Transportable blower stand

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention is provided with a portable blower stand including a first, second and third wheel, a first, second and third leg extending from a stand connecting structure and terminating at the first, second and third wheel respectively, and a front and rear support member each having a releasable securing structure for releasably receiving a lawn blower having a blower tube and an exhaust port, the front support member being generally associated with the blower tube and the rear support member being generally associated with said exhaust port.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to lawn maintenance equipment and more particularly to a portable apparatus for use with a motorized lawn blower which may include a reversible operation allowing the intake and the outlet of the motorized blower to be interchanged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lawn blowers may be used for blowing or picking up lawn debris including leaves, sticks, grass clippings and other debris. Typically, a lawn blower may include a housing that encloses a motor having a rotateable shaft connected to a fan blade which rotates when the motor is driven. As the blade is rotated, air is drawn through an intake and discharged through an outlet on the housing. Some blowers have handles for transporting the blower during use.

The lawn blower can be operated in both a blowing mode and in a suction mode. In the blowing mode, a blower tube is connected to the outlet and the intake is connected to an exhaust port. When the fan blade rotates, air is discharged through the blower tube, the tube allowing the air stream's direction to be manipulated by a user. In the suction mode, the blower tube is connected to the intake and the exhaust port is connected to the outlet. As the fan blade rotates, air is drawn through the blower tube and discharged through the exhaust port, carrying any debris along into an optional collector.

During use of the lawn blower, the weight of the blower can become difficult and burdensome requiring a user to make frequent rest stops to alleviate the strain caused by carrying the blower. In addition, in the suction mode, the blower may be difficult to maintain the blower at the proper distance from the ground. In addition, during typical use the operator may vary the spacing of the blower from the ground, ineffectively operating the blower.

It would therefore be beneficial to provide a portable blower stand for use with a blower that can operably transport the blower over the horizontal surface during use, maintaining the blower in an optimal configuration and will assist the blower during operation for blowing or picking up lawn debris.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a portable blower stand for use with a lawn blower having a handle, exhaust port, blower tube, the stand including a first, second and third wheel, a first, second and third leg extending from a stand connecting structure and terminating at the first, second and third wheels, respectively. A front and rear support member each having a releasable securing structure for releasably receiving said lawn blower, said front support member associated with said blower tube, said rear support member associated with said exhaust port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this invention and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

FIG. 1 is a left side perspective view of the portable blower stand apparatus in combination with a lawn blower.

FIG. 1a is a left side partial perspective view of the portable blower stand apparatus in combination with a lawn blower.

FIG. 2 is a right-side perspective view of the apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2a is a partial right-side perspective view of an alternative configuration of the apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear support structure of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the rear support structure of the apparatus in receipt of the lawn blower in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial left side perspective view of the front support structure of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

I. Introduction.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

II. Portable Blower Stand.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention a portable blower stand apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral 10 being in receipt of a lawn blower 2 having a handle, an intake and an outlet, with a blower tube 4 illustrated in connection with the intake and a exhaust port 6 connected between a collector 12 and the outlet. While various lawn blowers have various modes of operation, most fall within one of three different modes of operation, such as a blowing mode, a suction mode and a neutral or non-active mode.

The stand 10 is generally adapted to receive the lawn blower 2 with a receiving structure 20. As illustrated in FIG. 1 the receiving structure 20 includes a front and a rear support member 22, 24 which are connectably secured to the stand 10, for example with mechanical fasteners. The front support member 22 is generally associated with the blower tube 4 while the rear support member is generally associated with the exhaust port 6.

The stand 10, as shown, includes a first, second and third legs 14, 16, 18 extending from a stand connecting structure 52 optionally extending from the illustrated shoulder 56 with all three legs 14, 16, 18 extending therefrom each leg terminating at one of a front pair of wheels 32 and rear wheel 34 also referred to as a first, second and third wheel respectively.

A mounting arm 50 extends from the stand connecting structure 52 and terminates at the front support member 22. In addition, the stand connecting structure 52 may also include a first and second bracing 62, 64 structure or brace is illustrated in FIG. 1 with the first brace 62 extending between the first leg 14 and the mounting arm 50 while the second brace 64 extends between the second leg 16 and the mounting arm 50, the first and second brace 62, 64 terminating at a slidable spacer 54 located on the mounting arm 50, as further illustrated in FIG. 5.

The stand 10 also includes a drive mechanism 30 which is illustrated as a pair of front wheels 32 and a rear wheel 34 which are adapted for variable spacing and include a brake 36 located in association with the rear wheel 34. In use the brake 34 secures the stand 10 in receipt of the blower 2 during startup, helping to prevent any undesired movement by the stand 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the front wheels 32 are mounted to the first and second legs 14, 16 while the rear wheel 34 is mounted to the third leg 18. In addition to providing a rear brake 36, the rear wheel 34 may provide additional stability of the portable stand 10. Drive mechanisms being generally known, may alternatively include various wheel configurations including different location and numbered wheels, in addition to various motorized and un-motorized configurations allowing for locally assisted or remote control of the portable stand 10. Front and rear spacers 42, 44 can also be seen in FIG. 1 extending between the front and rear support members 22, 24 to the drive mechanism 30.

Optionally, as illustrated in FIG. 1a the collector 12 may include an optional hanger 12a adapted for receipt by an optional support arm 12b having a hanger receiver 12c. One end of the support arm 12b being generally associated with the rear support member 24 for connection to the stand 10. As shown, the support arm 12c can assist in supporting the collector 12 during use, optionally providing one-handed operation of the stand 10 in receipt of the blower 2, allowing an operator (not shown) to be positioned some distance from the collector 12.

Alternatively, FIG. 1b illustrates the stand 10 with an optional handle extender 70 having a proximate and distal end, the proximate end being generally associated with the handle of the lawn blower 2 while the distal end extends outwardly from the stand 10. In addition, a handle grip 72 may be associated with the distal end of the handle extender 70, the handle extender 70 being generally adapted for maneuvering the stand 10 during operation of the lawn blower 2. FIG. 1b also illustrates the collector 12 being secured to the stand 10 with a pair of releasable fasteners 12d such as Velcro strips releasably securing the collector 12 to the handle extender 70 during operation of the lawn blower 2 over the lawn or other generally horizontal surface.

FIG. 2 provides an illustration of the stand 10 with the receiving structure 20 extending from the drive mechanism 30 for releasably connecting the lawn blower 2 to the portable stand 10. The receiving structure 20 being illustrated with the front and rear support members 22, 24, may optionally include alternative configurations which releasably connecting the lawn blower 2 to the portable stand 10. As illustrated, the front support member 22 is connected to the mounting arm 50 with mechanical fasteners, although other fastening methods may be utilized to secure the front support arm 22 to the stand 10 mounting arm 50. Releasable connectors 26, 28 including but not limited to hook and loop style connectors are adapted for securing various dimensioned lawn blowers to the front and rear support members 22, 24. Releasable connectors being well known, in addition to hook and loop style connectors may include a variety of connection means including hook and latch mechanisms, clasping style connectors, riveted, screw, tie or a number of other known connections for securing the blower 2 to the stand 10.

In addition FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative arrangement of the stand 10 having engaging structure 40 such as a front and rear notch 46, 48 adapted for receiving complementary keyed orifices, such as the rear key 48b on the blower 2 illustrated in FIG. 4, for engagement by the rear notch 48 of the stand 10.

An optional extendable guide 38 is illustrated in FIG. 2, extending from the front support member 22. The spacing of the guide 38 may be adjusted based on the desired orientation of the lawn blower 2 in relation to a horizontal ground surface (not shown). By increasing or decreasing the distance from the guide 38 to the underlying horizontal surface, the operator can adjust the stand 10 to the desired spacing or angle for operating the lawn blower 2. In addition, the guide 38 may be used to space the lawn blower 2 from the ground during operation. Although illustrated in FIG. 2 as a single wheel, the guide 38 may include a number of wheels or wire extensions 38a extending downwardly from the front support 22 as shown in FIG. 2a. By controlling the spacing and angle of the lawn blower 2, the stand 10 may provide for an optimized operation of the lawn blower 2.

The rear support member 24 is illustrated in FIGS. 3-4 with the releasable connector 28 in an open configuration. While in the open configuration the rear support member 24 is adapted to receive the lawn blower 2. The releasable connector 28 is illustrated in FIG. 4 in a closed configuration, the releasable connector 28 secured to the rear support member 24 for releasably securing the outlet of the lawn blower 2 to the stand 10. In addition, the rear support member 24 includes the optional rear notch 48 adapted for receipt of the rear key 48b located on the outlet of the blower 2. Likewise, the front support member 22 may include the optional front notch 46 for receiving a key 46b (not shown) optionally protruding from the lawn blower 2. Alternatively, the upper portion of the front support member 22 may be removed for receipt of the lawn blower 2 by the front support member 22.

While the blower front and rear notch 46, 48 are illustrated as being configured with a standard commercially available blower such as the Craftsman series of lawn blowers (for example, but not limited to the Craftsman 25 cc Gas Blower with Vacuum Kit Model number 358794960 commercially available from Sears or other retail outlets), other blowers may be utilized with alternative notch configurations in alternative front and rear support members (not shown) which may be mounted to the stand 10 by removing the existing fasteners and replacing the current support structure 20 with the alternative front and rear support members secured to the stand 10 by the mechanical fasteners. In this manner, the commercially available lawn blowers 2 including the Craftsman series illustrated in FIG. 1 may be received by the stand 10 in such a way as to allow for the control and handling of the lawn blower 2 in connection with the stand 10 during the operation of the blower 10.

FIG. 5 illustrates the front support member 22 in association with the mounting arm 50, the front spacer 42 extending therebetween. The slidable spacer 54 associated with the mounting arm 50 is also illustrated extending from the stand connecting structure 52, the shoulder joint 56 generally adapted for uniting the first, second and third legs 14, 16, 18 with the mounting arm 50. FIG. 6 illustrates the stand connecting structure 52, with the first leg 14 extending inwardly towards the mounting arm 50, the first leg being generally secured to the front wheel 32.

In operation, the blower stand 10 may be provided having a first, second and third leg 14, 16, 18 corresponding to a first, second and third wheel, 32, 34 fastening the front and rear support members 22, 24 to the stand 10, the front and rear support members 22, 24 include fasteners 26, 28 for releasably connecting said lawn blower 2 to said stand 10, associating the front support member 22 to the blower tube 4 and associating the rear support member 24 with the lawn blower exhaust port 6. A handle extender 70 may be attached to the handle of the lawn blower 2 for example with mechanical fasteners, and a handle grip 72 may optionally be associated with one end of the handle extender 70. By applying pressure generally on the handle extender 70, the wheels of the stand 10 may be rotated along the horizontal surface, the lawn blower being generally received by the front and rear support members 22, 24 and generally secured to the stand 10 with the releasable connectors 26, 28. Once the blower 2 is secured to the stand 10, the drive mechanism 30, optionally including the handle extender 70 along with the front and rear wheels 32, 34 may allow for transportation of the lawn blower 2 received by the stand 10 generally along the horizontal ground surface.

During operation, the stand 10 may operate between an extended position and a retracted position. While in the retracted position, the slidable spacer 54 may slide downwardly, biasing at least one leg 14, 16, 18 inwardly. While in the extended position, the slidable spacer 54 may slide upwardly, biasing at least one of the legs 14, 16, 18 outwardly allowing the wheels 32, 34 to move laterally inwardly or outwardly in relation to one another depending on the desired lateral spacing.

