Hinged edger housing improved internal debris guard and labyrinth perimeter seal
DCFirst Claim
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1. A power edger comprising:
- a power source for providing a rotational output;
a blade device coupled to the power source and rotating about a rotary axis in a rotational direction in response to the rotational output of the power source;
a housing assembly defining a blade cavity in which the blade device is rotatably mounted, the housing assembly including a guard that is configured to shroud the blade device, the guard having a confronting portion that at least partially surrounds the blade device as it rotates in the blade cavity, the confronting portion being defined by a radius that increases in the rotational direction from a first radius at a leading end of the confronting portion to a second, larger radius at a trailing end of the confronting portion, the radius increasing smoothly from the leading end to the trailing end.
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Abstract
A housing assembly for a power edger that includes a housing and a door that is coupled to the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position. When positioned in the closed position, labyrinth seal members that are formed onto the housing and the door engage one another to form a labyrinth seal that inhibits dirt and debris from being expelled from the housing assembly. The housing assembly also includes a guard for shrouding a rotating blade. The guard includes a confronting portion having a leading end and a trailing end. The confronting portion is defined by an increasing radius relative to the rotary axis of the blade.
21 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A power edger comprising:
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a power source for providing a rotational output;
a blade device coupled to the power source and rotating about a rotary axis in a rotational direction in response to the rotational output of the power source;
a housing assembly defining a blade cavity in which the blade device is rotatably mounted, the housing assembly including a guard that is configured to shroud the blade device, the guard having a confronting portion that at least partially surrounds the blade device as it rotates in the blade cavity, the confronting portion being defined by a radius that increases in the rotational direction from a first radius at a leading end of the confronting portion to a second, larger radius at a trailing end of the confronting portion, the radius increasing smoothly from the leading end to the trailing end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A power edger comprising:
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a power source for providing a rotational output;
a blade device coupled to the power source and rotating in response to the rotational output;
a housing assembly configured to shroud the blade device, the housing assembly including a housing and a door, the housing being coupled to the power source, the housing having a wall member and a first labyrinth member, the wall member defining a blade cavity in which the blade device is rotatably mounted, the first labyrinth member being coupled to the wall member and extending around at least a portion of the blade cavity, the door having a wall member and a second labyrinth member, the door being mounted to the housing and movable between an open position, which substantially clears the blade cavity, and a closed position, which closes a portion of the blade cavity;
wherein the first and second labyrinth members engage one another to form a labyrinth seal when the door is placed in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A power edger comprising a power source for providing a rotational output, a blade device coupled to the power source and rotating about a rotary axis in a rotational direction in response to the rotational output of the power source, and a housing assembly configured to shroud the blade device, the housing assembly including a housing and a door, the housing being coupled to the power source and having a wall member, a first labyrinth member, and a guard, the wall member defining a blade cavity in which the blade device is rotatably mounted, the guard being coupled to the wall member and having a confronting portion that at least partially surrounds the blade device as it rotates in the blade cavity, the confronting portion being defined by a radius that increases smoothly in the rotational direction from a first radius at a leading end of the confronting portion to a second, larger radius at a trailing end of the confronting portion, the first labyrinth member being coupled to the wall member and being disposed radially outwardly from the guard such that it extends around at least a portion of the blade cavity, the door being mounted to the housing and movable between an open position, which substantially clears the blade cavity, and a closed position, which closes a portion of the blade cavity, the door having a second labyrinth member that is configured to engage the first labyrinth member to form a labyrinth seal when the door is placed in the closed position.
Specification