String Trimmer Head Configuration and Method

A method of winding a trimmer line onto the trimmer head of a string trimmer machine that rotates said trimmer head in a predetermined direction, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a trimmer head housing having string openings, wherein said trimmer head housing defines an interior;
• providing a spool having an axis of rotation;
• mounting said spool within said interior of said trimmer head housing;
• providing a ratcheting mechanism between said trimmer head housing and said spool that enables said spool to continuously rotate about said axis of rotation, independently from said trimmer head housing, in a direction opposite said predetermined direction;
• inserting trimmer line through said string opening on said trimmer head to said spool;
• and
• winding said trimmer line onto said spool by manually turning said spool.

In a trimmer head assembly having an internal spool wound with trimmer line, a method of indexing a trimmer head assembly to release a length of trimmer line from said internal spool, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an indexing mechanism that enables said spool to unwind a short distance and release a length of trimmer line when said spool is moved from a first position to a second position within said trimmer head assembly;
• providing an automatic feed mechanism that automatically moves said spool from said first position to said second position when said trimmer head assembly rotates above a threshold rotational speed;
• and
• providing a bump-feed activation mechanism that selectively moves said spool from said first position to said second position when part of said trimmer head assembly is impacted against a stationary surface.