Abstract: A string trimmer with automatic feed including a cap member, a body member and a spool within the body member which has the line wound thereon. When the cap member is contacted with the ground, the cap member is temporarily restrained thereby rotating relative to the body member. The relative rotation of the cap member actuates a mechanism which releases the body member from the spool allowing the body member to rotate relative to the spool thereby releasing a length of line.

Abstract: A hand held trimmer for cutting heavy vegetation such as hedges or the like is disclosed. The trimmer includes a handle having a centrally disposed hand grip thereon. The handle includes mounting means for a conventional cutting means at one end and a convention motor at the other. The trimmer cutting means and trimmer motor are preferably disposed at substantially opposite ends of the handle such that the weight of one substantially counterbalances the weight of the other. A resilient drive shaft means is disposed within the handle and extends between the motor to the reciprocating blade drive means so as to substantially avoid damaging the motor and the drive means should the trimmer reciprocating blades become temporarily jammed during operation.

Abstract: A string trimmer providing an incremental indexing of line when the head is stopped and started. The preferred embodiment of the string trimmer head includes a spool member within the body member, the spool member being coaxially positioned within the body member and being rotatable therewith. The spool member includes a grooved end face with a cam channel having at least one switchback and one arcuate segment. A connecting means attached to the body member includes a connector which runs within the cam channel. Upon starting the rotation, the connector runs along an arcuate segment of the cam channel (permitting relative rotation between the spool member and the body member thereby indexing a length of line) until contacting a switchback stopping point. The connector is biased to move along the switchback and resets along the switchback upon stopping of rotation.

Abstract: A hand held trimmer for cutting heavy vegetation such as hedges or the like is disclosed. The trimmer includes a handle having a plurality of hand grips thereon. The handle includes mounting means for a conventional cutting means at one end and a convention motor at the other. The trimmer cutting and trimmer motor are preferably disposed at substantially opposite ends of the handle such that the weight of one substantially counterbalances the weight of the other. A resilient drive shaft means is disposed within the handle and extends between the motor to the reciprocating blade drive means so as to substantially avoid damaging the motor and the drive means should the trimmer reciprocating blades become temporarily jammed during operation.

Abstract: A string trimmer which can be operated with one hand is disclosed. A drive motor is disposed at an upper end of the string trimmer and is connected to a string trimmer head through a flexible drive system disposed in a tubular housing between a motor housing and a trimmer head or spindle housing. A handle is provided which extends forwardly and slightly inclined downwardly from the motor housing and is suitably elongated and positioned so as to allow users of different heights to conveniently hold and operate the trimmer, usually with one hand. A detachable assist handle can be pivotally attached to the handle/motor housing structure to facilitate lifting and guiding the string trimmer.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved means of orienting parabolic dish shaped TV antennas for receiving signals from relay satellites orbiting the earth, an angle indicating means associated with antenna assembly which indicates either the angle of elevation or the complementary angle then of which is equivalent to the latitude of the antenna site plus the offset or declination angle.

Abstract: A trimmer having a pivotally adjustable handle tube for selectively changing the cutting angle of a trimming cord with respect to the handle tube, thereby permitting the trimming of grass, brush, weeds and the like from underneath normally inaccessible or difficult to access areas. The trimmer comprises an elongated handle tube having a handle at an upper end for grasping by an operator and pivotally mounted at a lower end to a motor housing for carrying a motor which rapidly rotates a trimming cord. The handle tube and motor housing support at least one locking pin for releasable engagement between selected teeth of a rack to releasably fix the angular position of the handle tube relative to the motor housing.

Abstract: A fertilizer spreader includes an attachment assembly for use with a portable hand-held air blower for entraining granular fertilizer or the like into the discharge air stream of the blower, whereby the fertilizer is broadcast by the air stream over a lawn or garden area. The attachment assembly comprises an adapter nozzle connected in-line with the discharge air stream of the blower and including a pressure port through which a portion of the discharge air stream is directed for passage through a pressure tube to a diffuser mounted within a portable vented fertilizer-receiving container near the bottom thereof. The diffuser turns the air stream upwardly within the container and divides the stream into a plurality of turbulent air flows for agitating and suspending particles in a localized region above the diffuser, with a substantial portion of the air stream escaping from the container through a vent at a position remote from the localized region.

Abstract: An edger is provided with a rotatable cutting blade for trimming grass, weeds, and the like, wherein the angular orientation of the cutting blade is quickly and easily adjusted to a selected one of several cutting positions. The cutting blade is driven by a motor mounted within a motor housing which is in turn supported for rotation about a longitudinal axis between a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly. A locking mechanism carried by the motor housing has a pair of spring-biased lugs normally received into locking recesses in the front and rear wheel assemblies to lock the motor housing at a selected rotational position and thereby lock the cutting blade at a selected angular orientation. The locking mechanism is manually retractable to withdraw the lugs simultaneously from their respective locking recesses to permit rotation of the motor housing simultaneously with respect to the front and rear wheel assemblies to alter the angular orientation of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A tubular attachment for portable air blowers to allow the cleaning of rain gutters and the like, wherein flowing air is conducted from the blower upwardly to approximately the height of the gutter, turned horizontally to pass over the gutter lip and then turned downwardly into the gutter trough to blow out leaves, twigs and other debris. The blown air is directed into the gutter through an adjustable elbow arrangement in which a terminal section of the elbow is rotatable with respect to an inner section of the elbow to allow the angle of air flow to be varied, so that cleaning may be accomplished from left-to-right or right-to-left along the gutter.

Abstract: A snow thrower comprising a shock resistant drive system for rotating a cylindrical drum having a plurality of outwardly radiating paddles for scraping snow from pavement or the like. The snow is thrown by the paddles into communication with a directional vane assembly adjustable for deflecting the snow to either side.

Abstract: A portable blower-vacuum unit has an impeller for drawing air axially through a housing air inlet, and for discharging the air centrifugally through a tangential housing air outlet. In a blower mode, a perforate cover plate prevents ingestion of solid material by the impeller. In a vacuum mode, a vacuum conduit connects to the housing in lieu of the cover plate, and a vacuum bag attaches to the air outlet. A mulching blade rotates with the impeller to chop any solid material passing through the housing when the unit is operated in the vacuum mode.