초록 ▼

A garden cleaning implement (10) for weeds and the like comprising a cutting mechanism (14) and a retractable guard mechanism (28), generally free to “float”up and down about the cutter mechanism, carried on, for example, an extended pole handle (22). The cutting mechanism includes－an associated rot

A garden cleaning implement (10) for weeds and the like comprising a cutting mechanism (14) and a retractable guard mechanism (28), generally free to “float”up and down about the cutter mechanism, carried on, for example, an extended pole handle (22). The cutting mechanism includes－an associated rotational power source (16/116); an intermediate, rotatable shaft (18) connected thereto; and a rotatable, rectangular blade, cutting member (20). The guard mechanism includes－a cylindrically-shaped, retractable housing (28) providing an enclosing cavity of a size sufficient to receive therein and protectively cover over the rotating cutting member; and a guide means (32) for guiding the retraction of the retractable housing along a path substantially parallel to the rotatable shaft\s longitudinal axis between first, lower and second, upper positions, in which the rotatable cutting member is disposed within the enclosing cavity, and in which the rotatable cutting member is below and outside of the enclosing cavity, respectively. When the cutter mechanism is above ground level, the guard mechanism is in its down, cutter covering position under the force of gravity or biasing springs (68), protecting the user and any surrounding desirable vegetation (V) from the cutter; but, when the cutter mechanism is lowered down into the ground to macerate the weed roots and till the ground (G) around the roots, the guard mechanism is raised up by the ground contact of its lower periphery on the ground, allowing the cutter mechanism to easily go down into the soil outside of the protective enclosure as the guard moves up.

대표청구항 ▼

A garden cleaning implement for cutting and macerating weeds and the like, both above and below the ground line, comprising: a hand carryable cutting mechanism, including a) a rotatable shaft operationally connectable to an associated source of rotational power; and b) a rotatable cutting member in

A garden cleaning implement for cutting and macerating weeds and the like, both above and below the ground line, comprising: a hand carryable cutting mechanism, including a) a rotatable shaft operationally connectable to an associated source of rotational power; and b) a rotatable cutting member in functionally rigid attachment with said rotatable shaft, said rotatable cutting member having at least one functional cutting point rotatable within a plane capable of cutting weeds above the ground and macerating their roots within the ground; and an associated guard mechanism, including c) a moveable, retractable housing having a enclosing cavity of a size sufficient to receive therein said rotatable cutting member when said rotatable cutting member is rotating; and d) a guide, in operational connection between said retractable housing and said cutting mechanism and located above said cutting member, which guides the retraction of said retractable housing along a travel path extending above said cutting member between first and second positions, said first position being a position in which said rotatable cutting member is disposed within said enclosing cavity isolating it from adjacent vegetation, and said second position being a position in which said rotatable cutting member is below and outside of said enclosing cavity, allowing it to be relatively easily pushed down into the ground while rotatably being driven to macerate the roots of the weeds.