Apparatus for cutting vegetation

In an apparatus for cutting vegetation having a support tube including a substantially straight portion and the support tube carrying a motor, a drive connection and a cutting head mounted for rotation about an axis intersecting the straight portion of the support tube, the head carrying a cutting element extending within a cutting plane, and the motor, drive connection and cutting head providing a mass distribution wherein the center of gravity of the apparatus resides along the straight portion of the support tube and at a location spaced from the cutting head, the improvement comprising:

• (a) handle means secured by a clamp upon the straight portion of the support tube adjacent the center of gravity;
• (b) said handle means formed of first and second handle members with a rotary interconnection adjacent the clamp on the support tube;
• (c) said first handle member extending in a direction away from said cutting head but in parallel relationship with the support tube and said first handle member having an intermediate offset portion adjacent a hand grip at the free end thereof;
• (d) said second handle member extending in a first portion from said clamp toward said cutting head and having an arcuate second portion extending laterally from the first portion to an angled third portion carrying a hand grip at the free end thereof;
• and
• (e) said first and second handle members having lengths and non-linear portions arranged so that the hand grips reside spacially in a user's hands when his arms hang downwardly in a natural position along his body with said cutting head positioned substantially directly in front of the user's body.