OPERATING DEVICE WITH HANDLE AND MOTORIZED WORK TOOL

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a hand-held, motor-driven work device and to an operating device usable therefor according to the preamble of claim 1. This operating device comprises a handle with a grip shaft that can be grasped by the hand, a control element receiving area adjoining the grip shaft, and a control unit acting on the operation of the device, which includes a control element that is movably held on the control element receiving area for actuation by a finger of a hand grasping the grip shaft and has a finger contact area extending along an outside of the control element receiving area.

[0002] Hand-held, motorized work equipment refers to devices used for a specific purpose, such as gardening and / or forestry work. These devices are either hand-carried or ground-mounted (in the latter case, guided by hand) and are powered by an internal combustion engine or an electric motor, for example, to drive a corresponding working tool. Examples of such gardening and forestry equipment include chainsaws, hedge trimmers, pole pruners, brush cutters, hedge shears, leaf blowers, sweepers, lawnmowers, and scarifiers, available in either internal combustion engine or battery-powered electric versions.

[0003] The handle allows the user to grip the tool with their hand. The handle includes the gripping shaft, which is a shaft- or tube-shaped part of the tool that the user can grasp with one hand. "Grasping" in this context means that the user's hand grasps or wraps around the handle shaft over at least half its circumference, and preferably over significantly more than half its circumference, completely encircling the entire shaft. The operating device also includes the control unit that influences the tool's operation, allowing the user to control or otherwise influence the operation of the tool, and in particular the operation of the drive motor. This control unit includes, in particular, the operating element that can be operated with a finger of the hand gripping the handle shaft.Optionally, the control unit includes one or more additional control elements.

[0004] The control element is movably mounted on the control element receptacle, which connects to the handle shaft preferably distally, i.e., in a direction pointing forward along a longitudinal axis of the tool, or alternatively in a proximal or lateral direction. This allows for convenient one-handed operation of the control element with the same hand with which the user grasps or grips the handle shaft. For this purpose, the control element features a finger resting area extending along the outer surface of the control element receptacle. To operate the control element, the user can press the relevant finger against this finger resting area, thereby initiating the control movement. If the control element receptacle connects distally to the handle shaft, the user can operate the control element particularly conveniently with a distal finger of the hand gripping the handle shaft.The distal finger refers to the finger that points forward along the length of the device when the hand grasps the handle. This is typically the thumb and / or index finger of the hand in question.

[0005] An example of such a tool is the battery-powered hedge trimmer marketed by the applicant under the model designation HLA56. The operating device of this hedge trimmer comprises, as controls, a switch lever extending along the underside of the handle shaft for switching the electric motor on and off, a release slide for unlocking the switch lever, and a so-called ergonomic lever that holds the release slide in position when the switch lever is released. The release slide is axially movable, i.e., in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the handle shaft, on the control element mounting area distal to the handle shaft.movable, held and designed to be operated by a distal finger, in particular the thumb, of the hand grasping the handle shaft, wherein it extends with a ridge-shaped finger contact area in a U-shape along the outside of the control element receiving area in a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle shaft, specifically over the upper surface area of ​​the control element receiving area and along adjacent side areas on both sides, wherein the finger contact area terminates laterally above a longitudinal median plane of the handle shaft and the control element receiving area, which divides the handle shaft into an upper surface with the Ergo lever and a lower surface with the shift lever.

[0006] A similar operating device is disclosed for a hedge trimmer in the patent application KR 2015-0049507 A, wherein an operating slide is held axially translationally movable on the upper side of the operating element receiving area distally adjoining the handle shaft as an unlocking slide.

[0007] Patent DE 10 2014 006 910 B4 discloses a green waste cutter as a further work device of the type considered here, with a corresponding operating device, which includes a circuit breaker release arranged on the underside of the handle shaft for activating the drive motor there for driving a rotary cutter and a safety locking mechanism for selectively blocking or releasing the circuit breaker release, wherein the safety locking mechanism has an operating button which is rotatably held distally to the handle shaft on the relevant operating element receiving area about an axis of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

[0008] In the generic operating devices according to the preamble of claim 1, the finger-operated operating element is a pivoting operating lever which is pivotably held on the operating element receiving area about a pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis extends with a principal directional component perpendicular to a shaft longitudinal axis of the handle shaft.In an operating device of this type disclosed in German patent application WO 2013 / 081509 A1, a throttle lever is provided which is pivotally mounted on one side of the control element mounting area about a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle shaft. From there, the throttle lever extends in an L-shape, with a first section along this side of the mounting area to a top surface of the mounting area, and with a second, remaining section, which serves as a finger contact area, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle shaft along the top surface of the mounting area to a side of the mounting area opposite the throttle lever pivot point. In a starting position, the L-shaped throttle lever lies in a transverse plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle shaft. From this starting position, the user can move the throttle lever backward, i.e.,He pivots it towards the handle if he wants to increase the engine power for the work tool, especially a brush cutter.

