Abstract:
The current invention provides a cable actuated string trimmer head compressor, adaptable to bump-n-feed type string trimmers. A handle operated by remotely actuates a lever that in turn exerts force on a first half of a string trimmer head, compressing the first half of the trimmer head relative to a second half of the trimmer head. The string trimmer head compresses as if it had been pressed to the ground.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to flexible filament cutting devices, particularly to the class comprising “bump-n-feed”-type devices. 
         [0003]    2. General Background 
         [0004]    This invention provides an improved flexible monofilament cutting device (hereinafter string trimmer) and, more particularly, to the “bump-n-feed” class of string trimmers. Generally, string trimmers comprise a cutting head at the end of a long shaft with a handle or handles. The flexible monofilament cutting elements (hereinafter line) are coiled around a spool, which during operation rotates at a high rate of speed. String trimmers are generally powered by an internal combustion engine typically located on the end of the shaft opposite the cutting head, but electric string trimmers are coming into common use. 
         [0005]    A string trimmer works on the principle of centrifugal force. When a trimmer head is subjected to a high enough rotational velocity, centrifugal force holds the flexible filament lines pointed stiffly radially outward. The faster the head turns the stiffer the line acts due the centrifugal force. To protect the operator, the head typically contains a safety shield on the operator side. 
         [0006]    It is well known that during normal operation of weed trimmers the cutting elements commonly break, fray, and otherwise have their lengths shortened due to numerous impacts with objects. Shorter elements do not cut with the same diameter swath, and eventually they must be replaced or lengthened in some fashion. One of the most popular means of solving this problem is the use of what has been popularly called a “bump-n-feed” head for the trimmer. 
         [0007]    The first bump-n-feed trimmer was disclosed in now-expired United Kingdom Patent No. 1,574,382 and uses an escapement mechanism comprising two discs having inwardly projecting teeth. When the two discs are compressed together, the discs are allowed to slide slightly past each other but only by a fixed amount, thereby allowing a fixed amount of line to be released from the reel. This allows the user to ration his or her line, while at the same time preventing the over-torquing of the small motors normally associated with trimmers. Nearly all bump-n-feed trimmers currently in use employ a similar mechanism for indexing a set amount of flexible line, although some allow an unlimited amount of line to be spooled out so long as the trimmer head remains pressed against the ground. There are numerous citations to the above patent, and bump-and-feed trimmers are now well known. 
         [0008]    Nearly all of the bump-n-feed devices currently available require the trimmer head to be knocked against the ground in order to index the line. The pressure applied between the ground and the shaft of the trimmer is generally transferred through a nub on the head, thereby compressing the entire head, allowing the internal spool of line to advance. The only requirement in the compressed head is that one portion of the head move relative to the other—it can be understood all movement between a top part of the head and a bottom part of the head is merely relative to one another. After being knocked against the ground, a coil spring inside the trimmer urges the head back to its original configuration. Descriptions and drawings of typical trimmer heads can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,771 to Tillotson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,588 to Pittinger, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,739 to Pittinger, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,765 to Woods. The bump-n-feed trimmer&#39;s structure is well known in the art, and descriptions of the internal specifics are myriad. Hence, the description will not be repeated in the present application. 
         [0009]    There are several problems common to bump-n-feed trimmers. First, to index trimmer line, the operator of a string trimmer will normally strike the trimmer head against this ground. Additionally, this is normally done while the trimmer is spinning at a high rate of speed. In order for enough centrifugal force to advance the line, high speeds are generally necessary. Thus, the moving trimmer head comes into contact with the ground under pressure sufficient to cause a large amount of friction. Upon consideration that for a normal 20 foot spool of string, the above indexing process occurs between 400-500 times, it is easily understood why the high speed striking of the string trimmer against the ground has become a common cause for the wearing out of trimmer heads. 
         [0010]    Second, because the head is generally pressed against the ground in order for line indexing to occur, the line is necessarily in a position very close to the ground, and will strike any nearby vegetation. In a grass field this may create small patches where the vegetation is cut down by an amount more than desired by the user. In order to effectuate operation of the indexing process, and to avoid scalping the ground for longer than is necessary, it is very common for the operator of a weed trimmer index the line by slamming the head on the ground quickly. Over the life of the trimmer, the shock and wear from the repeated impacts with the ground can deteriorate the trimmer. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    There is thus a current need for a cost effective automatic bump-n-feed device that need not be pressed against any external object in order to index a set amount of line. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of the invention to reduce manufacturing costs by providing an automatic line indexer that is easily adaptable to any trimmer head utilizing the bump-and-feed method for indexing line. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Stated generally, the current invention provides a means to compress the head of a bump-n-feed trimmer without need compression against external means, i.e. the ground. A handle and cable adapted to a trimmer allows the operator to compress the head with the pull of the handle, thus eliminating the need to ever bump the trimmer against the ground. 
