Grounds maintenance vehicle with adjustable implement angle

A grounds maintenance vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle frame having a first side and a second side;
• a first shaft pivotably coupled to the vehicle frame extending from the first side to the second side;
• a second shaft pivotably coupled to the vehicle frame extending from the first side to the second side;
• an implement having a first implement end and a second implement end, wherein the first implement end is coupled to the first shaft and the second implement end is coupled to the second shaft;
• a manually engageable mechanism configured to rotate the first shaft and the second shaft in unison;
• a height selection tool configured to retain the first shaft and the second shaft in each of a plurality of discrete orientations against gravity to define a corresponding plurality of discrete limits on vertical distances between the implement and the vehicle frame;
• and
• an implement angle selection tool configured to pivot the first shaft relative to the second shaft and fix the orientation of the first shaft relative to the second shaft.

A grounds maintenance vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle frame having a first side and a second side;
• a first shaft pivotably coupled to the vehicle frame extending from the first side to the second side, the first shaft comprising a first shaft body and a first bell crank towards the first side having a first extension extending radially outward from the first shaft body and a first arm extending radially outward from the first shaft body in a different radial direction from the first extension, and the first shaft further comprising a pivot crank towards the second side, the pivot crank extending radially outward from the first shaft body;
• a second shaft pivotably coupled to the vehicle frame extending from the first side to the second side, the second shaft comprising a second shaft body and a second bell crank towards the first side having a second extension extending radially outward from the second shaft body and a second arm extending radially outward from the second shaft body, wherein the second arm extends radially outward in a different radial direction than the second extension, the second shaft further comprising a third arm towards the second side, the third arm extending radially outward from the second shaft body;
• a first link comprising a first segment coupled to the first extension and a second segment coupled to the second extension, wherein the first link has an adjustable length between the first shaft and the second shaft;
• an implement comprising a cutting deck having a housing defining a cutting chamber, cutting blades disposed in the cutting chamber, a first implement end, and a second implement end, wherein the first implement end is coupled to the first arm and the pivot crank and the second implement end is coupled to the second arm and the third arm;
• a manually engageable mechanism fixed to the first shaft, the manually engageable mechanism comprising a lever having a stepping feature configured to be manually engaged by a foot of a user, wherein the lever is configured to pivot the first shaft and the second shaft in unison;
• a height selection tool configured to define a corresponding plurality of discrete limits on vertical distances between the implement and the vehicle frame, wherein the height selection tool comprises:
• a first plurality of pin openings defined by the vehicle frame, and a first pin configured to be received by a pin opening of the first plurality of pin openings, wherein the first pin obstructs translation of the first link when the first pin is positioned in each of the first plurality of pin openings;
• and
• an implement angle selection tool configured to pivot the first shaft relative to the second shaft and fix the orientation of the first shaft relative to the second shaft by selectively securing the first segment to the second segment to define a user-selected linear length of the first link.

A grounds maintenance vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle frame;
• an implement coupled to the vehicle frame, the implement having a first implement end and a second implement end;
• a height selection tool configured to select one vertical position of a plurality of selectable vertical positions, wherein each vertical position limits a distance between the implement and the vehicle frame;
• an implement angle selection tool configured to change the elevation of the first implement end relative to the second implement end and fix the elevation of the first implement end relative the second implement end, the implement angle selection tool having a manually engageable mechanism configured to change the elevation of the first implement end relative to the second implement end when the implement angle selection tool is disengaged;
• and
• a first shaft pivotably coupled to the vehicle frame and coupled to the implement at the first implement end, wherein the manually engageable mechanism comprises a foot pedal fixed to the first shaft.