Convertible lawn mower
AssigneeThe Toro Company
InventorRichard A. Thorud
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A convertible mulching mower (10) including a housing (12) and chute (30). Chute (30) can be selectively blocked with a chute plug (32) to selectively put mower (10) in a mulching mode. Mounted beneath housing (12) is a plurality of kickers (72) which serve to deflect the grass clippings generally downwardly and inwardly to cause them to penetrate the standing grass blades in the cutting path, when the mower (10) is in its mulching mode (when chute plug (32) is blocking discharge chute (30)). When chute plug (32) is removed, it can be replaced by various grass handling means, including a grass bag (36) or a side discharge chute extension (140).
Claims23
A rotary convertible lawn mower having a mulching mode and a non-mulching mode, comprising:
- (a) removable grass handling means;
- (b) a housing defining a cutting chamber, the housing having ground engaging wheels rotatably affixed thereto for supporting the housing above the ground surface, the housing having a top wall and a chute for allowing grass clippings to travel from the housing to the grass handling means;
- (c) a prime mover mounted atop the housing, the prime mover having an output shaft;
- (d) a cutting blade disposed within the cutting chamber for rotation about a generally vertical axis attached to the prime mover output shaft, the blade being disposed beneath the top wall of the housing and establishing a generally horizontal cutting path;
- (e) a removable plug for selectively blocking the chute to selectively put the mower into its mulching mode or its non-mulching mode, the removable plug carrying a kicker member, wherein when the chute is clocked the mower mulches the grass clippings and when the chute is unblocked the grass handling means can be connected to the mower;
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- (f) a plurality of kicker members mounted to the housing within the cutting chamber, each kicker member having a kicker surface lying generally in a plane oblique with respect to the generally horizontal cutting path, and disposed in the path of grass clippings to deflect the clippings generally downwardly into the cutting path when the mower is in its mulching mode, whereby the clippings are deposited beneath the surface of the grass.
A method for making a standard rear discharge rotary mower convertible, such that the mower can selectively bag, side discharge or mulch, the mower comprising a blade housing which forms a rear discharge chute for grass clippings, and a blade which establishes a generally horizontal cutting path, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) attaching a plurality of kicker members to the mower housing;
- (b) selecting a removable plug for the housing discharge chute, wherein the plug also carries a kicker member, each kicker member having a kicker surface lying generally in a plane oblique with respect to the generally horizontal cutting path, and disposed in the path of grass clippings to deflect the clippings generally downwardly into the cutting path when the mower is in its mulching mode, whereby the clippings are deposited beneath the surface of the grass;
- (c) selecting a side discharge attachment for the discharge chute;
- (d) selecting a grass receptacle suitable for connection to the discharge chute;
- and
- (e) attaching the plug, side discharge attachment or bag to the discharge chute of the housing, depending on whether mulching, side discharging or bagging is desired.
A rotary convertible lawn mower having a mulching mode and a non-mulching mode, comprising:
- (a) removable grass handling means;
- (b) a housing defining a cutting chamber, the housing having ground engaging wheels ratably affixed thereto for supporting the housing above the ground surface, the housing having a top wall and a chute for allowing grass clippings to travel from he housing to the grass handling means;
- (c) a prime mover mounted atop the housing, the prime mover having an output shaft;
- (d) a cutting blade disposed within the cutting chamber for rotation about a generally vertical axis attached to the prime mover output shaft, the blade being disposed beneath the top wall of the housing and establishing a generally horizontal cutting path;
- (e) a removable plug for selectively blocking the chute to selectively put the mower into its mulching mode or its non-mulching mode, wherein when the chute is blocked the mower mulches the grass clippings and when the chute is unblocked the grass handling means can be connected to the mower;
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- (f) five kicker members operatively connected to the housing within the cutting chamber, each kicker member having a kicker surface lying generally in a plane oblique with respect tot he generally horizontal cutting path, and disposed in the path of grass clippings to deflect the clippings generally downwardly into the cutting path when the mower is in its mulching mode, whereby the clippings are deposited beneath the surface of the grass, wherein the kicker members comprise front and rear generally diametrally opposed kicker members;
- right and left generally diametrally opposed kicker members;
- and a kicker member located generally between the right and rear kicker members, wherein the kicker members are roughly evenly spaced around the housing except for the front and left kicker members which are spaced substantially farther apart, and wherein the angle between adjacent kicker members, except for the front and left kicker members, is in the range between about 51 degrees and about 63 degrees.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.