Abstract: An improved cutting head for rotary mowers, trimmers and edgers for vegetation is constructed with a generally cylindrical rotating body from which flexible flair-like cutting blades extend radially in a plane orthogonal to the rotational axis. The flails are preferentially formed of nylon monofilament and exit through grommets secured in the rotating body. The inner and outer portions of the channels through the grommets are flared into curvilinear funnels to allow the blade filaments to be flexed in any direction without undue stress. The flails are additionally protected by circumferential flanges running around the periphery of the cutting head, above and below the cutting plane, which project to radial dimensions beyond the outer lips of the grommets to prevent the filaments from being trapped between the body and a foreign object.

Abstract: A lawn trimmer equipped with flexible line cutting edges including a dish-shaped bobbin housing having an open end, a rotary shaft provided in the housing for being driven by a prime mover, a bobbin provided on the shaft and having a top flange which closes the open end of the housing, a flexible line wound on the bobbin, at least one finger grip provided in the top flange such that the bobbin may be rotated manually, at least one flexible line extension hole provided in a bottom of the housing, and a guide plate coupled to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus is equipped with a non-metallic thick string of a diameter greater than 0.10 inches for cutting wild vegetation in the forest. The string is endwisely wedged into an acute slot formed in a top spool-like casing and directly wound about the cylindrical portion of the casing. The initial portion of the string with a somewhat large bent is received within the hollow portion in the cylindrical portion without disturbing the orderly coiling of the string about the casing. The coiled string is protected by a bottom cover which is detachably mounted on the casing and locked for rotation therewith. The free end of the coiled string extends outwardly from the cover through one of guide ports provided in the peripheral wall of the cover, in order to form a cutting flail with an effective working length.

Abstract: A rotary cutting device primarily used for the cutting of vegetation and which includes an outer housing having a motor mounted within the housing. A bobbin assembly which stores a selected amount of a filament permits dispensing of the filament through a hollow drive shaft which is rotated by the motor. The lower end of the filament serves as a rotating cutting element. The bobbin assembly is capable of being shifted axially with respect to the drive shaft in order to dispense a selected amount of the filament when shifted to a lower position and which also prevents locking action of the filament against unauthorized withdrawal when the bobbin assembly is normally biased to its upper position. The rotary cutting device also includes an outwardly flaring lower skirt section which is provided with a recess having a balancing element such as a liquid or semi-liquid material contained therein for balance against both static and dynamic imbalance created by the rotary action.

Abstract: A cordless electric lawn edger utilizes a flexible strand of nylon monofilament rotated at high speed to effect cutting of grass and weeds. The rotating assembly mounting the strand is substantially conical in order to reduce drag and prevent grass from wrapping around the assembly. The strand is fixedly secured within a detachable and disposable tip member which easily snapfits into a rotatable truncated cone member. The cone member is, in turn, secured to the drive shaft of a DC motor. The edger is provided with both a grip handle and a loop handle arranged for optimum tool balance and handling.

Abstract: A forage harvester and attachment therefor are provided wherein such attachment serves the multiple purposes of cutting, conditioning, and selectively moving a crop in two basic directions from a crop transfer zone within the attachment, one of the directions being toward the ground and the other being away from the ground. The attachment comprises a flail device of predetermined width for cutting and conditioning a standing crop in one mode of operation and for picking up a pre-cut ground swath of a crop in another mode and moving that swath to the transfer zone. The attachment has an auger for gathering a crop into the transfer zone immediately after cutting to define a dense swath thereof which has a width less than that of the flail device and approximately equal to the width of the ground swath. The attachment has an additional auger and a door for selectively moving crop from the transfer zone in the above-mentioned two basic directions.

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: There is disclosed a memorial marker trimmer including a horizontal rotary drum mounted from a supporting vehicle and rotated about a horizontal axis. Mounted at equidistance about the periphery of the drum are four axially extending rows of leather thongs forming whips about eleven inches long and a quarter-inch square in cross section. Consequently, when the rotor is driven at high r.p.m.'s, the thongs will whip radially outwardly in vertical planes with the free extremities thereof engaging the grass to be trimmed during their downward sweep and breaking the top portions of the individual grass blades from the stalks thereof, as well as mulching the cuttings and sweeping clean obstacles over which the drum is passed.

Abstract: The work-head of a tractor-mounted machine for cutting hedges, grass and other arboreal growth is pivotally mounted on the outer end of an angularly movable boom and contains a balanced rotary cutting device which is driven from the power take-off shaft of the tractor by a belt drive. Both the work-head and the boom are movable about horizontal axes parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tractor, under the control of the tractor driver.