     
    
     
       SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0015]    FIG.  1 —is a perspective view of the shaft and head of a trimmer with the present invention attached thereto. The hand of an operator is shown grasping a handle that pulls the cable, ultimately compressing the head to index an amount of line. 
           [0016]    FIG.  2 —is a close perspective view of the head of a trimmer having the current invention attached thereto. The cable and lever arm are depicted here as being in a first configuration. 
           [0017]    FIG.  3 —is identical to  FIG. 3  except for in  FIG. 3  the cable has been tightened, and the lever arm repositioned. Whereas  FIG. 2  depicts the cable and lever arm in a first configuration,  FIG. 3  depicts them in a second configuration. 
           [0018]    FIG.  4 —is a cross section taken through line  4 - 4  on  FIG. 3 . 
           [0019]    FIG.  5 —is a cross section taken through line  5 - 5  on  FIG. 4 . 
           [0020]    FIG.  6 —is identical to  FIG. 5  except for in  FIG. 6  the cable has been tightened, and the lever arm repositioned. Whereas  FIG. 5  depicts the cable and lever arm in the first configuration,  FIG. 6  depicts them in the second configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Turning first to  FIG. 1 , the current invention is a device adaptable to any bump-n-feed trimmer head  1  that provides a means for the operator  2  of a trimmer to advance trimmer line  3  from the trimmer head  1  without the need to bump the trimmer head  1  against the ground. The invention adapts equally well to either internal combustion trimmers or electric trimmers. 
         [0022]    A handle  4  and cable  5  adapted to a trimmer allows the operator to compress the head with the pull of the handle  4 , thus eliminating the need to ever bump the trimmer against the ground, or against any object external to the trimmer itself. The cable  5  may be protected in a cable sheath  6 . Although preferably a Bowden cable is used, in practice any small cable capable of transmitting mechanical force may be used. To protect the cable, a plastic cable sheath  6  may be wrapped around it. 
         [0023]    The cable is used to transmit mechanical force from the handle  4  to a lever (see reference number  7 ,  FIG. 5 .), which is a component of a head compressor  15 . See  FIG. 2 . Continuing with  FIG. 2 , a first end  10  of said lever  7  is visible. First end  10  comprises an aperture (not shown) through which said cable  5  is threaded. A cable tie  8  on an end of said cable  5  prevents the cable from slipping back through the first end aperture (not shown) when a pulling force is exerted on the cable. Instead, the cable tie  8  causes the cable  5  to catch on the first end  10 , thereby transmitting the pulling force to said first end  10  and reconfiguring the device to the configuration shown in  FIG. 3 . For purposes of this application, the configuration depicted in  FIG. 2  will be referred to as a first configuration and the configuration depicted in  FIG. 3  will be referred to as a second configuration. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  depicts a cutaway view of the lever  7  as the lever housing  12  in which lever  7  sits. Lever axis  9  is clearly visible in this image, and is secured into place by two locking nuts  13 . It in this view where the lever second end  11  is first visible. As the lever moves about axis  9 , as the first end  10  rotates counter-clockwise upon actuation, the second end  11  rotates clockwise. Likewise, as the lever first end  10  moves back to the first configuration by rotating clockwise about the lever axis  9 , lever second end  11  moves counter-clockwise. The lever components and lever housing may be fashioned from any hard material able to withstand typical outdoor gardening use, such as hard plastic or aluminum. 
         [0025]    Referring briefly back to  FIG. 2 , attention is brought to the head compressor  15 . Head compressor  15  comprises lever housing  12  (see  FIG. 4 ), lever  7 , locking nut  13  and other components described previously or to be described. Through the center of head compressor  15  is threaded a trimmer shaft  21  (see  FIG. 4 ). A gap  16  exists between two forks of trimmer compressor  15 , and this gap is narrowed by tightening two tightening nuts  14 . Continuing to refer to  FIG. 4 , a washer  17  is depicted just on top of said trimmer head  1 . 
