And Rotatable Blade On Motor Shaft Patents (Class 56/17.5)
  • Patent number: 11678606
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a main body and a power head mounted on the main body. The main body comprises a mounting shell recessed with a mounting groove. The power head comprises a motor assembly received in the mounting groove and a housing assembly covering the motor assembly. The motor assembly comprises a motor base assembled with the mounting shell and a motor fixed on the motor base. The bottom of the motor base is sealed and the side of the motor base is provided with an air outlet and a waterproof rib protruding from the air outlet for partial shielding. The installation bottom surface of the housing assembly corresponding to the air outlet at least partially overlaps the waterproof rib in an up and down direction. Compared with the prior art, the lawn mower has good waterproof performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Yu Xiao
  • Patent number: 11641794
    Abstract: A walk-behind machine includes a clutch having a driving state where a motor drives wheels to rotate and an unlocked state where the wheels freely rotate relative to the motor. The clutch includes a movable member and a driving member. The movable member is capable of moving between a locked position where the clutch is in the driving state and an unlocked position where the clutch is in the unlocked state. The driving member transfers power to the wheels by means of friction. When the clutch is in the driving state, the motor drives the wheels to rotate in a first direction, when the motor stops rotating, the wheels rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction and can drive the driving member to move by frictional force so that the driving member pushes the movable member to move from the locked position to the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gongyuan Fan, Zhen Wang
  • Patent number: 11570947
    Abstract: A rotary head for string trimmers having a rotary body with a rotation axis and manufactured as one single piece; wherein the rotary body has one or more return areas, each of which is configured to lock a respective line portion by means of consecutive curves on different planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: FLASHCUTTER S.R.L. CON UNICO SOCIO
    Inventor: Lauro Guerra
  • Patent number: 11399461
    Abstract: A handle assembly for a garden tool includes a housing having a gripping portion defining an extension direction, the housing defining a cavity for detachably mounting a battery pack, the battery pack being configured to be inserted into the cavity along the extension direction of the gripping portion. A related garden tool includes a link assembly; a working mechanism arranged at one end of the link assembly; and a power mechanism arranged at the other end of the link assembly. The power mechanism includes a gasoline engine with an electric starting system having a starting motor powered by the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Suzhou Cleva Precision Machinery and Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaoxian Bian, Juan Wei, Tianrong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11154005
    Abstract: A lawn mower robot includes an outer cover; an inner body accommodated into the outer cover to mount wheels for traveling on both sides thereof; wheel drive motors mounted on both sides of the inner body, respectively, to drive the wheels, respectively; a rotating plate rotatably mounted on a bottom surface of the inner body; blades rotatably mounted on the rotating plate to mow the grass; a blade drive motor mounted inside the inner body to rotate the blades together with the rotating plate; a battery mounted inside the inner body to supply power to the wheel drive motor and the blade drive motor; a battery receiving portion extended upward in a protruding manner from a bottom surface of the inner body toward an inner space of the inner body to accommodate the battery therein; and a battery cover mounted to cover the battery receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woo Hong, Siyong Kim, Hanshin Kim, Hyunsup Song, Kyeongho Cho, Jaehun Han, Jiwoo Ha
  • Patent number: 11140823
    Abstract: A lawn mower robot includes an outer cover; an inner body accommodated into the outer cover to mount a plurality of wheels for traveling on both sides thereof; a plurality of blades rotatably mounted on a bottom surface of the inner body to mow the grass; a plurality of support portions arranged to be spaced apart in front-rear and left-right directions on an upper portion of the inner body to movably support the outer cover in front-rear and left-right directions with respect to the inner body; and a plurality of injury preventing walls provided on a bottom surface of the inner body to prevent a user's hand from entering toward the plurality of blades from a lower portion of the outer cover, thereby preventing a user's hand or the like from entering the blades through a lower portion of the outer cover so as to improve safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woo Hong, Siyong Kim, Hanshin Kim, Hyunsup Song, Kyeongho Cho, Jaehun Han, Jiwoo Ha
