Patent Application
20140133927
This invention relates in general to trimming landscape growth and in particular to trimming the area around lawn sprinkler heads.
Lawn and landscape trimming devices, including those to trim around sprinkler heads are knows including Pat. App. 2010/0230123 to Ortiz noting the abstract and FIG. 1; U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,026 to Deckert, Apr. 2, 1981 noting FIG. 1; U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,752 to Goodwin Jr., Nov. 9, 1982 noting the Abstract and FIG. 5 and Column 2; lines 30-50; U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,302 to Richter, Oct. 30, 1984 noting FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and Column 2; lines 32-49; U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,966 to Eden, Oct. 22, 1985 noting FIGS. 1 and 2; U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,788 to Taylor, Oct. 31, 1995 noting the Abstract and FIG. 1 through 5; U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,789 to Strickland, Oct. 24, 2000 noting the Abstract, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3; U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,782 to Plasek et al, Nov. 6, 2001 noting FIG. 1; U.S. Pat. No. 7,774,950 to Lasey, Aug. 17, 2010 noting the Abstract and FIG. 1 through 3; U.S. Pat. No. 8,109,006 to Knudsen noting the Abstract and FIG. 1; Pat. App. No. 20090255696 to Ortiz noting the Abstract and FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.
The patents and publications referred to herein are provided herewith in an Information Disclosure Statement in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97.
The present invention comprises an alignment frame which stabilizes a sprinkler head grass trimmer for accurate trimming
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The preferred embodiment of the apparatus of this disclosure is seen in
Each of the said alignment frame intermediate plate (101), alignment frame first plate (100) and alignment frame hole saw guide plate (103) have a plurality of alignment rod apertures (102) with each of the said alignment rod apertures (102) being in vertical alignment with at least one alignment rod apertures (102) in each of the said alignment frame intermediate plate (101), alignment frame first plate (100) and alignment frame hole saw guide plate (103).
A plurality of alignment rods (105) interconnect the said intermediate plate (101), alignment frame first plate (100) and alignment frame hole saw guide plate (103) wherein each of the alignment rods (105) is in vertical alignment with and inserted into at least one alignment rod aperture (102) in each of the said alignment frame intermediate plate (101), alignment frame first plate (100) and alignment frame hole saw guide plate (103); and the said intermediate plate (101) and alignment frame first plate (100) are parallel and are separated by at least one rigid spacer; the at least one or a plurality of alignment frame plate spacers (200) are immovably affixed to the said intermediate plate (101) and are 24 upstanding toward and in contact with and immovably affixed to the said alignment frame first plate (100); affixing the spacer is with glues, epoxies or other adhesives or chemical processes where the alignment frame members are comprised of plastics or carbon composites; affixing the spacer is generally with welding where the alignment frame members are comprised of metal; affixing the spacer may also be with other mechanical including brackets, nuts and bolts, screws, rivets and other mechanical devices when the alignment frame members (99) are composed of metal. Testing demonstrates that where the plurality of alignment frame members (99) are approximately 7″×7″, that a circular alignment frame plate spacers (200) of approximately 6.5″ in diameter and 4″ in height provides stability in the use and operation of the invention. A range height of 1″ to 4″ is preferred.
A plurality of elongated alignment rods (105) interconnect the said intermediate plate (101), alignment frame first plate (100) and alignment frame hole saw guide plate (103). Each of the alignment rods (105) is in vertical alignment with and movably inserted, for generally vertical movement, into at least one alignment rod aperture (102) in each of the said alignment frame intermediate plate (101), alignment frame first plate (100) and alignment frame hole saw guide plate (103). At least three elongated alignment rods (105) are expected to be found in the structure to assure stability and alignment of the invention when in use. However, the preferred embodiment, as seen in
The said intermediate plate (101) and alignment frame first plate (100) are parallel and are separated by at least one rigid spacer; the at least one or a plurality of alignment frame plate spacers (200) are immovably affixed to the said intermediate plate (101) and are upstanding toward and in contact with and immovably affixed to the said alignment frame first plate (100); affixing the spacer is with glues, epoxies or other adhesives or processes where the alignment frame members are comprised of plastics or carbon composites; affixing the spacer is generally with welding where the alignment frame members are comprised of welding. However, a person of ordinary skills in mechanical arts will recognize that other mechanical methods may be used including brackets, nuts and bolts, screws, rivets and other mechanical devices.
A hole saw shaft aperture (104) is centrally disposed in each of the said intermediate plate (101), alignment frame first plate (100) and alignment frame hole saw guide plate (103). Each of the said hole saw shaft apertures (104) are in alignment and an elongated rigid tubular hole saw shaft (106) is rotatably extended through each of the hole saw shaft apertures (104). A hole saw (220), generally formed from metal, is beneath the alignment frame hole saw guide plate (103). The said hole saw shaft (106) is immovably affixed to the hole saw (220) generally by metal welding. A chuck fixture (110) is affixed to the hole saw shaft (106) most distal to the hole saw (220). The chuck fixture (110) shaped or formed for secure fitting with a drill motor chuck or another motor fixture.
A hole saw depth limiter (210) is intermediate the alignment frame hole saw guide plate (103) and the hole saw (220). The hole saw depth limiter (210) is generally circular or semi circular and concentric with and encompasses the hole saw (220) and is rigidly affixed to the alignment frame hole saw guide plate (103) by weld (112). There is at least one alignment rod spring (300) which encompasses each alignment rod (105) between the alignment frame intermediate plate (101) and alignment frame hole saw guide plate (103) urging by a spring function the said alignment frame intermediate plate (101) and alignment frame hole saw guide plate (103) apart while allowing, by a spring function, a leveling of the Lawn Sprinkler Trimmer (1) relative to the sprinkler head to be trimmed.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that other modifications, substitutions and alternatives are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such modifications, substitutions and alternatives can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which should be determined from the appended claims. Various features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
