A subassembly for a trimmer head of a power tool, the subassembly including: a flywheel; and a cartridge including a segment of trimmer line, wherein the cartridge is removably keyed to the flywheel, wherein the subassembly is configured to be operatively coupled to a motor of the power tool, and wherein the subassembly is removably positionable in a housing of the power tool.

A trimmer head for use with either clockwise or counterclockwise trimmer heads, including the use of a bidirectionally dispensing spool. Various locations of passages straight through the trimmer head and spool are shown along with various locations of components of the ratcheting mechanism to allow for winding of the trimmer line on the trimmer head and for limiting the amount of line dispensed during “bumping” of the trimmer head knob on the ground. Additionally, an extended funnel into the passage can be provided to facilitate entrance of trimmer line into the funnel even when the line is not perfectly straight. Also, spokes can be used in place of the flanges of the spool to save material and cost, while still providing a guide and barrier between the line store areas.

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.

A trimmer head for use with either clockwise or counterclockwise trimmer heads, including the use of a bidirectionally dispensing spool. Various locations of passages straight through the trimmer head and spool are shown along with various locations of components of the ratcheting mechanism to allow for winding of the trimmer line on the trimmer head and for limiting the amount of line dispensed during “bumping” of the trimmer head knob on the ground. Additionally, an extended funnel into the passage can be provided to facilitate entrance of trimmer line into the funnel even when the line is not perfectly straight. Also, spokes can be used in place of the flanges of the spool to save material and cost, while still providing a guide and barrier between the line store areas.

A hand-held cutting device (10) including an elongated member (45) graspable along a portion thereof by an operator, a trimmer head (25) disposed at one end of the elongated member, and a power unit operably coupled to the trimmer head to selectively cause rotation of the trimmer head, wherein the trimmer head comprises a line holding assembly (110) to hold and selectively release the trimmer line (70) and a housing to house the line holding assembly, wherein the line holding assembly includes a core (340) having a first portion (342) and a second portion (350), and a spool (130) configured to hold trimmer line that is operably coupled to the core, and wherein the second portion of the core is non-rotatably fixed to the first portion of the core when the trimmer head is in an at-rest state, and is rotatable with respect to the first position of the core when the trimmer head is in an in-use state and rotating.

A trimmer head for use with either clockwise or counterclockwise trimmer heads, including the use of a bidirectionally dispensing spool. Various locations of passages straight through the trimmer head and spool are shown along with various locations of components of the ratcheting mechanism to allow for winding of the trimmer line on the trimmer head and for limiting the amount of line dispensed during “bumping” of the trimmer head knob on the ground. Additionally, an extended funnel into the passage can be provided to facilitate entrance of trimmer line into the funnel even when the line is not perfectly straight. Also, spokes can be used in place of the flanges of the spool to save material and cost, while still providing a guide and barrier between the line store areas.

A strand trimmer and method of use thereof. The strand trimmer includes a pair of pivotable arms each having a motor, a follower wheel, and a cutter-spindle assembly disposed thereon. The arms are biased toward one another and are guided by the follower wheels to pivot around obstacles passing between the arms. The motor rotates the cutter-spindle assembly to move cutting strands extending therefrom through a cutting path with sufficient rotational velocity to cut vegetation. The cutter-spindle assembly includes a spool and a strand-feed mechanism. The spool is oriented to rotate about a horizontal axis. The strand-feed mechanism includes a solenoid actuated plunger within a shaft of the cutter-spindle assembly. The plunger engages the spool to control rotation of the spool and thereby feeding out of incremental lengths of the strand.

A cartridge for a trimmer head and a trimmer. The trimmer head may include a housing assembly with a top member drivingly engaging a drive shaft of a trimmer. The cartridge may include a cartridge housing operable to support a line; and a brake assembly operable in a braking condition to selectively apply a force to the line to prevent line from being dispensed. The braking assembly may be operable between the braking condition and a release condition in an auto-feed mode, in cooperation with a flyweight, and in a bump-feed mode, when a bump member engages a surface.

A trimmer head for use with either clockwise or counterclockwise trimmer heads, including the use of a bidirectionally dispensing spool. Various locations of passages straight through the trimmer head and spool are shown along with various locations of components of the ratcheting mechanism to allow for winding of the trimmer line on the trimmer head and for limiting the amount of line dispensed during “bumping” of the trimmer head knob on the ground. Additionally, an extended funnel into the passage can be provided to facilitate entrance of trimmer line into the funnel even when the line is not perfectly straight. Also, spokes can be used in place of the flanges of the spool to save material and cost, while still providing a guide and barrier between the line store areas.

A trimmer head for use with either clockwise or counterclockwise trimmer heads, including the use of a bidirectionally dispensing spool. Various locations of passages straight through the trimmer head and spool are shown along with various locations of components of the ratcheting mechanism to allow for winding of the trimmer line on the trimmer head and for limiting the amount of line dispensed during “bumping” of the trimmer head knob on the ground. Additionally, an extended funnel into the passage can be provided to facilitate entrance of trimmer line into the funnel even when the line is not perfectly straight. Also, spokes can be used in place of the flanges of the spool to save material and cost, while still providing a guide and barrier between the line store areas.