Technical field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a top-handle chain saw comprising a housing, a
guide bar projecting from the housing in a front direction and carrying a saw chain,
a top handle on the housing, extending from a rear tower on the housing to a front
tower on the housing, a side handle, extending laterally from the top handle, and
a handguard, having a proximal end pivotably connected to the housing and a distal
end extending into a space in between the side handle and the guide bar and being
moveable between a forward position where a saw chain brake is activated and a backward
position where the saw chain brake is released.
Background
[0002] Such a chain saw is described for instance in
EP-1952959-A1. Top-handle chain saws of this type may be useful typically for arborists cutting
branches while climbing trees, but also under other circumstances where a chain saw
with a compact grip is desired.
[0003] One problem associated with chain saws of this kind is how to make them even more
useful in difficult working conditions such as working when climbing trees or working
in a cramped space.
Summary
[0004] One object of the present disclosure is therefore to obtain a top handle chain saw
that makes work under difficult conditions easier.
[0005] This object is achieved by means of a top-handle chain saw as defined in claim 1.
More particularly, in a top-handle chain saw of the initially mentioned type, the
handguard is devised such that its distal end in the backward position is located
further to the rear, away from the guide bar, than the front tower to which the top
handle is connected. By means of this arrangement, the handguard can be drawn further
to the rear, and therefore will obscure the user's view of the guide bar to a lesser
extent. Also, the chain saw is less hindered by other branches etc. in cramped spaces.
This makes operation of the chain saw easier under difficult working conditions.
[0006] The handguard may be pivotably connected to the housing at a connection point below
the front tower. This makes the connection point protected by the front tower to some
extent.
[0007] The handguard may further be pivotably connected to the housing at a front part of
the front tower.
[0008] The handguard may be provided with a cut-out to accommodate the front tower. This
allows the handguard to be moved further back.
[0009] The chain saw may be battery driven.
Brief description of the drawings
[0010]
Fig 1 illustrates a top-handle type chain saw according to known art.
Fig 2 shows a side view of a chain saw according to the present disclosure with a
hand guard in its locking position.
Fig 3 shows the side view of fig 2 where the hand guard has been moved to the release
position.
Fig 4 shows a front view corresponding to fig 3.
Fig 5 shows isolated the hand guard of fig 4.
Detailed description
[0011] The present disclosure relates to a top-handle type chain saw. Such a chain saw 1
according to known art is illustrated in fig 1. The chain saw 1 includes a housing
3 and a guide bar 5, projecting from the housing 3 and carrying a chain 7. The chain
7 is driven by a motor (not shown) in the housing 3. Although the chain saw 1 can
be oriented differently depending on use, the bottom portion of the chain saw is defined
as where the chain 7 is driven towards the housing 3 (indicated with an arrow in fig
1), as this is the normal use. The front direction of the chain saw is defined as
the direction in which the guide bar 5 extends from the housing 3.
[0012] As mentioned, the chain saw is of a top-handle type, meaning that it has a handle
9 located at the top portion of the housing 3 and extending more or less in the direction
of the guide bar 5. This is in contrast to rear-handle type chain saws, where the
corresponding handle is instead located at the rear of the housing at a surface facing
away from the guide bar 5. Such saws are usually used for heavy-duty forestry work,
i.e. cutting down trees. Top-handle saws are usually lighter and used e.g. by arborists
that trim branches, occasionally while climbing a tree. Such work requires a very
compact chain saw, and therefore the handle is moved further to the front and to the
top of the housing.
[0013] The top handle 9 thus spans between a front 11 and a rear 13 tower, which rise from
the housing 3. A side handle 15 is arranged to extend from the front part of the housing
3, approximately in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the guide bar 5. The
side handle 15 as illustrated may be curved such that its other end connects to the
lower portion of the housing 3.
[0014] Thus, the user may hold the chain saw 1 with his right hand gripping the top handle
9, and his left hand gripping the side handle 15. While this locates the user's hands
on the saw in a compact manner suitable for the task, the user is still able to control
the moving of the saw in a reliable and stable manner. A handguard 17 is provided
for safety purposes. If the saw makes a kickback caused by the movement of the chain
7 in relation to an object being sawed, a chain brake is automatically activated that
quickly stops the movement of the chain 7 to protect the user. This chain brake may
also be activated by the user by moving the handguard 17 forward to a locking position.
