Patents Assigned to Speed France
  • Patent number: 11058926
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a monofilament string for a racket, comprising a core consisting of a single filament and a sheath extending around the core and in contact with the core, the monofilament string being characterized in that: the core (2) is made of a first material comprising polyamide 6 and a first copolymer of polyamide 6 and polyamide 6.6, the sheath (3) is made of a second material comprising a second copolymer of polyamide 6 and polyamide 6.6, the first material having a greater tensile modulus than the second material. The present invention also related to a process for manufacturing such a filament string, by co-extrusion of the core and the sheath and stretching of the co-extruded string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: SPEED FRANCE SAS
    Inventor: Sebastien Duval
  • Patent number: 10631457
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting head (1) for a vegetation cutting machine, such as a border trimmer or a brush cutter, to accommodate a coil (2) having a plurality of temporarily bonded turns (21) of at least one cutting filament (20) and exhibiting a central void (22). The cutting head including: a body (10) defining an inner recess (11) for the coil (2) and provided with a peripheral opening (12) for the emergence of a cutting filament separated from the coil, and capable of being driven in rotation by a motor, a central mandrel (13) adapted to support the at least one coil, the mandrel comprising at least one arrangement adapted to cooperate with the coil so as to provide for rotational engagement between the mandrel (13) and the coil (2). The mandrel (13) being able to selectively rotate relative to the body (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SPEED FRANCE SAS
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Publication number: 20200121993
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a monofilament string for a racket, comprising a core consisting of a single filament and a sheath extending around the core and in contact with the core, the monofilament string being characterized in that: the core (2) is made of a first material comprising polyamide 6 and a first copolymer of polyamide 6 and polyamide 6.6, the sheath (3) is made of a second material comprising a second copolymer of polyamide 6 and polyamide 6.6, the first material having a greater tensile modulus than the second material. The present invention also related to a process for manufacturing such a filament string, by co-extrusion of the core and the sheath and stretching of the co-extruded string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: SPEED FRANCE SAS
    Inventor: Sebastien DUVAL
  • Patent number: 10100182
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutting member, especially to a cutting filament, for a plant-cutting device such as a scrub cutter or edge trimmer wherein at least one portion of the cutting member is a mixture of at least a polyamide, at least one thermoplastic polyolefin and at least one prodegradant agent. Another object of the invention relates to a composition for use in the manufacture of a cutting member by extrusion/drawing or by injection, made from a mixture of at least a polyamide, at least one thermoplastic polyolefin and at least one prodegradant agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: SPEED FRANCE SAS
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 9549501
    Abstract: The invention relates to a trimmer head comprising: a body to be coupled to a driving shaft of a vegetation cutting machine for rotating about a rotation axis, at least one rod comprising at least one retaining portion for holding a cutting filament in a determined direction, wherein the body comprises a housing for receiving each end of the rod such that the rod axis is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the body and substantially tangential to the rotational path of the body, the housing and the rod ends having respective shapes allowing at least two relative orientations of the rod relative to the body: a first orientation wherein the determined direction is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the body, and a second orientation wherein the determined direction is substantially radial and substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SPEED FRANCE SAS
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 9445542
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting wire (10) which is intended for a vegetation-cutting or -trimming device. The inventive wire comprises a core (12) which is surrounded by a skin (14). The invention is characterised in that: the core is made from a polyamide or a copolyamide; the skin is made from a polyamide or a copolyamide which is different from that of the core and which has a melting point above that of the core, such as to limit the occurrences of sticking, particularly caused by friction, in relation to the normal occurrences of sticking produced with the core material; and the outer surface of the skin is smooth. The risks of sticking and, in particular, of one wire sticking to another wire, under the effect of heating of different origins, regardless of whether the wire is in a coil or in strands, are significantly reduced or even eliminated without disturbing the production process or altering the performances of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 8028424
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting head for a brush cutter, edge trimmer or similar, the head being of the type including at least a passageway for a cutting string and a locking element of the cutting string. The cutting head is characterized in that the locking elements include at least one ratchet wheel, including a toothed wheel mounted in rotation around an axis in such a manner that said teeth project in the passageway. The ratchet can be arranged in such a way that the toothed wheel can turn in a given direction to allow the introduction of the cutting string in the passageway and cannot turn in the opposite direction, thereby locking the cutting string in the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 7829002
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a cutting filament for a device used to cut vegetation such as a trimmer or border cutter. The filament is made of a synthetic material having extended molecular chains. According to the invention, (a) the filament is brought to a controlled viscous state, (b) the filament is stretched according to the length thereof in order to perform a first longitudinal molecular orientation, (c) a cross-sectional change, resulting in a partial reorientation of molecular chains in a transversal direction, is imposed upon the filament, whereupon filaments having multiple molecular orientations are produced, having improved mechanical properties (e.g. a better resistance to tearing).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Publication number: 20090293290
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting head for a brush cutter, edge trimmer or similar, the head being of the type including at least a passageway for a cutting string and a locking element of the cutting string. The cutting head is characterized in that the locking elements include at least one ratchet wheel, including a toothed wheel mounted in rotation around an axis in such a manner that said teeth project in the passageway. The ratchet can be arranged in such a way that the toothed wheel can turn in a given direction to allow the introduction of the cutting string in the passageway and cannot turn in the opposite direction, thereby locking the cutting string in the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 7607233
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting wire (2) which is designed to trim or cut vegetation and which can be used on rotating head devices, such as brush cutters and edge trimmers. The external surface of the cutting wire is provided with tooth-type (5) or similar formations along the length of said wire (2). In the case of a wire having one or more longitudinal cutting edges (4), said tooth-type formations (5) are disposed on the cutting edge(s) along the length of each edge (4). In this way, the sharpness of the wire (2) is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 7587828
    Abstract: A cutting head for a brush cutter, edge trimmer or similar, the head comprises a passageway (112) for a cutter string (300) and at least one curved surface (120) for supporting the string, the surface extending between an exit region (115) for said string from said passageway and a peripheral region of the head. According to the invention, the passageway extends (A) in a manner that is offset from an axis of rotation (C) of the head so as to present an inside edge constituted by its edge closest to said axis of rotation, said inner edge corresponding to a trailing edge of the string while the head is rotating, and the curved portion extends from said inner edge. This serves to reduce the radius of curvature of the curved portion without needing to increase the diameter of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 7543387
    Abstract: A cutting unit for a plant or vegetation cutting device and which comprises a rotary cutting head and at least one cutting filament extending radially from the head. The filament has a cutting edge which is defined by two intersecting faces, and the filament is retained by the cutting head in an angular position wherein the cutting edge constitutes the leading edge that engages the plants during operation of the cutting unit. The filament may have a primary or preferred bending plane, and the filament is held in a configuration wherein the filament is bent essentially in the primary bending plane. Also, the localized working zone may be formed of a material which is different from the material of the remainder of the filament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 7370424
    Abstract: A plant or vegetation cutting device which comprises a rotary cutting head and at least one cutting filament or string extending radially from the head, such that upon rotation of the head, the string is extended by centrifugal force and cuts through the plants or vegetation. The string is profiled in a generally uniform manner along its length and it comprises a main body whose width/height ratio is between about 1.2 and 2. A co-extruded cutting appendage may be joined along the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 7210231
    Abstract: A cutting line for brush-cutting, edge-trimming and similar has a generally circular cross-section and, on its periphery, has a plurality of notches spaced apart by a distance of between 12 and 19 mm approximately and aligned along at least one direction parallel to an axis of the line, the length of the notches, measured along the line, being substantially shorter than the spacing distance. The cutting line permits a reduction in the operating noise of vegetation cutting devices such as edge-trimmers, brush-cutters, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 6874235
    Abstract: The invention concerns a cutting wire for trimming and cutting plants useful in appliances with rotary heads, such as bush cutters and hedge trimmers. It has formed shapes of larger cross-section, such as annular shapes, in succession at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the wires, the shapes being separated from one another by intermediate longitudinal sections of the wire, with smaller cross-sections. Such a cutting wire provides operating noise reduction, in particular elimination of squeal and other high pitched sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 6630226
    Abstract: A cutting line intended to trim and cut vegetation which can be used in rotary-head implements such as brush cutters and edge trimmers. The cutting line consists of a core of the monofilament type, which is coated with a granular coating, especially in the form of inorganic particles. The line thus has an uneven and/or rough surface appearance. The composite cutting line of this kind has a lower operating noise, a better cutting effect, and eliminates the problems of sticking and breaking at the eyelet in the rotary head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 6601373
    Abstract: This rotary cutting head uses relatively short, individually retained, cutting line filaments. It includes, between its periphery and a central recess, at least one radial passageway of cross section corresponding to twice the cross section of a filament. Each filament passes through the corresponding passageway a first time and is folded through 180° in the recess, in order to pass through the passageway a second time, the 180° folding of the filament forming a lateral swelling which ensures its retention. The two free line portions, resulting from the folding, are of the same length and extend parallel to one another, in the same plane perpendicular to the axis of the head, thereby reducing the sound level of the cutting head during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 6374585
    Abstract: This rotary cutting head uses relatively short, individually retained, cutting line filaments. It includes, between its periphery and a central recess, at least one radial passageway of cross section corresponding to twice the cross section of a filament. Each filament passes through the corresponding passageway a first time and is folded through 180° in the recess, in order to pass through the passageway a second time, the 180° folding of the filament forming a lateral swelling which ensures its retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: 6256886
    Abstract: This method, offering quiet, pollution-free cutting, consists in emitting at least one pressurized jet of water which is directed at and moved over the vegetation to be cut, the pressurized jet or jets of water being themselves the cause, by mechanical reaction, of their movement, in particular their rotary movement. The cutting device that puts this method into effect comprises means for supplying water at pressure, and a rotating head provided at its periphery with at least one nozzle through which a cutting jet of water is ejected, the jet or jets of water generating, by reaction, rotation of the head and therefore of the jet or jets themselves. This device may be in the form of a portable appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand
  • Patent number: D524643
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Speed France
    Inventor: Emmanuel Legrand