Vertical Cut Patents (Class 56/256)
  • Patent number: 11647699
    Abstract: A tree saw attachment for a modular landscape trimmer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the tree saw attachment is provided with a drive unit having a drive shaft operably connectable to a motive source and a transmission operably connected to the drive shaft. An anvil is connected to and extending from an output side of the transmission of the drive unit, and a blade is connected to the output shaft of the transmission. The blade has an arcuate outer peripheral edge with teeth formed along a portion thereof forming a cutting edge so as the output shaft is rotated, the distance between the cutting edge and a central axis of the output shaft increases until the blade has substantially completed one rotation. Rotation of the blade causes the blade to move transversely with respect to the anvil to engage and cut material positioned between the blade and the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Dinotooth Cutter, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard Luttmer, Kelly Coover
  • Publication number: 20140182256
    Abstract: A device for mowing, comprising a rotatable shaft (6) and a plurality of supporting structures (7) arranged along the shaft (6), each of which structures supports a plurality of circumferentially arranged and radially extending blades (8), each of which blades exhibits a radially extending blade edge (9) which extends to the free blade end (10) and which, on rotation of the aforementioned shaft (6), are arranged for mowing. Each blade edge (9) is angled in relation to a blade plane extending perpendicularly in relation to the aforementioned shaft (6) at an angle (a) of less than 45°, and the free blade ends (10) of the blades (8) in each of the aforementioned supporting structures (7) are distributed between at least three blade positions (KP) that are mutually separated in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: MATS FISCHIER I BÅSTAD AB
    Inventors: Mats Fischier, Sture Larsson
  • Publication number: 20110308223
    Abstract: A method for mechanically processing or straightening a boundary line of a groundcover of grass, turf, garden plantings, forest, or the like adjacent to a utility area, including executing a cutting movement along the edge area of the groundcover to separate the groundcover from the utility area along the boundary line. For this purpose, a rotating, motor-driven, more-or-less circular separating disk, which penetrates into the edge area of the groundcover of grass, etc. along a certain boundary line, and which is set at an acute angle to the forward travel direction, is mounted on a support frame of a self-propelled work machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: UELI BALDINGER GMBH
    Inventor: Ueli BALDINGER
  • Patent number: 7938193
    Abstract: The vehicle mounted edging device provides a safe and efficient means for edging grass and soil adjacent to improved surfaces. The device is attached to the remotely actuated bed of a utility vehicle and utilizes the lifting capabilities of the bed for its operation. When the disc is in the cutting position, the operator of the utility vehicle positions the vehicle near the edge of the surface to be maintained and lowers the remotely actuated bed of the utility vehicle to place the disc adjacent to the surface to be maintained. The operator then drives the vehicle parallely to the edge of the path and remove the unwanted grass. The vehicle mounted edging device effectively guides the utility vehicle along the edge of the path so that minimal steering is required and is oriented to enable the operator to easily monitor the edging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventor: Bruce Lee Baker
  • Publication number: 20080196373
    Abstract: A turf cutting unit includes a reel assembly mounted to a frame and having a plurality of reel blades rotatable about a reel axis extending substantially parallel to the ground. A drivingly rotatable groomer includes a plurality of spaced apart and substantially vertically oriented cutting plates. An adjustment mechanism is operable to move the reel assembly relative to the turf to set a turf cutting height. The adjustment mechanism is operable to adjust the position of the cutting plates to set a depth of cut that the groomer cutting plates engage the turf. The adjustment mechanism limits a maximum depth of cut of the groomer cutting plates based on the cutting height of the reel assembly. A method of operating a turf cutting unit is also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Wilson, Jonathan Maturan
  • Patent number: 7128164
    Abstract: A support has a post. The post has a circular cross sectional configuration. The post extends upwardly from the support. An arm has a collar. The collar is rotatably received on the post. The collar is pivotably coupled to the collar with a finger. The finger has a vertical aperture there through. A wheel assembly has a drive wheel centrally and a cutting wheel. The cutting wheel is outboardly and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the drive wheel. The wheel assembly has a clevis. The clevis is inboardly and has vertical aperture and a pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas C. Boland
  • Patent number: 6857481
    Abstract: A blade is formed of a vertical segment. The vertical segment has a central aperture. The vertical segment further has long parallel side edges, short parallel end edges and upturned parallel ends. Each end has a leading edge and a trailing. A horizontal cutting edge is formed into each leading edge of the upturned parallel ends. A vertical cutting edge is formed into each long edge adjacent to a horizontal cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Inventor: Johnny Hayes
  • Patent number: 6701700
    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 is attached through suitable structure to the drive shaft supported on the lawnmower housing between the drive wheel and the auxiliary trimmer apparatus to control engagement and disengagement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Stephen Timothy Keane
  • Patent number: 6464015
    Abstract: A cutting and mulching attachment for a lawn edger that creates a clean edge to a landscaped area. The attachment comprises a flat, circular cutting blade and two or more flat mulching blades extending laterally from the cutting blade. Each mulching blade has a toothed edge that faces in the direction of the cutting blade rotation. The plane of each mulching blade defines an acute angle with respect to the plane of the cutting blade. The teeth of one mulching blade are offset from the teeth of the other mulching blade so that, as each mulching blade sweeps through the turf, its teeth remove any ridges of turf left behind by the teeth of the other blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventor: J. Thomas Jones
  • Patent number: 6434920
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Stephen Timothy Keane
  • Patent number: 6247539
    Abstract: Implements for attaching to a hand-held, powered “Weed-Eater” type device to perform various work or chores (filament cutting, blade cutting, brushing, blowing, mixing, etc.). After disconnecting the device's original implement typically a spool of filament (6) with a bumper feed (7), an initial, cultivator/cutter implement (10), cylindrical in shape with a substantially solid, circular top (12) and a relatively thin, continuous wall of constant thickness, is attached by an appropriate threaded member (e.g. a nut or bolt, usually with one or more washers) to the bottom end of the powered device (FIGS. 1A-D) through a central opening (13). The cultivator's top includes a series of circumferentially spaced, “snap-in” openings (14; e.g. two or more) through and into which other implements (e.g. those of FIGS. 3-20) can be attached (FIGS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventor: Orlando Jerez
  • Patent number: 6179059
    Abstract: A dual blade assembly for a lawn edger, the assembly comprising first (140) and second (142) generally rectangular blades arranged in a substantially cross shaped configuration for rotation about a substantially central axis (R). Each of the first (140) and second (142) blades having a central region between two end cutting regions, at least one protuberance (144) in the central region and at least one recess (148) in the central region. The promuberance(s) (144) of one of the first (140) and second (142) blades is adapted to engage with the recess(es) (148) of the other of the first (140) and second (142) blades to counteract relative movement between the first (140) and second blades (142) about the rotational axis (R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventors: John Arthur Notaras, Angelo Lambrinos Notaras
  • Patent number: 6125943
    Abstract: An edger-trencher is described for landscaping procedures. Instead of the usual jolting an operator receives when using traditional power assisted edger-trencher devices, in the instant invention a pivotable swing arm with cutting blade attached at one end pivots upwards and away from the soil containing an obstruction. The cutting blade then falls back rapidly and repeatedly under the influence of gravity, causing a series of pick like actions on the soil obstruction until it is overcome and normal edging or trenching resumes. The pivotable swing arm-cutting blade combination is suitable for mounting on stand-alone gasoline powered, belt-driven edger-trenchers. Alternatively, this stand-alone unit can be modified to have a quick connection to a similarly modified commercial or residential mower of the rider or walk behind type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Inventor: Charles S. Valois
  • Patent number: 6085507
    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 is suitably 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Stephen Timothy Keane
  • Patent number: 5904033
    Abstract: A vine cutter for cutting entangled vines of potato plants in front of a potato harvester so that the vines do not become entangled and accumulated upon a front portion of the potato harvester. The inventive device includes a frame having a pair of upper members and a pair of opposing lower members, a first disc journaled to the frame, a second disc journaled to the frame below the first disc and having a ground engaging rim attached coaxially, and a motor mechanically connected to the first and second discs. The first disc and the second disc are vertically orientated, and a portion of the discs overlap and are juxtaposed to one another. The pair of discs preferably include a plurality of notches projecting into their respective outer perimeters. The discs rotate at a differential to one another from 1.2 to 2.5 depending upon the type of vines being cut. The ground engaging ring attached to the second disc determines the depth of penetration by the second disc into the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Inventor: Marvin J. Landeis
  • Patent number: 5857315
