Abstract: Pivoting hooks usable with four bar parallelogram implement lift linkages are provided. The hooks are pivotally attached at the forward edge of the implement to receive the cross bar of a suspension mechanism such as that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,617. The pivotal connection and axis about which the hooks are supported on the deck comprise one corner of the four bar parallelogram lift linkage. The hooks pivot forwardly and downwardly to receive the cross bar and then swing up as tension is applied to the hanger to support the deck. As the cross bar slides forwardly into the throats of the hooks when the hanger is tensioned, it is retained in the proper parallelogram lift geometry so that the deck remains level as it is adjusted throughout its vertical cutting height. The use of the pivoting hooks permits decks with extended fore and aft dimensions to be used with existing four bar parallelogram designs.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting a deck of a vehicle, such as a lawn mower, by a foot actuated deck lift mechanism. The device includes a lift lever pivotally coupled to a frame and having a pin movably attached thereto. A lift linkage has a first end pivotally coupled to the lift lever and a second end fixedly secured on a front shaft. A connecting linkage pivotally couples the front shaft to a rear shaft. Both the front and rear shafts are rotatably coupled to the frame. The lift lever has a first end fixedly secured to the front shaft and a second free end for operation with the operator's foot. The deck is attached to the deck lift mechanism. A foot actuated deck lift mechanism, depressed by the operator's foot, and simultaneously causes the deck to rise and the lift lever to radially pivot. A pin attached to the lift lever rides atop adjustment plates. When the lift lever has pivoted a preset amount, an opening provided in the adjustment plates receives the pin.

Abstract: A tool head attachment is disclosed for use with a farm or other industrial equipment, such as a bobcat or a four-wheeler. Extending from a frame mounted on the vehicle or equipment is a beam attached to self-leveling mechanism. The beam meets at an angle on a rotatable assembly from which another beam extends. The rotatable assembly allows up to full rotation of one beam about the other beam for storage. At or near the rotatable assembly is a safety break away mechanism which causes the beams to separate when a major obstacle is encountered. The other beam extending from the rotatable assembly is attached to a self-articulating and self-leveling assembly to which a tool head is mounted. The self-articulating and self-leveling assembly maintains the tool head a relative distance from or into the surface of the ground and easily deflects upon encountering a minor obstacle without interruption of operation. Different tool heads may include tillers, harvesters, cutters, etc.

Abstract: A quick hitch arrangement for attaching the rear portion of an implement, such as a mower deck, to the frame of a lawn and garden tractor includes a lifting arm having a first end pivotally connected to the frame and a forked second end. The forked second end has a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower fingers defining a longitudinal slot therebetween that slidably receives a substantially horizontal pin attached to the rear draft tower of the implement. The arrangement provides a method of hitching the implement to the tractor in which the user does not have to lift the implement manually or with the use of equipment other than the tractor itself.

Abstract: A walk-behind power unit is configured to detachably mount a variety of work implements to perform a corresponding variety of operations from a single power unit. The power unit includes an implement mounting mechanism that is pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis corresponding to the power output shaft of the engine on the power unit. An attached work implement can be moved laterally to change the operating characteristics through pivoting the implement to either side of a normal direction of travel. An landscape edger implement can be mounted so that the width of cut of the cutting disk is varied as the edger implement is pivoted. A mower implement can be attached so that the cutting path of the mower blade is offset laterally as the implement is pivoted, thus permitting the mower to mow around obstacles offset to the side of the direction of travel.

Abstract: An auxiliary edge trimmer apparatus is attached to a lawnmower and includes a flywheel drive wheel portion connected to the lawnmower drive shaft. An attachment assembly is connected onto portions of the lower housing wall of the blade housing of the lawnmower. A trimmer assembly is attached to the attachment assembly and includes a bearing portion connected to the attachment assembly, a rotatable shaft assembly received by the bearing portion, a driven wheel connected to a proximal end of the rotatable shaft assembly, and a trimmer blade connected to a distal end of the rotatable shaft assembly. In accordance with an alternatively preferred embodiment of the invention, a manually actuatable control cable suitably is attached to the drive shaft supported on the lawnmower housing between the drive wheel and the auxiliary trimmer apparatus to control engagement and disengagement thereof.

Abstract: A foot pedal lift system is provided for the mower deck of a lawn or garden tractor. The foot pedal is pivotally mounted to the frame of the tractor and is linked to the linkage arms which suspend the mower deck from the frame. The pedal is movable between a depressed forward position to raise the mower deck to a transport position and a retracted rearward position to move the mower deck to a lower removal position. The pedal can be locked in the depressed or retracted positions by a latch pivotally mounted on the exterior of the tractor console. Engagement and disengagement of the latch with the foot pedal is controlled by a handle mounted on the console connected to the latch by an elongated connecting rod. Pulling upwardly on the handle locks the latch into engagement with the foot pedal in both the depressed and retracted positions. Pushing downwardly on the handle disengages the latch from the foot pedal so that the mower deck is free to move upwardly or downwardly.

