Echo, Inc.

Vestaron Corporation

Ryan Garrett

Stephen J Towner

Joseph John Zenkus

Brent Peterson

Fernando Iacona

Aida Smith

John Powers

Adaptor for rotary trimmer head

An adjustable system for facilitating establishment of an operative connection between a charging station and a rechargeable power supply on an operating unit that is propelled by a drive. The adjustable system has: an arm assembly on one of the charging station and the operating unit and supporting at least one connector; and at least one connector on the other of the charging station and the operating unit. The connectors, when engaged, establish an operative charging connection. The arm assembly is configured so that the at least one connector on the arm assembly can move in at least two dimensions relative to the one of the charging station and the operating unit to align with and engage the at least one connector on the other of the arm assembly and operating unit as an incident of the operating unit moving from a position spaced fully from the charging station into the charging position.

System for facilitating the charging of a battery-operated apparatus

The combination of: a) a wheeled operating unit having a drive powered by a rechargeable power supply and at least one connector; and b) a charging station having at least one connector. The at least one connector on the wheeled operating unit and the at least one connector on the charging station cooperate with each other to establish an operative connection between the charging station and the wheeled operating unit, whereupon the charging station is operable to effect charging of the rechargeable power supply. The operative connection can be established with the wheeled operating unit moved selectively from first and second different starting positions, each spaced fully from the charging station, respectively in first and second different path portions up to the charging station and into at least one charging position.

System for facilitating the charging of a wheeled battery-operated apparatus

A housing having a rotary axis and configured to support at least one radially projecting cutting component that effects cutting as the housing is turned around the rotary axis. The housing has a first housing part with a first wall and a plurality of discrete circumferentially spaced cavities in the first wall and each having a volume. The volumes of at least a first and second of the cavities respectively at first and second locations are different and strategically selected to cause a mass distribution on the housing that contributes to improved dynamic balancing of the housing as the housing is turned around the rotary axis.

Balanced housing construction for flexible line trimmer head

A system for facilitating operative connection between a charging station and a rechargeable power supply on an operating unit that is propelled by a drive, powered by the power supply, as to move over a subjacent surface. At least one connector is provided on the charging station and the operating unit. The connectors are configured to cooperate and establish an operative connection between the charging station and the operating unit. The operating unit is movable from a position spaced from the charging station into a charging position whereupon the connectors assume an engaged relationship. One of the charging station and the operating unit has a flat blade and the other of the charging station and operating unit has an elongate slot. The flat blade is movable guidingly within the elongate slot as the operating unit moves into the charging position.

System for facilitating connection between a charging station and a rechargeable power supply on an operating unit

A flexible line trimmer head has a housing with first and second parts and a spool for a supply of line. The first and second housing parts are configured to be moved from a spaced relationship towards each other along an operating axis whereupon cooperating connectors engage to block movement of the first and second housing parts away from each other along the axis. The cooperating connectors are provided in pairs at at least three different locations each spaced radially from the operating axis and in a circumferential direction from the other locations.

Flexible line trimmer head

A trimmer head housing having a first part and a second part. The first and second housing parts are configured to be changed between: a) a first state wherein the first and second housing parts are separated from each other; and b) a second state wherein the housing parts are operatively connected to be movable together around an operating axis. The operatively connected housing parts are configured to support at least one cutting component that is configured to effect cutting as the operatively connected housing parts are turned around the operating axis. The trimmer head housing has interacting parts cooperating between the first and second housing parts and configured to allow the first and second housing parts to be operatively connected with the first and second housing parts in only a single angular relationship with respect to the operating axis.

Trimmer head housing made up of releasably joined parts

A flexible line trimmer head has a housing with an operating axis and is made up of first and second parts configured to be placed in: a) a first state wherein the first and second housing parts are separated from each other; and b) a second state wherein the housing parts are operatively connected. The first and second housing parts configured so that in the second state a space is defined between the first and second housing parts within which an operatively positioned spool can be captively maintained. The flexible line trimmer head further has a unitary shaft that extends axially between, and connects to, each of the first and second housing parts to maintain a desired aligned relationship between the first and second housing parts.

An apparatus for forming a first component making up at least a part of a housing on a trimmer head and a method of using the apparatus. The housing has a rotary axis and is configured to support at least one radially projecting cutting component. The first component has a central axis. A forming unit defines at least one cavity within which a moldable material is confined to produce at least a part of a wall on the first component that extends around the rotary axis. The forming unit is configured to allow selective controlling of a quantity of a moldable material introduced into a first discrete subvolume at a first location in the one cavity to thereby allow selective controlling of a mass of a portion of the at least part of the wall formed by the moldable material in the one cavity at the first location to facilitate dynamic balancing of the housing, within which the first component is incorporated, with respect to the rotary axis.

Balanced housing construction for flexible line trimmer head and apparatus for forming the housing

A portable battery-operated tool has a frame on which there are a working component, a drive, and a battery assembly. The battery assembly consists of a battery with at least a first electrical connector and housing with at least a second electrical connector. The battery is movable guidingly between first and second positions. With the battery in the first position the at least first electrical connector is electrically engaged with the at least second electrical connector. With the battery in the second position the at least first electrical connector is electrically disengaged from the at least second electrical connector so that the battery is not powering the drive to allow the drive to be operated. The battery assembly further has a locking assembly through which the battery is selectively releasably fixed in the second position.

Growing community of inventors

Buffalo Grove, IL, United States of America

Ryan Garrett