US3596446A — Adapter for yieldably connecting the blade of a r…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 178 words

An adapter for yieldably connecting the blade of a rotary lawnmower to a vertical drive shaft having the upper end thereof connected to a rotative force means, said adapted comprising: a. a first and second clutch platE, said first plate including a central opening for slidably receiving the drive shaft of said lawnmower, means for preventing rotational movement of said first plate relative to said shaft, said second plate including a central opening for attachment to the terminal end of said drive shaft, said second plate being rotatable with respect to said drive shaft and including a means thereon for securing the mower blade thereto; b. a plurality of teeth annularly arranged on opposing surfaces of said plates, each of said teeth comprising an inclined wall and a vertical wall with the inclined wall angling upward in the direction of rotation; and c. resilient means for urging said opposing surfaces together in the operative position causing the teeth to mesh together, whereby the driving force is transmitted from the drive shaft to the inclined walls of said teeth.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 178 words

An adapter for yieldably connecting the blade of a rotary lawnmower to a vertical drive shaft having the upper end thereof connected to a rotative force means, said adapted comprising: a. a first and second clutch platE, said first plate including a central opening for slidably receiving the drive shaft of said lawnmower, means for preventing rotational movement of said first plate relative to said shaft, said second plate including a central opening for attachment to the terminal end of said drive shaft, said second plate being rotatable with respect to said drive shaft and including a means thereon for securing the mower blade thereto; b. a plurality of teeth annularly arranged on opposing surfaces of said plates, each of said teeth comprising an inclined wall and a vertical wall with the inclined wall angling upward in the direction of rotation; and c. resilient means for urging said opposing surfaces together in the operative position causing the teeth to mesh together, whereby the driving force is transmitted from the drive shaft to the inclined walls of said teeth.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 69 words

The adapter according to claim 1 wherein an axially extending keyway is provided in the wall of said first clutch plate surrounding said opening in said first clutch plate for receiving a key protruding from said drive shaft, whereby said first clutch plate is slidable along said drive shaft in a direction parallel to the axis of said shaft, however is prevented from rotating relative to said drive shaft.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The adapter according to claim 1 wherein said securing means on said second plate includes a diametrically extending recess on the underside thereof for receiving the blade of said lawnmower.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 49 words

The adapter according to claim 1 wherein said means for urging said clutch plates together include a means for holding said second clutch plate stationary with respect to axial movement along said drive shaft and a compression-type coil spring bearing against the upper surface of said first clutch plate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 175 words

In a rotary lawnmower, the combination of a drive shaft, a mower blade and a yieldable drive connection between said drive shaft and said blade comprising: a. a generally vertical drive shaft connected at the upper end to a rotational force means; b. a first clutch plate, including a central opening, said clutch plate slidably attached to said drive shaft and nonrotatable with respect to said drive shaft; c. a second clutch plate including a central opening, said second plate being attached to said drive shaft at a position below said first clutch plate and being rotatable with respect to said drive shaft; d. a plurality of teeth annularly arranged on opposing surfaces of said plates, each of said teeth comprising an inclined wall and a vertical wall with the inclined wall angling upwardly in the direction of rotation; e. the teeth of said first and second clutch plate being resiliently urged into bearing relation with each other during normal operation; and f. said second clutch plate having means thereon for securing said blade thereto.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 175 words

In a rotary lawnmower, the combination of a drive shaft, a mower blade and a yieldable drive connection between said drive shaft and said blade comprising: a. a generally vertical drive shaft connected at the upper end to a rotational force means; b. a first clutch plate, including a central opening, said clutch plate slidably attached to said drive shaft and nonrotatable with respect to said drive shaft; c. a second clutch plate including a central opening, said second plate being attached to said drive shaft at a position below said first clutch plate and being rotatable with respect to said drive shaft; d. a plurality of teeth annularly arranged on opposing surfaces of said plates, each of said teeth comprising an inclined wall and a vertical wall with the inclined wall angling upwardly in the direction of rotation; e. the teeth of said first and second clutch plate being resiliently urged into bearing relation with each other during normal operation; and f. said second clutch plate having means thereon for securing said blade thereto.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 77 words

The combination according to claim 5 wherein a collar is secured to said drive shaft at a point slightly spaced from the upper surface of said first clutch plate, a compression spring surrounding said drive shaft extends between said collar and the upper surface of said first clutch plate, and the distance between said collar and the upper surface of said clutch plate is less than the longitudinal axial dimension of said spring in its relaxed condition.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 76 words

The combination according to claim 5 wherein an axially extending keyway is provided along the length of the wall forming said central opening in said first clutch plate, a key protrudes radially from said drive shaft and is received within said keyway, whereby said first clutch plate is free to slide along said drive shaft in a direction parallel to the axis of said shaft, however is prevented from rotating with respect to said drive shaft.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 107 words

The combination according to claim 6 wherein said means for securing the blade to said second clutch plate comprises a central opening in said blade, a diametrically extending recess in the lower surface of said second clutcH plate, said blade being received in said recess, a bearing extending through an opening in said blade and said opening in said second clutch plate, one end of said bearing engaging the terminal end of said shaft, and a bolt inserted through the other end of said bearing and being secured in a threaded bore in the end of said shaft, whereby said bearing is held securely against the shaft.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-08-02	1975-02-01	1975-08-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-08-02	1979-02-01	1979-08-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-08-02	1983-02-01	1983-08-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Adapter for yieldably connecting the blade of a rotary lawn mower to the drive shaft

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