Easy load trimmer head spool with non-radial guide channel

A method of engaging trimmer line in a spool of a trimmer machine comprising steps of:

• providing a spool that has a cylindrical hub, wherein the spool is rotatable about a central axis of the hub and is free of a central opening for receiving a driveshaft of the trimmer machine therein;
• providing a guide channel in the spool that is non-radial and at least partially spans a bore defined by the hub, wherein the guide channel does not pass through the central axis;
• providing two openings in the spool that lead into the guide channel;
• providing a housing that receives said spool therein, wherein eyelets are formed in the housing;
• aligning said eyelets with said openings that lead to the guide channel;
• providing a length of trimmer line;
• inserting a first end of the trimmer line into a first one of the eyelets;
• advancing the trimmer line through the guide channel and out of a second one of the eyelets;
• and
• rotating the spool relative to the housing to wind trimmer line onto an exterior surface of the hub of the spool.

A method of loading trimmer line into a vegetation trimmer head;

• said method comprising:
• providing a spool having a hub with at least one flange or a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from an exterior surface of the hub;
• wherein an interior surface of the hub defines a bore;
• wherein the spool further defines a central opening adapted to receive a long driveshaft of a vegetation trimmer machine therethrough;
• and wherein the spool is rotatable about a central axis;
• providing a first module that at least partially defines a guide channel that is non-radial therein;
• wherein the first module is free of a central opening for receiving the long driveshaft therein;
• inserting the first module into the bore of the spool;
• bypassing the central axis with the guide channel;
• placing the guide channel in fluid communication with a first funnel defined in a first region of the at least one flange or the plurality of spokes and with a second funnel defined in a second region of the least one flange;
• forming a trimmer line conduit through the spool with the first funnel leading into the guide channel, leading into the second funnel;
• enclosing the spool in a cavity of a trimmer housing;
• engaging the trimmer head with a short driveshaft of a trimmer machine;
• aligning the trimmer line conduit with eyelets provided on the trimmer housing;
• advancing a length of trimmer line through a first one of the eyelets, through the trimmer line conduit;
• and through a second one of the eyelets;
• rotating the spool about the central axis;
• and
• winding the length of trimmer line onto the exterior surface of the hub.

A method of utilizing a same trimmer head spool in different vegetation trimmer machines, said method comprising:

• providing a trimmer head spool including a cylindrical hub with a first end and a second end;
• wherein an interior surface of the hub defines a bore;
• and wherein the spool has at least one flange or a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly from an exterior surface of the hub;
• defining a trimmer line conduit through the spool, wherein the trimmer line conduit is partially defined in the at least one flange or the plurality of spokes;
• wherein the trimmer line conduit includes a guide channel which is non-radial and that at least partially spans the bore;
• wherein the guide channel is offset from or goes around a central axis about which the spool is rotatable;
• engaging the spool in a trimmer head housing;
• selecting a first vegetation trimmer machine that includes a long driveshaft or a second vegetation trimmer machine that includes a short driveshaft;
• engaging the trimmer head housing with the selected one of the first vegetation trimmer machine or the second vegetation trimmer machine;
• aligning eyelets provided in the trimmer head housing with the trimmer line conduit;
• advancing a length of trimmer line through a first one of the eyelets, through the trimmer line conduit and through a second one of the eyelets;
• rotating the spool about the central axis;
• and
• winding at least part of the length of trimmer line onto the exterior surface of the hub.