Abstract: A wheeled attachment for a weed trimmer using string or blades, the wheeled attachment being adjustable along the shaft of the weed trimmer, thus to adjust the height of the trimmer. There is a centered bump wheel beneath the cutter head of the trimmer. Other embodiments employ a single wheel for the attachment assembly to a trimmer's shaft. A weed trimmer has a motor attached in-line on a shaft having a median projecting handle and a terminal handle.

Abstract: A tool such as a lawnmower, particularly for gardening vehicles, of the type that comprises a protective housing, suitable to provide a supporting chassis for front wheels and cutting blades arranged substantially within its dimensions of the chassis, the housing being provided, in an upper region and at the front of the central region, with two mutually adjacent blades and with an opening on which there is a fan/aspirator from which a connection for a discharge duct to be connected to a collection container branches out.

Abstract: An attachment for the mower deck of a mower for striping the cut grass is disclosed, and the method of use thereof. The attachment is a brush adjustably affixed to the rear of the mower deck, behind the cutting blades, and extending perpendicularly across the path of the mower. The brush is adjusted up and down to vary the amount of contact with the cut grass. As the brush is pulled across the lawn behind the cutting blades, it contacts the cut grass blades and bends them over in the direction of travel.

Abstract: A mower deck includes a cutting chamber, at least one blade mounted cutting chamber and at least one deflector mounted in the cutting chamber. The at least one deflector is semi-permeable to clippings circulating in the cutting chamber.

Abstract: A lawnmower is convertible between a bagging mode and a mulching mode. The convertible lawnmower includes a cutter housing having a discharge opening, an engine mount centrally positioned on the cutter housing, a prime mover supported on the engine mount, a rotary mulching blade coupled to the prime mover to rotate in a cutting plane about a rotation axis within the cutter housing, a cover and a fin extending from the cover toward the cutting plane. The cover is movably mounted within the cutter housing in a plane parallel to the cutting plane and between a full bagging position where the discharge opening is unobstructed by the cover and a full mulching position where the cover obstructs the discharge opening.

Abstract: A lawnmower is convertible between a bagging mode and a mulching mode. The convertible lawnmower includes a cutter housing having a discharge opening, an engine mount centrally positioned on the cutter housing, a prime mover supported on the engine mount, a mulching blade coupled to the prime mover to rotate in a blade circle within the cutter housing, a mounting ring rotatably mounted in the cutter housing, and a plate connected to the mounting ring. The plate translates along an arcuate path in the cutting chamber between a full bagging position where the plate is laterally spaced from the discharge opening and a full mulching position where the plate obstructs the discharge opening.

Abstract: A lawnmower includes a cutter housing and an engine mount on the cutter housing. A prime mover is supported on the engine mount and a blade is coupled to the prime mover to rotate within the cutter housing. A plate translates within the cutter housing between a first position and a second position. Preferably, the cutter housing includes a discharge opening and the blade is a mulching blade. The first position is a full bagging position where the discharge opening is substantially unobstructed by the plate and the second position is a full mulching position where the plate substantially obstructs the discharge opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a discharge stopper unit for a mowing machine having a mower deck. The discharge stopper unit has a discharge stopper adapted to block a discharge opening in the mower deck and an arm connected to the discharge stopper. Preferably, the arm has a biasing member which produces a securing force on the discharge stopper.

Abstract: A deck assembly for a self-propelled, walk-behind rotary lawn rotary mower is provided. The deck assembly is configurable for either front or rear wheel drive and includes a deck defining a cutting chamber which may house a cutting member. The cutting chamber is bound at least in part by a rear enclosure member. The deck assembly also includes a side discharge port having a side discharge port door. A rear discharge port located on a rear portion of the deck is also provided. Preferably, a duct of substantially rectangular cross section extends through the rear enclosure member between the cutting chamber and the rear discharge port. In one embodiment, the duct has a first, uppermost surface and a second, lowermost surface, wherein the first, uppermost surface and the second, lowermost surface both form substantially horizontal planes.

Abstract: A lawnmower deck includes a deck sub-assembly and a stiffener. The deck sub-assembly has a top surface, a skirt extending outwardly and downwardly from the top surface and encircling the top surface and a first stiffness. The skirt defines a cutting chamber underneath the top surface and a plurality of wheel mounts. The stiffener is connected to at least one of the top surface and the skirt. The stiffener and the deck sub-assembly together have a combined stiffness that is at least approximately 20% greater than the first stiffness.

Abstract: An adjustable baffle assembly that can be moveably coupled to a front flow control baffle of a lawnmower cutting deck. The adjustable baffle assembly includes a first wall that is securable to the front flow control baffle in at least a first position and a second position. In some embodiments, the adjustable baffle also includes at least one flange that extends generally rearwardly from a bottom edge of the first wall into a generally triangularly shaped space defined between adjacent cutting circles.

Abstract: A rotary cutting deck has dual, side-by-side cutting chambers each of which houses a rotary cutting blade. The blades rotate so that grass clippings exit to the rear of the cutting deck through a central, rearwardly extending exit tunnel. A pivotal mulch door is located within the exit tunnel with the mulch door swinging between two positions. In one position, the exit tunnel is open to permit operation of the cutting deck in a discharge/collection mode of operation. In the other position, the exit tunnel is closed to convert the cutting deck to a mulching mode of operation. A V-shaped baffle with a forwardly facing apex is placed in the bottom and rear of the exit tunnel to enhance performance in the mulching mode of operation.

Abstract: A gasoline engine powered walk behind brush cutter for small trees and the like has a vertical blade available for cutting low-lying tree limbs and other vegetation and has a horizontal blade for cutting small tree trunks or the like. A manual grappler is affixed to the frame of the brush cutter to direct the vegetation into, for example the vertical cutting blade. This device is particularly useful for clearing shrubbery and other vegetation from overgrown lots and in confined areas where larger vehicles cannot maneuver.

Abstract: A mower deck cleaning device for a rotary mower for removing clippings from the inside of the mower blade housing. A tubular conduit is mounted on the mower so as to extend through the deck of the mower. A garden hose may be attached to the conduit to flow water through the conduit. A rotor mounted on the conduit receives the water from the hose and projects a rotating pattern of pressurized fluid for cleaning the inside of the housing.

Abstract: An improved and more efficient means to route air and newly cut grass particles under and around circular lawn mower housings near the ends of the horizontal rotating blade permitting an improved flow of air and grass particles through the use of semicircular baffles concentric to the axis of the rotating blade and extending downward from the circular housing. Two short concentric semicircular baffles are used each of which having slanting portions extending outward and upward from the lowest edge of each baffle to the housing. This slanting portion, is a section of a cone and helps to avoid the accumulation of grass particles on the outer, upper edges of the housing. The result is the creation of a partial laminar flow near the inside surface of the housing and the distribution of the cut grass particles in a fan like pattern behind the lawn mower.

Abstract: A tractor having a cutting implement including an attached baffle is provided. The baffle assists as a shield to substantially reduce the amount of vegetation and other debris that may leave or escape the implement. Additionally, the baffle creates an area within the perimeter of the implement in which grass and other vegetation that is to be cut by the blades has an opportunity to straighten after being knocked down by the tractor's tire and prior to being cut by its blades. Accordingly, the baffle assists in maintaining the overall appearance of one's grounds after they have been cut and permits the implement to deliver an increased level of overall cutting performance.

Abstract: A cutting chamber for a mower deck blade is comprised of first and second adjoining skirt members of differing lengths to provide for a lifting air stream at the front of the chamber and a discharging air stream at the rear of the chamber. As a result, cut material can be recut in a mulching action and then easily discharged to the rear of the deck.

Abstract: A cutting implement which includes a baffle for directing the flow of air and vegetation caused by the rotation of cutting blades of the implement is provided. The baffle serves to intercept the flows of air and vegetation of adjacent chambers to accelerate the discharge of cut material. Further, the baffle directs cut material above the cutting plane of the blade to permit the blade to effectively raise and cut vegetation in its path which is particularly useful when that vegetation has previously been matted down by at least one of the tires on the tractor on which it is carried.

Abstract: An implement that substantially reduces the likelihood of material being blown out from the underside thereof is provided. To decrease this likelihood, the implement is constructed with a lip that extends outwardly from the front edge of its center chamber. Further provided is an adjustable extension to the lip which may be made part of the implement at the option of the operator. In providing an implement with both the lip and its extension, an operator is permitted to insure against the possibility of vegetation and debris leaving the underside of the deck at the front of the center chamber. Consequently, the overall appearance of one's grounds may be greatly enhanced.

Abstract: A protective mulching device capable of quickly and interchangeably mounting to a lawn mower housing, wherein a magnetic mounting plate having exposed hook and loop fastener is easily and removably installed on the metal deck of a lawn mower proximate to the discharge opening, and wherein a broom-like strip having an arrangement of bristles on one side and hook and loop fastener on the other side is removably attached to the mounted plate on the lawn mower and is positioned so that the bristles at least partially obstruct the mower discharge opening, thereby encouraging grass clippings to remain within the cutting area for an extended time period, enhancing mulching effectiveness, and discouraging the passage of potentially dangerous projectiles therethrough.

Abstract: There is provided a mower having a mower deck wherein is received a spindle. The spindle includes a body and a shaft that longitudinally extends beyond the body. The shaft is adapted to receive a cutting blade at either end of the shaft. The shaft is also adapted to receive a pulley at either end of the shaft, wherein the pulley is opposite the cutting blade. The spindle further includes two shields, each received by an opposite end of the shaft. In this manner, the spindle is adapted to be invertibly mounted between first and second positions to multiple mower decks having different cutting height requirements. The body also includes a flange portion having a plurality of sets of mounting holes fashioned therein. The sets of mounting holes are disposed at different radii about the flange for mounting the spindle into different mower decks having different mounting hole patterns.

