US 2003/0140611 A1 · HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS FOR TURF MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved height adjustment apparatus for controlling the operational height of lawnmowers and other turf maintenance equipment without the use of tools or removal and replacement of mechanical hardware. In one embodiment, the height adjustment apparatus includes a frame bracket that is attached to the frame with no relative movement therebetween, and a threaded rod threaded through the frame bracket. A nut is to the upper end of the rod. A swivel head is rotationally attached to the lower end of the rod, with the swivel head being attached to a ground contacting support. The apparatus further includes a socket configured to slidably receive the nut and the frame bracket. A biasing means is provided for slidably biasing the socket into a non-rotational aspect relative to the frame bracket. The height adjustment operation is initiated by slidably disengaging the socket from the frame bracket allowing the socket, nut and threaded rod to be rotated in the selected direction. The rotation of the threaded rod causes the rod to engage the threads of the frame bracket, resulting in the rod being screwed further in or out relative to the fixed position of the frame bracket. The movement of the rotating rod causes the distance between the frame bracket, and thus the frame itself, and the swivel head to change, thus changing the height of the operational unit relative to the ground contacting support and either increasing or decreasing the grass cut.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A height adjustment apparatus for turf maintenance equipment wherein the equipment is comprised of a ground contacting support and a frame that supports an operational unit, said apparatus comprising:

a threaded rod having a top end and a lower end;
a nut having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein said nut is rigidly attached to said top end of said threaded rod;
a frame bracket, said frame bracket threadably receiving said threaded rod and being rigidly attached to the frame, said frame bracket further having an upper and lower surface;
a swivel head, said swivel head having a central bore and being attached to the ground contacting support, wherein said lower end of said threaded rod rotationally engages said bore of said swivel head;
a socket having an upper end, a lower end, an upper surface and a lower surface, said socket receiving said threaded rod and slidably engaging said nut and said frame bracket, wherein said socket is held non-rotationally engaged with said frame bracket;
a biasing means, said biasing means biasing said socket into a non-rotational engagement with said frame bracket;
wherein disengagement of said socket from said frame attachment enables said socket to be rotated and rotation of said socket causes said rod to rotate though said threaded bore of said frame bracket and to rotate within said central bore of said swivel head, causing the frame and operational unit to raise or lower relative to the ground contacting support.

4 more elements

a threaded rod having an upper end, a lower end and a middle portion, said lower end being threaded and said upper end and middle portions being thread-free;
a nut having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein said nut is rigidly attached to said top end of said threaded rod;
a frame bracket, said frame bracket rigidly attached to the frame and having an upper surface and lower surface and non-threaded central bore, said central bore rotationally receiving said threaded rod;
a vertical retention means, said vertical retention means preventing vertical movement of said rod relative to said frame bracket while allowing free rotation of said rod within said central bore of said frame bracket;
a swivel head, said swivel head attached to the ground contacting support having a threaded bore, wherein said lower end of said threaded rod threadably engages said bore of said swivel head;
a socket having an upper end, a lower end, an upper surface and a lower surface, said socket receiving said threaded rod and slidably engaging said nut and said frame bracket, wherein said socket is held non-rotationally engaged with said frame bracket;
wherein disengagement of said socket from said frame attachment enables said socket to be rotated and rotation of said socket causes said rod to rotate within said central bore of said frame attachment and to threadably engage said threaded bore of said swivel head, causing the frame and operational unit to raise or lower relative to the ground contacting support.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Height adjustment apparatus for turf maintenance equipment

Life of this patent

Height adjustment apparatus for turf maintenance equipment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19