         [0026]    Washer  17  is also depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Similar to  FIGS. 2 and 3 ,  FIGS. 5 and 6  are identical but for the difference in configurations.  FIG. 5  depicts the device in a first configuration, and  FIG. 6  depicts the device in a second configuration, wherein in said second configuration lever  7  has rotated slightly counter-clockwise about lever axis  9 . Thus,  FIG. 5  corresponds to the configuration in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6  corresponds to the configuration in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0027]    The trimmer head shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and referred to throughout this patent application is a generic simplified version of a bump-n-feed trimmer head. As such trimmer heads have been commonplace for two decades, there is no need to describe in detail how a line actuator works. For reference to this, see the patents indicated in the background portion of this invention, as well as patents referencing the listed patents. The common detail required in any bump-n-feed trimmer head to be applied to this invention is compression of one portion of the trimmer head relative to another portion of the trimmer head, whereby through said compression, line is unspoiled from the trimmer head. 
         [0028]    Continuing on with  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a shaft nut  21  is secured to a trimmer head post  25  at the end of a trimmer shaft. This shaft nut  21  fits snugly in a hex groove  22 . Rotational motion from the shaft nut  21  is imparted to the trimmer head  1  due the inability of the shaft nut  21  to rotate within the hex groove  22 . This is well known in the art of trimmer heads. Washer  17  serves to protect head compressor  15  from spinning motion of trimmer head  1 . Once the trimmer head is spinning  1 , it functions as a normal trimmer head common in the art. 
         [0029]    In practice, when it is desired to index out more line  3 , the operator  1  may squeeze handle  4 , which through cable  5  remotely actuates lever  7 . See  FIGS. 1 and 5 . As said first end  10  is pulled upwards, the pulling force is transferred to lever  7 , which rotates counter-clockwise about lever axis  9 , thereby lowering second end  11 . See  FIGS. 5 and 6 . This mechanical force is transferred directly to washer  17 , which pushes downwards on the trimmer head shell  20 . As the trimmer head  1  has a trimmer head base  23  in a fixed position due to securing of a core nut  24 , the mechanical force pushing downwards on the trimmer head shell  20  compresses the trimmer head  1 . Trimmer head base  23  does not change positions relative to the trimmer shaft during the transition from configuration  1  to configuration  2 . 
         [0030]    After a set amount of line is indexed out, the operator of the device releases handle  4  (See  FIG. 1 ), relaxing the tension on cable  5 . Normal bump-n-feed trimmers employ the use of a spring to return the head to its original configuration after compression due to striking against the ground, and in this case a spring  26  is depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Spring  26 , under pressure in  FIG. 6 , returns to the first configuration (depicted in  FIG. 5 ), and expanding the trimmer head  1  to its original starting position. 
         [0031]    Because the head in a trimmer equipped with applicant&#39;s trimmer compressor will likely not be repeatedly pressed against the ground during normal use, the trimmer head design and components may be lighter and less robust than a typical bump-n-feed head, yet wear out no sooner. This allows a lower torque motor to be used, thereby reducing the total weight of the string trimmer. 
         [0032]    One hurdle overcome by the applicant is in regard to the wear caused at the contact point between nonmoving and moving parts of the invention. Without the washer  17 , the lever  7  (not rotating) would come into contact with the trimmer head shell  20 , which is rotating because of its connection through the hex groove  22  to shaft nut  21  each time the operator actuates handle  4 . The washer  17  serves in this respect to absorb some of the forces. During normal operation (i.e. when line is not being indexed and the device is in the first configuration), washer contact will be minimalized because little to no pressure is being exerted through the lever—washer—trimmer head shell connection. 
         [0033]    Although the design above was described in accordance with the provided figures, there are numerous designs of trimmer heads which operate through compression of the head by a “bump” on the ground. For each trimmer head design activated by compression of the head, the system described above applies. While the figures in this application disclose a means to automatically index the line in one type of bump-n-feed trimmer, alternative embodiments are capable of performing the same automatic indexing action on other bump-n-feed trimmer heads. In short, the need to “bump” the head of a conventional “bump-n-feed” trimmer to the ground is one, hence they trimmers head in the bump-n-feed class should more properly be referred to as “compress-n-feed.” Thus, for purposes of this application, the term bump-n-feed shall more properly indicate any trimmer head that actuates line due to compression forces acting on the head. 
         [0034]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0035]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.