String trimmer head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10070582-B2
Application number	US-201615134256-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2016
Priority date	Apr 20, 2016
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

A trimmer head may include a housing rotatable about an axis; and a line holder supported by the housing. The line holder defines a first receptacle, a second receptacle separated from the first receptacle and an opening communicating with the first receptacle and the second receptacle. A line is supportable by the line holder, the line having a first end and an opposite second end, the line being folded to provide a first line section from the first end toward a folded portion and a second line section from the second end toward the folded portion, the folded portion being insertable into the opening, the first line section being received in the first receptacle, the second line section being received in the second receptacle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trimmer head for use with a trimmer, the head comprising:
a housing rotatable about an axis; and
a line holder supported by the housing, the line holder including a body having a first face and an opposite second face and defining a first receptacle, a second receptacle separated from the first receptacle and an opening communicating with the first receptacle through a first passage and with the second receptacle through a second passage, the first passage being narrower than the first receptacle, the second passage being narrower than the second receptacle, the first receptacle, the second receptacle and the opening extending through the body from the first face to the second face, the line holder being operable to support a line, the line having a first end and an opposite second end, the line being folded to provide a first line section from the first end toward a folded portion and a second line section from the second end toward the folded portion, the folded portion being insertable into the opening through the first face, the first line section being receivable into the first receptacle through the first passage, the second line section being receivable into the second receptacle through the second passage, the first end and the second end extending outwardly from the first face and the folded portion being positioned toward the second face.

2. The head of claim 1 , wherein the line holder includes a projection separating the first receptacle from the second receptacle.

3. The head of claim 2 , wherein the folded portion is positionable around the projection to retain the line in the line holder.

4. The head of claim 2 , wherein the projection has a first side and a second side extending to a free end, the first side defining a portion of the first receptacle and a first undercut, the second side defining a portion of the second receptacle and a second undercut, and the free end defining a portion of the opening, and wherein the first line section is positionable in the first undercut and the second line section is positionable in the second undercut.

5. The head of claim 2 , wherein the projection has a free end, and wherein the opening is proximate the free end.

6. The head of claim 1 , wherein the line holder includes a wall at least partially defining the first receptacle, the second receptacle and the opening.

7. The head of claim 1 , wherein the first receptacle, the opening and the second receptacle are arranged in a V-shape.

8. The head of claim 1 , wherein the line holder includes a first wall portion extending between and at least partially defining the opening and the first receptacle and a second wall portion extending between and at least partially defining the opening and the second wall portion, the first wall portion and the second wall portion converging toward the opening.

9. The head of claim 1 , wherein the line holder is a first line holder, the line being a first line, and wherein the head further comprises a second line holder supported by the housing, the second line holder being operable to support a second line.

10. The head of claim 9 , wherein the second line holder defines a first receptacle, a second receptacle separated from the first receptacle and an opening communicating with the first receptacle and the second receptacle, and wherein the second line has a first end and an opposite second end, the line being folded to provide a first line section from the first end toward a folded intermediate portion and a second line section from the second end toward the folded intermediate portion, the intermediate portion being insertable into the opening, the first line section being receivable in the first receptacle, the second line section being receivable in the second receptacle.

11. The head of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a periphery about the axis, and wherein the line is insertable into the line holder from outside of the periphery.

12. A line holder for a trimmer head, the head being for use with a trimmer, the head including a housing rotatable about an axis, the line holder being supportable by the housing, a line being supportable by the line holder, the line having a first end and an opposite second end, the line being folded to provide a first line section from the first end toward a folded portion and a second line section from the second end toward the folded portion, the line holder comprising:
a body having a first face and an opposite second face and defining a first receptacle, a second receptacle separated from the first receptacle and an opening communicating with the first receptacle through a first passage and with the second receptacle through a second passage, the first passage being narrower than the first receptacle, the second passage being narrower than the second receptacle, the first receptacle, the second receptacle and the opening extending through the body from the first face to the second face, the body including a projection separating the first receptacle from the second receptacle, the folded portion of the line being insertable into the opening through the first face and positionable around the projection, the first line section being receivable into the first receptacle through the first passage, the second line section being receivable into the second receptacle through the second passage, the first end and the second end extending outwardly from the first face and the folded portion being proximate the second face.

13. The line holder of claim 12 , wherein the projection has a first side and a second side extending to a free end, the first side defining a portion of the first receptacle and a first undercut, the second side defining a portion of the second receptacle and a second undercut, and the free end defining a portion of the opening, the first line section being positionable in the first undercut and the second line section being positionable in the second undercut.

14. The line holder of claim 12 , wherein the projection has a free end, and wherein the opening is proximate the free end.

15. The line holder of claim 12 , wherein the line holder includes a wall at least partially defining the first receptacle, the second receptacle and the opening.

16. The line holder of claim 12 , wherein the first receptacle, the opening and the second receptacle are arranged in a V-shape.

17. The line holder of claim 12 , wherein the line holder includes a first wall portion extending between and at least partially defining the opening and the first receptacle and a second wall portion extending between and at least partially defining the opening and the second wall portion, the first wall portion and the second wall portion converging toward the opening.

18. A method of assembling a trimmer head, the head being for use with a trimmer, the head including a housing, a line holder and a line, the housing being rotatable about an axis and having an outer periphery, the line holder including a body having a first face and an opposite second face and defining a first receptacle, a second receptacle separated from the first receptacle and an opening communicating with the first receptacle through a first passage and with the second receptacle through a second passage, the first passage being narrower than the first receptacle, the second passage being narrower than the second receptacle, the first receptacle, the second receptacle and the opening extending through the body from the first face to the second face, the body including a projection separating the first receptacle from the second

Assignees

• Tti Macao Commercial Offshore Ltd

Inventors

• Nolin Eric
• Cogan Benjamin H
• Morrison Robert L
• Coghill Steve

Classifications

• A01D34/416

  Flexible line cutters · CPC title

• A01D34/4166 Primary

  Mounting or replacement of the lines · CPC title

• A01D34/84 Primary

  for edges of lawns or fields, e.g. for mowing close to trees or walls ({for embankments A01D34/86 takes precedence;} edge trimmers A01G3/00) · CPC title