Abstract: A self cleaning rotary lawn mower blade and deck assembly in which the lawn mower blade is provided with metal pins symmetrically mounted on opposite sides of the opening for the center shaft, the tops of the pins being spaced from the deck by a critical distance of one-fourth of an inch + or - 1/32 of an inch and being spaced from each other on from 2 to 4 inch centers, so that a 5 inch blade need only have four pins total, half on one side and half on the other side. The mounting of the pin is such that the pin shank whips through an angle of about 30.degree., e.g., about 15.degree. each side of the normal vertical position and this whipping action which takes place during rotation of the blade removes debris, clippings, and the like which tend to adhere to the underside of the deck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning and cutting grasses. In one embodiment, a power mower is provided with a rotating rake structure positioned forwardly of the cutter to prevent foreign objects from being admitted to the region of operation of the cutter. The rake structure also serves to lift, straighten and align grasses for shearing. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a power mower is provided with forward and rearward rake structures to pick up grass blades, pull out matted weeds such as crabgrass, position the upstanding grass blades in a reciprocating cutter, and sweep grass clippings away from the cutter and into a grass catcher. A hydraulic drive system varys the drive speed by controlling fluid flow rate to a hydraulic drive motor.

Abstract: A portable hand-held shear for cutting grass and the like comprising a housing enclosing an electric motor and forming a handle. The motor includes an output rotary shaft which, through a gear train, drives a rotary blade. A stationary bed knife assembly connected to the housing cooperates with the rotary blade in scissor-like fashion to cut grass.An improved cutting assembly is described in which the rotary cutting blade member, of particular design and positioned in a floating relationship above the stationary bed knife assembly, is inclined into engagement with the cutting teeth projecting from the stationary bed knife assembly, also of particular design, in such a manner to improve the performance of the shear. The improved cutting assembly further includes a rotary hub drive member which cooperates with the shear housing and the bed knife to eliminate clogging and partially overlaps the bed knife assembly's cutting teeth to further improve the performance of the shear.