String trimmer

Claim 2

A head for a trimmer using flexible trimming line as the cutting implement comprising: housing means for containing a coil of trimming line, said housing means having an opening therethrough for egress of said trimming line, said opening being disposed in communication with the center of said coil so that said trimming line can be fed from the center of said coil through said opening to project the free end of said trimming line generally radially-outwardly from said housing means, said housing means being adapted to be rotated at high speed to rotate said coil and the generally radially-outwardly projecting free end of said trimming line therewith; and clamping means associated with said housing means for securing said trimming line during rotation of said housing means and for releasing said coil through said opening without rotation of said coil said clamping means comprising; a button member which is manually movable with respect to said housing means for releasing and clamping said trimming line; a clamping member resiliently biased in a direction to cause clamping of said trimming line and which is movable against said resilient bias when said button member is manually moved to release said trimming line; and pivot means for permitting rotation of said clamping member about said pivot means in one direction to clamp said trimming line.

Claim 3

A trimmer head according to claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes a cylindrical recess and a cylindrical projection residing in said recess, one of said recess and said projection being associated with said housing means and the other of said recess and projection being associated with said clamping member, said recess and said projection causing said clamping member to rotate about the axis of said recess and said projection in one direction to release said trimming line and in the other direction to clamp said trimming line.

Claim 4

A trimmer head according to claim 2 wherein said resilient bias is provided by a spring member.

Claim 5

A head for a trimmer using flexible trimming line as the cutting implement comprising: housing means for containing a coil of trimming line, said housing means including a base having an opening therethrough and a lateral passage disposed in communication with said opening so that said trimming line can be fed from the center of said coil through said opening and said lateral passage to project the free end of said trimming line generally radially-outwardly from said housing means, said housing means being adapted to be rotated at high speed to rotate said coil and the generally radially-outwardly projecting free end of said trimming line therewith; and clamping means associated with said housing means for securing said trimming line during rotation of said housing means and for releasing the trimming line for feeding of said trimming line from the center of said coil through said opening and said lateral passage without rotation of said coil, said clamping means including a clamping member disposed contiguous said lateral passage, a manually-movable operating member operatively connected to said clamping member to move said clamping member upon movement of said manually-movable operating member, and movement defining means including pivot means associating said clamping member with said housing means to define the movement of said clamping member and permitting rotation of said clamping member about said pivot means so that said clamping member moves to release said trimming line when said manually-movable operating member is moved in one direction and so that said clamping member moves to clamp said trimming line contiguous said lateral passage when said manually-movable operating member moved in another direction.

Claim 6

A head for a trimmer using flexible trimming line as the cutting implement comprising: housing means for containing a coil of trimming line, said housing means including a base having an opening therethrough and a lateral passage disposed in communication with said opening so that said trimming line can be fed from the center of said coil through said opening and said lateral passage to project the free end of said trimming line generally radially-outwardly from said housing means, said housing means being adapted to be rotated at high speed to rotate said coil and the generally radially-outwardly projecting free end of said trimming line therewith; and clamping means associated with said housing means for securing said trimming line during rotation of said housing means and for releasing the trimming line for feeding of said trimming line from the center of said coil through said opening and said lateral passage without rotation of said coil, said clamping means including a clamping member disposed contiguous said lateral passage, a manually-movable operating member operatively connected to said clamping member to move said clamping member upon movement of said manually-movable operating member, and movement defining means including pivot means associating said clamping member with said housing means to define the movement of said clamping member and permitting rotation of said clamping member about said pivot means so that said clamping member moves to release said trimming line when said manually-movable operating member is moved in one direction and so that said clamping member moves to clamp said trimming line contiguous said lateral passage when said manually-movable operating member moved in another direction.

Claim 7

A trimmer head according to claim 4 further having a second clamping member disposed contiguous said lateral passage and in opposition to said first-mentioned clamping member, said manually-movable operating member being operatively connected to said second clamping member to move said clamping member upon movement of said manually-movable operating member, further includes second pivot means associating said second clamping member with said housing means to define the movement of said second clamping member and permitting rotation of said second clamping member about said second pivot means so that said second clamping member moves to release said trimming line when said manually-movable operating member is moved in said one direction and so that said second clamping member moves to clamp said trimming line between said first-mentioned clamping member and said second clamping member when said manually-movable operating member is moved in said other direction.

Claim 8

A trimmer head according to claim 5 wherein said first pivot means includes first cylindrical recess and first cylindrical projection residing in said first recess, one of said first recess and said first projection being associated with said housing means and the other of said first recess and said first projection being associated with said first-mentioned clamping member, said first recess and said first projection causing said first-mentioned clamping member to rotate about the axis of said first recess and said first projection in said first direction to release said trimming line and in said second direction to clamp said trimming line.

Claim 9

A trimmer head according to claim 6 wherein said second pivot means includes a second cylindrical recess and a second cylindrical projection residing in said second recess, one of said second recess and said second projection being associated with said housing means and the other of said second recess and said second projection being associated with said second clamping member, said second recess and said second projection causing said second clamping member to rotate about the axis of said second recess and said second projection in said second direction to release said trimming line and in said first direction to clamp said trimming line.

Claim 10

A trimmer head according to claim 7 further including means for resiliently biasing said first-mentioned and said second clamping members in said second and first directions, respectively, to clamp said trimming line between said first and second clamping members contiguous said lateral passage.

Claim 11

A trimmer head according to claim 8 wherein said manually-movable operating member is movable in said one direction against said resilient bias to move said first-mentioned and said second clamping members in said first and second directions, respectively, to release said trimming line.