AU722518B2 - Mower and/or parts thereof - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT, 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: *o o MASPORT LIMITED STEPHEN MURRAY COX A J PARK SON, Level 11, 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT 2601 Mower and/or Parts Thereof oo •°oo° The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us This invention relates to mowers and in particular to lawn mowers of a standard domestic type and to improvements to the flap which closes the exit from the lawn mower housing when a catcher is not in place.

Lawn mowers are well known which have a housing supported on four wheels, one in each comer, a motor central in the top of the housing and a blade supported underneath the housing on a shaft from the motor and rotated by the motor to cut grass as the lawn mower passes 'over. It is most common now for lawn mowers of this type to be formed so that the deck of the lawn mower has an open rear discharge outlet and the profile of the deck is such that clippings cut by the blade are thrown through this outlet into a catcher which is connected to the back of the mower. The catcher is basically a lightweight container which hooks onto the back of the mower and can be removed to be taken away and emptied. In many mowers of this type a flap is provided which is hingeably connected to the top edge of this outlet so that it is hinged down to enclose the outlet when the catcher is not in place and is hinged up and rests on top of the leading part of the catcher with the catcher in place. In some models of lawn mower this flap is used to retain the catcher in place by having its periphery formed to fit over a complementary S" formation on the top face of the catcher and/or by having a manually operable catch.

The flap is important for safety purposes so that when the catcher is removed, which is often the case during mowing of a larger lawn, while the engine is running, the flap covers the outlet and clippings and other debris such as stones are substantially °prevented from leaving the body in a dangerous manner.

It is well known that under certain mowing conditions, for example, long grass, wet grass and the like people have used their mowers with the catcher removed for convenience. With the flap in its downward location this tends to lead to the leaving behind of clumps of clippings and debris, and for this reason people often choose to remove the flap or retain it in the raised position, for example by tying it to the lawn mower handle by a piece of string. This clearly compromises operator safety as a direct path is opened by which clippings and other debris may be thrown toward the user. This is particularly dangerous as modern lawn mower -3housings are designed to throw clippings into the catcher in a generally upward and well centred trajectory so they may be carried towards the rear of the catcher, and thus the clippings will travel directly towards a user with the catcher not in place and the flap removed or held open in the above described manner.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mower and/or flap for enclosing the rear end of a mower which will go some way towards overcoming the above disadvantages or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

In a first aspect the invention consists in a flap for enclosing the discharge outlet of a rear discharg- lawnmower housing comprising: a body dimensioned to substantially cover said outlet, and having hinging means associated with one edge thereof which allow hingeable engagement with •.:said lawnmower housing, so that said body may hinge between a closed position o* o substantially covering said outlet and an open position wherein a catcher may be .ooooi disposed to cover said outlet, said body alone, or together with such housing when said body is in a closed position defining an aperture substantially smaller than said discharge outlet, and a cover connected to said body, said cover moveable between a closed retained position in which it encloses said aperture through said body, and a retained open position such that clippings may be expelled safely through said *opening in use.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in o construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the flap enclosing the discharge outlet of the lawn mower according to the present invention showing each of the R. parts involved, -4- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a lawn mower including the flap according to the present invention, without a catcher, the flap in a closed position and with the cover open (the lawn mower handles are not shown), Figure 3 is a perspective view of a lawn mower including the flap of the present invention with the flap in an open position, the cover closed, the catcher in place and the flap assisting in connection of the catcher (the lawn mower handles are not shown), Figure 4 is a perspective view from outside of the flap with the cover in an open position, and Figure 5 is a perspective view from inside and slightly below of the flap according to the present invention with the cover thereof in an open position showing the relevant deflective surfaces.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 the flap 1 for enclosing the outlet of the lawn mower can be seen to broadly comprise a main body part 2 with a large aperture 37 therein, with a cover 3 hingeably connected thereto. The cover 3 is hingeable between a closed position as shown in Figure 3 and an open position as shown in S Figure 2.

Means are provided to retain the cover 3 in either its closed or its open position, the means for example comprising a spring 5 disposed in a channel 11 0 running across the axis of the hinge between the cover 3 and the body member 2, and connected at one end to the cover and at the other end to the body 2 by means of o* 4* a pair of pins 6 disposed in pin holders 12. In the closed position of the cover 3 the .4O spring 5 is retained at its ends to pass below the axis of the hinge 9 and 10 and with the cover open, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the spring passes above the axis of the hinge 9, 10. To move between these positions the spring must pass through a more .goo.: extended form. At each position, the spring biases the cover towards its relevant position. With the cover 3 in its open position its further opening may be constrained by either the form of hinge, for example the hinge formed by effective pin 10 and open sockets 9, or by a suitable lug extending from the cover.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the flap 2 is connected to the mower deck by a hinge, with a part 7 of the hinge being provided on the flap and a further part provided on the mower housing. When in its closed position, the flap 2 has the perimeter 8 thereof abutting the discharge outlet 24 of the mower housing 20. (In general even with the flap open the cover 3 will still remain in a closed position as this will usually just be while removing the catcher 26).

When the catcher 26 is desired to be used, the flap 2 is opened, the catcher 26 is connected over the discharge outlet 24 of the mower housing 20 and the flap is allowed to rest on the upper face of the catcher 26. In the embodiment shown the catcher 26 is formed so that the flap 2 fits over a raised area of the top surface of the catcher, which fits within the space surrounded by the perimeter portion 8 of the body 2 of the flap 1. To further secure the catcher 26 a catch is provided which fits to the flap 2 through the hole 14. The catch may for example comprise a simple hook passing through the hole 14 with a spring fitted thereover, the outer end of the hook being attached to a fascia 4 so that the hook may be manipulated from the outside side of the flap 2. For aesthetic reasons a fascia 4 encloses the recessed area 13 where the catch is provided. The said fascia is secured by prongs 17 and 16 fitting within holes 15 and 40 (see Figure roooo

S

Referring now to Figures 2, 4 and 5 the mower has a housing 20 supported by four wheels 22 and a motor 21 situated centrally on the deck 20 and driving a cutting blade or disc (not shown) underneath the housing 20. It has become common to assist distribution of the clippings into a catcher 26 by providing an upwardly sweeping channel 23 which passes around the front and up one side of the housing 20 to a general chamber at the rear of the mower adjacent the discharge outlet 24 from the mower. This channel assists to direct the clippings in a generally central and upward direction so that they are thrown toward the back of the catcher 26.

S

With the present invention, should a user wish to use the mower, for example for long grass, and the like, without the catcher in place then the even dispersal of clippings is greatly assisted by opening the cover 3. The cover 3 will be retained in its open position by the spring 5 as already described. The flap 2 remains in a -6closed position, and as can be seen from Figure 5 the path of clippings toward the user of the mower is fully obscured by the flap 2 and the cover 3. However a large aperture is available between the perimeter 8 of the body 2 of the flap 1 and the perimeter of the cover 3.

The internal surfaces 31 to 34 of the body 2 of the flap 1, and the surface 36 of the cover 3 are generally configured to deflect clippings in a direction substantially perpendicular to the path of the mower such that the clippings will exit laterally through the aperture. By adapting the angles of the surfaces 31 to 34 for a particular mower housing 20 the path taken by clippings in general use can be reasonably controlled to ensure that nearly all of the clippings exit through the aperture and that they exit in a direction below the horizontal and away from the user.

The main body 2 of the flap 1 is therefore configured in a generally inwardly concave configuration based on the deflective requirements of the surfaces, and the potential use of the flap in helping retain the catcher 26 as described earlier. For strength the perimeter area 8 of the body 2 extends fully around the circumference thereof even in the area of the aperture, which is preferably provided adjacent one comer of the body 2. The aperture is provided at the lower comer at the far side of "i the flap 1 from the sweeping channel 23, so that clippings in use rise through the sweeping channel 23, deflect off the walls 31 to 34 of the inside of the body 2, as does the associated airflow, and exit through the aperture provided with the cover 3 in an open position.

S: "Under certain mowing conditions, for example, with wet grass, a proportion of the grass having deflected from the surfaces 32 and 33 or the cover 3 will not have sufficient energy to be carried well clear of the flap 1 and will fall instead. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the cover 3 includes sidewalls 31 and "0 which form a continuation of the sidewall 28 and bottom wall 29 of the body 2 with the cover closed. This ensures that there is only a small region of the flap 1 extending across the lower edge of the lower opening 24 on which grass clippings -7may settle. With the narrow ledge, and open space on either side, the aperture is unlikely to become clogged with clippings under such conditions.

A further angled surface 27 is provided on the inner edge of the aperture and is normally enclosed by the cover 3. The face 27 is angled to deflect impinging air in a rearward direction to discourage a flow of air curling around this edge of the aperture which might otherwise direct clippings into the adjacent rear wheel.

While the flap 1 can be made from any suitable material, for example could be stamped from sheet metal or cast from metals, it is preferably formed by plastic moulding which is considered to have cost and weight benefits. The spring 5 can be of a normal type as can pins 6.

