Weed trimmer safety guard
First Claim
1. A weed trimmer cover assembly for attachment to a weed trimmer, comprising:
- a front cover defining a front horizontal cover region disposed above a weed trimmer cutting element and covering a forward area of a horizontal circular cutting zone defined by a rotational cutting path of the cutting element, a front vertical flange projecting downward from the front horizontal cover region and generally along a radius corresponding to and larger than a radius defined by the cutting zone; and
a cover attachment means attached to the front cover and connecting the front cover to the weed trimmer, the cover attachment means further comprising a hinge wherein the front cover can be pivoted about the hinge and thereby raised upward along a range of positions from completely lowered downward to completely raised upward;
wherein the front horizontal cover region and the front vertical flange are configured to deflect debris being projected by the cutting element, thereby preventing projected debris from being distributed forward or upward and rearward relative to the weed trimmer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for an article and method for an improved weed trimmer cover that prevents unwanted projectile and debris distributions. A preferred embodiment of the weed trimmer comprises a domed guard structure that encompasses the effective cutting range of a prior art weed trimmer. Alternative embodiments may comprise elements that protect only portions of front, side and rear cutting areas. Embodiments of the invention also allow a user to lift up a cover element to allow close work among obstructions. Embodiments of the present invention also improve the performance of prior art weed trimmers by increasing cutting performance and preventing flexible materials from wrapping about the cutting elements and shafts.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A weed trimmer cover assembly for attachment to a weed trimmer, comprising:
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a front cover defining a front horizontal cover region disposed above a weed trimmer cutting element and covering a forward area of a horizontal circular cutting zone defined by a rotational cutting path of the cutting element, a front vertical flange projecting downward from the front horizontal cover region and generally along a radius corresponding to and larger than a radius defined by the cutting zone; and
a cover attachment means attached to the front cover and connecting the front cover to the weed trimmer, the cover attachment means further comprising a hinge wherein the front cover can be pivoted about the hinge and thereby raised upward along a range of positions from completely lowered downward to completely raised upward;
wherein the front horizontal cover region and the front vertical flange are configured to deflect debris being projected by the cutting element, thereby preventing projected debris from being distributed forward or upward and rearward relative to the weed trimmer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for deflecting debris being distributed from a weed trimmer, comprising the following steps:
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providing a weed trimmer cover attachment means on a weed trimmer, the cover attachment means further comprising a hinge;
attaching a front cover to the hinge wherein the front cover can be pivoted about the hinge and thereby raised upward along a range of positions from completely lowered downward to completely raised upward;
providing a front horizontal cover region projecting from the front cover and disposed above a weed trimmer cutting element and covering a forward area of a horizontal circular cutting zone defined by a rotational cutting path of the cutting element;
providing a front vertical flange projecting downward from the front horizontal cover region and generally along a radius corresponding to and larger than a radius defined by the cutting zone; and
the front horizontal cover region and the front vertical flange deflecting debris being projected by the cutting element, thereby preventing projected debris from being distributed forward or upward and rearward relative to the weed trimmer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification