Abstract:
A lawn trimming device attachable or attached to the power take off end of a line trimmer primary unit to be powered by the line trimmer. The device includes a hood with a downwardly facing opening to allow the opening to be placed parallel to the ground, the hood defining a cutting cavity. A coupling of the hood to the line trimmer primary unit is provided and a shaft is included. A cutting element rotatably mounted relative to the hood from the shaft is provided and wherein the shaft is engageable to the line trimmer primary unit to derive rotational power from the line trimmer primary unit. The cutting element is positioned within the cutting cavity of the hood adjacent the opening. A hovering fan is also preferably included within the hood.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a line trimmer lawn mowing device. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Line trimmers of the kind which are often used for trimming the edges of lawn or for trimming weed or indeed for trimming grass such as is often found on the sides of roads or highways include a motor (usually an internal combustion motor) which is engaged to the end of a shaft. The motor will drive a shaft which at the other end has attached the cutting element. A cutting element may for example be a fixed blade or alternatively be a nylon string which is rotationally driven via the shaft by the motor. The cutting elements can be exposed to the grass or weed to cut the grass or weed at the desired height. The unit will normally include a handle and rpm controller to control the rpm&#39;s of the motor. For heavier units the line trimmer may also include a support harness which can be slung about the body of a user to provide support by the user to the weight of the unit. Whilst some versions of a line trimmer will provide a guard presenting protection to the cutting elements in a direction of the body of the user, such a guard merely serves the purpose of providing protection, and then only in on direction or arc of directions. 
   A standard line trimmer however has difficulty in being used for cutting lawn to a desired level. Since the cutting elements can be held at a varying height above the ground careful control is needed to be exercised by the user to achieve a cut of grass at a consistent height across the entire area of the lawn. This can be difficult to achieve and if the line trimmer is held at the wrong angle, can result in gauging of the lawn thereby creating an uneven look to the height of the cut grass. It is appreciated that lawn mowers can achieve a consistent height in the cutting of grass thereby. However lawn mowers are relatively large tools and its certain applications particularly in residential or inner city locations where the amount of grass that is to be cut is relatively minimal, it may not be desirable or practical to use a lawn mower for cutting the grass. 
   Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a line trimmer lawn trimmer attachment unit which addresses the abovementioned disadvantages or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly in a first aspect the present invention consists in a lawn trimmer component for attachment to a hand held prime mover of a kind which includes a motor (electric or internal combustion) with which an elongate drive shaft is connected to be rotationally driven by said motor said elongate drive shaft captured substantially within a protective sleeve rigidly connected to said motor, said elongate drive shaft presented at an end of said protective sleeve away from said motor for coupling to said lawn trimmer component, said lawn trimmer component comprising:
         (a) a rotary shaft to derive rotational power via said elongate drive shaft from said motor for rotating said rotary shaft about an axis of rotation   (b) a cutting means engaged to and radially disposed from said rotary shaft to rotate about said axis of rotation   (c) a hood defining a cutting chamber extensive over said cutting means yet exposing said cutting means to an opening of said hood which, in use, is to be positioned juxtaposed the ground over which said lawn trimmer component is, by control of said prime mover, moved by a user, wherein said hood is mounted stationary to said rotary shaft save for the relative rotation of said rotary shaft with said hood about said axis of rotation,   (d) a flexible coupling device engaged to said hood and engagable with said end of said protective sleeve, said flexible coupling device to mount said hood from said protective sleeve in a manner to allow the hood to swivel relative to said protective sleeve.       

   Preferably said opening of said hood is a planar opening. 
   Preferably said cutting means extends from said rotary shaft to present a cutting edge thereof substantially parallel to the plane of said opening. 
   Preferably said opening of said hood is at least coextensive with the cutting profile generated by said cutting means when rotated about said axis of rotation. 
   Preferably said opening of said hood is at least coextensive with the circular perimeter traced by said cutting edge when rotated about said axis of rotation. 
   Preferably said rotary shaft is engaged to and to be supported from said hood by a cylindrical bearing. 
   Preferably said rotary shaft includes a cutting means mount with which said cutting means is affixed and a stub axle extending therefrom coaxial with said axis of rotation, said stub axle supporting said hood in a fixed relationship thereto save for relative rotation about said axis of rotation. 
