Patent ID: 7406770

Claim:
A trimmer comprising: a first cutting blade having a generally flat first surface residing in a first plane and a first cutting edge; a second cutting blade having a generally flat second surface residing in a second plane and a second cutting edge, the first and second cutting blades mounted so that the first and second flat surfaces face and are substantially parallel to each other; a drive that causes at least one of the first and second cutting blades to move relative to the other of the first and second cutting blades to thereby produce a repetitive cutting action between the first and second cutting edges; and at least one fastening assembly comprising first and second facing shoulders between which the first and second cutting blades reside, the first and second facing shoulders spaced from each other a predetermined distance that at least one of: a) maintains the first and second flat cutting blade surfaces against each other; and b) establishes a maximum spacing between the first and second flat cutting blade surfaces, the at least one fastening assembly further comprising at least one biasing element that produces a force that biasably urges the first and second flat cutting blade surface towards each other, wherein the at least one fastening assembly comprises a cylindrical spacer with a central axis and having a body that extends through the first and second cutting blades so as to guide movement of the at least one of the first and second cutting blades relative to the other of the first and second cutting blades, the cylindrical spacer having a surface facing axially relative to the central axis and defining one of the first and second facing shoulders, wherein the at least one fastening assembly further comprises a bolt assembly comprising a bolt and a nut that is threaded to the bolt, the bolt having a head and an axis, the bolt assembly having a surface facing axially relative to the central axis and defining the other of the first and second shoulders, wherein the at least one fastening assembly further comprises a third shoulder facing axially relative to the central axis and the at least one biasing element is in the form of an element that extends around the bolt axis and acts between the third shoulder and the first cutting blade, either directly or indirectly upon the first cutting blade, to biasably urge the first flat surface towards the second flat surface with a force applied around the bolt axis.