Lawn mower

A lawn mower comprising a riding unit and a power and cutting unit, first wheel means mounted for rotation on the power and cutting unit, said riding unit including frame means pivotally coupled to said power and cutting unit, second wheel means rotatably mounted on said frame means, said power and cutting unit including a cutting assembly and a drive assembly having an engine coupled to said cutting assembly, said engine also being coupled to said first wheel means for driving said mower, said riding unit and said power and cutting unit tending to bounce relative to each other as said mower moves over rough terrain, and dampening means coupled to said frame means and to said power and cutting unit for damping relative pivotal movement of said units relative to each other.

A lawn mower comprising a riding unit and a power and cutting unit, first wheel means mounted for rotation on the power and cutting unit, said riding unit including frame means coupled to said power and cutting unit for pivotal movement about a pivot axis, second wheel means rotatably mounted on said frame means, said power and cutting unit including a cutting assembly and a drive assembly having engine means coupled to the cutting assembly, said engine means also being coupled to said first wheel means for driving said mower in a first direction generally perpendicular to the pivot axis as said mower is displaced, and shock absorbing means coupled at one end to said frame means and at its other end to said power and cutting unit, said shock absorbing means having a line of action which intersects a plane containing the direction of movement of the mower and said pivot axis, said dampening means being operative to dampen relative pivotal movement of said power and cutting unit relative to said riding unit whereby the tendency of said cutting unit to bounce is reduced so that an acceptable cut can be obtained at cutting speeds in excess of those possible without said shock absorbing means.