Abstract:
A novel apparatus for the support and guiding of a weed and grass trimmer is disclosed. The invention attaches to gas and electric weed and grass trimmers and permits a user to more easily use the trimmer and space and maintain a selected height of the cutting plane of the trimmer above the work surface, generally the surface of the earth.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/303,487, filed Jul. 5, 2001. 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not Applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention relates to a novel apparatus for the support and guiding of a weed and grass trimmer. The invention attaches to gas and electric weed and grass trimmers. It permits the user to more easily use the trimmer and space and maintain a selected height of the cutting plane of the trimmer above the ground.  
           [0005]    Generally, a conventional weed and grass trimmer has a rotating head, the rotating head having a length of line projecting radially from the head rotated in a generally horizontal cutting plane below a shield while supported at the end of a trimmer tube, adjacent a work surface. Generally, the conventional trimmer has the shield located above and in near proximity to the cutting plane. The work surface is generally the surface of the earth. The line, as it spins in the cutting plane, cuts weeds and grass that are struck by the line. Many rotating heads have a bump-type line feed mechanism that advances the line after wear by bumping the mechanism against the ground.  
           [0006]    A number of support devices exist that can aid a person in using a weed and grass trimmer. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,665 issued to Stout is disclosed a support strut assembly for a rotating flexible line-type vegetation trimmer. This prior invention uses a different and more complex assembly for the support of the trimmer.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    A principal objective of this invention is to provide a novel and improved support assembly guide for a weed and grass trimmer to provide support for the trimmer in a spaced arrangement from the grass or other surface over which the trimmer is used. Preferably, the invention attaches to a trimmer tube of a weed and grass trimmer. Alternatively, the invention attaches to a shield of the weed and grass trimmer. The invention eases the work load of the user by assisting the user in the support of the trimmer.  
           [0008]    A further object of the invention is to provide a smooth and relatively consistent surface for the bumping of a bump-type line feed mechanism, a mechanism that is common on many weed and grass trimmers.  
           [0009]    Additional and various other objects and advantages attained by the invention will become more apparent as the specification is read and the accompanying figures are reviewed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a support assembly guide for a weed and grass trimmer;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1A is a partial top plan view showing a bowed support shaft securely joined to a dished disc by welding;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support assembly guide adjustably attached to a trimmer tube;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a quick release mount;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an alternative support assembly guide;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the alternative support assembly guide shown in FIG. 4;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the dished disc; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a partial side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the support assembly guide, showing a dished disc, a sleeve, and a bowed support shaft. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is novel and provides a support assembly guide  10  for a weed and grass trimmer  20 . The trimmer  20  has a rotating head  22 . The rotating head  22  has a length  24  of line projecting radially from the head rotated in a generally horizontal cutting plane below a shield  26  while supported at the end of a trimmer tube  28 , adjacent a work surface  30 .  
         [0019]    The support assembly guide  10  comprises a concave, dished disc  32  that preferably is about five inches in diameter and fabricated from stainless steel or another suitable material. The disc  32  is securely joined to a first end  34  of a bowed support shaft  36  that preferably is fabricated from stainless steel or from another suitable material or metal or alloy. The shaft  36  can have a round or square or some other cross-section, but a rectangular cross-section is preferred.  
         [0020]    Preferably, the disc  32  is welded to the first end  34  of the shaft  36 , but the disc can also be securely joined to the first end by rivets or nuts and bolts. The shaft  36  has a second end  38  and the shaft is adjustably clamped near said second end by a clamping assembly  40 , and the clamping assembly is adjustably attached to the trimmer tube  28  to position the disc  32  to be coplanar and coaxial to a cutting circle of the trimmer defined by the rotating head  22  rotating the length  24  of line and to be adjustably spaced from the rotating head.  
         [0021]    When the trimmer  20  is used and the disc  32  is in contact with a work surface  30 , the shaft  36  does not flex appreciably under just the weight of the trimmer  20  and holds the disc  32  adjustably spaced from the rotating head  22  and the guide  10  spaces the cutting circle of the trimmer above the work surface.  
         [0022]    Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1A, the disc  32  is joined to the first end  34  along a line parallel to and offset away about an inch (more or less) from a midline of the disc as defined by a straight line across the disc that crosses the center point of the disc. The offset allows a more advantageous operational alignment of the support assembly guide  10  to the trimmer  20 . The bottom surface of the disc  32  is rounded and preferably smooth and may be polished to more freely slide on and along a work surface, generally the surface of the earth or grass, while the trimmer is used.  
