Lawnmower bagging apparatus
AssigneeThe Toro Company
InventorsRobert H. Witt, Herbert F. Horner, Jr., Richard A. Thorud
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Collection or bagging apparatus for a riding-type lawn mower is disclosed. A substantially rigid top hinged receptacle structure is fastened to the mower frame. A telescoping elongated handle member which cooperates with a bracket to provide a retractable lever for emptying of the receptacle and a latch to prevent accidental opening of the receptacle during the filling procedure is provided.
Claims12
In a lawn and garden implement in which vegetation is transported to and collected in a receptacle with a substantially rigid, boxlike structure enclosed by top and bottom walls, opposed side walls and a rear wall, said receptacle being hingedly fastened to an implement main frame along an edge of said top wall to permit said receptacle to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis and close against a receptacle base mounted on said main frame, a handle and latch mechanism, comprising:
- a. means defining an elongated handle member;
- b. means for telescopically mounting said handle member in said receptacle with a portion thereof protruding through an aperture in said top wall so that said handle member is upwardly extensible therefrom to function as a lever for pivotal emptying of said receptacle, and downwardly retractable into a handle storage position;
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- c. apertured latch means carried by said implement main frame for receiving one end of said handle in an aperture thereof when said handle member is in said storage position.
Collecting and unloading apparatus for a riding-type lawn mower in which an operator and rotary cutting element may be supported, above a ground surface to be mowed, on a main frame by means of ground engaging wheels, said mower including a housing surrounding said cutting element, with a discharge chute connected thereto and leading from said housing to a chute opening in a substantially planar baseboard mounted on said main frame, comprising:
- a. basket means defining a receptacle of substantial structural rigidity;
- b. hinge means fastening said basket means to said baseboard to form a collecting enclosure;
- c. means defining an elongated handle member carried by said basket means and so mounted to be movable from a first retracted position to a second extended position to facilitate pivoting of said basket means about an axis defined by said hinge means for emptying of said basket means;
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- d. bracket means carried by said main frame, being engaged with said handle member in said first, retracted position to prevent pivoting of said basket means, and disengaged from said handle member when said handle member is in said second, extended position to permit pivotal movement of said basket means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.