Abstract: A grass cutting device suitable for automatic and unattended operation, comprisesat least one drive wheel;a power unit operatively coupled to said drive wheel to propel said device;a cutter mechanism to cut grass over which said device passes andobstacle detection means capable of detecting an obstacle in the path of said device and being operably linked to said power unit to cause said device to retreat and turn away from said obstacle.The grass cutting device preferably further comprisesmechanical long grass detection means arranged to detect long grass in the path of said device.

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.

Abstract: A drive motion transmitting assembly is mounted to a mowing implement which also mounts a power drive source having a rotary output drive shaft and a reciprocatory sickle bar. The assembly include a motion converting member, a plurality of idler members, and a drive motion transmitting flexible arrangement. The motion converting member is rotatably mounted about an axis and is drivingly interconnected to the output drive shaft for rotating about the axis upon rotation of the output drive shaft. The motion converting member has a portion spaced from the axis which undergoes orbital movement about the axis as the motion converting member rotates about the axis. The idler members are rotatably mounted both adjacent to and remote from the sickle bar and the motion converting member and in spaced relation to one another for guiding the transmission of drive motion from the motion converting member to the sickle bar.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mowing apparatus, which includes a pair of first and second cutting members slidably superposed with each other, each of the members including a plurality of aligned cutting teeth; mechanism for moving the first cutting member relative to the second cutting member reciprocably within a predetermined range in the direction of the aligned cutting teeth at a substantially uniform speed; and a drive source for driving the moving mechanism. The moving mechanism includes a solenoid actuator having first and second coils and a plunger provided reciprocatingly movably between the first and second coils. The plunger is connected to the first cutting member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mowing apparatus including: a motive power source for supplying rotating motion; a mowing head; a pair of first and second cutting disks slidably superposed with each other, each of the disks including a plurality of peripheral cutting teeth and the first and second cutting disks being oscillatably mounted to the mowing head; a mechanism for reciprocatively oscillating the first and second cutting disks oppositely with each other within a predetermined oscillating range, the reciprocatively oscillating mechanism being accommodated in the mowing head and adapted to be driven by the rotational motion supplied form the motive power source; and a mechanism for changing the mounting position of the first and second cutting disks about the mowing head in the circumferential directions of the cutting disks so that a portion to be used for mowing in the first and second cutting disks can be changed without removing the first and second cutting disks from the apparatus, the mounting position chan

Abstract: A mowing apparatus has a motive power source for supplying rotating motion; a pair of first and second cutting disks slidably supported with each other, each of the disks including a plurality of peripheral cutting teeth; mechanism for reciprocatively oscillating the first and second cutting disks oppositely with each other within a predetermined oscillating range; and mechanism for rotating the first and second cutting disks while the first and second cutting disks are oscillated reciprocatively by the reciprocatively oscillating mechanism.

Abstract: A machine for mowing grass, weeds, vegetation and the like is disclosed herein. The machine is a conventional rotary type lawn mower converted to a sickle-type cutting machine which enables the user to cut vegetation around trees, fence posts, rocks, etc. In use, the blade of a conventional rotary lawn mower is removed, thus exposing the power drive shaft. A torque converter is mounted onto the power drive shaft. The torque converter is connected to a transfer block by means of an endless belt. The transfer block is designed to transfer the circular motion imposed upon it by the power drive shaft and converting this circular motion into a reciprocating movement which is used to power a reciprocating cutting blade. The cutting blades are superimposed upon each other and one of the blades is free to move with respect to the other.

Abstract: A lawnmower comprising a mower deck carried by four wheels positioned in laterally opposed pairs, with the forward wheels being adjustable for selecting mowing height. A pair of longitudinal blades are carried at the forward edge of the deck and have respective arrays of blade teeth projecting forwardly of the deck. The lower blade is affixed to the deck and the upper blade is coupled by a bell crank and a pitman drive to the output shaft of an engine for reciprocating the upper blade over the lower blade and thereby scissoring the respective blade teeth arrays. A guard shell is carried by the mower deck enclosing the mower blades and has vertical slots in the forward shell wall for receiving and combing grass to positions among the mower blade teeth. A blower is coupled to the shell for assisting such combing action and for removing clippings from the shell enclosure. The shell slots are dimensioned to prevent entry of rocks, tree trunks and human limbs.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in a reciprocating mower of the type wherein pivotal reciprocation of the cutting blades is produced by impact blows received from a rotary impactor. In accordance with this invention, two actuating levers are employed to transmit impact forces from a rotary impactor to the movable blades of the mower; one such lever moves the blades in one direction and the other lever effects the return movement of the movable blades. The rotary impactor successively contacts the two levers so that the resulting movements of the cutting blade is a movement in one direction followed by a dwell period, then a movement in the opposite direction followed by a dwell period. A fan, driven by the same prime mover as utilized to drive the rotary impactor, generates air currents which pick up and straighten the grass or other vegetation to be cut by the reciprocating blades and directs the cut vegetation through the plenum chamber of the fan and outwardly through a discharge chute.

Abstract: A lawn mower of the sickle-bar type having an elongated straight double-edged blade mounted at either end by a planetary mount producing in the horizontal plane a generally laterally reciprocating motion combined with an orbital motion creating cutting forces in both directions with the double-edged blade. The basic support wheels, handle and blade mounting and driving system are so mounted to allow one of the cutting sides or edges of the blade to be used for usual lawn mowing operation, which side is located well within and under and centrally to the basic mower structure, and the other, opposite cutting side to be used for trimming close to walls, trees, etc., which side is located at and moves past the end of the basic mower structure. The handle is reversible from one side to the other to allow the operator to move to and push from the appropriate side, depending on whether mowing or trimming operation is desired.

Abstract: Power grass shears detachably attached to a handle: the handle includes a rod extending in the cutting plane; a connection between the shears and the rod to enable the shears to be rotated around the rod; the connection comprises various arrangements of a pin, and detent like means for enabling the shears to be held at various rotative positions.

Abstract: This invention teaches a dolly device and its separable connection to a normally portable hand-held electric power grass trimmer for converting same for standup operation. The dolly has a base plate with spaced upstanding arms supporting at the upper ends inwardly extended tabs and these tabs fit within recesses in the opposite side walls of the tool housing, and a lock mounted on the dolly base plate can be easily moved against the bias of a spring to fit into a recess in the rear wall of the tool housing.

Abstract: An upright cordless grass trimmer incorporated incoporates fixed multi-toothed bottom blade and plural sets of top blades which oscillate over the bottom blade to achieve cutting. The sets of top blades are driven by a motor through a gear and cam mechanism and are synchronized so that one top blade set cuts at a different time in the cycle from the other set to achieve a counterbalancing and load leveling effect. A clutch mechanism absorbs abrupt blade stoppage and shock situations and a rechargeable battery pack is releasably received by an elevated cavity in a shroud which mounts over the motor and drive mechanism. An upright handle and electrical control means are attached to the trimmer which allows the operator to operate the trimmer in an upright position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning and cutting grasses. In one embodiment, a power mower is provided with a rotating rake structure positioned forwardly of the cutter to prevent foreign objects from being admitted to the region of operation of the cutter. The rake structure also serves to lift, straighten and align grasses for shearing. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a power mower is provided with forward and rearward rake structures to pick up grass blades, pull out matted weeds such as crabgrass, position the upstanding grass blades in a reciprocating cutter, and sweep grass clippings away from the cutter and into a grass catcher. A hydraulic drive system varys the drive speed by controlling fluid flow rate to a hydraulic drive motor.