Abstract: A blower vacuum unit for selective operation in a blower mode and in a suction mode, comprises: a housing having means forming an air inlet and means forming an air outlet; a motor carried within the housing, an impeller rotatably driven by the motor and positioned for drawing air into the housing through the air inlet and discharging the air from the housing through the air outlet; a debris collection conduit one end of which conduit is an operating end and the other end of which conduit is adapted for attachment to a debris collection container and means for generating an entrained air flow, using the air discharged through the air outlet, at the operating end of the debris collection conduit into the debris conduit. The housing and the debris collection conduit comprise separate components and the conduit is adapted to be releasably mounted on the housing so that the operating end of the conduit is located for co-operation with the air outlet of the housing.

Abstract: A debris collecting apparatus (2) includes a debris conduit (4), one end of which debris conduit is an operating end (8) and the other end of which debris conduit (4) is adapted for attachment to a debris collecting container (30); the apparatus further generates an entrained air flow at the operating end (8) of the debris conduit (4) into the debris conduit (4) and comminutes the debris. Also, the entrained air flow is generated external to the debris conduit (4), but the comminution of the debris occurs within the debris conduit (4).

Abstract: A lawn mower of the type which collects grass cuttings includes a motor-driven blade rotatable about a sustantially vertical axis, at least one fan rotatable about the same axis, and a grass collecting system of the type in which grass collection is aided by suction from an airstream produced by the fan. It includes a closure which is selectively adjustable to at least two positions: one in which a grass collection aperture in a grass box is closed and a debris collection aperture in the grass box is open, and the other in which the grass collection aperture is open and the debris collection aperture is closed. A second embodiment includes a closure which is selectively adjustable to at least two positions: one in which both the grass collection aperture and the debris collection aperture are open, and the other in which only the grass collection aperture is open.

Abstract: A device for cutting vegetation has a housing rotatable about an axis, a rotatable spool within the housing storing a supply of flexible line having an end extending through an aperture in the housing into a cutting plane normal to the axis, and an arrangement for automatically letting out additional line by causing relative rotation between the spool and housing whenever the length of line extending into the cutting plane is less than a predetermined length. The automatic arrangement includes a series of angularly-spaced locking faces provided on the spool (or on a member connected thereto) or on the housing, and a balance bar pivotally mounted on the housing or on the spool with this balance bar having a member for engagement with the locking faces. The center of gravity of the balance bar is on the side of the pivot point opposite from the engagement member. In use, the balance of forces on the engagement member directs this member against the locking faces.