Patents Assigned to Moridge Manufacturing, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7870711
    Abstract: A mower deck is selectively coupled to the front of a propelling vehicle. The deck includes an electric mowing height adjustment assembly to permit the user to vary the cutting height of the mower deck. The deck is movable about a lift shaft from a generally horizontal use position to an upright storage/servicing position while the deck is coupled with the vehicle. An electric actuator and a switch mount of the mowing height adjustment assembly not only provide the user with a way to adjust the cutting height but also cooperate with the remainder of the mowing height adjustment assembly to allow movement of the deck from the use position to the storage/servicing position. Movement of the switch mount from a generally horizontal, engaged use position to a unengaged position permits the deck to be moved from the use position to the upright storage/servicing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Moridge Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Leroy F. Koehn
  • Publication number: 20080163598
    Abstract: A mower deck is selectively coupled to the front of a propelling vehicle. The deck includes an electric mowing height adjustment assembly to permit the user to vary the cutting height of the mower deck. The deck is movable about a lift shaft from a generally horizontal use position to an upright storage/servicing position while the deck is coupled with the vehicle. An electric actuator and a switch mount of the mowing height adjustment assembly not only provide the user with a way to adjust the cutting height but also cooperate with the remainder of the mowing height adjustment assembly to allow movement of the deck from the use position to the storage/servicing position. Movement of the switch mount from a generally horizontal, engaged use position to a unengaged position permits the deck to be moved from the use position to the upright storage/servicing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: MORIDGE MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: LEROY F. KOEHN
  • Publication number: 20080163597
    Abstract: A mower deck is selectively coupled to the front of a propelling vehicle. The deck includes an electric mowing height adjustment assembly to permit the user to vary the cutting height of the mower deck. The deck is movable about a lift shaft from a generally horizontal use position to an upright storage/servicing position while the deck is coupled with the vehicle. An electric actuator and a switch mount of the mowing height adjustment assembly not only provide the user with a way to adjust the cutting height but also cooperate with the remainder of the mowing height adjustment assembly to allow movement of the deck from the use position to the storage/servicing position. Movement of the switch mount from a generally horizontal, engaged use position to a unengaged position permits the deck to be moved from the use position to the upright storage/servicing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: MORIDGE MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: LEROY F. KOEHN
  • Patent number: 7347039
    Abstract: A mower deck is selectively coupled to the front of a propelling vehicle. The deck includes an electric mowing height adjustment assembly to permit the user to vary the cutting height of the mower deck. The deck is movable about a lift shaft from a generally horizontal use position to an upright storage/servicing position while the deck is coupled with the vehicle. An electric actuator and a switch mount of the mowing height adjustment assembly not only provide the user with a way to adjust the cutting height but also cooperate with the remainder of the mowing height adjustment assembly to allow movement of the deck from the use position to the storage/servicing position. Movement of the switch mount from a generally horizontal, engaged use position to a unengaged position permits the deck to be moved from the use position to the upright storage/servicing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Moridge Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: LeRoy F. Koehn
  • Patent number: 7293398
    Abstract: A mower deck is selectively coupled to the front of a propelling vehicle. The deck includes a mowing height adjustment assembly to permit the user to vary the cutting height of the mower deck. The deck is movable about a lift shaft from a generally horizontal use position to an upright storage/servicing position while the deck is coupled with the vehicle. A mowing height adjustment lever of the mowing height adjustment assembly not only provides the user with a way to adjust the cutting height but also cooperates with the remainder of the mowing height adjustment assembly to prevent movement of the deck from the use position to the storage/servicing position. Movement of the mowing height adjustment lever from an upright use position to a collapsed position permits the deck to be moved from the use position to the upright storage/servicing position. A latch plate and a catch cooperate to automatically lock the deck in the storage/servicing position when the deck is rotated thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Moridge Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: LeRoy F. Koehn
  • Publication number: 20040221561
    Abstract: A mower deck is selectively coupled to the front of a propelling vehicle. The deck includes a mowing height adjustment assembly to permit the user to vary the cutting height of the mower deck. The deck is movable about a lift shaft from a generally horizontal use position to an upright storage/servicing position while the deck is coupled with the vehicle. A mowing height adjustment lever of the mowing height adjustment assembly not only provides the user with a way to adjust the cutting height but also cooperates with the remainder of the mowing height adjustment assembly to prevent movement of the deck from the use position to the storage/servicing position. Movement of the mowing height adjustment lever from an upright use position to a collapsed position permits the deck to be moved from the use position to the upright storage/servicing position. A latch plate and a catch cooperate to automatically lock the deck in the storage/servicing position when the deck is rotated thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Moridge Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: LeRoy F. Koehn
  • Patent number: 6347503
    Abstract: A mower includes a propelling vehicle and a mower deck having at least one mower blade and positioned adjacent the front end of the vehicle. A lift shaft is rotatably supported by the mower deck and extends transversely across the deck. At least one hitch arm is fixedly coupled on one end to the lift shaft and attached to the front end of the propelling vehicle on its other end. A rotatable joint is located adjacent the lift shaft and allows the deck to be rotated from a horizontal position to a raised position to allow access to the mower blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Moridge Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Merlin L. Esau, Leroy F. Koehn
  • Patent number: 5528886
    Abstract: A hitching arrangement for attaching a mower deck to a propelling vehicle has a lift shaft rotatably supported by the mower deck and extending transversely across the deck. At least one hitch arm is fixedly secured on one end to the lift shaft. The hitch arm has a hook located on its other end with a downwardly facing opening adopted for engagement with a generally horizontally disposed attaching member on the propelling vehicle. A cutting height adjustment mechanism is operably coupled to the lift shaft and adjusts the cutting height of the mower. The adjustment mechanism has a first position corresponding to an elevated cutting height of the mower deck and a second position corresponding to a lowered cutting height of the deck. A deck stand is provided which is releasably attached to the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Moridge Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Merlin L. Esau
  • Patent number: 5465564
    Abstract: A mower deck is convertible between a discharge configuration wherein grass clippings are discharged from the deck and a mulching configuration wherein grass clippings are mulched within the deck. The deck has a housing with a discharge port for discharging grass clippings from the housing when the deck is in the discharge configuration. Spindles are rotatably mounted to the housing and coupled to a drive mechanism. A cutting blade is attached to each spindle. A removable shroud can be attached to and removed from the housing. The mulching configuration of the deck corresponds to when the removable shroud is attached to the housing and the discharge configuration of the deck corresponds to when the removable shroud is detached from the housing. A fixed shroud is attached to the housing and partially enshrouds the cutting path of the cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Moridge Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Leroy F. Koehn, Merlin L. Esau