Lifting mechanism with cam

Claim 1

For use with a gardening apparatus, a lift mechanism for attaching the apparatus to a garden tractor and for lifting the gardening apparatus when attached thereto, the tractor including a hitch for engaging and supporting the lift mechanism, comprising: (a) a frame bracket attachable to the tractor hitch, (b) first pivot means defining a substantially horizontal first axis of rotation for pivotally attaching the gardening apparatus to the frame bracket for supporting and drawing the gardening apparatus and for pivoting the gardening apparatus upwardly and downwardly thereabout between respective up and down positions, (c) a lifting handle, (d) second pivot means pivotally attaching said lifting handle to said frame bracket for rotation about a second axis of rotation displaced from and substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation, (e) a lift plate attachable to the gardening apparatus along a path extending toward and away from said first pivot means, (f) means forming a slot in said lift plate, and said lifting handle being received in said slot for movement therethrough as said handle is pivoted about said second pivot, (g) bearing means supported on said handle beneath said lift plate for engaging and camming against said lift plate to rotate the gardening apparatus about said first pivot as said handle is rotated about said second pivot to drive said bearing means against said lift plate for rapidly and easily raising and lowering the gardening apparatus, and (h) spring means mounted on said lifting handle above said lift plate and in downward compression thereagainst for biasing the gardening apparatus downwardly when in the down position to augment the downward bias on the apparatus due to gravity.