Abstract: A transmission device adopted for a working tool such as a weed cutter having an engine, a rotary blade, and a gear case for supporting the rotary blade. The transmission device comprises an operation pipe for connecting the engine with the gear case, a transmission shaft disposed inside the operation pipe to transmit the torque of the engine to the rotary blade, and a bearing pipe interposed between the operation pipe and the transmission shaft. The inner surface of the bearing pipe contacts with the outer surface of the transmission shaft to support the transmission shaft rotatably. A plurality of grooves are formed circumferentially on the inner surface of the bearing pipe with predetermined intervals to reduce the contacting area thereof with respect to the transmission shaft. The transmission device further comprises a vibration isolator which is fixed to an end of the operation pipe and removably engaged with a clutch housing of the engine.

Abstract: A flexible nonmetallic line trimmer for cutting vegetation has a wheel support for edging operations. The trimmer has a safety guard that extends around the rearward portion of a motor housing. A sliding bracket is mounted to the safety guard. A wheel is mounted on the forward end of the sliding bracket. The bracket will slide between a retracted position with the wheel to one side of the housing to an extended position with the wheel in front of the housing to support the cutter.

Abstract: A fixed line string trimmer head includes a pair of overlying sheet steel circular plates welded together to form two or more pairs of partially circular passages between the plates opening at each end into a recess extending continuously at and between the periphery of the plates. The passages are formed by recesses formed in the plates in registry with each other while the peripheral recess is formed by outwardly flared portions of the plates. The lower plate is also formed with an integral bulbous or ball portion to guide the trimmer head on the ground during use. The upper plate is provided with a connector sleeve centered with respect to the axes of rotation of the head for attaching the head to a drive shaft. The sleeve has internal threads for this purpose and also to permit an adapter to be utilized to allow the head to be attached to various sized drive shafts.

Abstract: A rotary cutter head for use with a rotating filament trimmer in which a reel for winding cords or filaments is held between a housing covering a lower portion thereof and a retainer or hub fixed on the driven rotating shaft of the trimmer unit and is rotatably disposed within the housing. Within the bore of the reel, an axially movable slider is normally biased toward the retainer by the elastic force of a spring so that meshing engagement occurs between a peripheral array of axially projecting tongues formed on one end of the slider and a plurality of radial teeth-like ribs formed on the inner side of the retainer and establishes a driving connection to rotate the reels.

Abstract: Improved guard and blade assemblies for a rotary cutting machine; wherein the guard has a full rear skirt, and an apertured front skirt of three designs of guard element mounted in cantilever; and wherein the cutter blade is of the swivel type but with retention means for the cutter blade designed to warn the operator of swivel blade pivot failure and with the blade being replaceable without need to disassemble the cutter head; the cutter blade has apertures for adjustable weighting of the swivel blade to provide a variable moment arm; an improved design of replaceable blade tip is also proposed for propeller-type and swivel-type blades.

Abstract: For a rotary lawn mower, a cutter means provides an attachment or original equipment, providing novel means of carry of flexible strips which provide cutter elements, the strips being easily mounted in the cutter body, and the mounting of the cutter body onto the mower's drive shaft providing an automatic means of holding the filaments strips to the cutter body.

Abstract: A light weight portable hand-held apparatus for cutting and trimming vegetation, hedges, trees and the like and which is provided with a rotatable blade housing having a plurality of cutting blades, said blades being square-shaped or U-shaped in configuration and each blade having a plurality of cutting edges. A shroud designed for efficient entrainment of cuttings to a storage area and for providing protection from flying debris which may result by the cutting action of the blades. The cutting apparatus is provided with a self-contained receptacle for collecting the cut vegetation and branches, said receptacle being designed for easy emptying. The unique cutting blades used herein result in the cuttings being transformed into a fine residue which increases the collecting volume capacity of a self contained collection receptacle. The cutting apparatus is provided with a safety switch which requires both of the user's hands to be on the apparatus for safety during operation.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for conversion of a flexible line trimmer for use as a lawn edger by attachment of a plate and wheels to a flexible line trimmer, said plate acting as a support seating a flexible line trimmer and maintaining position and orientation of a trimmer cutting path.

Abstract: An improved cutting blade structure and method of use is disclosed, characterized by use of a flexible, planar member formed of a plurality of interconnected elongate tubular segments which when rotated, contacts and effectively cuts vegetation. Due to its planar tubular segment construction, the cutting blade constantly exposes a multiplicity of new cutting edge surfaces during use and possesses an extremely low mass which reduces the possibility of personal injury to a user or property damage to structures located in the vicinity of use.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting vegetation and the like wherein a flexible line serves as the cutting element, the apparatus including a cutting head rotatably supported in a housing and having a passageway formed therein extending between a first opening intersected by the axis of rotation of the head, to a second opening on the outer periphery of the head. A coiled supply of line is contained in the housing and is secured against rotation with the cutting head. One end of the line extends from the coil into the cutting head through the opening intersected by the axis of rotation, through the passageway, and out through the opening on the periphery of the head to a free traveling cutting end portion. The line in the passageway is free to rotate about its own axis as the head rotates relative to the housing. A feed device is provided on the housing for selectively feeding additional line from the coiled supply through the cutting head, to renew the free traveling cutting end portion of the line.

Abstract: A two wheeled mowing and trimming apparatus is disclosed. A rotating cutting head, positioned out in front of the wheels, can be positioned adjacent to either of the wheels while at the same time being tilted. Control of the cutting head's position is maintained through the use of a handle which allows the operator to tilt the frame. In response to the tilting of the frame the wheels are turned and the apparatus can then be positioned to travel in a direction parallel with a fence or building. With the wheels turned, the vegetation existing along the outside edge of the wheel closest to the structure can be trimmed. Also the cutting head is angled downwardly as a result of the tilting of the frame so that the vegetation can be cut close to the ground.

Abstract: A defoliator for detopping sugar beets and the like includes at least one laterally extending rotor on which a plurality of flails are mounted. The flails are of polyurethane and have a hub at one end provided with a bore so that they can be pivotally attached to a rod supported on the rotor. Each group of flails includes tapered flails at the ends of the group and rectangularly configured flails therebetween with still an additional tapered flail between the two non-tapered flails. Each flail has a rigid cutting member at the free end thereof, each cutting member being channel-shaped so as to provide parallel flanges projecting in one direction with respect to an integral web having a hole therein so that the member can be bolted to the free end of the flail with which it is to be associated. Each cutting member has an additional flange extending in an opposite direction from the parallel flanges, the additional flange residing in a proximal relation with one side of the flail.

Abstract: The disclosed flexible flail is molded from polyurethane. The flail has a relatively thin shank with a hub at one end so that the flail can be attached to the rotor of conventional defoliating apparatus and has a thicker portion at the end thereof opposite the hub. A plurality of metal studs have disk-like heads embedded in the thicker portion of the shank and the studs project from the side of the shank opposite the thicker portion in a direction so as to strike the leaves and remove same from sugar beets and the like while such beets are still in the ground.

Abstract: A plural-castor-mounted lightweight tubular frame has a central resilient housing-clamping mechanism adapted for holding a string trimmer having a tapered or other conventional-shape housing at a desired level for trimming weeds or grass. Mechanical advantage and threaded adjustment are provided by the clamping mechanism. The handle of the string trimmer is employed as the handle by which the castor mounted frame and the trimmer held in it are directed. Quick detach/quick attach features enable the string trimmer to be used conveniently by itself when desired. Two height-adjustment provisions can be used, a coarse adjustment of clamping-height, and a fine adjustment of threaded connection between threaded shanks of the castor and clamping nuts at the frame that also provides convenient tilt-adjustment of the string trimmer relative to the ground.

Abstract: A trimmer head for supporting replaceable flexible cutting elements used in trimming grass and weeds is equipped with several arbors to facilitate operative attachment to existing power tools. A head is positioned on the chuck of a selected arbor and includes grooves and abutments to receive and frictionally engage the medial portions of the flexible cutters, whose feed ends extend radially beyond the head. A circular shield is threaded on the arbor and tightened against the head. The circular shield includes a clamping plate which engages and clamps the medial portions of the flexible cutters against the head in use.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting grass having a rotatable head and cords extending from the rotatable head. The head accommodates a reel within a chamber defined by the head. The cords are payed out through outlets formed in the head only when the head rotation is stopped and the head is simply bumped against the ground. The bottom of the head is formed with an opening through which a downwardly biased depressing member projects from inside the head. This depressing member is connected to the reel. Between the ceiling of the head and any one of depressing member and the reel is provided a pair of ratchet teeth mechanisms which allow the rearward rotation of the reel when the reel and the depressing member normally biased downwardly is depressed against the ground. The above ratchet mechanisms performs the reverse rotation of the reel through their guiding structure.

