Articulated rider collection assembly

A transport mechanism for operably coupling a cutting deck of a lawn care device to a collection container for collecting material responsive to operation of the cutting deck, the transport mechanism comprising:

• a chute operably coupling the cutting deck and the collection container to pass the material from the cutting deck to the collection container;
• and
• an auger assembly disposed within the chute to convey the material between the cutting deck and the collection container,
• wherein the lawn care device comprises:
• a motor;
• and
• an articulated frame comprising a front frame portion to which front wheels are operably coupled and a rear frame portion to which rear wheels are operably coupled, the front and rear frame portions being operably coupled by an articulated joint, and
• wherein the collection container and the motor are affixed to the front frame portion and suspended over the rear frame portion such that the rear frame portion is rotatable about the articulated joint without corresponding rotation of the collection container and the motor.