Rotating Cutting Disk Patents (Class 56/295)
  • Patent number: 5673545
    Abstract: A rotary cutter includes first and second pairs of blades pivotally mounted to opposite ends of a first blade holder, with the first pair of blades being spaced vertically above the second pair of blades. A third pair of blades for enhancing the shredding characteristic of the cutter are mounted to the opposite ends of a second blade holder having a longitudinal axis disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first blade holder. The third pair of blades are located to operate at a height in between the respective heights of operation of the first and second blades and are located to trace a path which is radially inward from that traced by the first and second blades. The second blade holder is mounted to the first blade holder exclusive of the drive shaft to which the first blade holder is coupled and may be removed or assembled without disturbing the mounting of the first blade holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Henry Friesen
  • Patent number: 5661962
    Abstract: A thatching attachment for lawn mowers that uses a pair of nylon bristle brushes that mount to a power mower. These soft brushes tend to vibrate the turf rather than tear it. Because the bristles are soft, compared to metal tines, there is no possibility that the turf can be torn up, even at high mower speeds or if the mower is stopped in one place for a short time. A second embodiment of the device uses a "U" shaped mounting bar to mount the brushes. This mounting bar allows the regular mower blade to be used as a vacuum to pick up debris and grass pulled out by the thatching process. The regular mower blade pulls the debris up and disposes of it through the discharge chute on the mower where it can be bagged and subsequently discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: John A. Monaco
  • Patent number: 5651243
    Abstract: A cutting and transporting mechanism for stalk harvesting products comprises at least one cutting disc, at least transporting disc arranged coaxially relative to the cutting disc and provided with a plurality of transporting prongs arranged on a circumference of the transporting disc, a rotatable reamer associated with the transporting prongs at a discharge location. The rotating reamer has a rotary axis located inside a circumference of the transporting disc and is driven in a direction corresponding to a direction of rotation of the transporting disc. The cutting discs carry on their outer sides catching strips extending at a flat angle .beta. to the tangent. They transport the cut product stalks radially inwardly and are inserted in depressions of the transporting discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Claas Saulgau GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Arnold, Anton Wicker, Hans Rauch, Josef Gebele
  • Patent number: 5642609
    Abstract: A multi-cutting edge mulching lawn mower blade including a central disk member having a central aperture formed therethrough. The central aperture is dimensioned for rotatable coupling with a spindle shaft of a lawn mower. A plurality of first blade members each have interior edges extending outwardly from a peripheral edge of the central disk member. Each of the first blade members have a cutting edge formed on an interior edge thereof. A plurality of second blade members each have interior edges extending outwardly from the peripheral edge of the central disk member. Each of the second blade members are positioned between the first blade members. Each of the second blade members have a cutting edge formed on an interior edge thereof wherein each cutting edge of the second blade members are disposed above each cutting edge of first blade members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventor: Gerald Steven Morrison
  • Patent number: 5626008
    Abstract: A mulching device which includes a mulching plate formed by a disk provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings disposed inwardly of the periphery of the disk. A cutting blade edge is located forward of a trailing edge of each opening, the cutting edges being axially spaced from a top surface of the disk. The mulching plate can be used in a lawn mower for replacing the conventional mower blade. A mulching adapter includes a hopper having a base for attachment to a top deck of a mower housing, the hopper having a lower tubular portion adapted to project through an opening in the deck, the tubular portion having a lower outlet end for positioning slightly above the path of travel of the cutting edges. The mulching plate is safer than conventional mower blades and achieves effective mulching of even coarse lawn and garden debris by using the power of the small engine of the conventional mower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventor: Michael T. Puszkar
  • Patent number: 5626007
    Abstract: A rotary cutter apparatus is provided for shredding vegetation in order to generally reduce the size of cut vegetation and more evenly distribute the vegetation once thus cut. Counterrotating, coaxial blade assemblies are provided. A multiple gear drive shaft has one drive gear for engaging and driving one blade assembly and another drive gear for engaging and driving the other blade assembly. The multiple gear drive shaft also has an interchangeability characteristic which determines the respective rotational directions of the counterrotating blade assemblies. Enhanced gear and bearing lubrication is also achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Allied Products Corporation
    Inventors: Jackie L. Harrington, Fred W. Lurwig
  • Patent number: 5622035
    Abstract: The invention provides a quick blade attachment structure For quickly but securely attaching and detaching one or a plurality of blades to and from a mower. A rotary member (3) of a mower (1) includes a blade holder (4) and a support member (5) coaxially attached to the blade holder (4) to allow pivotal movement of the support member (5). A pair of blades (23,23) are supported by ends (9a, 9a) of rimmed pins (9,9) projected from a lower surface (4a) of the blade holder (4). A wave washer (16) is interposed between the support member (5) and a cap (17). When the rotary member (3) is assembled by a clamp screw (18), pressing force of the wave washer (16) allows the support member (5) to be rotated integrally with the blade holder (4). The support member (5) further has a pair of grooves (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kondo, Katsufumi Takeda, Hideki Okubo
  • Patent number: 5619846
    Abstract: A lawn mower blade, particularly suited for a rotary lawn mower is provided with at least two end tines at opposite ends. Each tine has a forward bevelled cutting surface. The rear most and lowest most end tines are in a common (lowest) plane while all other tines are respectively forward thereof and in planes above the common plane. There are preferably three tines at each end which, on rotation, trace out a grass cutting annulus. The tines rotate in this annulus, chopping up the grass cuttings into small pieces virtually consuming them. The cut grass clippings thus not accumulated to the underside of the lawn mower deck and then fall as clumps to leave an unsightly mess on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Inventor: Danny J. Brown
  • Patent number: 5619847
    Abstract: A disposable rotary lawn mower blade is made from a one piece stamping with "V" shaped cutting edges on each opposite ends. The disposable blade is mounted on the original cutting blade such that original blade is placed within the inner side of the V-shaped cutting edge. The cutting and wear is on the V-shaped cutting edges of the disposable blade, which can be installed and removed in seconds without the use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Inventor: Clifton A. Cox, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5615543
    Abstract: A rotary cutting head adapted for attachment to a conventional line trimmer including a cutting disk having a circular plate and a peripheral side wall integral with the circular plate. The peripheral side wall has a pair of integral gussets, each having a pair of radial bores passing therethrough. A flexible cutting filament is frictionally engaged within each pair of radial bores such that one end of the cutting filament extends outwardly from the peripheral side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Inventors: Hyram J. Caffey, Craig A. Caffey
  • Patent number: 5615542
    Abstract: A cutting blade for a rotary lawn mower to increase the mulching effectiveness of the mower comprises a generally rectangular blade having a central portion and radially outermost end portions. The blade is curved over its entire length to have a concavely curved upper surface across the width thereof from one end to the other. In addition, the radially outermost end portions of the blade are twisted reversely relative to one another to cause the leading edges thereof to slant downwardly as they extend from the central portion of the blade to the tip portions of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Thorud, Nathan J. Friberg
  • Patent number: 5605032
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device which is to be combined with a bar with disks, that include a plurality of cutting elements with each one turning about its respective axis. The axes of the cutting elements are directed upward during work and are arranged alongside each other along a transversal line with respect to a forward direction of the device during work. Each cutting element is made of a cutting disk including cutting blades connected to the cutting disks and a support which is also provided with blades. Each support is connected to the corresponding cutting disks. The cutting bard and disk of the present invention permit the cutting and chopping and/or crushing of plants or vegetables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Kuhn S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Gantzer
  • Patent number: 5581987
    Abstract: A rotary lawn mower includes a mower blade mounted below the deck which rotates about an axis generally centrally of the deck. The free end of the mower blade includes at least one channel shaped auxiliary cutter member mounted on its upper side. The auxiliary cutter member has a pair of spaced legs extending outwardly toward the underside of the deck. The legs are oriented generally radially on the blade with respect to the axis of rotation to form a path for air flow created by the rotating blade. Each of the legs has an inner edge which is tapered to comprise a sharpening edge for cutting clippings from cut grass and the like traveling in the path of air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: John P. Schuyler
  • Patent number: 5561972
    Abstract: A blade assembly for a lawn mower has a generally planar body (1) rotationally balanced about a vertical central shaft (24), with four projecting blades (6) extending radially from the periphery of the planar body. The planar body (1) is shaped with vanes (3) to form a fan-like impeller. The impeller is arranged to create a strong rotational flow, which carries air and cut material around the blade assembly in use. The projecting blades (6) create an updraft in a peripheral region of the blade assembly, while the vanes (3) of the planar body (1) are shaped to create a regulated, relatively light downdraft towards the central shaft (24). If the mower is provided with an outlet (25) for a catcher, the strong rotational flow overwhelms any influence of the relatively light downdraft, and the air with the clippings is carried centrifugally through the outlet (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Inventor: James G. Rolfe
  • Patent number: 5546737
    Abstract: A mowing device for stalky stem products has a cutting disc rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, and a transporting disc rotatable coaxially to the cutting disc at a distance from the latter and having a plurality of pocket-shaped recesses on its periphery for receiving stalky stem products. The cutting disc and the transporting disc are driven in opposite directions. A drive drives the cutting disc and the transporting disc in different directions. Also, the cutting disc on the upper side over its periphery can be provided with approximately gap-less elements suitable for preventing falling of stem product stalks cut by the cutting disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Claas Saulgau GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Moosbrucker
  • Patent number: 5515670
    Abstract: A rotary lawn mower blade has a plurality of shredders with cutting edges affixed to the blade. The shredders provide additional cutting edges for fine shredding of vegetation. These shredders may be bolted, welded or cut out of the blade. A ridge is provided for aiding the grass clippings to drop to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Inventor: Wesley C. Meinerding
  • Patent number: 5501068
    Abstract: A mulching blade for a gasoline- or electrically-powered rotary lawn mower having a housing, which blade is mounted on the shaft of the lawn mower motor below the deck of the housing. The blade has a central mounting area and inner and outer sections sharpened on their leading edges which extend radially from the mounting area. The outer section cuts the unmowed grass. All sections are pitched upwardly away from the direction of rotation of the blade to lift the clippings as they are cut by the outer section and to turbulently suspend the clippings within the housing while the inner sections re-cut them repeatedly, comminuting the clippings into a fine mulch which falls by gravity to the soil level under the grass. Preferably there are three inner sections which jointly form an arch between the mounting area and the outer section and act as a comminuting tubulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Foley/PLP Co.
    Inventor: William Martz
  • Patent number: 5491962
    Abstract: The invention provides a cutting head assembly for a lawnmower, trimmer, or similar device which includes a plurality of lower cutting elements mounted to a disc-shaped support member. A plurality of upper cutting elements are also mounted to the disc-shaped support member at a higher elevation, such that each upper cutting element is directly above a corresponding lower cutting element. This allows for a double cut mulching effect in use. An air foil can be provided with the upper cutting elements to create an upward vacuum which positions the grass for a clean cut by both the upper and lower cutting elements. The cutting elements can comprise cutting blades and/or flexible cutting filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Trim-A-Lawn Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Sutliff, Dallas W. Jones, Lawrence J. Kuhl
  • Patent number: 5479763
    Abstract: A rotary filament assembly is provided wherein a plurality of resilient monofilaments are attached to a rotary member such that free portions of the resilient monofilaments extend substantially vertically when the rotary member is at rest and such that upon rotation of the rotary member at a predetermined speed, the free portions sever vegetation, such severance serving purposes of mulching and/or cutting and trimming. In one embodiment (10) used in a power lawn mower (29), the rotary filament assembly can cut and/or mulch vegetation and has resilient monofilaments (14) mounted to a blade (12) such that their free portions (24) extend substantially upwardly when the blade (12) is at rest. In another embodiment (110) used in a hand-held power trimmer, resilient monofilaments (128, 128', 130, 130', 132, 132') are selectively mounted on a solid disk (112) such that their free portions (130a) extend substantially downwardly when the solid disk is at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Environmental Blades, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Coble
  • Patent number: 5473873
    Abstract: A mower blade suitable for bagging, side discharge and mulching is provided. A laterally upswept outboard cutting portion cuts the grass and sucks the clippings upwardly. The clippings are forced by the combined effects of the upswept outboard cutting portion and an upswept inboard cutting portion into an intermediate cutting portion where they are further comminuted and are then sucked back into both the outboard cutting portion and the inboard cutting portion. These double circulation paths result in excellent comminution and superior hiding of the clippings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Sheldon
  • Patent number: 5467586
    Abstract: An improved lawn mower blade including a cutting blade detachably affixed to a surface of the lawn mower blade and extending outwardly beyond a forward edge of the lawn mower blade, and a cover plate affixed to the cutting blade on the surface of the cutting blade opposite the lawn mower blade. The cover plate is in compressive contact with a surface of the cutting blade. The cutting blade has a thickness less than the thickness of the lawn mower blade. The cutting blade has a beveled edge extending outwardly beyond the forward edge of the lawn mower blade. The cutting blade is secured between the cover plate and the lawn mower blade by a plurality of bolts extending therethrough. A second cutting blade is detachably affixed to a surface of the lawn mower blade at an opposite end of the lawn mower blade and a second cover plate is affixed to a surface of the second cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Inventors: Chun S. Lin, Thomas Lin, Jefferson Lin, Philip Lin
  • Patent number: 5463852
    Abstract: A harvester which uses a rotary style cutter bed has a series of rotary cutters extending across the path of travel of the machine and rotatable about individual upright axes. Part of the cutter bed is a flat gear case containing a train of intermeshed spur gears that serve to distribute power between the cutters above the gear train. Each end of the gear case has a hollow, gearless extension welded thereto which supports at least one additional outboard cutter that receives its driving power exteriorally of the gear case. One embodiment uses a mechanical drive to bring power to the upright shaft of the cutter having the first spur gear so that the cutters with gears receive all their power from the driven cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Hay & Forage Industries
    Inventors: Michael L. O'Halloran, Cecil L. Case, Martin E. Pruitt, David P. Fritz
  • Patent number: 5463815
    Abstract: A line for a rotating trimmer has a plurality of longitudinal outwardly-extending cutting edges, spaced circumferentially about the main body portion of the line. A cross-sectional area of the main body portion is selected to be between 70 percent and 90 percent of the area of the space circumscribing the cutting edges to provide substantial bulk to the line to increase its wear, while retaining the advantages of the cutting edges for facilitating cutting of grass and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Robert L. Phillips
    Inventor: John R. Fogle
  • Patent number: 5454216
    Abstract: A spindle end/blade hole combination using a symmetrical six pointed star having differing radiused ends as the interconnection therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Myszka
  • Patent number: 5452569
    Abstract: A lawnmower blade includes an elongated flat bar having a central aperture for attachment of the flat bar to a rotary drive shaft for rotation of the blade in a predetermined direction in concert with rotation of the rotary drive shaft. The flat bar has a pair of opposite portions, extending in opposite directions from the aperture. A pair of first cutting edges are defined along outer sections of leading sides of the opposite portions of the flat bar and extend substantially perpendicular to the tangential direction of the path of rotation of the blade. A pair of second cutting edges are defined along outer ends of opposite portions of the flat bar and extend angularly outwardly from the outer leading side cutting edges to the outer trailing sides of the flat bar relative to the direction of rotation of the blade. The pair of straight outer leading side cutting edges also can have a plurality of crescent-shaped serrations or sawtooth-shaped serrations formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Inventor: Ray S. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5442902
    Abstract: A rotary lawn mower specially adapted for selectively mulching and/or discharging grass clippings. The preferred embodiment comprises a lawn mower having a generally conventional cutting deck, with an integrated discharge chute/mulching plug hingedly secured to the deck adjacent the discharge opening. The integrated discharge chute/mulching plug is selectively movable between a plurality of positions, including a mulch position and a discharge position. In the mulch position, the inner wall of the plug member extends within the discharge chute to establish a generally continuous inner wall within the cutting chamber for improved mulching performance. The mower further includes an improved cutting blade, having a pair of raised rib sections intermediate the cutting edges and the central hub, the raised ribs being operative to create an additional upward air flow component to improve circulation during both mulching and discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Murray, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Mosley, Kent H. Elrod
  • Patent number: 5438819
    Abstract: A blade assembly for a brush cutting machine. The blade assembly comprises two blades, each blade having a two sided cutting edge on both a first and second ends. The four sided cutting edge blades are rotatable from the first end to the second end and invertible from the upper surface to the lower surface to take advantage of all four cutting edges on each blade. A first blade is attached to the bottom surface of a first end of the crossbar. A second blade is attached to the bottom surface of a second end of the crossbar. The blades are attached to the bottom surface of the crossbar with counter-bored holes in the blades that correspond to counter-bored holes in the crossbar. Counter-bored holes in the bottom surface of the blades recess the head of the attaching bolt so that the top of the head of the attaching bolt is flush with the bottom surface of the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Inventor: Jimmie J. Dallman
  • Patent number: 5433006
    Abstract: A mowing apparatus including: a motive power source; a circular rotational member which is adapted for rotation by the motive power source; at least one flexible cutting line having opposite ends and being adapted to setting on the rotational member in such a manner that the opposite ends of the cutting line freely extends from the rotational member to the outside and rotates with the rotational member, thereby mowing with the ends of the cutting line; and a retention member provided on the rotational member for removably retaining the cutting line on the rotational member, and having at least a pair of first and second faces each of which stands on the rotational member and faces to each other with a space therebetween in which the cutting line is to be received for retention so that the cutting line passes between the first and second faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Komatsu Zenoah Company
    Inventor: Hiroshi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 5430943
    Abstract: A cutting attachment for use with a vegetation cutting device. The cutting attachment has a body with a generally planar coupling portion and a central axis of rotation. In one embodiment, the body further includes a conical central wall portion extending radially outwardly and in a first direction from the coupling portion and the axis and a circular outer wall portion adjoining the central wall portion and extending generally radially outwardly therefrom. The central wall portion defines a conically-shaped self-cleaning inner cavity disposed symmetrically about the axis. The outer wall portion has a generally smooth outer surface which serves as a skid plate. An outer self-cleaning cavity is formed by an outer surface of the central wall portion and an inner surface of the outer wall portion. A coupling assembly, which can include an adapter having first and second clamping elements, is carried by the coupling portion for coupling the body to the cutting device to cause rotation about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Inventor: Anthony L. Lee
  • Patent number: 5410866
    Abstract: A rotary mulching lawn mower is provided having an annular housing forming a toroidal internal cutting chamber in which is oriented a blade having a central axis for rotation. The blade has a series of blade portions extending radially outward from the central axis each having an end portion extending into the toroidal internal cutting chamber. The blade end portion directs cut grass upward into the cutting chamber. Each blade has an intermediate portion located between the central axis and the end portion having a substantially flat surface lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The intermediate portion is provided with a radially extending rib located intermediate the leading and trailing edge portions of the blade having a slope 12 projecting downwardly out of the plane for directing cut grass into the lawn upon rotation of the blade. The lawn mower of the preferred embodiment is driven by a battery powered electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Ryobi Motor Products Corp.
