Quick loading trimmer head

Abstract

A hand-held cutting device including an elongated member graspable along a portion thereof by an operator, a trimmer head disposed at one end of the elongated member, and a power unit operably coupled to the trimmer head to selectively cause rotation of the trimmer head, wherein the trimmer head comprises a line holding assembly to hold and selectively release the trimmer line and a housing to house the line holding assembly, wherein the line holding assembly includes a core having a first portion and a second portion, and a spool configured to hold trimmer line that is operably coupled to the core, and wherein the second portion of the core is non-rotatably fixed to the first portion of the core when the trimmer head is in an at-rest state, and is rotatable with respect to the first position of the core when the trimmer head is in an in-use state and rotating.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A hand-held cutting device ( 10 ) comprising:
 an elongated member ( 45 ) graspable along a portion thereof by an operator;   a trimmer head ( 25 ) disposed at one end of the elongated member ( 45 ) and configured to be rotatable to perform a cutting function using trimmer line ( 70 ) held at a portion of the trimmer head ( 25 ); and   a power unit operably coupled to the trimmer head ( 25 ) to selectively cause rotation of the trimmer head ( 25 ) via turning a shaft,   wherein the trimmer head ( 25 ) comprises:
 a line holding assembly ( 110 ,  310 ) to hold and selectively release the trimmer line ( 70 ); and 
 a housing including a first housing portion ( 100 ) and a second housing portion ( 120 ) operably coupled to the first housing portion ( 100 ) to house the line holding assembly ( 110 ,  310 ), 
 wherein the line holding assembly ( 110 ,  310 ) includes a core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) having a first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) and a second portion ( 350 ,  450 ), and a spool ( 130 ,  130 ′) configured to hold the trimmer line ( 70 ) that is operably coupled to the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ), and 
 wherein the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) extends outwardly from the housing and is non-rotatably fixed to the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) when the trimmer head ( 25 ) is in an at-rest state, and is rotatable with respect to the first position ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) when the trimmer head is in an in-use state and rotating. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the line holding assembly ( 110 ,  310 ) is configured such that rotational movement of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) causes corresponding movement of the spool ( 130 ,  130 ′), but movement of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) in an axial direction ( 124 ) does not cause corresponding movement of the spool ( 130 ,  130 ′). 
     
     
         3 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing portion ( 100 ) is operably coupled to the shaft and turns responsive to operation of the power unit. 
     
     
         4 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) comprises a line channel ( 390 ) extending through the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) in a radial direction to receive the trimmer line ( 70 ) fed therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising a radial bearing ( 360 ) operably disposed between the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) and the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ). 
     
     
         6 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) is movable in the axial direction ( 124 ) to release trimmer line ( 70 ) from the spool ( 130 ,  130 ′), but the spool ( 130 ,  130 ′) does not substantially move in the axial direction ( 124 ) responsive to movement of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) in the axial direction ( 124 ). 
     
     
         7 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) comprises a locking projection ( 372 ) that is radially movable between a first radially outward position and a second radially inward position, and the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) defines a lock recess ( 352 ) configured to receive the locking projection ( 372 ) when it is disposed in its first position, thereby non-rotatably fixing the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) to the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ). 
     
     
         8 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , wherein the locking projection ( 372 ) depends radially outward from a first portion of a body ( 378 ) of a locking slide ( 370 ) that is disposed opposite a second portion of body ( 378 ) from which a counterweight ( 376 ) depends radially outwardly. 
     
     
         9 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 8 , further comprising a spring ( 374 ) that exerts a radially outward biasing force on locking projection ( 372 ). 
     
     
         10 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , wherein the locking projection is disposed on a first end of a locking lever ( 470 ) that is pivotally secured to the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ). 
     
     
         11 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 10 , wherein the locking lever ( 470 ) comprises a counterweight disposed on a second end of the locking lever ( 470 ) opposite the locking projection ( 372 ). 
     
     
         12 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) further comprises a third portion ( 195 ′) that is non-rotatably fixed to the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ). 
     
     
         13 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 12 , wherein the spool ( 130 ,  130 ′) is non-rotatably fixed to the third portion ( 195 ′) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ). 
     
     
         14 . A hand-held cutting device ( 10 ) comprising:
 an elongated member ( 45 ) graspable along a portion thereof by an operator;   a trimmer head ( 25 ) disposed at one end of the elongated member ( 45 ) and configured to be rotatable to perform a cutting function using trimmer line ( 70 ) held at a portion of the trimmer head ( 25 ); and   a power unit operably coupled to the trimmer head ( 25 ) to selectively cause rotation of the trimmer head ( 25 ) via turning a shaft,   wherein the trimmer head ( 25 ) comprises:
 a line holding assembly ( 110 ,  310 ) to hold and selectively release the trimmer line ( 70 ); and 
 a housing including a first housing portion ( 100 ) and a second housing portion ( 120 ) operably coupled to the first housing portion ( 100 ) to house the line holding assembly ( 110 ,  310 ), 
 wherein the line holding assembly ( 110 ,  310 ) includes a core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) having a first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) and a second portion ( 350 ,  450 ), a radial bearing ( 360 ) operably disposed between the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) and the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ), and a spool ( 130 ,  130 ′) configured to hold the trimmer line ( 70 ) that is operably coupled to the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ). 
   
     
     
         15 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the line holding assembly ( 110 ,  310 ) is configured such that rotational movement of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) causes corresponding movement of the spool ( 130 ,  130 ′), but movement of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) in an axial direction ( 124 ) does not cause corresponding movement of the spool ( 130 ,  130 ′). 
     
     
         16 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) extends outwardly from the housing and is non-rotatably fixed to the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) when the trimmer head ( 25 ) is in an at-rest state, and is rotatable with respect to the first position ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) when the trimmer head is in an in-use state and rotating. 
     
     
         17 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) comprises a line channel ( 390 ) extending through the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) in a radial direction to receive the trimmer line ( 70 ) fed therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the spool ( 130 ,  130 ′) is non-rotatably fixed to a third portion ( 195 ′) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ). 
     
     
         19 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 14 , wherein the first portion ( 342 , 442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) comprises a locking projection ( 372 ) that is radially movable between a first radially outward position and a second radially inward position, and the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) defines a lock recess ( 352 ) configured to receive the locking projection ( 372 ) when it is disposed in its first position, thereby non-rotatably fixing the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) to the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ). 
     
     
         20 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the locking projection ( 372 ) depends radially outward from a first portion of a body ( 378 ) of a locking slide ( 370 ) that is disposed opposite a second portion of body ( 378 ) from which a counterweight ( 376 ) depends radially outwardly. 
     
     
         21 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 20 , further comprising a spring ( 374 ) that exerts a radially outward biasing force on locking projection ( 372 ). 
     
     
         22 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the locking projection is disposed on a first end of a locking lever ( 470 ) that is pivotally secured to the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ). 
     
     
         23 . The device ( 10 ) of  claim 22 , wherein the locking lever ( 470 ) comprises a counterweight disposed on a second end of the locking lever ( 470 ) opposite the locking projection ( 372 ). 
     
     
         24 . A trimmer head ( 25 ) for a hand-held cutting device ( 10 ) comprises:
 a line holding assembly ( 110 ,  310 ) to hold and selectively release a trimmer line ( 70 ); the line holding assembly ( 110 ,  310 ) having:   a housing including a first housing portion ( 100 ) and a second housing portion ( 120 ) operably coupled to the first housing portion ( 100 ) to enclose the line holding assembly ( 110 ,  310 ); the line holding assembly ( 110 ,  310 ) includes a core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) having a first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) and a second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) and a spool ( 130 ,  130 ′) configured to hold the trimmer line ( 70 ) that is operably coupled to the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ), and wherein the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) extends outwardly from the housing ( 120 ),   wherein the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) is non-rotatably fixed to the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) when the trimmer head ( 25 ) is in an at-rest state, and is rotatable with respect to the first position ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) when the trimmer head is in an in-use state and rotating.   
     
     
         25 . The trimmer head ( 25 ) of  claim 24 , further comprising a radial bearing ( 360 ) operably disposed between the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) and the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 340 ). 
     
     
         26 . The trimmer head ( 25 ) of  claim 24 , wherein the spool ( 130 ,  130 ′) is non-rotatably fixed to the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ). 
     
     
         27 . The trimmer head ( 25 ) of  claim 25 , wherein the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) comprises a locking projection ( 372 ) that is radially movable between a first radially outward position and a second radially inward position, and the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) defines a lock recess ( 352 ) configured to receive the locking projection ( 372 ) when it is disposed in its first position, thereby non-rotatably fixing the second portion ( 350 ,  450 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ) to the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ). 
     
     
         28 . The trimmer head ( 25 ) of  claim 27 , wherein the locking projection ( 372 ) depends radially outward from a first portion of a body ( 378 ) of a locking slide ( 370 ) that is disposed opposite a second portion of body ( 378 ) from which a counterweight ( 376 ) depends radially outwardly. 
     
     
         29 . The trimmer head ( 25 ) of  claim 28 , further comprising a spring ( 374 ) that exerts a radially outward biasing force on locking projection ( 372 ). 
     
     
         30 . The trimmer head ( 25 ) of  claim 27 , wherein the locking projection is disposed on a first end of a locking lever ( 470 ) that is pivotally secured to the first portion ( 342 ,  442 ) of the core ( 140 ,  140 ′,  340 ).