[0009] The invention addresses the technical problem of providing an operating device of the type mentioned above, which offers advantages over the prior art mentioned above, particularly with regard to comfortable, flexible, and ergonomic operation of the control element by the user. Furthermore, the invention addresses the technical problem of providing a hand-held, motor-driven work device equipped with such an operating device.

[0010] The invention solves this problem by providing an operating device with the features of claim 1 and a hand-held, motor-driven work device with the features of claim 7. Advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0011] In the operating device according to the invention, the finger contact area has a curved and / or angled profile in a longitudinal extension along the outside of the operating element receiving area, with a circumferential direction component and an axial direction component.

[0012] Consequently, as mentioned above, the pivot axis of the control element extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle shaft or is inclined at an angle between 45° and 90° to it, and the finger contact area of ​​the control element runs longitudinally along the outside of the control element receptacle over its entire length or at least in one or more sections, curved or angled both with a directional component in the circumferential direction of the control element receptacle and thus also of the handle shaft, and with a directional component in the axial direction perpendicular to this circumferential direction. Due to this curved and / or angled shape, the finger contact area is optimally aligned so that the user's operating finger rests on a surface at a 90° angle relative to the current finger position.The hand position on the handle shaft allows the user to comfortably press against a corresponding section of the finger contact area at the most suitable point to effect the pivoting movement of the control element. Preferably, the finger contact area, with its curved and / or angled shape, provides contact sections at various points along its longitudinal extent. Two or more of these sections have different surface normal directions, along which the pressure force generating the torque for the pivoting movement acts when the user presses against this section with the relevant finger.

[0013] These characteristics of the control element offer a high level of user comfort, allowing the user to conveniently operate the control element by pivoting it around a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle shaft or at least at a significant angle to it. This can be done, for example, using the thumb or index finger of the hand gripping the handle shaft, in various finger positions and / or at different points along the curved and / or angled finger contact area, which extends at least partially circumferentially and axially. The resulting ease of use can be significantly greater than with conventional designs where the control element must be moved axially or pivoted around a pivot axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle shaft.

[0014] In a further development of the invention, the handle shaft has an upper palm contact area above a first longitudinal center plane and an underside finger gripping area below the first longitudinal center plane. The finger contact area extends at least on one of two sides of the control element receiving area opposite each other with respect to a second longitudinal center plane of the handle shaft perpendicular to the first longitudinal center plane, with a curved and / or angled course in the circumferential and axial directions. This allows the control element to be operated very conveniently from the side of the control element receiving area, i.e., on a transverse side area between an upper surface of the handle, against which the palm of the hand gripping the handle shaft rests at least partially, and an underside of the handle, against which the fingers of the hand gripping the handle shaft rest at least partially. Alternatively, the finger contact area can, for example, be located on a side between the upper surface of the handle, against which the palm of the hand gripping the handle shaft rests, and the lower surface of the handle, against which the fingers of the hand gripping the handle shaft rest.also extend only along a top or bottom side of the control element receiving area in circumferential and axial directions, bent and / or angled.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the finger contact area on at least one of the two sides of the control element receiving area opposite each other with respect to the second longitudinal center plane of the handle shaft has a section extending rearward and upward in a lower end region. This enables the control element to be operated with a forward and upward pressing force, such as can be conveniently exerted, in particular, with the thumb of the hand grasping the handle shaft.

[0016] In a further development of the invention, the handle shaft has an upper palm contact area above a longitudinal center plane and an underside finger gripping area below the longitudinal center plane, and the pivot axis is located below the longitudinal center plane. This optimizes the position of the pivot axis and thus the pivoting movement of the control element in relation to the position of the handle shaft and thus in relation to the position of the user's hand gripping it.

