Trimmer head and trimmer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021037704-A1
Application number	US-201916967044-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 21, 2019
Priority date	Feb 12, 2018
Publication date	Feb 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A trimmer head ( 1 ) is disclosed arranged to be driven around a rotational axis (ax), via an interface ( 2 ), to rotate a trimmer line ( 3 ). The trimmer head ( 1 ) comprises a housing ( 1 a, 1 b ), the interface ( 2 ), a trimmer line spool ( 5, 5′ ), and an automatic feed mechanism ( 7 ). The automatic feed mechanism ( 7 ) is configured to release a trimmer line ( 3 ) spooled around the trimmer line spool ( 5, 5′ ) when the trimmer head ( 1 ) is subjected to a change in rotational speed, via the interface ( 2 ), at a higher rate than a threshold rate of change in rotational speed. The trimmer head ( 1 ) further comprises an actuator ( 9, 9′ ) connected to the automatic feed mechanism ( 7 ) such that a manual actuation of the actuator ( 9, 9′ ) releases the trimmer line ( 3 ) spooled around the trimmer line spool ( 5, 5′ ). The present disclosure further relates to a trimmer ( 13 ) comprising a trimmer head ( 1 ).

First claim

1 . A trimmer head arranged to be driven around a rotational axis, via an interface, to rotate a trimmer line, wherein the trimmer head comprises:
a housing, the interface, a trimmer line spool, and an automatic feed mechanism, wherein the automatic feed mechanism is configured to release a trimmer line spooled around the trimmer line spool when the trimmer head is subjected to a change in rotational speed, via the interface, at a higher rate than a threshold rate of change in rotational speed, and wherein the trimmer head further comprises an actuator connected to the automatic feed mechanism such that a manual actuation of the actuator releases the trimmer line spooled around the trimmer line spool.

2 . The trimmer head according to claim 1 , wherein the automatic feed mechanism is configured to release the trimmer line by allowing the trimmer line spool to rotate relative the housing.

3 . The trimmer head according to claim 2 , wherein the automatic feed mechanism is configured to allow the trimmer line spool to rotate a predetermined angle relative the housing.

4 . The trimmer head according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is displaceable between a first position, in which the automatic feed mechanism locks the trimmer line, and a second position in which the automatic feed mechanisms releases the trimmer line, and wherein the actuator biased towards the first position.

5 . The trimmer head according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to be manually actuated by being pushed or turned an angle around the rotational axis.

6 . The trimmer head according to claim 1 , wherein the trimmer head comprises a first portion configured to face a trimmer, and a second portion configured to face away from the trimmer, when the trimmer head is mounted onto the trimmer, and wherein the actuator is arranged at the first portion.

7 . The trimmer head according to claim 1 , wherein the trimmer head comprises an inner body operably connected to the trimmer line spool, wherein the inner body his configured to move relative the housing when the trimmer head is subjected to said change in rotational speed, via the interface, and wherein the automatic feed mechanism is configured to release the trimmer line spooled around the trimmer line spool when the inner body moves relative the housing.

8 . The trimmer head according to claim 7 , wherein the automatic feed mechanism comprises a mechanism body operably connected to the housing and to the inner body.

9 . The trimmer head according to claim 8 , wherein the actuator is operably connected to the mechanism body.

10 . The trimmer head according to claim 8 , wherein the mechanism body movable in a direction of the rotational axis, and wherein the inner body is configured to displace the mechanism body in the direction of the rotational axis when the inner body moves relative the housing.

11 . The trimmer head according to claim 10 , wherein the mechanism body comprises at least one first stop and at least one second stop each configured to cooperate with at least one stop arranged on the trimmer line spool and wherein the at least one second stop arranged a distance from the at least one first stop in a direction of the rotational axis, and at a circumferential distance from the at least one first stop around the rotational axis.

12 . The trimmer head according to claim 7 , wherein the mechanism body is rotationally locked to the housing, or
wherein the actuator is operably connected to the inner body.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The trimmer head according to claim 8 , wherein the mechanism body comprises a locking lever, and wherein the actuator is operably connected to the locking lever.

15 . The trimmer head according to claim 14 , wherein the trimmer head further comprises a spring holding member provided with a spring connected to the housing, and wherein the spring holding member connects the actuator to the locking lever.

16 . The trimmer head according to claim 15 , wherein the spring holding member comprises a centrifugal locking device configured to lock the spring holding member to the inner body when the trimmer head rotates at a rotational speed above a threshold rotational speed.

17 . The trimmer head according to claim 14 , wherein the trimmer line spool comprises a recess, wherein the recess is provided with at least one radially protruding inner stop on its inner circumferential wall, and at least one radially protruding outer stop on its outer circumferential wall, the at least one inner stop being circumferentially displaced relative the at least one outer stop, and wherein the locking lever tis configured to cooperate with the least one radially protruding inner stop and the at least one radially protruding outer stop.

18 . The trimmer head according to claim 7 , wherein the inner body is configured to rotate relative the housing when the trimmer head subjected to said change in rotational speed, via the interface, and wherein the automatic feed mechanism is configured to release the trimmer line spooled around the trimmer line spool when the inner body rotates relative the housing.

19 . The trimmer head according to claim 7 , wherein the trimmer head comprises at least one spring configured to counteract relative movement between the inner body and the housing.

20 . The trimmer head according to claim 7 , wherein the interface is arranged at the inner body,
wherein the interface is a drive shaft interface, or wherein the actuator is arranged at a distance from the rotational axis.

21 . (canceled)

22 . (canceled)

23 . A trimmer comprising the trimmer head of claim 1 , wherein the trimmer is configured to initiate feed of trimmer line spooled around the trimmer line spool of the trimmer head by performing a change in rotational speed of the trimmer head, via the interface of the trimmer head, at a higher rate than a threshold rate of change in rotational speed.

24 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Husqvarna Ab

Inventors

• Kullberg Stefan

Classifications

• A01D34/4161 Primary

  Means for feeding cutter line · CPC title

• A01D34/4162

  automatically · CPC title

• A01D34/4163 Primary

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