Windrow attachment for mowers

Claim 2

A mower attachment for windrowing cuttings flowing through the discharge opening of a mower housing comprising an elongated inverted generally L-shaped element including a generally horizontally disposed base portion and a baffle depending along one side thereof, a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to the mower housing adjacent the discharge opening thereof, means for securing said bracket to the mower housing, means pivotally connecting said bracket to said element along the edge of said base portion remote from said depending baffle, said element being pivotal between a first position with said baffle in spaced horizontal registry with the mower discharge opening to windrow the clippings flowing therethrough and a second position with said base portion overlying the mower housing and said baffle extending substantially in a generally vertical direction, said baffle flaring outwardly from said base portion from one end of said attachment to its opposite end with said base portion in said first position of said element lying in a generally horIzontal plane throughout its full extent, the edges of said base portion and baffle at said one end thereof forming substantially a right angle, the edges of said base portion and baffle at said opposite end thereof forming a generally arcuate edge at their juncture, said juncture between said base portion and said baffle including a plurality of generally triangularly shaped portions of said attachment each forming included obtuse angles with adjacent triangular shaped portions, the bases of said triangular portions forming said generally arcuate edge.

Claim 3

The attachment according to claim 1 wherein said attachment is formed of sheet metal.

Claim 4

The attachment according to claim 1 wherein said pivotal connecting means includes a pair of spaced hinges.

Claim 5

In combination with a mower having a housing with a depending skirt defining a chamber, a rotor carried by said housing for rotation within said chamber, and an inverted channel-shaped chute in communication at its inner end with said chamber and terminating at its outer end in a discharge opening having a discrete length, a mower attachment for windrowing cuttings flowing outwardly from said chamber through said chute and said discharge opening, said attachment including an elongated inverted generally L-shaped element substantially coextensive in length with said discharge opening, said element including a generally horizontally disposed base portion and a baffle depending along one side thereof, a mounting bracket secured to said chute adjacent the discharge opening thereof, means for securing said bracket to said mower housing, means pivotally connecting said bracket and said element along the edge of said base portion remote from said depending baffle, said element being pivotal between a first position with said baffle in spaced horizontal registry with said discharge opening to windrow the clippings flowing therethrough and a second position with said base portion overlying said chute and said baffle extending in a generally vertical direction, said baffle flaring outwardly relative to a substantially vertical plane passing through the outer end of said chute from one end thereof to its opposite end whereby the cross-sectional area defined by said baffle, base portion and said plane increases in a direction from said one end to said opposite end, said base portion in said first position of said element lying in a generally horizontal plane throughout its full extent with said increase in area being provided substantially solely by the outward flare of said baffle relative to said plane, the juncture of said baffle and base portion forming a generally arcuate surface increasing in area from the one end of said element to its opposite end, said arcuate surface lying in direct lateral opposition to said discharge opening for deflecting the cuttings flowing therethrough.

Claim 6

In combination with a mower having a housing with a depending skirt defining a chamber, a rotor carried by said housing for rotation within said chamber, and an inverted channel-shaped chute in communication at its inner end with said chamber and terminating at its outer end in a discharge opening having a discrete length, a mower attachment for windrowing cuttings flowing outwardly from said chamber through said chute and said discharge opening, said attachment including an elongated inverted generally L-shaped element substantially coextensive in length with said discharge opening, said element including a generally horizontally disposed base portion and a baffle depending along one side thereof, a mounting bracket secured to said chute adjacent the discharge opening thereof, means for securing said bracket to said mower housing, means pivotally connecting said bracket and said element along the edge of said base portion remote from said depending baffle, said element being pivotal between a first position with said baffle in spaced horizontal registry with said discharge opening to windrow the clippings flowing therethrough and a second position with said base portion overlying said chute and said baffle extending in a generally vertical direction, said baffle flaring outwardly relative to a substantially vertical plane passing through the outer end of said chute from one end thereof to its opposite end whereby the cross-sectional area defined by said baffle, base portion and said plane increases in a direction from said one end to said opposite end, said base portion in said first position of said element lying in a generally horizontal plane throughout its full extent with said increase in area being provided substantially solely by the outward flare of said baffle relative to said plane, the juncture of said baffle and base portion forming a generally arcuate surface increasing in area from the one end of said element to its opposite end, said arcuate surface lying in direct lateral opposition to said discharge opening for deflecting the cuttings flowing therethrough.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the edges of said base portion and baffle at said one end thereof form substantially a right angle, the edges of said base portion and baffle at said opposite end thereof forming a generally arcuate edge of their juncture.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the juncture between the base portion and said baffle includes a plurality of generally triangularly shaped portions of said attachment each forming included obtuse angles with adjacent triangular shaped portions, the bases of said triangular portions forming said generally arcuate edge.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said attachment is formed of sheet metal.