  • Patent number: 11129327
    Abstract: A moving robot includes an inner body including a plurality of wheels, an outer cover mounted at the inner body and surrounding an outer side of the inner body, a handle mounted at the outer cover, a plurality of support pillars spaced apart from each other on the inner body and elastically supporting the outer cover in a first horizontal direction and a second horizontal direction with respect to the inner body, a prop tab mounted at each of the plurality of support pillars and configured to fasten the outer cover to the support pillar, and a protrusion tab that extends upwards from an upper surface of the prop tab and penetrates through the outer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woo Hong, Siyong Kim, Hanshin Kim, Hyunsup Song, Kyeongho Cho, Jaehun Han, Jiwoo Ha
  • Patent number: 11129326
    Abstract: A lawn mower robot includes an inner body including wheels for traveling on both sides thereof, an outer cover mounted at an upper portion of the inner body and surrounding the inner body, a handle mounted at an upper portion of the outer cover, a plurality of support portions disposed to be spaced apart from each other at an upper portion of the inner body in a front-rear direction and in a left-right direction and elastically supporting the outer cover in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction with respect to the inner body, and a plurality of movement range restricting portions respectively restricting movement ranges of the plurality of support portions. Each movement range restricting portion includes an engaging portion formed at an upper portion of each support portion and a movement restricting cover installed at an upper portion of the inner body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woo Hong, Siyong Kim, Hanshin Kim, Hyunsup Song, Kyeongho Cho, Jaehun Han, Jiwoo Ha
  • Patent number: 11129330
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lawn mower robot, and the lawn mower robot may include an outer cover; an inner body accommodated into the outer cover, and provided with a plurality of wheels for traveling on both sides thereof; a blade drive motor mounted inside the inner body; a rotating plate driven by the blade drive motor, and rotatably mounted on a bottom surface of the inner body; a plurality of blades rotatably mounted on the rotating plate, and unfolded to an outside of the rotating plate or folded to an inside of the rotating plate; a blade protection cover disposed on a bottom surface of the inner body to cover the rotating plate and the plurality of blades; and a sealing portion configured to seal between the inner body and the blade protection cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woo Hong, Siyong Kim, Hanshin Kim, Hyunsup Song, Kyeongho Cho, Jaehun Han, Jiwoo Ha
  • Patent number: 11122738
    Abstract: A cutter housing for a lawnmower can include first and second cutting chambers with first and second chamber walls and first/second discharge openings. First and second ring gates that have openings and blocking segments can be concentrically placed within respective first and second chamber walls, and rotatably attached to the cutter housing. The first and second ring gates can be rotated between: (a) an opened position in which the first/second ring gate is positioned with the first/second ring opening having a first overlap with a first/second discharge opening to provide a discharge mode, and (b) a closed position in which the first/second ring gate is positioned with the first/second ring opening having a decreased overlap, relative to the first overlap, with the first/second discharge opening to provide a mulch mode. The ring gates can be stopped at intermediate positions to provide a partial mulch mode or partial discharge mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teegan L. Kelly, Robert A. Recher
  • Patent number: 10813285
    Abstract: A cutter blade of a lawn mower includes a blade body and flaps. The blade body includes a shape with a sweepback angle inclined in a reverse-rotation direction of the cutter blade. The flap pivotal axis is provided along a blade edge without intersecting with a blade rotational axis. A flap pivotal axis is provided at a position offset from a line perpendicular to the blade rotational axis and in parallel to the pivotal axis, in a rotation direction of the cutter blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kuriyagawa, Hajime Yoshimura, Tomoki Ito, Hideaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10638663