Abstract: A rotor and cutting line for flexible-line vegetation cutters such as lawn trimmers, include a disc-shaped body having a central portion thereof connected with the drive shaft of the trimmer for bodily rotating the head. At least one entry and one exit opening are in the head with the exit opening positioned substantially radially through a peripheral portion of the body, and the openings are communicatively joined by an elongate passageway which extends within the body and has curvilinear or non-linear portion for engaging the cutting line. A flexible cutting line having a free end and another end portion having a portion larger than the entrance opening, is threaded through the openings and the elongate passageway, such that the enlarged end portion of the flexible line is disposed adjacent to and outwardly of the entrance opening, abuttingly engages the body and cooperates with the engagement of the line and passageway surfaces to removably secure the same within the rotor head.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are rotary cutting assemblies for cutting growing vegetation with tough whirling filament. The assemblies generally comprise an elongate lineal shaft extending along a vertical-axis, the longitudinal shaft having a top-end for removable insertion into a portable manually-graspable powered chuck; a horizontal disc-like base-plate in co-rotatable association with the shaft lower portion; a convolutely coiled supply of filament surrounding the shaft vertical-axis; axial confinement means for confining the stored filament toward the base-plate; retainer means attached to the base-plate for removably securing successive leadward portions of the wearable cutting filament adjacent the base-plate peripheral-edge; and gravimetric balancing means for the rapidly rotating lower head portion of the assembly comprising base-plate and environs.

Abstract: There is disclosed a lawn trimmer/edger incorporating a relatively flexible monofilament cutting element of finite length. A number of techniques are disclosed for temporarily securing the monofilament element to a head attached to the rotating shaft of the edger/trimmer.

Abstract: A rotary garden cutter utilizes a series of flexible cutter lines conveniently attached to a cutter head. Each cutter line threads into and out of companion apertures in the peripheral wall of the cutter head skirt. Parts of apertures extend circumferentially about the cutter head. A generally cylindrical detachable clamp part fits into the skirt to hold the cutter lines in place. Worn lines are easily removed and new lines readily installed.

Abstract: Disclosed are rotary cutting assemblies for cutting growing vegetation with a tough whirling flail. The assemblies generally comprise an elongate lineal shaft extending along and powerably rotatable about a vertical-axis, a horizontal base-plate in co-rotatable association with the shaft lower part, retainer means attached to the base-plate, and an elongate horizontal flexible flail extending radially outwardly from the retainer means along a horizontal-axis. For the purposes of promoting vegetation cutting action as the flail rotates about the shaft, and consistent with operational safety, the flail comprises a central-core along the horizontal-axis of a tough flexible resinous material and an external-contour of varying cross-sectional size. Preferably, the external-contour is provided by prominent protuberances surrounding the central-core and which enhances vegetation cutting without danger of inflicting injury to the operator.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for cutting vegetation with a flexible non-metallic string-like member in the manner of a flail. A circular body with one or more peripheral apertures is concentrically mounted on the shaft of an electric motor for rotation in a cutting plane, and a section of non-metallic line is interconnected with the circular body member and passed through the peripheral aperture to form the flail. The line may be press-fitted into one or more grooves which may further communicate with apertures or windows in the rim of the circular body. Alternatively, the line may be either a single section of line, or it may be two separate sections of line.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting, trimming, and edging vegetation, and the like, is provided with a rotatable disc-like head having at least one string-like cutting member removably attached thereto and replaceably extending from its periphery for cutting adjacent vegetation and the like. A pair of knife members for cutting the string are provided, as well as drive means for increasing cutting efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting, trimming, and edging vegetation along driveways, sidewalks, and the like; around trees, shrubs, and like landscaping; and adjacent fences, walls, posts, and the like by rotation of a non-metallic cutting line in a cutting plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The apparatus includes a drive motor positioned in a trimmer housing at one end of an elongated handle and adapted to rotate a driven shaft and a spool member connected thereto. The spool member has a storage of non-metallic cutting line member coiled thereon with a non-coiled portion thereof extending from the spool member and through an aperture in a wall of the trimmer housing. The spool member may be moved longitudinally of the driven shaft against the resistance of a resilient member and turned relative to the driven shaft to thereby adjust the amount of the cutting line member extending through the aperture in the one wall of the trimmer housing.

