Patent US3797213A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3797213A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combined safety guard and flip-over handle for lawnmowers
Assignee: Black and Decker Corp
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Filing: 1973-01-02
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1993-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A rotary power-operated lawnmower of the type having a wheel supported deck housing provided with an upstanding handle pivotally supported on the deck housing for reversal or flip-over movement to facilitate opposite directional, longitudinal movement of the mower without the necessity of turning it around, the mower being provided with a novel safety guard construction pivotally supported on the deck housing and operatively connected with the handle through flexible cable means, or pivoted on the deck and connected directly to the handle, the construction being such that the safety guard is positively pivotally moved by flipover movement of the handle from either of its operative positions so that it is positioned to protect the operator''s feet in both longitudinal directions of movement of the mower and to minimize interference with efficient grass cutting. In addition, the handle is shown as provided with latch means for releasably latching the handle in both of its operative positions.
Inventors
- 👤 P Sadow
- 👤 T Bednarski
- 👤 A Beares
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:26
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D34/00; A01D34/01; A01D34/412; A01D34/63; A01D34/82; A01D34/828; A01D2101/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
276 words
A rotary lawnmower of the type comprising a deck housing including a peripheral skirt supported by wheels for movement over the ground, a motor supported upon said deck and adapted to drive rotary blade means disposed beneath said deck and within said skirt, a handle extending upwardly from said deck and pivotally attached thereto at one end thereof and positionable in first and second oppositely disposed, upwardly inclined positions, whereby to facilitate manipulation and control of said lawnmower during movement thereof in opposite longitudinal directions; the improvement which comprises guard means pivotally supported on said deck and including first and second guard aprons at opposite ends of said deck, each of said guard aprons being provided with a curved portion at its free edge to facilitate movement of the guard apron over the ground during operation of the mower, means directly interconnecting said handle and said guard means and operable to cause said first guard apron to move to a guarding position below the skirt and into contact with the ground at one end of said deck, and said second guard apron to be raised to a non-guarding position above the skirt at the other end of said deck, when said handle is moved to said first position, said handle and said interconnecting means being operable to cause said second guard apron to move into a guarding position lower than the skirt and into contact with the ground at said other end of said deck, and to raise said first guard aprOn to a non-guarding position above the skirt at said one end of said deck housing, when said handle is moved to said second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
276 words
A rotary lawnmower of the type comprising a deck housing including a peripheral skirt supported by wheels for movement over the ground, a motor supported upon said deck and adapted to drive rotary blade means disposed beneath said deck and within said skirt, a handle extending upwardly from said deck and pivotally attached thereto at one end thereof and positionable in first and second oppositely disposed, upwardly inclined positions, whereby to facilitate manipulation and control of said lawnmower during movement thereof in opposite longitudinal directions; the improvement which comprises guard means pivotally supported on said deck and including first and second guard aprons at opposite ends of said deck, each of said guard aprons being provided with a curved portion at its free edge to facilitate movement of the guard apron over the ground during operation of the mower, means directly interconnecting said handle and said guard means and operable to cause said first guard apron to move to a guarding position below the skirt and into contact with the ground at one end of said deck, and said second guard apron to be raised to a non-guarding position above the skirt at the other end of said deck, when said handle is moved to said first position, said handle and said interconnecting means being operable to cause said second guard apron to move into a guarding position lower than the skirt and into contact with the ground at said other end of said deck, and to raise said first guard aprOn to a non-guarding position above the skirt at said one end of said deck housing, when said handle is moved to said second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A rotary lawnmower as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a flexible cable connecting said handle with each of said first and second guard aprons.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A rotary lawnmower as set forth in claim 2 wherein said guard aprons are separately pivotally mounted at opposite ends of said deck.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
231 words
A rotary lawnmower comprising a deck supported by wheels for movement along the ground in first and second, opposite, longitudinal directions, a motor mounted on said deck and adapted to drive rotary blade means disposed beneath said deck, a handle pivotally mounted on said deck and extending upwardly therefrom the movable from a first to a second position thereon to facilitate manipulation and control of movement of said mower in said first and second longitudinal directions, respectively, latch means for latching said handle in said first and second positions, manually operable means for releasing said latch means to enable movement of said handle to said first and second positions, and guard means having first and second guard aprons alternately positionable in guarding positions with respect to first and second ends, respectively, of said mower, said guard aprons, when in said guarding position, extending below the lower edge of said deck and substantially from side edge to side edge of said mower, and when moved out of said guarding position being higher than the lower edge of said deck, means interconnecting said guard means and said handle and operable to position said first guard apron in said guarding position in response to movement of said handle into said first position, and to position said second guard apron in said guarding position in response to movement of said handle into said second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
