Guided By Walking Attendant Patents (Class 172/42)
  • Patent number: 6516542
    Abstract: A tilling machine having independently driven wheels and a generally V-shaped plow. Tilling machine comprises digging chain that moves between a raised position and a lowered position, a housing carried by front wheels and rear casters, a motor that drives front wheels to propel housing, a guide wheel that aligns tilling machine with trench upon a second pass, and a generally V-shaped plow, wherein the plow may be positioned on the front or the rear to collect and deposit the dirt surrounding the trench into the trench. A method of gardening/landscaping wherein a trench is dug by a first pass, soil amendments are added to the trench, and then on the second pass, the excavated dirt is plowed back into the trench and mixed with the amendments. A method of gardening/landscaping wherein vegetation cover between trenched rows is maintained thus utilizing only the ground area that is needed for planting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventor: David McClure
  • Patent number: 6488101
    Abstract: A tiller for cultivating soil has a power source and a tilling shaft mounted for undergoing rotation by a driving force supplied from the power source. The tilling shaft has a hollow outer shaft and an inner shaft extending through the outer shaft. The inner shaft has a variable rotating speed and/or direction of rotation relative to the outer shaft. A power transmission mechanism transmits a driving force from the power source to the tilling shaft. The power transmission mechanism has a first power transmission system for transmitting the driving force from the power source to the outer shaft and a second power transmission system transmitting the driving force from the power source to the inner shaft. The second power transmission system has a hydrostatic transmission comprised of a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor for effecting a stepless change of the rotating speed of the inner shaft as well as a selective change of its direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Miyahara, Hideaki Kobayashi, Masatoshi Nagaoka, Masashi Takeuchi, Tomoaki Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20020074137
    Abstract: An aerator attachment for a ground tiller for providing another useful function for a ground tiller. The aerator attachment for a ground tiller includes a pair of tubular axles each of which includes a first end and a second end and each of which is adapted to mount to a respective shaft of a ground tiller; and also includes a plurality of wheel assemblies being mounted to the tubular axles; and further includes a plurality of spikes being securely attached to the wheel assemblies and being adapted to puncture holes in a ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Dennis Dillon
  • Patent number: 6382383
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device for the manually operated soil compaction roller, comprising an operating lever and an adjusting element coupled to an actuator in order to drive said roller. In case of danger, a safety-control element travels in between the adjusting element and the operating lever and separates the positive coupling, whereupon the adjusting element swings into a neutral position and shuts down the machine. When the operating lever swings forwards, a command corresponding to a forward movement is transmitted to the drive mechanism of said roller via a second positive coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Wacker-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hermann Schennach
  • Publication number: 20020046846
    Abstract: A support bracket includes a cylindrical portion sized to have a skid inserted therethrough, and a receiving portion sized to receive a handlebar. The cylindrical portion and the receiving portion are formed by bending a single plate in two. The plate includes a groove portion formed centrally thereof, right and left flat plate portions positioned rightwardly and leftwardly of said groove portion, right and left curved portions protruding outwardly from the right and left flat plate portions, respectively, and right and left connection portions protruding outwardly from the right and left curved portions, respectively. The right and left flat plate portions include right and left projecting portions, respectively. The right and left flat plate portions are reinforced by the right and left projecting portions. When the plate is bent in two, the flat plate portions are joined together to form the groove portion into the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventor: Masayuki Sasaoka
  • Patent number: 6347593
    Abstract: A modular dethatcher and seeder includes a housing having a rear opening, a removable rear cover substantially closing the rear opening, and a plurality of tines driven by a motor to rotate about a shaft within the housing. When the device is to be used as a seeder, a seeder attachment is inserted into the rear opening of the housing in place of the rear cover. The seeder attachment can be driven by the rear wheels of the device. Alternatively, when the device is to be used as a dethatcher, a chute can be removably attached to the rear opening and a collection bag is then attached to the chute to hold debris thrown by the tines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: BlueBird International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Tadashi Moran, Edward T. Biegel
  • Publication number: 20020017040
    Abstract: In the field of clearance of unexploded ordnance from land, there is a need for an improved apparatus for removing unexploded ordnance from the ground. A cutting apparatus includes a plurality of blades on a rotatable shaft, the blades being tapered towards their distal ends. When the blades are driven forwardly through soil while the shaft rotates, they tend to loosen items such as solid ordnance and bring such items to the soil surface. The blades simultaneously sever scissile matter in the soil, thereby facilitating removal of the ordnance. The cutting assembly includes a conveyor for conveying unexploded ordnance away from the soil. The cutting assembly may be mounted on a vehicle including further means for rendering harmless the unexploded ordnance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: J R French Limited
    Inventor: John Robert French
  • Patent number: 6338209
    Abstract: A trenching machine having independently driven wheels. Trenching machine comprises digging chain that moves between a raised position and a lowered position, a housing that is carried by a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear casters, a motor that independently drives front wheels to propel housing, and a guide wheel that aligns trenching machine with trench upon a second pass. Trenching machine also has a front plow and a rear plow that collect and deposit the dirt surrounding the trench into the trench. A method of gardening/landscaping wherein a trench is dug by a first pass, soil amendments are added to the trench, and then on the second pass, the excavated dirt is plowed back into the trench and then mixed with the amendments. A method of gardening/landscaping wherein vegetation cover between trenched rows is maintained thus utilizing only the ground area that is needed for planting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Inventor: David McClure
  • Publication number: 20010045292
    Abstract: A string trimmer is provided with a housing that supports a cutting head. The cutting head includes filaments that are attached thereto at one end for use in cutting associated vegetation. The cutting head is operatively rotated by power supplied from an engine. The cutting head is substantially laterally offset toward on side of the housing member and toward one end of the housing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Dhananjay Gangakhedkar, Timothy D. Dilgard
  • Patent number: 6273197
    Abstract: The present invention is a self-propelled ground aerating system. The system comprises, in general, a wheeled platform that has disposed thereon a power pack, a steering mechanism, a hopper for distributing materials, and a spiked drum. The spikes disposed on the drum are selectively positioned to engage the ground at a selected angle. The depth of penetration of the spikes into the ground may also be selected. The power pack provides the required power to a drive mechanism which in turn provides power to rotate the spiked drum thus propelling the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Audie Marlow
  • Publication number: 20010009078
    Abstract: A power transmission system for a working machine, wherein drive power is transmitted from an engine to a work-tool holding drive shaft via a reduction mechanism is provided. The reduction mechanism includes an input shaft having a first gear, and an output shaft having a second gear. The second gear has a gear portion and a cylindrical boss segment press fitted thereto, forming a torque limiter. As a result, the reduction mechanism, which has the torque limiter, has a simplified structure, enabling easy assemblage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Publication date: July 26, 2001
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ohta, Tomoaki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6254313
    Abstract: A turnable self-propelled, walk-along tractor vehicle, such as a plow for burying tubing is provided. The tractor vehicle has a pair of drive wheels rotatably mounted on a fixed axle in the front of the vehicle, a back support means, a U-shaped turning bracket mounted to the sides of the tractor vehicle, and optionally a vibrating blade for cutting a trench in the earth coupled at the rear of the vehicle. The back support means is mounted to the tractor vehicle at a first position elevated with respect to the ground and is adapted to engage the ground at a second position when downward force is applied to the turning bracket. The turning bracket comprises first and second portions, which may be flat or tubular in shape, which extend rearwardly from the sides of the tractor vehicle and substantially horizontally with respect to the ground when the back support means is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Angelo DeVito
  • Patent number: 6241025
