Blower

Abstract

A blower including: a passageway for directing airflow from an air inlet to a front end of the blower, the passageway having a variable length; a motor disposed in the passageway and operably coupled to a fan, a handle disposed below the passageway, wherein the handle comprises a trigger that receives a user input and a sensor that detects a position of the trigger; and a control circuitry in communication with the motor and the sensor, wherein the control circuitry controls a speed of the motor based on information from the sensor, wherein the length of the passageway between the air inlet and air outlet is greater than or equal to 12 inches.

1 . A blower comprising:
 a passageway for directing airflow from an air inlet to a front end of the blower, the passageway having a variable length, wherein the passageway is made up of a tube of a base component of the blower and one or more removable extension tubes detachably coupled to the base component, and wherein the tube defines a linear conduit essentially free of bends or curves between the air inlet and an air outlet of the base component;   a motor disposed in the passageway and operably coupled to a fan,   a handle disposed below the passageway, wherein the handle comprises a trigger that receives a user input and a sensor that detects a position of the trigger; and   a control circuitry in communication with the motor and the sensor, wherein the control circuitry controls a speed of the motor based on information from the sensor,   wherein the length of the passageway between the air inlet and air outlet is greater than or equal to 12 inches.   
     
     
         2 . The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the passageway is variable based on a number and a type of removable extension tubes used. 
     
     
         3 . The blower of  claim 2 , wherein the length of the passageway is greater than or equal to 20 inches when at least one of the one or more removable extension tubes is coupled to the base component of the blower. 
     
     
         4 . The blower of  claim 2 , wherein the length of the tube is less than 16 inches and greater than 12 inches when none of the one or more removable extension tubes is coupled to the base component of the blower. 
     
     
         5 . The blower of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the one or more removable extension tubes and the tube has a narrowing portion at an outlet end that reduces an internal cylindrical diameter at the outlet end. 
     
     
         6 . The blower of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the one or more removable extension tubes does not have a narrowing portion at an outlet end such that an internal cylindrical diameter at the outlet end is approximately the same as the internal cylindrical diameter at an inlet end of the at least one of the one or more extension tubes. 
     
     
         7 . The blower of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the one or more removable extension tubes has a portion at an outlet end that widens in at least one radial direction. 
     
     
         8 . The blower of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the one or more removable extension tubes is coupled to the base component of the blower with a bayonet connection. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the handle extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the passageway. 
     
     
         11 . The blower of  claim 1 , where an air outlet of a base component of the blower is devoid of a cover including a grated surface within one inch of an outlet end. 
     
     
         12 . The blower of  claim 1 , further comprising a lockout feature that prevents the trigger from being released. 
     
     
         13 . The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet is oriented rearward and at least partially downward at an angle of between 20-80 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the blower includes a removable battery coupled to the blower below the handle. 
     
     
         15 . The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the blower has a base weight of less than 900 grams (g). 
     
     
         16 . The blower of  claim 1 , wherein the blower has a maximum airflow force of at least 5.7 N, as measured when the trigger is in a fully actuated state. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The blower of  claim 1 , wherein an angular buoyancy of the blower is adjustable based on a number and a type of removable extension tubes used. 
     
     
         20 . A blower comprising:
 a tube for directing airflow from an air inlet to a nozzle;   a motor disposed in the tube and operably coupled to a fan, the fan rotatable about a longitudinal axis parallel to a direction of airflow through the tube;   a handle coupled to the tube, wherein the handle extends from the tube in a direction perpendicular to the direction of airflow through the tube, wherein the handle comprises a trigger disposed on a portion of the handle oriented perpendicular to the direction of airflow, wherein the trigger receives a user input, and wherein a sensor detects a position of the trigger;   a control circuitry in communication with the motor and the sensor, wherein the control circuitry controls a speed of the motor based on information from the sensor; and   a housing surrounding at least a portion of the tube and the control circuitry, wherein the housing defines a protruding portion, wherein the control circuitry is disposed in the protruding portion, wherein the control circuitry is disposed on a top side of the tube, wherein the handle is disposed on a bottom side of the tube, and wherein the handle and control circuitry are rotationally offset from one another about a central axis of the tube.   
     
     
         21 . A blower comprising:
 a base component comprising a tube defining a passageway for directing airflow in an airflow direction from an air inlet to an air outlet, wherein the tube defines a linear conduit essentially free of bends or curves between the air inlet and the air outlet;   a motor disposed in the passageway and operably coupled to a fan,   a handle disposed below the passageway, wherein the handle extends from the tube in a direction perpendicular to the airflow direction, wherein the handle comprises a trigger disposed on a portion of the handle oriented perpendicular to the direction of airflow, wherein the trigger receives a user input, wherein a sensor detects a position of the trigger;   control circuitry in communication with the motor and the sensor, wherein the control circuitry controls a speed of the motor based on information from the sensor; and   a removable battery insertable into the handle in a direction perpendicular to the airflow direction,   wherein a length of the tube is greater than 12 inches.   
     
     
         22 . The blower of  claim 21 , wherein the control circuitry is disposed on a first side of the passageway and the handle is disposed on a second side of the passageway opposite the first side, and wherein the control circuitry is disposed in a protruding portion of a housing of the base component. 
     
     
         23 . The blower of  claim 21 , wherein the control circuitry is coupled to a heat sink, and wherein the tube defines an opening through which the heat sink is directly exposed to the airflow to cool the control circuitry.