Ribbed flexible cutting line

Abstract

A line for a rotating trimmer has a plurality of longitudinal outwardly-extending cutting edges, spaced circumferentially about the main body portion of the line. A cross-sectional area of the main body portion is selected to be between 70 percent and 90 percent of the area of the space circumscribing the cutting edges to provide substantial bulk to the line to increase its wear, while retaining the advantages of the cutting edges for facilitating cutting of grass and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A line for a rotating string trimmer comprises an elongated flexible cutting element having a main body portion of circular cross section with a central axis and at least three spaced longitudinal outwardly-extending cutting edges on said main body portion, where the amount of extension of said cutting edges outwardly from said main body portion is selected to cause the cross-sectional area of said main body portion of said line to be between 70 percent and 90 percent of the area of a circular space circumscribing said cutting edges.Iadd., and said main body portion is located inwardly from a straight line extending from one cutting edge to an adjacent cutting edge a distance which is less than 10 percent of the length of said straight line.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       2. The line according to claim 1 wherein said flexible cutting element has a uniform cross section throughout its length. 
     
     
       3. The line according to claim 1 wherein said elongated flexible cutting element is made of extruded material. 
     
     
       4. The line according to claim 3 wherein said elongated cutting element is made of extruded plastic material. 
     
     
       5. The line according to claim 4 wherein said elongated flexible cutting element is made of monofilament nylon material. 
     
     
       6. The line according to claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of said outwardly extending cutting edges is triangular. 
     
     
       7. The line according to claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of said outwardly-extending cutting edges is a section of a circle. 
     
     
       8. The line according to claim 7 wherein said longitudinal outwardly-extending cutting edges are equally circumferentially spaced about said main body portion. 
     
     
       9. The line according to claim 8 wherein said longitudinal extending cutting edges extend outwardly from said main body portion a distance between 0.001 inches and 0.015 inches. .[.10. The line according to claim 9 wherein said main body portion is located inwardly from a straight line extending from one cutting edge to an adjacent cutting edge a distance 
     
     
        which is less than 10 percent of the length of said straight line..].11. The line according to claim .[.10.]. .Iadd.9 .Iaddend.wherein the line for said rotating string trimmer has between six and eight 
     
     
        cutting edges. 12. The line according to claim 1 wherein said at least three cutting edges comprise at least five cutting edges and said main body portion is located inwardly from a straight line extending from one cutting edge to an adjacent cutting edge a distance which is less than 10 
     
     
        percent of the length of said straight line. 13. The line according to 
     
     
        claim 1 wherein said line has between three and eight cutting edges. 14. The line according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal extending cutting edges extend outwardly from said main body portion a distance 
     
     
        between 0.001 inches and 0.015 inches. 15. The line according to claim 14 wherein said elongated cutting element is made of extruded plastic 
     
     
        material. 16. The line according to claim 15 wherein said elongated 
     
     
        flexible cutting element is made of monofilament nylon material. 17. A line for a rotating string trimmer comprises an elongated flexible cutting element having a main body portion of a substantially square cross section with a central axis and at least four spaced longitudinal outwardly-extending cutting edges on said main body portion, where the amount: of extension of said cutting edges outwardly from said main body portion is selected to cause the cross-sectional area of said main body portion of said line to be between 70 percent and 90 percent of the area of a square space circumscribing said cutting edges.Iadd.; and the main body portion is located inwardly from a straight line extending from one cutting edge to an adjacent cutting edge a distance which is less than 10 percent of the length of said straight line.Iaddend..