US4106272A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Grass collecting multiple blade mower without auxiliary blower means
Assignee: SIMPLICITY MANUFACTURING COMPANY PORT WASHINGTON WI A CORP OF WI
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Filing: 1976-12-06
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Granted: 1978-08-15
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Expires: 1996-12-06
Abstract
Abstract The four-wheel lawn and garden tractor has an underslung two blade mower unit and a rear mounted grass catcher. The multiple spindle mower unit incorporates special baffling to improve lateral movement of cut grass from the mower housing. The conduit between the mower housing discharge opening and the rear mounted grass catcher includes a unique elbow part having a configuration which facilitates efficient movement of the grass from the mower to the catcher. The grass catcher is vented so that there is very little back pressure in the interior of the grass catcher. Venting is accomplished by provision of a downwardly facing opening along the rear of the grass catcher cover, the latter being molded of an impervious plastic material. The grass catcher cover has a downwardly extending skirt at the front thereof with a pair of laterally spaced semicircular notches adapted to receive a discharge conduit. Thus the cover may be used on tractor mowers discharging to either their left or right side.
Inventors
- 👤 James F. Peterson
- 👤 Edward Freier, Jr.
- 👤 Gerald C. Burmesch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:51
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D43/00; A01D43/06; A01D43/063; A01D2101/00; A01D34/00; A01D34/01; A01D34/412; A01D34/63
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
In combination with a tractor, having traction wheels for moving the tractor in a forward direction, a downwardly opening, mower housing suspended from said tractor having top, front and rear walls, a sidewall at one lateral side thereof and a lateral discharge opening in the other lateral side thereof, a pair of horizontally disposed blades rotatably mounted on said housing for rotation about laterally spaced vertical axes, said axis disposed closest to said discharge opening being spaced rearward of the other axis, said blades having lift portions to generate air movement, a grass catcher supported on the rear of said tractor including vent means permitting a high volume flow of air therefrom, and conduit means interconnecting said discharge opening and said grass catcher including walls defining an elbow part having a laterally facing intake opening at its front end in generally aligned relation to said discharge opening of said housing, the major dimension of said intake opening being in a longitudinal, horizontal direction and the minor dimension of said intake opening being in a generally vertical direction, said wall defining said elbow part sloping upwardly, laterally outwardly and rearwardly immediately from said intake opening to present a rearward facing opening, said elbow part having an elliptical cross-section from a portion thereof relatively near its intake opening through a predetermined number of degrees constituting a major portion of its curvature and wherein the major axis of said elliptical cross-section slopes upwardly in a radially outward direction at a gradually increasing pitch from a cross-section near said intake opening to a cross-section at said predetermined number of degrees therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
In combination with a tractor, having traction wheels for moving the tractor in a forward direction, a downwardly opening, mower housing suspended from said tractor having top, front and rear walls, a sidewall at one lateral side thereof and a lateral discharge opening in the other lateral side thereof, a pair of horizontally disposed blades rotatably mounted on said housing for rotation about laterally spaced vertical axes, said axis disposed closest to said discharge opening being spaced rearward of the other axis, said blades having lift portions to generate air movement, a grass catcher supported on the rear of said tractor including vent means permitting a high volume flow of air therefrom, and conduit means interconnecting said discharge opening and said grass catcher including walls defining an elbow part having a laterally facing intake opening at its front end in generally aligned relation to said discharge opening of said housing, the major dimension of said intake opening being in a longitudinal, horizontal direction and the minor dimension of said intake opening being in a generally vertical direction, said wall defining said elbow part sloping upwardly, laterally outwardly and rearwardly immediately from said intake opening to present a rearward facing opening, said elbow part having an elliptical cross-section from a portion thereof relatively near its intake opening through a predetermined number of degrees constituting a major portion of its curvature and wherein the major axis of said elliptical cross-section slopes upwardly in a radially outward direction at a gradually increasing pitch from a cross-section near said intake opening to a cross-section at said predetermined number of degrees therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said mower housing includes wall means defining a tunnel at the forward end above said blades which extends laterally and rearwardly to said discharge opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein a plane through said vertical axes is substantially parallel to said tunnel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said front wall of said housing is nearly tangential to the circular paths of the tips of said blades.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said grass catcher includes a cover having a screened vent extending across substantially the full transverse width thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the rear of said elbow part is curvilinear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 6, wherein the major axis dimension of said rear of said elbow part is substantially less than the major axis dimension of said intake opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said mower housing includes wall means defining a tunnel at the forward end above said blades terminating at said discharge opening and including a vertical baffle adjacent said rear wall of said tunnel serving as air cut off means for the blade remote from said discharge opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
255 words
In a combination with a tractor, having traction wheels for moving the tractor in a forward direction, a downwardly opening mower housing suspended from said tractor having top, front and rear walls, a sidewall at one lateral side thereof and a lateral discharge opening in the other lateral side thereof, at least one horizontally disposed blade rotatably mounted on and within said housing for rotation about a vertical axis, said blade having lift portions operative to generate air movement, a grass catcher supported on the rear of said tractor including vent means permitting a high volume flow of air therefrom, and conduit means interconnecting said discharge opening and said grass catcher including walls defining an elbow part having a laterally facing intake opening at its front end in generally aligned relation to said discharge opening of said housing, the major dimension of said intake opening being in a longitudinal, horizontal direction and the minor dimension of said intake opening being in a generally vertical direction, said walls defining said elbow part sloping upwardly, laterally outwardly and rearwardly immediately from said intake opening to present a rearward facing opening, said elbow part having an elliptical cross-section from a portion thereof relatively near its intake opening through a predetermined number of degrees constituting a major portion of its curvature and wherein the major axis of said elliptical cross-section slopes upwardly in a radially outward direction at a gradually increasing pitch from a cross-section near said intake opening to a cross-section at said predetermined number of degrees therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
255 words
In a combination with a tractor, having traction wheels for moving the tractor in a forward direction, a downwardly opening mower housing suspended from said tractor having top, front and rear walls, a sidewall at one lateral side thereof and a lateral discharge opening in the other lateral side thereof, at least one horizontally disposed blade rotatably mounted on and within said housing for rotation about a vertical axis, said blade having lift portions operative to generate air movement, a grass catcher supported on the rear of said tractor including vent means permitting a high volume flow of air therefrom, and conduit means interconnecting said discharge opening and said grass catcher including walls defining an elbow part having a laterally facing intake opening at its front end in generally aligned relation to said discharge opening of said housing, the major dimension of said intake opening being in a longitudinal, horizontal direction and the minor dimension of said intake opening being in a generally vertical direction, said walls defining said elbow part sloping upwardly, laterally outwardly and rearwardly immediately from said intake opening to present a rearward facing opening, said elbow part having an elliptical cross-section from a portion thereof relatively near its intake opening through a predetermined number of degrees constituting a major portion of its curvature and wherein the major axis of said elliptical cross-section slopes upwardly in a radially outward direction at a gradually increasing pitch from a cross-section near said intake opening to a cross-section at said predetermined number of degrees therefrom.
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) | 1981-08-14 | 1982-02-13 | 1982-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-08-14 | 1986-02-13 | 1986-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-08-14 | 1990-02-13 | 1990-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |