Patents by Inventor David B. Skinner
David B. Skinner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11419263Abstract: A trimmer head having at least two pivoting line holders for holding multiple folded strips of trimming line is presented wherein said pivoting line holders are retained within said housing between said housing and said cover and extend upward through apertures in said cover, said line holders being capable of movement around a vertical axis of rotation, at least three embodiments are disclosed which provide a rounded landing for supporting the inner radius of a folded strip of trimming line, the rounded geometry of the landing prevents line stress and breakage, the various embodiments include a pivot post having two parallel straight through holes with a rounded vertical wall between the through holes, a single open passageway having a center metal post, and a single open passageway having a series of at least two metal pins through the center of the passageway.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2019Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, LLCInventors: David B. Skinner, Brian Searfoss, Wen Liu, Lin Wang, Jack Yang
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Patent number: 11317560Abstract: A trimmer line for use with a trimmer head of a rotary trimmer is provided, wherein the trimmer line comprises two substantially equal lengths of line connected to each other by one of their ends to form the trimmer line, the two substantially equal lengths of line being of different colors to indicate the middle of the trimmer line. Such a trimmer line allows to easier, or more at least more accurate, spooling of the trimmer line on a trimmer head.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: SHAKESPEARE COMPANY. LLCInventor: David B. Skinner
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Publication number: 20210235618Abstract: A novel monofilament trimmer line is provided for reducing noise, reducing air drag and increasing durability by having a non-round cross-sectional shape defined as a polygon with three to six sides wherein the vertices between adjacent sides have been replaced with generous circular arcs, the arcs of a parabola, or even other arc shapes so long as the arc is convex and contains no sharp edges and wherein each arc is tangent to the two adjacent sides with a smooth and continuous transition, and the sides of the polygon are either straight or slightly convex, but not concave.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventor: David B Skinner
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Patent number: 10993369Abstract: A novel monofilament trimmer line is provided for reducing noise, reducing air drag and increasing durability by having a non-round cross-sectional shape defined as a polygon with three to six sides wherein the vertices between adjacent sides have been replaced with generous circular arcs, the arcs of a parabola, or even other arc shapes so long as the arc is convex and contains no sharp edges and wherein each arc is tangent to the two adjacent sides with a smooth and continuous transition, and the sides of the polygon are either straight or slightly convex, but not concave.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, LLCInventor: David B Skinner
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Publication number: 20200375100Abstract: A trimmer line for use with a trimmer head of a rotary trimmer is provided, wherein the trimmer line comprises two substantially equal lengths of line connected to each other by one of their ends to form the trimmer line, the two substantially equal lengths of line being of different colors to indicate the middle of the trimmer line. Such a trimmer line allows to easier, or more at least more accurate, spooling of the trimmer line on a trimmer head.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventor: DAVID B. SKINNER
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Patent number: 10575464Abstract: A fixed-line trimmer head for a rotary trimmer device includes the upper portion having a periphery, wherein the upper portion has a plurality of openings spaced from the periphery; and a plurality of mechanisms. Each mechanism can hold a strip of line and includes a post portion disposed through one of the openings in the upper portion, and a flange disposed at one end of the post portion and sandwiched between the upper portion and lower portion of the trimmer head to prevent vertical movement of the mechanism. The post portion includes two line channels, each line channel defining a passageway to receive the same strip of line, wherein at least one of the line channels is curved such that any portion of the strip of line being received through the passageway of that line channel is bent at that portion of the strip of line away from the second line channel while passing through that at least one line channel that is curved.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2018Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLCInventors: David B. Skinner, Wen Liu
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Publication number: 20190364728Abstract: A trimmer head having at least two pivoting line holders for holding multiple folded strips of trimming line is presented wherein said pivoting line holders are retained within said housing between said housing and said cover and extend upward through apertures in said cover, said line holders being capable of movement around a vertical axis of rotation, at least three embodiments are disclosed which provide a rounded landing for supporting the inner radius of a folded strip of trimming line, the rounded geometry of the landing prevents line stress and breakage, the various embodiments include a pivot post having two parallel straight through holes with a rounded vertical wall between the through holes, a single open passageway having a center metal post, and a single open passageway having a series of at least two metal pins through the center of the passageway.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: David B. Skinner, Brian Searfoss, Wen Liu, Lin Wang, Jack Yang
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Patent number: 10398078Abstract: A trimmer head having at least two pivoting line holders for holding multiple folded strips of trimming line is presented wherein said pivoting line holders are retained within said housing between said housing and said cover and extend upward through apertures in said cover, said line holders being capable of movement around a vertical axis of rotation, at least three embodiments are disclosed which provide a rounded landing for supporting the inner radius of a folded strip of trimming line, the rounded geometry of the landing prevents line stress and breakage, the various embodiments include a pivot post having two parallel straight through holes with a rounded vertical wall between the through holes, a single open passageway having a center metal post, and a single open passageway having a series of at least two metal pins through the center of the passageway.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2015Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLCInventors: David B. Skinner, Brian Searfoss, Wen Liu, Lin Wang, Jack Yang
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Patent number: 10278327Abstract: A trimmer head for a rotary cutting device that utilizes a plurality of trimmer line and cutting blades either separately or simultaneously, the blades pivotally connected to the trimmer head in a first plane which is generally parallel to and underneath a second plane in which the trimmer line is pivotally connected to the trimmer head, each of the blades and strips of trimmer line capable of pivoting within a lateral arc of at least 180 degrees within its respective plane without striking the trimmer head or any other blades or trimmer line.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2015Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLCInventors: David B Skinner, James A Bennett
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Patent number: 10178827Abstract: A fixed-line rotary trimmer head is provided having pivoting posts (line holding mechanisms) which allow folded strips of trimmer line to pivot out of the way when impacting stones, metal posts and the like to reduce wear and tear on the line and reduce line breakage, the trimmer line is loaded from the underside of the trimmer head and follows an approximate 90 degree curvilinear channel so that the distal ends of the line extend out the side of the trimmer head for use, the trimmer head also comprises means for pushing the trimmer line partially out of the channel for ease of use and for removal of unused trimmer line.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2014Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLCInventor: David B. Skinner
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Patent number: 10136577Abstract: Fixed-line trimmer heads for rotary trimmer devices and associated methods are provided. A fixed-line trimmer head for a rotary trimmer device includes a housing operatively attachable to the rotary trimmer device. The housing is rotatable when in use around a central axis of rotation and has a top surface extending outwardly from the central axis and facing upward when in use, a bottom surface extending outwardly from the central axis and facing the ground when in use, and a periphery connecting the top surface to the bottom surface. At least one line channel is defined within the housing of the trimmer head having an entrance recessed within the periphery and an exit disposed on one of the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the entrance and exit are each located an equal distance from the axis of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2015Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLCInventor: David B. Skinner
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Publication number: 20180249628Abstract: A fixed-line trimmer head for a rotary trimmer device includes the upper portion having a periphery, wherein the upper portion has a plurality of openings spaced from the periphery; and a plurality of mechanisms. Each mechanism can hold a strip of line and includes a post portion disposed through one of the openings in the upper portion, and a flange disposed at one end of the post portion and sandwiched between the upper portion and lower portion of the trimmer head to prevent vertical movement of the mechanism. The post portion includes two line channels, each line channel defining a passageway to receive the same strip of line, wherein at least one of the line channels is curved such that any portion of the strip of line being received through the passageway of that line channel is bent at that portion of the strip of line away from the second line channel while passing through that at least one line channel that is curved.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: David B. Skinner, Wen Liu
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Patent number: 9986682Abstract: A fixed-line trimmer head for a rotary trimmer device includes the upper portion having a periphery, wherein the upper portion has a plurality of openings spaced from the periphery; and a plurality of mechanisms. Each mechanism can hold a strip of line and includes a post portion disposed through one of the openings in the upper portion, and a flange disposed at one end of the post portion and sandwiched between the upper portion and lower portion of the trimmer head to prevent vertical movement of the mechanism. The post portion includes two line channels, each line channel defining a passageway to receive the same strip of line, wherein at least one of the line channels is curved such that any portion of the strip of line being received through the passageway of that line channel is bent at that portion of the strip of line away from the second line channel while passing through that at least one line channel that is curved.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLCInventors: David B. Skinner, Wen Liu
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Patent number: 9861034Abstract: A trimmer head for a rotary trimmer, includes an upper housing and a lower housing secured to the upper housing, wherein either the upper housing or the lower housing has a passageway. The trimmer head also includes a cutter assembly maintained in the passageway, wherein the cutter assembly has a knife, and wherein trimmer line inserted into the passageway is cut by the knife. A related method of cutting a trimmer line using the cutter assembly incorporated into a trimmer head is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLCInventor: David B. Skinner
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Patent number: 9861033Abstract: A bump-activated trimmer head for a rotary trimmer of the type that utilizes wound trimmer line to cut vegetation, the trimmer having a rotary shaft defining a rotation axis, a housing attached to the rotary shaft, at least a pair of opposed eyelets through the housing for receiving the trimmer line, a spool encased within the housing and having a passageway for the trimmer line, the opposed ends of the passageway being alignable with the opposed eyelets of the housing. The trimmer head further includes an indexing knob external to the housing and operatively connected to the spool for turning the spool so as to wind the trimmer line onto the spool, and a separate bump knob rotating about the same rotation axis as the shaft, wherein the bump knob is operationally connected to the spool, but is rotationally independent of the shaft, the housing and the spool.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLCInventors: David B. Skinner, Mark R. Wilkinson
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Patent number: 9801335Abstract: Trimmer heads for use with a rotary powered trimming device for cutting vegetation and methods of assembling such trimmer heads are provided. A trimmer head has one or more pivoting line holders and includes a single unitary molded housing having at least one recessed cavity located on the upper surface which is shaped and sized to receive a pivoting line holder. The recessed cavity includes reinforcement members for securely retaining the pivoting line holder therein via insertion of a metal bearing ring which allows for free rotation of pivoting line holder about its central axis within recessed cavity.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLCInventor: David B. Skinner
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Publication number: 20170172063Abstract: A trimmer head having at least two pivoting line holders for holding multiple folded strips of trimming line is presented wherein said pivoting line holders are retained within said housing between said housing and said cover and extend upward through apertures in said cover, said line holders being capable of movement around a vertical axis of rotation, at least three embodiments are disclosed which provide a rounded landing for supporting the inner radius of a folded strip of trimming line, the rounded geometry of the landing prevents line stress and breakage, the various embodiments include a pivot post having two parallel straight through holes with a rounded vertical wall between the through holes, a single open passageway having a center metal post, and a single open passageway having a series of at least two metal pins through the center of the passageway.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: David B. Skinner, Brian Searfoss, Wen Liu, Lin Wang, Jack Yang
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Patent number: 9555552Abstract: A cutting device includes a body and a cutting blade assembly. The cutting blade assembly includes a cutting blade having a cutting edge and is reciprocally secured to the body. Movement of the cutting blade assembly from a retracted position to an engaged position causes the cutting edge to engage a line, such as a monofilament trimmer line, to cut the line to a desired length. Tension may be created in the line prior to cutting by positioning the line in a non-linear trough in the body.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2012Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLCInventors: David B. Skinner, Mark Wilkinson
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Publication number: 20160324067Abstract: A trimmer head for a rotary cutting device that utilizes a plurality of trimmer line and cutting blades either separately or simultaneously, the blades pivotally connected to the trimmer head in a first plane which is generally parallel to and underneath a second plane in which the trimmer line is pivotally connected to the trimmer head, each of the blades and strips of trimmer line capable of pivoting within a lateral arc of at least 180 degrees within its respective plane without striking the trimmer head or any other blades or trimmer line.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2015Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: Shakespeare Company, Inc.Inventors: David B. Skinner, James A. Bennett
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Publication number: 20160286717Abstract: A trimmer head for a rotary trimmer, includes an upper housing and a lower housing secured to the upper housing, wherein either the upper housing or the lower housing has a passageway. The trimmer head also includes a cutter assembly maintained in the passageway, wherein the cutter assembly has a knife, and wherein trimmer line inserted into the passageway is cut by the knife. A related method of cutting a trimmer line using the cutter assembly incorporated into a trimmer head is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventor: David B. Skinner