Patent Application
20120085855
Not Applicable
The present invention relates generally to the field of lawn maintenance, and more particularly to a re-spooler device for weed trimmer devices
This invention relates to a compact trimmer mounted spooling labor saving/reel device also known as the device which includes a means for spooling trimer line in an enclosed housing while simultaneously through means of a level wind device and line tensioner provide an even distribution of line onto a trimmer reel.
Re-spooling of weed trimming device lines is generally a time consuming and burdensome chore. Often the operator of a weed trimming device has to stop for extended periods of time to spool trimmer reels by hand. The result of hand spooling is often time consuming and inefficient. Problems with hand-spooling include the following. Hand spooling can cause unevenly distributed line to be placed onto reels and may result in line wastage and snags, snags occur during weed trimming when line that has been unevenly distributed onto a spool fails to exude properly from the spool. Problems with hand spooling also include a loss of control of spool line due to the elastic nature of the line. Often the operator of a weed trimming device has to re-spool the device several times due to the spring like nature of weed trimmer line and it subsequently coming unwound.
The device aims to solve this problem through means of a level wind device for uniform distribution of line and by means of the unique geometrical design of the housing, gear and lug system functioning to keep tension and control of the elastic nature of the line.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,531,816 to Homoky discloses a spool rewinder for fishing reel devices using ratchet connections on the crank face to engage the spool to turn it but does not include a level wind for uniform line delivery. U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,086 to Crow discloses a spool rewinder for monofilament lawn line trimmer devices however the shaft to the spool is not a reel type trimmer mounted for ease of access and convenience.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,632 to Chilcoat discloses a spool rewinder for monofilament lawn line trimmer devices using threads to hold the spool to the shaft but does not implement a spring loaded retractable multi-fit lug spool device. U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,029 to Robertson et al discloses a spool rewinder for monofilament lawn line trimmer devices using lug keys to engage the lugs on two types of spools does not include a top loading trimmer mounted device U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,172 to Koehler et al discloses a spool winder for fishing line devices using a pressure to hold the spool to the shaft this device does not implement a spring loaded multi-fit lug spool device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,839 to Burch discloses a spool rewinder for monofilament fishing line using but does not implement a level wind worm gear device for spooling line uniformly.
None of these devices satisfy the needs described above or attain the objects enumerated above Therefore the chief aim of this device is to provide a means of re-spooling weed trimmer devices and by simplifying this task will enable a user to re-spool the reel without having to turn it in the hand, loose control of the line and be able to uniformly distribute line onto spools.
The compact trimmer mounted spooling/reel device includes a means for spooling trimer line in an enclosed housing while simultaneously through means of a level wind apparatus provide an even distribution of line onto a trimmer reel. The device uses a rotating handle or motor and gear system which simultaneously rotates the spool on a drive shaft and drives a worm gear to function a level winding apparatus. Trimmer line is fed through the eye of the level wind apparatus (a worm gear and worm drive with a guide) and distributed on the spool evenly. The guide apparatus also comprises a system that constricts the line creating tension from the guide apparatus to the spool being wound. The housing functions to enclose the spool in an enclosed system to help provide and maintain control of the line as it is spooling and a ratchet system prevents backlash. Spools are held in place by a rotating, retractable spring-loaded multi-fit and tapered lug apparatus. When spools are loaded and the device is engaged mechanically the entire device functions to wind line onto weed trimmer line spools. The housing, housing cover and the handle are constructed from polymeric plastic, such a rigid polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, ABS, or preferably an engineering plastic, The drive gears are nylon or plastic construction. The mounting system comprises an adjustable clamp which will be affixed to the weed trimmer shaft. These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts through’
This invention comprises an elongated cylindrically designed compact spooling/reel type device otherwise know as the device for the purpose of spooling weed trimmer line in an enclosed housing while simultaneously through means of a level wind apparatus provide an even distribution of line onto a weed trimmer spool. The elongated cylindrically shaped housing of the device functions to enclose the spool in an enclosed system to help provide and maintain control of the line as it is spooling and for storage of a spare spool. A replaceable spool supplied by the manufacturer is loaded through the top section of the device and held in place inside the device by laterally directed pressure exerted from a retractable spring loaded, rotating and tapered multi-fit lug apparatus located on one side of the device. The tapered multi fit lug apparatus is engaged by the mechanical action of pulling a knob located on one side of the device creating an opening between the tapered multi-fit drive shaft lug and the tapered multi-fit lug apparatus on which spools are set. The shape and design of the tapered lug apparatus function to accommodate different size spools on the market today. When the handle apparatus is engaged mechanically the spool is rotated along the axis of the multi fit lugs and the multi-fit lugs rotate to accommodate the centrifugal motion of the device.
The device also comprises a handle crank or motor and gear system which rotates the replaceable spool via a drive shaft which comprises an axil attached to a crank handle mounted thru the device on one end and a tapered multi fit lug rigidly attached on the other on which the trimmer spool is set. The multi fit lug is tapered and constructed in such a way as to accommodate different size spools which are on the market today. When mechanically engaged the device through means of a gear attached to the drive shaft also engages a worm gear located on the front of the device which functions a level winding guide this system comprises a feature known as the level wind apparatus. Trimmer line is fed through the eye of the level wind apparatus and distributed onto a spool evenly by the sliding and side to side action of the level wind apparatus. The housing cover and the handle are constructed from polymeric plastic, such a rigid polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, ABS, or preferably an engineering plastic. The drive gears are nylon or plastic construction.
The mounting system comprises an adjustable clamp which will allow the device to be affixed to the weed trimmer shaft.
The device is described and referenced hereinafter in FIGS. 1,2,3,4 as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,531,816 to Homoky discloses a spool rewinder for fishing reel devices using ratchet connections on the crank face to engage the spool to turn it but does not include a level wind for uniform line delivery. U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,086 to Crow discloses a spool rewinder for monofilament lawn line trimmer devices however the shaft to the spool is not a reel type trimmer mounted for ease of access and convenience. U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,632 to Chilcoat discloses a spool rewinder for monofilament lawn line trimmer devices using threads to hold the spool to the shaft but does not implement a spring loaded retractable multi-fit lug spool device. U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,029 to Robertson et al discloses a spool rewinder for monofilament lawn line trimmer devices using lug keys to engage the lugs on two types of spools does not include a top loading trimmer mounted device U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,172 to Koehler et al discloses a spool winder for fishing line devices using a pressure to hold the spool to the shaft this device does not implement a spring loaded multi-fit lug spool device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,839 to Burch discloses a spool rewinder for monofilament fishing line using but does not implement a level wind worm gear device for spooling line uniformly.
None of these devices satisfy the needs described above or attain the objects enumerated above Therefore the chief aim of this device is to provide a means of re-spooling weed trimmer devices and by simplifying this task will enable a user to re-spool the reel without having to turn it in the hand, loose control of the line and be able to uniformly distribute line onto spools.
The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Reel Type Spool Winder Apparatus illustrated in
While this invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and the patent is intended to include modifications and changes that may come within and extend from the following claims.