Abstract: A cord-type mowing tool having a cutter body formed with at least one radially extending bore for receiving a cord serving as a grass cutting blade, and a clamping member fitted in the central bottom opening of the cutter body for forcing against the central portion of the cutter body an end portion of the cord inserted in the radially extending bore to hold the cord in place. The clamping member is threadably connected to the cutter body, so that by loosening and tightening the threadable connection it is possible to readily replace the old cord by a new cord of a predetermined length. The grass cutting tool is simple in construction, light in weight and reliable in performance.

Abstract: An improved cutter assembly adapted for use with a rotary edger comprising a circular spool for storing peripherally thereon a plurality of plastic filaments, such spool being receivable within a circular retainer which in turn is provided with a plurality of radially extending peripheral openings formed to direct the corresponding filaments to the exterior of the retainer. The spool and the retainer are secured for rotation on the mounting arbor of the rotary device, the retainer furthermore including an exteriorly directed peripheral groove around the circumference thereof arranged to include the filament openings. The spool itself includes a plurality of filament securing openings to facilitate assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the exterior face of the spool is cut out with a plurality of radial notches through which the filaments are passed to permit insertion of the spool into the retainer.

Abstract: A towable, wheel-mounted yard maintenance apparatus which may be a lawn comber having impact arms, a lawn mower having a cutting reel, or a sweeper having a cylindrical brush. The working elements, for example the impact arms, are carried upon a shaft within a transverse housing. This housing and the wheels are carried within the embrace of a structural frame. The frame extends in front of, and a short distance beyond each side of the housing to serve as a bumper which prevents the housing from coming too close to an obstruction such as a post or a tree. The frame also protects the wheels from such obstructions. The rear end of the housing is pivoted to the frame and the front end is attached to the frame by a height-adjustment linkage actuated by an adjusting screw which is locked in place whenever the height of the unit is proper for operation.

Abstract: A mowing apparatus of the type having a rotatable disk-like casing containing one or more rolls of flatly and concentrically coiled string made of a high polymer synthetic material. Each coil of the string is interconnected at at least one point to the adjacent coil by the help of a fixing element so that it can be laterally payed out without the disjoining of the coil. The free end extends through the respective guide ports, outwardly from the casing in order to form a cutting flail with an effective working length.

Abstract: An improved mowing apparatus of the type having a rotatable reel-like casing about which a cutting string made of a high polymer synthetic material is directly wound. The coiled string is protected by a cap which is detachably mounted on the casing and locked for rotation therewith. The free end of the coiled string extends outwardly from the cap through one of guide ports provided in the peripheral wall of the cap, in order to form a cutting flail with an effective working length. The cap is elastically arranged to disengage from locking engagement with the casing for rotation relative thereto, so that the string may easily be payed out as the working flail becomes shortened through wear.

Abstract: An automatic-deployment reel-type cutter head for a filament trimmer provides for manufacturing purposes an easy-wind structure and for operating purposes, a winding pre-selectivity of filament-deployment length from the cutter head. The cutter head structure also during cutting operations protects filament wound on it but not yet deployed. In a preferred embodiment the reel comprises a first circular member with an array of postlike elements upstanding from the rim and a second circular member for capping the free ends of the array of upstanding elements to prevent transient-load disarray of the filament during operation.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine has a forwardly extending, vertically adjustable crop-feeding housing and a transversely elongated, cutter bar type harvesting platform mounted on the forward end of the housing. The platform includes a transversely elongated frame with a transverse flexible cutter bar disposed along the leading edge of the platform floor. The cutter bar is mounted on the platform by a plurality of transversely spaced parallel type linkages that permit independent vertical adjustment of different areas of the cutter bar so that the cutter bar is free to follow the contour of the ground.

Abstract: This mower consists of a cylindrical housing having a power shaft therein carrying a cutting blade at the lower portion of the housing and having mounted on said shaft above said cutting blade in the upper portion of said housing a plurality of pulverizing members which pulverize the grass, leaves and other material drawn into the housing and the upper portion of said housing has an apertured wall through which said pulverized material is discharged.

Abstract: A method of cutting sugar cane comprising the steps of passing in one direction through the growing cane a vehicle having mounted thereon two upwardly extending power driven combing elements spaced apart across the width of the vehicle; combing a narrow stretch of cane between the combing elements; flattening the cane beneath a flattening element mounted on the vehicle to the rear of the combing elements and spaced above the ground to extend transversely to the one direction; and severing the cane at its base by power driven rotating ground-following cutting means mounted on the vehicle to the rear of the flattening element.