Riding vehicle with safety apron
US3992042A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 1975 |
| Grant date | Nov 16, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R19/56
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A riding vehicle, such as a lawn mower, has a flexible apron positioned behind the rear wheels with a lower edge of the apron above the ground. The mower can back up without impediment from the apron, unless an object is encountered. In that case, the object contacting the apron pushes it against the rear wheels and the apron is pulled under the tires where it abruptly snubs the tires and prevents further backing motion. To achieve this, the apron is supported by the mower through yieldable means which holds the apron above the ground until it contacts the wheels. The apron is also anchored to the mower to limit the extent of downward movement of the apron. In a preferred form, the yieldable supporting means for the apron also is resilient so that the apron can be returned to the original position after it is released from the rear wheels, as by driving the mower forwardly again. The apron is capable of stopping the mower securely and abruptly and reliably does so in a fixed, relatively short distance. The apron also has a lower edge which is sufficiently stiff to cause an object encountered to move the apron against the rear wheels but is sufficiently yieldable so that the object,…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.