WO2001031993A1 - String trimmer - Google Patents

Abstract

A new and improved string trimmer (10) is disclosed, which includes a steerable front wheel (24). The string trimmer has a spindle assembly that extends downwardly from the cutting deck (34), the spindle assembly (12) having a spindle housing (14) and a spindle (22), the spindle housing (14) rotates, while the spindle (22) remains stationary. This configuration of the spindle assembly allows the steerable front wheel (24) to remain stationary, while the spindle housing (14), which contains the cutting string (28), to rotate, thereby allowing the front wheel to be steerable.

Description

STRING TRIMMER

Technical Field

This invention relates to the art of lawn edgers and trimmers, and more particularly to string trimmers. This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/163,867, filed November 5, 1999. Background Art

It is known to have a front guide wheel for a string trimmers. However, the problem has always been that the front guide wheel cannot be steerable with respect to the spinning spindle of the string trimmer. The previous string trimmers have had the front guide wheel attached to a spindle, so that when the spindle rotates, the front wheel would rotate as well.

One known string trimmer is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,531,350 to Huthmacher. The Huthmacher patent discloses two back wheels and a front wheel, but does not disclose a steerable front wheel or a rotatable spindle with a stationary spindle housing.

Another known string trimmer is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,979,573 to Williamson. The Williamson patent discloses a front guide wheel, but like the Hutmacher patent, it does not disclose a steerable front wheel or a rotatable spindle with a stationary spindle housing. This invention is simple in design, effective in use, and overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results.

Disclosure of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention, the inventive string trimmer includes an engine, at least one ground engaging wheel, handlebars, a transmission, a frame, a cutting deck, the cutting deck attached to the frame, a spindle assembly, the spindle assembly being located within the cutting deck, the spindle assembly comprising a spindle housing, a spindle, the spindle located within the spindle housing, the spindle remaining substantially stationary while the spindle housing rotates, a pulley, the pulley being driven by a belt for rotating the spindle housing, and multiple string height adjustment eyelets, a steerable front wheel, the wheel attached to the spindle, and connecting means for connecting the wheel to the spindle assembly.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a spindle assembly for use with an associated lawn and garden apparatus having an engine, a deck, at least one ground engaging wheel, and a frame includes a spindle housing operatively connected to the associated deck, a spindle, the spindle located substantially within the spindle housing, the spindle connected to the associated deck such that when the spindle housing rotates the spindle is substantially stationary, and rotating means for rotating the spindle housing about the spindle.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the current invention, the spindle assembly also includes the steerable wheel being operatively connected to the spindle, multiple string height adjustment means, wherein the string height adjustment means are eyelets. In accordance with another aspect of the current invention, the spindle assembly includes directional-aid means for aiding in the directing of the associated lawn and garden apparatus, wherein the directional-aid means is a hemisphere and receiving means for receiving the spindle housing.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the current invention, a lawn and garden apparatus includes a frame, at least one ground engaging wheel, a spindle housing operatively connected to the frame, and a spindle, the spindle located substantially within the spindle housing, the spindle connected to the frame such that when the spindle housing rotates the spindle is substantially stationary.

In accordance with another aspect of the current invention, the apparatus includes a steerable front wheel, the steerable wheel being operatively connected to the spindle, a cutting deck, the spindle and the spindle housing being operatively connected to the cutting deck, and multiple string height adjustment means.

In accordance with still another aspect of the current invention, the apparatus includes directional -aid means for aiding the directing of the apparatus, wherein the directional -aid means is a hemisphere.

In accordance with another aspect of the current invention, a method for steering an associated lawn and garden apparatus while cutting associated vegetation, includes the steps of providing the associated lawn and garden apparatus having a frame, at least one ground engaging wheel, and a spindle assembly, the spindle assembly having a spindle housing and a spindle, the spindle being located substantially within the spindle housing, rotating the spindle housing, and maintaining the spindle in a substantially stationary positioning during rotation of the spindle housing. In accordance with another aspect of the current invention, the method includes the steps of utilizing the steerable front wheel to direct the associated apparatus and maintaining the steerable front wheel in a substantially rotationally stationary position with respect to the spindle housing. In accordance with another aspect of the current invention, the string trimmer has a steerable front wheel, and more particularly, only one steerable front wheel.

One advantage of the present invention is that the inventive trimmer has adjustable cutting heights.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the inventive trimmer has a steerable front wheel.

Still another advantage of the present invention is that the inventive trimmer has a spindle housing that is stationary while the spindle is rotating, thereby allowing the front wheel to be steerable.

Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts.

Multiple embodiments of these parts will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the inventive string trimmer;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the spindle assembly of the inventive string trimmer;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the inventive string trimmer; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the spindle housing;

FIGURE 5 is a front view of the eyelets;

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the front wheel and front wheel support;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the front wheel; and,

FIGURE 8 is a bottom view of the second embodiment of the string trimmer deck.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

With reference now to FIGURE 1, the inventive string trimmer 10 is shown including a frame 42, two side wheels 26, deck 34, string 28, front wheel 24, handle 30, and engine 32. The side wheels 26 are located on either side of the frame 42, and the engine 32 is located within the frame 42. The handle 30 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the frame 42 and the front wheel 24 extends downwardly from the deck 34. The operation of the engine 32, and the connection of the frame 42, the handle 30, the deck 34, two side wheels 26, and the engine 32 is all well known in the art, and, for the sake of brevity, will not be further described.

With reference now to FIGURES 2-5, and 8, the inventive string trimmer 10 has a spindle assembly 12 located beneath the deck 34. The spindle assembly 12 extends perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the deck 34. The spindle assembly 12 has a spindle housing 14, ball bearing 16, eyelet 18, pulley 20, spindle 22, and front wheel 24. The spindle 22 is located in the spindle housing 14, aligned in a vertical direction, with respect to the deck 34. The ball bearings 16 are located at the pulley 20 and above the eyelets 18. The eyelets 18 are connected to the outside of the spindle housing 14 at set distances for adjusting the string 28. The front wheel 24 is connected to front wheel support 38, which is located substantially within the spindle housing 14, and attached to the spindle 22. The spindle assembly 12 is connected to the deck 34, and the strings 28 are connected directly to the eyelets 18, which have rises 36 as shown in FIGURE 5. The strings 28 are looped about the rises 36 and protrude from the deck 34 in a "U" shape configuration, as shown in FIGURE 3. The spindle assembly 12 is connected to the underside of the deck 34, so that the spindle assembly 12 extends downwardly in a substantially vertical manner from the deck 34. Spindle assembly 12 has the spindle housing 14 and the spindle 22 arranged such that the spindle 22 is located substantially within housing 14, and the spindle housing 14 is rotatable independent from the spindle 22. In this embodiment, the spindle 22 remains stationary as the spindle housing 14 rotates about the vertical axis of the spindle 22. The fact that the spindle 22 remains stationary, while the housing 14 rotates, allows the front wheel 24 to remain stationary as well. The stationary front wheel 24 allows the front wheel 24 to be steerable by the user of the string trimmer 10. While the front wheel 24 remains stationary, the spindle housing 14 rotates, causing the string 28 to rotate, thereby allowing the cutting function of the string trimmer 10 to continue.

With reference now to FIGURES 6 and 7, two separate embodiments of the string trimmer 10 are shown, including the front wheel 24 as shown in FIGURE 6, and front wheel 24' and spindle housing socket 44 as shown in FIGURE 7. In FIGURE 6, the front wheel 24 is attached to the wheel support 38 by a pin (shown, but not referenced). Connection of the wheel support 38, which is a substantially U-shaped, as shown in FIGURE 2, allows the front wheel 24 to freely rotate about the horizontal axis

46 of the pin (shown, but not referenced). In the separate embodiment, shown in

FIGURE 7, the front wheel 24' has a spindle housing socket 44 which receives the spindle housing 14, which is then locked in place via a pin (not shown), which is inserted through the holes (shown, but not referenced) in the front wheel 24' . It is to be understood that the front wheels 24, 24' that is shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 are merely two embodiments of the invention, and are not intended to limit the invention in any manner. It is to be understood that any front wheel 24, or any other means for steering the string trimmer 10, are to be encompassed within this invention, as long as chosen using sound engineering judgment. The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment.

Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the specification. It is intended by applicant to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed:

Claims

1. A string trimmer (10) including an engine (32), at least one ground engaging wheel, a frame (42), a cutting deck (34) attached to the frame (42) and a spindle assembly (12) positioned within the cutting deck (34), the spindle assembly (12) having a spindle housing (14) and a spindle (22) located within the spindle housing (14), the string trimmer (10) being characterized by: a rotating means for rotating the spindle housing (14) about the spindle (22), the spindle (22) connected to the associated deck (34) such that when the spindle housing (14) rotates the spindle (22) is substantially stationary; and,

2. The string trimmer (10) of claim 1, wherein the spindle assembly (12) comprises a steerable wheel operatively connected to the spindle (22).

3. The string trimmer (10) of claim 2, wherein the spindle (22) comprises multiple string height adjustment means.

4. The string trimmer (10) of claim 3, wherein the string height adjustment means comprises eyelets (18).

5. The string trimmer (10) of claim 1, wherein the spindle assembly (12) comprises directional-aid means for aiding in the directing of the associated lawn and garden apparatus.

6. The string trimmer (10) of claim 1 , wherein the rotating means comprises a pulley driven by a belt for rotating the spindle housing (14).

7. The string trimmer (10) of claim 6, wherein the directional-aid means is a hemisphere.

8. The string trimmer (10) of claim 6, wherein the directional-aid means has a receiving means for receiving the spindle housing (14).

9. A method for steering an associated lawn and garden apparatus while cutting associated vegetation, the method including the steps of providing the associated lawn and garden apparatus with a frame (42), at least one ground engaging wheel and a spindle assembly (12) having a spindle housing (14) and a spindle (22), the spindle (22) being located substantially within the spindle housing (14), the method being characterized by the steps of: rotating the spindle housing (14); and, maintaining the spindle (22) in a substantially stationary positioning during rotation of the spindle housing (14).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: utilizing the steerable front wheel (24) to direct the associated apparatus; and, maintaining the steerable front wheel (24) in a substantially rotationally stationary position with respect to the spindle housing (14).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: providing a handle, the handle (30) being operatively connected to the frame

(42); and, utilizing the handle (30) to direct the steerable front wheel (24).

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the method is further characterized by the steps of: utilizing a pulley driven by a belt to rotate the spindle housing (14).