Lawn mower apparatus

Claim 2

In combination with a lawn mower having a power take-off, an auxiliary unit capable of functioning in one position as a trimmer and in another position as an edger, said unit comprising: a frame structure; a pulley rotatably mounted on the frame structure; a belt means extending between the power take-off and the pulley; an auxiliary blade operatively connected to the pulley for rotation therewith; mounting means carried by the lawn mower and capable of supporting said frame in either of said positions; and cam means associated with said frame for moving said frame toward and away from the power take-off as the unit is moved between said one position and said another position; whereby substantially constant tension may be maintained in the belt means.

Claim 3

In the combination according to claim 1, wherein said cam means comprises: a spiral groove in one of said frame and mounting means; and pin means carried by the other of said frame and mounting means and engagable with said groove.

Claim 4

In the combination according to claim 1, and further comprising: lock means associated with the mounting means for holding said frame in both of said positions.

Claim 5

In the combination according to claim 3, wherein said lock means comprises: sleeve means carried by said pin means; enlarged opening means formed at each end of said groove and capable of accepting said sleeve means; and bias means interposed between said sleeve means and said pin means for urging said sleeve means into engagement with said opening means.

Claim 6

In the combination according to claim 1, and further comprising: pivot means rotatably securing the mounting means on the lawn mower; handle means connected to the mounting means for rotating the mounting means about the pivot means; detent means associated with the mower and handle means for selectively positioning said mounting means.

Claim 7

In the combination according to claim 5, wherein: said detent means is capable of retaining the mounting means in at least two selective positions, one raised for use with the unit in trimming position and another lowered for use with the unit in edging position; said pivot means being positioned on the mower so that movement of the handle means toward the lowered position increases the tension in the belt means; whereby manual release of the detent means urges the mounting means toward the raised position.

Claim 8

In a rotary lawn mower having a deck, ground-engaging wheels rotatably mounted on the deck and an engine including an output shaft, and a cutting blade mounted on the output shaft; an improved power take off system comprising: first pulley means affixed to the output shaft; encompassing means enclosing said first pulley and having a belt slot in one side thereof; a substantially enclosed cell formed in one corner of the deck, said cell having a first and a second opening therein; an auxiliary shaft rotatably mounted in the cell; second pulley means affixed to the auxiliary shaft; belt means extending around said first and second pulley means, and extending through the first opening in said cell through said belt slot in the encompassing means; enclosure means enclosing said belt means, said enclosure means sealably communicating between said first opening and said belt slot; third pulley means secured to the auxiliary shaft adjacent said second opening and said third pulley means being entirely confined within the cell; and an external auxiliary power utilizing unit in operable connection with said third pulley through said second opening.

Claim 9

In a rotary lawn mower having a deck, ground-engaging wheels rotatably mounted on the deck and an engine including an output shaft, and a cutting blade mounted on the output shaft; an improved power take off system comprising: first pulley means affixed to the output shaft; encompassing means enclosing said first pulley and having a belt slot in one side thereof; a substantially enclosed cell formed in one corner of the deck, said cell having a first and a second opening therein; an auxiliary shaft rotatably mounted in the cell; second pulley means affixed to the auxiliary shaft; belt means extending around said first and second pulley means, and extending through the first opening in said cell through said belt slot in the encompassing means; enclosure means enclosing said belt means, said enclosure means sealably communicating between said first opening and said belt slot; third pulley means secured to the auxiliary shaft adjacent said second opening and said third pulley means being entirely confined within the cell; and an external auxiliary power utilizing unit in operable connection with said third pulley through said second opening.

Claim 10

An improved power take-off system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said enCompassing means comprises: a collar formed on the deck and extending upward therefrom; and fastening means securing the engine to the collar.

Claim 11

An improved power take-off system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said enclosure means comprises: a channel formed in the upper surface of the deck and extending between said first opening in said cell and said belt slot in said encompassing means; said first and second pulley means being in a common plane and at an elevation relative to the channel to permit at least a portion of the belt means to be positioned within the channel; cover means having a shape in plane view complementary with the cell and extending between said first opening and said belt slot, said cover means being frictionally retained within the channel thereby enclosing said belt means.

Claim 12

An improved power take-off system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said external auxiliary power utilizing unit comprises: mounting means carried on the deck; a frame detachably secured to the mounting means; a fourth pulley means rotatably mounted on said frame; a second belt means extending around the third and fourth pulley means; and an auxiliary blade operatively connected to the fourth pulley means.

Claim 13

An improved power take-off system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said frame is pivotally secured to the mounting means so that it is movable between a trimming position in which said blade is horizontal and an edging position in which said blade is vertical.

Claim 14

An improved power take-off system as claimed in claim 11, and further comprising: compensating means interposed between the mounting means and said frame for moving the fourth pulley means relative to the third pulley means as said frame is moved between said trimming and edging positions to automatically maintain substantially constant tension in said second belt means.

Claim 15

An improved power take-off system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said third and fourth pulley means lie in a common plane when said frame is in its trimming position, and said fourth pulley means and the axis of rotation of said third pulley means lie in a common plane when said frame is in its edging position.

Claim 16

An improved power take-off system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said compensating means comprises: a spiral groove in one of said frame and mounting means; and a pin means carried by the other of said frame and mounting means, and being capable of engagement with said groove.

Claim 17

An improved power take-off system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said compensating means further comprises: sleeve means carried by the pin means; bias means interposed between the pin means and the sleeve means for urging the sleeve means toward said groove; and enlarged openings formed at each end of the said groove complementary to and capable of receiving the sleeve means to lock said frame in either of its said positions.

Claim 18

An improved power take-off system as claimed in claim 15, and further comprising: pivot means supporting the mounting means on the deck; handle means connected to the mounting means for pivoting the mounting means about the pivot means; and detent means associated with the mower and handle means for selectively positioning said mounting means.

Claim 19

An improved power take-off system as claimed in claim 16, wherein: said detent means is capable of retaining the mounting means in at least two selective positions, one raised for use with the unit in the trimming position and another lowered for use with the unit in the edging position; said pivot means being positioned on the mower so that movement of the handle means toward the lowered position increases the tension in the belt means; whereby manual release of the detent means urges the mounting means toward the raised position.

Claim 20

An improved power take-off system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the frame structure is mounted to the mounting means so that the auxiliary blade is positioned in front of the deck and extending beyond the side of the deck when the auxiliary blade is in the horizontal position.