Variations of the invention will no doubt suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art, such as the provision of a sliding cover rather than a pivoting cover, the provision of a cover which opens from a different angle rather than the diagonal angle depicted and described, for use of a different form of retaining means than the spring 5, such as a simple clip, variations on the deflective surfaces and a wall formed on the flap 1, formation of the body of the flap without the perimeter 8 in the region of the aperture being some possibilities. Variations such as these are considered within the scope of the invention, which is to be considered solely in accordance with the appended claims.

Claims (14)

1. A flap for enclosing the discharge outlet of a rear discharge lawnmower housing comprising: a body dimensioned to substantially cover said outlet, and having hinging means associated with one edge thereof which allow hingeable engagement with said lawnmower housing, so that said body may hinge between a closed position substantially covering said outlet and an open position wherein a catcher may be disposed to cover said outlet, said body alone, or together with such housing when said body is in a closed position defining an aperture substantially smaller than said discharge outlet, and a cover connected to said body, said cover moveable between a closed retained position in which it encloses said aperture through said body, and a retained 44*4 open position such that clippings may be expelled safely through said opening in -15 use.

2. A flap as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body includes means to engage with a catcher, with said body in an open position and a catcher disposed to cover the outlet of said housing.

3. A flap as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means to engage with a catcher include a lip member running along at least a part of the perimeter of said body, said lip member in use engaging over a ledge on a catcher.

4. A flap as claimed in claim 3 wherein said lip member extends around the full perimeter of said body member apart from said edge associated with said hinging means. A flap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said means to engage a catcher include a catch on the underside of said body with said flap in an open position, to engage a complementary part on a catcher, and a manual release means ~cj A to operate said catch on the upper side of said body to operate said catch. -9-

6. A flap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said hinging means are associated with the top edge of said body, so that said flap pivots from being disposed in a substantially vertical plane to being disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, and the weight of said flap provides a natural bias of said flap to a closed position.

7. A flap as claimed in claim 6 wherein said body member is inwardly concave, so that it extends outward from the back of a lawnmower when it is connected thereto and has its perimeter located adjacent the perimeter of the housing outlet, to thereby have a significant profile when viewed from the side, said aperture being adjacent one side of said body member and extending from adjacent the perimeter of said body toward the middle of said body, such that said aperture is apparent in said view from that side.

8. A flap as claimed in claim 7 wherein said aperture is positioned in a corner of said body member adjacent a bottom edge and one end thereof, and extending from adjacent the perimeter of said side and of said bottom edge near said side toward the middle of said housing, such that said aperture is also apparent in a profile view i from the bottom of said body member, so that in use clippings that fail to exit .20 laterally through said aperture may fall and exit vertically through said aperture.

9. A flap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said cover over said aperture is hingably connected to said body and retaining means retain said cover in S.a hinged open position. oooo

10. A flap as claimed in claim 9 wherein said retaining means comprise a spring connected to said body member and to said cover, said spring able to pass across the axis of hinging between said body and said cover, and being disposed inside said axis with said cover closed and outside said axis with said cover open, to thereby retain said cover in said closed and open positions respectively.

11. A flap as claimed in either claim 9 or claim 10 when dependent on claim 8 wherein said hinge axis passes diagonally across said corner of said body member, one end being adjacent the perimeter of said side and the other end being adjacent the perimeter of said bottom, such that said cover opens at an angle away from said corner to become, in its open position, a guard spaced away from said aperture, to provide an exit for clippings that extends substantially up one side and partly along the bottom, said exit being formed between the perimeter of said body and the perimeter of said cover.

12. A lawnmower including a flap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 hingeably connected over the discharge outlet in the housing thereof.

13. A lawnmower as claimed in claim 12 when dependent on claim 8 wherein said housing incorporates a rising clippings channel formed therein sweeping up and around one side of said housing in the direction of rotation of the lawnmower blade and intended to direct clippings into a catcher connected over said discharge outlet, wherein said aperture is positioned at the end of said body member disposed furthest from the side of said housing than the side having said sweeping clippings •channel. o• *o

14. A lawnmower as claimed in claim 13 wherein the internal surfaces of said body member and of said cover are formed such that with said body in a down 9*. 99• S"position and said cover in an open position the bulk of clippings carried up said channel are deflected out through said aperture, and that the clippings deflected 5through the aperture are directed away from the user and leave with a direction below horizontal. 9*99 A flap for a lawnmower, said flap substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. 11

16. A lawnmower incorporating a flap as claimed in claim a a. a a. a a a a. a. a a. 9a a. a. 9 a. a a a a