Abstract: An automatic-feed trimmer head for a vegetation trimming machine. A spool is positioned within the interior of a housing. A cam guide formation is disposed atop the top flange of the spool. The cam guide formation defines a pathway. A cam arm is provided that is mounted to the housing with a pivot connection. The cam arm has a cam projection that extends into the pathway. A spring is provided that biases the cam arm into a first orientation. In the first orientation, the shape of the pathway enables the cam projection to move only in a first direction. The cam arm moves about the pivot connection from its first orientation to a second orientation when the trimmer head assembly is rotated above a predetermined rotational speed. When the cam arm is in its second orientation trimmer line is unwound from the spool.

Abstract: A locker has a latch bar attached to the inside surface of door by projections that extend through respective slots in the bar. The slots are configured to permit the bar to move parallel to the door between an extended position and a retracted position, the extended position being horizontally offset from the retracted position. An actuator plate is positioned between the inside surface of the door and the latch bar and is connected to a handle on the outside surface of the door. The at least one pair of spaced rollers is provided on the actuator plate. A diagonal rib is attached to the latch bar for each pair of rollers. Each diagonal rib is positioned between a respective pair of spaced apart rollers, such that when the handle and actuator plate are moved vertically, each pair of rollers will move along the diagonal rib positioned between that pair of rollers causing the latch bar to move horizontally.

Abstract: An automatic-feed trimmer head for a vegetation trimming machine. A spool is positioned within the interior of a housing. A cam guide formation is disposed atop the top flange of the spool. The cam guide formation defines a pathway. A cam arm is provided that is mounted to the housing with a pivot connection. The cam arm has a cam projection that extends into the pathway. A spring is provided that biases the cam arm into a first orientation. In the first orientation, the shape of the pathway enables the cam projection to move only in a first direction. The cam arm moves about the pivot connection from its first orientation to a second orientation when the trimmer head assembly is rotated above a predetermined rotational speed. When the cam arm is in its second orientation trimmer line is unwound from the spool.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a spool for a trimmer head has a structure for guiding the trimmer line around a region for a driveshaft. In an embodiment, a component (e.g., a turn knob or a stop) is attached to the spool so that after determining the orientation in which to install the spool, the user is unlikely to install the spool in another orientation, even though the spool is invertible. In an embodiment, the turn knob also includes a structure that allows the turn knob to be used as a tool (e.g., as a wrench or screw driver) that facilitates disassembling the trimmer head.

Abstract: A locker has a latch bar attached to the inside surface of door by projections that extend through respective slots in the bar. The slots are configured to permit the bar to move parallel to the door between an extended position and a retracted position, the extended position being horizontally offset from the retracted position. An actuator plate is positioned between the inside surface of the door and the latch bar and is connected to a handle on the outside surface of the door. The at least one pair of spaced rollers is provided on the actuator plate. A diagonal rib is attached to the latch bar for each pair of rollers. Each diagonal rib is positioned between a respective pair of spaced apart rollers, such that when the handle and actuator plate are moved vertically, each pair of rollers will move along the diagonal rib positioned between that pair of rollers causing the latch bar to move horizontally.

Abstract: An improved surgical stapler which allows for the multi-directional release of staples includes a stapler body and a driver contained therein. A magazine is connected to the stapler body and includes a staple track for carrying a plurality of staples wherein each of the staples has staple legs. An anvil is associated with the staple track for providing a staple forming surface for forming a staple thereon. A feeder element which is spring biased against the staples is used for feeding each staple from the staple track to the anvil. A trigger is operatively connected to the driver and is movable from a pre-fire position to a firing position for advancing the driver against the anvil for forming the staple against the anvil. A kick-off spring is positioned beneath and substantially parallel to the staple track and the anvil.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument with a remotely articulated staple head assembly on a rotatable support shaft. A joy stick mounted to the shaft of the instrument near the handle allows for remote articulation of the staple head assembly. The staple head assembly includes a narrow contour for insertion between adjacent rib pairs without rib spreading. The staple head assembly further includes a reloadable staple cartridge which may be replaced with differently sized staples of a second cartridge. A closure trigger clamps tissue prior to stapling and cooperates with a second trigger that performs the staple firing operation. The triggers include a safety lock mechanism for preventing premature staple firing.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument with a remotely articulated staple head assembly on a rotatable support shaft. A joy stick mounted to the shaft of the instrument near the handle allows for remote articulation of the staple head assembly. The staple head assembly includes a narrow contour for insertion between adjacent rib pairs without rib spreading. The staple head assembly further includes a reloadable staple cartridge which may be replaced with differently sized staples of a second cartridge. A closure trigger clamps tissue prior to stapling and cooperates with a second trigger that performs the staple firing operation. The triggers include a safety lock mechanism for preventing premature staple firing.

Abstract: A surgical handheld instrument which is used in a minimally invasive surgical procedure such as a laparoscopic surgical procedure comprises a handle body and an elongated shaft connected to the handle body at a proximal end of the shaft. An end effector such as a pair of movable jaws are located at the distal end of the shaft. An actuation handle member is movably connected to the handle body and is operatively connected to the end effector for actuating movement of the end effector. Thus, upon movement of the handle actuation member, the end effector, such as movable jaw elements, can be opened or closed. The handle body also includes a locking tab, having a Z-shaped configuration wherein one end of the locking tab has a hole therethrough. An arcuate locking rod having a smooth, uniform surface is connected at one end to the handle actuation member and is insertable at its opposite end through the hole of the locking tab such that the arcuate locking rod is in movable contact with the locking tab.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument with a remotely articulated staple head assembly on a rotatable support shaft. A joy stick mounted to the shaft of the instrument near the handle allows for remote articulation of the staple head assembly. The staple head assembly includes a narrow contour for insertion between adjacent rib pairs without rib spreading. The staple head assembly further includes a reloadable staple cartridge which may be replaced with differently sized staples of a second cartridge. A closure trigger clamps tissue prior to stapling and cooperates with a second trigger that performs the staple firing operation. The triggers include a safety lock mechanism for preventing premature staple firing.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument with a remotely articulated staple head assembly on a rotatable support shaft. A joy stick mounted to the shaft of the instrument near the handle allows for remote articulation of the staple head assembly. The staple head assembly includes a narrow contour for insertion between adjacent rib pairs without rib spreading. The staple head assembly further includes a reloadable staple cartridge which may be replaced with differently sized staples of a second cartridge. A closure trigger clamps tissue prior to stapling and cooperates with a second trigger that performs the staple firing operation. The triggers include a safety lock mechanism for preventing premature staple firing.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument with a remotely articulated staple head assembly on a rotatable support shaft. A joy stick mounted to the shaft of the instrument near the handle allows for remote articulation of the staple head assembly. The staple head assembly includes a narrow contour for insertion between adjacent rib pairs without rib spreading. The staple head assembly further includes a reloadable staple cartridge which may be replaced with differently sized staples of a second cartridge. A closure trigger clamps tissue prior to stapling and cooperates with a second trigger that performs the staple firing operation. The triggers include a safety lock mechanism for preventing premature staple firing.

Abstract: A fast closure mechanism for a linear surgical stapling device as described. This comprises a double four-bar linkage which operates to both place a retaining pin into an anvil and properly and quickly approximate the staple cartridge to the anvil. Thereafter, a gap-setting screw is used so that the proper gap is set between the anvil and the cartridge. Firing is accomplished only after the gap is properly set and within the appropriate gap described pre-determined for the instrument. After firing, opening of the stapler may be accomplished with a similar fast opening motion.