Lopping tool and method for lopping

Abstract

A tool for performing lopping, pruning and similar operations includes a tool support, a tool head, an actuating line and an actuating handle. The tool support preferably includes a pair of telescoping tubes and the tool head includes a blade movable to perform cutting operations. The blade is coupled to the actuating line and remotely movable by tensioning the actuating line. The actuating line passes through a portion of the tool support to the actuating handle. The actuating handle includes a line engagement mechanism or clutch assembly that engages and holds the line when the actuating handle is slid on the tool support. The tool is actuated by a first movement of the actuating handle that causes the engagement mechanism to engage the actuating line, followed by a second movement that tensions the line to move the blade. A reel mechanism below the engagement mechanism collects the actuating line when the tool support is retracted and dispenses line when the tool support is extended.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A tool for performing lopping, trimming, pruning and similar cutting operations, comprising: 
 an elongated tool support having an upper end, a lower end and a cavity extending at least partially therethrough;    a tool head supported on the upper end of the tool support and including a cutting blade;    an actuating line coupled to the tool head and tensionable to move the cutting blade, the actuating line passing through at least a portion of the cavity; and    an actuating handle coupled to the lower end of the tool support, the actuating handle including an actuating line engagement mechanism, the actuating line engageable by the actuating line engagement mechanism in response to a first movement of the actuating handle, and actuating line tensionable in response to a second movement of the actuating handle.    
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool support extends along a longitudinal axis and the actuating handle is slidable along the longitudinal axis with respect to the tool support, the first and second movements being substantially along the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating handle is movable along the tool support, the first and second movements being in a first direction, and wherein the actuating handle is movable in a second direction, opposite to the first direction to disengage the actuating line.  
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool support includes a plurality of telescopingly extensible and retractable elements.  
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 4 , further comprising a reel mechanism, the reel mechanism collecting the actuating line upon retraction of the tubes and dispensing the actuating line upon extension of the tubes.  
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating line engaging mechanism includes a clutch for automatically engaging the actuating line in response to the first movement of the actuating handle, the clutch remaining in engagement with the actuating line throughout the second movement.  
     
     
         7 . A tool for performing lopping, trimming, pruning and similar cutting operations, comprising: 
 an elongated, telescopingly extensible and retractable tool support having an upper end, a lower end and a cavity extending at least partially therethrough;    a severing head supported on the upper end of the tool support, the severing head including a blade movable to perform a cutting operation;    an actuating line coupled to the severing head and tensionable to move the blade to perform the cutting operation, the actuating line extending through at least a portion of the cavity toward the lower end;    an actuator for selectively engaging and tensioning the actuating line; and    a reel mechanism disposed proximate to the lower end of the tool support and coupled to the actuating line, the reel mechanism collecting the actuating line during retraction of the tool support and dispensing the actuating line during extension of the tool support.    
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator includes a clutch for engaging and tensioning the actuating line for movement of the blade.  
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the reel mechanism is housed in the actuating handle.  
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator is movable with respect to the tool support and includes an actuating line engaging assembly, the engaging assembly engaging the actuating line by a first movement of the actuator and tensioning the actuating line by a second movement of the actuator to move the blade.  
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the actuating line traverses the line engaging assembly between the lower end of the tool support and the reel mechanism.  
     
     
         12 . A tool for performing lopping, trimming, pruning and similar cutting operations, comprising: 
 an elongated tool support having an upper end, a lower end and a cavity extending at least partially therethrough;    a tool head supported at the upper end of the tool support and including a cutting blade;    an actuating line coupled to the tool head and tensionable to move the cutting blade, the actuating line passing through at least a portion of the cavity; and    an actuating line engagement mechanism including a collet and a jam, the collet being selectively movable with respect to the jam between an engaged position wherein the jam engages the collet on the actuating line and a disengaged position wherein the actuating line is free to move with respect to the collet.    
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 12 , further comprising an actuating handle coupled to the tool support and movable with respect thereto, the engagement mechanism being housed within the actuating handle.  
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 13 , wherein the actuating handle is slidable along the tool support, and wherein sliding movement of the actuating handle in a first direction urges the collet toward the jam to engage the actuating line, and sliding movement of the actuating handle in a second direction urges the collet away from the jam to disengage the actuating line.  
     
     
         15 . The tool of  claim 12 , wherein the collet has a wedge-shaped, partially slotted side wall at least partially surrounded by the jam, and wherein the side wall wedges into the jam in the engaged position to engage the actuating line.  
     
     
         16 . A tool for performing lopping, trimming, pruning and similar cutting operations, comprising: 
 an elongated tool support having an upper end, a lower end and a cavity extending at least partially therethrough;    a tool head supported on the upper end of the tool support and including a cutting blade;    an actuating line coupled to the tool head and tensionable to move the cutting blade, the actuating line passing through at least a portion of the cavity to the lower end thereof; and    an actuating handle coupled to the lower end of the tool support and to the actuating line, the actuating handle being slidable with respect to the tool support in a first direction to tension the actuating line and move the blade to perform a cutting operation, the actuating handle being slidable in a second direction to relax the actuating line.    
     
     
         17 . The tool of  claim 16 , wherein the actuating handle includes an actuating line engagement mechanism, and wherein movement of the actuating handle in the first direction automatically engages the engagement mechanism on the actuating line and movement of the actuating handle in the second direction automatically disengages the engagement mechanism from the actuating line.  
     
     
         18 . The tool of  claim 16 , wherein the tool support includes a plurality of telescopingly extensible and retractable tubes.  
     
     
         19 . The tool of  claim 18 , further comprising a reel mechanism, the reel mechanism collecting the actuating line upon retraction of the tubes and dispensing the actuating line upon extension of the tubes.  
     
     
         20 . A method for lopping a branch or the like using a cutting tool of the type having an elongated tool support, a tool head secured to an upper end of the tool support and including a movable blade, an actuating line coupled to the tool head and tensionable to move the blade, and an actuating member mounted on a lower end of the tool support and coupled to the actuating line to selectively move the blade, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) moving the actuating member through a first distance in a predetermined direction with respect to the tool support to engage the actuating line; and    (b) moving the actuating member through a second distance in the predetermined direction to tension the actuating line and thereby move the blade.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of moving the actuating member in a direction opposed to the predetermined direction to release the actuating line.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the actuating member is slidable with respect to the tool support and the predetermined direction is along a longitudinal axis of the tool support.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the actuating member includes a clutch mechanism and movement of the actuating member in step (a) causes a clutch mechanism to engage the actuating line.