US 12,213,403 B2
String trimmer head and spool
Beth E. Cholst, Wauwatosa, WI (US); and Troy C. Thorson, Cedarburg, WI (US)
Assigned to MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed by MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/410,094.
Application 17/410,094 is a continuation of application No. 16/129,504, filed on Sep. 12, 2018, granted, now 11,122,735.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/557,636, filed on Sep. 12, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0378173 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A01D 34/416 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 34/4166 (2013.01) [A01D 34/4163 (2013.01); A01D 34/4165 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A trimmer head comprising:
a housing assembly including a housing portion at least partially defining a cavity, the housing assembly rotatable about an axis and including a retainer selectively coupled to the housing portion, the retainer defining a first conical surface; and
a spool supported in the cavity and operable to support line to be dispensed, the spool being movable along the axis relative to the housing assembly, the spool defining a central portion and a second conical surface which extends continuously around the central portion, wherein the second conical surface cooperates with the first conical surface to center the spool during movement of the spool toward and in a position relative to the housing assembly;
wherein:
the retainer and the housing portion capture the spool, and
the spool and the retainer define cooperating teeth configured to drivingly couple the spool with the retainer; and
wherein the spool comprises:
the central portion extending along the axis,
a first flange proximate one end of the central portion,
a second flange proximate an opposite end of the central portion, and
an intermediate flange between the first flange and the second flange, the intermediate flange being in a flange plane, the flange plane being oriented non-perpendicular to the axis, wherein the second conical surface is positioned adjacent the second flange.