Unitized frame for a self-propelled lawn mower

A unitized frame for a self-propelled lawn mower, said frame fabricated from stamped sheet steel and steel beams and comprising:

• a stamped sheet steel component having a forward end including an upwardly and forwardly inclined portion forming an operator's foot rest, said portion also having a pair of downwardly extending opposite side portions formed integrally therewith and which form front wheel axle supports,
• reinforcing gussets stamped into said downwardly extending opposite side portions and for reinforcing said front wheel axle supports,
• said sheet steel component also forming an intermediate stepped portion forming a transmission mounting,
• said sheet steel component also forming a rearward stepped portion forming an engine mounting,
• said unitized frame also including a pair of transversely spaced steel beams, one extending longitudinally along each side and rearwardly from said sheet steel component, said beams being welded adjacent their front ends to said sheet steel component,
• and a rear wheel mounting member of generally U-shaped cross-section fabricated from sheet steel and welded to and between the rear ends of said pair of beams, said member having means for pivotally mounting a pair of rear, steerable wheels about a fore-and-aft extending axis, said beams being of rectangular cross-section and having a major cross-sectional axis extending in a vertical direction,
• said beams converging toward one another for a distance intermediate their length to form a rear end of said frame which is transversely narrower than said forward end, and said rear wheel mounting member is welded to said narrower rear end.

A unitized frame for a self-propelled lawn mower comprising:

• a stamped sheet steel component having a forward end including an upwardly and forwardly inclined portion forming an operator's foot rest, said portion also having a pair of downwardly extending opposite side portions formed integrally therewith and which form front wheel axle supports,
• said sheet steel component also forming a transmission mounting,
• said sheet steel component also forming an engine mounting,
• said unitized frame also including a pair of transversely spaced steel beams, one extending longitudinally along each side and rearwardly from said sheet steel component, said beams being welded adjacent their front ends to said sheet steel component,
• and a rear wheel mounting member welded to and between the rear ends of said pair of beams.