   Preferably said flexible coupling device has said rotary shaft located therethrough, said rotary shaft is a flexible rotary shaft presenting an input end to engage with said elongate drive shaft and an output end to engage with said cuttings means, said input end capable of axial misalignment with said axis of rotation of said cutting means to allow said hood to swivel relative to said input end yet still allow in use a continuous power to be provided by said motor via said elongate drive shaft. 
   Preferably said flexible coupling includes a flexible interconnection structure fixed at one end relative to said hood and to be fixed at the other end to said sleeve of said prime mover and relative to which said drive chain is in use to rotate. 
   Preferably said flexible coupling device is hollow and said rotary shaft is captured therein. 
   Preferably said flexible rotary shaft consists of at least two parts joined by a universal joint. 
   Preferably said flexible rotary shaft consists of at least two parts joined by a kinematic coupling. 
   Preferably said flexible rotary shaft consists of at least two parts joined by a CV joint. 
   Preferably said flexible rotary shaft consists of at least two parts joined by a mechanical linkage joint. 
   Preferably said flexible coupling device is a ball and socket connection. 
   Preferably said flexible coupling device is a bendable sleeve through which said rotary shaft extends. 
   Preferably said coupling device is a coupling region of and at an axially distal end of said rotary shaft to said cutting means and with which said shaft of said prime mover is able to directly engage. 
   Preferably a fan is mounted from said rotary shaft for rotation relative to said hood and about said axis of rotation and within the perimeter of said hood in a manner to generate an airflow which in use is in a direction outward from the opening of said hood. 
   Preferably said cutting means is provided intermediate of said opening and said fan. 
   Preferably said fan is a centrifugal fan and the airflow generated by its rotation is displaced in a generally radial direction and in consequence of said hood being substantially enclosing to airflow generated travelling away from said opening, said air flow is expelled from said hood in a direction outward from said cutting chamber via said opening. 
   Preferably said fan is an axial fan and the airflow generated by its rotation is displaced in a generally axial direction to be expelled from said hood in a direction outward via said opening 
   Preferably said fan includes a plurality of fan blades. 
   Preferably said fan is mounted from said rotary shaft. 
   Preferably said hood includes upper enclosure defining surface(s) which in general slope in a direction towards said opening to provide entrainment surface(s) to said airflow generated by said fan in create a flow direction generally towards said opening. 
   Preferably wherein rotational speed changing means are provided intermediate of said rotary shaft and said coupling device. 
   Preferably said rotational speed changing means is a speed changing gear. 
   Preferably said hood includes a cavity within which a fan is mounted dependent from said rotary shaft for rotation about said axis of rotation, said cavity being separate from said cutting chamber save for at least one opening to direct airflow from said cavity to said cutting chamber and towards the opening of said hood. 
   Preferably said cutting means includes at least one cutting blade. 
   Preferably said at least one cutting blade is a metal cutting blade with it said cutting edge presented perpendicular to the axis of rotation. 
   Preferably said means to cut includes at least one metal cutting blade with it said cutting edge presented perpendicular to the axis of rotation and parallel to the plane of said opening, said cutting edge placed on the cutting chamber side of said opening. 
   Preferably said cutting means includes at least one flexible cutting wire extending from said rotary shaft. 
   Preferably said cutting means is positioned immediately adjacent the opening to said hood on the cutting chamber side of said opening. 
   Preferably said hood is extensive over said cutting means from all directions save from said opening presented direction. 
   In a second aspect the present invention consists in a lawn trimmer tool comprising; 
   a motor 
   a rotary trimmer unit which derives rotational power from said motor via an elongate shaft attached to be rotationally driven by said motor, said elongate shaft captured substantially within a protective sleeve 
   wherein said rotary trimmer unit comprises,
         (a) a means to cut coupled to said elongate shaft to be rotationally driven thereby about an axis of rotation,   (b) a hood extensive over said means to cut yet exposing said means to cut through a hood opening which in use is to be positioned parallel to and juxtaposed the ground over which the hood is swung by a user,   (c) a flexible coupling means disposed at the end of said elongate shaft distal from said motor and engaged to said hood and said protective sleeve, said flexible couple means providing a flexible coupling between said hood and said protective sleeve allowing said hood to swivel in use about axes of rotation substantially parallel to the ground over which said hood is swung by a user,       

   a support handle disposed from the protective sleeve intermediate of said motor and said rotary trimmer unit. 
   Preferably said hood is mounted secured to, yet flexibly disposed from, said protective sleeve to be supported thereby to allow said hood to swivel. 
   Preferably said at least one axis includes a second axis transverse to said first mentioned axis and parallel to said ground. 
   Preferably said flexible coupling is a flexible tendon providing infinite said axes of rotation of said hood parallel to said ground. 
   Preferably said means to couple is a flexible tendon providing a freedom of movement of said hood about any parallel to the ground axis of rotation. 
   Preferably said flexible coupling is a flexible tendon through which a flexible shaft for transmission of rotation from said elongate shaft to said means to cut is provided. 
   Preferably said flexible coupling is a flexible tendon through which said elongate shaft is provided for transmission of rotation is provided, said elongate shaft being flexible in at least that region extending through said flexible tendon. 
   Preferably said means to couple is a flexible sleeve. 
   Preferably a fan is disposed within said hood to rotate with said means to cut and to generate a draft of air to encourage the hovering of said hood, in use, above the ground. 
   Preferably said fan is coaxial with said axis of rotation. 
   In a further aspect the present invention consists in a lawn trimmer comprising; 
   a motor 
   a rotary trimmer unit which derives rotational power from said motor via an elongate shaft attached at one end to said motor and at the other end to said rotary trimmer, said elongate shaft captured substantially within a protective sleeve 
   wherein said rotary trimmer unit comprises, 
   a means to cut to derive rotation from said motor via said elongate shaft, 
   a hood extensive over said means to cut to define a cutting cavity therein, yet exposing said means to cut through a hood opening which in use is to be positioned parallel to and juxtaposed the ground over which the hood is swung by a user 
   a fan disposed within said hood defined cutting cavity and juxtaposed to said means to cut intermediate of said hood and said means to cut, said fan rotatable by said motor to in use generate a draft to encourage the hovering of said hood above the ground, 
   a support handle disposed from the protective sleeve intermediate of said motor and said rotary trimmer unit. 
   Preferably said fan is co-rotational with said cutting means. 
   Preferably said fan is coaxial with said cutting means. 
   Preferably said fan includes a disk shaped region from which and towards one side thereof there is disposed a plurality of radially extending blades. 
   Preferably said cutting means and said fan are mounted from a stub axle mounted from said hood in a manner rotational about a rotational axis in use normal to the surface of said ground over which said hood is moved. 
   In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a lawn trimming device attachable or attached to the power take off end of a line trimmer primary unit of a kind having a motor positioned at one end of an elongate drive shaft and a protective sleeve about said elongate drive shaft at which said primary unit can be held, in use, by a user, said device to be powered by said line trimmer primary unit, said device including 
   a hood with a downwardly facing opening to allow the opening to be placed parallel to the ground, said hood defining a cutting cavity, 
   a coupling allowing said hood to couple to said line trimmer primary unit 
   a shaft 
   a cutting means rotatably mounted relative to said hood from said shaft, said shaft engaged or engageable to the line trimmer primary unit to derive rotational power from said line trimmer primary unit, said cutting means positioned within said cutting cavity of said hood adjacent said opening 
   wherein said hood provides protective cover to said cutting means save for its exposure at least to said opening, wherein in use said cutting means can engage with grass exposed to said cutting means below said hood, and 
   wherein said hood is pivotally mounted to said line trimmer primary unit. 
   Preferably said opening is provided in a location directed away from said primary unit such that in use said primary unit extends upwardly away from said hood. 
   Preferably a fan is mounted within said cutting cavity and is rotatable relative to said hood and derives rotational power from said line trimmer primary unit to generate a draft within said cutting cavity to encourage the hovering of said fan, in use, above said ground. 
