Grass/lawn debris handling system

Claim 2

A grass/lawn debris handling system for a lawn mower having a side grass discharge duct, said system comprising: a hopper adapted for mounting on the side of a mower proximate the mower grass discharge duct and having a hopper opening near the upper end of said hopper, at least a portion of said hopper overlying said grass discharge duct, a chute communicating at its lower end with the mower grass discharge duct and at its upper end with said hopper opening when said hopper is in a filling position, said hopper having an uppermost portion when in said filling position, means pivotally mounting said hopper on said mower for movement between said filling position and an elevated dumping position, the lowermost portion of said hopper when in said elevated dumping position being spaced substantially above the position of said uppermost portion of said hopper when in the filling position, and means selectively operable to effect rotation of said hopper into said elevated dumping position.

Claim 3

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means pivotally mounting said hopper on said mower comprises a lift arm pivotally mounted on said mower.

Claim 4

The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lift arm pivot point on the mower is spaced substantially rearwardly of said hopper to effect a rearward movement of the hopper and its contents into the dumping position.

Claim 5

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means operable to effect rotation of said hopper into said dumping position comprises a fluid actuated cylinder.

Claim 6

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means operable to effect rotation of said hopper is operable to effect at least a 90° rotation of said hopper.

Claim 7

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hopper front and rear walls are inclined so that the cross-sectional area of the top of the hopper is substantially larger than that of the bottom thereof.

Claim 8

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hopper includes a door closing the top of the hopper, and means pivotally mounting said door to provide the opening thereof upon movement of said hopper into the dumping position.

Claim 9

The invention as claimed in claim 7 wherein said hopper door is formed at least in part of an air-permeable material.

Claim 10

A grass/lawn debris handling system for a lawn mower having a mower deck mounted in a manner permitting relative vertical movement between the deck and the mower frame, said mower deck having a side grass discharge duct, comprising; a rigid hopper adapted for mounting on the mower at one side thereof proximate the grass discharge duct with a portion of said hopper overlying said discharge duct, an opening near the upper end of said hopper, a substantially vertical chute mounted on the mower discharge duct communicating at its lower end with the discharge duct and at its upper end with said hopper opening when said hopper is in a filling position, said hopper having an uppermost portion when in said filling position, means permitting relative movement including the selective disconnection and reconnection of said chute and hopper, said means comprising the oversizing of said opening in said hopper for receiving said chute upper end, and flexible seal means in said opening for sealing the space between the hopper and chute end, means pivotally mounting said hopper on said mower for movement between said filling position and an elevated dumping position, said latter means comprising a lift arm pivotally mounted on said mower, the lowermost portion of said hopper when in said elevated dumping position being spaced substantially above the position of said uppermost portion of said hopper when in the filling postion, and means selectively operable to effect rotation of said hopper into said elevated dumping position.

Claim 11

A grass/lawn debris handling system for a lawn mower having a mower deck mounted in a manner permitting relative vertical movement between the deck and the mower frame, said mower deck having a side grass discharge duct, comprising; a rigid hopper adapted for mounting on the mower at one side thereof proximate the grass discharge duct with a portion of said hopper overlying said discharge duct, an opening near the upper end of said hopper, a substantially vertical chute mounted on the mower discharge duct communicating at its lower end with the discharge duct and at its upper end with said hopper opening when said hopper is in a filling position, said hopper having an uppermost portion when in said filling position, means permitting relative movement including the selective disconnection and reconnection of said chute and hopper, said means comprising the oversizing of said opening in said hopper for receiving said chute upper end, and flexible seal means in said opening for sealing the space between the hopper and chute end, means pivotally mounting said hopper on said mower for movement between said filling position and an elevated dumping position, said latter means comprising a lift arm pivotally mounted on said mower, the lowermost portion of said hopper when in said elevated dumping position being spaced substantially above the position of said uppermost portion of said hopper when in the filling postion, and means selectively operable to effect rotation of said hopper into said elevated dumping position.

Claim 12

The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein said lift arm pivot point on the mower is spaced substantially rearwardly of said hopper to effect a rearward movement of the hopper and its contents into the dumping position.

Claim 13

The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means operable to effect rotation of said hopper into a dumping position comprises a fluid actuated cylinder.

Claim 14

The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means operable to effect rotation of said hopper effects at least a 90° rotation of said hopper.

Claim 15

The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hopper front and rear walls are inclined so that the cross-sectional area of the top of the hopper is substantially larger than that of the bottom thereof.

Claim 16

The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hopper includes a door closing the top of the hopper and means pivotally mounting said door to provide the opening thereof upon movement of said hopper into the dumping position.

Claim 17

A lawn mower having a grass/lawn debris handling system, said mower comprising a mower frame, a pair of traction wheels at the forward end of said frame, an engine on said frame for selectively driving said traction wheels, at least one wheel pivotally mounted at the rear of said frame for directional control of said mower, a mower deck attached to said frame forwardly of said traction wheels and mounted for articulated vertical movement with respect to said frame, said mower deck including at least one mower blade and means operatively connecting said blade with said engine for rotation thereof, said mower deck having a side grass discharge duct, a hopper mounted on the mower frame at one side thereof proximate said mower deck grass discharge duct, a front portion of said hopper substantially overlying grass deck discharge duct, said hopper having a hopper opening near the upper end of said hopper in said hopper front portion, a substantially vertical chute mounted on the mower discharge duct communicating at its lower end with the discharge duct and at its upper end with said hopper opening when said hopper is in a filling position, said hopper having an uppermost portion when in said filling position, means permitting relative movement including the selective disconnection and reconnection of said chute and hopper, said latter means comprising the oversizing of said opening in said hopper for receiving said chute upper end, and flexible seal means in said opening for sealing the space between the hopper and chute end, means pivotally mounting said hopper on said mower for movement between said filling position and an elevated dumping position, said latter means comprising a lift arm pivotally mounted on said mower frame at a pivot point spaced from said hopper, the lowermost portion of said hopper when in said elevated dumping position being spaced substantially above the position of said uppermost portion of said hopper when in the filling position, and means selectively operable to effect rotation of said lift arm to rotate said hopper into an elevated dumping position.

Claim 18

A lawn mower having a grass/lawn debris handling system, said mower comprising a mower frame, a pair of traction wheels at the forward end of said frame, an engine on said frame for selectively driving said traction wheels, at least one wheel pivotally mounted at the rear of said frame for directional control of said mower, a mower deck attached to said frame forwardly of said traction wheels and mounted for articulated vertical movement with respect to said frame, said mower deck including at least one mower blade and means operatively connecting said blade with said engine for rotation thereof, said mower deck having a side grass discharge duct, a hopper mounted on the mower frame at one side thereof proximate said mower deck grass discharge duct, a front portion of said hopper substantially overlying grass deck discharge duct, said hopper having a hopper opening near the upper end of said hopper in said hopper front portion, a substantially vertical chute mounted on the mower discharge duct communicating at its lower end with the discharge duct and at its upper end with said hopper opening when said hopper is in a filling position, said hopper having an uppermost portion when in said filling position, means permitting relative movement including the selective disconnection and reconnection of said chute and hopper, said latter means comprising the oversizing of said opening in said hopper for receiving said chute upper end, and flexible seal means in said opening for sealing the space between the hopper and chute end, means pivotally mounting said hopper on said mower for movement between said filling position and an elevated dumping position, said latter means comprising a lift arm pivotally mounted on said mower frame at a pivot point spaced from said hopper, the lowermost portion of said hopper when in said elevated dumping position being spaced substantially above the position of said uppermost portion of said hopper when in the filling position, and means selectively operable to effect rotation of said lift arm to rotate said hopper into an elevated dumping position.

Claim 19

The invention as claimed in claim 15 wherein said lift arm is pivotally mounted on the rear of said mower frame to effect a dumping of the hopper to the rear of the mower.

Claim 20

The invention as claimed in claim 15 wherein said means operable to effect rotation of said hopper comprises a fluid actuated cylinder.

Claim 21

The invention as claimed in claim 15 wherein said means operable to effect rotation of said hopper effects at least a 90° rotation of said hopper.

Claim 22

The invention as claimed in claim 15 wherein said hopper front and rear walls are inclined so that the cross-sectional area of the top of the hopper is substantially larger than that of the bottom thereof.

Claim 23

The invention as claimed in claim 15 wherein said hopper includes a door closing the top of the hopper, and means pivotally mounting said door to provide the opening thereof upon movement of said hopper into the dumping position.

Claim 24

The invention as claimed in claim 20 wherein said hopper door is formed at least in part of an air-permeable material.

Claim 25

A grass/lawn debris handling system for a lawn mower having a side grass discharge duct, said system comprising: a hopper adapted for mounting on the side of a mower proximate the grass discharge duct, a portion of said hopper substantially overlying said grass discharge duct, said hopper having a hopper opening near the upper end of said hopper in said duct overlying portion. a substantially vertical chute mounted on the mower discharge duct communicating at its lower end with the discharge duct and at its upper end with said hopper opening when said hopper is in a filling position, means pivotally mounting said hopper on said mower for movement between said filling position and an elevated dumping position, and means selectively operable to effect rotation of said hopper into said elevated dumping position.

Claim 26

A grass/lawn debris handling system for a lawn mower having a side grass discharge duct, said system comprising: a hopper adapted for mounting on the side of a mower proximate the grass discharge duct, a portion of said hopper substantially overlying said grass discharge duct, said hopper having a hopper opening near the upper end of said hopper in said duct overlying portion. a substantially vertical chute mounted on the mower discharge duct communicating at its lower end with the discharge duct and at its upper end with said hopper opening when said hopper is in a filling position, means pivotally mounting said hopper on said mower for movement between said filling position and an elevated dumping position, and means selectively operable to effect rotation of said hopper into said elevated dumping position.