Flexible flail trimmer with combined guide and guard
OwnerSteven E. Byrneinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible flail trimmer for conventional trimming of grass, weeds and the like and for edging of sidewalks has a combined guide and guard rotatably mounted inboard of the trimmer cutting head. The guide and guard provides dynamic trimmer indexing on a sidewalk edge for guiding the trimmer vertically and horizontally to deliver a uniform, aesthetically pleasing turf edge. The combined guide and guard does not inhibit trimming of grass and weeds in the conventional trimming manner, and actually enhances the user's visualization and performance of such trimming.
Claims20
Apparatus for trimming and edging lawns comprising:
- a handle having a first upper end and a second lower end,
- a drive means mounted on said handle proximate the upper end,
- a rotatable cutting head mounted proximate the lower end of said handle,
- a rotating driveshaft operably connected to and extending from said drive means to said cutting head for driving said cutting head,
- said rotating cutting head having flexible flail means,
- said flexible flail means extending outwardly from said cutting head and generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said cutting head during operation, and
- an integral guide and guard means rotatably supported on said apparatus inboard of said cutting head between said cutting head and said first end of said handle for guiding said cutting head and for shielding a user from debris generated by said cutting head, said integral guide and guard means being fully rotatable about said axis of rotation of said cutting head as said apparatus is moved along for trimming.
A trimmer for edging grass along a fixed reference surface, said trimmer comprising
- a handle,
- a rotating flexible flail means operably mounted on an outboard end of said handle for cutting grass and weeds,
- driving means mounted on said handle for driving said flexible flail means, and
- a dual function flexible flail trimmer guide and guard means mounted on said trimmer inboard of said flexible flail means for guiding said flexible flail means along said reference surface while shielding a user from debris generated by said flexible line means,
- said guide and guard means being rotatably mounted on said trimmer for rotating through 360.degree. as said trimmer is moved for edging.
A grass and weed trimmer comprising
- a handle
- a rotating flexible flail means mounted to said handle for cutting grass and weeds,
- driving means on said handle for driving said flexible flail means, and
- a dual function flexible flail trimmer guide and guard means mounted on said trimmer and having vertical surface referencing means and horizontal surface referencing means and being operable to index said trimmer along a sidewalk to edge grass adjacent thereto while shielding a user from debris generated by said trimmer
- said guide and guard means being rotatably mounted on said trimmer so as to rotate when said trimmer is moved to cut grass and weeds.
A combined guide and guard means for use on a flexible flail grass and weed trimmer, said combined guide and guard means formed generally in the shape of a truncated cone having a circumferential lip extending radially outward from a base of said truncated cone and said guide and guard means including means for rotatably mounting said guide and guard means on a trimmer for rotation as said trimmer is used.
A combined guide and guard means for use on a flexible flail grass and weed trimmer, said combined guide and guard means formed generally in the shape of a circular structure concavedly shaped on an outboard side thereof and convexedly shaped on an inboard side thereof and having a circumferential lip extending radially outward from an outboard edge of said structure and said guide and guard means including means for rotatably mounting said guide and guard means on a trimmer for rotation as said trimmer is used.
A combined guide and guard means for use on a flexible flail trimmer with a rotatable cutting head, said means including vertical surface referencing means and horizontal surface referencing means and being operable to index said trimmer along a sidewalk to edge grass adjacent thereto while shielding a user from debris generated by said trimmer and said guide and guard means including means for rotatably mounting said guide and guard means for rotation about an axis of rotation of said rotatable cutting head as said trimmer is used.
A method of trimming grass or weeds by means of a flexible flail trimmer having a cutting head mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation, a flexible flail extending radially therefrom for circular motion to cut grass or weeds, drive means for said cutting head and a handle on which said drive means and cutting head is mounted, the method comprising the steps of:
- operating said trimmer to rotate said cutting head and flail;
- orienting said trimmer to a position such that at least a cutting end of said flexible flail is brought into contact with grass or weeds to be trimmed;
- said trimmer having a guide and guard means disposed adjacent said flail and inboard thereof with respect to said handle, said guide and guard means rotatably mounted on said trimmer for rotation about said axis of rotation;
- and
- said method including the further step of moving said trimmer so as to cause said combined guide and guard to rotate about said axis of rotation as said trimmer is moved to cut grass or weeds.
A method of edging grass along a sidewalk, curb, or driveway with a flexible flail trimmer having a rotatable guide and guard means mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation, the method comprising the steps of:
- rotating a flexible flail about said axis to cut grass;
- rolling said guide and guard means along a surface adjacent grass to be edged to guide said trimmer therealong, said guide and guard means rotating about said axis;
- and
- deflecting thrown debris engaging said guide and guard means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.