Abstract: In a cutting head for an electric-motor-driven filament-type cutter the automatic adjustment of the length of the filament is effected in that intermittently a rotational movement occurs between a filament spool (36) and a sleeve (24) mounting said spool for axial displacement. The sleeve (24) is provided on the outside with locking cams and the filament spool on the inside with cams cooperating therewith. The sleeve (24) can be pushed in by hand against spring pressure to cancel the intermittent locking. For automatic filament adjustment a centrifugal adjustment is provided. For this purpose at least two radial ball slots (40) are provided between the housing portion (14) and a radial extension (48) of the sleeve (24) and in the ball slots balls (44) are guided which are adapted to be urged outwardly by centrifugal force.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in lawn and garden maintenance, in which a chassis having a pair of axially aligned and independently operable drive wheels carries a grass trimmer comprising an articulated arm pivotably mounted at one end on the chassis, a trimming device mounted on that end of the arm remote from the chassis, gripping means mounted on the arm for manual manipulation thereof, and means mounted on the chassis to actuate the trimming device, the arm comprising a first variable parallelogram unit pivotably mounted on the chassis in a vertical plane and a second variable parallelogram unit pivotably mounted on that end of the first parallelogram unit in said vertical plane remote from the chassis, the trimming device being pivotably mounted on that end of the second parallelogram unit remote from the first parallelogram unit, the parallelogram units being spring biased against free movement thereof.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a starter arrangement for a brushcutter which is driven by an engine mounted in a housing and secured to the one end of a carrying tube. A shaft accommodated in the carrying tube couples the engine to a transmission of a cutting tool provided at the other end of the carrying tube. The drive shaft is operatively connected with the starter arrangement which includes a starter grip. The starter grip is provided on the carrying tube within convenient reach of the operator. The brushcutter is suspended from the shoulder during use and can be started simply and readily by the operator without having to first take off the brushcutter or otherwise change its position.

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 grass trimmer has a support which supports a portion of a control rod on the side thereof which is closer to a prime mover in such a manner that the portion is received inside the support and which rotatably supports the output shaft of a clutch for coupling a transmission shaft received inside the control rod. The support has its outer periphery covered with a tubular elastic cover.

Abstract: A guard for a grass and weed trimmer of the line-cutting type, the guard having a body attached to a handle. A rotatable head mounted to said handle flailing the line in a plane of rotation around an axis of rotation. The body has a skirt extending partway around the axis, a cut-off blade in the path of the flailing line to cut-off excess line, and a deflector downstream from the blade to deflect the cut-off segments away from the plane of rotation, toward the ground.

Abstract: A cutterhead is disclosed for a motor-driven vegetation cutter and has a rotating housing and a spool journalled therein on which a cutting filament is wound. The spool has a plurality of cams, which coact with at least two spring-loaded coupling members pivotally mounted on the housing for paying out the cutting filament in incremental lengths. Each of the coupling members is pivotally journalled on its own pivot mount on the housing such that it is pivotable in dependence upon centrifugal force. The pivotable coupling members are synchronously displaceable and are coupled to one another for this purpose via an intermediate ring which is supported on the housing so as to be freely rotatable with respect thereto.

Abstract: A cutting head for a lawn trimmer is provided and consists of a cylindrical housing block bolted to a lower portion of the lawn trimmer so that the housing block is rotatably mounted thereto. A flexible cord with a knot at center of the cord is placed within an opening of the housing block with ends of the cord extending outwardly through each of a pair of opposed holes at side of the housing block. When the lawn trimmer is turned on the knot will retain the cord within the block. In another form a sleeve is mounted securely on the cord to retain the cord in the block.

Abstract: This specification discloses a cutting head and mounting assembly for adjustably supporting the cutting head on a mower. The mounting assembly for the head permits easy adjustment of the height of the head above the ground, its horizontal angle with respect to the frame of the mower, and the inclination of the head from a horizontal to a vertical orientation or any angle of inclination therebetween. At the end of the head opposite its cutting flail members, there is a quick detach joint which allows, either an electric motor to be mounted and energized through a switch by electrical power available aboard the mower, or alternatively allows a cable drive to be mounted which drives the head from a friction drive mechanism taking power from the mower engine shaft, the friction drive being selectively engageable by means of a Bowden control cable. A guard to deflect cuttings away from the operation is mounted on the cutting head.

Abstract: A new electric hedge trimmer utilizes an innovative metal wire whip, rotating at high speed inside a dish-shaped whip and chip guard, to cut hedge, bushes, vine and other relatively large-stemmed foliage effectively, safely and conveniently, as described above and as facilitated by a system of switches and handles. The wire whip can be constructed from any one of several metals, alloys or space-age composite wires to enhance performance and durability. However, scrap copper wire has been used to cut hedge five times faster and better than existing methods such as plastic monofilament or heavy metal blade cutters. For optimum performance, the wire whip is rotated at speeds in the order of 10,000 to 20,000 RPM which are easily attainable by modern motors. A close-coupled loop handle, a self-storing extension handle and a substitute extension handle provide for use of the device on low, medium or high growing foliage.

Abstract: A mowing apparatus including an elastic band enclosing the outer periphery of a coil of cord wound on a spool in a casing.

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: An improved cutting member for a rotary trimmer. The cutting member is formed of a flat link chain, so the cutting member is flexible throughout its length. Alternate links are somewhat wider, and may be sharpened on their edges for better cutting. A hardened wear member is at the ends of the cutting member both to receive the hard wear of cutting against hard surfaces and to provide a more massive end to assist in holding the cutting member out during operation.

Abstract: A mower especially suited for mowing fields at airports has a plurality of blades connected to a rotatable shaft and includes a fixed bed knife arranged parallel to the rotatable shaft and inclined at 20 to 60 degrees relative to a horizontal plane passing through the shaft rotating axis, the bed knife having a toothed profile of a shape complementary to the shape of the outer end portions of the chopping blades with which the toothed profiles are adapted to intermesh during rotation of the chopping blades relative to the fixed bed knife.

Abstract: A radially short upstanding sleeve member is provided and includes an upper end releasably mounted from a rounded base portion of a sector-shaped debris shield of a line trimmer. The lower end of the sleeve member is loosely telescoped downwardly over the upper end of the line reel head of the line trimmer and an intermediate length portion of the sleeve member includes an inwardly projecting corrugation functioning to stiffen the sleeve member against radial deformity. In addition, the corrugation serves to allow lateral deflection of the lower end of the sleeve member relative to the upper end thereof and the corrugation projects closely inwardly over the upper end of the associated line reel head. Further, the upper end of the sleeve member is mounted from a depending flange portion of the base portion of a sector-shaped debris shield of the line trimmer through the utilization of a resilient spacing member.

Abstract: A cutter blade device of a mowing machine including a spool having a cylindrical portion on which a flexible cord is wound in coil form, and a boss to which the spool is fitted and secured. The boss is adapted to be mounted on a drive shaft of the mowing machine to drive a casing for rotation. A depression extending axially of the cylindrical portion is formed on an inner side thereof which faces the boss when the latter is fitted in a bore of the cylindrical portion while a through hole is formed to extend through the cylindrical portion from an outer side and open in a space defined between the depression and the boss. An inner end portion of the cord is inserted through the through hole and bent in the space between the depression and the boss so as to be held in place in bent condition between the cylindrical portion of the spool and the boss.

Abstract: A new curb and gutter machine used in combination with a vehicle and characterized by its construction to include an adjustable cutter for trimming along the side of a roadway or curb, a sweeper for removing not only trimmed material but also other debris which might be along the side of the roadway, and a vacuum head for transferring the debris into a receptacle that is preferably mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The machine of this invention is further characterized by its utilization of braided cable to accomplish both the cutting operation and the sweeping operation, thereby significantly increasing the useful life of both the cutter and the sweeper.

Abstract: A mowing apparatus including a connecting member for connecting a casing from below to a drive shaft. The connecting member has a head formed with a groove on its surface, and an elevated portion is formed along the groove and located anterior to the groove with respect to the direction of rotation of the casing.

Abstract: In the straw chopper of a combine harvester, an array of stationary knives may be adjusted generally radially into greater or lesser intermeshing engagement with blades of the chopper rotor. Guide and mounting means ensure that the relative angularity between the stationary knives and the chopper rotor remains constant at all adjustment positions of the stationary knives. The knives are fixed to a transverse carrier and a pair of opposite releasable adjustment levers extend downwards to be rigidly joined by a transverse handle, conveniently accessible and beneath and somewhat forward of the straw chopper casing. The stationary knife mounting arrangement facilitates adjusting the knives in unison and maintaining the knife array parallel to the axis of the straw chopper rotor.

Abstract: A mowing apparatus includes a tractor with a mowing unit attached to the tractor in varying operable positions with respect to the tractor. The mowing unit includes a pair of reversible blades which are rotated in a designated fashion about a pair of perpendicular first and second axes. Each blade has distinct cutting surfaces so that successive rotation of the blades presents a new cutting surface for continued operation and longer blade life. A stop mechanism is designed to prevent excessive rotation of the blades with respect to a mounting hub upon encountering a predetermined force.

Abstract: A foliage trimmer has a housing centered on an axis, rotatable thereabout in a direction, and formed with a radially open eye. A spool rotatable in the housing carries a supply of a cutting line having a free end extending from the housing through the eye thereof. The spool has an outer periphery formed with at least one radially outwardly open recess or notch. A latching pawl has one end pivoted in the housing adjacent the eye about an axis parallel to the housing axis and an opposite end radially engageable in the notch and angularly offset from the pivoted end relative to the housing rotation direction. This element is displaceable as described above between an inner position with the opposite end in the notch to inhibit rotation of the spool and an outer position with the opposite end clear of the notch and the spool being rotatable. The line passes radially outward around the opposite end and radially inwardly engages same.

Abstract: A grass trimmer has a support which supports a portion of a control rod on the side thereof which is closer to a prime mover in such a manner that the portion is received inside the support and which rotatably supports the output shaft of a clutch for coupling a transmission shaft received inside the control rod. The support is constituted by an integral tubular member and receives a vibration damping sleeve therein. Two semi-cylindrical fixing members are provided in opposed relation to each other inside a portion of the vibration damping sleeve on the side thereof from which the control rod is inserted.

Abstract: Cutting filament metering apparatus for a flexible filament vegetation cutting device in which a flexible filament cutting element is coiled on a filament holder rotatably driven about a substantially vertical axis with a free end of the driven filament defining a cutting plane. The cutting filament metering apparatus includes a driver element rotatably driven about a substantially vertical axis and an engagement member carried by the filament holder for driving engagement with the driver element. An escapement device is also secured to the filament holder and allows limited rotational movement of the holder with respect to the driver element to release a predetermined length of cutting filament. The filament holder is axially biased into a first position in which the driver element engages the engagement device. In one embodiment, the engagement and escapement devices are annular each having teeth circumferentially disposed and projecting radially inward toward the driver axis of rotation.

Abstract: A cutter blade device of a mowing machine including a casing, a spool formed with three flanges to define two groove sections oriented in the axis of rotation of the casing each for winding a cord thereon, and an annular projection formed in the casing and interposed between the spool and an inertia shifter to extend toward an intermediate flange of the spool. A free end portion of the cord wound on a lower groove section of the spool is passed over the top of the annular projection and through one of two openings formed in the inertia shifter, so that a force exerted by centrifugal forces to the free end portion of the cord and tending to move the inertia shifter in the direction of the axis of rotation of the casing and brought same out of engagement with the casing is cancelled by the annular projection.

Abstract: A vegetation trimmer incorporating a cutting filament (24) that is rotated by a head (9) drivingly coupled by a belt drive (26) for example to a driving motor. Feed of filament to the head 9 is from a reel mounted in a handle (14) by which the trimmer is supported, the feed of filament from the reel being under the control of the user.

Abstract: A cutting head (20) for a filament trimmer utilizing a fixed length of filament is shaped like an inverted bowl with a flange (2). A filament retainer cup (60) is attached to the concavity of head (20) and has two V-shaped slits (64) diametrically opposed. Apertures (6) in the sides of head (20) are aligned with slits (64). Bosses (36) extend outwardly from sides of bowl about half the width of flange (2) and terminate in planar faces (6). Faces (6) are inclined inwardly and upwardly and contain slots (26). Eyelets (24) are press fit into slots (26). Filament (4) is installed through eyelets and is pressed into slits (64) so free ends (5) are the same length on both sides of the head. Free ends (5) define a cutting plane when head (20) is rotating. Slits (64) impose a slight crimp in filament (4) and prevent filament (4) from moving axially when the device is in operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a trimming cord for a cutter which cuts weeds or the like. In accordance with the invention, rotary discs provided on the output shaft of gearing are shaped like a reel and elongated wire-like trimming cords are wound onto it in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the reel-shaped rotary discs. A plurality of guide support rods are positioned equidistantly around an outer circumferential opening of the reel-shaped rotary discs so that the wire-like trimming cords wound onto the reel-shaped rotary disc are thrown outward from the outer circumferential opening of the rotary discs and are rotated by the centrifugal force of the rotation of the rotary discs. During repeated cutting of weeds and the like, the wire-like trimming cords gradually wear out and their ends become shorter so that each trimming cord gradually approaches the guide support rod supporting its base portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved filament-type trimming apparatus comprising a casing having base and rim portions, a spool having a hub portion and opposite flanges, at least one filament wound on the spool and a cover adapted to support the spool within the casing. The spool is adapted to be moved radially inwardly and outwardly by reason of centrifugal force generated responsive to the speed of rotation of the casing. Upon such movement, when the spool rotates independently of the casing and the cover, additional filaments are automatically fed out. The feeding of additional filaments may be stopped when the spool is in engagement with either the casing or the cover.

Abstract: A mowing machine is provided with its cutting head employing one or more flexible cutting lines such as Nylon cords which serve to cut grasses during rotation of the cutting head. The free end portions of the cutting lines extend radially outwardly from a casing through openings in an annular inertia shifter which is housed in the casing for vertical and angular movements relative to the casing.

Abstract: A replacement spool for a rotating line vegetation cutter comprising a central generally cylindrical hub portion, a pair of outer flanges on the outside surface of the hub portion at the ends of the hub portion, a central flange between the outer flanges for dividing the spool into two sections for receiving line in each section, an elongated slot formed in the hub portion and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hub portion, the elongated slot being positioned on the hub so as to extend behind the central flange from approximately the middle of one of the sections to approximately the middle of the other section, and a length of vegetation cutting line wound on the spool in such a manner that one end of the line is wound in each of the sections and a midsection of the line lies in the slot and connects the ends of the line.

Abstract: A flexible line vegetation trimmer is disclosed, wherein the trimmer includes a conventional line cutting element mounted for rotation about an axis to define a cutting path, a debris shield mounted above at least an arc of the cutting path, and a cutting blade on the debris shield for cutting segments from the line to reduce the line length to a predetermined distance. In this generally conventional line trimmer the present invention provides a cut line pocket mounted below the debris shield, and having the cutting blade mounted at the mouth thereof, with the cut line pocket catching the segments of line cut from the line by the cutting blade. The cut segments are trapped in the cut line pocket, thereby reducing if not eliminating the danger of the cut segments striking a person or animal in the vicinity of the operating line trimmer.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in lawn and garden maintenance, in which a chassis having a pair of axially aligned and independently operable drive wheels carries a central reel mower mounted with the rotational axis of the mower and the drive wheels lying in the same vertical plane. A pair of outer reel mowers may be mounted on the chassis on each side of the path of the central reel mower. A cultivator mounted on a chassis with a pair of axially aligned drive wheels has the frame of the cultivator projecting laterally and aligned with the axis of the drive wheels, the frame of the cultivator being preferably extensible. A lawn trimmer swivelly mountable vertically on a motor driven chassis comprises an articulated arm with a trimming device mounted on the free end of the arm, the arm comprising two pivotally joined parallelogram units and a handle for manipulation of the arm.

Abstract: A rotary cutting assembly with an automatic filament feed. The assembly includes a driven member which is coupled to a drive source and contains a storage spool for the cutting line. The line or filament is automatically advanced from the spool upon displacement of the same through engagement of a ground engaging hub with a surface. Such displacement causes operation of a ratchet means mounted in part on the movable spool or associated therewith and in part on the driven member to permit a limited rotary displacement of the spool within the driven member during rotation of the driven member.

Abstract: A mowing machine is provided with its cutting head employing one or more flexible cutting lines such as Nylon cords which serve to cut grasses during rotation of the cutting head. The free end portions of the cutting lines extend radially outwardly from a casing through openings in an annular inertai shifter which is housed in the casing for vertical and angular movements relative to the casing.