String trimmer head
A head for a string trimmer machine includes a housing member having a central axis. The housing member is adapted for attachment to a string trimmer machine and includes a serpentine guide path in the housing for a length of trimmer line, with the guide path being located in a plane including the central axis of the housing and terminating in exit openings on opposite sides of the housing.
This invention relates to string trimmer machines, and more particularly, to a head for such machines.
In the accompanying drawing:
The same reference numbers are used throughout the different figures to designate the same or similar components.
The upper portion 10 of the housing member includes a part 18 having an extended flange 14, 16 on it. The flange 14, 16 may have a greater diameter than the part 18. At the center of the part 18 is a depressed circular hole 20 (shown most clearly in
The head, as shown in
The upper portion 10 of the housing member includes an opening having an upper edge 23 and a lower edge 24, as indicated most clearly in
When the upper and lower housing portions are pressed together by moving the upper and lower portions 10 and 12 toward one another to the position shown in
Although spring tabs 38 and 40 are shown for releasably interconnecting the housing portions 10 and 12 together, other releasable fasteners, such as over centering clamps, threaded fasteners, snaps or the like also may be used. The particular fastener shown is illustrative only and not limiting.
The lower portion 12 of the housing member includes part of a trimmer string guide path formed by channels 34 and 36 (shown most clearly in
It should be noted that a guide for concentrically aligning the upper and lower housing portions 10 and 12 together on a common axis with the central axis through the opening 20 (and therefore, the central axis of the drive shaft of the string trimmer machine), is provided by a receptacle 22 in the upper portion 10 and an upstanding cylindrically shaped projection 42 on the lower portion 12 of the head. When the two portions 10 and 12 are assembled together as described previously, the projection 42 fits into the receptacle 22, and serves to align the parts along a common axis, which constitutes the central axis of the assembled head.
The channels 34 and 36 are provided with dimensions corresponding to the line which is to be used with the head. While conventional circular cross section configuration line may be used, the head which is illustrated is particularly useful in conjunction with a flat line 70 having a generally rectangular cross section, as illustrated in
The line 70 of
Particularly in the case of a flat rectangular cross section line 70 of the type shown in
In the embodiment of
Insertion of a trimmer line 70, such as shown in
Sufficient distance is allowed between the walls of the various components to allow this line insertion to be accomplished with minimal force; so that the line 70 may be inserted by hand and pulled into place by the operator of the string trimmer device using this head, without requiring any additional tools. At the same time, the serpentine path causes a fully inserted-line to be pulled against the curved edge shoulders 37 and 47 adjacent the exit openings 17 and the corresponding curved edge shoulders 39 and 49 adjacent the exit opening 19 (as shown in
As shown in
In addition, for a given set of exit openings between the flanges 14 and 16, the configuration of the lower portion 12 of the head in conjunction with the channels 34 and 36 may be changed to accommodate lines of different sizes. This is diagrammatically illustrated in
A side view of the assembled configuration of the embodiment of
In the structure of
It should be noted that suitable slots or openings 94 are provided in the underside of the flange 84 of the upper housing portion accommodate passage of the spring tabs 108 and 109 When line 116 needs to be replaced in the assembly shown in
It also should be noted that the head may be made of metal, for both or either of the portions 10 and 12 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7 or for the upper and lower portions of the embodiment of FIGS. 9 to 13. High impact wear-resistant plastic, such as nylon or other suitable materials also may be employed. If high impact plastic is employed, the exit openings 17 and 19 or the shoulders 47 and 49 may be provided with metal ferrules or inserts to reduce fusing between the housing and the trimmer line or flexible trimmer blade 70 which is used in the operation of the head.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention is to be considered as illustrative and not as limiting. Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art for performing substantially the same function, in substantially the same way, to achieve substantially the same result without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A head for string trimmer machines including: a housing member having a central axis for attachment to a string trimmer machine; and a serpentine guide path in the housing member for receiving a length of trimmer line, the guide path entirely located in a single first plane including the central axis and terminating in exit openings on opposite sides of the housing member.
2. A head according to claim 1 wherein the exit openings further are located in a second plane perpendicular to the plane including the central axis, and wherein the guide path has a portion thereof in the first plane located above or below the second plane.
3. A head according to claim 2 wherein the exit openings are located on diametrically opposite sides of the housing member.
4. A head according to claim 3 wherein at least the portion of the exit openings in contact with a trimmer line when pulled outwardly from the exit openings is metal.
5. A head according to claim 4 wherein the housing member includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion with the guide path formed by cooperating parts of the upper and lower housing portions.
6. A head according to claim 5 wherein the upper and lower housing portions are releasably interconnected with one another.
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. (canceled)
10. (canceled)
11. A head according to claim 1 including a second serpentine guide path in the housing member entirely located in a single second plane including the central axis, the second guide path terminating in a second set of exit openings on opposite sides of the housing member.
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. A head according to claim 1 wherein at least the portion of the exit openings in contact with a trimmer line when pulled outwardly from the exit openings is metal.
18. A head according to claim 17 wherein the exit openings are located on diametrically opposite sides of the housing member.
19. A head for string trimmer machines including:
- an upper housing portion having a central axis for attachment to the drive shaft of a string trimmer machine;
- a lower housing portion for releasable interconnection with the upper housing portion, and having a central axis aligned with the central axis of the upper housing portion; and
- cooperating channels on the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion forming a non-linear serpentine guide path for a length of trimmer line, the guide path entirely located in a single first plane including the central axes of the upper and lower housing portions and terminating in exit openings on opposite sides thereof.
20. A head according to claim 19 wherein the exit openings are located in a second plane perpendicular to the plane including the central axes, and wherein the guide path has a portion thereof located above or below the second plane.
21. A head according to claim 20 wherein at least the portion of the exit openings in contact with a trimmer line when pulled outwardly from the exit openings is metal.
22. A head according to claim 19 wherein at least the portion of the exit openings in contact with a trimmer line when pulled outwardly from the exit openings is metal.
23. A head according to claim 22 wherein the guide path has, at least in part, a cross-sectional configuration conforming to the cross-sectional configuration of a string trimmer line to be guided therein.
24. (canceled)
25. (canceled)
26. A head according to claim 19 wherein the guide path has, at least in part, a cross-sectional configuration conforming to the cross-sectional configuration of a string trimmer line to be guided therein.
27. A head according to claim 26 wherein at least the portion of the exit openings in contact with a trimmer line when pulled outwardly from the exit openings is metal.
28. A head for string trimmer machines including: a housing member having a central axis and adapted for attachment to the drive shaft of a string trimmer machine; and means in the housing member for guiding a length of string trimmer line in a serpentine path entirely located in a single plane including the central axis, the path terminating in exit openings on opposite sides of the housing member.
29. (canceled)
30. (canceled)
31. The head according to claim 28 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of at least a portion of the guide path is a rectangular cross section.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 30, 2005
Publication Date: Nov 3, 2005
Inventor: John Fogle
Application Number: 11/173,845