LAWN MOWER BAGGER CONNECTION
An accessory for use with the work vehicle includes an accessory frame configured to support the accessory, a first linkage member extending downwardly from the accessory frame, and a second linkage member spaced apart from the first linkage member. The second linkage member extends downwardly from the accessory frame. A hook is coupled to an end of the first linkage member and is configured to engage the first connection point. A latch is coupled to an end of the second linkage member and is moveable between a first position, in which the latch is configured to be secured to the second connection point, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the second connection point. A cord coupled to the latch and is operable to move the latch from the first position to the second position.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/375,067, filed on Apr. 4, 2019, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/349,701, filed on Nov. 11, 2016, which claims priority to prior-filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/253,758, filed Nov. 11, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to a bagger assembly for use on a lawn mower.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, the invention provides an accessory for use with a work vehicle. The work vehicle including a frame having a first connection point and a second connection point spaced apart from the first connection point. The accessory comprising an accessory frame configured to support the accessory, a first linkage member extending downwardly from the accessory frame, a second linkage member spaced apart from the first linkage member, the second linkage member extending downwardly from the accessory frame, a hook coupled to an end of the first linkage member, the hook configured to engage the first connection point, a latch coupled to an end of the second linkage member, the latch being moveable between a first position, in which the latch is configured to be secured to the second connection point, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the second connection point, and a cord coupled to the latch, the cord operable to move the latch from the first position to the second position.
In another embodiment, the invention provides an accessory configured to be coupled to a frame of a machine. The frame having a first connection point and a second connection point spaced apart from the first connection point. The accessory comprising a first linkage member extending upwardly, a second linkage member spaced apart from the first linkage member, the second linkage member extending downwardly, a hook coupled to an end of the first linkage member, the hook configured to engage the first connection point, a latch coupled to an end of the second linkage member, the latch being moveable between a first position, in which the latch is configured to be secured to the second connection point of the work vehicle, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the second connection point of the work vehicle, and a cord coupled to the latch, the cord operable to move the latch from the first position to the second position.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a quick connection assembly configured to couple an accessory to a frame of a work vehicle. The quick connection assembly comprising an accessory frame configured to support the accessory, a first linkage member extending downwardly from the accessory frame, a second linkage member spaced apart from the first linkage member, the second linkage member extending downwardly from the accessory frame, a hook coupled to an end of the first linkage member, the hook configured to engage a first connection point of the frame, a latch coupled to an end of the second linkage member, the latch being moveable between a first position, in which the latch is configured to be secured to a second connection point of the frame, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the second connection point of the frame, and a cord coupled to the latch, the cord operable to move the latch from the first position to the second position.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
In some embodiments, the left and right driven wheels 125, 130 are interconnected with the prime mover 117 through a power transmission and suitable hydraulic pumps and motors. The hydraulic pumps and motors are manipulated with a pair of control arms 127, 132 with one of the control arms 127 controlling the direction and speed of rotation of the left driven wheel 125 and the other control arm 132 controlling the direction and speed of rotation of the right driven wheel 130.
The illustrated lawn mower 110 may be referred to as a zero-turn-radius lawn mower or ZTR lawn mower because when one of the control arms (e.g., control arm 127) is pressed forward and the other control arm (e.g., control arm 132) is pulled rearward, the lawn mower 110 will move in a very tight radius owing to one wheel (e.g., left wheel 125) rotating forward and the other wheel (e.g., right wheel 125) rotating backwards. A ZTR lawn mower steers through the speed and direction difference of the two driven wheels 125, 130. Further, the illustrated lawn mower 110 is a sitting lawn mower, in which the operator sits in a seat 148 during operation. The deck lifting assembly 140 discussed below is applicable to this type of lawn mower and also to any other type of lawn mower or yard machine. Examples of other types of lawn mowers include large walk-behind units, standing mowers (in which the operator stands during operation), and tractors (in which a steering wheel is used instead of control arms, and the mower is not designed to execute zero-radius turns).
The deck assembly 135 includes a deck 150 and multiple cutting blades 152 (although only one cutting blade is shown). The prime mover 117 drives rotation of the cutting blades 152 to cut vegetation (e.g., grass) under the deck 150. In the illustrated embodiment, the cut vegetation and other debris is directed toward and through a debris hose 155 in order to be collected. In other embodiments, the cut vegetation and other debris is mulched in the deck 150 via the cutting blades 152 and expelled onto the ground surface.
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In operation, the bagger assembly 160 is installed onto and removed from the lawn mower 110 by a single operator without any tools, as shown in
When an operator desires to remove the bagger assembly 160 from the lawn mower 110, the operator grasps the mid-section 230 of the cord 220 and actuates (e.g., pulls) the cord 220. As a result, the lever 210 of each latch 190 pivots against the force of each biasing element 215 to the unlocked position, at which point each latch 190 is removable from the corresponding upper pin 255. Subsequently, the bagger assembly 160 is lowered to the ground surface (
This arrangement allows the operator to connect the bagger assembly 160 to and release the bagger assembly 160 from behind the lawn mower 110. In addition, this arrangement allows a single person to easily connect the bagger assembly 160 to or remove the bagger assembly 160 from the lawn mower 110 using a single release point (e.g., the cord 220). After the bagger assembly 160 is removed from the lawn mower 110, no excess mechanisms are left behind on the lawn mower 110, such as the latches 190 or an actuator (e.g., the cord 220).
Although the invention has been described with reference to a bagger assembly that removably connects to a lawn mower, in other embodiments, other types of lawn mower accessories may alternatively be connected to the lawn mower using the quick connection assembly. For example, in some embodiments, the lawn mower accessory may be a sprayer; a toolbox; a tool rack for supporting peripheral tools (e.g., trimmers, blowers, etc.); a spreader for fertilizer, salt, and/or sand; a large leaf blower; and the like.
Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a bagger assembly or other accessory capable of mounting to a lawn mower without the use of tools. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. An accessory for use with a work vehicle, the work vehicle including a frame having a first connection point and a second connection point spaced apart from the first connection point, the accessory comprising:
- an accessory frame configured to support the accessory;
- a first linkage member extending downwardly from the accessory frame;
- a second linkage member spaced apart from the first linkage member, the second linkage member extending downwardly from the accessory frame;
- a hook coupled to an end of the first linkage member, the hook configured to engage the first connection point;
- a latch coupled to an end of the second linkage member, the latch being moveable between a first position, in which the latch is configured to be secured to the second connection point, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the second connection point; and
- a cord coupled to the latch, the cord operable to move the latch from the first position to the second position.
2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the latch is biased to the first position by a spring.
3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the latch further includes a channel configured to receive a portion of the frame, and a lever coupled to the cord, the lever moveable between the first and second positions.
4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein hook is a first hook, and the latch is a first latch, the accessory further comprising:
- a third linkage member;
- a fourth linkage member spaced apart from the third linkage member;
- a second hook coupled to an end of the third linkage member, the second hook configured to engage a third connection point of the work vehicle; and
- a second latch coupled to an end of the fourth linkage member, the second latch being moveable between a first position, in which the second latch is configured to be secured to a fourth connection point of the work vehicle, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the work vehicle,
- wherein the cord is also coupled to the second latch and is operable to move the second latch from the first position to the second position.
5. The accessory of claim 4, wherein the first and second latches are simultaneously moved from the first positions to the second positions by manipulation of the cord.
6. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the cord is accessible to a user from behind the work vehicle, and wherein the cord is moveable away from the frame to move the latch from the first position to the second position.
7. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the hook is configured to pivot about the first connection point.
8. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the latch includes a first stop member configured to limit movement of the latch beyond the first position and a second stop member configured to limit movement of the latch beyond the second position.
9. An accessory configured to be coupled to a frame of a machine, the frame having a first connection point and a second connection point spaced apart from the first connection point, the accessory comprising:
- a first linkage member extending upwardly;
- a second linkage member spaced apart from the first linkage member, the second linkage member extending downwardly;
- a hook coupled to an end of the first linkage member, the hook configured to engage the first connection point;
- a latch coupled to an end of the second linkage member, the latch being moveable between a first position, in which the latch is configured to be secured to the second connection point of the work vehicle, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the second connection point of the work vehicle; and
- a cord coupled to the latch, the cord operable to move the latch from the first position to the second position.
10. The accessory of claim 9, further comprising an accessory frame configured to support the accessory, and wherein the first linkage member extends downwardly from the accessory frame and the second linkage member extends downwardly from the accessory frame.
11. The accessory of claim 9, wherein the latch is biased to the first position by a spring.
12. The accessory of claim 9, wherein the latch further includes a channel configured to receive a portion of the frame, and a lever coupled to the cord, the lever moveable between the first and second positions.
13. The accessory of claim 9, wherein hook is a first hook, and the latch is a first latch, the accessory further comprising:
- a third linkage member;
- a fourth linkage member spaced apart from the third linkage member;
- a second hook coupled to an end of the third linkage member, the second hook configured to engage a third connection point of the frame; and
- a second latch coupled to an end of the fourth linkage member, the second latch being moveable between a first position, in which the second latch is configured to be secured to a fourth connection point of the frame, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the frame,
- wherein the cord is also coupled to the second latch and is operable to move the second latch from the first position to the second position.
14. The accessory of claim 13, wherein the first and second latches are simultaneously moved from the first positions to the second positions by manipulation of the cord.
15. The accessory of claim 9, wherein the cord is accessible to a user from behind the machine, and wherein the cord is moveable away from the mower frame to move the latch from the first position to the second position.
16. The accessory of claim 9, wherein the hook is configured to pivot about the first connection point.
17. The accessory of claim 9, wherein the latch includes a first stop member configured to limit movement of the latch beyond the first position and a second stop member configured to limit movement of the latch beyond the second position.
18. A quick connection assembly configured to couple an accessory to a frame of a work vehicle, the quick connection assembly comprising:
- an accessory frame configured to support the accessory;
- a first linkage member extending downwardly from the accessory frame;
- a second linkage member spaced apart from the first linkage member, the second linkage member extending downwardly from the accessory frame;
- a hook coupled to an end of the first linkage member, the hook configured to engage a first connection point of the frame;
- a latch coupled to an end of the second linkage member, the latch being moveable between a first position, in which the latch is configured to be secured to a second connection point of the frame, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the second connection point of the frame; and
- a cord coupled to the latch, the cord operable to move the latch from the first position to the second position.
19. The quick connection assembly of claim 18, wherein hook is a first hook, and the latch is a first latch, the accessory further comprising:
- a third linkage member;
- a fourth linkage member spaced apart from the third linkage member;
- a second hook coupled to an end of the third linkage member, the second hook configured to engage a third connection point of the work vehicle; and
- a second latch coupled to an end of the fourth linkage member, the second latch being moveable between a first position, in which the second latch is configured to be secured to a fourth connection point of the work vehicle, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the work vehicle,
- wherein the cord is also coupled to the second latch and is operable to move the second latch from the first position to the second position.
20. The quick connection assembly of claim 19, wherein the first and second latches are simultaneously moved from the first positions to the second positions by manipulation of the cord.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 6, 2023
Publication Date: Jun 29, 2023
Inventors: Ricky A. Cracraft (Two Rivers, WI), Daniel J. Gindt (Appleton, WI), Trenton J. Meyer (Brillion, WI), Brent P. Berglund (Brillion, WI)
Application Number: 18/179,204