Horizontal rotary trimmer with vented baffle

• US 10,375,883 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2017
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HRM Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: HRM Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Zerbarini, Richard, Zerbarini, Robert, Zerbarini, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Fabian-Kovacs, Arpad
• Application Number:
  US15/634,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20170290262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/46 hand-guided by a walking operator
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/47 with motor driven cutters or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/49 with means for discharging mown material A01D57/26 - A01D57/30 take precedence; combined with means for gathering or loading mown material A01D43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/52 Cutting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/54 Cutting-height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/84 for edges of lawns or fields, e.g. for mowing close to trees or walls for embankments A01D34/86 takes precedence; edge trimmers A01G3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/90 for carrying by the operator
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 3/0535 with rotatable knives
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 3/062 Motor-driven edge trimmers

Abstract

A lawn mower includes a housing with a baffle that defines an air path to produce a cross-flow. The baffle includes a vent to manipulate air pressures within the housing and facilitate movement of plant clippings. A hand-held device for trimming with a rotary blade assembly may also include a housing that defines an air path to produce a cross-flow. The hand-held trimming device may also a baffle with a vent to facilitate movement of plant clippings.

Claims

1. A rotary blade assembly housing configured to produce a cross-flow from an input opening to an output opening, the housing comprising:

a baffle having a front surface proximal to a rotary blade assembly and a discharge baffle guide distal to the rotary blade assembly, the baffle defining a vent between the front surface and a bottom surface proximal to a surface to be cut by the rotary blade assembly,

wherein the vent alters the cross-flow to prevent plant clippings from adhering to one or more internal surfaces of the housing.

2. The rotary blade assembly housing of claim 1, wherein the baffle further defines a recess in the bottom surface, at least a portion of the recess bounded by the vent, the recess normalizing air pressure between a region proximal to the front surface and a region proximal to the bottom surface.

3. The rotary blade assembly housing of claim 1, further comprising an access plate configured to all access to a replaceable rotary blade assembly.

4. The rotary blade assembly housing of claim 1, further comprising one or more wheels disposed on a side of the housing, the one or more wheels defining a distance of the rotary blade assembly above a surface to be trimmed.

5. A plant trimming device comprising:

a horizontal rotary blade assembly having;

a plurality of rotors; and

a plurality of blades, each of the plurality of blades connected to each of the plurality of rotors, each of the plurality of blades forming an airfoil with a cutting edge;

a blade assembly housing defining an input opening and an output opening, the housing substantially surrounding at least a portion of the horizontal rotary blade assembly, and the housing defining a path that produces a cross-flow when the horizontal rotary blade assembly rotates at an operational speed; and

a baffle having a front surface proximal to the horizontal rotary blade assembly and a discharge baffle guide distal to the horizontal rotary blade assembly, the baffle defining a vent between the front surface and a bottom surface proximal to a surface to be cut by the rotary blade assembly, the vent altering the cross-flow to prevent plant clippings from adhering to one or more internal surfaces of the housing.

6. The plant trimming device of claim 5, further comprising a tongue foot guard disposed on the discharge baffle guide.

7. The plant trimming device of claim 5, wherein the vent alters air pressure within the cross-flow to facilitate movement of clipping to the output opening.

8. The plant trimming device of claim 5, further comprising an extended handle.

9. The plant trimming device of claim 8, further comprising one or more wheels disposed on the blade assembly housing.

10. The plant trimming device of claim 8, further comprising a blade cover connected to the blade assembly housing, the blade cover having an open position and a closed position, the closed position configured to interpose a barrier between the blade assembly and a user'"'"'s hands, the open position configured to allow the blade assembly access to a surface to be trimmed via the input opening.

11. The plant trimming device of claim 5, wherein at least one rotor of the rotary blade assembly defines a motor engagement feature configured to engage a blade assembly engagement feature connected to a motor.

12. A mowing device comprising:

a horizontal rotary blade assembly having;

a plurality of rotors; and

a plurality of blades, each of the plurality of blades connected to each of the plurality of rotors, each of the plurality of blades forming an airfoil with a cutting edge;

a mower housing defining an input opening and an output opening, the housing substantially surrounding at least a portion of the horizontal rotary blade assembly, and the housing defining a path configured to produce a cross-flow when the horizontal rotary blade assembly rotates at an operational speed; and

a baffle having a front surface proximal to the horizontal rotary blade assembly and a discharge baffle guide distal to the horizontal rotary blade assembly, dividing the input opening and output opening, the baffle defining a vent between the front surface and a bottom surface proximal to a surface to be cut by the rotary blade assembly, the vent altering the cross-flow to prevent plant clippings from adhering to one or more internal surfaces of the housing.

13. The mowing device of claim 12, wherein the vent alters air pressure within the cross-flow to facilitate movement of clipping to the output opening.

14. The mowing device of claim 12, further comprising an extended handle disposed on the mower housing.

15. The mowing device of claim 14, further comprising one or more wheels disposed on the mower housing.

16. The mowing device of claim 14, further comprising a blade cover connected to the mower housing, the blade cover having an open position and a closed position, the closed position configured to interpose a barrier between the blade assembly and a user'"'"'s hands, the open position configured to allow the blade assembly access to a surface to be trimmed via the input opening.