BLOWER WITH SPEED LOCKOUT

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional application claiming the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/663,433, filed on Jun. 24, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to blowers, and more particularly to blowers having a speed lockout feature.

BACKGROUND

Blowers are generally used to produce and output a stream of air to be directed by the user. Blowers are frequently utilized in outdoor applications, such as to blow leaves and other debris. Homeowners frequently utilized such blowers to clean their yards and outdoor spaces. The types of blowers can vary between backpack-style blowers and handheld blowers, as well as between gas-powered and electric blowers. Electric blowers can be corded and plugged into electrical outlets, or can be cordless and battery powered.

An operator of a blower may desire to prevent operation of the motor of the blower at various speeds. Accordingly, blowers having a speed lockout feature are desirable and would be advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the technology.

In accordance with one embodiment, a blower is provided. The blower includes a main body; an air duct extending between an air inlet and an air outlet opposite the air inlet, the air duct including an air duct body; a motor for driving a fan disposed in the air duct body between the air inlet and the air outlet; a speed selector in communication with the motor for controlling a motor speed, the speed selector including two or more speed settings for the motor speed; an indicator configured to indicate a locked state of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector; and a controller operably coupled to the motor, the speed selector, and the indicator. The controller is configured to receive a speed lockout signal including a locked speed, receive a desired speed setting from the speed selector, determine the desired speed is locked based on the desired speed being equal to the locked speed, activate the indicator based on the desired speed being locked, and prevent operation of the blower based on the desired speed being locked. The locked speed corresponds to at least one or the two or more speed settings of the speed selector.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method of operating a blower is provided. The method of operating a blower includes receiving a speed lockout signal including a locked speed, receiving a desired speed setting from the speed selector, determining the desired speed is locked based on the desired speed being equal to the locked speed, activating an indicator disposed on the blower based on the desired speed being locked, and preventing operation of the blower based on the desired speed being locked. The locked speed corresponds to one or more of two or more speed settings of a speed selector for controlling a motor speed of the blower.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the technology and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the technology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present application, including the best mode of making and using the present systems and methods, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blower in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a control system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method of operating a blower in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Moreover, each example is provided by way of explanation, rather than limitation of, the technology. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present technology without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed technology. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similar designations in the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the disclosure.

As used herein, the terms “first”, “second”, and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms “coupled,” “fixed,” “attached to,” and the like refer to both direct coupling, fixing, or attaching, as well as indirect coupling, fixing, or attaching through one or more intermediate components or features, unless otherwise specified herein. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising.” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of features is not necessarily limited only to those features but may include other features not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive- or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

Terms of approximation, such as “about,” “generally,” “approximately,” or “substantially,” include values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value. When used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms include within ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction. For example, “generally vertical” includes directions within ten degrees of vertical in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems are described below with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature of any or all the claims.

In general, an operator of a blower may desire to prevent operation of the motor of the blower at various speeds. More particularly, the owner of the blower may desire to prevent users other than the owner from operating the motor of the blower are various speeds. Such speed lockout may be done wirelessly via an external device and/or via a wired connection with the blower. Accordingly, a speed lockout feature for blowers that allow an owner of the blower to prevent operation at various motor speeds is desirable.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a blower tool 10 having a main body 12 and a blower unit 14. While the blower tool 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a backpack blower configured to be worn on a user's back, e.g., with backpack supports 16, the features of the present invention may be implemented for a handheld blower (not illustrated), e.g., a handheld axial fan blower or a centrifugal fan blower. A motor (not shown) may be disposed within the main body 12 or the blower unit 14. Additionally, a power source 13 may be removably coupled to the blower tool 10 and configured to supply power to the motor. For example, the power source 13 may include one or more batteries removably coupled to a portion of the blower tool 10. In other example embodiments, the blower tool 10 may include a corded electric power source and/or a gas power source.

In at least one example embodiment, the blower unit 14 includes an air duct 20 extending from an air inlet 22 to an air outlet 24. The air duct 20 may be formed by an air duct body 26 and a blower tube 28. For example, the air duct body 26 may define the air inlet 22 at one end thereof. The air duct body 26 may be coupled, directly or indirectly, with the blower tube 28 at an opposite end relative to the air inlet 22. For example, an elbow tube 35 may be provided between the air duct body 26 and the blower tube 28 as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, e.g., in a handheld blower (not shown), the air duct body 26 may be directly coupled to the blower tube 28. In some example embodiments, a bellows 40 may be provided between the air duct body 26 and the blower tube 28, e.g., to enable the blower tube 28 to pivotably move and/or rotate relative to the air duct body 26.

As shown in FIG. 1, the blower unit 14 may also include a handle 30. The handle 30 may be coupled to the blower tube 28 such that a user may grip the handle 30 to move and/or rotate the blower tube 28 relative to the air duct body 26. The handle 30 may be coupled to the blower tube 28 adjacent the air outlet 24. For example, the handle 30 may be positioned between the bellows 40 and the air outlet 24 of the blower tube 28. Additionally, the handle 30 may include a base portion 32 extending from the blower tube 28 and an end portion 34 coupled to the base portion 32 opposite the blower tube 28. A user may grip the handle 30 during operation of the blower tool 10 at the base portion 32 and/or the end portion 34.

Additionally, the handle 30 may include a speed selector 36 and an indicator 38. For example, the speed selector 36 and the indicator 38 may be disposed on the base portion 32 of the handle 30. In other example embodiments, one or both of the speed selector 36 and the indicator 38 may be disposed on the end portion 34 of the handle 30.

The speed selector 36 is in communication with the motor of the blower tool 10 for controlling a motor speed. For example, the speed selector 36 includes two or more speed settings for the motor of the blower tool 10. In at least one example embodiment, the speed selector may include a rotary knob, one or more buttons, or any other actuator for selecting two or more speed settings for the motor of the blower tool 10.

Moreover, the indicator 38 is configured to indicate a locked state and/or an unlocked state of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36. For example, the indicator 38 may include one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for visually communicating a locked state of one or more of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36 to the operator. In other example embodiments, the indicator 38 may include one or more incandescent lamps and/or a display, such as an LCD.

Additionally, the speed selector 36 and the indicator 38 may be in electrical communication with a controller 100. The controller 100 may be disposed in the blower unit 14, as shown in FIG. 1, and configured to control operation of the blower tool 10, as will be discussed with respect to FIGS. 2-3.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a control system 200 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

In at least one example embodiment, the controller 100 may be configured as part of the control system 200. The control system 200 can include one or more computing device(s) 210. Notably, the controller 100 may be one of the one or more computing device(s) 210 of the exemplary control system 200 depicted in FIG. 2. The computing device(s) 210 may be configured to execute one or more methods in accordance with exemplary aspects of the present disclosure (such as method 300 described below with reference to FIG. 3). The computing device(s) 210 can include one or more processor(s) 215 and one or more memory device(s) 220. The one or more processor(s) 215 can include any suitable processing device, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, integrated circuit, logic device, or other suitable processing device. The one or more memory device(s) 220 can include one or more computer-readable media, including, but not limited to, non-transitory computer-readable media, RAM, ROM, hard drives, flash drives, or other memory devices.

The one or more memory device(s) 220 can store information accessible by the one or more processor(s) 215, including computer-readable instructions 225 that can be executed by the one or more processor(s) 215. The instructions 225 can be any set of instructions that when executed by the one or more processor(s) 215, cause the one or more processor(s) 215 to perform operations. The instructions 225 can be software written in any suitable programming language or can be implemented in hardware. In some example embodiments, the instructions 225 can be executed by the one or more processor(s) 215 to cause the one or more processor(s) 215 to perform operations, such as the operations for regulating fuel flow, as described herein, and/or any other operations or functions of the one or more computing device(s) 210. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the instructions 225 can be executed in logically and/or virtually separate threads on processor 215. The memory device(s) 220 can further store data 230 that can be accessed by the processors 215.

The computing device(s) 210 can also include a communications interface 235 used to communicate, for example, with the components of blower tool 10, such as the speed selector 36, the indicator 38, the motor, and/or other computing device(s) 210. The communications interface 235 can include any suitable components for interfacing with these components or one or more communications network(s), including for example, transmitters, receivers, ports, controllers, antennas, wired communication buses, or other suitable components. For example, the communication interface 235 may be in communication with an external device via a wired or wireless connection. The external device may include a mobile phone, computer, laptop, tablet, or other device. The control system 200 may also be in communication (e.g., via communications interface 235) with various sensors and may selectively operate the motor of the blower tool 10 in response to user input and feedback from these sensors.

The technology discussed herein makes reference to computer-based systems and actions taken by and information sent to and from computer-based systems. It should be appreciated that the inherent flexibility of computer-based systems allows for a great variety of possible configurations, combinations, and divisions of tasks and functionality between and among components. For instance, processes discussed herein can be implemented using a single computing device or multiple computing devices working in combination. Databases, memory, instructions, and applications can be implemented on a single system or distributed across multiple systems. Distributed components can operate sequentially or in parallel.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method 300 of operating a blower in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

In at least one example embodiment, the method 300 includes receiving a speed lockout signal at 305. The speed lockout signal includes a locked speed corresponding to at least one or the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36. For example, the two or more speeds of the speed selector 36 may include a first speed setting, a second speed, setting, and a third speed setting, and the locked speed may be equal to one or more of the first speed setting, the second speed, setting, and the third speed setting. Moreover, the speed lockout signal may be received by the communications interface 235 of the controller system 200. For example, receiving the speed locket signal at 305 may include receiving the speed lockout signal from an external device via the communications interface 235, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 2. Additionally, the controller 100 is configured to save the locked speed until a new locked speed is received via the speed lockout signal at 305.

In other example embodiments, receiving the speed lockout signal at 305 may include receiving the speed lockout signal from a lock speed actuator. For example, the lock speed actuator may be disposed on the handle 30, the main body 12, or the blower unit 14 of the blower tool 10. The lock speed actuator may be electrically coupled to the controller 100 for communicating the locked speed to the controller 100. The lock speed actuator may be a button, rotary knob, or other actuator or user interface for selecting one or more of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36 to be in the locked state.

If no speeds are locked or no speed lockout signal is received at 305, such that the two or more speed settings are unlocked, the method 300 proceeds to receiving a desired speed setting at 315. Receiving the desired speed setting at 315 may include receiving the desired speed setting from the speed selector 36. The desired speed setting includes one of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36. For example, the operator of the blower tool 10 may actuate the speed selector 36 to the desired speed setting. Accordingly, the motor of the blower tool 10 is operated at the desired speed setting at 320.

If the speed lockout signal received at 305 includes a locked speed, the method 300 proceeds to determining which of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36 correspond to the locked speed at 325. For example, the locked speed may include one of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36, such as the first speed setting, the second speed setting, or the third speed setting, at 330. Alternatively, the locked speed may include two or more of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36 at 335.

The method 300 proceeds to activating an indicator at 340. Activating the indicator at 340 includes activating the indicator 38 associated with each of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36 corresponding to the locked speed. For example, the indicator 38 may include a first indicator associated with the first speed of the speed selector 36, a second indicator associated with the second speed of the speed selector 36, and a third indicator associated with the third speed of the speed selector 36. If the locked speed is the first speed at 330, the first indicator of the indicator 38 is activated. Additionally, or alternatively, if the locked speed includes two or more of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36 at 335, such as the second speed setting and the third speed setting, the second indicator and the third indicator of the indicator 38 may both be activated at 340.

The method 300 includes receiving the desired speed setting at 345. Receiving the desired speed setting at 345 may include receiving the desired speed setting from the speed selector 36. The desired speed setting includes one of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36. For example, the operator of the blower tool 10 may actuate the speed selector 36 to the desired speed setting. If the desired speed setting is unlocked, such as not equal to the locked speed, at 350, the motor of the blower tool 10 is operated at the desired speed at 355. The motor of the blower tool 10 may continued to be operated at the desired speed until the operator selects a new desired speed via the speed selector 36. Accordingly, the method 300 may return to receiving the desired speed setting at 345.

If the desired speed setting is locked at 360, operation of the blower tool 10 is prevented. For example, the motor of the blower tool 10 is unable to operate at the desired speed because the desired speed is equal to the locked speed. The method 300 proceeds to activating the indicator at 365. Activating the indicator at 365 may include activating the indicator associated with the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36 that corresponds to the locked speed. For example, if the locked speed includes the first speed and the desired speed setting is the first speed, the indicator 38 associated with the first speed of the speed selector 36 may be activated at 365. Moreover, the indicator 38 may be an LED, and activating the indicator at 365 may include flashing the LED.

After activating the indicator at 365, the method 300 returns to receiving the desired speed setting at 345. In some example embodiments, the operator of the blower tool 10 selects or changes the desired speed setting via the speed selector 36 to one of the two or more speed settings that is unlocked, or not equal to the locked speed. In some additional example embodiments, the controller 100 may automatically adjust the desired speed setting at 345 to one of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector 36 that is unlocked.

