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US 7,841,157 B2Granted
Latch for a pivoting mower deck
AssigneeWood-Mizer Products, Inc.
InventorsScott R. Latuszek, Scott A. Dufek, Mark J. Kohrman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mower apparatus includes a mower deck having a first deck section, a second deck section pivotable relative to the first deck section, and a latch. The latch is actuable between a first position in which the latch maintains the second deck section in a lowered position and a second position in which the latch maintains the second deck in a raised position.
Claims17
A mower deck comprising,
- a first deck section including a rotary blade rotatable about a generally vertical axis,
- a pivot arm pivotably coupled to the first deck section and pivotable about a first axis,
- a second deck section pivotably coupled to the pivot arm and pivotable relative to the pivot arm about a second axis such that the second deck section pivots relative to the first deck section without movement of the pivot arm relative to the first deck section, the second deck section including a rotary blade rotatable about a vertical axis when the second deck section is the lowered position, and
- latch means for retaining the pivot arm in one of a plurality of positions, wherein the latch means is movable between a first position wherein the latch means retains the pivot arm in a lowered position to prevent the pivot arm from unexpectedly raising and a second position wherein the latch means retains the pivot arm in a raised position to prevent the pivot arm from unexpectedly lowering.
1 more element
A mower deck comprising,
- a first deck section including a rotary blade rotatable about a generally vertical axis,
- a pivot arm pivotably coupled to the first deck section and pivotable relative to the first deck section about a first axis, the pivot arm movable relative to the first deck section between a lowered and a raised position,
- a second deck section pivotably coupled to the pivot arm and movable with the pivot arm between the lowered position and the raised position, the second deck section including a rotary blade rotatable about a vertical axis when the second deck section is the lowered position, and
- a latch assembly including a first portion supported on the first deck section and movable relative thereto and a second portion supported on the pivot arm and configured to be engaged by the first portion when the pivot arm is in the lowered position to maintain the second deck section in the lowered position and configured to be engaged by the first portion when the pivot arm is in the raised position to maintain the second deck section in the raised position, wherein the second deck section floats relative to the first deck section without movement of the pivot arm relative to the first deck section.
1 more element
A mower deck comprising,
- a first deck section,
- a second deck section pivotably coupled to the first deck section and movable between a lowered position and a raised position, and
- a latch assembly including a first portion supported on the first deck section and movable relative thereto and a second portion supported on the second deck section and configured to be engaged by the first portion when the second deck section is in the lowered position to maintain the deck section in the lowered position and configured to be engaged by the first portion when the second deck section is in the raised position to maintain the second deck section in the raised position,
- wherein the first portion comprises a catch assembly and the second portion comprises a latch, the catch assembly movable between a first position in which a first portion of the catch assembly engages the latch when the second deck section is in the lowered position to retain the second deck section in the lowered position and a second position in which a second portion of the catch assembly engages the latch when second deck section is in the raised position to retain the second deck section in the raised position, wherein the latch includes a pivot arm coupled to the second deck section and pivotably coupled to the first deck section and a bar coupled to the pivot arm, the bar engageable with the catch assembly to maintain the second deck section in a selected position, and
- wherein the second deck section is pivotably coupled to the pivot arm and wherein the pivot arm includes a guide which limits movement of the second deck section relative to the pivot arm.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.