Abstract: A self-propelled implement such as a lawn mower comprising a frame having a rearward end, a drive wheel which supports the frame for movement over the ground, an engine supported by the frame, a handle connected to the frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, the handle including a rearmost portion adapted to be held by a mower operator, and a transmission operably connected between the engine and the drive wheel for effecting sustained rotation of the drive wheel at any speed within a speed range between zero and substantially above zero.

Abstract: A lawn mower comprising a housing including a discharge chute, a door mounted on the housing for pivotal movement between a closed position preventing discharge from the chute of grass clippings and an open position permitting discharge from the chute of grass clippings, a spring biasing the door to the closed position, a grass clippings catcher including a relatively rigid frame defining, at least in part, a mouth, and a collector communicating with the mouth, and structures on the housing, on the door, and on the catcher for removably supporting the frame on the housing in a mounted position relative to the chute so as to enable receipt of grass clippings from the chute, for displacing the door to the open position in response to movement of the frame to the mounted position, for retaining the door in the open position during continued location of the frame in the mounted position, for releasably holding the frame in the mounted position, and for permitting displacement of the door to the closed position in

Abstract: A self-propelled implement such as a lawn mower comprising a frame having a rearward end, a drive wheel which supports the frame for movement over the ground, an engine supported by the frame, a handle connected to the frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, the handle including a rearmost portion adapted to be held by a mower operator, and a transmission operably connected between the engine and the drive wheel for effecting sustained rotation of the drive wheel at any speed within a speed range between zero and substantially above zero.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cutter blade for a rotary lawn mower, which cutter blade is generally of elongated rectangular outline and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise between the leading and trailing edges, a generally planar outer end portion including a cutting edge forming a part of the leading edge and an outer tip, and a sail portion extending from outer end portion along a form line extending between the outer tip and the trailing edge at a form angle within the range of 25 degrees to 35 degrees to the longitudinal axis. The sail portion also has an upper edge which is spaced above a horizontal plane containing the cutting edge at a height of between 0.65 inches and 0.75 inches and which extends continuously concavely arcuately outwardly and upwardly from the form line at a uniform radius between 1.00 inches and 1.40 inches measured in a plane perpendicular to the form line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lawn mower including an input shaft selectively drivingly connected to an output shaft supporting the cutting blade. The lawn mower includes a sun gear driven by the input shaft, a first planetary gear in enmeshing relation with the sun gear and supported for rotation around the input shaft and for rotation about an axis parallel to the input shaft, and a ring gear surrounding the sun gear and the first planetary gear, and in enmeshing relation with the first planetary gear. A second planetary gear is drivingly connected to the first planetary gear, and is rotationally driven by the first planetary gear. A second sun gear is connected to the output shaft for driving the output shaft, the second sun gear being in enmeshing relation with the second planetary gear. Apparatus is further provided for alternately braking the ring gear and the output shaft.

Abstract: The drive system includes a drive pulley operably connected to a prime mover for selective rotation in opposite directions, a driven pulley, an endless belt trained about the drive and driven pulleys, an arm having a first end rotatably supporting the driven pulley and a second end mounted for pivotal movement of the arm and the driven pulley, a drive wheel, such as a sprocket, mounted on the first end of the arm for common rotation with the driven pulley, a rotatably mounted driven wheel, such as a sprocket, and an endless flexible member, such as a chain, trained about the drive and driven wheels for rotating the driven wheel in response to rotation of the drive pulley, whereby the resultant force applied on the drive wheel by the flexible drive member, when the drive pulley is rotated in either direction, is in a direction tending to pivot the arm and the driven pulley about the arm pivot axis in a direction for applying tension on the slack side of the belt.

Abstract: The snow thrower includes an impeller housing carrying an impeller for rotation about a transverse axis and having an upwardly open, forwardly inclined discharge chute through which snow is propelled by the impeller. One or more upwardly extending deflector vanes are disposed in the discharge chute for directing the discharge of snow. Each deflector vane includes a pivot pin which extends rotatably through the transverse rear wall of the discharge chute and a control mechanism, located exteriorly of the discharge chute and connected to the outer ends of the pivot pins, is operable to selectively pivot the deflector vanes between forward, left and right discharge positions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a filament mower comprising a housing including a generally horizontal top deck and a depending wall extending downwardly from the top deck and including an arcuate portion and a side wall portion, which arcuate portion has a generally common radius extending from a common center, and which side wall portion is radially spaced from the common center at a distance less than the common radius. The mower also includes a filament head carried by the housing for rotation within the housing, wheel means on the housing for supporting the housing for travel on the ground, and a handle connected to the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a filament mower comprising a wheel supported housing having an upper deck, a prime mover mounted on the upper deck and including an output shaft extending through the upper deck of the said housing, a string trimmer head fixed to the output shaft within the housing and including a spool carried on the output shaft for rotary movement relative thereto, a spool cover carried on the output shaft for common rotation therewith, one of the spool and the spool cover being movable axially of the output shaft between an upper position and a lower position, means for limiting movement outwardly of the output shaft of the other of the spool and the spool cover, means for biasing the spool and the spool cover away from each other, and interengaging lugs on spool and on the spool cover for interengaging the spool cover and the spool for common rotation when the one of the spool cover and the spool is in the upper position and in the lower position and for permitting relative rotation between the spool

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cutter blade for a rotary lawn mower, which cutter blade is generally of elongated rectangular outline and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise between the leading and trailing edges, a generally planar outer end portion including a cutting edge forming a part of the leading edge and an outer tip, and a sail portion extending from outer end portion along a form line extending between the outer tip and the trailing edge at a form angle within the range of 25 degrees to 35 degrees to the longitudinal axis. The sail portion also has an upper edge which is spaced above a horizontal plane containing the cutting edge at a height of between 0.65 inches and 0.75 inches and which extends continuously concavely arcuately outwardly and upwardly from the form line at a uniform radius between 1.00 inches and 1.40 inches measured in a plane perpendicular to the form line.