INTEGRATED STRING AND BLADE TRIMMER SYSTEM

• US 20150107118A1
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frictionless World, LLC
• Original Assignee: Frictionless World, LLC
• Inventors: Banjo, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,743,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 30/276
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/4166 Mounting or replacement of the lines
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/4168 Constructional details of the flexible lines
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/73 Cutting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/736 Flail type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/00 Cutting

Abstract

An integrated string and trimmer blade system that allows a user to simultaneously employ one or more flexible lines and one or more blades during various types of cutting operations (e.g., grass, weeds, branches, etc.). The system may be implemented on any appropriate cutting apparatus such as walk-behind trimmers and/or mowers, hand-held trimmers, and the like. Broadly, the system includes a cutting member having a body that is rotatable about a pivot axis of the cutting apparatus. One or more cutting blades are pivotally attached to the body such that the blades can oscillate or otherwise pivot relative to the body as the body rotates about the central axis. At least one of the blades includes one or more line holders thereon for receipt and attachment of one or more flexible cutting lines or strings.

Claims

1. A cutting member for rotation on a cutting apparatus, comprising:

a body including opposed upper and lower surfaces, a peripheral edge, and a rotation axis about which the body is configured to rotate; and

at least a first blade pivotally mounted to the body about a first pivot axis that is parallel to the rotation axis, wherein the first blade includes at least one line holder, and wherein a majority of a length of the first blade extends past the peripheral edge of the body.

2. The cutting member of claim 1, wherein the body includes at least a first mounting cavity between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein an end of the first blade is pivotally mounted to the body about the first pivot axis within the first mounting cavity.

3. The cutting member of claim 2, further comprising:

at least a first pivot pin disposed through the upper and lower surfaces of the body and the end of the first blade along the first pivot axis to pivotally secure the first blade to the body.

4. The cutting member of claim 1, wherein the line holder is a rigid loop extending from a surface of the first blade.

5. The cutting member of claim 1, wherein the first blade further includes a post extending from the surface thereof, wherein the post is spaced from the line holder.

6. The cutting member of claim 5, further comprising:

at least one first flexible line that extends through the line holder, around the post, and then back through the line holder.

7. The cutting member of claim 5, wherein the first pivot axis extends through the post.

8. The cutting member of claim 1, wherein the first blade is pivotable about the first pivot axis over 180°

.

9. The cutting member of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a second blade pivotally mounted to the body about a second pivot axis that is parallel to the rotation axis, wherein the second blade includes at least one line holder, and wherein a majority of a length of the second blade is configured to extend past the peripheral edge of the body.

10. The cutting member of claim 9, wherein the first and second pivot axes are separated by about 180°

about the rotation axis.

11. A system, including:

a shaft;

the cutting member of claim 1 disposed on the shaft for rotation about the central axis.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one spacer plate disposed on the shaft adjacent the cutting member.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a mowball disposed on the shaft, wherein the mowball limits removal of the cutting member from the shaft.

14. A cutting apparatus, comprising:

a motor; and

the system of claim 11, wherein the shaft is connected to the motor, and wherein operation of the motor rotates the shaft and cutting member about the central axis.

15. A kit, comprising:

the cutting member of claim 1; and

one or more spacer plates, wherein each of the one or more spacer plates includes a central rotation axis configured to be collinear with the central rotation axis of the cutting member.

16. The kit of claim 15, further comprising:

a plurality of cutting lines.

17. A method of adjusting a height of a cutting plane of a cutting apparatus relative to a ground engaging member of the cutting apparatus, comprising:

removing the ground engaging member from a pivot shaft of the cutting apparatus;

removing a cutting member and at least one spacer plate from the pivot shaft, wherein a cutting plane of the cutting member is separated from the ground engaging member by a first distance before the removing step; and

mounting the cutting member and the at least one spacer plate onto the pivot shaft, wherein the cutting plane of the cutting member is separated from the ground engaging member by a second distance after the mounting step, wherein the second distance is different than the first distance.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the removing includes removing the at least one spacer plate from the pivot shaft before removing the cutting member from the pivot shaft, and wherein the mounting includes mounting the at least one spacer plate onto the pivot shaft before mounting the cutting member onto the pivot shaft.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the removing includes removing the cutting member from the pivot shaft before removing the at least one spacer plate from the pivot shaft, and wherein the mounting includes mounting the cutting member onto the pivot shaft before mounting the at least one spacer plate onto the pivot shaft.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the removing step includes removing at least two spacer plates from the pivot shaft, and wherein the mounting step includes mounting both of the two spacer plates onto the pivot shaft.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the cutting member includes:

a body including opposed upper and lower surfaces, a peripheral edge, and a central rotation axis that is configured to be collinear with a pivot axis of the pivot shaft; and

at least a first blade pivotally mounted to the body about a first rotation axis that is parallel to the central axis, wherein the first blade includes at least one line holder, and wherein a majority of a length of the first blade is configured to extend past the peripheral edge of the body.