Plate compactor

1 . A compactor comprising:

a plate;

a shaft rotatably supported on the plate;

an electric motor configured to cause rotation of the shaft;

an eccentric mass arranged to rotate on the shaft, causing the plate to vibrate in response to rotation of the eccentric mass; and

a frame configured to support a handle,

wherein in response to the shaft rotating in a first rotational direction, the compactor is moved in a first linear direction,

wherein in response to the shaft rotating in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction, the compactor is moved in a second linear direction that is opposite the first linear direction,

wherein the handle is moveably coupled to a middle of the frame between a first position corresponding to the first linear direction at which the handle follows behind the plate when the compactor moves in the first linear direction and a second position corresponding to the second linear direction at which the handle follows behind the plate when the compactor moves in the second linear direction, and

wherein the eccentric mass is configured to translate along the shaft.

2 . The compactor of claim 1 , wherein the frame is vibrationally isolated from the plate.

3 . The compactor of claim 2 , further comprising a battery coupled to the frame, the battery configured to provide power to the electric motor.

4 . The compactor of claim 2 , wherein the electric motor is configured to be supported by the frame.

5 . The compactor of claim 4 , further comprising a transmission coupling the electric motor to the shaft.

6 . A compactor comprising:

a frame;

a plate coupled to the frame;

a shaft rotatably supported upon the plate;

an electric motor configured to rotate the shaft;

an eccentric mass arranged to rotate on the shaft and configured to vibrate the plate relative to the frame in response to rotation of the eccentric mass, and further configured to effect movement of the plate compactor in a first linear direction and in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction;

an elongated handle moveably coupled to a middle of the frame and defining a longitudinal handle axis, the elongated handle having a grip portion and being movable between a first position at which the grip portion follows behind the plate when the compactor moves in the first linear direction, and a second position at which the grip portion follows behind the plate when the compactor moves in the second linear direction; and

a user interface coupled to the elongated handle and configured to control movement of the compactor between a resting state in which the compactor does not move, a first movement state in which the compactor moves in the first linear direction, and a second movement state in which the compactor moves in the second linear direction, the user interface including a lever defining a longitudinal lever axis and being pivotable about a pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal handle axis;

wherein at an off position of the lever, the plate compactor is in a resting state and the longitudinal lever axis is parallel to the longitudinal handle axis,

wherein in response to the shaft rotating in a first rotational direction, the compactor is moved in the first linear direction,

wherein in response to the shaft rotating in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction, the compactor is moved in the second linear direction, and

wherein the eccentric mass is configured to translate along the shaft.

7 . The compactor of claim 6 , wherein the frame is vibrationally isolated from the plate.

8 . The compactor of claim 6 , further comprising a battery coupled to the frame, the battery configured to provide power to the electric motor.

9 . The compactor of claim 6 , further comprising a transmission coupling the electric motor to the shaft.

10 . A compactor comprising:

a plate;

a shaft rotatably supported on the plate;

an electric motor configured to cause rotation of the shaft; and

an eccentric mass arranged to rotate on the shaft, causing the plate to vibrate in response to rotation of the eccentric mass, wherein the eccentric mass is configured to translate along the shaft,

wherein in response to the shaft rotating in a first rotational direction, the compactor is moved in a linear direction, and

wherein in response to the eccentric mass translating along the shaft, the compactor is turned relative to the linear direction.