US4996773A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arm controlled power cutter
Assignee: Brinkman & Associates Reforestation Ltd
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Filing: 1989-11-24
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Granted: 1991-03-05
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Expires: 2009-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A portable power cutting apparatus has a control unit with a support for mounting the control unit on one arm of the user permitting the control unit and cutting tool to be supported by that arm. The support is pivotal and a flexible cable operatively connects a motor to the cutting tool for driving the tool. This permits the control unit to be pivoted in a lateral direction or twisted to allow the operator to move the cutting head in a variety of positions without loss of power by moving only the supporting arm and hand of the user. A handle is provided on the control unit for gripping by the hand of the user's support arm. A cutting tool suitable for girdling a tree and which can also be used to cut through tree branches and small tree trunks is also disclosed. This cutting tool is frustoconical in shape having a length of chainsaw chain wrapped in a spinal groove around the outside face of this tool body. In another embodiment the cutting tool is a chainsaw which can be operated with the supporting arm of the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham B. Albertson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:25
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25F; B25F5/00; B25F5/02; B25F5/021; A; A01; A01G; A01G3/00; A01G3/08; B27; B27B; B27B17/00; B27B17/0008; B27L; B27L1/00; B27L1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A portable cutting apparatus, comprising: a cutting tool; a motor; driving means for operatively connecting the motor to the tool for driving the tool; a control unit connected to said tool for gripping with a user's hand, the control unit supporting the driving means; mounting means for mounting the control unit to a user's forearm; hinge means for connecting said mounting means to the control unit, said hinge means being laterally spaced apart from the driving means and being sufficiently stiff within a first plane to support weight of the control unit and cutting tool when extending from the mounting means, and being relatively flexible within a second plane disposed generally normally to the first plane to permit relative lateral movement between the mounting means and an adjacent portion of the driving means when an elbow of said forearm is moved outwardly or inwardly in relation to a user's body to permit said mounting means to move relative to of said driving means as the elbow is moved.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A portable cutting apparatus, comprising: a cutting tool; a motor; driving means for operatively connecting the motor to the tool for driving the tool; a control unit connected to said tool for gripping with a user's hand, the control unit supporting the driving means; mounting means for mounting the control unit to a user's forearm; hinge means for connecting said mounting means to the control unit, said hinge means being laterally spaced apart from the driving means and being sufficiently stiff within a first plane to support weight of the control unit and cutting tool when extending from the mounting means, and being relatively flexible within a second plane disposed generally normally to the first plane to permit relative lateral movement between the mounting means and an adjacent portion of the driving means when an elbow of said forearm is moved outwardly or inwardly in relation to a user's body to permit said mounting means to move relative to of said driving means as the elbow is moved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said hinge means comprises a substantially flat elongated member twistable along its length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the hinge is adjacent the control unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said driving means comprises a rotatable, flexible cable operatively connecting the tool to the motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the control unit has a front, a rear and a top, the mounting means being connected on the top thereof, the tool being on the front thereof and the driving means extending from the rear to the front below the means for mounting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 further comprising switch means on the control unit for switching the apparatus on and off.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising means on the control unit for controlling motor speed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein the means for controlling is on the control unit in a position accessible to the hand of a person's arm on which the control unit is mounted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein said means for controlling is accessible to the first finger of said hand.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as described in claim 8, further comprising a hand grip mounted on the control unit, the means for controlling being mounted on the hand grip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein said handgrip extends from the control unit substantially perpendicular to the driving means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein said hand grip is pivotally connected to the control unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising a tool mount, the tool being mounted on the tool mount.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the tool is disengageable from said driving means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the cutting tool includes cutting teeth.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the cutting tool includes a body and a length of chainsaw chain extending about said body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as described in claim 16, wherein the length of chainsaw extends in a spiral about said body.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as described in claim 16, further comprising adjusting means, connected to one end of said length for adjusting the tension of said length about said body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as described in claim 18, wherein said adjusting means comprises an adjustment screw and adjustment cylinder with the screw adapted to rotate within the adjustment cylinder to tighten or loosen the length of chainsaw chain about said body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said body is frustoconical in shape.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 further comprising means for mounting the motor on a person's back.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 further comprising a guard means adjacent the tool and spaced apart therefrom for guarding the user from being cut by the tool.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as described in claim 22 wherein the guard means has a concave edge facing the tool.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as described in claim 22 wherein the guard is crescent-shaped in the direction of the tool.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the hinge means is flexible to permit lateral movement of the mounting means relative to the unit along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the driving means and is rigid to inhibit movement perpendicular to the said lateral movement.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the hinge means is a length of flat spring steel oriented width-wise between the mounting means and the control unit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
163 words
A portable cutting apparatus comprising: (a) a control unit grippable by an operator's hand, (b) a cutting tool and driving means mounted on the control unit, the driving means cooperating with the cutting means to supply power thereto, the driving means extending from the control unit and being connectable to a motor to receive power therefrom, (c) mounting means for mounting the control unit to a user's arm to support the apparatus, (d) hinge means for connecting the mounting means to the control unit, the hinge means extending from the control unit in a direction generally similar to the driving means, but being spaced therefrom essentially to prevent interference therewith, the hinge means being sufficiently stiff with respect to a first plane passing through the control unit to support weight of the control unit when extending from the mounting means, and being relatively flexible with respect to a second plane disposed generally normally to the first plane and passing through the control unit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
163 words
A portable cutting apparatus comprising: (a) a control unit grippable by an operator's hand, (b) a cutting tool and driving means mounted on the control unit, the driving means cooperating with the cutting means to supply power thereto, the driving means extending from the control unit and being connectable to a motor to receive power therefrom, (c) mounting means for mounting the control unit to a user's arm to support the apparatus, (d) hinge means for connecting the mounting means to the control unit, the hinge means extending from the control unit in a direction generally similar to the driving means, but being spaced therefrom essentially to prevent interference therewith, the hinge means being sufficiently stiff with respect to a first plane passing through the control unit to support weight of the control unit when extending from the mounting means, and being relatively flexible with respect to a second plane disposed generally normally to the first plane and passing through the control unit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as described in claim 27, wherein said driving means comprises a rotatable, flexible cable.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as described in claim 27, further comprising switch means on the control unit for switching the apparatus on and off.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as described in claim 27, wherein said switch means is accessible to the first finger of the hand of a person's arm on which the control unit is mounted.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as described in claim 27, wherein the tool is disengageable from said driving means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as described in claim 27, wherein the cutting tool includes a body and a length of chainsaw chain extending about said body.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as described in claim 32, wherein the length of chainsaw extends in a spiral about said body.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as described in claim 33, further comprising adjusting means, connected to one end of said length for adjusting the tension of said length about said body.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as described in claim 34, wherein said adjusting means comprises an adjustment screw and adjustment cylinder with the screw adapted to rotate within the adjustment cylinder to tighten or loosen the length of chainsaw chain about said body.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as described in claim 33, wherein said body is frusto-conical in shape.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as described in claim 27, further comprising a guard means adjacent the tool and spaced apart therefrom for guarding the user from being cut by the tool.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as described in claim 37, wherein the guard means has a concave edge facing the tool.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as described in claim 37, wherein the guard means is crescent-shaped in the direction of the tool.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as described in claim 27, wherein said hinge means comprises a substantially flat, elongated member twistable along its length.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as described in claim 27, wherein said mounting means circumferentially encloses a user's forearm.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-03-04 | 1994-09-03 | 1995-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-03-04 | 1998-09-03 | 1999-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-03-04 | 2002-09-03 | 2003-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |