US3799579A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rear shield for rotary lawnmower
Assignee: Toro Co
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Filing: 1972-11-06
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1992-11-06
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a rotary lawnmower including a blade housing having a downwardly depending rear wall which extends transversely of the direction of intended mower travel and one or more rear ground engaging wheels which are rotatably supported on the blade housing by a cutting height adjustment means. The cutting height adjustment means can be selectively adjusted to vary the vertical relationship between the wheel axis and the blade housing so as to vary the height of cut. A protective shield extending substantially across the entire width of the blade housing rear wall is supported for pivotal movement about a transversely extending axis by a link which carries the shield rearwardly of the rear wall with the bottom edge of the shield spaced a small distance above the ground. The link is connected to the cutting height adjustment means so that, when adjustments are made in the cutting height, the shield pivot axis is moved a corresponding amount and a predetermined vertical distance between the shield pivot axis and the ground is maintained constant at all cutting heights. The shield, which is preferably a one-piece, box-like construction, effectively acts as a trap for objects which may be hurled from beneath the rear wall of the blade housing.
Inventors
- 👤 E Dahl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:29
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D34/00; A01D34/01; A01D34/412; A01D34/63; A01D34/82; A01D34/828; B; B62; B62D; B62D49/00; B62D49/06; B62D49/065; A01D2101/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A lawnmower comprising a blade housing having a downwardly depending rear wall extending generally transversely of the direction of the intended mower travel, a ground engaging rear wheel, means for connecting said wheel to said blade housing for rotation about an axis of rotation and for selectively moving said wheel axis vertically with respect to said blade housing to adjust the height of cut, a protective shield having a bottom edge, and support means including a link having a first end portion pivotally connected to said shield for carrying said shield rearwardly of said rear wall with said bottom edge spaced above the ground and for pivotal movement of said shield about a transversely extending axis with said shield pivot axis vertically spaced a predetermined distance above the ground including means cooperating with said link and said wheel connecting means to maintain said shield pivot axis at said predetermined distance notwithstanding variations in the height of cut.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A lawnmower comprising a blade housing having a downwardly depending rear wall extending generally transversely of the direction of the intended mower travel, a ground engaging rear wheel, means for connecting said wheel to said blade housing for rotation about an axis of rotation and for selectively moving said wheel axis vertically with respect to said blade housing to adjust the height of cut, a protective shield having a bottom edge, and support means including a link having a first end portion pivotally connected to said shield for carrying said shield rearwardly of said rear wall with said bottom edge spaced above the ground and for pivotal movement of said shield about a transversely extending axis with said shield pivot axis vertically spaced a predetermined distance above the ground including means cooperating with said link and said wheel connecting means to maintain said shield pivot axis at said predetermined distance notwithstanding variations in the height of cut.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
A lawnmower according to claim 1 wherein said shield includes an elongated transverse member extending substantially along the entire width of said blade housing rear wall, having upper and lower side portions connected together at an obtuse angle and extending toward said blade housing rear wall, having outer lateral ends, having end portions extending from said outer lateral ends inwardly toward, but horizontally spaced from, said blade housing rear wall, and having a top portion extending at an obtuse angle from said upper side portion and inwardly toward, but horizontally spaced from, said blade housing rear wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A lawnmower according to claim 2 wherein said bottom edge is rounded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A lawnmower according to claim 3 wherein the edge of said top portion adjacent to said blade housing rear wall is configured to conform to the contour of said rear wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A lawnmower according to claim 1 including a plurality of vertically spaced holes in said blade housing corresponding to different heights of cut, a hub in said wheel, a stud extending through said hub tO define said wheel axis and mounted in one of said holes, an aperture in said link through which said stud extends, and means for retaining said link in a substantially horizontal position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A lawnmower according to claim 5 wherein said retainer means comprises a retainer plate connected to said link and including an integral tab fitting into another one of said stud holes to stabilize the horizontal position of said retainer plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
169 words
A lawnmower according to claim 1 including a generally vertical plate carrying said rear wheel axis means and pivotally mounted on said blade housing at a point spaced from said wheel axis, means for selectively pivoting said vertical plate with respect to said blade housing to vary the vertical position of said wheel axis with respect to said blade housing and thereby vary the height of cut, said link having a second end portion and a central portion between said end portions, means for pivotally connecting said link second end portion to said vertical plate, a support bracket affixed to said blade housing, and means for pivotally connecting said link central portion to said bracket so that, when said vertical plate is pivoted relative to said blade housing, said wheel axis is vertically displaced relative to said blade housing to vary the height of cut and said first end portion of said link is moved to thereby maintain said predetermined distance between said shield pivot axis and the ground.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
147 words
A lawnmower according to claim 1 wherein said wheel connecting means includes a yoke having an arm which is pivotally connected at one end of said blade housing and is pivotally connected at the other end to said wheel axis means, means adjustably connecting said yoke with said blade housing for adjusting the vertical position of said wheel axis with respect to said blade housing, and wherein said support means includes a lever pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said blade housing and said first end portion of said link and cooperating with said arm, said link, and said blade housing to define a parallelogram linkage arrangement, whereby movement of said yoke to vary the vertical position of said wheel axis with respect to said blade housing causes movement of said link to thereby maintain said predetermined distance between said shield pivot axis and the ground.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A lawnmower according to claim 7 wherein said shield includes an elongated transverse member extending substantially along the entire width of said rear wall, having upper and lower side portions connected together at an obtuse angle and extending toward said blade housing rear wall, having outer lateral ends, having end portions extending from said outer lateral ends inwardly toward, but horizontally spaced from, said blade housing rear wall, and having a top portion extending at an obtuse angle from said upper side portion and inwardly toward, but horizontally spaced, from said blade housing rear wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
A lawnmower according to claim 8 wherein said shield includes an elongated transverse member extending substantially along the entire width of said blade housing rear wall, having upper and lower side portions connected together at an obtuse angle and extending toward said blade housing rear wall, having outer lateral ends, having end portions extending from said outer lateral ends inwardly toward, but horizontally spaced, from said blade housing rear wall, and having a top portion extending at an obtuse angle from said upper side portion and inwardly toward, but horizontally spaced, from said blade housing rear wall.
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) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |