Rotatable Handle Mower with Position-Locked Motor Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gardening tools like mowers pose safety risks due to high-speed operational accessories, and existing safety measures, such as longer handles, can lead to accidental startup when the handle is folded, putting the operator in danger.

Innovation Solution

A gardening tool with a rotatable handle and a control system that prevents the motor from being operated when the handle is not in a secure position, ensuring the motor and functional accessory are not driven during abnormal handle use, thereby enhancing user safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the handle is made longer to keep the operator away from the main body, then safety is improved, but the handle becomes more difficult to store and maneuver

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidhandle maneuverability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is designed to be rotatable relative to the main body, allowing it to dynamically change position between an extended operational state and a retracted storage state. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing both long handle safety benefits during operation and compact handle storage when not in use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the handle is made foldable or rotatable for convenient storage, then ease of operation is improved, but accidental startup may occur when the user is too close to the main body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandle storageVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A control system acts as an intermediary between the handle position and motor operation. The control system monitors handle position and only permits motor operation when the handle is in the correct operational position, preventing accidental startup while maintaining the benefits of foldable/rotatable handle design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system provides feedback about handle position to determine whether motor operation should be permitted. This feedback mechanism ensures that even when the handle is in a received state, the motor cannot be accidentally activated unless the handle is properly positioned for safe operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If a control system is added to prevent motor operation when handle is out of position, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidcontrol system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical safety interlocking mechanisms with an electronic control system that uses sensors and control logic to monitor handle position and prevent motor operation. This substitution achieves the same safety function with potentially simpler overall system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12108702B2Gardening tool, particularly a mower

Publication Date: 2024.10.08 CHERVON HK LTD WANCHAI

AI summary

A gardening tool, such as a mower, has a main body having an accessory, such as a mowing blade, and a motor for driving the accessory. A handle is rotatably connected to the main body. At least one operation assembly is associated with the handle for being operated by a user to control the motor when the handle is located in a predetermined position. A control system prevents the motor from being controlled by the operation assembly and halts the motor when the handle is located out of the predetermined position.