   This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a sectional view through a lawn trimmer attachment unit of the present invention, 
       FIG. 1   a  is a side view of a line trimmer with a lawn trimmer attachment unit engaged thereto, 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view through an attachment wherein an alternative coupling arrangement is provided, 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view through an attachment wherein an alternative coupling arrangement is provided, 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view through an attachment wherein an alternative coupling arrangement is provided, 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view through a fixed lawn mowing unit attached to a line trimmer primary unit, 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative coupling arrangement to the coupling of  FIG. 5 , 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative coupling arrangement to the coupling of  FIG. 5 , 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an alternative arrangement to the coupling arrangement of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an alternative arrangement of the fan and the means to cut, 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view through an attachment wherein an alternative arrangement of the hood is provided, 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view through a lawn trimmer attachment unit of another embodiment of the present invention, 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view through a lawn trimmer attachment unit of another embodiment of the present invention, and 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the end of the shaft of the lawn trimmer attachment unit. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference to  FIG. 1A  there is shown a lawn trimmer attachment unit  1  which is engaged to a line trimmer primary unit  2 . The line trimmer primary unit  2  for example consists of a motor  3  which may be an electric motor. Alternatively the motor  3  may be an internal combustion engine such as a two or four stroke petrol engine. The motor  3  is engaged to an elongate drive shaft  4  which is driven by the motor  3 . The elongate drive shaft  4  is preferably enclosed within a protective sleeve  5  and engaged or coupled at one end  7  to the motor  3 . At the second distal end  6  opposite to the distal end  7  where the elongate drive shaft  4  is engaged to the motor, there is provided the lawn trimmer attachment unit  1 . In some forms of the present invention the lawn trimmer attachment unit  1  may be permanently attached to the line trimmer primary unit  2 . Alternatively the lawn trimmer attachment unit  1  may be removeably engaged to the line trimmer primary unit  2 . With reference to  FIGS. 1–4 , a removeably attached version is shown. With reference to  FIGS. 5–8 , a permanent although mechanically removable attachment version is shown. 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , the lawn trimmer attachment unit  1  is engaged to the line trimmer primary unit  2  at region  10 . 
   The lawn trimmer attachment unit  1  includes a hood  11  which provides an enclosure  12  within which a trimmer assembly  13  is mounted. The enclosure  12  (or cutting cavity) includes an opening  14  bounded by the perimeter  15  of the hood. The perimeter  15  defines an opening plane which is substantially parallel to the ground over which the lawn trimmer attachment unit  1  is swung when in use. 
   The trimming assembly  13  includes a rotary shaft  16  (or stub axle) which is rotationally dependent from the hood  11 . The rotary shaft  16  is rotatable about an axis  17  which is substantially normal to the plane of the opening  14  defined by the hood. Bearings mount the rotary shaft  16  from the hood. 
   The line trimmer attachment unit  1  is engageable to the line trimmer primary unit by way of a coupling  18  attached or attachable to the protective sleeve  5 . The rotary shaft  16  is then also coupled to the elongate drive shaft  4  of the line trimmer primary unit  1 . 
   The hood may for example be made from a sheet metal material or from a moulded plastics material. The hood provides protection to the trimming assembly  13  and to persons standing thereabout and only exposes the trimming assembly via the opening  14 . The trimming assembly  13  includes blades  19  which are the blades which rotate with the rotary shaft  16  about the axis  17  and subject the grass which enters into the enclosure  12  via the opening  14  to a cutting action. The blades in the examples shown are preferably of a fixed and solid blade such as for example ones made from a sheet metal material. However alternatively the blades may be defined by nylon or other synthetic wire strings. The strings will be attached to a hub mounted centrally about the rotary shaft  16  and from which the nylon will radially extend. 
   In one preferred embodiment of the present invention the hood  11  also has captured within its enclosure  12  a fan  20 . The fan  20  is also mounted from the rotary shaft  16  and rotatable about its axis of rotation  17 . The fan  20  will include a plurality of fan blades  21  which are provided to create a downdraft within the enclosure directing air flow in a downward direction. Airflow within the enclosure  12 , forced in a downward direction, will result in a hovering effect provided by the unit  1  as it passes over the ground. The downdraft will create an elevating effect to the hood  11  thereby ensuring that the hood can be kept above the ground with minimal support from the strength of a user holding the line trimmer  2 . The air will squeeze out between the perimeter  15  of the hood  11  and the ground. The perimeter  15  of the hood  11  providing a substantially planar opening  14  will allow for the cutting elements  19  to be maintained at a height no less than the height X between the perimeter and the distance that the cutting elements  19  are positioned within the enclosure  12  from the perimeter  15  of the hood  11 . Accordingly there is a minimum height that is provided as cutting of the grass occurs by the lawn trimmer attachment unit  1  of the present invention. Accordingly the perimeter  15  of the hood  11  provides a height gauge between the ground and the blades  19  in order to prevent the blades from gauging the grass. The hood  11  is preferably in plan view of a circular perimeter shape. 
   In the preferred form, the fan  20 , which is mounted from the rotary shaft  16 , is driven by the motor  3 . In an alternative form, the fan  20  may be driven by a second motor, independent from the motor  3 . 