    Abstract: A lawn aerator that is attachable to a piece of mechanized lawn care equipment, such as a self-propelled lawn mower, lawn tractor and the like, for aerating a lawn. The lawn aerator includes a frame having first and second opposite ends, with the frame including mounting structure connected thereto adjacent the first end to enable mounting of the frame to the piece of mechanized lawn care equipment. In addition, an aerator assembly is pivotally mounted on the frame so that the aerator assembly is pivotable relative to the frame between a ground engaging position and a disengaged position. The aerator assembly includes a plurality of caster assemblies each of which includes at least one tine head assembly including an aerator wheel connected to a pivot head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Jrco, Incorporated
    Inventors: James W. Myers, James C. Doring
  • Patent number: 6176320
    Abstract: The instant invention is particularly intended for gardening and small truck farming operations consisting of a method and apparatus which provides for accurate planting of seed in rows and is, by this embodiment, able to repeat it's travel in the row to perform subsequent tasks such as in-the-row weeding, cultivating and other operations as desired. To achieve these goals, the machine which can also be called a metric walking tractor is comprised of a solid frame, encoded motor, batteries, direct coupled worm drive, high traction wheels, drive and control circuitry and universal tool holder with electromechanical power available to the ground conditioning tools as needed. The named machine is also constructed to incorporate traditional tools such as plows, cultivators, weed scrapers and more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventor: Gilbert Lopez
  • Patent number: 6158202
    Abstract: A dethatching device comprising a dethatching shaft assembly. The dethatching shaft assembly comprises at least one shaft and a plurality of flexible, non-metallic dethatching lines. Each of the plurality of flexible, non-metallic dethatching lines extend from the shaft and rotate with the shaft to engage the ground and loosen and remove any thatch on the ground and in the lawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Koock Elan Jung
  • Patent number: 6092608
    Abstract: An attachment for a rotary garden tiller having edging capability for establishing perimeter of a flower bed alongside sidewalks, driveways, or fence lines which functions by cutting and separating grass from its roots at a uniform depth and width and in a controllable contoured line. The edger apparatus includes a cupped cultivation disc and a pulverizer wheel which includes chopping and digging capability. The cultivating disc shears vegetation and cultivates the soil in any contoured shape and maintains a fixed depth of three to four inches, requiring approximately one third of the time spent in edging required by other methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Herbert J. Leger
  • Patent number: 6056065
    Abstract: A motorized auger comprising a frame with a pair of handles secured to the frame. Each handle having a proximal and a distal end thereto and a pair of downwardly depending support elements. A first wheel is secured to the distal ends of the pair of handles by frame elements and a rear set of wheels is secured to the proximal ends of the pair of handles by frame elements. A drive mechanism includes a chain and a sprocket operably linked to a drive engine and to a wheel, the wheel having an internal brake drum and internal brake shoes. The internal brake drum and internal brake shoes are linked to a brake cable having a cam for tension reduction secured thereto. A throttle mechanism is engaged to the drive engine and an auger is mounted to the frame. The auger is linked to a hydraulic drive motor and the auger and the hydraulic drive motor are secured to an auger mounting track element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Power Technology Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery D. Campbell, Rick Dean Fox
  • Patent number: 5988290
    Abstract: A cultivating machine has a structure arranged to be mounted on ground engaging wheels for movement in a line of travel. At least one tool support is mounted on the structure so as to be moveable with respect thereto, and a drive is also mounted on the structure for driving the tool support. The tool support has a body having two end portions, the first end portion being driven in use in a circular path by the drive. The second end portion is connected to the structure through a link arm pivotably attached to the tool support and to a swing arm, which in turn is pivotably attached to the structure, the swing arm being biased toward a median position and the second end of the tool support carrying at least one cultivating tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: John Stanley Banks
  • Patent number: 5908075
    Abstract: A thatch removing attachment for a conventional rototiller. A first mounting bracket is fixed to the rear center of the tiller and has threaded upper surface holes. A second top mounted bracket with several depending spaced spring tooth rake fingers is mounted to the first bracket. Bolt fasteners permit the two brackets to be easily attached or detached from each other. As the rototiller moves the rake fingers thatch the ground underneath as an operator walks behind while the rototiller blades are elevated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Inventor: Carl J. Iannello
  • Patent number: 5896931
    Abstract: A convertible garden tiller includes a chassis, a pair of wheels supporting the chassis, an engine mounted on the chassis capable of driving the wheels in a given direction and a plurality of earth working tines. Each tine is generally unidirectional, having a preferred direction of movement through the earth and is disposed on an elongated tine shaft which rotates about a longitudinal axis in response to operation of the engine. The tine shaft is also pivotable 180 degrees about a transverse axis, to selectively rotate the tines in the given direction as well as the second direction. This construction therefore provides that each tine moves through the earth only in its preferred direction of movement. The tiller also includes guide handles which are selectively pivotable from a position above the tines to a position above the wheels for alternately converting from a rear tine mode to a front tine mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Garden Way Incorporated
    Inventors: Bruce E. Roberts, Rolando Altamirano
  • Patent number: 5868206
    Abstract: A turf aerating device and machine including a turf aerating device comprising a base platform having a plurality of star-shaped spikes removably mounted therein in perpendicular orientation with respect to the base platform surface so that the spikes vertically penetrate a desired turf surface. The spikes produce X-shaped holes and loosen the soil beneath the turf. A plurality of turf aerating devices are mounted to a corresponding number of vertically actuating rods and vertically actuated for penetrating the turf with the spikes without causing damage to the turf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Inventor: Edward A. Miller
  • Patent number: 5794708
    Abstract: A sod cutting machine in combination with turf cutting mechanism for cutting a longitudinally elongated trench in turf that has a trench bottom transversely inclined relative to the slope of the soil transverse to the direction of the trench elongation. The sod cutting machine has mounting arms mounted to the machine frame to extend vertically downwardly in a turf cutting position the same distance. The turf cutting mechanism includes first and second vertical knives that each has a rear shank portion joined to the lower end of the respective arm, a generally horizontal bottom edge portion and a front inclined sharpened edge that intersects with the bottom edge portion. A transverse bottom cutting knife extends between and is joined to the first and second vertical knives with one end portion vertically more remote from one of the arms than the other cutting knife end portion from the other one of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Turfco Manufacturing, Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert C. Brophy
  • Patent number: 5713420
    Abstract: A convertible garden tiller includes a chassis, a pair of wheels supporting the chassis, an engine mounted on the chassis capable of driving the wheels in a given direction and a plurality of earth working tines. Each tine is generally unidirectional, having a preferred direction of movement through the earth and is disposed on an elongated tine shaft which rotates about a longitudinal axis in response to operation of the engine. The tine shaft is also pivotable 180 degrees about a transverse axis, to selectively rotate the tines in the given direction as well as the second direction. This construction therefore provides that each tine moves through the earth only in its preferred direction of movement. The tiller also includes guide handles which are selectively pivotable from a position above the tines to a position above the wheels for alternately converting from a rear tine mode to a front tine mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Garden Way, Incorporated
    Inventors: Bruce E. Roberts, Rolando Altamirano
  • Patent number: 5690178
    Abstract: A compact, follow-behind sod cutter employs a frame with two front wheels and two rear wheels. A motor mounted to the frame drives all four wheels for improved traction and stability. The motor also drives an oscillating blade adjacent to said rear wheels. A handle extends rearward from the frame for guiding the sod cutter. A linkage having a proximal portion adjacent to the handle allows the blade to be selectively moved between a raised position in which the blade is above the sod and a lowered position in which the blade cuts the sod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Bluebird International, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude D. Zehrung, Jr., William H. Oliver
  • Patent number: 5680903
