String trimmer with adjustable guard assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10299430-B2
Application number	US-201715859591-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2017
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

An adjustable guard assembly is connected to a head assembly of a string trimmer. The adjustable guard assembly includes a housing. The housing includes a mounting portion, which connects to a motor case. The housing further includes a deck portion, which extends from the mounting portion. The deck portion has a proximal end and a distal end. A first skirt member extends along and downward from the distal end of the deck portion in a generally radially outward direction. A first blade assembly includes a first blade member, provided in the interior of the first skirt member, to engage a rotating string member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A string trimmer assembly, comprising:
a support shaft having a head assembly at a first end of the support shaft, the head assembly having a motor casing and a guard assembly;
a motor enclosed in the motor casing and coupled to a cutting head;

the guard assembly removably secured to the motor casing and having a first blade connected thereto;
a support member extending from the motor casing or the support shaft;
a second blade secured to the support,
wherein the second blade remains fixed to the head assembly when the guard assembly is removed.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the guard assembly has an aperture through which to receive the second blade.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support member extends generally downward and the string trimmer support shaft extends generally upward.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the guard assembly includes a skirt member at a distal end thereof, and the first blade and the second blade are disposed within the skirt member, providing dual cutting surfaces.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first blade and the second blade are disposed radially inward from the skirt member forming a gap with the skirt member.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first blade is disposed a first distance from the skirt member and the second blade is disposed a second distance from the skirt member, different than the first distance.

7. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first blade and second blade are substantially equidistant from the skirt member.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cutting head is disposed on a first side of the guard assembly.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the motor is disposed on a second side of the guard assembly opposite the cutting head.

10. A string trimmer apparatus, comprising:
a motor case for securing a motor;
a support member connected to the motor case;
a guard assembly having an aperture therein;
a first blade secured to the guard assembly, the first blade mounted within a skirt member of the guard assembly; and
a second blade secured to the support member independent of the first blade, wherein the second blade is disposed adjacent the first blade when the guard assembly is attached to the motor case.

11. The string trimmer apparatus of claim 10 , wherein when the guard assembly and first blade is removed from the string trimmer apparatus, the string trimmer apparatus remains usable with the second blade connected to the support member.

12. The string trimmer apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a string trimmer support shaft extending from the motor case.

13. The string trimmer apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the guard assembly includes a distal region adjacent the first blade and a seam at a proximal region that is separated to allow the guard assembly to be removed from the string trimmer apparatus.

14. The string trimmer apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the guard assembly includes a mounting portion with an opening therein.

15. A string trimmer assembly comprising:
a head assembly having a support member extending therefrom:
a removable guard assembly having a housing, a mounting portion, and a deck portion extending from the mounting portion, the deck portion having a proximal end, a distal end, and a skirt member extending substantially downward from the distal end of the deck portion and having an aperture therein;
a first blade assembly including a first blade member provided in the interior of the skirt member to engage a rotating string member;
a second blade assembly including a second blade member secured to the support member separately from the skirt member and extending through the aperture in the deck portion such that when the skirt member of the guard assembly is removed from the head assembly, the second blade assembly remains secured to the head assembly.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the mounting portion has at least one seam formed therethrough permitting the guard assembly to be removed from the string trimmer.

17. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first blade assembly and the second blade assembly are adjacent one another when the skirt member is attached.

18. The assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a cutting head having a cutting element to be cut by at least one of the first blade assembly and second blade assembly.

19. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first blade assembly is positioned a first radial distance from the cutting head and the second blade assembly is positioned a second radial distance from the cutting head different from the first distance.

20. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first blade assembly is positioned substantially the same radial distance from the cutting head as the second blade assembly.

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Miller Mark D
• Cannaliato Michael

Classifications

• A01D34/90

  for carrying by the operator · CPC title

• A01D34/4167 Primary

  Protection devices · CPC title