GRASS TRIMMING DEVICE

Abstract: A grass trimming device is capable of adopting at least two alternative configurations, in one of which a cutting plane is substantially horizontal for use in grass trimming, and in the other of which the cutting plane is substantially vertical for edge trimming. A parting plane (A) is defined by a housing (11,22,24) of the cutting head (10) such that rotation about an axis (B) perpendicular to this plane (A) through 180° results in the required switching. The shaft axis is preferably inclined at 10-15° with respect to the turning axis (B).

Description: The present invention relates to a grass trimming device comprising the features of the first part of claim 1. The device is capable of being switched between at least two alternative configurations which are suitable for grass trimming and edge trimming respectively. There have been various proposals for producing such a device which combines the ordinary grass trimming function with a lawn edging function. DE-A-3 010 092 shows such a device in which the handle can be moved from a first socket on the cutting head to a second socket on the same head in order to shift the cutting head from a configuration in which the cutting plane is horizontal for grass trimming to a configuration in which the cutting plane is vertical for edge trimming. In both configurations of the device a shaft fitted with a handle of the shaft means is directed upwardly towards the operator. This device suffers from the drawback that changing from one function to the other is difficult because it is necessary to release and then remove the handle from one socket and then replace it and lock it into position in the second socket. EP-A-0 005 540 shows a similar device where the handle is pivotally adjustable in a plane which is perpendicular to the cutting plane. Changing the configuration of this device requires releasing a handle catch, turning the handle through 180°, releasing the cutting head and then adjusting it to the required angle. Moreover, a relatively complex arrangement of parts is necessary to achieve the changeover. This results in considerable expense and a risk that the components, which are not totally covered may be damaged by the ingress of dirt and debris. The present invention is directed to solving the technical problem of providing a grass trimming device which is simple and reliable and which can be switched quickly and conveniently between its two functions. The present invention accordingly provides a grass trimming device, which is characterized by the features of the second part of claim 1. With such a device only a relative rotation of the shaft and cutting head is necessary to switch between the two configurations. Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of pole only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partly broken away side elevation of the device in a grass trimming configuration; Figure 2 is the same view with the device in a vertical edging configuration; and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing some modifications of the first embodiment. As shown in the drawings the grass trimming device comprises a cutting head 10 which is defined by a plastics hood or housing 11 which accommodates an electric motor 12. The motor 12 has a shaft 13. A rotatable disc 14 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 13. One side of the disc 14 is formed as a radial fan 15 for drawing cooling air over the motor 12. A metal rivet 16 is fixed to the periphery of the disc to provide a mounting for a plastics blade 17 so that it can be turned over a controlled distance. On the opposite side of the disc from the rivet 16 a weight 18 is provided to balance the rivet and blade arrangement. A roller 19 is fitted to the cutting head by means of a shaft 20 about which the roller is free to rotate. The ends of the shaft 20 are fitted into corresponding sockets defined by the housing 11. The shaft 20 is arranged parallel to the motor shaft 13. The purpose of this roller is to rest on the ground when the trimming device is in its edging configuration (Fig 1). A guard 21 is fitted to the housing over a sector of the area in which the blade rotates in order to protect the operator from touching the rotating blade. Instead of a blade 17, the shaft 13 of the motor may be arranged to rotate a conventional flexible lines feed unit 38 as shown in Figure 3. The upper part of the housing of the cutting head is shaped as a neck 22, an upper face of which defines a parting plane A where the housing of the cutting head is connected to a coupling section 23 at a lower end of a shaft 26. The section 23 is formed as an upper housing part 23 and receives one end of the tubular steel shaft 26. A cable 25 passes through the shaft 26 and the coupling section 23 into a section 24 of the housing. Thus the cable 25 passes across the parting plane A through facing openings in the sections 23, 24. The coupling section 23 together with the section 24 forms a swivel coupling. At the lower end of the coupling section 23 there is provided an inwardly directed flange 27 which is U-shaped in cross section thereby defining an annular, outwardly facing, U-shaped groove 28. The upper face of the section 24 is also provided with an inwardly directed annular flange 29. The flange 29 is inserted into the groove 28 so that the annular faces of the two sections are in contact with one another in the parting plane A. The sections 23, 24 can be turned relative to one another about an axis B which is perpendicular to the parting plane A. At two diametrically opposite positions a recess 30 is formed in an inwardly facing side wall of the flange 27. At corresponding positions in the plane A, in the flange 29 there is provided a lug 31. The lugs latch in the recesses in order to keep the two sections locked together during trimming or edging. When the sections 23, 24 are switched between the two illustrated configurations the lugs seat in opposite ones of the recesses. Further indexing positions may be provided by defining recesses at other angular positions on the flange 27 so that the sections can be locked at intermediate positions between the two shown in Figures 1 and 2. It should be noted that the axis B is not parallel to the axis of the shaft 26 but is inclined at an angle α which is preferably in a range 10-15°. An appropriate setting is chosen so that the shaft 26 is directed towards the operator at a convenient angle in both the horizontal and the vertical configuration. This angle is chosen so that a 180° relative rotation of the sections 23, 24 gives a good operating position for both trimming and edging. At the upper end of the shaft 26 a carrying handle 32 with an operating switch 33 is provided. An electric cable enters the handle at a cable entry opening 34 and passes via the switch 33 down the shaft 26 to the electric motor 12. The lower end of the handle 32 is clamped around the upper end of the shaft 26. Adjacent to this fastening a support handle 35 is connected by means of a bolt and wing nut arrangement 36. The support handle 35 can be pivoted about the bolt to adjust its operating height. The height of the handle can also be adjusted by making the shaft 26 in two telescopically connected parts. One part of such a telescopic shaft is slidably inserted in the other part so that the parts can be locked together by means of a bolt 37. As illustrated the hood or housing of the cutting head is formed by two plastics moldings which are clamped to each other and enclose the roller shaft and the motor. The upper section 23 at the end of the shaft 26 is formed as a separate molding. The carrying handle may also be molded as two parts which are clamped around the shaft. It will be appreciated that the interlocked flange coupling illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is not the only possible coupling for connecting the shaft means to the cutting head so that relative rotation between these two parts shifts the cutting blade between a horizontal and vertical cutting plane. For example, a ball and socket joint may be employed. In another alternative form of coupling, as shown in Figure 3, the shaft 26 may itself be bent through an angle α and the lower bent end 40 of the shaft fitted into a receiving socket defined in an upper face of section 24. This receiving socket is perpendicular to the parting plane and the bend in the shaft is preferably close to the coupling with the cutting head.

Claims: 1. A grass trimming device comprising: a cutting head (10) including a grass cutting means (17, 38) rotatable in a cutting plane; shaft means (23, 26, 43 40) including a coupling section (23, 40) and an elongate shaft (26), the coupling section (23, 40) coupling together the cutting head (10) and the shaft means (23, 26, 32, 40), the elongate shaft (26) having a first end defining or connected to the coupling section (23, 40) and a second end having an associated handle (32); connecting means (27, 28, 29) and latch means (30, 31) for connecting the coupling section (23,40) and the cutting head (10) and latch means (30, 31) for keeping the coupling section (23, 40) and the cutting head (10) locked together in different operating orientations; characterised in that the cutting head (10) includes a surface defining a parting plane (A) at which plane the coupling section (23, 40) is coupled to the cutting head (10), the parting plane (A) extending laterally with respect to the length of said shaft means (23, 26, 32, 40) and in that the connecting means (27, 28, 29) permit relative angular movement at the parting plane (A) between the coupling section (23, 40) and the cutting head (10) about a turning axis (B) which is disposed perpendicularly to the parting plane (A) and obliquely to the shaft (26) so that relative movement between the coupling section (23, 40) and the cutting head (10) about the parting plane (A) positions the cutting plane in said different operating orientations. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said parting plane (A) is oriented such that the oblique angle (X) defined between said turning axis (B) and a longitudinal axis of said shaft (26) is in the range 10-15°C. 3. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that relative rotation between said coupling section (23) and said cutting head (10) of 180° moves said cutting plane between a first horizontal on a and a second vertical operating orientation. 4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said cutting head (10) has a neck shaped part (22, 24) in which said shaft (26) is inserted, said parting plane (A) being defined by an upper face of said neck shaped part (22). 5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said connecting means (27, 28, 29) comprises an annular flange (29) on one of said parts and an annular U-shaped groove (28) on the other of said parts into which said annular flange (29) is inserted. 6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said cutting head (10) includes a roller (19) positioned so as to rest on the ground when said cutting plane is in said second vertical position. 7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said shaft (26) comprises two tubular parts which are slidably arranged with respect to each other, and means (37) for locking said parts in various selected positions. 8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said grass cutting means comprises a disc (14), to the periphery of which a replaceable blade (17) is mounted. 9. A device according to claim 1, in which said grass cutting means comprises a flexible line feed unit (38).

Inventors: MEAD, DAVID EDWARD
Applicants: ELECTROLUX NORTHERN LIMITED
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A01D34
IPC codes: A01G3, A01D34