A TUMBLER FOR A PLANT MATERIAL TRIMMING DEVICE

TAMBOUR POUR DISPOSITIF DE COUPE DE MATIERE VEGETALE

English Abstract

A tumbler for a plant material trimming device. The tumbler includes a
cylindrical
and perforated main tumbling section. A first cylindrical end section may be
connected to a first end of the main tumbling section and a second cylindrical
end
section may be connected to a second end of the main tumbling section. The
effective diameter of the second cylindrical end section may be greater than
an
effective diameter of the first cylindrical end section.

Claims

CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A tumbler for a plant material trimming device comprising:
a cylindrical and perforated main tumbling section;
a first cylindrical end section connected to a first end of said main tumbling
section; and
a second cylindrical end section connected to a second end of said main
tumbling section wherein an effective diameter of said second cylindrical
end section is greater than an effective diameter of said first cylindrical
end section.
2. The tumbler of claim 1 wherein said second cylindrical end section is
stepped-up in relation to the main section.
3. The tumbler of claim 1 wherein said second cylindrical end section further
comprises a groove running around its outside perimeter.
4. The tumbler of claim 1 wherein said main section further comprises at least
one circumferential ring.

Description

CA 02818405 2013-05-31
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A TUMBLER FOR A PLANT MATERIAL TRIMMING DEVICE
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
This patent document contains material which is subject to copyright
protection.
The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone
of
this patent document as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent
file
or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of plant trimming devices, and in
particular, to a
tumbler for a plant material trimming device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Plant trimming devices have been in operation for some time. Generally, these
devices incorporate a cylindrical tumbler that holds the material to be
trimmed. In
operation, tumblers are rotated within the device and waste plant trimmings
simply fall through perforations in the tumbler. While in operation, as the
tumbler
is rotated, tumblers are known to move to-and-fro within the device. In some
instances, where tumblers are rotated at high speeds, it is a known problem
that
tumblers may simply "walk" out of the device causing safety concerns for their
operators. Accordingly, a need exists for a tumbler than can safely be used in
a
plant trimming device that will reduce the "walking" characteristics in known
tumblers. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description
that
follows.
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CA 02818405 2013-05-31
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a tumbler for a plant
material
trimming device. The tumbler includes a cylindrical and perforated main
tumbling
section. A first cylindrical end section may be connected to a first end of
the
main tumbling section and a second cylindrical end section may be connected to
a second end of the main tumbling section. The effective diameter of the
second
cylindrical end section may be greater than an effective diameter of the first
cylindrical end section.
The second cylindrical end section may be stepped-up in relation to the main
section and may further include a groove running around its outside perimeter.
The main section may further include at least one circumferential ring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by reference to
the
drawings thereof in which:
Fig. 1 is perspective view of a plant material trimming device with an
internal
tumbler of the present invention;
Fig.2 is a perspective view of the tumbler of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 3 is a side-by-side view of each end of the tumbler of Fig. 2.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Fig. 1, a plant material trimming device 10 is depicted. The
device
10 includes a tumbler 12 residing inside of the device. Plant material that
requires trimming is inserted into a hopper 14 which then feeds the plant
material
into the tumbler 12.
Referring to Fig. 2, the tumbler 12 includes a cylindrical and perforated main
tumbling section 20. To provide rigidity to the main section 20, a
circumferential
ring 30 may be included. However, as those skilled in the art will appreciate,
circumferential ring 30 may not be necessary, for example, when the tumbler 12
is sufficiently short and/or comprised of high strength material.
A first cylindrical end section 22 is connected to a first end 24 of the main
tumbling section 20 and a second cylindrical end section 26 is connected to a
second end 28 of the main tumbling section. As those skilled in the art will
appreciate, first cylindrical 22 and second cylindrical end 26 sections may be
separate and connectable to the main tumbling section 20 or may be integrally
formed with the main tumbling section.
Referring to Fig. 3, to enable the tumbler 12 to easily slide into the device
10
while at the same time preventing the tumbler from sliding out of the device
while
in operation, the second cylindrical end 26 is dimensioned so that it has an
effective diameter D2 that is greater than an effective diameter D1 of the
first
cylindrical end section 22. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the
second
cylindrical end section 26 may take on various shapes; for example, it may be
conically shaped or include steps leading from one end to the other. In all
instances, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
effective
diameter represents the average diameter of a cylindrical end section 22, 26.
As
illustrated, second cylindrical end section 26 is stepped in relation to
second end
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section 28, whereas first second cylindrical end section 22 is flush in
relation to
first end section 24.
Referring back to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 to further prevent the tumbler 12 from
sliding
out of the device 10, the second cylindrical end section 26 includes a groove
32
running around its outside perimeter. A tracking wheel (not illustrated) of
the
device 10 is then operable to engage the groove 32 to hold the tumbler 12 in
the
device 10 during operation.
While embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such
embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only. The
invention may include variants not described or illustrated herein in detail.
Thus,
the embodiments described and illustrated herein should not be considered to
limit the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.
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