Rotary mower having integrated deflector/mulching plug and improved blade
US5442902A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 1994 |
| Grant date | Aug 22, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01D2101/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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. Two embodiments of the integrated discharge chute/mulching plug are disclosed, having different locking mechanisms for securing the plug in its various positions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.