Mower support apparatus and system

A support apparatus for a cutter adapted to cut grass when rotated and moved forwardly into cutting relationship with the grass and wherein the support apparatus is intended to be moved by a prime mover during use, the support apparatus comprising:

• a frame for supporting the cutter for rotation and including guard means disposed on the forward side of the cutter, said guard means including a member extending for an appreciable distance around the cutter and including a plurality of rollers rotatably attached to the guard member along the periphery thereof so that at least a portion of the circumference of each roller is disposed to a side of guard member opposite the cutter so that when the guard is moved into contact with the upstanding object, the rollers rollably engage the upstanding object to facilitate the movement of the cutter past the object;
• means for pivotally connecting the frame to the prime mover enabling the frame to be moved by the prime mover and to permit pivotal movement of the frame relative to the prime mover between an operative position at which the cutter is positioned for cutting grass and a deflected position so that when the frame is positioned in its operative position and the guard means is moved into contact with an upstanding object, the frame can be pivoted by the upstanding object toward its deflected position to accommodate the movement of the guard means past the object;
• and
• means associated with the frame for biasing the frame from the deflected position toward the operative position so that when the frame is moved out of its operative position by an upstanding object and is subsequently advanced so that the guard means is moved past the object, the frame is returned to its operative position by the biasing means.

A mowing system connectable to a primer mover for movement therewith, the system comprising:

• a grass cutter adapted to cut grass as the cutter is rotated and moved into cutting relationship with the grass;
• a frame for supporting the cutter for rotation and including a guard disposed on the forward side of the cutter, said frame including a main section disposed generally behind the prime mover when the frame is connected thereto and a boom section from which the cutter is suspended for use, and the boom section is attached to the main section in a manner which accommodates an adjustment in position of the boom section relative to the main section to accommodate an adjustment in position of the cutter relative to the prime mover, said main section and said boom section each including a tube member, wherein one tube member is positioned within the other tube member to accommodate a telescopic movement of the tube members relative to one another as the boom section is adjusted in position relative to the main section;
• means for pivotally connecting the frame to the prime mover for pivotal movement between an operative position at which the cutter is positioned for cutting grass and a deflected position so that when the frame is positioned in its operative position and the guard is moved against an upstanding object, the frame is permitted to pivot toward its deflected position to accommodate the movement of a guard past the object;
• and
• means associated with the frame for biasing the frame from the deflected position toward the operative position so that when the frame is moved out of its operative position by an upstanding object and is subsequently advanced so that the guard is moved past the object, the frame is returned to its operative position by the biasing means.

A mowing system connectable to a primer mover for movement therewith, the system comprising:

• a grass cutter adapted to cut grass as the cutter is rotated and moved into cutting relationship with the grass;
• a frame for supporting the cutter for rotation and including a guard disposed on the forward side of the cutter, said guard including a member extending for an appreciable distance around the cutter and a plurality of spaced rollers rotatably attached to the guard member along the periphery thereof so that at least a portion of the circumference of each roller is disposed to a side of the guard member opposite the cutter so that when the guard is moved into contact with the upstanding object, the rollers rollably engage the upstanding object to facilitate the movement of the cutter past the object;
• means for pivotally connecting the frame to the prime mover for pivotal movement between an operative position at which the cutter is positioned for cutting grass and a deflected position so that when the frame is positioned in its operative position and the guard is moved against an upstanding object, the frame is permitted to pivot toward its deflected position to accommodate the movement of a guard past the object;
• and
• means associated with the frame for biasing the frame from the deflected position toward the operative position so that when the frame is moved out of its operative position by an upstanding object and is subsequently advanced so that the guard is moved past the object, the frame is returned to its operative position by the biasing means.