    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 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Inventor: Stephen Timothy Keane
  • Patent number: 5842331
    Abstract: A weed remover includes a pivoting arm connected to a wheeled chassis, and a rotary wire brush attached to the forward end of the pivoting arm. A belt is positioned to encircle a wire brush pulley coaxial with the wire brush, and a drive pulley driven by a motor. The wire brush can be raised off the ground or lowered to engage it by moving a lever connected to the pivoting arm. When the wire brush is in the raised position, the pulleys are close together and the belt is relaxed, so that the belt is disengaged from the pulleys, and the wire brush is deactivated. When the wire brush is in the lowered position, the pulleys are moved apart, and the drive belt is pulled taut therebetween, so that drive is transferred to the wire brush. The wire brush is spun at high speed to remove weeds growing from cracks on a hard ground surface, such as a sidewalk or driveway. The wire brush is stiff enough to remove the weeds flush to the ground surface, but compliant enough to not harm the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Inventor: Edward F. Klee
  • Patent number: 5826667
    Abstract: A powered lawn edger which is steerable by a walking operator in the manner of a wheelbarrow. The edger has a Y-shaped frame including a pair of handles each with handlegrips. A power unit is mounted on the frame between the handlegrips and a ground engaging wheel. A cutting blade is rotatable about an output shaft of a gear box which is powered from the power unit via a centrifugal clutch having a brake. A debris deflector is mounted on the axle of the wheel. An adjustment mechanism is provided to adjust the height of the cutting blade relative to the ground. The height of the debris deflector relative to the ground remains unchanged when the height of the cutting blade is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventors: John Arthur Notaras, Angelo Lambrinos Notaras
  • Patent number: 5577375
    Abstract: A lawn care apparatus combining mowing, de-thatching, and mulching action with improved grass clippings and thatch removal characteristics, designed for operation over various types of lawn or turf, where the cutting assembly consists of a shaft with a plurality of readily replaceable blades mounted radially about the shaft which itself is mounted on the apparatus housing and rotating about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of the apparatus. The rotation of the cutting assembly being in the opposite direction to the rotation of the wheels of the apparatus. The housing designed to curve conformably near the outside edge of the blades over the top portion of the cutting assembly providing for improved gathering action for the grass clippings and thatch into a container attached to and removable from the apparatus. The apparatus having a power means mounted thereon to provide for rotation of the cutting assembly and propulsion of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Andrew T. Tillison, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5526636
    Abstract: Vacuum mower with a device to create a suction air stream for sucking blades of grass (14) into an intake opening (16). The intake opening (16) can be applied at an angle of up to 80 degrees to the direction of the growth of the grass blades which creates a deep reaching effect of the vacuum so that grass can be effectively sucked in and cut especially close to walls, trees, roadside posts (1), etc. The invention can be used by itself or as an attachment to conventional lawn mowers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Inventor: Leopold Posch
  • Patent number: 5497606
    Abstract: There is disclosed an improved lawnmowing and edging apparatus wherein a generally conventional gasoline powered push mower or walk-behind mower is provided with an edger mounted on the front of the deck of the mower slightly outside of the track of one of the front wheels, the edger having a high speed rotating blade which lies in a vertical plane and which can be raised to an inoperative position or lowered to an operative position. The edger is provided with a very simple belt and pulley drive which causes the edger to be powered only in its lowered position and which derives its motive power from a power-take-off extending outward from the lawnmower engine substantially at right angles to the direction of travel of the mower. The power-take-off shaft is thereby substantially parallel to the shaft of the edger and a simple trouble free and safe power drive mechanism can be provided for the edger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Robert H. Baxter
  • Patent number: 5493851
    Abstract: With a limited separating spacing immediately upstream of a mowing implement rotating in a horizontal plane, a lawnmower has an upward extraction implement rotating in the same direction as the advance direction about a horizontal transverse axis and which is located in a common casing, but in a separate casing chamber. The upward extraction implement is disengagingly driven by means of a gear by the drive motor of the mowing implement and is essentially located between the front wheels, which are vertically adjustable for the joint setting of the working height of the two implements. Thus, it is possible to in each case separately and also jointly and simultaneously work with the two implements, so that numerous use possibilities exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Werner Kress
    Inventors: Johann Katzer, Wolfgang Lindermeir, Franz Lopic, Christian Stephany, Werner Kress
  • Patent number: 5490371
    Abstract: An edger head for a portable edger. The edger head has a housing, a cutting element, first structure for mounting the cutting element to the housing for movement relative to the housing in a predetermined path, a debris guard, and second structure for mounting the debris guard in an operative position on the housing. The debris guard has first and second flaps, with the first flap being repositionable relative to the second flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Echo Incorporated
    Inventor: Frank R. Potucek, III
  • Patent number: 5479765
    Abstract: An improved cutter blade assembly for lawn edging machines, the improvement comprising two cutting blades having the central portions of the first and second blades nested flat face against flat face and mounted on a powered drive shaft, the blades extending oppositely and outwardly from the horizontal drive shaft in a plane normal to the axis of the drive shaft. Each of the cutting blades preferably contains a series of progressively spaced, stepped mounting holes, a series of stepped locking holes, and a locking dog to provide an adjusting means for extending the combined length of the two cutting blades to compensate for wear. As the diameter of the cutter blade assembly is shortened from wear, each cutting blade may then be disengaged from the drive shaft and moved radially and oppositely outward and may then be re-engaged onto the drive shaft through the next appropriate mounting hole. Thus, the cutter blade assembly may be restored approximately to its original cutting diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Inventors: Albert Wall, G. Warren Holly
  • Patent number: 5383330
    Abstract: A hand-held edger is disclosed which is so constructed that the lower portions of the gear box and the safety cover member are prevented from directly scraping against the ground during trimming operation to enable abrasion thereof to be avoided, and that tendency to be caught by lawn grasses and liability to wobble are extremely reduced to enable improved operational properties to be attained. The hand-held edger comprises a supporting rod 14 one end of which is connected to a prime mover, a gear box 20 connected to the other end of said supporting rod 14, a rotary blade 22 which is driven by power transmitted from said prime mover via said gear box 20, a safety cover member 12 which covers said rotary blade 22, and a traveling wheel 17 journal-supported by a rear portion 12b behind said gear box 20, wherein a ring-shaped traveling auxiliary wheel 30 is rotatably mounted over the circumference of said gear box 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Kioritz Corporation
    Inventors: Yoetsu Yokocho, Michiyasu Kuwano, Fumihiko Aiyama
  • Patent number: 5301757
    Abstract: An edging machine having a frame with a handle at one end, a prime mover mounted on the frame, an edger blade rotatably connected to the frame, a first wheel mounted on the frame so as to support the frame above a surface, a second wheel interconnected to the frame and arranged in tandem with the first frame, an adjustment lever interconnected to the second wheel for changing a distance of the frame from the surface. A guide member is rotatably connected to the frame so as to have a surface extending below the frame. The guide member is positioned in parallel relationship to the edger blade. The second wheel is rotatably mounted to a wheel bar. The wheel bar is pivotally connected to the frame on a side of the frame opposite the edger blade. The adjustment lever is interconnected to the wheel bar so as to controllably adjust the position of the second wheel relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Inventor: Milton C. Kelley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5297637
    Abstract: An agricultural tool including a disc blade incorporating hard wear resistant inserts for attachment to an axial member of an agricultural tool for rotation through the soil. The disc blade includes parallel spaced flat round front and rear surfaces having a central cylindrical opening. The front surface tapers radially outwardly to the rear surface thereby defining a common outer rim having a knife edge. A plurality of notches are spaced circumferentially along the front surface of the disc blade and inwardly from the outer edge of the front surface of the disc blade. The notches are configured to receive a plurality of hard wear resistant inserts to provide improved wear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventor: Don C. Rowlett
  • Patent number: 5226486
    Abstract: A lawn edger is arranged for mounting a lawn edging tool thereon, wherein the apparatus includes a support plate movably mounted by underlying aligned wheel members. A clamp mounted to a top surface of the support plate is positioned rearwardly of a medial forward edge of the support plate, with the medial forward edge having a downwardly projecting abutment guide plate mounted orthogonally and downwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Inventor: Johnnie J. Naiser
  • Patent number: 5183120