As illustrated by FIG. 6, the lateral distance between the front pair of wheels 22, generally referred to as the operating width, may also be narrowed by exerting a generally inward pressure on the wheels' 24 outer surface, biasing the slidable spacer 54 upwardly. The lawn blower 2 may then be adapted for operation within narrow openings. Similarly, a generally outward pressure may be exerted on the wheels' 34 inner surface, biasing the slidable spacer 54 downwardly, widening the operating width of the stand 10. As pressure is applied, the slidable spacer 54 frictionally moves along the mounting arm 50. The slidably spacer 54 being generally adapted to provide a range of distance between the wheels 22. In addition, the slider spacer 54 frictionally maintains the stand's current operating width, allowing the stand to generally retract or extend upon receiving an applied pressure. In this way, the lawn blower 2 may be transported across the ground surface having various openings for removing lawn debris, optionally collected by the collector 12.

It will be appreciated that various other configurations and embodiments may fall within the scope of the present invention. While certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.

Claims

1. A portable blower stand for movement along a horizontal surface receiving a lawn blower having a handle, an exhaust port, a blower tube and a collector, said stand comprising:

a first, second and third wheel,

a first, second and third leg extending from a stand connecting structure and terminating at said first, second and third wheels, respectively, and

a front and rear support member, each having a releasable securing structure for releasably receiving said lawn blower, said front support member associated with the blower tube, said rear support member associated with the exhaust port.

2. The stand as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a mounting arm extending from said stand connecting structure and connectably secured to said front support member.

3. The stand as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a first and second brace, said first brace extending between said first leg and said mounting arm, said second brace extending between said second leg and said mounting arm, said first and second brace terminating at a slidable spacer.

4. The stand as set forth in claim 3 wherein said stand operates between an extended and a retracted position, said slidable spacer sliding downward in said extended position and said slidable spacer sliding upwardly in said retracted position whereby at least two of said wheels move laterally with relation to one another.

5. The stand as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first and second brace rotate between said extended and said retracted positions.

6. The stand as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rear support member has a complementary engaging surface for receiving said exhaust port.

7. The stand as set forth in claim 6 wherein said rear support member is arcuate.

8. The stand as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a braking structure associated with at least one of said wheels.

9. The stand as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a guide extending downwardly from said front support member for spacing the lawn blower.

10. The stand as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a spacer extending between said stand connecting structure and said front support, spacing said front support from said mounting arm.

11. The stand as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a handle extender having a proximate and distal end,

said proximate end associated with said handle, and

a handle grip associated with said distal end and adapted for maneuvering said stand over said horizontal surface.

12. The stand as set forth in claim 11 further comprising releasable fasteners extending between the collector and said handle extender, said fasteners releasably securing said collector during horizontal movement of the stand.

13. A method for removing lawn debris by a lawn blower operated along a horizontal surface, the blower having a handle, an exhaust port, a blower tube and a collector, said method including the steps of:

providing a blower stand having a first, second and third leg corresponding to a first, second and third wheel,

fastening a front and rear support member to said stand,

releasably connecting said lawn blower to said stand,

associating said front support member with said blower tube and said rear support member with said exhaust port,

attaching a handle extension to said handle with mechanical fasteners, said handle extension including a handle grip,

rotating at least one of said wheels along said horizontal surface, and

removing the lawn debris by operating said lawn blower along a horizontal surface, said blower stand driven by said handle extension.

14. A portable blower stand in combination with a lawn blower, the combination comprising:

a lawn blower having an exhaust port and a blower tube,

said stand having a first, second and third wheel, a first, second and third leg extending from a stand connecting structure and terminating at said first, second and third wheels, respectively, and

a front and rear support member, each having a releasable securing structure for releasably receiving said lawn blower, said front support member associated with the blower tube, said rear support member associated with the exhaust port.