Remote battery switch adapter apparatus and method of operating a battery-powered lawn trimmer

Abstract

A remote battery switch apparatus 134 for a battery-powered electrical appliance comprises: a first interfacing side (146, figure 2) configured to be electrically coupled to an electromechanical devic

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a remote battery switch adapter apparatus of the type that, for example, comprises a body to interface between a battery and a battery-powered appliance. The present invention also relates to a method of operating a battery-powered lawn trimmer, the method being of the type that comprises coupling the lawn trimmer to a lawn mower.

[0002] In the field of machinery to cut lawns, it is known to provide a mower having a primary cutting tool, for example a rotating blade. In many, but not all implementations, the rotating blade is provided on the underside of a wheeled carriage, although it is known to provide rotating drum-like cutting blades to the front of the wheeled carriage in other implementations. In addition to so-called “push mowers”, ride-on mowers also exist comprising one or more rotating blades located beneath a deck upon which a seat is provided as well as controls, such as a steering wheel.

[0003] The power source for mowers has traditionally fallen into two classes: mowers powered by electric motors and those powered by hydrocarbon-fuelled engines, typically petrol (gasoline) engines. Historically, mowers powered by electricity required an electric cable to connect the mower to a mains power outlet in order to obtain electrical power. Without the use of a cable extension, such mowers were therefore effectively tethered by the electrical cable provided with the mower, which limited the range of the mower when in use. The electric cable was also inconvenient, because it was necessary to ensure that the cable on the lawn was not at risk of being run over by the mower. In this regard, it is not uncommon for the power cable of an electric mower to be damaged by an operator inadvertently running over the cable with the mower, thereby stopping operation of the mower and necessitating a repair to the cable. Running over the cable with the mower also, of course, represents a safety hazard to the operator and possibly others nearby.

[0004] By contrast, mowers comprising petrol (gasoline) fuelled engines do not suffer from such restrictions and / or risks and can be used to mow grass unrestricted save for the limitation of the capacity of the fuel tank of the mower.

[0005] More recently, with improvements to battery technology, the increase in fuel prices and environmental concerns, battery-powered electric mowers have increased in popularity. Along with falling manufacturing costs associated with such mowers, ownership of battery-powered electric mowers has become a more financially attractive proposition than ownership of petrol-engined mowers, which are still relatively expensive to buy.

[0006] Irrespective of the manner in which a mower is powered or whether ride-on or push type, numerous designs exist to provide the mower with a trimmer for cutting edges of a lawn that cannot be readily cut using the primary cutting tool of the mower. In many configurations of the combined mower with trimmer, the trimmers are integrally formed with the main mower and not intended for removal. Other configurations intend for the trimmer to be removed, for example as described in UK patent no. 2583000.

[0007] However, in the context of mowers powered by an electric motor, where the trimmers are intended to be attached and detached selectively, for example as described in UK patent no. 2583000 mentioned above, such trimmers are typically designed to be compatible only with a specific mower and / or manufacturer. Whilst such a design approach can be advantageous in that the trimmers are typically more compact in design and optimised for use with the mower, more flexibility can sometimes be obtained where the trimmer can not only be used attached to the mower but also independently, for example to trim areas of a lawn without the inconvenience of the mower having to accompany the trimmer. In this regard, trimmers dedicated to attachment to a mower do not usually comprise a handle or a particularly lengthy stem, because the trimmer is intended to be received by a port of the mower in a plug and socket arrangement that enables both mechanical attachment of the trimmer to the mower, but also electrical coupling to the mower to obtain power from the mower. It is therefore desirable to be able to removably attach a trimmer to a mower housing so that not only can the trimmer be used to trim edges in tandem with the mower cutting grass, but also to trim other areas of a lawn without the need to have the mower in attendance.

[0008] Indeed, it is known to provide a handheld lawn trimmer comprising a motor, which can be powered by electricity. The motor is operably coupled to a cutting piece that is rotatably mounted. Different implementations of the cutting piece exist. Common implementations include one or more portions of nylon flex or a solid elongate cutting piece formed from a plastic material. The cutting piece, and the motor to which the cutting piece is coupled, are operably coupled to one end of a stem and a handle is provided at the other end of the stem for grip and holding of the lawn trimmer by an operator. A power cable couples the electric motor of the trimmer to an electric power outlet, and again suffers from the disadvantage of being constrained by the length of the power cable, i.e. the trimmer is effectively tethered.

