Power tool having a variable height or speed

Abstract

A power tool may have features for varying height or speed. The power tool may include a base chassis, one or more wheels mounted to the base chassis, and a handle frame attached to the base chassis. A slider assembly or support rail may further be included with the power tool to, for instance, aid in varying speed or height.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power tool comprising:
 a base chassis;   a propulsion wheel mounted to the base chassis;   a propulsion motor in mechanical communication with the propulsion wheel to selectively motivate the base chassis; and   a handle frame attached to the base chassis and extending from a mount end to a grip end, the handle frame comprising
 a slider assembly located between the mount end and the grip end, the slider assembly comprising a reception tube and an insertion tube longitudinally slidable relative to the reception tube to vary a longitudinal distance between the grip end and the mount end from a rest position to an engaged position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The power tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller in operable communication with the propulsion motor, the controller configured to direct the propulsion motor based on the longitudinal distance between the grip end and the mount end.   
     
     
         3 . The power tool of  claim 2 , wherein the slider assembly comprises a slide lock movable between a locked position blocking longitudinal movement of the grip end and an unlocked position permitting longitudinal movement of the grip end. 
     
     
         4 . The power tool of  claim 1 , wherein the handle frame comprises a handlebar defined at the grip end, wherein the lawnmower further comprises a grip-engaged paddle movably mounted on the handlebar. 
     
     
         5 . The power tool of  claim 4 , wherein the handlebar extends laterally between a first end and a second end, wherein the grip-engaged paddle extends between a free end and a pivot end, wherein the grip-engaged paddle is pivotably mounted on the handlebar at the pivot end, wherein the pivot end is located closer to the first end of the handlebar than the second end of the handlebar, and wherein the free end is located closer to the second end of the handlebar than the first end of the handlebar. 
     
     
         6 . The power tool of  claim 5 , wherein the grip-engaged paddle is a first paddle, wherein the lawnmower further comprises:
 a second paddle movably mounted on the handlebar, wherein the second paddle extends between a free end and a pivot end, wherein the second paddle is pivotably mounted on the handlebar at the pivot end of the second paddle, wherein the pivot end of the second paddle is located closer to the second end of the handlebar than the first end of the handlebar, and wherein the free end of the second paddle is located closer to the first end of the handlebar than the second end of the handlebar.   
     
     
         7 . The power tool of  claim 1 , wherein the propulsion wheel is rotatable about a wheel axis, wherein the mount end of the handle frame joins to the base chassis at a use-angle assembly defining a handle rotation axis parallel to the wheel axis, wherein the use-angle assembly comprises
 a support bracket fixed to the base chassis,   an intermediate cup attached to the support bracket, and   a handle bracket fixed to the handle frame in selective engagement with the intermediate cup,   wherein the intermediate cup defines a plurality of cup ridges extending laterally toward the handle bracket, and wherein the handle bracket defines a plurality of bracket ridges extending laterally toward the intermediate cup in selective engagement with the plurality of cup ridges.   
     
     
         8 . The power tool of  claim 1 , wherein the handle frame further comprises a telescoping tube and a telescope lock, wherein the reception tube is longitudinally slidable to vary an overall longitudinal length between the grip end and the mount end at the rest position, and wherein the telescope lock is rotatably mounted on the telescoping tube in selective engagement with the reception tube to selectively lock the overall longitudinal length. 
     
     
         9 . The power tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a passive wheel transversely spaced apart from the propulsion wheel;   a wheel bracket defining a plurality of slots corresponding to a plurality of unique height settings of the propulsion wheel, the propulsion wheel being mounted to the wheel bracket;   a secondary bracket mounted to the passive wheel; and   a support rail extending transversely from a first pivotable end to a second pivotable end, the first pivotable end joined to the wheel bracket, the second pivotable end joined to the secondary bracket.   
     
     
         10 . The power tool of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a selection rail extending from a first engagement end to a second engagement end, the selection rail being pivotably joined to the base chassis between the first engagement end and the second engagement end, the second engagement end comprising an adjustment latch selectively received within one slot of the plurality of slots defined by the wheel bracket.   
     
     
         11 . A power tool comprising:
 a base chassis;   a handle frame attached to the base chassis and extending from a mount end to a grip end;   a first wheel mounted to the base chassis;   a second wheel transversely spaced apart from the first wheel;   a wheel bracket defining a plurality of slots corresponding to a plurality of unique height settings of the first wheel; and   a secondary bracket mounted to the second wheel; and   a support rail extending transversely from a first pivotable end proximal to the wheel bracket to a second pivotable end proximal to the secondary bracket.   
     
     
         12 . The power tool of  claim 11 , wherein the handle frame comprises a handlebar defined at the grip end, wherein the lawnmower further comprises a grip-engaged paddle movably mounted on the handlebar. 
     
     
         13 . The power tool of  claim 12 , wherein the handlebar extends laterally between a first end and a second end, wherein the grip-engaged paddle extends between a free end and a pivot end, wherein the grip-engaged paddle is pivotably mounted on the handlebar at the pivot end, wherein the pivot end is located closer to the first end of the handlebar than the second end of the handlebar, and wherein the free end is located closer to the second end of the handlebar than the first end of the handlebar. 
     
     
         14 . The power tool of  claim 13 , wherein the grip-engaged paddle is a first paddle, wherein the lawnmower further comprises:
 a second paddle movably mounted on the handlebar, wherein the second paddle extends between a free end and a pivot end, wherein the second paddle is pivotably mounted on the handlebar at the pivot end of the second paddle, wherein the pivot end of the second paddle is located closer to the second end of the handlebar than the first end of the handlebar, and wherein the free end of the second paddle is located closer to the first end of the handlebar than the second end of the handlebar.   
     
     
         15 . The power tool of  claim 11 , wherein the first wheel is rotatable about a wheel axis, wherein the mount end of the handle frame joins to the base chassis at a use-angle assembly defining a handle rotation axis parallel to the wheel axis, wherein the use-angle assembly comprises
 a support bracket fixed to the base chassis,   an intermediate cup attached to the support bracket, and   a handle bracket fixed to the handle frame in selective engagement with the intermediate cup,   wherein the intermediate cup defines a plurality of cup ridges extending laterally toward the handle bracket, and wherein the handle bracket defines a plurality of bracket ridges extending laterally toward the intermediate cup in selective engagement with the plurality of cup ridges.   
     
     
         16 . The power tool of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a selection rail extending from a first engagement end to a second engagement end, the selection rail being pivotably joined to the base chassis between the first engagement end and the second engagement end, the second engagement end comprising an adjustment latch selectively received within one slot of the plurality of slots defined by the wheel bracket.   
     
     
         17 . The power tool of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an adjustment handle, wherein the support rail extends through the adjustment handle, and wherein the selection rail pivotably extends through the adjustment handle.   
     
     
         18 . A power tool comprising:
 a base chassis;   a first wheel mounted to the base chassis, the first wheel being rotatable about a wheel axis;   a second wheel transversely spaced apart from the first wheel;   a use-angle assembly attached to the base chassis and defining a handle rotation axis parallel to the wheel axis; and   a handle frame attached to the base chassis at the use-angle assembly and extending from a mount end proximal to the use-angle assembly to a grip end distal to the use angle assembly;   wherein the use-angle assembly comprises
 a support bracket fixed to the base chassis, 
 an intermediate cup attached to the support bracket, the intermediate cup defining a plurality of cup ridges, and 
 a handle bracket fixed to the handle frame in selective engagement with the intermediate cup, the handle bracket defining a plurality of bracket ridges extending laterally toward the intermediate cup in selective engagement with the plurality of cup ridges. 
   
     
     
         19 . The power tool of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a motor mounted to the base chassis;   an attachment sensor mounted to the base chassis proximal to a mulch opening defined by the base chassis;   a mulch cover selectively mounted over the mulch cover in engagement with the attachment sensor; and   a controller in operable communication with the motor and the attachment sensor, the controller being configured to initiate activation of the motor based on a mulch receptor signal received from the attachment sensor, the mulch receptor signal indicating engagement between the mulch cover and the attachment sensor.   
     
     
         20 . The power tool of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a motor mounted to the base chassis;   a tilt sensor mounted to the base chassis;   a controller in operable communication with the motor and the tilt sensor, the controller being configured to
 determine assumption of a storage position for the lawnmower based on a detected angle signal received from the tilt sensor, and 
 halt power transmission to the motor in response to determining the assumption of the storage position.