Mower head with moveable guard

A mower head comprising:

• a deck disposed above a path of a rotary cutter, the deck defining a cutter exposing area along a first side that the cutter path extends beyond the deck and is exposed;
• a first guard member disposed substantially parallel to the first side and pivotally mounted to the upper deck at a first end thereof, the first guard member defining a cutter exposing opening therein;
• a second guard member extending substantially parallel to the first side and pivotally mounted to the first guard member for movement between a first guard member cutter exposing opening covering position and a first guard member cutter exposing opening uncovering position;
• whereby the first and second guard members are adapted to pivot together partially exposing the cutter path and the second guard member is adapted to pivot relative to the first guard member at least partially exposing the cutter path;
• and,
• guard biasing means for biasing the first and second guard members toward a position parallel to the first side, whereby the first and second guard members are pivotable against the biasing means for selectively exposing the rotary cutter.

A mower comprising:

• a prime mover which is self-propelled in at least a forward and rearward direction;
• an arm assembly operatively connected at a first end with the prime mover;
• and,
• a mower head operatively connected with a second end of the arm assembly, the mower head including:
• a cutter which is positionable by the arm assembly to rotate in a circular cutting path;
• a shield including:
• a deck extending above and substantially parallel to the cutting path, the deck defining a cutter exposing area along a forward side thereof between forward extending first and second deck extensions;
• a downward extending skirt which extends downward from the deck forward extensions, from a deck rear side, and from the deck between the forward and rear side;
• track means extending generally rearward along the first deck forward extensions;
• a guard assembly which is disposed along the forward side of the shield and which is slidable parallel to the cutting path in the track means, along a generally forward to rearward path for selectively exposing and covering the cutter exposition area and,
• a biasing means for biasing the guard assembly forward with a selected force such that upon encountering an object with greater than the selected force, the guard is rearwardly moveable to expose the cutter.