Lawn mower with improved mulching attachment

Claim 1

A lawn mower having means for chopping cut grass, leaves and the like into small sizes, comprising: a frame having a horizontal deck portion and vertical downwardly extending frame side walls therearound, the side walls having a discharge opening therein, the frame having wheels for moving over the ground and a handle extending therefrom for guiding the mower; a prime mover supported on the frame horizontal deck portion; a vertical shaft rotatably supported centrally of the frame, the shaft extending through the frame; a drive sheave positioned on said vertical shaft between said prime mover and said frame; a horizontal cutting blade affixed to the shaft below the frame deck portion by which grass is cut and expelled along with leaves and the like out through said discharge opening; a chute affixed to said frame communicating with said discharge opening, the chute being outside the rotational area of said horizontal cutting blade, the frame side walls and chute being arranged so that cut grass, leaves and the like are expelled through said chute by the action of said horizontal cutting blade and the chute being defined by horizontal top and bottom walls and vertical side walls providing an enclosed rectangular passageway therethrough; a vertical auxiliary shaft supported within said chute by bearings affixed to said chute top and bottom walls, the vertical auxiliary shaft extending through an opening in said top wall; rectangular chopping blades affixed to said auxiliary shaft within said chute, the periphery of the blades conforming in close proximity to said rectangular passageway in said chute; a driven sheave positioned on said auxiliary shaft above said chute; and a belt looped around said drive sheave and said driven sheave whereby said chopping blades are rotated by said prime mover to chop into small pieces cut grass, leaves and the like expelled through the chute.