Abstract: In a housing structure for a lawn mower, a rear scroll guide member is provided adjacent and along the width of an entrance of a cut-grass discharge passage, and this rear scroll guide member has upper and lower flanges together defining a channel-shaped concave portion for insertion and retention therein of a front end portion of a bottom plate that closes the bottom of the cut-grass discharge passage. Back plate is provided adjacent and along the width of an exit of the cut-grass discharge passage, and this back plate has a locking hole. The bottom plate has, on its rear end portion, a projection for fitting engagement with the locking hole of the back plate. Thus, the bottom plate is secured to the body of the housing with the front end portion inserted in the concave portion of the rear scroll guide member and the projection on the rear end portion fitted in the locking hole of the back plate.

Abstract: A grass-cutting machine includes a mower unit (17) and a motive unit (10, 12, 14) having means whereby it may be mounted releasably on the mower unit (17), the motive unit including a rotatable trimmer head (14).

Abstract: A convenient user-friendly method to sharpen the rotary blade of a rotary cutter assembly without having to turn the rotary cutter assembly upside down. To this end, a rotary cutter assembly is provided with a special access door which is preferably securely fastened and/or locked during cutting and use of the rotary cutter assembly. When it is desired to sharpen the rotary blade, the door is unfastened and opened to permit access to the rotary blade. The rotary blade can then be clamped or otherwise secured and subsequently sharpened with a grinding wheel or other sharpening tool.

Abstract: A flexible hinge consisting of a single piece of rigid plastic material includes a thin flexible web portion between two inflexible end members, with flexible plastic material layers being bonded to opposing top and bottom faces of the web.

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.

Abstract: A mower unit (B) having a housing (13), blades (12) supported in the housing to be rotatable about vertical axes (P1) acting as the centers of rotation, cutting edges (12A) defined at front edge regions of each blade with respect to a direction of rotation thereof, and lift vanes (12B) erected from rear edge regions of each blade with respect to the direction of rotation thereof. Each of the lift vanes includes a first vane portion (12b) extending the more rearwardly, with respect to the direction of rotation, the farther away the first vane is from the center of rotation, and a second vane portion (12c) bent in the direction of rotation from a radially outward end of the first vane portion.

Abstract: In a housing structure for a lawn mower, a rear scroll guide member is provided adjacent and along the width of an entrance of a cut-grass discharge passage, and this rear scroll guide member has upper and lower flanges together defining a channel-shaped concave portion for insertion and retention therein of a front end portion of a bottom plate that closes the bottom of the cut-grass discharge passage. Back plate is provided adjacent and along the width of an exit of the cut-grass discharge passage, and this back plate has a locking hole. The bottom plate has, on its rear end portion, a projection for fitting engagement with the locking hole of the back plate. Thus, the bottom plate is secured to the body of the housing with the front end portion inserted in the concave portion of the rear scroll guide member and the projection on the rear end portion fitted in the locking hole of the back plate.

Abstract: A mower deck comprises an auxiliary source of pressurized air in order to avoid clipping buildup under the mowing deck, most particularly at the trailing edge of the discharge chute. The auxiliary source of air comes through a cloverleaf shaped hole in the mower deck. The spindle is mounted to the mower deck through this hole, as in conventional mowers. However, unlike conventional mowers, because the hole in the mower deck has a cloverleaf configuration air can flow through the corner portions of the cloverleaf configured hole and act as an auxiliary source of air even though the spindle is mounted to the mower deck through the hole.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for cleaning a lawn mower (10) after its use in mowing a lawn. The mower has a deck (14a, 14b) beneath which are mounted grass cutting blades (B). When cutting grass, grass clippings and other debris accumulate on the underside of the deck. The apparatus comprises a flexible tubing (24, 54) routed over an outer surface of the deck. Ends of the hose attach to a coupling (28) which, in turn, is attached to a source of water through a shut-off valve (30) for water to circulate through the hose. A plurality of fittings (32, 60) are installed in the hose at locations along its length. The fittings extend through a sidewall (40, 56) of the tubing and through the mower deck. Each fitting has a bore (38, 66) extending through the fitting for water circulating through the tubing to be drawn through the fitting and sprayed on the underside of the mower deck. The water flushes away the accumulated grass clippings and other debris.

Abstract: A fastening assembly is adapted for attaching a composite insert to a mower deck. The insert has an opening extending therethrough and a recessed portion adjacent the opening. The recessed portion has a shoulder and a first abutment surface. The assembly includes a spacer receivable in the recessed portion adjacent the shoulder. The spacer has a passage therethrough alignable with the opening in the insert, the passage having a second abutment surface. The spacer also has an outer periphery, a portion of which forms a third abutment surface alignable with the first abutment surface for non-rotatable engagement therewith. The assembly also includes a fastening member which has a head and a shank. The shank includes a threaded portion and a further portion adjacent to the head. The further portion has a fourth abutment surface engagable with the second abutment surface whereby the fastening member is non-rotatably receivable within the spacer passage and the insert opening.