    Abstract: A lawn aerator has a series of tine assemblies spaced along a driven shaft driven by a motor. Each fine assembly has a plurality of tines for aeration extending in a substantially radial pattern about the driven shaft. The inner tine assemblies along the middle portion of the driven shaft are secured to the driven shaft to drive the aerator along the lawn as the driven shaft rotates. The outer tine assemblies adjacent to the ends of the driven shaft are rotatably mounted to the driven shaft. This permits the outer tine assemblies to rotate independently and thereby makes the aerator more maneuverable and easier to turn. Removable weights can be attached to either side of the aerator housing to help maintain a straight course when traversing a slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: BlueBird International, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Oliver
  • Patent number: 5673756
    Abstract: A turf aerator is provided with a pair of drive wheels rotatably mounted on a drive shaft supported in a main frame of the aerator. Each drive wheel is provided with a radially extending flange and a pawl is pivotally mounted on each flange. A pair of sprockets are secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and disposed in engagement with a respective pawl. A drive sprocket is mounted for rotation with the shaft and is operatively connected to the shaft of an aerator assembly and a motor driven shaft by means of a chain interconnecting sprockets on each shaft. The pawls are arranged relative to the sprockets to positively drive the drive wheels in a forward direction while permitting one pawl to ratchet relative to the sprocket in engagement therewith and permitting rotation of the drive shaft in an opposite direction without imparting a drive to said wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Classen Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry E. Classen
  • Patent number: 5641025
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an aerator for turf which is capable of adjusting the level of the pressing rollers relative to not only the irregularity in its travelling direction but also that in the lateral direction, thus enabling a structure in which a pair of the pressing rollers are rocked, which structure causes an increase in the total weight of the aerator, to be removed. The aerator for turf according to the present invention for injecting high pressure liquid through a plurality of nozzles disposed in its lateral direction in the ground and smoothing ground by a pressing roller after injection, includes a supporting structure for spotting the pressing roller at a frame such that the pressing roller tilts freely relative to the horizontal line in a lateral direction and moves freely vertically relative to the frame, and a biasing structure for biasing the pressing roller downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Maruyama Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Kousuke Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 5623996
    Abstract: A compact lawn aerator comprises a rigid frame having a hitch for releasably fastening tire frame to the back of a self-propelled mower. An elongated axle is secured to the under side of the frame and a set of aerator wheels are rotatably mounted at spaced intervals along the axle. Each of the aerator wheels has a generally disk-shaped hub from the periphery of which four spikes radiate. Each spike initially projects from the hub along a radius but curves along its length in the direction of rotation of the wheel. The spikes are tapered to a sharpened point and their curve is determined so that, as the wheel rotates, the ends of the spikes pierce the soil at substantially right angles and the shank of the spikes slip into the ground progressively through the pierce point. This greatly reduces the force needed to drive the spikes into the ground, thus reducing the weight and size of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventor: Leonard F. Postema
  • Patent number: 5592992
    Abstract: A blade assembly for a lawn edging machine. The blade assembly includes a hub, at least two spaced-apart blade members having two or more blade arms extending radially therefrom, and a horizontal blade member connecting the two blade members at their radially extended arm ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: Timothy J. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5573069
    Abstract: An apparatus for pulverizing hard surfaces, the apparatus having multiple sets of elongated, curvilinear shearing blades. The shearing blades are helically mounted about a rotational shaft, adjacent sets of shearing blades mounted at an inverse pitch angle. The mounting orientation allows layers of the substance to be pulverized to be sheared off a compacted surface, then rotated about the rotational shaft, while also being move back and forth along the longitudinal axis of the rotational shaft, leading to more complete pulverization. The shearing blades are mounted intermediate their edges to the rotational shaft by support members, and at a rake angle relative to the surface for ensuring efficient operation. The total arc length of the blades is at least 360.degree.and the trailing edges of the blades are turned outward to prevent bucking. The arrangement of the blades also causes the apparatus to pull itself into the surface to be pulverized to ease operation. The blades are removably mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventor: John Shipley