[0009] German patent publication no. DE-A1-3 943 125 discloses a mower and handheld trimmer combination comprising a push type mower powered by an electric motor and a selectably detachable handheld trimmer. The mower housing comprises two coupling points to which the housing of the trimmer, by way of a specifically designed connection mechanism, can be removably attached to front corners of the mower housing. The trimmer is nevertheless a customised version of a general-purpose hand-held trimmer and is only coupled to the mower housing at the corner point and not mechanically supported elsewhere. The trimmer comprises a cutter attached to a rotating electric-powered motor, the electric motor of the trimmer being connected to a proximal end of a shaft and a handle being coupled to a distal end of the shaft. An electric cable electrically couples the electric motor to a first connection point on the handle of the trimmer. A second connection point is also provided on the handle of the trimmer, the second connection point being electrically connected to a first electrical connector disposed on a handlebar of the mower by a coiled electrical cable. A second electrical connector, also disposed on the handlebar of the mower is connectable to a mains power outlet for providing electrical power to the mower and trimmer. A trigger switch located on the handle of the trimmer controls provision of an electric current to the trimmer, which is obtained from the first electrical connector via the second electrical connector. The trimmer can be detached from the mower housing and used to trim areas of a lawn nearby the mower provided the distance from the mower does not exceed the length of the coiled electric cable connecting the trimmer handle to the mower handlebar. To activate the trimmer, whether coupled to the mower housing or remote from the mower, albeit still tethered to the mower, the trigger switch on the handle must be depressed. Although the trimmer may employ a switch “lock-on” mechanism, it is nevertheless inconvenient and when the trimmer is connected to the mower housing, use of the mower needs to be temporarily interrupted while the trimmer is powered on.

[0010] As indicated above, electric mowers powered by an onboard battery are becoming increasingly popular. However, using the power source of the mower also to power the trimmer increases the energy demand on the battery of the mower. Given the inconvenience of having to stop and activate the trimmer, it is likely that an operator would simply keep the trimmer in a powered up state, which would be inefficient from a power consumption perspective, potentially hazardous and would subject the trimmer to unnecessary wear. The unnecessarily excessive use of the battery of the mower not only reduces available operation time, but increases the rate of recharge cycles of the battery and so reduces the working lifetime of the battery of the mower.

[0011] Lawn trimmers powered by an electric motor and using a rechargeable battery to power the electric motor are known. The use of such a lawn trimmer having a dedicated battery obviates or at least mitigates some of the above-mentioned disadvantages of using the battery of the mower to power the trimmer. Such an implementation would also overcome the trimmer being tethered to the mower owing to the need to be powered from the mower. However, in order to provide the capability to use the trimmer independently of the mower, the trigger switch on the handle of the trimmer to activate the motor of the trimmer selectively is still required and as such when attached to the mower, the trimmer still suffers from many of the drawbacks mentioned above in relation to the inconvenience of activation of the trimmer when attached to the mower by way of the trigger switch and also the disadvantageous consequences of keeping the trimmer powered up continuously while attached to the mower.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote battery switch apparatus for a battery-powered electrical appliance, the apparatus comprising: a first interfacing side configured to be electrically coupled to an electromechanical device of the battery-powered appliance; a second interfacing side configured to be electrically coupled to a battery; an external switch; an interruptible passthrough circuit portion comprising the external switch and disposed within a body and coupled between the first interfacing side and the second interfacing side; a cable arranged to couple the external switch in the interruptible passthrough circuit portion within the body and separating the external switch from the body; wherein the external switch is external to and remote from the body; and the interruptible passthrough circuit portion is configured to selectively interrupt an electrical conduction path between the first interfacing side and the second interfacing side.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote battery switch adapter apparatus comprising: the remote battery switch apparatus as as set forth above in relation to the first aspect of the invention; a first battery connection arrangement provided at the first interfacing side; a second battery connection arrangement provided at the second interfacing side; wherein the body comprises the first interfacing side and the second interfacing side; the first battery connection arrangement is configured to be connectable to the battery-powered electrical appliance; the second battery connection arrangement is configured to be connectable to the battery; the first battery connection arrangement comprises first electrical contact elements and the second battery connection arrangement comprises second electrical contact elements; and the interruptible passthrough circuit portion is operably coupled between the first and second electrical contact elements.

[0014] The first battery connection arrangement may be configured to be connectable to a battery receiving port of the battery-powered appliance.

[0015] The battery-powered appliance may be a lawn trimmer.

[0016] The cable may be flexible. The cable may be at least 25 centimetres long.

[0017] The body may comprise a releasable latch mechanism configured to releasably secure the first battery connection arrangement to the battery-powered appliance.

[0018] The releasable latch mechanism may comprise a button configured to permit selectable release of the body from a counterpart battery receiving port of the battery-powered appliance.

[0019] The apparatus may further comprise: a clip connector for attachment to a handlebar of a lawn mower; wherein the clip connector may be configured to carry the external switch.

[0020] The first battery connection arrangement may be configured to be received by a battery receiving port of the battery-powered electrical appliance.

[0021] The first battery connection arrangement may be complementary to the battery receiving port of the battery-powered electrical appliance.

[0022] The first battery connection arrangement may be a first part of a first two-part battery coupling assembly.

[0023] The second battery connection arrangement may be configured to provide the body with a battery receiving port for receiving a power coupling connector of the battery. The second battery connection arrangement may be complementary to the power coupling connector of the battery.

[0024] The second battery connection arrangement may be a first part of a second two-part battery coupling assembly.

[0025] The first and second two-part battery coupling assemblies may be of the same two-part coupling assembly type.

[0026] The first battery connection arrangement and the second battery connection arrangement may be complementary parts of a common battery connection assembly type.

[0027] The first battery connection arrangement and the second battery connection arrangement may be disposed on opposite sides of the body.

[0028] The first battery connection arrangement may be a part of a two-part sliding connector assembly.

[0029] The second battery connection arrangement may be a part of a two-part sliding connector assembly.

[0030] The two-part sliding connector assembly may be a shoe-mount assembly.

[0031] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trimmer and mower assembly comprising: a lawn mower; a battery-powered lawn trimmer mounted on the lawn mower, the battery-powered lawn trimmer comprising a battery-receiving port; a battery; and a remote battery switch adapter apparatus as set forth above in relation to the second aspect of the present invention; wherein the first battery connection arrangement is operably coupled to the battery-receiving port of the lawn trimmer; and the battery is operably coupled to the second battery connection arrangement.

[0032] The lawn mower may comprise a handlebar; and the external switch may be operably coupled to the handlebar.

[0033] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery-powered electrical appliance apparatus comprising: an electromechanical device; a battery receiving port; a primary latchable switch electrically coupled between the battery receiving port and the electromechanical device; and a remote battery switch apparatus as set forth above in relation to the first aspect of the present invention; wherein the body comprises the battery receiving port and at least carries the electromechanical device, the interruptible passthrough circuit portion being housed within the body.

[0034] The body may further comprise: a handle portion; the handle portion may comprise the primary latchable switch.

[0035] The handle portion may comprise the interruptible passthrough circuit portion.

[0036] The body may further comprise a shaft comprising a first end and a second end; the first end may be distal from the second end; and the handle portion may be operably coupled to the first end of the shaft; and the electromechanical device may be operably coupled to the second end of the shaft.

[0037] The external switch of the remote battery switch apparatus may serve as a secondary switch.

[0038] The external switch of the remote battery switch apparatus may be selectively removable.

[0039] The interruptible passthrough circuit may comprise a first part of an electrical connector and a second part of the electrical connector may be operably coupled to an end of the cable distal from an end of the cable coupled to the external switch. The first part of the electrical connector may be provided in a side wall of the body. The first part of the electrical connector may serve as a switch connection port.

[0040] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lawn trimmer apparatus comprising: the battery-powered electrical appliance as set forth above in relation to the fourth aspect of the present invention; wherein the electromechanical device is an electric motor configured to carry a cutter piece.

[0041] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a battery-powered lawn trimmer coupled to a lawn mower, the method comprising: providing a remote battery switch adapter apparatus, a first side of a body of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus being configured to be received securely by a battery receiving port of the battery-powered trimmer, a second side of the body being configured to receive a battery securely, and an external switch coupled to the body of the remote battery switch adapter by a cable; attaching the first side of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus to a battery receiving port of the battery-powered lawn trimmer; attaching a battery to the second side of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus; attaching the external switch to a handlebar of the lawn mower; locking a power activation switch of the battery-powered lawn trimmer to a powered on state; and using the external switch selectively to power on and power off the battery powered lawn trimmer.

[0042] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote battery switch adapter apparatus for a battery-powered electrical appliance, the apparatus comprising: a body; a first battery connection arrangement provided at a first interfacing side of the body and configured to be connectable to the battery-powered appliance; a second battery connection arrangement provided at a second interfacing side of the body and configured to be connectable to a battery; a switch external to and remote from the body; and a cable connecting the switch to the body, thereby separating the switch from the body; wherein the first battery connection arrangement comprises first electrical contact elements, and the second battery connection arrangement comprises second electrical contact elements; and the switch and the first and second electrical contact elements are configured to selectively interrupt an electrical conduction path between the first interfacing side of the body and the second interfacing side of the body.

[0043] It is thus possible to provide a method and apparatus that facilitate the attachment of a trimmer to a mower, allowing the trimmer to be placed in a powered state without an operator having to remove their hand from a handlebar of a mower. The improved convenience can also lead to improved running time of the lawn trimmer and a longer working lifetime of the battery used to power the lawn trimmer.

[0044] At least one embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0045] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a lawn trimmer and mower assembly constituting an embodiment of the invention;

[0046] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a remote battery switch adapter apparatus of Figure 1 and constituting another embodiment of the invention;

[0047] Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical configuration of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus of Figure 2 and the lawn mower and lawn trimmer of Figure 1;

[0048] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of coupling actions in relation to the remote battery switch adapter apparatus of Figure 2;

[0049] Figure 5 is a flow diagram of a method of operating a battery-powered lawn trimmer coupled to a lawn mower constituting a further embodiment of the invention;

[0050] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a part of the lawn trimmer, the remote battery switch adapter apparatus, and a battery of Figure 1 in an assembled state and in greater detail; and

[0051] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an integral battery switch adapter constituting another embodiment of the invention.

[0052] Throughout the following description, identical reference numerals will be used to identify like parts.

[0053] Referring to Figure 1, a trimmer and mower assembly 100 comprises a lawn mower 102 and a lawn trimmer 104 attached thereto. The lawn mower 102 can be any suitable lawn mower that can be configured to carry the lawn trimmer 104 securely, either by way of manufacture or post-manufacture adaptation. In this example, the lawn trimmer 104 is securely attached in a removable manner to the lawn mower 102 by a C-clip 106 mounted on a housing or deck 108 of the lawn mower 102. For additional security, the C-clip 106 has a threaded rod passing through one side of the C-clip in order serve as a clamp. Of course, the skilled person will appreciate that other types of fixings can be employed to removably secure the lawn trimmer 104 to the deck 108. Indeed, for example, the clip or fixing 106 can comprise a fixed or unfixed vertical clamp in order to allow vertical movement of a cutting head 110 of the lawn trimmer 104 when attached to the lawn mower 102 and thus make provision for ground undulations and permit the cutting head 110 to ride over the ground over which the trimmer and mower assembly 100 passes. The lawn mower 102 can be any suitable lawn mower, for example a push mower or a ride-on type mower. Furthermore, the lawn mower 102 can comprise a petrol (gasoline) engine, an electric motor or any other suitable kind of engine or motor to generate mechanical work. The lawn trimmer 104 is battery-powered.

[0054] The lawn trimmer 104 comprises the cutting head 110 attached to a first end 112 of a shaft 114, a handle portion 116 being mounted at second end 118 of the shaft 114. The cutting head 110 comprises a rotatable cutting blade mounted to an electric motor (not shown) within a housing 120 of the cutting head 110. A guard or cutter shield 122 is mounted on the housing 120 of the cutter head 110 and, in this example, the guard 122 has lateral protective wheel mounts 126 carrying wheels 128 mounted on an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to ground level when the lawn trimmer 104 is mounted on the lawn mower 102 so as to enable rotation of the wheels when pressed against a lateral obstacle, for example a wall.

[0055] The handle portion 116 comprises a trigger switch 130 and a trigger switch lock button 132. A remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 is coupled to the handle portion 116 of the lawn trimmer 104, and a battery 136 is coupled to the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134. The remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 comprises a switch 138 coupled to a handlebar 140 of the lawn mower 102 by a connector clip 142 to which the switch 138 is mounted, for example another C-clip. For the avoidance of doubt, the handlebar 140 can include one or both side bars with which the cross-member of the handlebar is integrally formed or to which it can be coupled.

[0056] Turning to Figure 2, the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 comprises a body 144 having a first interfacing side 146 and a second interfacing side 148. In this example, the first and second interfacing sides 146, 148 are disposed on opposite sides of the body 144. The first interfacing side 146 is provided for interfacing the body 144 of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 with the lawn trimmer 104 so as to provide, for example, electrical coupling to an electromechanical device, such as the motor of the cutting head 110. The second interfacing side 148 is provided for interfacing the body 144 of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 with the battery 136, thereby providing an electrical coupling to the battery 136. A first battery connection arrangement 150 is provided at the first interfacing side 146 of the body 144 and configured to be connectable to the lawn trimmer 104. In this example, the handle portion 116 of the lawn trimmer 104 comprises a battery receiving port 152 shaped and electrically arranged in accordance with a predetermined battery coupling design, which can be specific to a particular coupling standard, but can be specific to a given manufacturer. In this example, the battery receiving port 152 is arranged so as to receive the battery 136 by way of a slide connection. In this regard, the first battery connection arrangement 150 therefore has a shoe profile and is part of a shoe-mount assembly. The intended coupling between the battery receiving port 152 and the battery 136 is, in this example, a two part coupling assembly, like a plug and socket albeit in a sliding format, such as a two-part sliding connector assembly. The battery 136 therefore also has a shoe profile for coupling and is part of the shoe-mount assembly. However, the skilled person should appreciate that other coupling designs can be employed. The battery receiving port 152 of the lawn trimmer 104 comprises a first half or part of the intended two-part battery coupling in this example and is profiled to receive a complementarily shaped structure or arrangement on a surface of the battery 136. The surface of the battery 136 is shaped to be coupled to the first part of the intended two-part battery coupling assembly and constitutes a second part of the two-part battery coupling assembly. The battery receiving port 152 comprises a suitable internal formation (not shown) to cooperate with a latch mechanism of the battery 136.

[0057] The first battery connection arrangement 150 of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 is therefore shaped to mimic the complementary shape of the part of the battery coupling carried by the battery 136, i.e. the second part of the two-part battery coupling, so that the body 144 of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 can be received by the battery receiving port 152 of the lawn trimmer 104.

[0058] A second battery connection arrangement 154 is provided at the second interfacing side 148 of the body 144 and configured to be connectable to the battery 136. In this example, the second battery connection arrangement 154 also conforms to the design of the intended two-part battery coupling assembly, and so the second battery connection arrangement 154 is shaped and electrically arranged so as to mimic the battery receiving port 152 of the lawn trimmer 104 in order to receive a power coupling connector of the battery 136. As such, the second battery connection arrangement 154 is complementary to the power coupling connector of the battery 136 and serves as a battery receiving port for the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134, and provides a slot into which the shoe profile of the battery 136 can be slid as part of the shoe-mount assembly. The second battery connection arrangement 154 also comprises a suitable internal formation (not shown) to cooperate with the latch mechanism of the battery 136.

[0059] As such, the first battery connection arrangement 150 can be considered as a first part of a first two-part battery coupling assembly, the battery receiving port 152 of the lawn trimmer 104 being a second part of the first two-part battery coupling assembly. The second battery connection arrangement 154 can be considered a second part of a second two-part battery coupling assembly, the profiled part of the battery 136 intended for participating in coupling being a second part of the second two-part battery coupling assembly. In this example, the first and second two-part battery coupling assemblies are the same type of coupling assembly, but two different coupling assembly types can be employed in other examples. As the first and second battery connection arrangements 150, 154 are, in this example, compliant with a common type of battery coupling assembly, the first and second battery connection arrangements 150, 154 are complementary parts of the common type of battery coupling assembly.

[0060] The switch 138 mounted to the clip 142 is operably coupled to the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 by a cable 156, for example a flexible cable, via a port 158 formed in the body 144. In this regard, the switch 138 is external to and remote from the body 144. In this example, the cable 156 is at least about 30 centimetres long. A first end 160 of the cable 156 is electrically connected to the switch 138 and a second end 162 of the cable 156 some of which is located within the body 144 is electrically connected to one or more first electrical contacts provided by the first battery connection arrangement 150 and one or more electrical contacts provided by the second battery connection arrangement 154. In other examples, the end of the cable 156 distal from the switch 138 can be removably connectable with to the body and internal circuitry by way of a plug and socket arrangement, for example a so-called jack plug and jack socket.

[0061] In order to hold the body 144 of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 securely in the battery receiving port 152 of the lawn trimmer 104, the body 144 of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 comprises a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism comprises a release button 163 to permit selective detachment of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 from the battery receiving port 152 of the lawn trimmer 104. In this regard, the battery 136 also comprises a latch mechanism (not shown) intended to cooperate with the counterpart formation in the battery receiving port 152 of the lawn trimmer 104 and the latch mechanism of the body 144 is configured to cooperate with the battery receiving port 152 in a like manner to the latch mechanism of the battery 136.

[0062] Referring to Figure 3, the battery receiving port 152 of the lawn trimmer 104 comprises a first electrical contact 164 and a second electrical contact 166, the second electrical contact 166 being electrically coupled to one end of the trigger switch 130 and another end of the trigger switch 130 being operably coupled to the motor (not shown) of the lawn trimmer 104. As mentioned above, the trigger switch 130 is lockable in a powered state. For the sake of conciseness and clarity of description, other electrical internal connectivity of the lawn trimmer 104 will not be described as it is not necessary for an understanding of the salient aspects of the embodiments set forth herein.

[0063] The electrical connections within the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 are, in this example, a simple pass through arrangement interrupted by the switch 138 and constitutes an interruptible passthrough circuit portion 139. The first battery connection arrangement 150 comprises a third electrical contact 168 and a fourth electrical contact 170. The second battery connection arrangement 154 comprises a fifth electrical contact 172 and a sixth electrical contact 174. In this example, the third electrical contact 168 is coupled to the fifth electrical contact 172. The fourth electrical contact 170 is electrically coupled to a first electrical conductor 176 in the cable 156 and the sixth electrical contact 174 is electrically coupled to a second electrical conductor 178 in the cable 156. The first and second electrical conductors 176, 178 are coupled to either side of the switch 138 and serve to interrupt selectively an electrical conduction path from the fourth electrical contact 170 at the first interfacing side 146 and the sixth electrical contact 174 at the second interfacing side 148 of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134. The cable 156 serves to couple the switch 138 in the interruptible passthrough circuit portion 139 that is within the body 144 while separating the switch 138 from the body 144.

[0064] For completeness, the battery 136 comprises a seventh electrical contact 180 and an eighth electrical contact 182. Again, for the sake of conciseness and clarity of description, other electrical internal connectivity of the battery 136 will not be described herein as it is not necessary for an understanding of the salient aspects of the embodiments set forth herein. In some examples, other electrical contacts can be provided in the battery 136, for example for temperature monitoring purposes, and for connection to the lawn trimmer 104 in those examples the electrical circuit of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 is configured to connect these additional electrical contacts directly.

[0065] It should be appreciated that the electrical contact pinning configuration of the battery 136 is replicated in the first battery connection arrangement 150 and the pinning configuration of the battery receiving port 152 of the lawn trimmer 104 is replicated in the second battery connection arrangement 154. As will be appreciated, in the present example, the pinning configuration is common to the battery receiving port 152 and the battery 136.

[0066] Turning to Figures 4 and 5, to operate the battery-powered lawn trimmer 104 with the lawn mower 102, the lawn trimmer 104 is attached (Step 200) to the lawn mower 102 in the manner already described above in relation to Figure 1. The lawn trimmer 104, the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 and the battery 136 are then assembled together. In this regard, the first battery connection arrangement 150 of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 is slid (Step 202) into the battery receiving port 152 of the lawn trimmer 104 until the latch mechanism of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 engages with the formation within the battery receiving port 152 of the lawn trimmer 104, whereupon an audible click is typically heard by the operator. Thereafter, the battery 136 is then slid (Step 204) into the second battery connection arrangement 154 until the latch mechanism of the battery 136 engages with the formation within the second battery connection arrangement 154.

[0067] Once assembled, for example as shown in Figure 6, the clip 142 carrying the switch 138 is attached (Step 206) to the handlebar 140 of the lawn mower 102. In this regard, the switch 138 is located within easy reach of the operator while the hands of the operator are placed on the handlebar 140 for easy activation of the lawn trimmer 104. With the switch 138 of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 in an off state, the operator then actuates the trigger switch 130 into a powered-on state and locks (Step 208) the trigger switch 130 in this state using the trigger switch lock button 132. In this regard, the trigger switch 130 is latchable and is, in this example, a primary switch to control provision of electrical power. The assures that an electrical connection between the second electrical contact 166 and the electric motor of the lawn trimmer 104 is uninterrupted. The operator can then operate (Step 210) the switch 138 to selectively power on and power off the lawn trimmer 104 while the lawn trimmer 104 is attached to the lawn mower 102 until the operator has finished (Step 212) using the mower and trimmer combination.

[0068] In another embodiment, a remote battery switch apparatus is not an adapter, but integrally formed with the electrical appliance, for example a battery-powered electrical appliance such as the lawn trimmer. In such an example, the body is no longer a relatively small housing to contain the adapter, but the body of the lawn trimmer 104. The body comprises the shaft 114, which at least carries the electric motor of the cutting head 110 at the first end 112 thereof, and the body also comprises the handle portion 116 at the second end 118 of the shaft 114. In other examples, the handle portion 116 can constitute the body. The motor constitutes an electromechanical device. The remote battery switch apparatus is, in this example and with the exception of the switch 138 and the cable 156, provided in the handle portion 116 and comprises the first interfacing side 146 for electrical coupling of the interruptible passthrough circuit portion 139 to the electric motor, and the second interfacing side 148 for electrical coupling of the interruptible passthrough circuit portion 139 to the battery 136 via the battery receiving port 152 of the handle portion 116. As such, it will be appreciated that the interruptible passthrough circuit portion 139 is disposed within the body and, in particular in this example, the handle portion 116.

[0069] As in the case of the previous example, the switch 138 is external to the body, albeit in this example the body is not a housing to be coupled to a battery-powered appliance but is instead the housing of the appliance, both battery powered or otherwise. The switch 138 is operably coupled to the interruptible passthrough circuit portion 139 by the cable 156 via an aperture in a side wall of the body. In this example, the switch 138 is also coupled to the clip 142 for attachment to the handlebar 140 of the lawn mower 102. The switch 138 is part of the interruptible passthrough circuit portion 139 in the same way as in relation to the previous example of the adapter. The switch 138 serves as a secondary switch, relative to the trigger switch 130, for controlling the flow of electric current in the lawn trimmer 104.

[0070] In some examples (Figure 7), the cable 156 can be detachable from the interruptible passthrough circuit portion and thus the body by a connector, for example a jack plug and jack socket arrangement or any other suitable two-part electrical connector arrangement that permits the switch 138 to be unplugged or disconnected from the interruptible passthrough circuit portion without leaving a break in the interruptible passthrough circuit portion 139. In this example, a socket is provided in the side wall of the body, , in particular in this example, a side wall of the handle portion 116, and operably coupled to the interruptible passthrough circuit portion 139. The socket is, in this example, a split ring type socket capable of receiving a jack type plug. The split ring type socket comprises a metallic split ring formed of two halves. Each half of the split ring is respectively coupled to a break in a conduction path in the interruptible passthrough circuit portion 139. Without the jack plug in the split ring socket, the two halves of the split ring are urged together so as to be brought into contact to create an electrical connection that bridges the break in the conduction path in the interruptible passthrough circuit portion 139. The jack type plug is connected to the end of the wire distal from the switch 138. When the jack plug is inserted into the split ring socket, the two halves of the split ring are urged apart by the jack plug, each half of the split ring coming into contact, respectively, with two contacts of the jack plug, the contacts of the jack plug being operably coupled to respective terminals of the switch 138. This then places the switch 138 electrically in the conduction path and enables the conduction path to be selectively interrupted or broken.

[0071] When remote activation of the lawn trimmer 104 is required, for example when the lawn trimmer 104 is attached to the lawn mower 102, the switch 138 is clipped to the handlebar 140 of the lawn mower 102. For the examples where the switch 138 and cable 158 are detachable from the body, for example the handle portion 116 of the lawn trimmer 104, the switch 138 is plugged into the socket found in the side wall of the body and the switch 138 is clipped to the handlebar 140 of the lawn mower 102. With the switch 138 in an OFF state, the trigger switch 130 of the handle portion 116 is actuated, for example squeezed by an operator, to bring the trigger switch 130 into an ON state and the trigger switch lock button 132 is depressed to maintain the trigger switch 130 in the ON state even after release of the trigger switch 130 by the operator. The lawn trimmer 104 is thus configured to be powered up and down via the secondary switch 138 on the handlebar 140. Consequently, when the operator wishes to activate the lawn trimmer 104 while mowing a lawn, the operator simply has to actuate the switch 138 without having to reach over to the trigger switch 130.

[0072] The skilled person should appreciate that the above-described implementations are merely examples of the various implementations that are conceivable within the scope of the appended claims. Indeed, although the examples set forth above have been described in relation to the lawn trimmer 104, the skilled person should appreciate that the remote battery switch adapter apparatus 134 can be employed with other battery-powered appliances, for example other battery-powered garden appliances.

[0073] In the above examples, it has been assumed that the battery 136 and the battery receiving port 152 of the lawn trimmer 104 conform to a common connector type. However, it should be appreciated that in other examples, the connection between the lawn trimmer 104 and the first battery connection arrangement 150 can be of a first type and the connection between the battery 136 and the second battery connection arrangement 154 can be of a second type, the first and second connection types being different. 5

[0074] It should also be appreciated that the interruptible passthrough circuit portion of Figure 3 employs a single pole isolation technique to interrupt the flow of electrical current between the battery 136 and the electric motor of the cutting head 110 of the lawn trimmer 104. However, in other examples, a double pole isolation technique can be employed, for example employing a double pole switch, in order 10 to interrupt electric current flowing between the battery 136 and the electric motor of the cutting head 110. In examples, where appropriate, a triple pole isolation configuration can be employed.

[0075] In is entirely conceivable that the electrical appliance comprises an electrical circuit to provide functionality other than secondary control of provision of 15 electric current to the electromechanical device, for example a circuit that includes monitoring of battery temperature. Consequently, the interruptible passthrough aspect of the examples set forth herein has been referred to a circuit portion, namely the interruptible passthrough circuit portion 139.

Claims

1. A remote battery switch apparatus for a battery-powered electrical appliance, the apparatus comprising:a first interfacing side configured to be electrically coupled to an electromechanical device of the battery-powered appliance;a second interfacing side configured to be electrically coupled to a battery;an external switch;an interruptible passthrough circuit portion comprising the external switch and disposed within a body and coupled between the first interfacing side and the second interfacing side;a cable arranged to couple the external switch in the interruptible passthrough circuit portion within the body and separating the external switch from the body; whereinthe external switch is external to and remote from the body; andthe interruptible passthrough circuit portion is configured to selectively interrupt an electrical conduction path between the first interfacing side and the second interfacing side.

2. A remote battery switch adapter apparatus comprising:the remote battery switch apparatus as claimed in Claim 1;a first battery connection arrangement provided at the first interfacing side;a second battery connection arrangement provided at the second interfacing side; whereinthe body comprises the first interfacing side and the second interfacing side;the first battery connection arrangement is configured to be connectable to the battery-powered electrical appliance;the second battery connection arrangement is configured to be connectable to the battery;the first battery connection arrangement comprises first electrical contact elements and the second battery connection arrangement comprises second electrical contact elements; andthe interruptible passthrough circuit portion is operably coupled between the first and second electrical contact elements.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the body comprises a releasable latch mechanism configured to releasably secure the first battery connection arrangement to the battery-powered appliance.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, further comprising: a clip connector for attachment to a handlebar of a lawn mower; wherein the clip connector is configured to carry the external switch.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the first battery connection arrangement is configured to be received by a battery receiving port of the battery-powered electrical appliance.

6. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the first battery connection arrangement is complementary to the battery receiving port of the battery-powered electrical appliance.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6, wherein the second battery connection arrangement is configured to provide the body with a battery receiving port for receiving a power coupling connector of the battery.

8. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the second battery connection arrangement is complementary to the power coupling connector of the battery.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 8, wherein the first battery connection arrangement and the second battery connection arrangement are complementary parts of a common battery connection assembly type.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 9, wherein the first battery connection arrangement and the second battery connection arrangement are disposed on opposite sides of the body.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 10, wherein the first battery connection arrangement is a part of a two-part sliding connector assembly.

12. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 10, wherein the second battery connection arrangement is a part of a two-part sliding connector assembly.

13. A trimmer and mower assembly comprising:a lawn mower;a battery-powered lawn trimmer mounted on the lawn mower, the battery-powered lawn trimmer comprising a battery-receiving port;a battery; anda remote battery switch adapter apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 12; whereinthe first battery connection arrangement is operably coupled to the battery-receiving port of the lawn trimmer; andthe battery is operably coupled to the second battery connection arrangement.

14. An assembly as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the lawn mower comprises a handlebar; and the external switch is operably coupled to the handlebar.

15. A battery-powered electrical appliance apparatus comprising: an electromechanical device;a battery receiving port;a primary latchable switch electrically coupled between the battery receiving port and the electromechanical device; anda remote battery switch apparatus as claimed in Claim 1; wherein the body comprises the battery receiving port and at least carries the electromechanical device, the interruptible passthrough circuit portion being housed within the body.

16. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the body further comprises:a handle portion, the handle portion comprising the primary latchable switch.

17. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 15 or Claim 16, wherein the handle portion comprises the interruptible passthrough circuit portion.

18. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 16, whereinthe body further comprises a shaft comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being distal from the second end; andthe handle portion is operably coupled to the first end of the shaft; andthe electromechanical device is operably coupled to the second end of the shaft.

19. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 15 to 18, wherein the external switch of the remote battery switch apparatus serves as a secondary switch.

20. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external switch of the remote battery switch apparatus is selectively removable.

21. A lawn trimmer apparatus comprising:the battery-powered electrical appliance as claimed in any one of Claims 16 to 20; whereinthe electromechanical device is an electric motor configured to carry a cutter piece.

22. A method of operating a battery-powered lawn trimmer coupled to a lawn mower, the method comprising:providing a remote battery switch adapter apparatus, a first side of a body of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus being configured to be received securely by a battery receiving port of the battery-powered trimmer, a second side of the body being configured to receive a battery securely, and an external switch coupled to the body of the remote battery switch adapter by a cable;attaching the first side of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus to a battery receiving port of the battery-powered lawn trimmer;attaching a battery to the second side of the remote battery switch adapter apparatus;5 attaching the external switch to a handlebar of the lawn mower;locking a power activation switch of the battery-powered lawn trimmer to a powered on state; andusing the external switch selectively to power on and power off the battery powered lawn trimmer.10

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