US3708967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary cutting assembly
Assignee: White Consolidated Industries Inc
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Filing: 1971-12-31
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Granted: 1973-01-09
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Expires: 1991-12-31
Abstract
Abstract An improved cutting assembly for rotary lawn mowers, edgers, or the like, including a body member arranged for rotating about an axis normal with the cutting plane. At least one cutting line is attached to the body member for rotation therewith in the cutting plane. The line is characterized by having a working length to diameter ratio and a material composition to render the line substantially limp and nonself-supporting in the static condition. Certain embodiments of the invention may include means for detachably securing the lines to the body member and for storing a supply of the line on the body member so that the line may be paid out as the working portions of the line become shortened through wear. The cutting lines are preferably nonmetallic so as to reduce the hazardous condition which would otherwise be present for the operator and still provide an apparatus which will cut with great efficiency and safety.
Inventors
- 👤 T Geist
- 👤 G Ballas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:17
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D34/00; A01D34/01; A01D34/412; A01D34/416; A01D34/4161
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for cutting vegetation comprising a housing rotatable in a cutting plane about an axis and having at least one internal compartment spaced in said plane from said axis and a peripheral aperture communicating with said compartment and defined at least partially by a curvilinear wall portion of said housing, and a flexible line member having a coiled portion stored in said compartment and having a non-coiled portion extending from said compartment through said aperture and outwardly of the periphery of said housing for arcuate travel in said plane, said non-coiled portion of said line member extending across said curvilinear wall portion of said housing for support against angular deformation in said cutting plane during rotation of said housing and line member for cutting vegetation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for cutting vegetation comprising a housing rotatable in a cutting plane about an axis and having at least one internal compartment spaced in said plane from said axis and a peripheral aperture communicating with said compartment and defined at least partially by a curvilinear wall portion of said housing, and a flexible line member having a coiled portion stored in said compartment and having a non-coiled portion extending from said compartment through said aperture and outwardly of the periphery of said housing for arcuate travel in said plane, said non-coiled portion of said line member extending across said curvilinear wall portion of said housing for support against angular deformation in said cutting plane during rotation of said housing and line member for cutting vegetation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for cutting vegetation, comprising a generally circular housing rotatable about a centrally located axis to define a cutting plane perpendicularly related to said axis, said housing having at least one internal compartment spaced in said plane from said axis and also having a peripheral aperture communicating with said compartment therein and defined at least partially by the surface of a curvilinear wall portion of said housing, and a flexible non-metallic line member having a portion thereof coiled within said compartment and having the remainder thereof non-angularly extended in said plane within said housing through said aperture and peripherally from said housing to form a cutting flail during rotation of said housing, said line member further having a portion of said remainder thereof also extending across said surface of said curvilinear wall portion of said housing for support against angular deformation in said cutting plane during rotation of said housing and line member for cutting vegetation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for cutting vegetation, comprising a generally circular housing rotatable about a centrally located axis to define a cutting plane perpendicularly related to said axis, said housing having at least one internal compartment spaced in said plane from said axis and also having a peripheral aperture communicating with said compartment therein and defined at least partially by the surface of a curvilinear wall portion of said housing, and a flexible non-metallic line member having a portion thereof coiled within said compartment and having the remainder thereof non-angularly extended in said plane within said housing through said aperture and peripherally from said housing to form a cutting flail during rotation of said housing, said line member further having a portion of said remainder thereof also extending across said surface of said curvilinear wall portion of said housing for support against angular deformation in said cutting plane during rotation of said housing and line member for cutting vegetation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus described in claim 2, wherein said surface of said curvilinear wall portion of said housing is located in said plane and is trailingly located on the periphery of said housing relative to rotation of said housing and said line member in said plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus described in claim 3, further including storage means removably disposed in said housing for supporting in coiled arrangement the portion of said line member occupying said compartment and for non-angularly extending the remainder of said line member in said cutting plane and through said aperture in said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus described in claim 4, wherein said storage means includes a spool member removably disposed non-rotatably in said compartment for supporting in coiled fashion in said plane the portion of said line member occupying said compartment and for non-angularly extending the remainder of said line member in said plane and through said peripheral aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
184 words
Apparatus for cutting vegetation, comprising a generally circular housing adapted to be rotated about a centrally located axis to define a cutting plane perpendicularly related to said axis and traversing said vegetation, said housing having a plurality of internal compartments located in said plane and spaced about said axis and communicating with a related one of a corresponding plurality of spaced apart apertures located in the periphery of said housing and in said plane, a corresponding plurality of spool members each removably disposed in a respective one of said compartments, and a corresponding plurality of flexible line members each partially wound about a respective one of said spool members and having its remainder exTending non-angularly in said plane from said respective one of said compartments through said respective one of said apertures for arcuate travel in said cutting plane, said housing further having a rounded bearing surface at each aperture trailingly rotatable against said portion of said line member traversing said aperture for supporting said portion thereof against angular deformation in said plane during rotation of said housing and line member for cutting vegetation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
184 words
Apparatus for cutting vegetation, comprising a generally circular housing adapted to be rotated about a centrally located axis to define a cutting plane perpendicularly related to said axis and traversing said vegetation, said housing having a plurality of internal compartments located in said plane and spaced about said axis and communicating with a related one of a corresponding plurality of spaced apart apertures located in the periphery of said housing and in said plane, a corresponding plurality of spool members each removably disposed in a respective one of said compartments, and a corresponding plurality of flexible line members each partially wound about a respective one of said spool members and having its remainder exTending non-angularly in said plane from said respective one of said compartments through said respective one of said apertures for arcuate travel in said cutting plane, said housing further having a rounded bearing surface at each aperture trailingly rotatable against said portion of said line member traversing said aperture for supporting said portion thereof against angular deformation in said plane during rotation of said housing and line member for cutting vegetation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for cutting vegetation comprising a disc-like rotatable housing means having a plurality of apertures spaced equidistantly about its peripheral edge and each formed by a pair of confronting spaced-apart curvilinear portions of said housing and a corresponding plurality of internal socket-like recesses located equidistantly about the rotation axis of said housing means and each communicating with one of said apertures therein, a corresponding plurality of spool-like members each insertably disposed in one of said recesses in said housing means, and a corresponding plurality of non-metallic line members each being wound about one of said spool-like members and each having a free end portion running through the respective one of said apertures and extending from the peripheral edge of said housing means a distance functionally related to the cross-sectional diameter of said line member, said free end portion of each of said line members being further supported against angular deformation in said cutting plane by said curvilinear portions of said housing during rotation of said housing and said line member for cutting vegetation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for cutting vegetation comprising a disc-like rotatable housing means having a plurality of apertures spaced equidistantly about its peripheral edge and each formed by a pair of confronting spaced-apart curvilinear portions of said housing and a corresponding plurality of internal socket-like recesses located equidistantly about the rotation axis of said housing means and each communicating with one of said apertures therein, a corresponding plurality of spool-like members each insertably disposed in one of said recesses in said housing means, and a corresponding plurality of non-metallic line members each being wound about one of said spool-like members and each having a free end portion running through the respective one of said apertures and extending from the peripheral edge of said housing means a distance functionally related to the cross-sectional diameter of said line member, said free end portion of each of said line members being further supported against angular deformation in said cutting plane by said curvilinear portions of said housing during rotation of said housing and said line member for cutting vegetation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus described in claim 7, further comprising a corresponding plurality of elastic stoppering means each arranged at one of said apertures of said housing means for urging the corresponding one of said line members into engagement with an adjacent surface of said housing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus described in claim 8, wherein said stoppering means are each arranged to permit unwinding of the line member corresponding thereto from the respective one of said spool members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus described in claim 9, wherein said housing means further contains a corresponding plurality of passageways each extending from one of said recesses to the respective one of said apertures and each enclosing a part of the free end portion of one of said line members, said passageways each having at least one wall portion outwardly curving to the respective one of said apertures for bearing said part of said one line member during rotation of said housing member and line member in said plane for cutting vegetation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-09 | 1976-07-10 | 1977-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-09 | 1980-07-10 | 1981-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-09 | 1984-07-10 | 1985-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |