Abstract: The combination of: a cutting head configured to be coupled to a rotary drive to cause at least one cutting element on the cutting head to move in a cutting path; and a coupling system made up of a core and first and second adaptor assemblies. The first and second adaptor assemblies are interchangeably usable, one in place of the other, together with the first core, to allow coupling of the cutting head with different rotary drive configurations. With the cutting head coupled to a rotary drive using the first adaptor assembly together with the first core, a part of each of: i) the first core; and ii) the first adaptor assembly is engaged with the at least part of the cutting head, with at least one of: a) the first core; and b) the first adaptor assembly keyed directly to the at least part of the cutting head.

Abstract: The combination of: a cutting head having a spool on which at least one cutting element is located and configured to be driven around an operating axis by a rotary drive to which the cutting head is coupled; and a coupling system with a core and a first adaptor assembly releasably joinable to each other and the spool. The core is keyed directly to the spool. The first adaptor assembly extends from the core and defines a driven component to engage the rotary drive. A part of the core that engages the spool to cause the core to be keyed directly to the spool is made from metal.

Abstract: A flexible line storage device with a case bounding a storage space for a supply of flexible line. The case has a peripheral wall extending around a central axis and first and second axially spaced walls. The peripheral wall has a radially inwardly facing surface that, in conjunction with axially oppositely facing surfaces on the first and second walls, bounds the storage space. The first wall has a first opening through which the central axis extends. An adaptor on the first wall at least partially blocks the first opening and defines a passage through which line in the storage space moves as the line is drawn out of the storage space.

Abstract: A flexible line storage device with a case bounding a storage space for a supply of flexible line. The case has a peripheral wall extending around a central axis and first and second axially spaced walls. The peripheral wall has a radially inwardly facing surface that, in conjunction with axially oppositely facing surfaces on the first and second walls, bounds the storage space. The first wall has a first opening through which the central axis extends. An adaptor on the first wall at least partially blocks the first opening and defines a passage through which line in the storage space moves as the line is drawn out of the storage space.

Abstract: A dispenser for cutting line or string is provided. The dispenser for flexible cutting line includes a generally rectangular housing configured to accept a spool of cutting line, the housing being formed from two mateable side portions configured to snap together, wherein at least one portion of the housing is formed as a first opening to expose a view of an amount of cutting line on the spool; a donut portion disposed centrally in the housing configured for rotatably supporting the spool of cutting line in the housing; and at least one second opening formed in the housing configured for dispensing of the cutting line from the housing.

Abstract: A three-in-one cutting head for a rotary trimmer usable with discrete lengths of string, flail blades, and fan blades is provided. The present disclosure represents an improvement over presently existing multi-purpose trimmer heads in that there is no requirement for the trimmer head to be disassembled in order to change the different blades or strings. The cutting head being selectively rotationally driven through a drive shaft includes a generally cylindrical body having first and second pairs of diametrically opposed apertures disposed on a periphery of the body; at least one clamping member disposed in the body adjacent to each aperture of the first diametrically opposed pair configured for releasably retaining at least one cutting string; and at least one holding member disposed in the body adjacent to each aperture of the second diametrically opposed pair configured for releasably retaining at least one blade.

Abstract: A cutting head for a rotary trimmer is provided. The cutting head of the present disclosure provides a control mechanism for loading a spool member of the cutting head quickly and efficiently without having to disassemble the cutting head. In one embodiment, a control mechanism is provided in the cutting head interacting between a follower member and a spool member so as to provide for one way rotational loading of flails, e.g., cutting line, into the cutting head; in other words, to load the flails, the spool member is rotated continuously 360° in one direction only, e.g., clockwise. In another embodiment, a cutting head allows the flails to be loaded by a ratcheting-type operation, i.e., a back and forth rotational movement, which is less fatiguing and even more efficient in its loading operation.

Abstract: A cutting head for a string trimmer is provided which accommodates any string gauge thickness and may be easily and quickly re-threaded upon failure of a string previously disposed therein. The cutting head has spring-biased clamping members which are each mounted within a rotatable clamp housing within the head, such that, as a string encounters a solid object, the clamping member and its associated housing are rotated about a generally vertical axis so as to obviate or minimize the development of a stress concentration in the string in the vicinity at which it is engaged by the clamp housing.