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US 4,285,127 AGranted
Apparatus for trimming plants
AssigneeAndreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
InventorsGerhard Zerrer, Roland Beier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for trimming plants, which apparatus includes at least one handle and a rotating, powered trimming head, which trimming head includes at least one flexible, filament-type trimming element, especially a synthetic or plastic filament or thread end-section, extending beyond the periphery of the housing for the trimming head, which trimming element is wound on a spool provided in the housing. The end-section can be adjusted by a predetermined amount during operation of the apparatus by the intervention of a coupling element whereby the spool is rotated relative to the housing through a predetermined angle, with the coupling element being movable from a lock position to a release position by means of centrifugal forces.
Claims25
An apparatus for trimming plants, comprising:
- a trimming head and guide means therewith;
- means operatively connected to said trimming head for rotating same;
- a spool received in said trimming head, said spool containing for unwinding thereof a flexible thread-like trimming element, said trimming element being unwindable from said spool along said guide means so as to extend beyond said trimming head for providing an effective cutting length, said spool and said trimming element being adapted to be rotated along with said trimming head;
- and
- a coupling element arranged as an asymmetrical bracket member spaced as well as resiliently supported in said trimming head and operatively associated with said spool, said coupling element being movable by centrifugal force from a lock position in which said trimming element is prevented from being unwound from said spool to a release position in which said trimming element can be unwound by movement of said spool relative to said trimming head in response to wear of said trimming element to restore said effective cutting length;
- said coupling element including at least first and second lock members, and said spool including means pertaining to at least one of said lock members for effecting said lock position and said release position of said coupling element, with pertaining means being operatively engageable by said at least one lock member, said coupling element including a single coupling member having a first leg and a second leg longer than said first leg formed as a bracket with said first and second legs being substantially parallel to each other with an extension of each leg being one of said first and second lock members.
3 more elements
An apparatus for trimming plants, comprising:
- a trimming head and guide means therewith;
- means operatively connected to said trimming head for rotating same;
- a spool received in said trimming head, said spool containing for unwinding thereof a flexible thread-like trimming element, said trimming element being unwindable from said spool along said guide means so as to extend beyond said trimming head for providing an effective cutting length, said spool and said trimming element being adapted to be rotated along with said trimming head;
- and
- a coupling element arranged as an asymmetrical bracket member spaced as well as resiliently supported in said trimming head and operatively associated with said spool, said coupling element being movable by centrifugal force from a lock position in which said trimming element is prevented from being unwound from said spool to a release position in which said trimming element can be unwound by movement of said spool relative to said trimming head in response to wear of said trimming element to restore said effective cutting length;
- said coupling element including a single coupling member having a first leg and a second leg longer than said first leg;
- said trimming head including a housing with said guide means including a position for guiding said legs of said coupling member;
- said guide means including two radially spaced apart guide abutments for guiding said first leg and includes three radially spaced apart guide abutments for guiding said second leg of said coupling member, with at least one of said abutments for said first leg being paired with at least one of said abutments for said second leg.
5 more elements
An apparatus for trimming plants, comprising:
- a trimming head and guide means therewith;
- means operatively connected to said trimming head for rotating same;
- a spool received in said trimming head, said spool containing for unwinding thereof a flexible thread-like trimming element, said trimming element being unwindable from said spool along said guide means so as to extend beyond said trimming head for providing an effective cutting length, said spool and said trimming element being adapted to be rotated along with said trimming head;
- and
- a coupling element arranged as an asymmetrical bracket member spaced as well as resiliently supported in said trimming head and operatively associated with said spool, said coupling element being movable by centrifugal force from a lock position in which said trimming element is prevented from being unwound from said spool to a release position in which said trimming element can be unwound by movement of said spool relative to said trimming head in response to wear of said trimming element to restore said effective cutting length;
- said coupling element including at least one lock member and
- said spool including means pertaining to said at least one lock member for effecting said lock position and said release position of said coupling element, with pertaining means being operatively engageable by said at least one lock member,
- said coupling element including a first lock member and a second lock member;
- means for resiliently biasing said first lock member in said lock position of said coupling element, in which position said effective length is substantially unconsumed, said resiliently biasing means being adapted to exert a force which is less than the centrifugal force acting upon said coupling element and said resiliently biasing means to thereby radially move said coupling element, relative to said spool and said trimming head, to said release position, in which position said second lock member operatively engages pertaining means on said spool;
- said resiliently biasing means extending transversely relative to said first and second lock members;
- said trimming head includes a housing and holding means provided therewith, said resiliently biasing means including a rod-like spring, the pertaining ends of which are operatively retained in said holding means.
8 more elements
An apparatus for trimming plants, comprising:
- a trimming head and guide means therewith;
- means operatively connected to said trimming head for rotating same;
- a spool received in said trimming head, said spool containing for unwinding thereof a flexible thread-like trimming element, said trimming element being unwindable from said spool along said guide means so as to extend beyond said trimming head for providing an effective cutting length, said spool and said trimming element being adapted to be rotated along with said trimming head;
- and
- a coupling element arranged as an asymmetrical bracket member spaced as well as resiliently supported in said trimming head and operatively associated with said spool, said coupling element being movable by centrifugal force from a lock position in which said trimming element is prevented from being unwound from said spool to a release position in which said trimming element can be unwound by movement of said spool relative to said trimming head in response to wear of said trimming element to restore said effective cutting length;
- said coupling element including a single coupling member having a first leg and a second leg longer than said first leg;
- said coupling element being a U-shaped bracket member.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.