231 words
A rotary lawnmower comprising a deck supported by wheels for movement along the ground in first and second, opposite, longitudinal directions, a motor mounted on said deck and adapted to drive rotary blade means disposed beneath said deck, a handle pivotally mounted on said deck and extending upwardly therefrom the movable from a first to a second position thereon to facilitate manipulation and control of movement of said mower in said first and second longitudinal directions, respectively, latch means for latching said handle in said first and second positions, manually operable means for releasing said latch means to enable movement of said handle to said first and second positions, and guard means having first and second guard aprons alternately positionable in guarding positions with respect to first and second ends, respectively, of said mower, said guard aprons, when in said guarding position, extending below the lower edge of said deck and substantially from side edge to side edge of said mower, and when moved out of said guarding position being higher than the lower edge of said deck, means interconnecting said guard means and said handle and operable to position said first guard apron in said guarding position in response to movement of said handle into said first position, and to position said second guard apron in said guarding position in response to movement of said handle into said second position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A rotary lawnmower as set forth in claim 4, wherein said guard means comprises a pair of integral, angularly related portions the outer ends of which are respectively connected with said first and second guard aprons.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A rotary lawnmower as set forth in claim 5 wherein said angularly related portions are spaced-apart to define an opening for accommodating the motor when the guard means is pivotally supported on the deck.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A rotary lawnmower as set forth in claim 5 wherein a pair of spaced-apart lugs is positioned at the juncture of said angularly related portions for pivotally mounting the guard means on said deck.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A rotary lawnmower as set forth in claim 5 wherein at least one of said lugs is provided with spaced-apart ears engaging said latch means for pivotally moving the guard means in accordance with pivotal movement of said handle when the latch means is released.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A rotary lawnmower as set forth in claim 5 wherein said angularly related portions and said first and second guard aprons are integrally formed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A rotary lawnmower as set forth in claim 5 wherein said guard aprons are hingedly connected respectively to the outer ends of said angularly related portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A rotary lawnmower as set forth in claim 5 wherein the free ends of said guard aprons are provided with upwardly curved portions co-extensive with the widths of said aprons.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A rotary lawnmower as set forth in claim 5 wherein the free ends of said guard aprons are provided with rollers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
228 words
A rotary lanwmower comprising a deck housing supported fore and aft by wheels adjacent the sides thereof, said deck housing defining a blade enclosure, rotary blade means disposed within said enclosure, a motor supported upon said deck housing and interconnected with said rotary blade means to drive the latter, handle means extending upwardly from said deck and movably supported thereon for movement from a first to a second oppositely disposed position, whereby to facilitate manipulation and control of said mower in opposite longitudinal directions, guard means including means integral therewith directly interconNected to said handle means, said guard means and said handle means being movable conjointly, said guard means including first and second aprons spanning substantially the lateral width of said deck and adapted to extend below said deck at opposite ends thereof, said handle being operable to lower the guard apron at the trailing end of said deck and raise the guard apron at the leading end of said deck in response to positioning of said handle for manipulation and control of said mower, whereby said guard aprons are positioned to protect the feet of the user from gaining access to the blade cavity as he walks along in back of the mower in either direction of movement thereof, and whereby said guard aprons present minimum impedance to grass cutting at the leading end of said mower.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
228 words
A rotary lanwmower comprising a deck housing supported fore and aft by wheels adjacent the sides thereof, said deck housing defining a blade enclosure, rotary blade means disposed within said enclosure, a motor supported upon said deck housing and interconnected with said rotary blade means to drive the latter, handle means extending upwardly from said deck and movably supported thereon for movement from a first to a second oppositely disposed position, whereby to facilitate manipulation and control of said mower in opposite longitudinal directions, guard means including means integral therewith directly interconNected to said handle means, said guard means and said handle means being movable conjointly, said guard means including first and second aprons spanning substantially the lateral width of said deck and adapted to extend below said deck at opposite ends thereof, said handle being operable to lower the guard apron at the trailing end of said deck and raise the guard apron at the leading end of said deck in response to positioning of said handle for manipulation and control of said mower, whereby said guard aprons are positioned to protect the feet of the user from gaining access to the blade cavity as he walks along in back of the mower in either direction of movement thereof, and whereby said guard aprons present minimum impedance to grass cutting at the leading end of said mower.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
