Reel type laser lawn mower

A reel type mower for severing vegetation comprising:

• a housing generally hemispherical in cross-section, said housing having a first end wall and a second end wall extended generally perpendicular and downwardly from said housing, said housing defining an opening bounded at opposite ends thereof by said first end wall and said second end wall, said opening being oriented downwardly and positionable proximate a surface covered by vegetation;
• an axle rotatably mounted within and relative to said housing, said axle extending between said first end wall and said second end wall of said housing and having a first end insertable centrally through said first end wall, and having a second end insertable centrally through said second end wall, said axle rotatable along its axis between said first end said second end of said axle;
• a first support member fixedly mounted on said axle and proximate said first end of said axle, said first support member being positioned inwardly of said first end wall and having an interior surface facing inwardly of said housing;
• a second support member fixedly mounted on said axle and proximate said second end of said axle, said second support member being positioned inwardly of said second end wall and having an interior surface facing inwardly of said housing;
• whereby said first support member and said second support member rotate in unison when said axle rotates;
• a laser generator positioned on said interior surface of said at least one of said first and said second support members;
• at least one laser beam generated by said laser generator and directed along a path that extends between said first and second support members;
• said at least one laser beam being rotatable with said support members during operation of said reel type mower and being positioned proximate to said opening to sever vegetation extended into said opening;
• and
• power generating means for providing electrical power to said laser generator, said power generating means controlled by a system control means controlled by a user.

A method for severing vegetation, employing a reel type rotating laser system movable across a vegetation bearing surface, said method comprising the steps of:

• projecting a laser beam parallel to a rotatable axle between a transmitter and a receiver positioned at opposed ends of said rotatable axle, said step of projecting a laser beam including moving said transmitter and said receiver in concert with said rotatable axle, thereby projecting said laser beam along a plurality of paths which contain vegetation to be severed;
• directing said laser beam along multiple, substantially parallel spaced apart paths, said paths being movable consecutively into positions for engagement of said laser beam with the vegetation to be severed, by rotating said rotatable axle having a first support member and a second support member in unison when said rotatable axle rotates, said first support member having said transmitter thereon, and said second support member having said receiver thereon;
• rotating said laser beam around an axis of said rotatable axle substantially parallel to the vegetation covered surface;
• and
• enclosing said laser beam within a housing having a downwardly oriented opening, said housing positioned between a pair of rotatable wheels connectable on opposed ends of said rotatable axle, said rotation of said laser beam is variable and increased by a system control means controlled by the user as a function of the ground speed of the mower along the vegetation bearing surface, said downwardly oriented opening positionable proximate the vegetation bearing surface to receive vegetation extending into said opening for severing by said laser beam.