Low profile mower
AssigneeBlack & Decker Inc.
InventorsBrian E. Poole, Matthew Rosenthal, David A. Miller, Troy Cayon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a battery powered mower with a low profile design that minimizes the height of the mower to make the mower easier to operate and store. The low profile design places the cutting blade motor in the center of the deck volute so that it doesn't extend above the volute. Additionally, the batteries do not include a cover and so holes are located within the housing to drain away any water that collects. The invention also covers a simplified manufacturing process for the terminal blocks for the battery and a rear door. Lastly, the invention includes a cable guide to prevent the electrical cable from pinching when the handle is folded for storage.
Claims17
An electric lawnmower, comprising:
- a deck forming a circular volute, wherein the circular volute has a center cavity and an upper surface around a top of the center cavity;
- a motor located in the center cavity of the circular volute of the deck, the motor to drive a cutting blade, wherein the motor is wholly contained within the center cavity of the circular volute of the deck in that a top of the motor is entirely below the upper surface around the top of the center cavity of the circular volute;
- and
- a housing placed over
- the deck, the housing having an upper surface
- wherein the upper surface
- a battery-connector pad to receive a battery pack, and
- an access pad located adjacent to the battery-connector pad, wherein, when the battery-connector pad receives the battery pack, the battery pack is disposed above the motor, and a bottom portion of the battery-connector pad extends at least partially into the center cavity of the circular volute, and
- wherein, at a location where the access pad meet the battery-connector pad, the access pad is formed lower than the battery-connector pad to create a space under the battery pack to provide access to a bottom of the battery pack.
An electric lawnmower comprising:
- a deck forming a volute, wherein the volute has a cavity at a center of the volute and an upper surface around a top of the cavity;
- a motor for powering a cutting blade, the motor located in the cavity of the volute, wherein the motor is wholly contained within the cavity of the volute in that a top of the motor is entirely below the upper surface around the top of the cavity of the volute;
- a housing placed over the deck, the housing having an upper surface,
- wherein the upper surface of the housing includes:
- battery-connector pads having grooves to receive battery packs, and
- access pads located adjacent to the battery-connector pads, wherein, when the battery-connector pads receive the battery packs, the battery packs are disposed above the motor, and bottom portions of the battery-connector pads extend at least partially into the cavity of the volute, and
- wherein, at locations where the access pads meet the battery-connector pads, the access pads are formed lower than the battery-connector pads to create an access space under the battery packs;
- and
- a handle extending rearwardly from the deck.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.