US 5,090,183 A · Discharge chute blocking device for a rotary lawn mower

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). A wash-out system (129) can be included in plug (32) to allow the underside of housing (12) to be sprayed with water to remove accumulated grass clippings. Wash-out system (129) can be used for mulching or non-mulching mowers.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A rotary convertible lawn mower having a mulching mode and a non-mulching mode, comprising:

(a) a housing defining a cutting chamber, the housing having a top wall and a discharge opening for allowing grass clippings to flow out of the housing:
(b) a prime mover having an output shaft:
(c) a cutting blade disposed within the cutting chamber for rotation about a generally vertical axis and operatively coupled to the prime mover output shaft, the blade being disposed beneath the top wall of the housing and establishing a generally horizontal cutting path;
and
(d) removable means for selectively blocking the discharge opening to selectively put the mower into its mulching mode or its non-mulching mode, the discharge opening blocking means carrying a kicker member, wherein when the discharge opening is blocked the mower mulches the grass clippings and when the discharge opening is unblocked the grass clippings can flow out of the housing through the discharge opening, and wherein the discharge opening blocking means kicker member comprises a kicker surface lying generally in a plane oblique with respect to the generally horizontal cutting path and disposed in the path of the 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.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Discharge chute blocking device for a rotary lawn mower

Life of this patent

Discharge chute blocking device for a rotary lawn mower

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29