Safety shutter door assembly for rotary lawnmower grass catcher chute

Claim 2

A rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in said housing, an engine supported on said blade housing and located laterally inwardly from said discharge chute, a grass clipping collection bag having a mouth adapted for attachment to said discharge chute outlet, means for releasably attaching said collection bag mouth to said discharge chute outlet, a door pivotally mounted on said blade housing about a generally vertical axis for movement between a closed position wherein said door covers said discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein said collection bag can be attached to said discharge chute outlet and said door is interposed said engine and said collection bag and is thereby protected by said collection bag from engagement with obstructions exterior of the mower during moving.

Claim 3

A rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in said housing, an engine supported on said blade housing and located laterally from said discharge chute, a grass clipping collection bag having a mouth adapted for attachment to said discharge chute outlet, means for releasably attaching said collection bag mouth to said discharge chute outlet, a shutter door assembly including a door pivotally mounted on said blade housing about a generally vertical axis for movement between a closed position wherein said door covers said discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein said collection bag can be attached to said discharge chute outlet and said door is interposed said engine and said collection bag and is thereby protected by said collection bag from engagement with obstructions exterior of the mower during mowing, means for urging said door toward the closed position, whereby any time said collection bag mouth is moved away from said disCharge chute outlet said door is automatically moved to the closed position, and means for releasably latching said door in the closed position such that objects being propelled against said door by said cutter blade will not cause said door to open.

Claim 4

A rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in said housing, an engine supported on said blade housing and located laterally from said discharge chute, a grass clipping collection bag having a mouth adapted for attachment to said discharge chute outlet, means for releasably attaching said collection bag mouth to said discharge chute outlet, a shutter door assembly including a door pivotally mounted on said blade housing about a generally vertical axis for movement between a closed position wherein said door covers said discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein said collection bag can be attached to said discharge chute outlet and said door is interposed said engine and said collection bag and is thereby protected by said collection bag from engagement with obstructions exterior of the mower during mowing, means for urging said door toward the closed position, whereby any time said collection bag mouth is moved away from said disCharge chute outlet said door is automatically moved to the closed position, and means for releasably latching said door in the closed position such that objects being propelled against said door by said cutter blade will not cause said door to open.

Claim 5

A rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in said housing, a grass clipping collection bag having a mouth adapted for attachment to said discharge chute outlet, means for releasably attaching said collection bag mouth to said discharge chute outlet, a door, means hingedly mounting said door on said blade housing for movement between a closed position wherein said door covers said discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein said collection bag can be attached to said discharge chute outlet, a first spring connection to said door for urging said door toward the closed position, whereby any time said collection bag mouth is moved away from said discharge chute outlet said door is automatically moved to the closed position, and means for releasably and positively latching said door in the closed position such that objects being propelled against said door by said cutter blade will not cause said door to open, said latching means including a latching bracket located on said blade housing adjacent said discharge chute outlet, a latching arm which extends from one edge of said door and which, as said door is urged toward the closed position by said first spring, engages said latching bracket, and means for releasably urging said latching arm into latching engagement with said latching bracket.

Claim 6

A rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in said housing, a grass clipping collection bag having a mouth adapted for attachment to said discharge chute outlet, means for releasably attaching said collection bag mouth to said discharge chute outlet, a door, means hingedly mounting said door on said blade housing for movement between a closed position wherein said door covers said discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein said collection bag can be attached to said discharge chute outlet, a first spring connection to said door for urging said door toward the closed position, whereby any time said collection bag mouth is moved away from said discharge chute outlet said door is automatically moved to the closed position, and means for releasably and positively latching said door in the closed position such that objects being propelled against said door by said cutter blade will not cause said door to open, said latching means including a latching bracket located on said blade housing adjacent said discharge chute outlet, a latching arm which extends from one edge of said door and which, as said door is urged toward the closed position by said first spring, engages said latching bracket, and means for releasably urging said latching arm into latching engagement with said latching bracket.

Claim 7

A rotary mower according to claim 3 wherein said latching arm includes a free end having an upstanding ear with a rear portion, said latching bracket includes an opening for receiving said latching arm ear and having a forward edge portion, said holding means includes a second spring connected to said door for biasing said latching arm relative to said opening such that, when said door is urged to the closed position by said first spring, the rear portion of said latching arm ear engages the forward portion of said opening to prevent said door from opening.