  • Patent number: 5562166
    Abstract: The invention is the combination of a motor powered garden tiller connected to a separate motor driven chassis which includes a seat for an operator to control the tiller. The speed of the tiller is controlled by and through the articulated coupler between the tiller and the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Inventor: Billy G. Griffin
  • Patent number: 5520253
    Abstract: A method employing a basic structure and a collection of components to improve efficiency in caring for laws and gardens. The basic structure comprises a single engine, speed reducer, and transmission mounted on a frame with handle bars and controls. The components make up a collection of tines, wheels, blades, rollers, plows, racks and mounting parts. The operator mounts selected components on the basic structure to create a custom ramification for accomplishing a specific task. The specification describes eighteen applications. Eight apply to common tasks of tilling, grading, removing snow, shredding, edging and mowing. The ten remaining apply to new methods for wet lands tilling, hard ground tilling, rolling, aerating, dethatching, scooping, lifting, cross country transporting, and automatic mixing and separating. A primary advantage of the method lies in a consolidation that reduces costs for capital outlay, maintenance, storage, and transportation of walk behind equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Technical and Craft Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence W. Kesting
  • Patent number: 5511624
    Abstract: A turn mechanism for a front end rotable tined garden tiller with the capability of tilling closely to plants with minimal effort. It is comprised of a sturdy main frame, a depth regulator, two connectors with bolt holes in them which is used to connect the mechanism to the tiller, two wheel frames with a tongue on them, a tye bar for connecting the wheel frames together, and a shoulder bolt. When the shoulder bolt is down it locks the wheels in a horizontal line with the tiller and makes them stationary. When the bolt is raised up and a sleeve is pushed under the shoulder of the pin, it unlocks the wheels and by moving the handles to the right or left, the rotable tines can be turned as close to or as far away from the plants being tilled as desired. By moving the handles to the left or right the tiller will turn in a complete circle, making for a smaller turning area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Inventor: Johnney C. Dunn
  • Patent number: 5441116
    Abstract: A multiple purpose agricultural power tool is provided which consists of a removable cover to fit over an open top of a housing, a wheel assembly which is rotatable and mounted to the housing, so that it can travel along the ground and a pair of legs affixed to a rearward bottom edge of the housing for stabilizing the housing when not traveling along the ground. A power source is carried within the housing for producing rotary motion and a mechanism is carried within the housing for converting the rotary motion to a reciprocating motion. A shank coupled to the converting mechanism extends downwardly at an angle from a front wall of the housing. A detachable implement is coupled to the shank for performing a garden task on the ground. The power tool is also provision to supply power to alternative connectable auxiliary power implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Inventor: Hermando H. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 5401098
    Abstract: A portable hand-held concrete, mortar and gypsum mixer comprises a small gasoline powered implement having a drive shaft extending generally downward from the handles to a gear box. A transverse shaft driven by the drive shaft extends to either side of the gear box. Mounted on the transverse shaft are a plurality of blades shaped to thoroughly agitate and mix a combination of water and the ingredients for concrete, mortar, gypsum or similar heavy, hard to mix materials. Surrounding the blades are thin rings attached to the blades to form a round circumferential surface about the blades and thereby prevent the blades from directly contacting the mixing trough or other means of containing the mix. In the alternative, the plurality of blades may be shaped at their peripheries to form substantially continuous circular circumferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Inventor: Kenneth Vadnais
  • Patent number: 5398767
    Abstract: A lawn treatment apparatus includes an open-bottomed support body having three treatment implements in the form of spiking devices or brushing/sweeping devices adapted to move through the open bottom. The support body carries a driving mechanism to drive the treatment implements with a combination of vertical and horizontal oscillations. A biasing mechanism is provided normally to hold the implement in a vertical attitude or substantially so when stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventor: William L. Warke
  • Patent number: 5307880
    Abstract: A sod roll-out machine with endless tracks having a low center of gravity to prevent tipping on hills or inclines. The machine can be operated and steered by one person, wherein the roll of sod can be unwound in a forward or reverse direction. A pair of arms are elevated by hydraulic cylinders to facilitate the loading of a roll of sod to the distal ends of the arms, and to maintain the roll of sod slightly above the earth during the unrolling process. Due to the unique two track driving mechanism, the machine can be turned in place and operated in areas having limited accessibility. The tracks are driven by a motor, wherein each track can be individually controlled to be rotated in either a forward or reverse direction. A hydraulic pump is driven by the motor, wherein hydraulic fluid is provided to each of the hydraulic cylinders to control the elevation of each of the elevating arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Edward E. Woerner
  • Patent number: 5265681
    Abstract: A landscape leveling and raking apparatus has a frame, a handle protruding upwardly from the frame, a rake pivotally coupled to the frame to protrude downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a screed fixed to the frame forwardly of the rake, a plurality of tiller blades rotatably mounted along a forward, open end of the frame, a motor which rotatably drives the tiller blades, and a mechanism for raising or lowering the tiler ,blades relative to the frame. As the blades rotate, they till the soil and propel the apparatus forward. The frame is open along its front edge. This allows soil to accumulate within the frame as the apparatus moves forward. The soil gradually escapes from the frame by passing beneath a screed fixed along the lower rear edge of the frame. The screed levels the soil before it is raked by the tines of the rake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Inventor: Frank Kincses
  • Patent number: 5197551
    Abstract: A drag bar having a tiller directing control arm is provided for use with front tine gardening tillers. The control arm presents a user with means upon which to apply directionally controlling forces to a front tine tiller as well as to apply drag forces to control the rate of travel of the tiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Inventor: John L. Farley
  • Patent number: 5146997
    Abstract: A weed removing apparatus suitable for grubbing weeds from a lake bottom. The apparatus includes a land-based unit including a combustion engine driving an hydraulic pump, and a separate submersible unit including a hydraulic motor which is driven by the hydraulic pump of the land-based unit via an elongated hose. The submersible unit incluldes a rotatable drum including several tines extending radially outward therefrom for grubbing weeds and which is driven by the hydraulic motor. The submersible unit includes wheels which are propelled by the hydraulic motor. A handle extending from the submersible unit provides a steering mechanism to the operator for guiding the submersible unit about the lake bottom in the area desired to be cleared of weeds. The land-based unit further includes a take-up reel for storing a substantial length of hose when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventor: Mark R. Korin
  • Patent number: 5095996
    Abstract: A conventional rotary tiller having an engine, an axle with two wheels, a set of tines, handlebars, and an attachment that facilitates turning. The attachment comprises a turntable which is mounted to the tiller opposite the tines in such a way that it remains out of contact with the ground during normal cultivation operations. Turning the tiller is accomplished by pivoting the tiller about the axle onto the turntable, and then rotating the tiller on the turntable to a new direction. The tiller is then pivoted back to resume normal operations in the new direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: Elbert P. Sprinkle
  • Patent number: 5048617
    Abstract: A hand-held tiller is adapted for use in loosening and breaking up the soil and is made up of a skid, an elongated handle extending forwardly of the skid with a drill motor at one end of the handle which is drivingly connected into a power transmission drive for operating a crank having a plurality of crank arms and vertically extending tines, the tines being sequentially driven by reciprocation of the crank arms into and out of the soil as the machine is drawn behind the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Inventor: Robert M. Haven
  • Patent number: 5048616
    Abstract: A garden tiller tine assembly for use with a tiller assembly which includes a drive shaft having a longitudinal axis of rotation includes a rotary blade aligned at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of rotation. The planar body of the rotary blade is angled at a dihedral angle with respect to a plane normal to the axis of rotation. Upon rotation of the tine assembly about the axis of rotation, the rotary blade oscillates laterally from side to side along the axis of rotation to cut a wider path through the soil than conventional rotary blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Hoffco, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Hoff, deceased
  • Patent number: 5009270
    Abstract: Various earthworking machines make use of an oscillatory blade, such as the herein referred to sod cutter. Instead of employing two handles, one of which raises and lowers the blade and the other of which handles, when tightened, maintains the blade at a selected depth, only a single handle is employed. When the handle is manually moved forwardly, the blade is lowered and when moved rearwardly the blade is raised, but when the single handle is moved to the left the blade is locked at the depth that has been determined by the forward movement of the handle, this handle movement to the left camming a shiftable gear rack into engagement with a fixed gear rack to maintain the adjusted blade depth. Handle movement to the right allows a coil spring to disengage the racks. A stop, when appropriately set, enables the selected depth to be re-established after each raising of the blade whenever no change in blade depth is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Turfco Manufacturing, Incorporated
    Inventor: Kip S. Vangsgard
  • Patent number: 4967849
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus which is adapted to be attached to conventional ground tillers such as the "Roto-Tiller" to prevent the build-up of grass and weeds around the drive shaft of the tines. The invention comprises a plurality of stationary blades mounted on the drive shaft gear box in a manner so as to cut grass and weeds before they become wound around the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Inventor: Charles L. Kincaid
  • Patent number: 4939854
    Abstract: A trenching machine that can be easily converted between push or pull type models by using same parts at the manufacturing stage, is disclosed. The machine includes a base frame having first and second surfaces, first and second ends, and sides. A motor engine and first ground engaging means are located at first end of the base frame, and second ground engaging means is located at second end thereof. A mechanism connects the motor with first ground engaging means for driving it. The second ground engaging means includes an offset portion which is positioned inside of the first ground engaging means. A digging device is cantilevered from first and second ends of the base frame, and has a portion positioned adjacent the offset portion of the second ground engaging means in front of the first ground engaging means. The base frame is open on one side and the digging device is disposed adjacent thereto. The base frame further includes a steering handle secured at the first end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Inventor: Gary R. Boren
  • Patent number: 4923016
    Abstract: A power operated hand guided device is designed to scarify, edge, and aerate lawns and grass. It comprises tools in the form of blades (26) which rotate in a vertical plane about the common axis of a pair of tool-holder shafts. Each tool holder shaft (21) is rotatably connected to a bearing (12) supported on a vertically adjustable beam (23) having wheels (24 and 25) or rollers at each end. A brake (37) which retards the forward movement by friction with the ground is connected to the motor assembly by a rod (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Forges des Margerides S.A.
    Inventor: Rene F. Moise
  • Patent number: 4921051
    Abstract: A soil tiller or cultivator adapted to till the surface soil covered with a lawn by plural cutters to cure the compaction of the soil below the lawn surface. The till is provided with a motion transmission unit for transmitting the motive power of a driving prime mover to the cutters in the form of at least two vibrations dephased with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tonami Seisakusho
    Inventor: Osamu Annen
  • Patent number: 4895210
    Abstract: The type of machine in which the invention finds maximum utility is the self-propelled, user-guided garden machine such as a rotary tiller. A typical machine of that genre has a straight-through axle without a differential and opposite ends of the axle project as right and left shafts to which right and left ground-engaging wheels are respectively affixed. The improvement provided by the present invention resides in right and left clutch-brake units arranged symmetrically at each side of and external to the transmission case. The keys normally fixing the wheels to their shafts are removed and the wheels are instead journalled on the respective shafts and the clutches are alternately engaged and disengaged between the shafts and wheels to facilitate steering of the machine. Each clutching unit includes a brake and controls are provided for effecting braking and clutch disengagement at either side of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Inventor: Homer D. Witzel
  • Patent number: 4844175
    Abstract: A hitch for connecting the rear of a garden tractor to the rear of a garden tiller of the type having one or more tines which rotate in the direction of normal travel of said tiller comprising a beam, a bracket and an arm aligned in an adjustable triangular shape being in a substantially vertical plane for the controlled pulling of the tiller by the tractor in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the tiller tines thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Inventor: Richard E. Nations