Multi-purpose motor mounting system for a string trimmer
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An outdoor power tool for trimming vegetation, comprising:
- a first housing section;
a second housing section securable to said first housing section;
each of said first and second housing sections including an interior surface wall;
each of said first and second housing sections including a generally circumferential groove formed therein, each said groove further being positioned such that when said first and second housing sections are secured together said grooves are disposed within a common plane to effectively form a generally circumferential groove extending about substantially an entire length of each said interior surface wall of each of said first and second housing sections;
a motor disposed within said first and second housing sections;
a cutting implement operationally coupled to said motor so as to be drivable rotationally by said motor; and
a motor mounting assembly including a plate member fixedly secured to said motor, said plate member being of dimensions enabling said plate member to be inserted at least partially within said grooves within said first and second housing sections such that said plate member is supported at a plurality of circumferential locations about said interior surface wall of each of said first and second housing sections to thereby support said motor fixedly relative to said first and second housing sections without said motor contacting any portion of said interior surface wall of said first housing section or any portion of said interior surface wall of said second housing section.
2 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A motor mounting plate system enables a motor to be mounted within a string trimmer without the need for a plurality of precisely formed ribs to support the motor within the housing. The motor mounting plate apparatus includes a planar mounting plate member and a U-shaped bracket member which are secured together to form a rigid motor mounting assembly. The U-shaped bracket member is connected to the stator of the motor of the string trimmer. A lower portion of the housing includes two housing halves, each including a groove formed therein. The outer perimeter of the motor mounting plate is positioned in the groove of one of the housing halves during assembly to support the motor within the housing half without the need for the motor to rest on a rib or any other protruding portion of the interior of the housing. The remaining housing half is then secured to the first mentioned housing half such that the motor mounting plate is secured substantially around its entire periphery within the groove formed in each housing half. A bushing insert is included for achieving a tight interference fit between the smooth armature shaft of the motor and a plastic fan member. The motor mounting assembly also serves to absorb the force of the "bump" when the operator bumps the line spool of the trimmer against the ground to advance the cutting line.
56 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An outdoor power tool for trimming vegetation, comprising:
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a first housing section; a second housing section securable to said first housing section; each of said first and second housing sections including an interior surface wall; each of said first and second housing sections including a generally circumferential groove formed therein, each said groove further being positioned such that when said first and second housing sections are secured together said grooves are disposed within a common plane to effectively form a generally circumferential groove extending about substantially an entire length of each said interior surface wall of each of said first and second housing sections; a motor disposed within said first and second housing sections; a cutting implement operationally coupled to said motor so as to be drivable rotationally by said motor; and a motor mounting assembly including a plate member fixedly secured to said motor, said plate member being of dimensions enabling said plate member to be inserted at least partially within said grooves within said first and second housing sections such that said plate member is supported at a plurality of circumferential locations about said interior surface wall of each of said first and second housing sections to thereby support said motor fixedly relative to said first and second housing sections without said motor contacting any portion of said interior surface wall of said first housing section or any portion of said interior surface wall of said second housing section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 8, 9)
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5. A line trimming apparatus for trimming vegetation, comprising:
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a flexible cutting line; a holder for supporting at least a portion of the cutting line; a motor for rotationally driving the holder and cutting line; a housing enclosing at least a portion of the motor; a groove formed on an internal surface of the housing; and a mounting plate assembly adapted to be fixedly connected to a portion of the motor and partially inserted into said groove such that said mounting plate assembly supports said motor within said housing. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A line trimming apparatus for trimming vegetation, comprising:
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a trimming line; a motor drivingly connected to the line; a housing having an interior wall surface, said interior wall surface including a mounting area in the form of a groove formed thereon; and a mounting plate assembly fixedly secured to said motor for mounting said motor within said housing such that said at least a portion of said mounting plate assembly is supported within said groove in said interior wall surface of said housing such that said motor is supported within said housing without the need for direct contact of any portion of said motor with said interior wall surface of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An outdoor power tool for trimming vegetation comprising:
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a housing having an interior wall, said interior wall effectively having a groove formed circumferentially thereabout; a motor disposed within said housing; an implement coupled to an armature shaft of said motor so as to be drivable rotationally by said motor; and a mounting plate assembly fixedly coupled to said motor and having a shape permitting said mounting plate assembly to be supported at a plurality of circumferential positions within said groove to thereby support said motor within said housing without said motor requiring direct contact with any portion of said interior wall of said housing for support. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for assembling an outdoor power tool, the method comprising:
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forming a first housing section having a circumferential groove formed in an interior wall thereof; forming a second housing section having a circumferential groove formed in an interior wall thereof; fixedly securing a motor mounting plate to a motor; inserting a portion of said motor mounting plate into said circumferential groove in said second housing section; placing said first housing section against said second housing section to cause a portion of said mounting plate to engage within said circumferential groove in said interior wall of said first housing section, to thereby cause said mounting plate to be supported at a plurality of positions by said circumferential grooves, to thereby enable said motor to be supported within said first and second housing sections without said motor contacting any portion of said interior walls of said first and second housing sections; and securing said first housing section to said second housing section. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification