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).

  • Publication number: 20160007528
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: Shakespeare Company, LLC
    Inventor: David B Skinner
  • Publication number: 20150366131
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventor: David B. Skinner
  • Publication number: 20150351319
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: David B. Skinner, Wen Liu
  • Publication number: 20150327436
    Abstract: A bump-activated trimmer head for a rotary trimmer of the type that utilizes wound trimmer line to cut vegetation is provided. The rotary trimmer has a shaft defining a rotation axis. The trimmer head includes a housing attached to the rotary shaft of the rotary trimmer and has at least a pair of opposed eyelets through which the trimmer line is discharged for cutting the vegetation. The trimmer head also includes a spool encased within the housing and having a passageway for the trimmer line, the passageway having opposed ends and extending from one side of the spool to an opposite side. The opposed ends of the passageway are 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 for the purpose of winding the trimmer line onto the spool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: David B. Skinner, Mark R. Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20150282425
    Abstract: 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. The present invention includes at least one line channel 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 the exit are each located an equal distance from the axis of rotation. Such as trimmer head is particular suited for preventing dirt and debris from entering a line channel of a fixed-line trimmer head of a rotary trimmer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventor: David B. Skinner
  • Publication number: 20150264862
    Abstract: A trimmer head having pivoting line holders comprises 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 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; a method for installation of pivoting line holders within a trimmer head is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Shakespeare Company, Inc.
    Inventor: David B. Skinner
  • Publication number: 20120297626
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: David B. Skinner, Mark Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7908953
    Abstract: A cutting tool for flexible line, the cutting tool being attached to the package for the flexible line, comprises a base member having a groove adapted to receive the flexible line when the cutting tool is in use and a blade recessed within the groove, the blade being adapted to cut the flexible line when the line is forced into the blade during use of the cutting tool. The cutting tool further includes an arm member in operative relationship with and complementary to the base member, which arm member is capable of producing and applying mechanical advantage in a manner that forces the flexible line received within the groove against the blade to thereby sever the flexible line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventors: John Dean Yarborough, David B. Skinner
  • Publication number: 20080216327
    Abstract: A cutting tool for flexible line, the cutting tool being attached to the package for the flexible line, comprises a base member having a groove adapted to receive the flexible line when the cutting tool is in use and a blade recessed within the groove, the blade being adapted to cut the flexible line when the line is forced into the blade during use of the cutting tool. The cutting tool further includes an arm member in operative relationship with and complementary to the base member, which arm member is capable of producing and applying mechanical advantage in a manner that forces the flexible line received within the groove against the blade to thereby sever the flexible line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: JOHN DEAN YARBOROUGH, David B. Skinner
  • Patent number: 6668462
    Abstract: A multicomponent monofilament cutting line includes a first component material and a second component material, the same or different in chemical structure from the first component material and extruded separately from the first component material. The second component material provides the cutting line with cutting edges and has increased wear resistance properties and increased abrasion resistance properties compared to those same properties of the first component material. The monofilament cutting line for a rotary trimmer for cutting vegetation preferably includes a first component material having a specific gravity of about 1.15 g/cc or less; and a second component material having a specific gravity greater than 1.15 g/cc. Notably, the multi-component, monofilament cutting line itself has increased wear resistance and increased abrasion resistance as compared to a single component monofilament cutting line employing one of either the first or second component materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLC
    Inventors: David B. Skinner, Jack D. Davies, Chad Boyd
  • Publication number: 20030192190
    Abstract: A multicomponent monofilament cutting line includes a first component material and a second component material, the same or different in chemical structure from the first component material and extruded separately from the first component material. The second component material provides the cutting line with cutting edges and has increased wear resistance properties and increased abrasion resistance properties compared to those same properties of the first component material. The monofilament cutting line for a rotary trimmer for cutting vegetation preferably includes a first component material having a specific gravity of about 1.15 g/cc or less; and a second component material having a specific gravity greater than 1.15 g/cc. Notably, the multi-component, monofilament cutting line itself has increased wear resistance and increased abrasion resistance as compared to a single component monofilament cutting line employing one of either the first or second component materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: David B. Skinner, Jack D. Davies, Chad Boyd
  • Patent number: 6589392
    Abstract: A melt-extruded multicomponent monofilament having good abrasion resistance, flex-fatigue toughness and dimensional stability. The monofilament is particularly suitable for use in the manufacture of papermaking machine forming fabrics, and includes an outer region component comprising polyethylene terephthalate and an inner region component comprising a blend of polyetherester block copolymer and polyethylene terephthalate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Shakespeare Company LLC
    Inventors: David B. Skinner, Atiye E. Tanverdi
  • Patent number: 6560878
    Abstract: A multicomponent monofilament cutting line includes a first component material and a second component material, the same or different in chemical structure from the first component material and extruded separately from the first component material. The second component material provides the cutting line with cutting edges and has increased wear resistance properties and increased abrasion resistance properties compared to those same properties of the first component material. The monofilament cutting line for a rotary trimmer for cutting vegetation preferably includes a first component material having a specific gravity of about 1.15 g/cc or less; and a second component material having a specific gravity greater than 1.15 g/cc. Notably, the multi-component, monofilament cutting line itself has increased wear resistance and increased abrasion resistance as compared to a single component monofilament cutting line employing one of either the first or second component materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLC
    Inventors: David B. Skinner, Jack D. Davies, Chad Boyd
  • Publication number: 20020023356
    Abstract: A multicomponent monofilament cutting line includes a first component material and a second component material, the same or different in chemical structure from the first component material and extruded separately from the first component material. The second component material provides the cutting line with cutting edges and has increased wear resistance properties and increased abrasion resistance properties compared to those same properties of the first component material. The monofilament cutting line for a rotary trimmer for cutting vegetation preferably includes a first component material having a specific gravity of about 1.15 g/cc or less; and a second component material having a specific gravity greater than 1.15 g/cc. Notably, the multi-component, monofilament cutting line itself has increased wear resistance and increased abrasion resistance as compared to a single component monofilament cutting line employing one of either the first or second component materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: David B. Skinner, Jack D. Davies, Chad Boyd
  • Patent number: D376516
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Shakespeare Company
    Inventor: David B. Skinner
  • Patent number: D376739
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Shakespeare Company
    Inventor: David B. Skinner
  • Patent number: D379052
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Shakespeare Company
    Inventor: David B. Skinner
  • Patent number: D379418
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Shakespeare Company
    Inventor: David B. Skinner
  • Patent number: D379419
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Shakespeare Company
    Inventor: David B. Skinner
  • Patent number: D681705
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Shakespeare Company, LLC
    Inventor: David B. Skinner