Adjustable mulch plate
OwnerWalt R. Butlerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mulch plate positioned over the chute outlet of conventional mowers so that the clippings are drawn back under the mower by the circulation of air induced by covering the mower chute with the adjustable mulch plate. The clippings are recirculated until they are sufficiently small in size, at which point they are released as mulch. An adjustable mulch plate is also contemplated so that the mulch plate can be raised or lowered to increase or decrease the entrained volume between the mulch plate and the chute outlet. Because the mulch plate is adjustable, mulching can be performed on any length or height of grass (even wet grass) and for hedge trimmings and leaves. An air baffle is also provided for preventing debris from escaping between the mulch plate and the chute outlet.
Claims61
A mulch plate for use with a rotary lawn mower, said lawn mower having a deck and at least one rotating blade for cutting and a discharge chute for expulsion of mower clippings, said mulch plate comprising:
- a plate oriented transversely over said discharge chute so as to be struck by mower clippings expelled through said discharge chute;
- an upper wall connected to said plate and extending toward said deck so as to partially overlap said deck in spaced relation;
- a lower lip connected to said plate and extending toward said discharge chute, ending in a plane below a plane formed by said at least one rotating blade;
- means connecting said mulch plate to said deck;
- and
- front and rear wall means which partially enclose a space between said discharge chute and said plate.
A mulch plate for use with a rotary lawn mower having a deck and at least one rotating blade therebelow and a skirt surrounding said deck and defining a discharge chute for the expulsion of mower clippings, said mulch plate comprising:
- a partial enclosure means adapted to cover said discharge chute, said cover means being generally C-shaped in cross section and including a partial front wall means and a partial rear wall means;
- said cover means being connected to said lawn mower;
- and
- a generally upstanding side wall of said cover means being disposed generally transversely to a plane defined by said at least one rotating blade.
A mulch plate for use with a rotary lawn mower having a deck and at least one rotary blade for cutting and a discharge chute for expelling mower clippings, said mulch plate comprising:
- a plate means having an upper edge, a lower edge, a front end, and a rear end, said plate spaced from and transversely across at least a portion of said discharge chute;
- a flange which projects inwardly from said upper edge of said plate toward said lawn mower;
- a lip which projects inwardly from said lower edge of said plate toward said lawn mower;
- a rear end wall which depends downwardly from said flange adjacent to said rear end of said plate;
- a front end wall which depends downwardly from said flange adjacent to said front end of said plate;
- and
- means for connecting said mulch plate to said lawn mower.
A mulch plate for use with a rotary lawn mower having at least one rotating blade for cutting and a discharge chute for the expulsion of mower clippings, said mulch plate comprising:
- a plate oriented over the chute outlet for blocking mower clippings exiting the chute outlet;
- means for partially enclosing the discharge chute, said means for partially enclosing projecting inwardly from said plate toward said mower for preventing mower clippings from escaping the plate and the mower;
- means for adjustably supporting said plate with respect to the discharge chute so as to allow said mulch plate to be oriented in a plurality of different positions corresponding to different entrained volumes for mulching and for retracting said plate for moving in confined spaces;
- and
- means controlling air circulation under the mower defined by said means for partially enclosing so that clippings prevented from escaping the plate are drawn back into the rotating blades for recutting by low pressure generated by said at least one rotating blade.
A mulch plate for use with a rotary lawn mower having rotary blades for cutting and a chute outlet for the expulsion of mower clippings, said mulch plate comprising:
- a plate having an upper edge, a lower edge, a front end and a rear end for partially enclosing said chute outlet;
- a flange which projects inwardly from said upper edge of said plate towards said mower;
- an extended lip which projects inwardly from said lower edge of said plate towards said mower;
- a rear end wall which depends downwardly from said flange along said rear end of said plate;
- a front end wall which depends downwardly from said flange along said front end of said plate;
- means for pivotally mounting said mulch plate to said mower over said chute outlet such that said mulch plate partially encloses said chute outlet for blocking the expulsion of mower clippings;
- means for adjustably supporting said mulch plate over said chute outlet in a plurality of different positions in accordance with the type of mulching to be performed;
- means for maintaining pressure gradients under the mower for inducing an air flow that pulls mower clippings blocked by said mulch plate back into the rotating blades for recutting;
- means for releasing large debris from said mulch plate, said means for releasing attached to said rear end wall;
- and
- means for discarding mower clippings that have been sufficiently reduced in size to mulch, said means for discarding defined by said front end wall.
A mulch plate for a lawn mover having a chute outlet an one site of the lawn mower, said mulch plate comprising:
- means for covering the chute outlet;
- and means for connecting said means for covering to the lawn mower including a means for adjustably supporting said covering means over the chute outlet in a plurality of different positions corresponding to different entrained volumes between the covering means and the chute outlet;
- wherein said means for adjustably supporting comprises an extended support bracket provided on said means for covering and having a first aperture and a second aperture, and an angle adjustment support provided on the chute outlet and having a rotation support aperture which corresponds with said first aperture and a plurality of angle adjustment apertures which correspond with said second aperture as said mulch plate is pivoted about said first aperture with respect to said chute outlet.
A mulch plate for use with a rotary lawn mower having a deck and at least one rotary blade for cutting and a discharge chute for the expulsion of mower clippings, said mulch plate comprising:
- means for covering said discharge chute including a plate having an upper edge, a lower edge, a front end and a rear end, for partially enclosing said discharge chute;
- a flange which projects inwardly from said upper edge of said plate toward said mower;
- a lip which projects inwardly from said lower edge of said plate toward said mower;
- a rear end wall which depends downwardly from said flange along adjacent rear end of said plate;
- a front end wall which depends downwardly from said flange adjacent said front end of said plate;
- means for pivotally mounting said mulch plate to said mower transversely of said discharge chute such that said mulch plate forms a partial enclosure adjacent said discharge chute;
- and
- means for adjustably supporting said mulch plate over said discharge chute in a plurality of different positions in accordance with a particular level of desired mulching.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.