Further aspects of the disclosure are provided by one or more of the following embodiments:

A blower includes a main body; an air duct extending between an air inlet and an air outlet opposite the air inlet, the air duct including an air duct body; a motor for driving a fan disposed in the air duct body between the air inlet and the air outlet; a speed selector in communication with the motor for controlling a motor speed, the speed selector including two or more speed settings for the motor speed; an indicator configured to indicate a locked state of the two or more speed settings of the speed selector; and a controller operably coupled to the motor, the speed selector, and the indicator. The controller is configured to receive a speed lockout signal including a locked speed, receive a desired speed setting from the speed selector, determine the desired speed is locked based on the desired speed being equal to the locked speed, activate the indicator based on the desired speed being locked, and prevent operation of the blower based on the desired speed being locked. The locked speed corresponds to at least one or the two or more speed settings of the speed selector.

The blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the desired speed is unlocked based on the desired speed being different than the locked speed; and operate the motor of the blower at the desired speed based on the desired speed being unlocked.

The blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the two or more speed settings include a first speed setting, a second speed setting, and a third speed setting; the indicator includes a first indicator associated with the first speed setting, a second indicator associated with the second speed setting, and a third indicator associated with the third speed setting; the locked speed corresponds to one or more of the first speed setting, the second speed setting, and the third speed setting; and the controller is further configured to activate one or more of the first indicator, the second indicator, and the third indicator corresponding to the locked speed in response to receiving the speed lockout signal.

The blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the indicator comprises at least one indicator for each of the two or more speed settings.

The blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein activating the indicator includes activating the indicator of one or more of the two or more speed settings that corresponds to the locked speed.

The blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the indicator in response to receiving the speed lockout signal.

The blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the indicator includes a light-emitting diode (LED); and activating the indicator in response to receiving the speed lockout signal includes flashing the LED.

The blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the controller includes a communications interface; and receiving the speed lockout signal includes receiving the speed lockout signal from an external device via the communications interface.

The blower of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the desired speed setting to an unlocked speed of the two or more speed settings; and operate the motor of the blower at the unlocked speed.

The blower of any one or more of the embodiments, further including a lock speed actuator, wherein the controller is configured to receive the speed lockout signal from the lock speed actuator; and a handle coupled to the air duct, the speed selector and the indicator disposed on the handle.

The blower of any one or more of the embodiments, further including a handle coupled to the air duct, the speed selector and the indicator disposed on the handle.

A method of operating a blower includes receiving a speed lockout signal including a locked speed, receiving a desired speed setting from the speed selector, determining the desired speed is locked based on the desired speed being equal to the locked speed, activating an indicator disposed on the blower based on the desired speed being locked, and preventing operation of the blower based on the desired speed being locked. The locked speed corresponds to one or more of two or more speed settings of a speed selector for controlling a motor speed of the blower.

The method of any one or more of the embodiments, further including determining the desired speed is unlocked based on the desired speed being different than the locked speed; and operating the blower at the desired speed based on the desired speed being unlocked.

The method of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the two or more speed settings include a first speed setting, a second speed setting, and a third speed setting; the indicator includes a first indicator associated with the first speed setting, a second indicator associated with the second speed setting, and a third indicator associated with the third speed setting; the locked speed corresponds to one or more of the first speed setting, the second speed setting, and the third speed setting; and the method further includes activating one or more of the first indicator, the second indicator, and the third indicator corresponding to the locked speed in response to receiving the speed lockout signal.

The method of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the indicator includes at least one indicator for each of the two or more speed settings; and activating the indicator includes activating the indicator of one or more of the two or more speed settings that corresponds to the locked speed.

The method of any one or more of the embodiments, further including activating the indicator in response to receiving the speed lockout signal.

The method of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein the indicator includes a light-emitting diode (LED); and activating the indicator in response to receiving the speed lockout signal includes flashing the LED.

The method of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein receiving the speed lockout signal includes receiving the speed lockout signal from an external device via a communications interface of the blower.

The method of any one or more of the embodiments, wherein receiving the speed lockout signal includes receiving the speed lockout signal from a lock speed actuator disposed on the blower.

The method of any one or more of the embodiments, further including adjusting the desired speed setting to an unlocked speed of the two or more speed settings; and operating the blower at the unlocked speed.

This written description uses examples to disclose the present application, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.