Line retaining plate for trimmer head of string trimmer/mower apparatus

Abstract

A trimmer head assembly of a string trimmer mower apparatus has a stack of plates with a ground engaging member on one end of the stack. At the other end, the stack of plates is fastened to a rotating shaft that is driven in rotation by the motor or engine of the trimmer/mower. The plates of the stack have line retaining devices to which one or more lengths of cutting line are secured. Each plate is of a sufficient thickness to spread the respective line retaining devices axially or vertically apart from one another in suitable increments for providing cutting height adjustment selectively by securing a cutting line at the appropriate height. The line retaining devices enable the cutting line to be secured without tools and without disassembly of the trimmer head. Further, the line does not need to be clamped in place to ensure that it remains secured during high speed rotation of the trimmer head. The line retaining devices have two adjacent projections having channels formed around each projection that merge into a common channel at their one end. At the other end of the channels, opposite ends of a length of cutting line are inserted. The cutting line extends through the channels and out beyond the periphery of the plate. A mid portion of the line is tucked underneath a peripheral rim portion of the plate between the projections to secure the line in place.