    Abstract: With a view to accelerating growth of lawn in the fairway of golf course, or other lawn-covered ground, there is provided a lawn cutting apparatus which forms incised grooves of a predetermined depth in the lawn-covered grown surface by rotating of the cutting blade. Using this cutting blade, contact-resistance between the cutting blade and the inner faces of the incised grooves can be made as low as possible at the time of forming the incised grooves, and the incised part of the lawn covered ground can be finished with good outer appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Y.M. Golf Course Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hayataro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5081829
    Abstract: On golf courses it is common practice for the golf club to provide carts for the golfers who wish to use them to go from one golfer's stroke to the next. When tournaments are held large crowds walk along one side of the golf course fairways of the course to observe the various strokes taken by the golfers who are participants in the tournament. To provide walkways for the tournament observers, and for the golfers who use carts many courses have walkways for the carts and for the guests and observers watching the tournaments. These walkways are generally formed of asphalt, which is easy for golfers who have spiked shoes to walk on. To present a neat, well kept appearance it is necessary to keep the grass trimmed to the edges of these walkways. This is a time consuming and laborious job that must be done by experienced and skilled workers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Inventor: Walter Grube
  • Patent number: 5065567
    Abstract: An improved lawn edger encludes an edging disk mounted for straight line adjustment, on the wheel axle of a lawn mower, between stowed and operative positions. One-handed operation moves the edger between these positions and, additionally, totally removes the edger for close-in mowing. The operating handle extends above the mower deck for ease of operation, while the apparatus minimizes undue tortional forces on the wheel axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Inventors: Lloyd F. Wessel, Edward O. Wessel, MaryAnn Mudd
  • Patent number: 5052170
    Abstract: A shredder attachment for a round bale hay baler which will effectively shred corn stalks or stubble, milo stubble and the like and discharge the shredded stubble into a round bale hay baler which will form a bale of stubble which has been shredded which can be used for feed, bedding and the like. The shredding attachment can be easily and quickly attached to a round bale hay baler at the front lower area thereof and is drivingly connected to the power system of the hay baler and includes a rotatable shaft having a plurality of pivotal flail elements or knives mounted thereon for shredding stubble or stalks and discharging the shredded material rearwardly and upwardly into the hay baler in the same manner that hay enters the hay baler with the shredded stubble being rolled into a hay bale in the same manner that hay is baled by the round bale hay baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Inventors: Michael J. Trenkamp, Loras F. Gravel
  • Patent number: 5036655
    Abstract: A lawn or turf aerating, dethatching, and grooming apparatus which derives the power needed to perform these functions from a movement of the apparatus against the lawn or turf surface that is desired to be affected by the apparatus. The apparatus is adaptable to a wide variety of lawn maintenance devices and particularly as a replacement front roller for a reel-type lawn mower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Inventor: E. Ray Holloway
  • Patent number: 4984417
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an edger with a belt braking device, including a belt driving device and a cutter blade, which are arranged at the side of an edger vehicle. A bearing housing portion of the cutter blade is provided for forward and rearward movement, a belt cover for covering the whole driving belt is fixed to the edger vehicle, and a belt braking device is arranged between the front end of the belt cover and the front driven pulley, whereby performing ON-OFF operation of a clutch and engagement/ disengagement of a brake simultaneously is enabled. In this way, the fixed belt cover can be compact and the operation for changing of working conditions can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Stephen A. Braun, Michael J. O'Neill, Roger W. Curry, James R. Titze, Donald E. Niosi, Tetsuzo Fujikawa, Makizo Hirata, Michio Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4965990
    Abstract: A lawn mower and edger assembly includes a first pulley mounted to the drive shaft of the associated lawn mower to operate a series of forwardly mounted pulleys to rotatably drive an edger blade mounted laterally and forwardly relative to an associated lawn mower deck mounting the lawn mower engine. An over-center lever assembly is provided for forwardly pivoting and engaging the edging blade relative to the lawn mower drive pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Inventors: Earnest E. Slawson, Sr., Ara M. Slawson
  • Patent number: 4962631
    Abstract: The present invention provides an edger wherein a cutter device is arranged on one side of an edger frame, the position of a front wheel is adjustable, the position of one of the rear wheels situated on the other side of the edger frame is also adjustable, and a mechanism for changing the position of the front wheel as well as changing the position of the rear wheel is performed by a single control lever at the operator's station. With this arrangement, the adjustment of the depth of the cutter and the adjustment for maintaining the edger in a horizontal condition when the edger is driven on a curbstone can be easily effected by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Stephen A. Braun, Michael J. O'Neill, Roger W. Curry, James R. Titze, Donald E. Niosi, Tetsuzo Fujikawa, Makizo Hirata, Michio Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4949536