   Further, in the preferred form, the fan  20  and the blades  19  are of a single unit as depicted in  FIG. 1 . In an alternative form as depicts in  FIG. 9 , the fan  20  and the blades  19  can be of two separate units, both mounted from said rotary shaft  16 . It is appreciated that both the fan  20  and the blade  19  may be driven by the same motor  3  or be driven by two separate motors thereby allowing different rotational speeds to be achieved. 
   In another embodiment when the fan  20  and the blades  19  are of two separate units or part of the same unit, a second hood may be provided intermediate the fan and the blades such that the fan is disposed intermediate the first and the second hoods as shown in  FIG. 10 . Outlets  61  to the cavity  60  are provided to direct the flow of air. 
   The primary trimmer unit  2  extends from an upper surface (surface opposite to the opening) of the hood  11  upwardly in a direction to allow a person to hold the units  2  and sweep the hood  11  over the ground. 
   A quick attachment mechanism  23  is preferably provided to allow for the lawn trimmer attachment unit  1  as per  FIGS. 1–4  to be released and quickly attachable to a line trimmer primary unit  2 . Such attachment will preferably occur by the engagement of the lawn trimming unit  1  to the distal end  6  of the enlongate drive shaft  4  and protective sleeve  5  of the primary unit  2 . The quick attachment in  FIG. 1  is shown in two positions a first position  23   a  wherein the unit is engaged and  23   b  wherein the quick release allows for the unit  1  to become detached from the primary unit  2 . 
   In an alternative or additional preferred form the hood  11  and the trimming assembly  13  are preferably mounted from the line trimmer primary unit in a flexible manner. Such a flexible disposition of the hood  11  and trimmer unit  13  from the line trimmer primary unit  2  will allow for the hood  11  to follow any uneven contours in the ground or to allow for the adaption of the hood  11  relative to the primary unit  2  in a manner to ensure that the hood  11  is maintained in a disposition relative to the ground so that the perimeter  15  remains parallel therewith. The coupling  18  is accordingly of a flexible coupling type  27  such as for example shown in  FIGS. 1–8  save for  FIG. 1A . The flexible coupling  27  will allow for a pivoting of the hood  11  relative to the elongate drive shaft  4  of the primary unit to allow for desired pivotal rotation of the hood  11  to occur relative to the elongate drive shaft  4 . Such rotation is preferably about axes which are substantially horizontal. This mounting will allow for the power from the motor  3  to still be delivered to the cutting unit  13  to rotate the cutting unit  13  about its axis  17 . The rotary drive shaft  16  is likewise flexible and may be of a mechanical type and examples include the constant velocity joint  26  as shown in  FIG. 1  or the universal joint  26  as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  6 ,  7 . The hood  11  is prevented from rotating about the axis  17  by the flexible coupling  27  yet is provided to allow for the pivoting of the hood  11  relative to the protective sleeve  5  of the primary unit  2 . A flexible coupling  27  may for example be of rubber or plastics which can deflect. Such is for example shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6 . Alternatively a ball and socket coupling  27  as for example shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  7  and  8  may be used for such purposes. The flexible coupling  27  will allow for the hood and trimming-assembly to gimble relative to the primary unit  2 . The movement that may be allowed by such flexible connection may be over a radius of 45 degrees (or preferably 20 degrees) either side of the vertical and about a horizontal pivot. Many types of kinematic like flexible couplings  27  can be used. 
   The present invention herein described allows for rotation of said rotary drive shaft  16  with a single speed. In another embodiment of the present invention as depicted in  FIG. 11 , the lawn mower attachment  1  is provided with a gear box for varying the rotational speed of said rotary shaft  16 . It is appreciated by a person skilled in the art that gears of various kind, such as gears with the use of belts, chains or pulleys may be employed for the said purpose. 
   The use of gears (or belt&#39;s/chain&#39;s/pulley&#39;s) to give lateral or vertical differential in any plane, e.g. by the use of bevelled gears. 
   With reference to  FIG. 12  there is shown a lawn trimmer attachment unit  1  which has a protective sleeve  53  extending from the motor (not shown) and within which an elongate drive shaft  50  to allow for the trimming assembly to derive rotational power from the motor disposed therein. The elongate drive shaft  50  may in part or in its entirety be of a flexible nature such that its axis of rotation may not be constant over its entire length. As can be seen with reference to  FIG. 12 , the elongate drive shaft  50  curves towards the distal end of the protective sleeve  53  for its presentation to be substantially vertical at the distal end of the elongate drive shaft  50 . Whilst the protective sleeve  53  terminates at region  52  the distal end  54  of the elongate drive shaft  50  extends beyond the distal end  52  of the protective sleeve  53 . Indeed the portion of the elongate drive shaft  50  extending beyond the distal end of the protective sleeve  53  becomes located within a flexible tendon or flexible tendon  55  which forms the coupling between the lawn trimmer attachment unit  1  and the protective sleeve  53  of the primary line trimming unit  2 . The flexible tendon  55  is preferably of a rubber hose or sleeve or similar cylindrical configuration and is flexible such that its end engaged to the distal end  52  of the protective sleeve  53  and the end  56  engaged to a portion of the hood  11  can establish non-parallel axial dispositions. The flexible tendon  55  preferably remains attached with the lawn trimmer attachment unit  1 . 
