Abstract:
Apparatus similar to a Weed-Eater® weed trimmer, but instead of monofilament line, it uses recycled coat hangers to cut weeds. There are two plates, the lower one having grooves within which to fit the coat-hangers after they are prepared using a special tool to bend them to the proper shape. Aside from the cutting part, the rest of the machine can be like a Weed-Eater® brand weed trimmer. The two plates are held together with a retaining nut. Hardwire, wire cable, nails, or heavy duty plastic cord can also be used as blades.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/050,337, filed Jun. 20, 1997, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to weed trimmers. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,707,859, 2,708,335, 3,018,602, 4,406,065, 4,805,389, 4,641,431, 2,857,792, 3,722,256, 4,423,757. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The apparatus of the present invention solves the problems confronted in the art in a simple and straightforward manner. What is provided is a weed trimmer which uses recycled coat hangers, e.g., as blades. The trimmer can also use other types of blades, such as  20   d  common nails. One does not need to buy special blades to use with the weed trimmer of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
     FIGS. 1-26 disclose a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 27-33 show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The weed cutter of the present application (hereinafter “Weed Away”) is the newest concept in grass trimmers. Weed Away is designed to use wire coat hangers for the trimmer blade. Alternatively (and actually preferably) nails, such as  20   d  common nails, can be used for the trimmer blade. 
     With a simple Weed Away tool any one can make perfect Weed Away trimmer blades using the common household wire coat hanger or nails. 
     The Weed Away concept came out of hours of frustration using every type of trimmer head that continuously caused problems. The Weed Away is a simple 2-piece head with a nut to secure it to the trimmers. In hours of use the Weed Away allows you longer periods of use before replacing the cutters. The Weed Away has proven in hours of testing that it will cut through the toughest grass and large weeds with the utmost of ease. 
     The Weed Away head consists of three basic components. The upper plate  1  holds the cutters by hard steel pins and machined slots to hold the cutters. The pins are precision made and are pressed into the upper plate. The pins recess into the lower plate, capturing them in the lower plate for added safety. 
     The Weed Away head can be supplied with 6-4-3-2 blades. 
     The Weed Away will be offered for cutter of various horsepower, from 6-blade cutters for heavy commercial use down to a 2-blade cutter for the domestic models. The Weed Away is a serious tool and can handle the most serious weed cutting or trimming requirements. 
     The lower plate is fitted with holes slightly larger than the pins allowing them to recess into the lower plate capturing the pins for added safety. Holes are machined for pins to recess in them, capturing the pins for added safety. There is a tapered recess to help align the upper and lower plates. 
     The Weed Away tool is the heart of the trimmer. The tool is a simple bender that allows the user to make perfect weed away trimmer blades out of common household wire coat hangers. The only tool required that is not furnished is a pair of wire cutter pliers or the like. 
     The Weed Away tool is extremely simple and easy to use—the first requirement is a supply of wire coat hangers (Note: Weed Away wire will be offered as a substitute to the coat hanger if needed). 
     Now that you have supply of wire coat hangers continue as follows. 
     With a good set of wire cutters pliers (Note: wire cutter pliers not furnished) cut the hanger as close to the neck as possible. Straighten the coat hanger, the straighter the better. Now that you have done this continue as follows. 
     Place the straightened coat hanger in the tool as indicated. Bring wire to the gauge mark (make sure you have your tool as shown in FIG.  3 ). Bring the end of the coat hanger to the gauge mark. Rotate the handle as shown in FIG. 5, continuing until your tool is in the next position (shown in FIG.  5 ). 
     Cut the other wire to the proper length. 
     Remove wire from bender. 
     Once you have removed the wire from the bender it will have one leg longer than the other as pictured in FIG.  6 . Cut the longer leg to the length of the shorter leg. 
     Now that you have cut your blade to length it looks like the wire shown in FIG.  7 . All blades should be the same length. 
     The most important requirement is that all blades are the same length for balance. It is not critical, but the blades last longer 
     With practice you will make perfect blades every time. Now that you have got the hang of making your weed away blades it is nice to have a supply of them made so that when it comes time to change them you will not have to stop to make blades. 
     The Weed Away blades are easily changed by following these simple steps. 
     With your trimmer in the upside-down position continue as follows. 
     Remove the retaining nut. After removal of the upper plate install Weed Away blades as shown in FIG.  11 . Then replace the upper plate and replace the retaining nut. Tighten the retaining nut and you are ready to go. 
     Remember—practice makes perfect. You will find that it is fun to make the weed away blades but even more fun to use the “Weed Away” trimmer. 
     Always wear protective clothing and eye protection. Do not use Weed Away or any trimmer without a blade guard. Remember all weed trimmers are dangerous and should be used with utmost care to protect the user and to prevent injury to others. Do not use around people, pets or children. Weed trimmers throw rocks and other debris that can cause serious injury, even death. 
     FIGS. 27-32 disclose an alternative, preferred embodiment of the present invention, weed cutter head  10 . Weed cutter head  10  can be used with either wires as with the other embodiment or with nails, such as  20   d  common nails. Weed cutter head  10  can be attached to a weed cutter, such as that shown in FIG. 9, with any suitable means. 
     As is well known in the art,  20   d  common nails are made of metal. 
     Weed cutter head  10  includes a top half  20  and a bottom half  30 . The two halves  20  and  30  can be detached from one another, as shown in FIG.  28 . The bottom half  30  includes recesses  31  for receiving blades made of coat hanger wire or heavy duty plastic weed trimmer cord and recesses  32  for receiving nails. Recesses  32  include nail head recesses  33  for receiving the heads of nails. When the top half  20  is clamped to the bottom half  30 , the top half  20  secures the nails and/or wire and/or heavy duty cord in place. 
     Weed cutter head  10  could be made of any suitable material, such as plastic. Weed cutter head  10  could be made of, for example, nylon. It could be made out of polypropylene to keep down costs. 
     Each U-shaped blade  41  (see FIG. 33) has two legs  42 , each leg  42  has a first end  43  and a second end  44 , the first ends  43  of the legs  42  are connected to one another, and the blades are received in the first recess  31  with the second ends  44  of the legs  42  distal from the first recess  31 . Nails  52  (see FIG. 33) are received in second recesses  32  with the heads  53  received in recesses  33  and the ends  54  of the nails  52  remote heads  53  distal of the recesses  32 . 
     Weed cutter head  10  allows the use of, for example,  20   d  common nails for cutting heavy concentrations of weeds. Weed cutter head  10  also allows the user to make cutting blades from common household wire coat hangers. Weed cutter head  10  allows the use of 0.105 (heavy duty) weed trimmer cord for cutting around plants, and around the house in areas where the nails or wire blades could cause damage. 
     A major advantage of the weed cutter head  10  is that now one can use blades that will last longer, and are more readily available. Instead of a trip to the hardware store, one simply makes a trip to one&#39;s garage and keeps working. 
     All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise. 
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.