    Abstract: A lawn and garden trimmer apparatus includes a framework with means for mounting the framework to a lawn mower body, a guide rail supported between opposed sides of the framework, a carrier bracket moveably mounted on the rail, a support arm pivotally mounted to the bracket, and a trimmer assembly mounted to the outer end of the support arm. Through a combination of rotational and linear degress of freedom, the trimmer assembly may be located at various positions and angular attitudes relative to the lawn mower body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Inventor: George Neufeld
  • Patent number: 4907404
    Abstract: A cutting arrangement for grass is releaseably mountable or attachable to a vehicle. For cutting the grass, a rotatable wheel is used. The wheel extends outwardly from one side of the housing and has a cutting disc. The position of the wheel is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Inventors: George R. Oliver, Stephen G. Oliver
  • Patent number: 4841717
    Abstract: An improved cutting unit specially suited for grooming turf includes a frame supporting a conventional horizontally mounted driven reel having a number of spirally arranged blades. The cutting unit is supported on the ground by front and rear rollers. The front roller is a slotted expunger roller having numerous annular slots along its axis. Immediately behind the expunger roller is mounted a knife roller which includes numerous vertically oriented knife blades aligned with the circular slots of the expunger roller. As the expunger roller rolls along turf, horizontally lying plant material is pulled or puckered up by the expunger roller into the circular slots. The knife roller, driven at a high rate of speed about its own axis, pulls up and slices through the pulled up plant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Inventor: Lawrence L. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 4756148
    Abstract: A flexible nonmetallic line trimmer for cutting vegetation has a wheel support for edging operations. The trimmer has a safety guard that extends around the rearward portion of a motor housing. A sliding bracket is mounted to the safety guard. A wheel is mounted on the forward end of the sliding bracket. The bracket will slide between a retracted position with the wheel to one side of the housing to an extended position with the wheel in front of the housing to support the cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Nylon Line Cutters (Pty.) Ltd.
    Inventors: John F. Gander, Otto D. Dunnebacke, Michael A. Helmig
  • Patent number: 4724662
    Abstract: A lawn thatcher assembly including a shaft and a plurality of blades and spacers extending therealong. The shaft has a helical surface thereon, and the blades have a matching helical opening, all of which permits the blades to be slid onto the shaft and present a final helical pattern of blade tips along the length of the shaft. The method of making the assembly is also achieved in this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. Giandenoto, Marvin L. Joray
  • Patent number: 4718221
    Abstract: A rotary lawnmower has an edger/trimmer including a freely rotatable disk disposed with a vacuum zone of the mower when in an edging position. In a retracted position, the edger is withdrawn fully inboard of the outer periphery of the mover housing such that no projections are left to interfere with close-in mowing. Guards are provided for the edging disk when in a stowed position, and in an edging position. An alternate embodiment provides for lifting the edger over obstruction when the edger is used on a riding mower. A trim position for trimming around foundations and the like is provided, together with methods of edging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Inventors: Lloyd E. Wessel, Edward O. Wessel
  • Patent number: 4715169
    Abstract: An edging attachment for motor mower comprising a plate that is bolted to the mower housing, the plate supporting a drive shaft carrying an idler pulley and a drive pulley, a drive belt interconnecting a pulley on the motor of a mower to either the idler pulley, means to selectively engage either the idler or drive pulley and an edging means operating in a plane substantially perpendicular to the cutting plane of the mower. The edging means is supported by the plate via a boom and is driven by the drive shaft via a flexible spindle drive. The boom allows adjustment of the cutting angle of edging means. The position of the drive shaft and pulleys is also adjustable relative to the motor of the mower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Inventor: Maxwell K. Ould
  • Patent number: 4691784
    Abstract: A lawn edger attachment for a tractor including a boom universally pivoted at its inner end to the tractor for both horizontal and vertical movement of its outer end, and normally angling acutely outwardly from the tractor, a circular cutting blade mounted beneath the outer end of the boom for rotation both about its own horizontal axis and about a vertical axis relative to the boom, a manually operable mechanism for pivoting the boom to position the blade above and in the plane of the division line between grassy and paved ground areas, and to lower it into ground engagement at the division line, the mechanism having a novel arrangement reducing the apparent weight of the boom and blade to the tractor operator, and a manual operating mechanism for pressing the blade into penetrating relation to the ground, the mechanism providing a great mechanical advantage in multiplying the manual force applicable by the operator of the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Mullet, Ivan W. Bontrager
  • Patent number: 4685280
    Abstract: An inproved cutting unit specially suited for grooming turf includes a frame supporting a conventional horizontally mounted driven reel having a number of spirally arranged blades. The cutting unit is supported on the ground by front and rear rollers. The front roller is a slotted expunger roller having numerous annular slots along its axis. Immediately behind the expunger roller is mounted a knife roller which includes numerous vertically oriented knife blades aligned with the circular slots of the expunger roller. As the expunger roller rolls along turf, horizontally lying plant material is pulled or puckered up by the expunger roller into the circular slots. The knife roller, driven at a high rate of speed about its own axis, pulls up and slices through the pulled up plant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Lloyd, Barbara Lloyd, executor
  • Patent number: 4653590
    Abstract: An edger for cutting a furrow between a sidewalk edge and adjacent soil includes first and second blades fixedly mounted on a horizontally extending motor driven shaft. The first blade includes a pair of elongated soil cutting arms extending oppositely from a central portion fixedly mounted on the shaft. The second blade includes a central portion fixedly mounted on the shaft and a pair of elongated arms crossed with respect to the arms of the first blade. Each of the arms of the second blade includes an outer planar portion and an intermediate inclined portion on which the outer portion is mounted so that the outer portion is in a plane substantially parallel to and removed from a plane containing the segment of the center portion which intersects the and is at right angles to the shaft axis. Each outer planar portion has a longitudinal edge including a beveled longitudinal soil cutting surface, which in combination with soil cutting surfaces of the first blade forms the furrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Inventor: James Shank
  • Patent number: 4629006
    Abstract: A lawn edger attachment for tractors consisting of a base member adapted to be mounted at the side of a tractor, a boom universally pivoted to the base and angling laterally outwardly from the base, and a generally vertical rolling circular blade mounted beneath the outer end of the boom for rotation both on its own axis and about a generally vertical axis. A single manual operating handle operates to pivot the boom horizontally to position the blade directly above a division line between the grass of a lawn and an adjacent paved area, as the tractor is driven in a direction parallel to the division line, and to pivot the boom vertically, as may be necessary to rest the blade on the ground surface at the division line, and a foot pedal then supplies a mechanically multiplied force to press the blade downwardly to penetrate the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Mullet, Elmer D. Voth
  • Patent number: 4551967
    Abstract: A combination rotary mower and edger having a control lever on the handle, a flexible cable connected to the lever, and edger operating parts connected to the cable including a pivotal arm for raising and lowering the edger blade, an idler pulley for belt tightening to provide power to the edger blade, and a belt brake that is released to permit powering of the edger blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Inventor: Joseph S. Murcko
  • Patent number: 4528805
    Abstract: A lawnmower attachment comprises a bearing assembly pivotally mounted on a lawnmower housing, and having a shaft driven from a power take-off of the lawnmower. The shaft can have an edge-cutting blade attached thereto, or the edge-cutting blade can be removed and replaced by a grinding wheel, so that the attachment can be used to sharpen the lawnmower blades or other blades. Pivotal movement of the bearing assembly connects or disconnects the shaft with the power take-off, and such movement is controlled by a hand lever on the lawnmower handle. The hand lever has a latch for releasably retaining the attachment in inoperative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Inventor: Joseph Zitta
  • Patent number: 4520619
    Abstract: A lawn mower having a housing and a cutter unit positioned below the housing. The cutter unit comprises an upper rotating cutting unit and a lower stationary cutting unit that is concentric with the upper cutting unit and which have a plurality of upper and lower blades at their borders. Each blade has a cutting surface with a near end close to the border, and a far end away from the border. The blades of the upper cutting unit extend in front of a line passing through the concentric axis and the near end, in the direction of rotation of the upper cutting unit. The upper blades rotate and slide over stationary lower blades, thereby cutting the lawn in a manner similar to a pair of scissors. The angle between the upper and lower blades is preferably 16-20 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1985
    Assignee: Fuso Keigokin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hachiro Doi, Masayuki Yaegashi