The brake may later be released by moving the handguard 17 to the backward position
again.
[0015] The present disclosure relates to improvements of such top-handle chain saws. Reference
is made to figs 2 and 3, where fig 2 shows a side view of a chain saw where the handguard
17 is in the locking forward position braking the chain, and fig 3 shows the corresponding
view where the handguard is moved to the releasing backward position.
[0016] Fig 2 shows the top-handle chain saw comprising a housing 3, a guide bar 5 projecting
from the housing in a front direction and being capable of carrying a saw chain. A
top handle 9 is provided on the upper side of the housing 3, extending from a rear
tower 13 to a front tower 11 on the housing 3. In the illustrated case, the rear tower
13 forms a part of a battery compartment, the chain saw being driven by an electric
motor. A side handle 15, extends laterally from the top handle 9, such that the user
can hold the top handle 9 in his right hand and the side handle 15 in his left hand.
The held part of the side handle 15 and the top handle 9 extend in approximately perpendicular
directions, such that the user can precisely control the movement of the guide bar
5. A handguard 17 is provided having a proximal end 18 pivotably connected to the
housing 3 and a distal end 20 extending into a space in between the side handle 15
and the guide bar 5. The handguard 17 is moveable between a forward position shown
in fig 2, where a saw chain brake is activated, and a backward position shown in fig
3 where the saw chain brake is released. The handguard 17 can thus be moved forward
by the user to brake the saw chain, as is well known per se.
[0017] The handguard 17 is devised in such a way that its distal end 20 can be moved past
the end of the handle 9 or front tower 11 to reach the said backward position. As
can be seen in fig 3, the front end of the front tower 11 is visible in front of the
handguard 17. The front end of the front tower 11 thus projects further towards the
guide bar than the hand guard, in front of where the side handle 15 is located. Differently
expressed, the front side of the handguard 17 is located further to the rear, away
from the guide bar 5, than is the front tower 11 to which the top handle 9 is connected,
at a location in front of the side handle 15. In particular, the distal end 20 of
the handguard 17 may be located behind the front end of the front tower 11.
[0018] By allowing the handguard to pass the front tower 11 or top handle 9, the handguard
17 can be pulled back further to reach the release position. This means that the handguard
17 will obstruct the user's view of the guide bar 5 to a lesser extent during use,
which is advantageous.
[0019] As shown in fig 3, the handguard 17 may be connected pivotably to the housing 3 at
a connection point 22 below the front tower 11 as seen from the top of the chain saw.
[0020] As illustrated in the front view of fig 4, there may be provided a second connection
point 24 at the housing 3 in front of the front tower 11. This gives the handguard
17 a more stable connection with the housing 3.
[0021] Fig 5 shows the handguard isolated. The handguard 17 is provided with a cut-out 21
to accommodate the top handle 9 and/or the front tower 11 to which the top handle
9 is connected.
[0022] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described examples and may be
varied and altered in different ways within the scope of the appended claims.
1. A top-handle chain saw (1) comprising a housing (3), a guide bar (5) projecting from
the housing in a front direction and carrying a saw chain (7), a top handle (9) on
the housing, extending from a rear tower (13) on the housing (3) to a front tower
(11) on the housing, a side handle (15), extending laterally from the top handle (9),
and a handguard (17), having a proximal end pivotably connected to the housing (3)
and a distal end extending into a space in between the side handle (15) and the guide
bar (5) and being moveable between a forward position where a saw chain brake is activated
and a backward position where the saw chain brake is released, characterized by the handguard (17) being devised such that its distal end, in said backward position,
is located further to the rear, as seen in the direction of the guide bar (5), than
the front end of the front tower (11) to which the top handle (9) is connected.
2. Chain saw according to claim 1, wherein the handguard (17) is pivotably connected
to the housing (3) at a connection point (22) below the front tower (11).
3. Chain saw according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the handguard (17) is further pivotably
connected to the housing (3) at a front part of the front tower.
4. Chain saw according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the handguard (17) is
provided with a cut-out to (21) accommodate the front tower (11).
5. Chain saw according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the chain saw is battery
driven.