Winding mechanism for a string trimmer head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017251594-A1
Application number	US-201715448347-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 2, 2017
Priority date	Mar 3, 2016
Publication date	Sep 7, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A winding mechanism, a string trimmer head, and a method of winding line. The head may include a body, and a spool supported by the body, a line being supportable by the spool. The winding mechanism may include a crank engageable to rotate the spool to wind the line onto the spool. The trimmer head may include a bump knob engageable with the spool, and the crank may include a crank body engageable with the bump knob to rotate the spool. The crank may further include an arm connected to the crank body and a handle connected to the arm and engageable by a user to pivot the crank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A winding mechanism for a string trimmer head, the head including a body connectable to and drivable by a drive shaft of a string trimmer, and a spool supportable by the body, line being supportable by the spool, the mechanism comprising:
a crank engageable to rotate the spool when the spool is supported by the body to wind the line onto the spool.

2 . The mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the head includes a rotatable member rotatable relative to the body and engageable with the spool, and wherein the crank includes a crank body engageable with the rotatable member to rotate the spool through the rotatable member.

3 . The mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the rotatable member includes a bump knob engageable with the spool, the bump knob being engageable with a surface during operation of the trimmer to dispense line from the spool, the crank being engageable with the bump member.

4 . The mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the crank includes
an arm connected to the crank body, and a handle connected to the arm and engageable by a user to pivot the crank.

5 . The mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the crank body includes one of a projection and a recess and the bump knob includes the other of the projection and the recess, and wherein, when the crank body engages the bump knob, the projection engages the recess to drivingly connect the crank to the bump knob.

6 . The mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the crank body includes one of a plurality of projections and a plurality of recesses and the bump knob includes the other of the plurality of projections and the plurality of recesses, each of the plurality of projections being engageable in a selected one of the plurality of recesses to drivingly connect the crank to the bump knob.

7 . The mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the crank body defines an opening configured to receive the bump knob.

8 . The mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the crank body includes a projection projecting into the opening and the bump knob defines a recess, and wherein when the crank body engages the bump knob, the projection engages the recess to drivingly connect the crank to the bump knob.

9 . The mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the crank body defines the opening extending between opposite sides and along an axis, and wherein the projection and the recess are angled relative to the axis to inhibit the crank body from receiving the bump knob from one opposite side.

10 . A string trimmer head assembly for use with a string trimmer, the trimmer including a drive shaft, the assembly comprising:
a trimmer head including a body connectable to and drivable by the drive shaft, a spool supportable by the body, and a rotatable member rotatable relative to the body and engageable with the spool, line being supportable by the spool; and a winding mechanism engageable with the rotatable member and operable, when the spool is supported by the body, to wind line onto the spool.

11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the mechanism includes a crank with a crank body engageable with the rotatable member to rotate the spool through the rotatable member.

12 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the rotatable member includes a bump knob engageable with the spool, the bump knob being engageable with a surface during operation of the trimmer to dispense line from the spool, the crank being engageable with the bump member.

13 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the crank further includes
an arm connected to the crank body, and a handle connected to the arm and engageable by a user to pivot the crank and, therethrough, the bump knob and the spool to wind line onto the spool.

14 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the crank body includes one of a projection and a recess and the bump knob includes the other of the projection and the recess, and wherein, when the crank body engages the bump knob, the projection engages the recess to drivingly connect the crank to the bump member.

15 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the crank body defines an opening configured to receive the bump knob.

16 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the crank body includes a projection projecting into the opening and the bump knob defines a recess, and wherein, when the crank body engages the bump knob, the projection engages the recess to drivingly connect the crank to the bump member.

17 . The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the crank body defines the opening extending between opposite sides and along an axis, and wherein the projection and the recess are angled relative to the axis to inhibit the crank body from receiving the bump knob from one opposite side.

18 . The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the crank body includes a plurality of projections and the bump knob defines a plurality of recesses, each of the plurality of projections being engageable in a selected one of the plurality of recesses to drivingly connect the crank to the bump knob.

19 . A method of winding line in a string trimmer head, the head including a body connectable to and drivable by a drive shaft of a sting trimmer, a spool supportable by the body, and a bump knob engageable with the spool, line being supportable by the spool, the method comprising:
with the spool supported by the body, engaging the bump knob with a crank; and pivoting the crank to wind the line onto the spool.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein pivoting the crank includes
pivoting the bump knob with the crank, and pivoting the spool with the bump knob.

Assignees

• Tti Macao Commercial Offshore Ltd

Inventors

• Nolin Eric

Classifications

• A01D34/4166 Primary

  Mounting or replacement of the lines · CPC title

• A01D34/4163

  by triggered line feedout, e.g. bump-feeding · 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