    Abstract: A weed trimmer extension system for cutting and collecting, or dispersing weeds includes a cutting enclosure, to which can be attached a collecting bag or a cutting disperser; a replacement cutting implement; and enclosure fasteners, for attaching the weed trimmer extension system to a weed trimmer. The cutting implement can further include a cutting blade; a cutting string with a greater cutting radius so the cutting string can operate close to an obstruction, without the cutting blade causing damage to the obstruction; and a perpendicular fin, which pushes air in a circular direction of motion, thereby creating a vortex of air, which rotates in the plane spanned out by the rotating cutting blade. The cutting enclosure covers the replacement cutting implement, which propels the cuttings, contained and directed by the cutting enclosure, into either the collecting bag or the cutting disperser, which disperses the weed cuttings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: FOURNIER AND GRANDE TRUST
    Inventor: Charles Raphael Grande
  • Patent number: 10517212
    Abstract: A quick attach rotary mower blade system includes a spindle having a first pair of fan-shaped projections, and a spring-loaded collar having a bore through which the lower end of the spindle extends and a second pair of fan-shaped projections. A mower blade mounting hole includes a circular center opening and a pair of fan-shaped openings. The mower blade may be installed on the spindle by aligning the pair of fan-shaped openings with the first and second pairs of fan-shaped projections, moving the mower blade and spring-loaded collar upwardly, and rotating the mower blade and spring-loaded collar 90 degrees to interlock the second pair of fan-shaped projections between the first pair of fan-shaped projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Robert D. Haun
  • Patent number: 9764489
    Abstract: A multi-function grass-cutting head (100), of the type intended to be associated with a motor to rotate around an axis of rotation (X) thereof, including a peripheral area (103) which extends around the axis of rotation (X) and at least one supporting portion (104) for at least one cutting element (105) provided on the peripheral area (103). The head also includes structure (106) for adjusting the angular position of the supporting portion (104) of the at least one cutting element (105), around an axis of adjustment (Y), transverse to the axis of rotation (X) of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: ARNETOLI MOTOR S.R.L.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Arnetoli
  • Patent number: 9388731
    Abstract: A noise suppression system for an air-cooled internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system may include an acoustically designed shroud forming a cavity and configured for attenuating noise produced by a cooling air fan associated with the engine. In one system, the shroud is mountable on a housing of the air fan. A pair of air inlet passages may be provided which are operable to draw ambient cooling air into the shroud to the fan. The air inlet passages are acoustically configured and tuned to attenuate noise generated by the fan. In one system, the air inlet passages may each be formed in a rear quadrant of the shroud. Various configurations of the shroud may include quarter wave resonators and/or micro-perforated panels to further attenuate fan noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventors: Tyler W. Le Roy, Jonathan T. Bykowski, Roger W. Albert
  • Patent number: 9131639
    Abstract: A device for supporting a weed eater is provided. The device comprises a grasping unit, a central body, a lower support unit, and at least one wheel. The grasping unit is configured for grasping a shaft of the weed eater. The central body has an upper hand and a lower end, the upper end being joined to the grasping unit. The lower support unit is joined to the lower end of the central body. The at least one wheel is joined to the lower support unit and configured for supporting the lower support unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventors: Oliver James Groves, Maxine L. Groves
  • Patent number: 9102072
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting blade that can be rotationally driven in which a stabilization area provided in the form of at least one bulge is provided between a central fixing area and an edge area whose outer periphery is provided in the form of a cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Günther Weber, Matthias Kraft
  • Patent number: 9095091
    Abstract: A stalk reducer bar and an assembly that supports, transports, and rotatably drives a stalk reducer bar in typical environments in which an area of vegetation is to be trimmed are provided. The stalk reducer bar reduces the size of cut stalk segments such as grass stalk segments generated during a lawn mowing operation and includes a carrier body. The carrier body includes a further working portion having a plurality of projections. Angular movement of the carrier body in the cutting plane operates to bring the first blade section into stalk cutting engagement with stalks extending from the surface supporting organic matter thereon and operates to bring the plurality of projections of the further working portion into shredding engagement with cut stalks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventor: John Robert Fogle
