Abstract: A grass catcher for receiving air and grass clippings from a mower cutter deck includes an inlet for admitting air and clippings into the grass catcher, an outlet port for exhausting air out of the grass catcher, and at least two cylindrical, perforate air filters interposed between the inlet and the outlet port. The filters separate grass clippings from the air and permit air to pass through the filters and on to the outlet port. The grass catcher also includes a wave form energy transmitter and a wave form energy receiver positioned in the grass catcher. The transmission of wave form energy between the transmitter and the receiver is interrupted when the level of accumulated grass clippings in the catcher exceeds a predetermined level. The interruption of the transmission triggers an alarm to alert an operator of the mower of the high clipping level within the catcher.

Abstract: A light fixture includes a lamp contact supported by the fixture and a lamp electrically connected to the lamp contact. The light fixture also includes an electrical supply cable for delivering electrical power to the lamp contacts and lamp. The light fixture also includes a breakaway cable connector connected to the light fixture by a tab and a cable connector receiver formed in the fixture for receiving and mechanically restraining the cable connector. The lamp contacts are electrically connected to the cable when the cable is positioned on the light fixture and the cable connector is broken off of the light fixture and snapped into the cable connector receiver.

Abstract: An improved air concentrator nozzle for creating an increased air exit velocity from an extension tube of a portable blower or blower/vacuum. The extension tube tapers from a larger, upstream end to a smaller, downstream end. The nozzle is inserted into the upstream end of the extension tube and drops until it protrudes outwardly from the downstream end of the extension tube. An interference fit between an exterior surface of the nozzle and an interior surface of the downstream end of the extension tube restrains the nozzle relative to the tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides for noise reduction during operation of a portable blower by reducing the noise or acoustic energy escaping from the inlet of the blower housing. The noise reduction is achieved in one respect by placing sound absorbing material in a plenum attached to the inlet opening of the blower housing. Other features of the preferred plenum include louvered openings and angled engagement members to draw the plenum tightly against the blower housing.

Abstract: A combination tow and pressure relief valve for use in a hydraulic fluid circuit used in a hydraulically driven wide area lawn mower. The valve includes a cylindrical valve body having a hexagonal head. A slideable valve tip with a shank and a valve head has its shank slidably mounted within the valve body. The valve tip is biased by a spring to move in a direction away from the hex head. In operation, the valve is inserted into a suitable chamber placed in series with a bypass passage. The valve tends to block the bypass passage under steady state conditions. When a surge in hydraulic pressure occurs, as would occur in response to operator input or at startup, the hydraulic fluid overcomes the bias of the spring and urges the valve tip away from the otherwise blocked orifice which links the bypass passage to the chamber. Opening the orifice tends to diminish the magnitude of the pressure peak and helps eliminate jerky starts of the mower.

Abstract: An improved convertible electric blower/vac. The blower/vac includes an improved air inlet cover with an adjustable choke member. The air inlet cover also includes a pressure ring for increasing the efficiency of the blower/vac impeller when the unit is operated in the blower mode. The blower/vac also includes a blower tube and a vacuum bag collar, each with resilient tabs that engage receptacles on the blower/vac to retain the blower tube and vacuum bag collar on the unit. The housing outlet of the blower/vac includes guides that interact with longitudinal ribs on the blower tube and the vacuum bag collar to reduce unwanted rotational deflection of the blower tube and vacuum bag collar when either is engaged on the housing outlet. The blower/vac includes an improved vacuum tube for use of the blower/vac in the vacuum mode.

Abstract: An improved convertible electric blower/vac. The blower/vac includes an improved air inlet cover with an adjustable choke member. The air inlet cover also includes a pressure ring for increasing the efficiency of the blower/vac impeller when the unit is operated in the blower mode. The blower/vac also includes a blower tube and a vacuum bag collar, each with resilient tabs that engage receptacles on the blower/vac to retain the blower tube and vacuum bag collar on the unit. The housing outlet of the blower/vac includes guides that interact with longitudinal ribs on the blower tube and the vacuum bag collar to reduce unwanted rotational deflection of the blower tube and vacuum bag collar when either is engaged on the housing outlet. The blower/vac includes an improved vacuum tube for use of the blower/vac in the vacuum mode.

Abstract: An improved convertible electric blower/vac. The blower/vac includes an improved air inlet cover with an adjustable choke member. The air inlet cover also includes a pressure ring for increasing the efficiency of the blower/vac impeller when the unit is operated in the blower mode. The blower/vac also includes a blower tube and a vacuum bag collar, each with resilient tabs that engage receptacles on the blower/vac to retain the blower tube and vacuum bag collar on the unit. The housing outlet of the blower/vac includes guides that interact with longitudinal ribs on the blower tube and the vacuum bag collar to reduce unwanted rotational deflection of the blower tube and vacuum bag collar when either is engaged on the housing outlet. The blower/vac includes an improved vacuum tube for use of the blower/vac in the vacuum mode.

Abstract: A portable hand-held convertible blower and vacuum unit having a primary handle on the housing and a secondary handle located on the vacuum tube attachment. The secondary handle comprises a generally compliant gripping surface and enables the operator to connect or disconnect the vacuum tube from the housing in order to convert the unit from blower to vacuum mode or vice versa. The connection between the vacuum tube and the unit housing comprises a bayonet fitting. The handle also affords a second gripping surface for use of the unit during vacuum operation. Since the handle is attached to the vacuum tube, the handle does not hinder use of the unit during blower operation during which the vacuum tube is removed from the housing. When the vacuum tube is attached to the unit housing, the longitudinal axis of the gripping surface of the secondary handle is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the primary handle that is connected to the housing.