   As a consequence of such flexibility providing the flexible tendon  55  the hood  11  can move relative to the distal end  52  of the protective sleeve  53  and thereby allow the hood  11  to pivot relative to the protective sleeve  53  about any number of axes which may be generally described as horizontal axes (i.e. axes substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the trimming assembly). With reference to  FIG. 12 , the lawn trimmer attachment unit  1  includes a hub  66  or bearing house  66  within which bearings  77  are disposed for the holding of the rotary shaft or stub axle  16  in a fixed location relative to the hood  11 . The hub  66  has engaged therewith at its end  56 , the flexible tendon  55  in a rotationally fixed condition at least at its distal end  56 . The other end  59  of the flexible tendon  55  is fixed or fixable to the end  52  of the protective sleeve  53 . As a consequence of such fixing, minimal or no relative rotation occurs between the hood  11  and the protective sleeve  53  other than about the horizontal axes the rotation about which is provided for by the flexible tendon  55 . The flexible tendon  55  is hence sufficiently rigid in a torsional sense to prevent the rotation of the hood  11  and its hub  66  about the axis of rotation of the trimming assembly during use. 
   The hood  11  may include air inlet ports  92  which allows for air to be drawn into the cutting cavity of the hood  11 . A dust cover or bellow like arrangement  46  may be provided to extend to at least enclose the flexible tendon  55  and also the hub  66 . In the configuration as for example shown in  FIG. 12  the line trimming attachment unit  1  is of a kind permanently attached with the primary line trimming unit  2 . However this configuration may be conveniently adopted by the provision of a fastening ring or clamp about the first distal end  59  of the flexible tendon  55  to allow it to clamp with the distal end  52  of the protective sleeve  53 . Such a clamp, akin to a hose clamp but operational in a manual manner preferably without tooling by a user, can extend about the flexible tendon  55  at its end  59  to clamp with the distal end  52  of the protective sleeve  53 . The prior insertion of the distal end  52  within the end opening of the flexible tendon  55  and by engaging the end  54  of the elongate drive shaft  50  with the rotary shaft  16  can allow for a retrofittable and also removable assembly of the lawn trimmer attachment unit  1  with a primary line trimming unit  2  to be defined. Provided at the distal end  54  of the elongate drive shaft  50  may be a keyed end section which can insert into a complimentary shaped key receiving region  68  of the end of the rotary shaft  16  as shown in  FIG. 13 . A square drive key or spline like key configuration may be provided for such purposes. In this manner torque can be transmitted from the elongate drive shaft  50  to the fan  20  and cutter  19 . The square drive can be inserted into a square receiving region to allow for torque to be transmitted when in the assembled configuration. The end of the rotary shaft  16  is for example shown in  FIG. 13  and illustrates the key receiving region  68  within which a square drive key of the end of the flexible shaft  50  can engage. Such a sliding engagement can allow for a simple retrofittable connection to be established. 
   With reference to  FIG. 1   a  it can be seen that in the preferred form the elongate drive shaft of the prime mover is positioned to, in use be held by a user at an inclined angle to the vertical. This allows a user to grasp the protective sleeve  5  and hold the device in a condition to allow it to be swung over the ground. Alternatively the user may grasp handles which are disposed from the protective sleeve  5  in order to support the device for use. With the combination of the fan and the swivelling hood, the device becomes convenient to be used in that the weight of the device is in part supported by the hovering action generated by the fan and need not be moved in a manner to keep the shaft in the same condition relative to the surface over which the hood is moved as a result of the flexibility in the coupling to allow the hood to contour over uneven or sloping or even flat ground as the device is traversed thereover. The shaft of the prime mover is preferably of a length where the handle or handhold of the device is intermediate of the motor and the cutting end. The motor in use normally swings being the person holding the device.