Abstract: A vegetation cutting apparatus of the filament type comprising a cutter head including a spindle adapted to be rotatably driven, a keyway in the spindle extending axially of the spindle, and a key member carried by the spindle and slidably movable in the keyway. A clutch means is coaxially mounted on the spindle, and a filament storage spool is mounted on the spindle, the spool being carried by and lying radially outwardly of the clutch means, whereby the clutch means and the spool rotatably move as a unit. A spring means normally biases the key member into driving relation with the clutch means whereby normally the spindle rotatably drives the clutch means through the key member to rotatably drive the spool.

Abstract: A bump-actuable filament feed for vegetation trimmers; when the cutting length of filament breaks or wears short, the user without interrupting cutting simply bumps the cutting head on the ground deploying a fresh cutting-length of filament. Bumping causes a spring-restored spool latch to yield an increment of spool rotation, feeding a corresponding increment of filament from the spool. For replenishing the filament supply when exhausted, the spool snaps out in one embodiment on pressing a button, and a fresh spool as easily snaps into place.For applications in which bumping the cutting head against the ground is not desired an analogous operation is provided by adaptation of the basic structure.

Abstract: A bump-actuable filament feed for vegetation trimmers; when the cutting length of filament breaks or wears short, the user without interrupting cutting simply bumps the cutting head on the ground deploying a fresh cutting-length of filament. Bumping causes a spring-restored spool latch to yield an increment of spool rotation, feeding a corresponding increment of filament from the spool. For replenishing the filament supply when exhausted, the spool snaps out in one embodiment on pressing a button, and a fresh spool as easily snaps into place.For applications in which bumping the cutting head against the ground is not desired an analogous operation is provided by adaptation of the basic structure.

Abstract: A rotary cutting and finishing head of the flail type can use common commercially available sandpaper or emery cloth or other sheet material. A hub of the type rotatable by drill press or hand drill, mounts, in plane, uniform length and width strips or ribbons of any of these materials on slotted tube posts coaxially fixed to the hub. Each slot is of a size to capture a fixed end of a respective ribbon on assembly. In one version, every second post is provided with a ribbon. The ribbons are then wound in a substantially circumferential direction in and out among the posts, the odd posts being merely supports for the staggered partially overlying ribbons. On rotation of the hub at high speed, when the flail end of a ribbon wears from flexing at a post, it may part and release a fresh length or flail end at adjacent location. Alternately, fresh lengths of ribbon may be deployed manually by cutting off or tearing off worn flail portions.

Abstract: A vegetation cutting apparatus of the filament type comprising a cutter head including a spindle adapted to be rotatably driven, a keyway in the spindle extending axially of the spindle, and a key member carried by the spindle and slidably movable in the keyway. A clutch means is coaxially mounted on the spindle, and a filament storage spool is mounted on the spindle, the spool being carried by and lying radially outwardly of the clutch means, whereby the clutch means and the spool rotatably move as a unit. A spring means normally biases the key member into driving relation with the clutch means whereby normally the spindle rotatably drives the clutch means through the key member to rotatably drive the spool.

Abstract: Filament trimmer structure comprising a screw-free or unitary dual shank, balancing handle, housing and elongate handle portion, the handle portion having a lateral cover plate; the dual shank both protecting in a first tubular part a contained electric lead and through a second tubular part venting air from a chaff-free location at a handle upper portion, downward into the housing.

Abstract: An automatic development reel type cutter head for a filament trimmer comprises a circular base member having a circular array of post-like upstanding members and a filament coil disposed about selected of the post-like upstanding members and inside of the remaining post like members. The filament coil has a free end portion which is automatically deployed outwardly from the coil as the cutter head is rotated by a drive shaft upon which the cutter head is mounted against one of the post-like members so as to project radially outwardly therefrom. As one free end portion wears and breaks off as a result of frictional contact with the post-like member from which it projects, another free end portion is automatically deployed outwardly from another post-like member. In one embodiment of the invention a filament retainer plate is disposed over only those post-like members about which the filament is to be wound.

Abstract: A self-threading housing for vegetation filament trimmers of the type having a supply within and movable relative to a housing to feed filament through an opening in the housing, for extension as a free end of filament swung in orbit as a cutting length of filament, by the filament trimmer. For self-threading of the filament free end there is provided, in the housing inner surface, structure inclined for engaging the free end under centrifugal force acting on the free end and shunting the free end through the opening, the incline including vertical incline and the opening being a slot; both bulge and recess housing wall structure are disclosed at the incline in different embodiments.

Abstract: A filament-bearing plate or disk system for cutting grass and the like in which the filament is wound upon later-closed serrations in the disk periphery rather than passed through a succession of holes in the disk periphery; embodiments of the invention have respectively resilient, malleably deformable, and rotationally positionable aperture closing, and a ring closure.

Abstract: An incremental feed system for filament in vegetation-cutting filament trimmers, in which the filament is controlled in unspooling by a gear mechanism which is responsive to cutting-operation-induced torsional vibration relative to the driveshaft to feed fresh filament in amount proportional to the torsional vibration and thus in amount proportional to operational wear of the cutting length. In an embodiment, torsional vibration resulting in feeding filament may be produced by switching the filament trimmer on and off.

Abstract: A two-part quick-attach detachable, triple-locking connection providing for "two-handed" assembly of cutter-shields to housings in mass production of filament trimmers and the like but requiring "three-handed" disassembly to insure safety in subsequent use of the filament trimmer. An embodiment includes: (1) a housing with a circular interrupted-flange male connection around the lower end periphery, and (2) a shield with a complementary circular interrupted-flange female connection for coaxially yielding to the male flange and, after yielding, for locking to it by a half-turn of relative rotation. The locking is by means of a plurality of inwardly-directed flexible locking fingers, located in the flange interruptions of the female connection and being of a length to snap down into the flange-interruptions of the male connection and prevent unlocking counter-rotation of the male and female connections when they are assembled together.

Abstract: A filament incremental feed for vegetation filament trimmers of the hollow shaft or similar type in which a free-end of filament is swung as a cutting length from the lower end of the hollow shaft and replaced as worn by pulse feed; the feed includes in a preferred embodiment a vertical spindle mounting a worm pinion coaxially on the hollow-shaft at the top of the hollow shaft. The worm pinion is free to rise and to rotate relative to the spindle when retarded in rotation by friction, as by a friction bar engaging an upward extension of the gear pinion which has a friction surface. Plural spools, in the preferred embodiment, rotationally mounted on substantially horizontal axes on a yoke on the hollow shaft engage the worm pinion with gear teeth around the flanges of the spools. The lead angle of the worm pinion provides a mechanical advantage preventing rotation of the worm gear by the spool geared flanges.

Abstract: A filament-trimmer/mower having a wheel mechanism supported frame articulated to provide semi-universal adjustment of the filament-to-work aspect through independent but co-acting side-by-side and fore-and-aft tip mechanisms, shielding being carried by the wheel support mechanism permitting the frame to move relative to the shielding for better access for trimming when the frame is tipped; a lever-actuated dynamic feed for the filament as needed for replacement of expended portions while operating is provided.

Abstract: An abrasive or other filament-working member is mounted at the sweep circle of a vegetation trimmer filament for progressively sharpening the end of the filament and removing excess filament during operation of the vegetation filament-trimmer; the filament working member may include means causing the filament to heat.

Abstract: A filament-bearing plate or disk system for cutting grass and the like in which the filament is wound upon later-closed serrations in the disk periphery rather than passed through a succession of holes in the disk periphery; embodiments of the invention have respectively resilient, malleably deformable, and rotationally positionable aperture closing, and a ring closure.

Abstract: A chain saw drive having a unitary quick-attach, quick-detach grasscutting adapter including a cutter head driven by a flexible cable coupled with the output of the chain saw drive by a complementary fitting and supported inside a tubular member clamped to the chainsaw frame and extending in a downward arc toward the ground; bearings and spacers sequentially assembled into the tubular member-journal the flexible cable; the upper end of the tubular member has an integral clamp detachably affixed to the chain saw frame at attachment points customarily supplied with portable chain saw frames; a relatively long handle extending rearwardly of the frame on one end and a loop handle integral with the chainsaw drive on the other end provide manual grips for the assembly, which preferably is supplied with a filament-type cutter head for safety but which can be used with other cutting heads; a support at the cutter head is also disclosed.