Quick-release shield mounting

Claim 2

In combination with a power transmission device comprising a plurality of drive elements rotatably mounted on a mower blade housing and covered by a drive shield, and at least one gauge element support secured to the housing and extending above said drive shield, the improvement comprising: a quick-release latch means including at least one elongate member having a resiliently deflectable central portion joining first and second ends with the ends being connected to said shield; and recessed surface means rigidly fixed to said gauge element support and located relative to said member such that the latter is resiliently deflected in a direction urging the shield toward the housing when said central portion of the member is received in said recessed surface means.

Claim 3

The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said housing and shield further include mating surface means for locating said shield on said support structure.

Claim 4

The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said mating surface means comprises dowels fixed to said housing and holes provided in the shield and received on said dowels.

Claim 5

The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said member is in the form of a U-shaped rod having opposite legs pivotally connected to the shield and having a bight portion disposed in engagement with said recessed surface means when the rod is in a resiliently deflected condition wherein it urges the shield against the housing.

Claim 6

In a mower including a support structure formed in part by a blade housing and in part by a pair of laterally spaced gauge element supports including intermediate portions extending generally horizontally above a releasable shield covering a mower blade drive means mounted to the housing, the improvement comprising: a plurality of upwardly extending projections fixed to the blade housing peripherally of a zone encompassing said drive means; said shield having a plurality of receptacles therein received on a respective projection, first and second downwardly opening recesses respectively located in the undersides of the intermediate portions of the pair of gauge element supports; and first and second resilient U-shaped rods respectively located beneath said first and second recesses and each having opposite ends vertically pivotally mounted to said shield; and said first and second rods having respective bight portions releasably engaged with the first and second recesses when the rods are in a substantially vertical upright position; and said rods being dimensioned such that they are deflected and urge the shield downwardly when they are received in said recesses.

Claim 7

In a mower including a support structure formed in part by a blade housing and in part by a pair of laterally spaced gauge element supports including intermediate portions extending generally horizontally above a releasable shield covering a mower blade drive means mounted to the housing, the improvement comprising: a plurality of upwardly extending projections fixed to the blade housing peripherally of a zone encompassing said drive means; said shield having a plurality of receptacles therein received on a respective projection, first and second downwardly opening recesses respectively located in the undersides of the intermediate portions of the pair of gauge element supports; and first and second resilient U-shaped rods respectively located beneath said first and second recesses and each having opposite ends vertically pivotally mounted to said shield; and said first and second rods having respective bight portions releasably engaged with the first and second recesses when the rods are in a substantially vertical upright position; and said rods being dimensioned such that they are deflected and urge the shield downwardly when they are received in said recesses.