[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, the finger contact area extends in a loop shape continuously between a first end area on one of the two sides of the control element receiving area opposite each other with respect to the second longitudinal center plane of the handle shaft, below the first longitudinal center plane of the handle shaft, and a second end area on the second of the two sides of the control element receiving area opposite each other with respect to the second longitudinal center plane of the handle shaft, over an upper surface area of ​​the control element receiving area located above the first longitudinal center plane of the handle shaft. This allows the user to operate the control element variably and conveniently at the most suitable point with the best-positioned finger over a wide area of ​​the circumference of the control element receiving area.

[0018] In a further development of the invention, the control unit includes, as additional control elements, a power control element extending in a lower region of the handle shaft and a safety control element extending in a higher region of the handle shaft, which are movably mounted on the control element mounting area. The pivoting control lever is designed as a locking lever which, in a locked position, blocks movement of the power control element and / or the safety control element and, in a released position, releases movement of the power control element and / or the safety control element. Thus, the control unit provides an advantageous operating configuration, which is particularly useful for many electrically operated garden and forestry tools.

[0019] The hand-held, motor-driven work device according to the invention can in particular be a hand-held, motor-driven garden / forestry work device and has an operating device according to the invention.

[0020] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. These and further advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a side view of the rear part of a hand-held, motor-driven work device with a control device featuring a finger-operated swivel control lever, Fig. 2 a perspective view from the rear and top of a part of the device's operating mechanism that is of interest here Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a side view of the in Fig. 2 shown device part without looking in the direction of Fig. 3 front housing halves, Fig. 4a detailed view of a control element recording area of Fig. 1 , Fig. 5 the view of Fig. 4 with swiveling swivel control lever, Fig. 6 a top view to the side view of Fig. 4 , Fig. 7 a perspective view of the finger-operated swivel control lever, Fig. 8 a side view of the operating device, Fig. 9 the view of Fig. 3 without controls, Fig. 10 a perspective side view of an operating device similar to that of the Figs. 1 to 9 in a situation where the swiveling control element is operated by the thumb from below, Fig. 11 the view of Fig. 10 in a situation where the control element is operated by the thumb from above and Fig. 12 the view of Fig. 10 with lateral thumb operation of the control element.

[0021] The in Fig. 1The hand-held, motor-driven work device shown here, with its essential part, can, for example, be a hand-held, motor-driven garden / forestry work tool that has a battery-powered electric motor or, alternatively, an internal combustion engine as its drive motor. The work device includes an operating device 1 according to the invention, the essential components of which are also shown in the further Figures 2 to 12 shown, and which, depending on the application, may also include other conventional components. The implement can be, for example, a hedge trimmer, a brush cutter, a pole pruner, or a string trimmer. In these applications, the implement is designed as a so-called shaft-mounted device, which, in a conventional manner (not relevant here and therefore not shown), is attached to the front end of a shaft, only hinted at here with its rear part. Fig. 1The illustrated pipe shaft 10 carries a corresponding working tool, while the operating device 1 is located at the rear end of the pipe shaft 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the device has a housing 11 at its rear end, which, depending on the device implementation, can serve to house the drive motor and / or a battery pack.

[0022] The operating device 1 comprises a handle with a gripping shaft 2, a control element receiving area 3 adjoining the grip shaft 2, and an operating unit that influences the operation of the device and, in particular, the operation of its drive motor. The operating unit comprises a control element in the form of a pivoting operating lever 4, which is pivotally mounted on the control element receiving area 3 about a pivot axis SA for actuation by a finger of a hand gripping the grip shaft 2 and has a finger contact area 5 extending along an outer surface 3a of the control element receiving area 3.

[0023] The pivot axis SA of the pivot control lever 4 extends, as shown in Fig. 2illustrated, with a principal direction component HS perpendicular to a longitudinal axis LG of the handle shaft 2. The longitudinal axis LG of the handle shaft 2 can simultaneously also be a longitudinal axis of the control element receiving area 3 and / or the tube shaft 10.

[0024] This means that the pivot axis SA extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft LG, or at least obliquely at an angle of more than 45° to the longitudinal axis of the shaft LG, such that a component MS of the direction of the pivot axis SA perpendicular to this principal direction component HS is smaller in magnitude than the principal direction component HS. If the pivot axis SA is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft LG, this directional component MS perpendicular to the principal direction component HS is equal to zero.

[0025] The finger contact area 5 has a curved and / or angled profile along the outer surface 3a of the control element receiving area 3, with a circumferential direction component UK and an axial direction component AK, as exemplified in the Fig. 2 and 4 explicitly illustrated. The circumferential direction component UK is understood to be the directional component of the longitudinal course of the finger attachment area 5 that is oriented perpendicular to the shaft longitudinal axis LG, and the axial direction component AK is understood to be the directional component of the longitudinal course of the finger attachment area 5 that is parallel to the shaft longitudinal axis LG.

[0026] The finger contact area 5 can, for example, have a curved and / or angled bridge shape, as in the case shown, i.e., form a finger contact bridge with a certain bridge width and a significantly larger bridge length in comparison, whereby in this case the bridge length represents the longitudinal extent of the finger contact area 5.

[0027] In advantageous embodiments, the handle shaft 2, as in the example shown, has an upper palm contact area 2a above a first longitudinal center plane M1 and an underside finger gripping area 2b below the first longitudinal center plane M1, as shown in the Figs. 1 to 3 The finger contact area 5 extends at least on one of two sides 3b, 3c of the control element receiving area 3 opposite each other with respect to a second longitudinal center plane M2 of the handle shaft 2, with a curved and / or angled course in the circumferential and axial directions, as also shown, for example, in the Figs. 1 to 3 evident. In doing so, without limiting the generality, a definition is used for orientation purposes that is found in the Figs. 1 to 3 upper side above the first longitudinal center plane M1 as the top side and one in the Figs. 1 to 3 The lower side below the first longitudinal center plane M1 is referred to as the underside. This is based on the fact that, in typical operating situations, the user holds the tool in such a way that this top side faces vertically upwards and, consequently, the underside faces vertically downwards.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the finger contact area 5 extends along both lateral sides 3b, 3c, also referred to here as transverse sides. In alternative embodiments, the finger contact area 5 extends only along one of these two sides 3b, 3c, i.e., in the view of Fig. 1 only on the front side or only on the back side.

[0029] In advantageous embodiments, the finger contact area 5 on at least one of the two sides 3b, 3c of the control element receiving area 3 opposite each other with respect to the second longitudinal center plane M2 of the handle shaft 2 has a section 5a extending rearward and upward in a lower end region, i.e., in an end region pointing towards the said underside, as also shown, for example, in the Figs. 1 to 3 for an implementation in which this rearward-extending section 5a is provided with 3b, 3c on both sides. "Rearward" here refers to the section in Fig. 1 To understand the device direction pointing to the right, with the opposite direction in front, in Fig. 1 Device direction pointing to the left. In this context, the forward direction is also referred to as the distal direction.

[0030] The section 5a of the finger contact area 5, oriented in this way and consequently combined with circumferential direction component UK and axial direction component AK, accordingly represents a contact surface against which the user can press, for example, with their thumb in a forward and upward direction, as shown in Fig. 10 for a corresponding actuation situation represented by a pressure confirmation arrow as pressure force F 1. Fig. 10 specifically shows a situation in which the user presses the tip of the thumb of the hand gripping the handle 2 against this lower section 5a of the finger contact area 5 of the control element 4.

[0031] In advantageous embodiments, the control element receiving area 3 closes distally, i.e., in a direction shown in the example. Fig. 1in the direction to the left or towards the front of the tool, on the handle shaft 2. In this case, the swivel control lever 4 can be operated very conveniently with a distal finger of the user's hand gripping the handle shaft, in particular with the thumb and / or index finger of that hand.

[0032] In advantageous embodiments, the handle shaft 2 has the upper palm contact area 2a above the longitudinal center plane M1 and the lower finger gripping area 2b below the longitudinal center plane M1, and the pivot axis SA is located below the longitudinal center plane M1. This allows for favorable pivoting movement characteristics and comfortable, effortless finger operation of the pivoting control lever. In alternative embodiments, the pivot axis SA is located at or above the longitudinal center plane M1.

[0033] In advantageous embodiments, the finger contact area 5 extends in a loop shape continuously between a first end area 5b on a first side 3b of the two sides 3b, 3c of the control element receiving area 3 opposite each other with respect to the second longitudinal center plane M2 of the handle shaft 2 below the first longitudinal center plane M1 of the handle shaft 2 and a second end area 5c on the second side 3c of these two sides 3b, 3c below the first longitudinal center plane M1 of the handle shaft 2 over a top surface area 3d of the control element receiving area 3 lying above the first longitudinal center plane M1.This achieves an extension of the finger contact area 5 over a large part of the circumference of the control element receiving area 3, so that the user can flexibly and variably actuate the pivot control lever 4 with a suitable finger at the appropriate point along the longitudinal extension of the finger contact area 5. In alternative embodiments, the finger contact area 5 extends only on one transverse side 3b, or only on the other transverse side 3c, or only in the upper region 3d of the control element receiving area 3, or alternatively only on two of these three sides 3b, 3c, 3d, or in further alternative embodiments in the lower region of the control element receiving area 3 and optionally on one of the other three sides 3b, 3c, 3d.

[0034] In advantageous embodiments, the operating unit of the control device, which acts on the operation of the working device, comprises as further control elements a power control element 6 extending in a lower surface area 2c of the handle 2 and a safety control element 7 extending in a top surface area 2d of the handle 2. The power control element 6 and the safety control element 7 are movably mounted on the control element mounting area 3, e.g., pivotally or alternatively, slidably. In this case, the pivot control lever 4 is designed as a locking lever which, in a locked position, blocks movement of the power control element 6 and / or the safety control element 7 and, in a released position, releases movement of the power control element 6 and / or the safety control element 7.This advantageous operating configuration with the aforementioned three control elements is particularly well suited for corresponding types of work equipment, as known from the prior art and therefore requiring no further description here, e.g., for hedge trimmers, pole pruners, brush cutters, and other such garden and / or forestry equipment. The power control element can, for example, be an on / off switch for a battery-powered electric work tool or a throttle lever for a combustion engine work tool. The safety control element 7 can, for example, have the function of blocking the operation of the power control element 6 in a locked position and releasing it in a released position, thus securing the power control element 6 against unintentional operation.

[0035] The blocking and releasing of the power control element 6 and / or the safety control element 7 by the pivot control lever 4 can, for example, be implemented mechanically, as in the illustrated embodiment, as can the possible blocking and releasing of the power control element 6 by the safety control element 7.

[0036] In a typical implementation, the safety control element 7 only releases the operation of the power control element 6 when it is activated by a Fig. 1 The initial state shown is pressed into the handle 2 by the palm of the hand grasping the handle 2, as in the operating situations of the Figs. 10 to 12 shown, and the pivot control lever 4, which acts as a locking lever, only releases the safety control element 7 and / or the power control element 6 when it is moved by the user from the initial position in accordance with the Figs. 1 to 4 in an unlocked position according to Fig. 5is pivoted. Only after such release of the movement of the power control element 6 can the latter preferably be operated functionally by one or more fingers of the hand grasping the handle shaft 2.

[0037] If the swivel control lever 4 with its finger contact area 5 extends exclusively or at least also into the upper surface area 3d of the control element receiving area 3, the user can, for example, position the swivel control lever 4 in the Fig. 11 as illustrated by pivoting the mechanism by pressing against the finger contact area 5 with a pressure force F 2 directed essentially distally forwards.

[0038] The curved and / or angled course of the finger contact area 5 with circumferential direction component UK and axial direction component AK in at least one of the two transverse sides 3b, 3c of the control element receiving area 3 also enables, for example, the operation of the swivel control lever 4 with the anterior thumb joint, as in Fig. 12 illustrated. The user presses with this area of ​​his thumb against the finger attachment area 5 in its section there, exerting a pressure force F 3 that is essentially distally directed forward.

[0039] Depending on the specific design of the curved and / or angled course of the finger attachment area 5, instead of or in addition to the ones described in the Figs. 10 to 12The illustrated operating variants do not include other and / or further operating variants for the finger operation of the swivel control lever 4. For example, the user can also operate the swivel control lever 4 by pivoting it with the index finger if the finger contact area 5 is located exclusively or at least also in the area distal to the position where the index finger rests when the user grasps or holds the handle shaft 2 with their hand as intended.

[0040] The in the Figs. 10 to 12 The version shown corresponds to that of the Figs. 1 to 9 with the sole exception that the curved and / or angled shape of the finger contact area 5 of the pivot control lever 4 is slightly modified. Whereas in the exemplary embodiment of the Figs. 1 to 9The finger attachment area 5 extends axially forward from one lower end area 5b, then in an arc upwards and slightly forwards to the upper side and from there mirror-symmetrically to the second end area 5c, in the embodiment of the Figs. 10 to 12 from the respective lower end area 5b, 5c with an S-shaped curved course to the upper area 3d.

[0041] In all cases, the user presses against the finger contact area 5 with sufficient distance between the contact point and the pivot axis SA, whereby the respective actuation pressure force F1, F2, F3 exerts a corresponding force. Fig. 4The indicated torque DS is generated to pivot the swivel control lever 4 about the pivot axis SA of the control element receiving area 3. For this purpose, the finger contact area 5 is suitable in its position and shape for the position of the pivot axis SA. In the example shown, the pivot axis SA is defined by the fact that the swivel control lever 4 is pivotably mounted with an axle stub 9 on each of its transverse sides in an axle stub receptacle 8 on the inner side of two half-shell bodies, which together form an outer housing of the handle shaft 2 and the control element receiving area 3, wherein Fig. 9 a side view of the inside of one of the two half-shell bodies is shown.

[0042] As the illustrated and further embodiments explained above clearly demonstrate, the invention provides an operating device with a control unit that acts on the operation of the device and has a pivoting control lever which can be operated by the user with a finger of a hand grasping a handle of the control device, thus enabling one-handed operation with one hand, which, if necessary, can simultaneously be used to hold, carry, or guide the work device, wherein the pivoting control lever has a finger contact area with a characteristic curved and / or angled shape, which enables the user to operate the pivoting control lever comfortably, ergonomically, and / or variably.

Claims

1. An operating device for a hand-guided motorised working apparatus, in particular a hand-guided motorised garden / forestry apparatus, comprising - a handle with a handle shank (2) configured to be hand-gripped, - an operating element receiving region (3) adjoining the handle shank (2), and - an operating unit which acts on the apparatus operation and comprises an operating element which is held movably on the operating element receiving region (3) for actuation by a finger of a hand gripping the handle shank (2), and comprises a finger rest region (5) extending along an outer side (3a) of the operating element receiving region (3), wherein the finger rest region (5), in a longitudinal extension along the outer side (3a) of the operating element receiving region (5), has a bent and / or an angled course with a circumferential direction component (UK), wherein the operating element is a pivot operating lever (4) which is held on the operating element receiving region (5) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (SA), which extends with a main direction component (HS) perpendicular to a shank longitudinal axis (LG) of the handle shank (2), characterized in that - the bent and / or angled course of the longitudinal extension of the finger rest region along the outer side (3a) of the operating element receiving region (5) has an axial direction component (AK) parallel to the longitudinal axis (LG) of the handle shank (2) in addition to the circumferential direction component (UK).

2. The operating device according to Claim 1, further characterized in that the handle shank (2) comprises an upper palm rest region (2a) above a first longitudinal centre plane (M1), and a lower finger gripping region (2b) below the first longitudinal centre plane (M1), and the finger rest region (5) extends, at least on one of two mutually opposite sides (3b, 3c) of the operating element receiving region (3) relative to a second longitudinal centre plane (M2) of the handle shank (2) perpendicular to the first longitudinal centre plane (M1), with a bent and / or an angled course in circumferential direction and axial direction.

3. The operating device according to Claim 2, further characterized in that the finger rest region (5), on the at least one of the two mutually opposite sides (3b, 3c) of the operating element receiving region (3) relative to the second longitudinal centre plane (M2) of the handle shank (2), in a lower end region, has a portion (5a) extending upward towards the rear.

4. The operating device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that the handle shank (2) comprises an upper palm rest region (2a) above a longitudinal centre plane (M1), and a lower finger gripping region (2b) below the longitudinal centre plane (M1), and the pivot axis (SA) lies below the longitudinal centre plane (M1).

5. The operating device according to Claim 4, further characterized in that the finger rest region (5) extends arch-shaped continuously between a first end region (5b) on a first (3b) of the two mutually opposite sides (3b, 3c) of the operating element receiving region (3) relative to the second longitudinal centre plane (M2) of the handle shank (2), below the first longitudinal centre plane (M1) of the handle shank (2), and a second end region (5c) on the second (3c) of the two mutually opposite sides (3b, 3c) of the operating element receiving region (3) relative to the second longitudinal centre plane (M2) of the handle shank (2), over a top side region (3d) of the operating element receiving region (3) lying above the longitudinal centre plane (M1) of the handle shank (2).

6. The operating device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, further characterized in that - the operating unit, as further operating elements, comprises a power control operating element (6) extending in a bottom region (2c) of the handle shank (2), and a safety operating element (7) extending in a top side region (2d) of the handle shank (2), both being held movably on the operating element receiving region (3), and - the pivot operating lever (4) is configured as a blocking lever which in a blocking position blocks a movement of the power control operating element (6) and / or the safety operating element (7), and in a release position allows the movement of the power control operating element and / or the safety operating element.

7. A hand-guided motorised working apparatus, in particular a hand-guided motorised garden / forestry apparatus, characterized by an operating device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6.