Claim 5

In a pruning tool as recited in claim 2, further comprising means for rendering said flexible means inactive by locking said cutting head base portion with respect to said pole so that the directions of elongation thereof are coextensive.

Claim 6

In a pruning tool as recited in claim 2, wherein said flexible means comprises a coil spring operatively connected to said cutting head base portion and said pole.

Claim 7

In a pruning tool as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for pivoting said second component with respect to said first component comprises a lever extension of said second component extending generally away from said pole, a first pulley, means for mounting said first pulley with respect to said lever extension of said second component, a second pulley, a cord affixed to said first pulley mounting means, said cord extending from said first pulley mounting means around said second pulley, around said first pulley, and ultimately then generally parallel to the direction of elongation of said pole, a third pulley for receipt of said cord as it extends generally parallel to said pole direction of elongation, and means for swivelly mounting said third pulley on said cutting head base portion.

Claim 8

In a pruning tool as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for pivoting said second component with respect to said first component comprises a lever extension of said second component extending generally away from said pole, a first pulley, means for mounting said first pulley with respect to said lever extension of said second component, a third pulley, means for swivelly mounting said third pulley on said cutting head base portion, and a cord extending around said first pulley and being received in said third pulley as it extends generally parallel to said pole.

Claim 9

In a prunning tool comprising a cutting head comprising a first hook-shaped cutting component and a second cutting component, said second component pivotally mounted with respect to said first component, a pole operatively connected to said cutting head, an elongated base portion elongated in the same direction of elongation as said pole, spring means for biasing said second component to a first, non-cutting position with respect to said first component, and operating means for pivoting said second component with respect to said first component to a second, cutting position against the bias of said spring means; said operating means comprising a lever extension of said second component extending generally away from said pole; a first pulley; means for mounting said first pulley with respect to said lever extension of said second component; a second pulley; a cord affixed to said first pulley mounting means, said cord extending from said first pulley mounting means around said second pulley, around said first pulley, and ultimately then generally parallel to the direction of elongation of said pole; a third pulley for receipt of said cord as it extends generally parallel to said pole direction of elongation, said third pulley having an axis of rotation; and means for swivelly mounting said third pulley operatively with said cutting head base portion for pivotal movement of said axis of rotation with respect to said base portion.

Claim 10

In a prunning tool comprising a cutting head comprising a first hook-shaped cutting component and a second cutting component, said second component pivotally mounted with respect to said first component, a pole operatively connected to said cutting head, an elongated base portion elongated in the same direction of elongation as said pole, spring means for biasing said second component to a first, non-cutting position with respect to said first component, and operating means for pivoting said second component with respect to said first component to a second, cutting position against the bias of said spring means; said operating means comprising a lever extension of said second component extending generally away from said pole; a first pulley; means for mounting said first pulley with respect to said lever extension of said second component; a second pulley; a cord affixed to said first pulley mounting means, said cord extending from said first pulley mounting means around said second pulley, around said first pulley, and ultimately then generally parallel to the direction of elongation of said pole; a third pulley for receipt of said cord as it extends generally parallel to said pole direction of elongation, said third pulley having an axis of rotation; and means for swivelly mounting said third pulley operatively with said cutting head base portion for pivotal movement of said axis of rotation with respect to said base portion.

Claim 11

In a pruning tool as recited in claim 7, further comprising locking means operatively directly connected to said first component and said second component for preventing relative movement therebetween.

Claim 12

In a pruning tool as recited in claim 7, further comprising means mounted on said pole for receipt of said cord portion extending generally parallel to said pole for maintaining said cord portion adjacent said pole.

Claim 13

In a pruning tool as recited in claim 7, wherein at least the axis of rotation of said second pulley is operatively mounted within a portion of said pole, at least said portion of said pole being hollow.

Claim 14

In a pruning tool comprising means for cutting vegetation, an elongated pole for mounting said vegetation cutting means and means for effecting operation of said cutting means; and means for mounting said cutting means with respect to said pole so that said cutting means may assume an operative cutting position at substantially any angle between about 0° and about 90°, both with respect to the direction of elongation of said pole and a line perpendicular to the direction of elongation of said pole; said means for mounting said cutting means comprising means for biasing said cutting head to an in-line position with respect to said elongated pole, and for automatically returning said cutting head to said in-line position after termination of a force moving it from said in-line position.

Claim 15

In a pruning tool comprising means for cutting vegetation, an elongated pole for mounting said vegetation cutting means and means for effecting operation of said cutting means; and means for mounting said cutting means with respect to said pole so that said cutting means may assume an operative cutting position at substantially any angle between about 0° and about 90°, both with respect to the direction of elongation of said pole and a line perpendicular to the direction of elongation of said pole; said means for mounting said cutting means comprising means for biasing said cutting head to an in-line position with respect to said elongated pole, and for automatically returning said cutting head to said in-line position after termination of a force moving it from said in-line position.

Claim 16

In a pruning tool as recited in claim 11, said mounting means comprising a flexible element operatively connected to said cutting means and said pole.

Claim 17

In a pruning tool as recited in claims 1 or 12 wherein said pole is hollow, and wherein said flexible element includes a coil spring at least partially received within said hollow pole.

Claim 18

In a pruning tool as recited in claims 1 or 12, further comprising a sleeve of rigid material mounted on said pole for movement with respect to said pole and moveable from a first position wherein said flexible element is operable to allow relative angular movement between said pole and said cutting means, to a second position wherein said flexible element is rendered inoperable, and said angularly cutting means is angularly locked with respect to said pole.