# US 2009/0260237 A1 · String Trimmer Head Configuration and Method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260237 A1 - Document ID: US20090260237A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/428,453 - Filed: 2009-04-22 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-22 - Inventors: George Everett Alliss - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260237A1 ## CPC - A01D 34/4162: {automatically} - A01D 34/4163: {by triggered line feedout, e.g. bump-feeding} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - Y10T 29/49838: by stringing - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A trimmer head assembly and the method of configuring the trimmer head assembly. The trimmer head assembly has a housing that attaches to a string trimmer machine. A spool is provided inside the housing. The spool rotates about an axis of rotation. The spool can move longitudinally along the axis of rotation between a first position and a second position. A ratcheting mechanism is provided between the trimmer head housing and the spool. When the spool is in its first position, the ratcheting mechanism enables the spool to continuously rotate about the axis of rotation in the direction opposite that in which the trimmer head assembly spins. The ratchet mechanism also prevents the spool from rotating within the housing in the same direction in which the trimmer head is spinning. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of configuring a trimmer head assembly 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, wherein said spool is selectively movable along said axis of rotation between a first position and a second position; 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 first direction when in said first position, and biasing said spool into said first position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further including an indexing mechanism for enabling said spool to rotate a predetermined distance in a second direction opposite said first direction when in said second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein said ratcheting mechanism prevents said spool from rotating in a second direction, when in said first position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of providing a ratcheting mechanism between said trimmer head housing and said spool includes providing cog projections on said spool that radially extend from said spool. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein said step of providing a ratcheting mechanism between said trimmer head housing and said spool includes providing a plurality of protrusions on said trimmer head housing that extend into said interior of said housing, wherein said plurality of protrusions align with said cog projections when said spool is in said first position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of protrusions has a vertical segment and a sloped segment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein said cog projections contact said vertical segment of each of said plurality of protrusions and are stopped when rotated in said second direction while said spool is in said first position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein said cog projections contact said sloped segment of each of said plurality of protrusions when rotated in said first direction while said spool is in said first position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of providing a spool includes providing a spool having separate winding chambers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of providing a spool includes providing a spool with a top flange, a center flange and a bottom flange, wherein a first winding chamber is defined between said top flange and said central flange, and a second winding chamber is defined between said central flange and said bottom flange. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein said step of providing a spool includes providing line-feed conduits in said central flange. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further including the step of winding trimmer line onto said spool by extending trimmer line into said line-feed conduits and rotating said spool in said first direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, further including the step of providing an activation mechanism for momentarily moving said spool from said first position to said second position, therein enabling said spool to rotate in said second direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein said activation mechanism is a bump knob coupled to said spool, wherein said bump knob pushes said spool from said first position toward said second position when impacted. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein said activation mechanism is an automatic feed mechanism that moves said spool from said first position to said second position when said spool experiences a centrifugal forces above a predetermined threshold value. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein said step of providing a spool includes providing a spool with a top flange, a center flange and a bottom flange, wherein a first winding chamber is defined between said top flange and said central flange, and a second winding chamber is defined between said central flange and said bottom flange. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein said step of providing a spool includes providing line-feed conduits in said central flange, wherein said method further includes the step of inserting trimmer line into said line-feed conduits. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, further including the step of providing an indexing mechanism for momentarily rotating said spool in said predetermined direction, relative said trimmer head housing, therein enabling some of said trimmer line to unwind from said spool. ### Claim 20 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.