WO1998008372A1 - Necessaire d'adaptateurs pour attachement d'appareil de coupe de vegetation rotatif - Google Patents

Necessaire d'adaptateurs pour attachement d'appareil de coupe de vegetation rotatif Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1998008372A1
WO1998008372A1 PCT/US1997/015191 US9715191W WO9808372A1 WO 1998008372 A1 WO1998008372 A1 WO 1998008372A1 US 9715191 W US9715191 W US 9715191W WO 9808372 A1 WO9808372 A1 WO 9808372A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
attachment member
attachment
adapter kit
bore
trimming head
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/015191
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO1998008372A9 (fr
Inventor
Jeffrey B. Mounce
Bruce V. Diamond
Original Assignee
Mounce Jeffrey B
Diamond Bruce V
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mounce Jeffrey B, Diamond Bruce V filed Critical Mounce Jeffrey B
Publication of WO1998008372A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998008372A1/fr
Publication of WO1998008372A9 publication Critical patent/WO1998008372A9/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
    • A01D34/00—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters
    • A01D34/01—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus
    • A01D34/412—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters
    • A01D34/416—Flexible line cutters
    • A01D34/4168—Constructional details of the flexible lines
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
    • A01D34/00—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters
    • A01D34/01—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus
    • A01D34/412—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters
    • A01D34/416—Flexible line cutters
    • A01D34/4166—Mounting or replacement of the lines

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to rotary trimmers for trimming vegetation and, more specifically, to an adapter kit that allows one trimming head to be used with different models, sizes, and designs of rotary trimmers that are manufactured by various companies.
  • Rotary trimmers usually have a motor at the top end of an elongated support member and a trimming head at the lower end.
  • the trimming head has cutting members disposed on it.
  • a drive shaft is disposed within the support member and connects the motor, which can be electric or a two-cycle combustion engine, to the trimming head.
  • a mounting member disposed at the lower end of the drive shaft connects the trimming head to the drive shaft.
  • the motor drives the trimming head in a rotating pattern so that the spinning cutting members cut vegetation.
  • the user moves the rotating trimming head substantially parallel to the ground surface so that it cuts vegetation. Since the trimming head is relatively small, it can be easily manipulated in small areas and around obstacles. This ease of movement is not possible with larger vegetation trimming devices, such as a lawn mower.
  • cutting members can be disposed on the trimming head.
  • the most common attachment has mono-filament nylon lines that rotate with a sufficient angular velocity to cut grass and similar vegetation.
  • the line is usually disposed at two places on opposite sides of the trimming head and fed from a self-contained reel.
  • Another example of cutting members is flexible flat-link chains that are used to cut heavier vegetation but that still retain flexibility to prevent damage from occurring during incidental contact against fixed objects.
  • Such a design is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,631,828, issued to Burnett, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
  • Still another example of cutting members are pivotally mounted nylon blades. This embodiment is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,270,271, issued to Feldman et al.
  • a trimming head that is adapted to be used with a Weedeater ® brand rotary trimmer may not fit on a Toro ® brand rotary trimmer and vice versa.
  • the present invention satisfies the need in the art for an adapter kit that allows one trimming head to be used with different models and sizes of rotary trimmers.
  • the present invention encompasses an adapter kit that allows a single trimming head to attach to mounting members having different dimensions
  • the adapter kit preferably comprises a conversion member, an attachment member, a means for positioning the attachment member so that the attachment member is radially and longitudinally fixed relative to the conversion member, and a means for detachably securing the attachment member to the mounting member of the rotary trimmer.
  • the present invention thus alleviates the necessity for a consumer owning two different rotary trimmers to purchase one trimming head for one rotary trimmer and another trimming head for the other rotary trimmer.
  • This invention also allows a single replacement head to be sold packaged with a plurality of attachment members so that one package may be sold to be used with many models of rotary trimmers.
  • Fig. 1 is an exploded front view of one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is an exploded front view of a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 A is a side view of a conversion member of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3B is a bottom end view of the conversion member of Fig. 3A.
  • Fig. 4 A is a side view of a stud-type attachment member of the present invention.
  • Fig. 4B is a top end view of the attachment member of Fig. 4A.
  • the present invention encompasses an adapter kit 10 for connecting a trimming head 20 to a selected rotary trimmer 15.
  • the trimming head 20 uses cutting members 22, such as mono-filament lines (not shown), chains 22A, or blades 22B to cut vegetation.
  • the rotary trimmer 15 has a motor (not shown) and a drive shaft (not shown) connected to the motor.
  • the drive shaft which is disposed within a hollow, elongated support member 25, mechanically links a mounting member 26 disposed at its lower end to the motor disposed at the opposite, upper end of the support member 25.
  • a debris guard 29 is often placed adjacent the lower end of the support member 25.
  • the trimming head 20 has a center cavity 24 disposed through it to which the mounting member 26 connects.
  • the adapter kit 10 of the present invention connects the mounting member 26 to the trimming head 20
  • rotation of the rotary trimmer 15 causes the trimming head 20 to rotate, which thus allows the attached cutting members 22 to cut vegetation.
  • the adapter kit 10 preferably comprises a conversion member 30, an attachment member 40, a means for positioning the attachment member 40 so that the attachment member 40 is radially and longitudinally fixed relative to the conversion member 30, and a means for detachably securing the attachment member 40 to the mounting member 26 of the rotary trimmer 15.
  • An important aspect of the adapter kit 10 of the present invention is that it allows different models, brands, designs, and sizes of rotary trimmers to be individually connected to a single trimming head 20. Prior to the present invention, a user would have had to purchase one trimming head 20 designed to be used with a specific rotary trimmer and another trimming head 20 for a different rotary trimmer. The present invention advantageously allows a single trimming head 20 to be used with many different rotary trimmers.
  • the conversion member 30 has an upper end 32 disposed adjacent the rotary trimmer 15, an opposite lower end 34, and an outer surface 36.
  • the conversion member 30 also defines a longitudinally-extending bore 37 therethrough.
  • the bore 37 forms an inner surface 38 within the conversion member 30.
  • the outer surface 36 of the conversion member 30 is of a size to be complementarily received in and secured to the center cavity 24 of the trimming head 20.
  • the outer surface 36 of the conversion member 30 and the surface of the center cavity 24 further comprise an interlocking means.
  • the interlocking means comprises the surfaces of the center cavity 24 and the conversion member 30 engaging each other so that the two surfaces interlock.
  • the two surfaces have a plurality of complementary, longitudinally-extending ribs 39, wherein the ribs 39 are radially locked with each other.
  • This interlocking means is advantageous to prevent radial slippage as the mounting member 26 rotates the trimming head 20.
  • Other interlocking means can include complementary threaded connections and other complementarily shaped surfaces that prevent radial slippage.
  • one attachment member 40 is selected from a plurality of attachment members 40, in which each of the attachment members 40 can be attached to a rotary trimmer 15 of a different size or design. That is, although there are preferably a plurality of attachment members 40 in the adapter kit 10 of the present invention, one attachment member 40 is used at a time.
  • the attachment member 40 used is for a predetermined rotary trimmer 15 and the other attachment members 40 are for other brands, models, configurations, or sizes of rotary trimmers.
  • Each of the attachment members 40 has a first end 42, an opposed second end 44, and an exterior surface 46. At least a portion of the exterior surface 46 of each attachment member 40 is of a size to be complementarily received within the bore 37 of the conversion member 30.
  • the design of the attachment member 40 is important of the positioning means, which preferably radially and longitudinally fixes the attachment member 40 relative to the conversion member 30.
  • the portion of the exterior surface 46 of the attachment member 40 that is received within the bore 37 of the conversion member 30 has at least three substantially flat faces 48. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4A, and 4B, each face 48 has opposed edges 49 so that each of the edges 49 is juxtaposed with one edge 49 of another face 48. The faces 48 circumscribe the exterior surface 46 of the attachment member 40.
  • the attachment member 40 has six substantially flat faces 48 circumscribing the exterior surface 46 of the attachment member 40 so that the exterior surface 46 of the attachment member 40 forms a hexagon in cross section. This portion of the exterior surface 46 of the attachment member 40 is thus similar to a conventional "hex" nut
  • the detachably securing means attaches the attachment member 40 to the mounting member 26 of the rotary trimmer 15
  • a male connector 26A extending therefrom
  • a female connector 26B a female connector
  • the attachment member 40 defines a longitudinally-extending opening 50 through at least a portion thereof in which the opening 50 has an end 52 disposed adjacent the first end 42 of the attachment member 40
  • the opening 50 forms an interior surface 54 within the attachment member 40
  • the opening 50 is of a size to complementarily receive at least a portion of the male connector 26 A of the mounting member 26 of one predetermined rotary trimmer 15
  • the detachably securing means comprises the interior surface 54 of the opening 50 and at least a portion of the male connector 26A of the mounting member 26 of the rotary trimmer 15 having complementary threaded surfaces that engage each other.
  • This embodiment is a "nut-type" attachment member.
  • the attachment member 40 has a stud portion 56 extending therefrom, instead of having an opening 50. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4 A, the stud portion 56 protrudes from the first end 42 of the attachment member 40. The stud portion 56 is of a size to be complementarily received within the female connector 26B of the mounting member 26 of one predetermined rotary trimmer 15. A shaft sleeve 29 is also used with this embodiment for establishing and maintaining the spacing and alignment of the trimming head 20 relative to the rotary trimmer 15.
  • the detachably securing means similar to the nut-type attachment member 40, preferably comprises the female connector of the mounting member 26 and at least a portion of the stud portion 56 having complementary threaded surfaces that engage each other in this embodiment.
  • This embodiment is a "stud-type" attachment member.
  • each of the nut-type attachment members has a different inside thread diameter and each of the stud-type attachment members has a different outside thread diameter so that the adapter kit 10 can be used with the mounting members 26 of all types of rotary trimmers.
  • the different rotary trimmers include brands such as Weedeater ® , Echo ® , Homelite ® , John Deere ® , McCulloch ® , and the like.
  • the positioning means ensures that the attachment member 40 is radially fixed relative to the conversion member 30.
  • the positioning means preferably comprises the bore 37 of the conversion member 30 being of a size to complementarily receive and securably engage the attachment member 40 therein so that the attachment member 40 is radially fixed relative to the conversion member 30.
  • the conversion member 30 and the attachment member 40 are both hex- shaped, similar to a socket wrench and a correspondingly sized nut.
  • the complementary shapes of the conversion member 30 and the attachment member 40 are shown in Figs. 3B and 4B, respectively. Tests show that a 1/2, 9/16th and 5/8th inch hex-shaped attachment members 40 are all desirable.
  • the mounting member 26 of the rotary trimmer 15 is connected to the attachment member 40, which is disposed within and radially fixed relative to the conversion member 30
  • the conversion member 30 is secured to the center cavity 24 of the trimming head Accordingly, rotation of the mounting member 26 by the motor causes the attachment member 40 to rotate and the conversion member 30 to rotate so that the trimming head correspondingly rotates. Rotation of the trimming head 20 allows the user to cut vegetation safely
  • the positioning means preferably further comprises a means for locating the first end 42 of the attachment member 40 at a desired longitudinal position within the bore 37 of the conversion member 30
  • a circular bore has a diameter and, if the bore is not circular, then it has an effective diameter, in which
  • D eff (2)x((A bore )/( ⁇ )) 05 , wherein D eff is the effective diameter and A t , ⁇ . is the cross-sectional area of the bore 37
  • the preferred locating means encompasses the effective diameter of the upper end 32 of the bore 37 of the conversion member 30, shown as D,, being smaller than the effective diameter of the lower end 34 of the bore 37, shown as D 2
  • the first end 42 of the attachment member 40 is slidably received into the lower end 34 of the bore 37
  • the first end 42 of the attachment member 40 longitudinally traverses at least a portion of the bore 37 until the first end 42 contacts the portion of the bore 37 adjacent its upper end 32 where the effective diameter decreases Accordingly, the attachment member 40 is positioned at a desired longitudinal position within the bore 37
  • the upper end 32 of the bore 37 which has the smaller diameter D 2 , is disposed between the first end 42 of the attachment member 40 and the rotary trimmer 15 and is held there by the detachably securing means.
  • the locating means fixes the attachment member 40 at the desired longitudinal position and the detachably securing means holds the attachment member 40 at this desired longitudinal position by the respective male or female connector 26A, 26B connecting to the attachment member 40.
  • a selected one of the plurality of attachment members 40 can be directly disposed within the center cavity 24 of the trimming head 20 without the conversion member 30. That is, the conversion member 30 is not used and the positioning means comprises the attachment member 40 being radially fixed relative to the trimming head 20.
  • This alternate embodiment is not preferred because of engineering considerations. For example, it is equally effective to design a smaller conversion member 30 to handle the stresses of operating the rotary trimmer 15 cutting vegetation as opposed to a larger trimming head 20 to handle these same stresses.
  • the conversion member 30 is made of a material, such as ceramic filled nylon or a hardened plastic, to handle the operating stresses and the trimming head 20 is made from a more ductile plastic. In the alternate embodiment that does not use a conversion member 30, the entire trimming head 20 would have to be harder, and therefore more brittle, for the stress loading requirements.
  • the preferred attachment member 40 is made of steel or similar material.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Harvester Elements (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un nécessaire d'adaptateurs (10) comprenant un élément de conversion (30), un moyen (37, 39) pour positionner l'élément d'attache (40) de sorte qu'il soit fixé radialement et longitudinalement par rapport à l'élément de conversion (30), et un moyen (28A, 28B) permettant de fixer de manière amovible l'élément d'attache (40) à l'élément de support (26) de l'appareil de coupe de végétation rotatif (15). Lorsque le nécessaire d'adaptateurs (10) de l'invention relie l'élément de support (26) à la tête de coupe (20), la rotation de l'appareil de coupe rotatif (15) fait tourner la tête de coupe (20), ce qui permet aux éléments de coupe fixés (22) de couper la végétation. Le nécessaire d'adaptateurs (10) permet la liaison séparée à une seule tête de coupe (20) d'appareils de coupe rotatifs de différents modèles, marques et tailles, grâce à un élément d'attache (40) conçu pour être relié à l'élément de support (26) de l'appareil de coupe rotatif (15).
PCT/US1997/015191 1996-08-28 1997-08-28 Necessaire d'adaptateurs pour attachement d'appareil de coupe de vegetation rotatif WO1998008372A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US2483396P 1996-08-28 1996-08-28
US60/024,833 1996-08-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998008372A1 true WO1998008372A1 (fr) 1998-03-05
WO1998008372A9 WO1998008372A9 (fr) 1998-06-11

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2334657A (en) * 1998-02-25 1999-09-01 Bruce John Carlson A string trimmer and rotovator adaptor
WO2000072657A1 (fr) * 1999-06-01 2000-12-07 Michel Chabrut Dispositif pour la fixation d'une tete porte-fils de debroussailleuse a l'arbre moteur rotatif d'entrainement d'une telle tete
FR2794337A1 (fr) * 1999-06-01 2000-12-08 Claude Leroux Dispositif a fils pour couper l'herbe et les broussailles
EP1769663A1 (fr) * 2005-09-29 2007-04-04 Siegfried Parras Adaptateur de coupe pour une motofaucheuse
ITAR20090008A1 (it) * 2009-01-21 2010-07-22 Loriano Brogi Testina tagliaerba, particolarmente per decespugliatori

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4685279A (en) * 1986-01-17 1987-08-11 Gullett Bradley T Weed trimmer
US4926557A (en) * 1988-07-21 1990-05-22 Allegretti & Company Semi-automatic string trimmer head
US5010649A (en) * 1989-05-20 1991-04-30 Andreas Stihl Cutterhead for a vegetation cutter apparatus

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4685279A (en) * 1986-01-17 1987-08-11 Gullett Bradley T Weed trimmer
US4926557A (en) * 1988-07-21 1990-05-22 Allegretti & Company Semi-automatic string trimmer head
US5010649A (en) * 1989-05-20 1991-04-30 Andreas Stihl Cutterhead for a vegetation cutter apparatus

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2334657A (en) * 1998-02-25 1999-09-01 Bruce John Carlson A string trimmer and rotovator adaptor
GB2334657B (en) * 1998-02-25 2000-02-16 Bruce John Carlson Garden trimmer and rotovator adapter
WO2000072657A1 (fr) * 1999-06-01 2000-12-07 Michel Chabrut Dispositif pour la fixation d'une tete porte-fils de debroussailleuse a l'arbre moteur rotatif d'entrainement d'une telle tete
FR2794337A1 (fr) * 1999-06-01 2000-12-08 Claude Leroux Dispositif a fils pour couper l'herbe et les broussailles
EP1769663A1 (fr) * 2005-09-29 2007-04-04 Siegfried Parras Adaptateur de coupe pour une motofaucheuse
ITAR20090008A1 (it) * 2009-01-21 2010-07-22 Loriano Brogi Testina tagliaerba, particolarmente per decespugliatori

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