Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of securing attachments to a utility vehicle, particularly a stand-on, zero-turn mower. The apparatus includes an A-shaped mounting assembly having a base with first and second ends and a tubular member extending outwardly from the first end. The tubular member defines a bore that receives a shaft extending from the attachment. The mounting assembly is positioned vertically above a mower deck on an opposite side of the frame of the mower relative thereto. The second end of the mounting assembly and part of the mower deck are secured to the frame using the same connectors. A hydraulic actuator engages a forwardmost end of the assembly and is actuatable to raise or lower the assembly relative to the frame, pivoting the assembly about the connectors. The attachment and mower deck are substantially simultaneously operable to perform separate landscaping tasks while the mower moves across a surface.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of securing attachments to a utility vehicle, particularly a stand-on, zero-turn mower. The apparatus includes an A-shaped mounting assembly having a base with first and second ends and a tubular member extending outwardly from the first end. The tubular member defines a bore that receives a shaft extending from the attachment. The mounting assembly is positioned vertically above a mower deck on an opposite side of the frame of the mower relative thereto. The second end of the mounting assembly and part of the mower deck are secured to the frame using the same connectors. A hydraulic actuator engages a forwardmost end of the assembly and is actuatable to raise or lower the assembly relative to the frame, pivoting the assembly about the connectors. The attachment and mower deck are substantially simultaneously operable to perform separate landscaping tasks while the mower moves across a surface.

Abstract: A system comprises a first housing configured to enable grass to extend into the first housing. A grass cutting unit is housed within the first housing. A discharge chute is joined to a rear portion of the first housing for directing grass cuttings away from the first housing. A bag unit is configured for collecting the grass cuttings from the discharge chute. A second housing is joined to a rear portion of the first housing and positioned below the discharge chute. A rake device is housed within the second housing. The rake device comprises rake tines being configured for rotating below the second housing bottom for transferring debris to the bag unit. A handle unit is joined to the second housing. The handle unit is configured for enabling an operator to control operations of the system. A plurality of wheels is joined to the first housing and the second housing.

Abstract: A grass treatment device (100) is provided, which comprises a frame (101), at least one roller (104) mounted to the frame and configured to contact a grass surface and a grass treatment tool (105) mounted to the frame substantially adjacent the roller and configured to treat the grass surface. The grass treatment device (100) comprises a rotating assembly (108) mounted substantially adjacent the roller (104) and having a plurality of bristle members (110), and driving means (114) operably connecting the rotating assembly to the roller. The driving means comprises a gear mechanism having a first driving gear (115) attached to an axis of the roller and a first driven gear (116) attached to an axis of the rotating assembly, whereby motion of the roller (104) is translated to the rotating assembly (108).

Abstract: A landscape care device has a first care tool embodied as a mowing device, a sweeping broom, or the like, and at least one second care tool in the form of a spring tine rake arranged in front of the first care tool and acting simultaneously or with time shift relative to the first care tool. A carriage with a front axle is provided, wherein only the spring tine rake is effective in front of the front axle of the carriage. The spring tine rake has spring tines and the spring line rake is designed such that the spring tines are effective by a substantially straight push movement exerted on the spring tine rake.

Abstract: A debris herding method and apparatus is described comprising a low power air blower and a tilted rotary rake. The air blower acts together with a tilted rotary rake to dislodge and impel the debris. A motor driven chassis transports the blower and the rotary rake across the lawn. The blower and rotary rake can be energetically powered, such as by a solar cell array mounted to the chassis. The present invention is directed to an energetically efficient device for moving debris on a surface, such as leaves on a lawn.

Abstract: A bristle assembly for performing a working operation, the bristle assembly comprising a central support defining an axis of rotation of the bristle assembly, an elongate bristle attachment member secured relative to the central support, and a plurality of bristles secured relative to the attachment member such that the bristles project outwardly from the central support.

Abstract: A raking attachment for a riding mower supports raking elements in a forward path of a cutting deck. The raking attachment includes a forward extending frame formed by longitudinal frame members positioned with first ends rigidly attached to a riding mower frame and with a second end forming attaching points at a fixed height off the ground. A transverse frame is pivotally attached to the forward extending frame by pivot posts. A rake assembly with at least one row of flexible rake tines disposed across the entire transverse width of the cutting deck is attached to the transverse frame and pivots therewith to contact the ground surface for raking. The rake tines can be raised to a non-raking position or the downward force of the rake tines against the ground surface can be varied by varying the pivot angle of the transverse frame over a range of pivot angles.

Abstract: A landscape care device has a first care tool embodied as a mowing device, a sweeping broom, or the like, and at least one second care tool in the form of a spring tine rake arranged in front of the first care tool and acting simultaneously or with time shift relative to the first care tool. A carriage with a front axle is provided, wherein only the spring tine rake is effective in front of the front axle of the carriage. The spring tine rake has spring tines and the spring line rake is designed such that the spring tines are effective by a substantially straight push movement exerted on the spring tine rake.

Abstract: A raking attachment for a riding mower supports raking elements in a forward path of a cutting deck of the riding lawnmower for raking grass just prior to it being cut by the cutting deck. The raking action raises the grass to a uniform height to promote uniform height lawn cutting. The raking attachment includes a forward extending frame formed by longitudinal frame members positioned with first ends rigidly attached to a riding mower frame and with a second end forming attaching points at a fixed height off the ground. A transverse frame is pivotally attached to the forward extending frame by pivot posts. A rake assembly with at least one row of flexible rake tines disposed across the entire transverse width of the cutting deck is attached to the transverse frame and pivots therewith to contact the ground surface for raking.

Abstract: A lawnmower raking attachment comprising a plurality of flexible tines anchored to a tine head held rotatable and lockable between the side arms of a U-shaped frame near the close end. Each tine extending downwardly, having the free end bent forwardly to engage the thatch during the forward travel, having each at least one slidable and rotatable bead. A first and second frame supports with vertical slots having the upper end open to accept pivotally a shaft connecting the open end of the U-shaped frame. Latch arms are disposed pivotally on the frame supports to prevent the shaft to escape from the support slots but allowing to rotate to adopt stable operational or resting positions. Stoppers affixed to the frame supports limit the rotational travel of the U-shaped frame. A finger arm pivoted on one frame side near the shaft engages one stopper and prevents the rake frame from going to the resting position unless is manually disengaged.

Abstract: A mower includes a linking structure designed to link the mower to a motor vehicle; a cutting mechanism with driven cutting elements that include cutting tools; and a windrowing device designed to move laterally, toward a median plane of the cutting mechanism, the product that has been cut by the cutting elements before it is dropped to the ground. The windrowing device has at least one guiding element for the cut product, located in the vicinity of one of the lateral ends of the cutting mechanism, and considering the direction of work, behind the front of the cut of the cutting mechanism. The guiding element has at least two rotors arranged crosswise to the direction of work and to the rotation axis directed upward during work. The rotors are hung to a carrying structure linked to the cutting mechanism and/or to the linking structure, and the rotors are driven in rotation by way of a driving mechanism.

Abstract: A rotary mulching mower has a rotating impeller or rake mounted anteriorly of a shredder rotor assembly. The latter comprises a motor driven rotatable member or rotor supporting circumferentially spaced rows of radially extending shredding pins extending below and above the disk. The upwardly extending pins mesh with complimentary stator pins mounted on the mower housing above the shredding rotor. Leaves or other lawn debris are passed by the impeller into a manifold and then directed via a suitable baffle to the meshing pins to be shredded thereby into mulch whereas the downwardly directed pins function effectively to remove thatch from the lawn being mulch mowed.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower blade is provided with opposite end dependingly supported rake springs. Each of the springs comprises a closed coil spring body whose upper end is removably supported from the underside of the corresponding rotary mower blade end and the lower convolution of each coil spring body includes a downwardly directed vertical spring tine or finger. The mower blade incorporates a pair of elongated opposite end blade end sections including remote and adjacent ends with the adjacent ends thereof disposed in end overlapped engagement with each other and the adjacent ends include meshed projections and recesses spaced longitudinally therealong. The adjacent ends are longitudinally slotted and a threaded shank type fastener is passed upwardly through the slots and may be threaded in a blind bore formed in the lower end of the vertical engine shaft of a rotary mower.

Abstract: A dethatching attachment for a power lawnmower comprising a mounting frame which is removably mounted on the forward end of the lawnmower and which is positioned forwardly thereof. Spaced-apart first and second elongated supports are secured to the mounting frame and extend forwardly therefrom in a diverging fashion. A plurality of spaced-apart dethatching wheels are rotatably and pivotally mounted on each of the first and second supports so as to dwell in a plane which is angularly disposed with respect to the normal direction of travel of the lawnmower. The wheels may be selectively moved between operative and inoperative positions.

Abstract: A lawn care device is provided which essentially consists of support beams or rotary cutter blades which are mounted onto the vertically disposed drive shaft of conventional lawn motors. The support beams are provided with receiving means, support-like bars, trunnions and the like, for pivotably mounting work tools thereon. The work tools are moved into an operating position by the forces resulting from the rotation of the support beam and are pivoted to a non-operative position when engaging an obstacle.

Abstract: A process for the isomerization of maleic acid, its monoesters and monoamides in the presence of thiourea in anhydrous conditions at elevated temperature to the corresponding fumaryl forms yields intermediates which are useful in the synthetic pathways of aspartame and other useful polypeptides.