239 words
A rotary lawnmower comprising a deck housing supported fore and aft by wheels adjacent the sides thereof, said deck housing defining a blade enclosure, rotary blade means disposed within said enclosure, a motor supported upon said deck housing and interconnected with said rotary blade means to drive the latter, handle means extending upwardly from said deck and movably supported thereon for movement from a first to a second oppositely disposed position, whereby to facilitate manipulation and control of said mower in opposite longitudinal directions, guard means including first and second members pivoted on said deck adjacent opposite ends thereof and adapted to extend below the level of said blade enclosure and having uninterrupted aprons spanning substantially the distance from wheel to wheel with opposite ends, respectively, of said deck housing, a flexible cable independent of said guard member pivots and interconnecting said guard members and said handle, and operable to lower the guard member at the trailing end of the deck and raise the guard member at the leading end of said deck in response to positioning said handle for manipulation and control of said mower, whereby said guard members are positioned to protect the feet of the user from gaining access to the blade cavity as he walks along in back of the mower in either direction of movement thereof, and whereby said guard members present minimum impedance to grass cutting at the leading end of said mower.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
239 words
A rotary lawnmower comprising a deck housing supported fore and aft by wheels adjacent the sides thereof, said deck housing defining a blade enclosure, rotary blade means disposed within said enclosure, a motor supported upon said deck housing and interconnected with said rotary blade means to drive the latter, handle means extending upwardly from said deck and movably supported thereon for movement from a first to a second oppositely disposed position, whereby to facilitate manipulation and control of said mower in opposite longitudinal directions, guard means including first and second members pivoted on said deck adjacent opposite ends thereof and adapted to extend below the level of said blade enclosure and having uninterrupted aprons spanning substantially the distance from wheel to wheel with opposite ends, respectively, of said deck housing, a flexible cable independent of said guard member pivots and interconnecting said guard members and said handle, and operable to lower the guard member at the trailing end of the deck and raise the guard member at the leading end of said deck in response to positioning said handle for manipulation and control of said mower, whereby said guard members are positioned to protect the feet of the user from gaining access to the blade cavity as he walks along in back of the mower in either direction of movement thereof, and whereby said guard members present minimum impedance to grass cutting at the leading end of said mower.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
227 words
A rotary lawnmower comprising a deck housing supported fore and aft by wheels adjacent the sides thereof, said deck housing defining a blade enclosure, rotary blade means disposed within said enclosure, a motor supported upon said deck housing and interconnected with said rotary blade means to drive the latter, handle means extending upwardly from said deck and movably supported thereon for movement from a first to a second oppositely disposed position, whereby to facilitate manipulation and control of said mower in opposite longitudinal directions, guard means including first and second portions adjacent opposite ends thereof and adapted to extend below the level of said blade enclosure and having uninterrupted aprons spanning substantially the distance from wheel to wheel with opposite ends, respectively, of said deck housing, means flexibly interconnecting said guard means and said handle, and operable to lower the guard portion at the trailing end of said deck and raise the guard portion at the leading end of said deck in response to positioning said handle for manipulation and control of said mower, whereby said guard portions are positioned to protect the feet of the user from gaining access to the blade cavity as he walks along in back of the mower in either direction of movement thereof, and whereby said guard portions present minimum impedance to grass cutting at the leading end of said mower.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
227 words
A rotary lawnmower comprising a deck housing supported fore and aft by wheels adjacent the sides thereof, said deck housing defining a blade enclosure, rotary blade means disposed within said enclosure, a motor supported upon said deck housing and interconnected with said rotary blade means to drive the latter, handle means extending upwardly from said deck and movably supported thereon for movement from a first to a second oppositely disposed position, whereby to facilitate manipulation and control of said mower in opposite longitudinal directions, guard means including first and second portions adjacent opposite ends thereof and adapted to extend below the level of said blade enclosure and having uninterrupted aprons spanning substantially the distance from wheel to wheel with opposite ends, respectively, of said deck housing, means flexibly interconnecting said guard means and said handle, and operable to lower the guard portion at the trailing end of said deck and raise the guard portion at the leading end of said deck in response to positioning said handle for manipulation and control of said mower, whereby said guard portions are positioned to protect the feet of the user from gaining access to the blade cavity as he walks along in back of the mower in either direction of movement thereof, and whereby said guard portions present minimum impedance to grass cutting at the leading end of said mower.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |