# US 9,433,146 B2 · Front guard for a string trimmer

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- Number: US 9,433,146 B2
- Document ID: US9433146B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/574,388
- Filed: 2014-12-17
- Published: 2015-06-25
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-17
- Applicants: Vernon Dwain Hutchins
- Inventors: Vernon Dwain Hutchins
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433146B2

## CPC

- A01D 34/4167: {Protection devices}
- A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING

## Abstract

A front guard for a string trimmer is an apparatus that is used to prevent a user from cutting unwanted objects with the string trimmer. The apparatus includes a pliable rod and a flexible guard. The flexible guard is mounted about the spool and line assembly for the string trimmer opposite of its rear guard so that the flexible guard comes into contact with an unwanted object before the wire of the string trimmer comes into contact with the unwanted object. The pliable rod is used to mount the flexible guard to the main shaft of the string trimmer and allows the flexible guard to be moved from its original position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A string trimmer comprises:
a pliable rod;
a flexible guard;
a main shaft;
a spool and line assembly;
a rear shield;
said main shaft comprises a control end and an operative end;
said spool and line assembly being rotatably mounted to said operative end;
said rear shield being positioned about said spool and line assembly;
said rear shield being fixed to the main shaft adjacent to the operative end;
said flexible guard being positioned about the spool and line assembly, opposite to the rear shield;
said flexible guard being offset from the spool and line assembly;
said flexible guard being suspended to the main shaft by the pliable rod;
said flexible guard comprises a main body and a first prong;
said first prong being connected to the main body at a first acute angle; and
a first end of the main body being a vertex of said first acute angle between said first prong and said main body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
said flexible guard comprises a main body and a second prong;
said second prong being connected to the main body at a second acute angle; and
a second end of the main body being a vertex of said second acute angle between said second prong and said main body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
a clamp; and
a proximal end of said pliable rod being connected along said main shaft by said clamp.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
a pivotable joint; and
a proximal end of said pliable rod being connected along said main shaft by said pivotable joint.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 4 comprises:
a locking mechanism; and
said locking mechanism being mechanically integrated into the pivotable joint, wherein said locking mechanism is engaged to fix the pliable rod in place and is disengaged to move the pliable rod about the pivotable joint.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
said pliable rod comprises a proximal end and a distal end;
said proximal end being mounted along said main shaft adjacent to said operative end; and
said distal end being centrally connected to said flexible guard.

### Claim 7

A string trimmer comprises:
a pliable rod;
a flexible guard;
a main shaft;
a spool and line assembly;
a rear shield;
said main shaft comprises a control end and an operative end;
said flexible guard comprises a main body, a first prong, and a second prong;
said spool and line assembly being rotatably mounted to said operative end;
said rear shield being positioned about said spool and line assembly;
said rear shield being fixed to the main shaft adjacent to the operative end;
said flexible guard being positioned about the spool and line assembly, opposite to the rear shield;
said flexible guard being offset from the spool and line assembly;
said flexible guard being suspended to the main shaft by the pliable rod;
said first prong being connected to the main body at a first acute angle;
a first end of the main body being a vertex of said first acute angle between said first prong and said main body;
said second prong being connected to the main body at a second acute angle; and
a second end of the main body being a vertex of said second acute angle between said second prong and said main body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 7 comprises:
a clamp; and
a proximal end of said pliable rod being connected along said main shaft by said clamp.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 7 comprises:
a pivotable joint; and
a proximal end of said pliable rod being connected along said main shaft by said pivotable joint.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 9 comprises:
a locking mechanism; and
said locking mechanism being mechanically integrated into the pivotable joint, wherein said locking mechanism is engaged to fix the pliable rod in place and is disengaged to move the pliable rod about the pivotable joint.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 7 comprises:
said pliable rod comprises a proximal end and a distal end;
said proximal end being mounted along said main shaft adjacent to said operative end; and
said distal end being centrally connected to said flexible guard.

### Claim 12

A string trimmer comprises:
a pliable rod;
a flexible guard;
a main shaft;
a spool and line assembly;
a rear shield;
said main shaft comprises a control end and an operative end;
said spool and line assembly being rotatably mounted to said operative end;
said rear shield being positioned about said spool and line assembly;
said rear shield being fixed to the main shaft adjacent to the operative end;
said flexible guard being positioned about the spool and line assembly, opposite to the rear shield;
said flexible guard being offset from the spool and line assembly;
said flexible guard being suspended to the main shaft by the pliable rod;
a clamp;
a proximal end of said pliable rod being connected along said main shaft by said clamp;
said flexible guard comprises a main body and a first prong;
said first prong being connected to the main body at a first acute angle; and
a first end of the main body being a vertex of said first acute angle between said first prong and said main body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 12 comprises:
said flexible guard comprises a main body and a second prong;
said second prong being connected to the main body at a second acute angle; and
a second end of the main body being a vertex of said second acute angle between said second prong and said main body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 12 comprises:
a pivotable joint; and
a proximal end of said pliable rod being connected along said main shaft by said pivotable joint.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 14 comprises:
a locking mechanism; and
said locking mechanism being mechanically integrated into the pivotable joint, wherein said locking mechanism is engaged to fix the pliable rod in place and is disengaged to move the pliable rod about the pivotable joint.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The string trimmer as claimed in claim 14 comprises:
said pliable rod comprises a proximal end and a distal end;
said proximal end being mounted along said main shaft adjacent to said operative end; and
said distal end being centrally connected to said flexible guard.