         [0023]    The bowed support shaft  36  is resilient and has a preformed bow shape. When a bending pressure is applied, the shaft  36  flexes from the preformed bow shape and when the bending pressure ceases, the shaft returns to the preformed bow shape. When the preferred embodiment of the invention is attached to a trimmer having a bump-type line feed mechanism and the disc  32  is in contact with a work surface  30  and the user applies a bending pressure (a relative downward vertical pressure) on the trimmer, the shaft  36  being resilient allows a bending of the shaft and a bumping of the mechanism on the top surface of the disc resulting in line feed. The top surface of the disc  32  provides a smooth and consistent surface for the mechanism to bump instead of the ground or other surface thereby lessening wear and tear on the mechanism. After the applied bending pressure ceases, the shaft  36  returns to the preformed shape.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 2 and 3 best show that in the preferred embodiment, the clamping assembly  40  is a quick release mount  42  comprising a mounting stud  44  extending axially through a washer  46 , a bowed support shaft retainer  48 , a bowed support shaft clamp  50 , a trimmer tube retainer  52 , a trimmer tube clamp  54  and said stud having adjustable retainer members on its ends comprising a nut  56  and an eccentric  58  movable relative to the stud coaxially thereto by a lever  60 . As shown in FIG. 2, the quick release mount  42  adjustably clamps the bowed support shaft  36  near the second end  38  of the shaft. Preferably, the trimmer tube retainer  52  and the trimmer tube clamp  54  have two cooperating apertures  62  and  64  for mounting of a closing bolt  66 .  
         [0025]    Preferably, the aperture  62  is threaded to receive and cooperate with the bolt  66  in drawing the tube retainer  52  and the tube clamp  54  together against the trimmer tube  28  thereby attaching the quick release mount  42  to the trimmer tube. Alternatively, a nut can be used with the bolt  66 . Alternatively, the tube retainer  52  and the tube clamp  54  can be formed in one piece that wraps around the tube  28 . Other clamping assemblies known in the art could be used.  
         [0026]    In an alternative support assembly guide  68 , as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a disc  32  is securely joined to a lower end  70  of a spring member  72 . The spring member  72  has an upper end  74 . The upper end  74  is attached to a shield  26  of a trimmer  20 . The upper end  74  can be attached by use of nuts  76  and bolts  78  or by rivets or by insertion into a cooperating and receiving cavity (not shown) formed in the shield  26 . Preferably, in this embodiment, the spring member  72  is bow shaped and has a rectangular cross-section and is sized and shaped to position the disc  32  to be coplanar and coaxial to a cutting circle of the trimmer defined by the rotating head  22  rotating the length  24  of line and to be spaced from the cutting head. Alternatively, additional spring members  72  can be used and attached between the shield  26  and the disc  32 .  
         [0027]    The spring member  72  is resilient and flexes under applied bending pressure from a preformed bow shape and returns to the preformed bow shape when the applied bending pressure ceases. When the alternative support assembly guide  68  is secured to a shield  26  of a trimmer having a bump-type line feed mechanism and the disc  32  is in contact with a work surface  30  and the user applies a bending pressure (a relative downward vertical pressure) on the trimmer, the member  72  being resilient allows a bending of the member and a bumping of the mechanism on the top surface of the disc resulting in line feed. The top surface of the disc  32  provides a smooth and consistent surface for the mechanism to bump instead of the ground or other surface thereby lessening wear and tear on the mechanism. After the applied bending pressure ceases, the member  72  returns to the preformed shape.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment in which a bridge  80  is attached across a portion of the upper side of the disc  32 . The bridge  80  provides a flat surface for a bump-type line feed mechanism to bump against. Alternatively, the bridge  80  may span the entire upper side.  
         [0029]    As shown in FIG. 7, in an alternative embodiment, a sleeve  82  is interposed between a disc  32  and a first end  34  of the bowed support shaft  36 . The sleeve  82  is securely joined to the disc  32  and the sleeve adjustably receives and retains the first end  34 . Preferably, a set screw  84  secures the first end  34  within the sleeve  82 .  
         [0030]    In another embodiment not shown, a sleeve  82  is interposed between a disc  32  and a lower end  70  of a spring member  72 . The sleeve  82  is securely joined to the disc  32  and the sleeve adjustably receives and retains the lower end  70 . Preferably, a set screw  84  secures the lower end  70  within the sleeve  82 .  
         [0031]    The preceding description and exposition of the invention is presented for purposes of illustration and enabling disclosure. It is neither intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications or variations in the invention in light of the above teachings that are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted to the breath to which they fairly, legitimately and equitably are entitled.