    Inventor: Charles K. Long
  • Patent number: 5398416
    Abstract: My invention is a replacement head for string trimmers and includes a block, the block being constructed of metal or alloy having the characteristics of strength, rigidity and generally having a hardness to withstand the abuse received by the rotating element of a string trimmer. The block is preferably of a cylindrical shape being essentially a solid piece with a flat top and bottom, the top and bottom of the block having planes essentially parallel to each other. Cut into the top of the block is a counterbore which is internally threaded to be screwed onto the threaded sinaft of the string trimmer. At or near the bottom of the block are two channels, each passing through tile block, the channels being essentially in a stacked relationship mid generally extending perpendicularly to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventor: Robert T. Mackey
  • Patent number: 5394612
    Abstract: A cutter blade has a body portion with a central attaching hole for removable attachment to an output end of a powered tool. The blade has a pair of oppositely extending ends with beveled cutting edges on their leading edges. The body and end portions of the blade are curved upwardly for increasing the efficiency in the cutting operation of the blade. It is preferred that the radius of curvature of the blade be approximately 30 inches and that the sharpening bevels on the leading edges extend from a point adjacent the mid point of the blade to the tips of the blade. The cutting edges are progressively narrower from the mid point to the tips for increased cutting efficiency and blade strength. The cutter blade also has clearance bevels on the lower surface thereof at the trailing edges of the end portions. These clearance bevels extend from an inner area of the body portion short of the mid point of the blade to the respective tips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventor: Donald W. Wolfington
  • Patent number: 5383329
    Abstract: A combination lawn mower blade (1) with replaceable cutting edge pieces (2a, 2b) mounted on the forwardly rotating cutting surfaces (25a, 25b) of the blade (1). The elongated blade (1) has top and bottom surfaces (8) and (16), respectively, with tips (24a, 24b) in a centrally located hole (7) for attachment to an engine shaft of a rotary lawn mower or the like. The blade (1) has a set of grooves (12a, 12b, 15a, 15b) and steps (13a, 13b, 14a, 14b) cut into the forward cutting surfaces (25a, 25b). The cutting edge pieces (2a, 2b) have a sharp cutting surface (10a, 10b, 22) which inclines upwardly on top to a flat top surface (20) and also have a flat bottom surface (11 ). A channel (26) in the cutting edge pieces (2a, 2b) is cut between the top and bottom surfaces (20, 11) and contains a set of groves and steps matching those on the blade (1) so the cutting edge pieces (2a, 2b) slide onto the blade (1) from the direction of the center of the blade (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Switchblade, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold P. Cornell, III, Philip T. Werginz
  • Patent number: 5375400
    Abstract: The peripheral mower blade is designed to cut and mulch grass at high volume. The blade is so designed to reduce back drag and require less horsepower. Peripheral blades will not throw objects out from under the mower deck they are mounted on, nor will they come apart creating a dangerous environment for those who are around the mower. The construction of the blade being one piece makes manufacture of it less expense and replacement of the blades less often.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Inventor: John A. Darden
  • Patent number: 5373687
    Abstract: A mulching blade for use with a rotary powered lawn mower. The mulching blade comprises a generally planar disk shaped mulching member having an outside perimeter defining mulching teeth and a center attachment opening. The mulching blade also has a generally planar attachment bridge spanning the center attachment opening and spaced away from the disk shaped mulching member in a generally parallel relationship. The attachment bridge is supported by bridge ends attached to the disk shaped mulching member. The attachment bridge has a drive shaft opening such that the cutting blade of the lawn mower may be slid between the attachment bridge and the disk shaped mulching member such that both may be mounted together onto the drive shaft of the rotary lawn mower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Inventor: Walter J. J. Secord
  • Patent number: 5365725
    Abstract: A combination blade assembly is designed for use with a riding type lawn mower and the like. The combination blade assembly modifies the riding type lawn mower into a mulcher and chipper without prohibiting the lawn mower from being used for cutting grass. The combination blade assembly is permanently installed on the riding type lawn mower which eliminates the need for additional equipment. Due to the nature of the riding type lawn mower, the combination blade assembly creates a very mobile mulcher and chipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Inventor: John D. McCance
  • Patent number: 5363636
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary lawn mower blade that is designed to make multiple cuts of grass or other material being cut as the lawn mower blade is advanced over a cutting area. This is achieved by providing a generally upturned cutting edge about each end of the lawn mower blade. Because the cutting edge is inclined outwardly and upwardly, it follows that the grass or other material being cut will be progressively cut and recut as the mower blade passes over underlying material to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Inventor: William R. Lamoureux
  • Patent number: 5363635
    Abstract: A mulching mower has at least one generally enclosed cutting chamber in which a rotatable cutting blade is carried for rotation in a generally horizontal cutting plane. A sidewall defines the circumferential boundary of the cutting chamber and the grass clippings exit the cutting chamber through an open bottom side thereof. An attachment is abutted against the bottom of the blade and is secured thereto by the same attachment bolt that holds the blade to the engine drive shaft to provide a plurality of winglets that rotate in unison with the blade. The winglets include forwardly inclined grass deflecting surfaces that extend over an inner portion of each blade half and help evacuate the grass clippings from the cutting chamber. The tip portions of the blade may also be cut away or chamfered in the range of 7.degree.-15.degree. relative to a square radial tip configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Donald M. White, III, Gregory P. Tonsager, Richard A. Thorud
  • Patent number: 5361570
    Abstract: A rotary brush and weed clearing blade for powered implements with a serrated disk and serrated axial elements projecting from one or both disk surfaces for multidirectional cutting and in-situ shredding. The axial cutting elements can be integral or separately mounted and provide efficient operation in blade work directions not possible with conventional blades. Recessed location of projecting cutting elements allows cutting depth calibration for powertrain protection. Staggered axial elements mounting results in a debris-clearing feature through centrifugal forces. Axially projecting cutting elements create a locating guide effect unique to the invention. Use of conventionally serrated cutting elements in new and unique applications transfers their inherent smoothness and yet aggressive efficiency, into this fully multidirectional blade.Design simplicity offers efficient manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Inventor: Eckhard Bernardy
  • Patent number: 5357738
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting and mulching lawns includes a shallow substantially cylindrical housing having an open bottom and adapted, in use, to have its axis perpendicular to a lawn to be cut; a blade, mounted within the housing to rotate about an axis co-axial with that of the housing, the blade extending radially from the axis and rotating in a plane near the bottom of the housing; a grass exit chute communicating with the inside of the housing; a source of rotational power in the form of an electric motor for rotating the blade; means for changing the direction of rotation of the blade; and means for allowing cut grass within the housing to pass out of the housing into the chute when the blade is rotating in a first direction and to prevent cut grass in the housing from entering the chute when the blade is rotating in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Southern Cross Industries (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Bruce Griffiths
  • Patent number: 5357698
    Abstract: An apparatus for clearing snow and other particulate material comprises one or a pair of arms mounted for rotation within the housing of a conventional rotary lawnmower or equivalent, as a substitute for the conventional grass-cutting blade. This enables the lawnmower to be used for clearing snow during the winter, when it cannot be used for cutting grass. The rotatable arm comprises an elongated blade member having upper and lower vanes extending upwardly and downwardly respectively from the blade member. The lower vanes act as knives to cut the snow or material to facilitate removal. The lower vanes are inclined obliquely to the blade axis so as to direct material that is below the blade member inwardly towards the axis of rotation. The upper vanes are inclined obliquely to a blade axis extending radially outwardly from the axis of rotation to direct material above the blade outwardly through a discharge opening of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Inventor: Alfred F. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5355666
    Abstract: A mulching rotary lawn mower that cuts and returns grass clippings to a lawn wherein the proportion of grass clippings that are finely cut by the rotating cutter blade can be selectively increased or decreased by provision of a collection chamber at the rear of the housing containing the rotating cutter blade, the collection chamber having a mulcher plate with a plurality of openings which can be pivoted from a substantially vertical position wherein the plate is tangential to the circle described by the cutting tips of the blade or moved rearwardly about a 45.degree. angle, thus effectively enlarging the collection chamber while closing the openings therein, so that a greater proportion of the grass clippings cut by the blade are received in the collection chamber, but which clippings, on the average, have been cut a lesser number of times and therefore are coarser than when the plate is in the vertical position. The position of the mulching plate is controlled by a handle readily available to the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Yazoo Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Orville R. McDonner, James C. Welch, Troy Berry, John C. Sharp, Ricky J. Wynn
  • Patent number: 5353581
    Abstract: A grass or vegetation cutting blade is provided, which includes multiple cutting edges, including a leading cutting edge positioned below a trailing cutting edge. An upturned foil is provided behind the leading edge, such that grass initially cut by the leading edge is directed upwardly by the foil toward the trailing edge, to be cut in midair. An inturned spur is provided, which provides inward air and clipping flow toward the rotational axis of the blade. The blade is contemplated for use in conventional side- or rear-discharging housings, as well as mulching or recycling housings. The blade is resistant to clogging, and includes power-efficient properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Fugua Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell V. Rouse, Frank H. Hancock, Jr., James R. Powers
  • Patent number: 5345788
    Abstract: In the invention the blade is an "Z" like shaped plate consisting of two pitched or inclined edges for cutting grass with two opposite curved sides having series of vanes disposed on their top surface that increase the output of air power of the said blade, and a disposed through hole that accommodate the power lawn mower blade shaft for securing the blade thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Inventor: Frederick L. Jerry
  • Patent number: 5343681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutter blade for use on a rotary cutter of the tractor drawn type. Rotary cutters of this type usually have three or four cutter blades rotatably mounted on a blade carrier that can be rotated to induce cutter blade rotation and thereby permit cutting of grass. The cutter blade of the invention has a curved cutting edge with the section including the cutting edge being off-set with respect to the section whereby the blade is mounted on its blade carrier. The use of such cutter blades on a rotary cutter improves cutting efficiency, provides for an increased blade life and reduces the power requirements of the rotary cutter with which the blades are associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Falcon Equipment Limited
    Inventor: Gerard de Jong
  • Patent number: 5331795
    Abstract: A mowing cutter unit for a mower including a rotary cutter and a stationary cutter coaxially overlapped to each other, the rotary cutter is formed in an approximately polygonal shape in plan view and is formed with recessed cutting portions each being curved in an approximately doglegged shape toward the rotational direction at each vortex portion thereof; and the stationary cutter is formed with projecting cutting portions slidably contacted with respective recessed cutting portions of the rotary cutter on the peripheral edge in such a manner that it is shaped in a loosely circular arc from the cutting base to the cutting leading edge and a crossing angle at which the projecting cutting portion is rubbed with a grass pushing-out portion of the recessed cutting portion is larger than a crossing angle at which it is rubbed with a grass taking-in portion of the recessed cutting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Ahresty Corporation
    Inventor: Hachiro Doi
  • Patent number: 5327710
    Abstract: A mulching blade for a lawn mower including in combination a diagonal flange on the blade tip upwardly extending at a 20.degree., a neighboring cutout in the back of the blade, and a spaced downwardly extending flange section. These elements cooperate to recirculate the grass clippings in a circular manner through the region of the cutting edge so as to provide for a low inertia improved efficiency multi-purpose blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc.
    Inventors: Gerhard Plamper, Daniel Martens
  • Patent number: 5321940
    Abstract: A rotary, mulching lawn mower blade, comprising a central mounting portion having opposing ends and being for connection to an external drive structure, and a pair of end portions, one end portion being disposed at each central mounting portion end, the end portions each having at least two cutting members disposed at spatially vertically and horizontally separate locations with respect to each other, and the cutting members each having a cutting surface and a deflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Inventor: Lloyd Peterson
  • Patent number: 5303535
    Abstract: A lawn mower blade includes support flanges projecting orthogonally relative to the first and second ends of the lawn mower blade arranged to mount blade inserts below each support flange, wherein each blade insert is arranged to project beyond a side wall spaced from the support flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Inventor: Joseph L. Smith
  • Patent number: RE35393
    Abstract: The multi-purpose attachments for power lawn mower blades are designed to increase the efficiency and usefulness of the mower both to cut lawns and blow snow, leaves or debris from areas. The serrated cutter attachments allow replacement with ease, have longer lasting sharpness and the cutting surface is protected from foreign objects. In addition, the serrated cutters may be manufactured economically enough to allow used cutter attachments to be discarded. The blower attachments are designed to create adequate air pressure to remove snow, leaves and debris from select areas. The blower attachments are also designed to be resilient to assure safe use if foreign objects are struck during such use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: John H. Mohrman