Claim 8

A rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in said housing, a grass clipping collection bag having a mouth adapted for attachment to said discharge chute outlet, means for releasably attaching said collection bag mouth to said discharge chute outlet, a shutter door assembly including a door, means hingedly mounting said door on said blade housing for movement between a closed position wherein said door covers said discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein said collection bag can be attached to said discharge chute outlet, means for urging said door toward the closed position, whereby any time said collection bag mouth is moved away from said discharge chute outlet said door is automatically moved to the closed position, means for releasably latching said door in the closed position such that objects being propelled against said door by said cutter blade will not cause said door to open and means for cooperating with said collection bag mouth to releasably lock said door in the open position when said collection bag mouth is attached to said discharge chute outlet and including a locking bracket located on said blade housing adjacent said discharge chute outlet, a locking member connected to said door for engaging said locking bracket when said door is in the open position, means connected to said door for biasing said locking member out of locking engagement with said locking bracket, and means connected to said door for cooperating with said collection bag mouth to overcome the biasing force of said biasing means and to thereby maintain said locking member in locking engagement with said locking bracket so long as said collection bag mouth is attached to said discharge chute outlet.

Claim 9

A rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in said housing, a grass clipping collection bag having a mouth adapted for attachment to said discharge chute outlet, means for releasably attaching said collection bag mouth to said discharge chute outlet, a shutter door assembly including a door, means hingedly mounting said door on said blade housing for movement between a closed position wherein said door covers said discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein said collection bag can be attached to said discharge chute outlet, means for urging said door toward the closed position, whereby any time said collection bag mouth is moved away from said discharge chute outlet said door is automatically moved to the closed position, means for releasably latching said door in the closed position such that objects being propelled against said door by said cutter blade will not cause said door to open and means for cooperating with said collection bag mouth to releasably lock said door in the open position when said collection bag mouth is attached to said discharge chute outlet and including a locking bracket located on said blade housing adjacent said discharge chute outlet, a locking member connected to said door for engaging said locking bracket when said door is in the open position, means connected to said door for biasing said locking member out of locking engagement with said locking bracket, and means connected to said door for cooperating with said collection bag mouth to overcome the biasing force of said biasing means and to thereby maintain said locking member in locking engagement with said locking bracket so long as said collection bag mouth is attached to said discharge chute outlet.

Claim 10

A rotary mower according to claim 5 wherein said last mentioned means includes a trigger arm connected to said door and having a portion extending into said discharge chute outlet for engagement by the mouth of said collection bag, said trigger arm being depressible by said collection bag mouth to a position where the biasing force of said biasing means is overcome and said locking member is maintained in locking engagement with said locking bracket when said collection bag is attached to said discharge chute outlet.

Claim 11

A rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade in said housing, a grass clipping collection bag having a mouth adapted for connection to said discharge chute outlet, means for releasably connecting said collection bag mouth to said discharge chute outlet, a door, means hingedly mounting said door on said blade housing for movement between a closed position wherein said door covers said discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein said collection bag can be connected to said discharge chute outlet, first spring means connected to said door for urging said door towards the closed position, a latching arm extending from one edge of said door and including a free end having an upstanding ear with a rear portion, a latching bracket located on said blade housing and including an opening for receiving said latching arm ear and having a forward edge portion, and second spring means connected to said door for biasing said latching arm relative to said opening such that, when said door is urged to the closed position by said first spring means, the rear portion of said latching arm ear engages the forward edge portion of said opening to prevent said door from being opened by objects propelled against said door by said cutter blade.

Claim 12

A rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade in said housing, a grass clipping collection bag having a mouth adapted for connection to said discharge chute outlet, means for releasably connecting said collection bag mouth to said discharge chute outlet, a door, means hingedly mounting said door on said blade housing for movement between a closed position wherein said door covers said discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein said collection bag can be connected to said discharge chute outlet, first spring means connected to said door for urging said door towards the closed position, a latching arm extending from one edge of said door and including a free end having an upstanding ear with a rear portion, a latching bracket located on said blade housing and including an opening for receiving said latching arm ear and having a forward edge portion, and second spring means connected to said door for biasing said latching arm relative to said opening such that, when said door is urged to the closed position by said first spring means, the rear portion of said latching arm ear engages the forward edge portion of said opening to prevent said door from being opened by objects propelled against said door by said cutter blade.

Claim 13

A rotary mower according to claim 7 including a locking bracket located on said blade housing adjacent said discharge chute outlet, a locking member connected to said door for engaging said locking bracket to thereby releasably lock said door in the open position, said second spring means biasing said locking member out of locking engagement with said locking bracket, and a trigger arm connected to said door and including a portion extending into said discharge chute outlet for engagement by the mouth of said collection bag, said trigger being depressible by said collection bag mouth to a position where the biasing force of said second spring means is overcome and said locking member is maintained in locking engagement with said locking bracket when said collection bag is attached to said discharge chute outlet.