Abstract: A lawn mower having a deck; wheel assemblies; height adjustment mechanisms positioned intermediate the deck and wheel assemblies; an interconnecting bar positioned between at least two of the height adjustment mechanisms, the interconnecting bar being connected to the height adjustment mechanisms to transfer the movement of one height adjustment mechanism to the other height adjustment mechanism so that the height adjustment mechanisms operate in unison; a rack located on the interconnecting bar; a locking mechanism attached with the rack to hold the interconnecting bar stationary relative to the deck, the locking mechanism including a pinion rotatably mounted on the deck, the pinion meshing with the rack to releasably lock the locking mechanism in a plurality of positions.

Abstract: A spatial guide and support for attachment to a line trimmer includes a rotatable cutter head having a lawn cutting string mounted thereon and a main shaft extending upward therefrom, a moving member mounted on the main shaft of the cutter head for moving the cutter head and having a fastener secured on the main shaft of the cutter head, an auxiliary member mounted on the main shaft of the cutter head and having a mounting bracket rotatably mounted on the fastener of the moving member, a guide track secured on the mounting bracket, and an auxiliary moving wheel adjustably mounted on the guide track, and an adjusting member mounted on the mounting bracket of the auxiliary member for releasably securing the mounting bracket on the fastener of the moving member.

Abstract: A cutter assembly positioning mechanism provides an improved positioning mechanism and control for a riding lawn mower. Specifically, the mechanism optimizes the speed and accuracy of positioning the cutter assembly in the desired position and allows the operator to raise and lower the cutter assembly without sacrificing control of the mower. The lawn mower has a frame including an actuator adapted to be coupled to the frame, a cutter assembly adapted to be movable relative to the frame for adjusting a cutting height and a first flexible member interconnecting the actuator and the cutter assembly. The actuator is operable to extend and retract thereby raising and lowering the cutter assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting a deck of a vehicle, such as a lawn mower, by a foot actuated deck lift mechanism. The device includes a lift lever pivotally coupled to a frame and having a pin movably attached thereto. A lift linkage has a first end pivotally coupled to the lift lever and a second end fixedly secured on a front shaft. A connecting linkage pivotally couples the front shaft to a rear shaft. Both the front and rear shafts are rotatably coupled to the frame. The lift lever has a first end fixedly secured to the front shaft and a second free end for operation with the operator's foot. The deck is attached to the deck lift mechanism. A foot actuated deck lift mechanism, depressed by the operator's foot, and simultaneously causes the deck to rise and the lift lever to radially pivot. A pin attached to the lift lever rides atop adjustment plates. When the lift lever has pivoted a preset amount, an opening provided in the adjustment plates receives the pin.

Abstract: An apparatus for mowing and rolling grass comprising a lower mowing-rolling unit, a handle coupled to the mowing rolling unit and securable in two or more positions, a first of said two or more positions for performing grass mowing operations, a second of said two or more positions for performing grass rolling operations, said lower unit comprising a rear driving assembly, a front roller assembly, a grass-cutting assembly interposed between the front roller assembly and the rear driving assembly, and a drive-train gear assembly coupling the rear driving assembly to the grass-cutting assembly for rotatingly driving said grass-cutting assembly during forward movement of the apparatus, said drive-train gear assembly comprising a first drive gear, a second transducer gear, a drive shaft and a third gear secured to said first drive shaft, whereupon forward movement of the apparatus drives said first drive gear which in turn drives said second gear, said second gear in turn driving said third gear and said first dr

Abstract: A self-propelled mower includes a frame and a mower housing mounted underbelly relative to the frame by a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly allows the mower housing to be disconnected from the frame and swung near the front of the housing from a mowing configuration to an access configuration as a front end of the mower is raised. The frame incudes a yoke that receives a nose of the housing, as the front of the mower is raised.

Abstract: A riding mower has a deck attachment mechanism for use in attaching a mower deck to the mower frame and a deck lift mechanism for use in lifting the mower deck. The deck attachment mechanism forms a four-sided parallelogram and includes a first side formed of a first link and a second side formed of second and third links. The second and third links together form a split link and the third link may be pivoted about the second link into first and second positions. The first link has an effective length L1 and the split link has an effective length L2 when the third link is positioned into the first position and an effective length L1 when the third link is positioned into the second position. The effective length L2 is less than the effective length L1. The deck attachment mechanism also includes a lock bracket and a lock lever to lock the third link into the second position. The deck lift mechanism includes a lift cylinder mounted to the frame and connected to the third link.

Abstract: This invention relates to a suspension mechanism for a front mower or a mid-mount mower. A mower housing is suspended from a tractor body through a support axis extending in a fore and aft direction, and a seesaw arm pivotable about the support axis. Housing connectors, each having an elastic element such as a spring, are arranged between the seesaw arm and mower housing.

Abstract: A mowing apparatus with multiple articulating cutting decks includes a support for the cutting blades which is attached at a first side to the mower to pivot about a horizontal axis, and is carried by a rocker arm at an opposing second side. The rocker arm has ground support wheels at its opposing ends and is coupled to the second side of the support by linkage that is adjustable to vary the position of the support member relative to the rocker arm and to vary the height of the cutting blade from ground.