  • Patent number: 9093868
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an airflow management system, particularly for a lawn mower, especially a robotic lawn mower. A battery-operated robotic lawn mower has an active airflow management system that includes at least one first air vent positioned on an underside of the mower, at least one second air vent, an internal housing surrounding a motor, a fan, and at least one cooling air channel located within the housing and around said motor. An air flow path is defined between the first and the second vents, and the at least one second vent has a lower air flow capacity than an air flow capacity of the at least one cooling air channel such that, in operation, a greater volume of air is drawn through the first vent than the second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Baxter
  • Patent number: 9038356
    Abstract: A handle mechanism with multiple stop locations and a lawn mower including the handle mechanism includes a handle and a location shifting element with multiple stop locations, the handle being provided with a locking mechanism that is automatically clamped with one of the multiple of stop locations of the location shifting element for fixing or adjusting the handle. A lawn mower, including the handle mechanism, includes a lawn mower body, the handle rotatably connected with the lawn mower body by the handle rotating shaft. The locking mechanism and the location shifting element are equipped with stop locations can be automatically locked, therefore, the operator can adjust the stop locations of the lawn mower conveniently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Chervon (HK) Limited
    Inventors: Xiandian Shao, Toshinari Yamaoka
  • Publication number: 20150052868
    Abstract: A cutting blade for use with a lawn mower includes a body having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an end extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The cutting blade also includes a cutting edge formed on the leading edge of the body. The cutting edge includes a radially outermost tip that defines a cutting circumference of the cutting blade. The cutting blade further includes a lift portion coupled to the body and defining at least a portion of the trailing edge. The end of the body at the trailing edge is spaced at least 0.5 inches radially inward from the cutting circumference of the cutting blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ariens Company
    Inventor: Fredric D. Schreiner
  • Patent number: 8955296
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for cooling controller assemblies for electric utility vehicles are disclosed. Auxiliary implements powered by electric motors onboard a utility vehicle create airflow that is captured and directed to provide increased ambient airflow across heat sinks used to dissipate heat from heat generating components. Airflow across heated surfaces is further created by vehicle movement and vacuum pressure. Fins and other heat dissipating architecture are employed. Features of the cooling systems enable increased controller assembly functionality and/or decreased controller assembly package size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Raymond Hauser, Bruce E. Reid, Donald Rousser, Scott W. Keller
  • Patent number: 8931248
    Abstract: A replaceable mower blade assembly for attaching to a rotatable spindle, motor, or engine crankshaft is provided. The blade assembly includes a mounting member having a plurality of ends extending from a central bore that is configured to receive the spindle, motor, or engine crankshaft. Each end includes an indexing aperture and a plurality of caps. A locking mechanism is operatively connected to the mounting member, and each arm of the locking mechanism includes a pin. A cutting blade is removably attachable to each end of the mounting member and the cutting blade includes an indexing aperture and a plurality of keyhole apertures. Each pin of the locking mechanism is insertable and engageable with an indexing aperture of both the mounting member and the cutting blade for positively securing each cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventors: Jimmy N. Eavenson, Sr., Axel Schaedler, Dave Hein, Robert L. Jira, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8769918
    Abstract: A rotary mower deck assembly has a caster assembly mounted within a spindle hub. The spindle hub is rotated within a hub, which is permanently and rigidly mounted to the mower deck. When rotated, the spindle hub rotates cutting blades mounted within the mower deck. The spindle hub is disposed within the spindle hub to bear the weight of the mower deck assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Air Motion Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Llewellyn E. Williams
  • Publication number: 20140102064
    Abstract: A lawncare apparatus includes a main body, multiple wheels supporting the main body, a cutting blade disposed in the main body, a motor driving the cutting blade, and an operating arm connected to the first end of the main body. The distance in the horizontal direction between the axial central line of the cylindrical gripping portion of the operating arm and the axes of the elongated handle of the main body along the length direction is less than 5 cm. Because of the structure mate relationship between the operating arm and the cylindrical gripping portion, the operator feels more comfortable during the transporting process, the volume of lawncare apparatus during transporting is reduced and the convenience of transporting is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Chervon (HK) Limited
    Inventors: Toshinari Yamaoka, Fangjie Nie, Haishen Xu, Xiandian Shao
  • Patent number: 8615976
    Abstract: A clutch/brake assembly is provided which includes a coil plate non-rotatably captured between the upper housing and the lower housing and having affixed thereon a ring shaped coil, a clutch rotor rotatably secured to the shaft and having a groove configured to accommodate therein the ring shaped coil, and a clutch output assembly having a clutch/brake disc and a clutch output shaft. The clutch/brake disc and the clutch output shaft are attached to one another by a plurality of springs. The clutch/brake assembly may be mounted on a deck of a lawnmower to drive a blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Raymond Hauser, Michael L. Bennett
  • Patent number: 8615975
    Abstract: The invention relates to safety improvements for mowers incorporating a chipper, and/or catcher. In one aspect the invention provides safety improvements that only allow operation of the chipper when the mower is below a predetermined threshold ride height. In another aspect, the mower includes one or more side skirts to prevent body parts from entering the cutting zone under the mower. In a still further aspect, the mower has a rear flap including a sub-flap. The mower is arranged so that the sub flap remains closed when a catcher is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Masport Limited
    Inventors: Agron Haraqia, David McKay, Gordon Boswell
  • Publication number: 20130312382
    Abstract: A lawn mower may include a main body having first right and left wheels, a mowing blade attached to the main body and configured to be rotated by a power source, and at least one mowing width indicator. The mowing blade is configured such that a mowing width thereof is greater than a distance between inner end surfaces of the first right and left wheels. The at least one mowing width indicator is formed in the first right and left wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Kiyozumi KOKAWA, Kazunori HATTORI
  • Patent number: 8540167
    Abstract: A rotary tool and method for spreading mulch outwardly from a mound of the same. The tool has an elongated shaft with a rotatable body mounted proximate a first end thereof. The body has a peripheral edge with a plurality of flexible fingers radiating outwardly and downwardly therefrom. The fingers may be individually securable to the body. In a second embodiment, a ring is detachably mounted to the body and the fingers are on the ring. When the tool is activated, the fingers engage the mulch mound and cause pieces of mulch to be flicked outwardly away from the body. The tool may also be used as a shovel-type device when the motor is not activated and the mulch can then be carried on the upper surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Green Industry Innovators, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Todd E. Pugh
  • Patent number: 8468788
    Abstract: A deck having a horizontally oriented top wall and a vertically oriented side wall and an opened bottom. The deck has a front and a back. A pair of front wheels extend from the side wall adjacent to the front. A pair of rear wheels extending from the side wall adjacent to the rear. An open front is formed in the side wall forwardly of the front wheels. An open side is formed in the side wall laterally between a front and adjacent rear wheel. An open rear is formed in the side wall rearwardly of the rear wheels. A motor is mounted in a central region of the deck with a rotatable drive shaft extending vertically downwardly therefrom. A rotatable blade is mounted on the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Laszlo Vastag
  • Publication number: 20130111866
    Abstract: A walk behind mower is configured to be stored in a vertical position or orientation. In one implementation, the mower disables a brake release based upon positioning of a handle. In one implementation, the mower facilitates oil changes while the mower is in the vertical orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
  • Publication number: 20120174551
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for use with a lawn mower having a cutting blade, said device comprising: at least flexible monofilament line; and an attachment element for attaching the at least one flexible monofilament line to the lawn mower such that the at least one flexible monofilament line rotates during rotation of the cutting blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventor: Randolph J. Hayward
  • Patent number: 8215091
    Abstract: This gearbox assembly (50) for a lawnmower (10) includes a gearbox housing (56) having a horizontal input shaft (62) and a vertical output shaft (64). A lawnmower deck (12) is disposed below the gearbox housing (56) and a spindle housing (55) is mounted to the lawnmower deck (12) and the spindle housing includes a passage (57) communicating with the gearbox housing (56). The output shaft (64) extends below the gearbox housing (56) and into the spindle housing (55). The input shaft (62) has a bevel gear (76) which meshes with a bevel gear (78) on the output shaft for driving (74). The output shaft (64) includes spaced bearings (70 and 72) within the gearbox housing (56) and a bearing (74) within the spindle housing (55). Brackets (28 and 30) are attached between the gearbox housing (56) and the lawnmower deck (12) and the spindle housing (55) is attached to the lawnmower deck (12) separately from the gearbox housing (56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Superior Gearbox Company
    Inventor: Charles A. Fox
  • Patent number: 8196382
    Abstract: A mower deck for a rotary vegetation cutting mower device pulled by a motor vehicle includes a housing defining a main portion disposed generally horizontally when the mower deck is in a position for cutting the vegetation and a pair of side walls extending downwardly from the main portion generally perpendicular thereto and forming in combination with the main portion a compartment of the housing wherein the blade rotates. At least one of at least one reinforcing rib and raised portion is disposed on the top surface of the main portion. A plate is releaseably secured to the top surface of the housing and carries a gearbox thereon. The housing and the plate are manufactured from a polypropylene material having a thickness of about one inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Weaver F. Foster, III
  • Publication number: 20120110966
    Abstract: The present invention is a lawn mower powered by a compression ignition combustion engine that can utilize multiple fuel types such as petroleum based fuels or plant based fuels or any combination thereof. The lawn mower includes a chassis with a rear end having a plurality of spaced wheels, a compression ignition engine mounted on the chassis to provide power to the lawn mower and one or more grass cutting blades mounted directly or indirectly on an output shaft of the compression ignition engine. The lawn mower also includes a handle projecting from the rear end of chassis and a fuel tank, a fuel line, a fuel pump and a fuel injector to provide the multiple fuel types to the compression ignition engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Yen Wen Wong, Mark Wong, Sam Horatic Lancaster Andrews
  • Publication number: 20120047863
    Abstract: One example embodiment includes an expandable hoop for securing a bag to a system for cleaning up yard debris. The expandable hoop includes an outer hoop and an inner hoop. The inner hoop is configured to mate with the outer hoop. The inner hoop includes a band, where the band is curved to form a round shape. The inner hoop also includes an overlapping section of the band. The overlapping section can allow an expanded configuration, where the expanded configuration occurs if the inner hoop overlap is small and a contracted configuration, where the contracted configuration occurs if the inner hoop overlap is large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Roderick McLellan
  • Patent number: 8056306
    Abstract: A rear discharge mower comprising: a first shaft; a first blade that is rotated in unison with the first shaft; a second shaft that is configured to be rotated in a direction opposite from a rotational direction of the first shaft; a second blade that is rotated in unison with the second shaft, wherein a grass-clippings discharge path is formed through which grass clippings are discharged in a rearward direction from the area between the first shaft and second shaft; an enclosing casing that supports the blade shafts; and a power train that is accommodated in the enclosing casing and that transmits power to the first and second blade shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nishihara, Takashi Kuramoto, Masashi Osuga, Takashi Shibata, Satoshi Ogata, Hironobu Nishihara, Hiroshi Kawabata
  • Patent number: 8051631
    Abstract: A rear discharge mower comprising: a first shaft; a first blade that is rotated in unison with the first shaft; a second shaft that is configured to be rotated in a direction opposite from a rotational direction of the first shaft; a second blade that is rotated in unison with the second shaft, wherein a grass-clippings discharge path is formed through which grass clippings are discharged in a rearward direction from the area between the first shaft and second shaft; an enclosing casing that supports the blade shafts; and a power train that is accommodated in the enclosing casing and that transmits power to the first and second blade shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Nishihara, Takashi Kuramoto, Masashi Osuga, Takashi Shibata, Satoshi Ogata, Hironobu Nishihara, Hiroshi Kawabata
  • Patent number: 8047938
    Abstract: A transmission device (1) of a walking type self-traveling lawn mower (4) in which the reliable transmission of a rotating power is achieved as in the case of a shaft drive system by solving the problem of the durability of the transmission belt of conventional transmission devices while basically adopting the transmission device of a belt drive system. The transmission device (1) comprises a chain drive mechanism (2) and a rotating direction changing mechanism (3). The chain drive mechanism (2) is constituted by winding a transmission chain (23) around a drive sprocket (21) fitted to an output shaft (411) and rotating horizontally and a driven sprocket (22) connected to the rotating direction changing mechanism (3) and rotating horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kaaz Corporation
    Inventor: Shin-ichi Sakai
  • Patent number: 8046981
    Abstract: A rotary tool for spreading mulch outwardly from a mound of the same. The tool has an elongated shaft with a rotatable body mounted proximate a first end thereof. The body has a peripheral edge with a plurality of flexible fingers radiating outwardly and downwardly therefrom. The fingers may be individually securable to the body. In a second embodiment, a ring is detachably mounted to the body and the fingers are on the ring. When the tool is activated, the fingers engage the mulch mound and cause pieces of mulch to be flicked outwardly away from the body. The tool may also be used as a shovel-type device when the motor is not activated and the mulch can then be carried on the upper surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Green Industry Innovators, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Todd E. Pugh
  • Patent number: 7988380
    Abstract: A seal device for preventing entry of debris into a rotary cutter drive housing when a shock protection device having frangible drive features is removed after having fractured the drive features following a driveline overload condition. The housing includes an upwardly facing opening through which a drive shaft for the cutter extends. The drive shaft rotationally engages the shock protection device for driving the rotary cutter. The seal device is disposed in the upwardly facing opening beneath the protection device and includes drive means for rotation in unison with the drive shaft. The seal device further includes a seal interface for sealing interface with a contact seal disposed on the inner circumference of the opening thereby preventing the entry of debris into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Melanie W. Harkcom, David M. DeChristopher
  • Patent number: 7958712
    Abstract: A compact lawn mower that includes at least a shroud positioned a fixed distance from a lawn, by a common rear axle extended between and supported by a pair of rear wheels, is provided. The exemplary embodiment further includes a motor adjustment member confined within and supported by the shroud. The motor adjustment member interacts with a motor, which includes a cutting member attached to a motor shaft of the motor. By manipulating the motor adjustment member, the height of the cutting member relative to the ground surface is set. That is, the motor adjustment member is rotated in a first direction to move the motor closer to the lawn, and in the opposite direction to move the motor further from the lawn, allowing the grass to be cut to a desired length, while the shroud remains a fixed distance from the lawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: Edward Kwok-Yen Cheung
  • Patent number: 7958710
    Abstract: A rotary lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine having a power take-off. The mower further includes a connector adaptor attached to the power take-off, and a lawn mower blade. A connector base of the mower is attached to the blade. The connector base and the connector adaptor have extensions designed to interlock the connector base with the connector adaptor. At least one of the extensions forms a J-shaped structure arranged longitudinally along an axis of rotation of the connector base and connector adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Gilpatrick, Ryan Jaskowiak
  • Publication number: 20110011988
    Abstract: The present invention relates to corded electric devices and more particularly to corded electric devices that move their location such as an electric lawn mower. The present invention is a device for handling the electric cord of a device such as an electric lawn mower or some other movable platform to which electric power is provided (a lawn mower is a movable platform having a device for cutting grass such as spinning blades). The present invention manages the position of a cord as the platform on which it is mounted is moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Shepard, Britta Shepard
  • Patent number: 7861503
    Abstract: A rotary cutting deck with a hydraulic direct driven spindle includes a spindle housing attached to the rotary cutting deck and having a stepped internal bore, and a blade adapter inserted into the stepped internal bore and having a first, upper end connected to a hydraulic motor, and a second lower end with a contact surface against which a rotary cutting blade is clamped. A bolt threaded to the blade adapter provides the only clamping force between the rotary cutting blade and the contact surface, which is substantially flat and does not capture the blade. A notch or hole in the outer edge of the hydraulic direct driven spindle may be engaged to hold the hydraulic direct driven spindle stationary relative to the blade during installation or detachment of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Chad W. Campbell
  • Publication number: 20100326034
    Abstract: A rotary lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine having a power take-off. The mower further includes a connector adaptor attached to the power take-off, and a lawn mower blade. A connector base of the mower is attached to the blade. The connector base and the connector adaptor have extensions designed to interlock the connector base with the connector adaptor. At least one of the extensions forms a J-shaped structure arranged longitudinally along an axis of rotation of the connector base and connector adaptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Richard J. Gilpatrick, Ryan Jaskowiak
  • Publication number: 20100326033
    Abstract: The tool is made up of two rotors (1, 2), each one of them formed by a rotary axis of rotation (4, 4?) and at least one helix-shaped blade (5, 6), the axes of rotation (4, 4?) parallel to each other and parallel to the ground or lawn and separated by a distance less than the sum of the radii of the helices of each one of the rotors (1, 2). The blade(s) (5, 6) of one of the rotors (1, 2) has/have the shape of a right handed helix and the blade(s) (6, 5) corresponding to the other rotor (2, 1) show(s) the shape of a left handed helix, and one of the rotors (1, 2) consists of a driving rotor (1) and the other consists of a driven rotor (2). The machine derived incorporates at lest one double-helicoidal tool connected to at least one of the machine's wheels (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Jose Antonio Esmoris Bertoa
  • Publication number: 20100319312
    Abstract: A method for making a lawn mower deck is disclosed, which method comprises providing a sheet blank (9) of a mouldable material, forming in a housing portion of said sheet blank (9) a housing (2) for a cutter, cutting the sheet blank in a one-piece shape comprising the housing portion and a protruding portion (3), bending the protruding portion (3), so as to bring an attachment portion (5) of said protruding portion (3) in contact with said housing (2), and fastening said attachment portion (5) to said housing (2). Also disclosed is a lawn mower deck, comprising a housing (2) for a cutter, and a protruding portion (3), which protruding portion (3) is bent such that an attachment portion (5) thereof is in contact with said housing (2), wherein said attachment portion (5) is fastened to said housing (2), and wherein said housing (2) and said protruding portion (3) are formed in one piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Jorgen Johansson, Bengt Ahlund, Norbert Rosenpek, Cecilia Niva, Janarne Wetterheim
  • Publication number: 20100223898
    Abstract: The improved peripheral mower blade is designed to cut and mulch grass at high volume, while being easy to change. The blade is constructed of two pieces, making replacement of the blades more efficient. The blades attach to a shaft via spaced apart hubs to which the pieces attach, and the two pieces of the blade interlock to provide a blade that is as strong as a one piece peripheral mower blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: John A. Darden
  • Patent number: 7779617
    Abstract: A sliding pulley drive mechanism in cutting platform of lawn mower is disclosed. The drive mechanism includes an engine for the fixed to a chassis; a cutting platform connected to, and capable of moving up and down in relation to the chassis; cutting platform drive belts fitted over the output shaft of the engine, an external spline shaft is fixed to the output shaft of the engine, and a belt pulley with an internal spline is mounted on an external spline shaft. Through a spline mechanism, the belt pulley on the engine can slide up or down on the output shaft of the engine as the elevation of the cutting platform is adjusted, so that the cutting platform drive belts are kept in the same plane, and therefore the belt service lifespan is elongated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Jiangsu World Plant-Protecting Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ting Wang, Chaojie Zhang, Shengli Wang, Wenchen Song