String trimmer head with curved trimmer line guide

Abstract

A trimmer head assembly for a trimming machine. The trimmer head assembly includes a spool. The spool has a central tubular hub. The spool also has a central flange that radially extends from the hub. A trim line conduit is joined to the central flange. The trim line conduit has a first open end. The first open end leads to a first straight section. The first straight section leads to a curved central section. The curved central section leads to a second straight section. The second straight section leads to a second open end. The curved central section passes around the center of the spool. A housing is provided that receives the spool therein. When loading trimmer line into the trimmer head assembly, the shaped of the conduit enables the trimmer line to pass around the central opening in the spool without binding.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A spool for a trimmer head of a vegetation trimmer machine comprising:
 a cylindrical core;   a first horizontal flange extending radially outwardly from a wall of the cylindrical core;   a second horizontal flange extending radially outwardly from the wall of the cylindrical core; and   a storage space for trimmer line defined between the first horizontal flange and the second horizontal flange;   an unobstructed trimmer line guide channel integrally formed in the first horizontal flange, wherein the trimmer line guide channel extends from a first side of the spool to a generally opposing second side of the spool and is of a substantially constant diameter;   wherein the trimmer line guide channel is coplanar with the first horizontal flange and has a first opening and a second opening that are adapted for direct alignment to eyelet openings in a housing of the trimmer head;   wherein the first and second openings of the trimmer line guide channel form a funnel or are flare-shaped and include a side relief opening adapted to direct the trimmer line toward the cylindrical core wall and into the storage space.   
     
     
         2 . The spool of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a third horizontal flange extending radially outwardly from a wall of the cylindrical core. 
 
     
     
         3 . The spool of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a second storage space for trimmer line defined between the first horizontal flange and the third horizontal flange. 
 
     
     
         4 . The spool of  claim 3  wherein the first and second openings of the trimmer line guide channel are adapted to direct the trimmer line toward the cylindrical core wall and into the first storage space and into the second storage space. 
     
     
         5 . The spool of  claim 1  wherein the trimmer line guide channel further comprises:
 a first straight section extending between the first opening and a curved central section; and 
 a second straight section extending between the curved central section and the second opening. 
 
     
     
         6 . The spool of  claim 5  wherein the trimmer guide line channel further comprises:
 a second curved central section between the first and second straight sections. 
 
     
     
         7 . The spool of  claim 1  wherein the trimmer line guide channel further comprises:
 a first straight section extending between the first opening and a central relief section; 
 a second straight section extending between the central relief section and the second opening; 
 a first deflector having a first offset salient point disposed within the central relief section; and 
 a second deflector having a second offset salient point disposed within the central relief section. 
 
     
     
         8 . The spool of  claim 7  wherein the first deflector and first offset salient point is oriented towards the first straight section; and wherein the second deflector and second offset salient point is oriented towards the second straight section. 
     
     
         9 . The spool of  claim 7  wherein the first deflector and first offset salient point are angled to deflect trimmer line to the right as trimmer line is inserted through the first straight section via the first opening; and wherein the second deflector and second offset salient point are angled to deflect trimmer line to the right as trimmer line is inserted through the second straight section via the second opening. 
     
     
         10 . A spool for a trimmer head of a vegetation trimmer machine comprising:
 a cylindrical core;   a first horizontal flange extending radially outwardly from a wall of the cylindrical core;   a second horizontal flange extending radially outwardly from the wall of the cylindrical core; and   a storage space for trimmer line defined between the first horizontal flange and the second horizontal flange;   an unobstructed trimmer line guide channel integrally formed in the second horizontal flange and the wall of the cylindrical core, wherein the trimmer line guide channel extends from a first side of the spool to a generally opposing second side of the spool and is of a substantially constant diameter;   wherein the trimmer line guide channel is coplanar with the second horizontal flange and has a first opening and a second opening that are adapted for direct alignment to eyelet openings in a housing of the trimmer head;   wherein the first and second openings of the trimmer line guide channel form a funnel or are flare-shaped and include a side relief opening adapted to direct the trimmer line toward the cylindrical core wall and into the storage space.   
     
     
         11 . The spool of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a third horizontal flange extending radially outwardly from a wall of the cylindrical core. 
 
     
     
         12 . The spool of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a second storage space for trimmer line defined between the first horizontal flange and the third horizontal flange. 
 
     
     
         13 . The spool of  claim 12  wherein the first and second openings of the trimmer line guide channel are adapted to direct the trimmer line toward the cylindrical core wall and into the first storage space and into the second storage space. 
     
     
         14 . The spool of  claim 10  wherein the trimmer line guide channel further comprises:
 a first straight section extending between the first opening and a curved central section; and 
 a second straight section extending between the curved central section and the second opening. 
 
     
     
         15 . The spool of  claim 14  wherein the trimmer guide line channel further comprises:
 a second curved central section between the first and second straight sections. 
 
     
     
         16 . The spool of  claim 10  wherein the trimmer line guide channel further comprises:
 a first straight section extending between the first opening and a central relief section; 
 a second straight section extending between the central relief section and the second opening; 
 a first deflector having a first offset salient point disposed within the central relief section; and 
 a second deflector having a second offset salient point disposed within the central relief section. 
 
     
     
         17 . The spool of  claim 16  wherein the first deflector and first offset salient point is oriented towards the first straight section; and wherein the second deflector and second offset salient point is oriented towards the second straight section. 
     
     
         18 . The spool of  claim 16  wherein the first deflector and first offset salient point are angled to deflect trimmer line to the right as trimmer line is inserted through the first straight section via the first opening; and wherein the second deflector and second offset salient point are angled to deflect trimmer line to the right as trimmer line is inserted through the second straight section via the second opening. 
     
     
         19 . A method of loading trimmer line onto a trimmer head comprising:
 aligning a first guide opening of a spool with a first eyelet opening in a housing of the trimmer head, the spool further comprising:
 a cylindrical core; 
 a first horizontal flange extending radially outwardly from a wall of the cylindrical core; 
 a second horizontal flange extending radially outwardly from the wall of the cylindrical core; 
 a storage space for trimmer line defined between the first horizontal flange and the second horizontal flange; 
 an unobstructed trimmer line guide channel integrally formed in one of the first horizontal flange or the second horizontal flange, wherein the trimmer line guide channel extends from a first side of the spool to a generally opposing second side of the spool and is of a substantially constant diameter; and 
 wherein the trimmer line guide channel is coplanar with the horizontal flange in which its formed and has the first guide opening at the first side of the spool and a second guide opening at the second side of the spool; 
 aligning the second guide opening of a spool with a second eyelet opening in the housing of the trimmer head; 
 inserting an end of a single length of trimmer line into the first eyelet opening of the housing; 
 advancing the single length of trimmer line into the first guide opening of the spool, through the line guide channel and, bypassing the central second opening, through the second guide opening; and out of the second eyelet opening of the housing; and 
 winding the trimmer line around the wall of the cylindrical core and into the storage space. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the first guide opening and second guide opening of the trimmer line guide channel form a funnel or are flare-shaped and include a side relief opening adapted to direct the trimmer line toward the wall of the cylindrical core and into the storage space.