US 10,093,178 B2Granted

Zero-turn radius lawnmower with suspension system

AssigneeBriggs & Stratton Corporation

InventorsMark J. Melone, James F. Marshall, Richard Smith, Mark Lynch, Travis Rasch, Erik Slegelis, Steven J. Weber, Denis Oswald

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Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention provide a transaxle drive system for ride-on equipment. The transaxle drive system can include a frame supporting at least one power source and at least two subframes, the at least one power source including at least one drive pulley. The system can also include transaxle assemblies driven by at least a portion of at least one belt from the at least one drive pulley. The transaxle assemblies can include a first transaxle assembly supported by a subframe, the first transaxle assembly coupled to the at least one drive pulley with at least one belt, and a second transaxle assembly supported by another subframe, the second transaxle assembly coupled by at least one belt to the at least one drive pulley. The transaxle assemblies can be independently pivoted with respect to each other, the frame, and the power source.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A transaxle drive system for ride-on equipment, the transaxle drive system comprising:

a frame supporting at least one power source and at least two subframes, the at least one power source including at least one drive pulley;
a plurality of transaxle assemblies configured and arranged to be driven by at least a portion of at least one belt from the at least one drive pulley, the plurality of transaxle assemblies comprising:
a first transaxle assembly supported by a first subframe of the at least two subframes, the first transaxle assembly coupled to the at least one drive pulley with at least a portion of at least one belt;
a second transaxle assembly supported by a second subframe of the at least two subframes, the second transaxle assembly coupled by at least a portion of at least one belt to the at least one drive pulley;
and
wherein the plurality of transaxle assemblies are configured and arranged to be independently pivoted with respect to each other, the frame, and the power source.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/652,905Filed 18 Jul 2017 · continuation
Priority: 7 May 2012
Published: US 2017/0028844 A12 Nov 2017
Granted: 9 Oct 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B60K 17/105
Of fluid gearing: units comprising at least a part of the gearing and a torque-transmitting axle, e.g. transaxles
A01D 34/64
Having cutters rotating about a vertical axis: mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle
A01D 34/828
Other details: safety devices
A01D 75/18
Accessories for harvesters or mowers: safety devices for parts of the machines

Family

Application61/643,809Us provisional application · filed 7 May 2012
Application61/677,288Us provisional application · filed 30 Jul 2012
Application13/840,070Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Mar 2013
US 9,161,490 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Oct 2015
Application15/082,765Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Mar 2016
Application15/226,811Parent of this continuation · filed 2 Aug 2016
US 2017/0313183 A1Pre-grant publication · published 2 Nov 2017
98497768Parent of this continuation
US 2013/0291508 A1Published application
US 2017/0028844 A1Published application
US 9,849,776 B2Related patent
US 10,093,178 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.