CA1036366A - Safety shutter door assembly for rotary lawnmower grass catcher chute - Google Patents
Safety shutter door assembly for rotary lawnmower grass catcher chuteInfo
- Publication number
- CA1036366A CA1036366A CA265,297A CA265297A CA1036366A CA 1036366 A CA1036366 A CA 1036366A CA 265297 A CA265297 A CA 265297A CA 1036366 A CA1036366 A CA 1036366A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- discharge chute
- collection bag
- door
- outlet
- blade housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 244000025254 Cannabis sativa Species 0.000 title claims abstract description 21
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000004575 stone Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000981 bystander Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003116 impacting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
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- Harvester Elements (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE
Disclosed herein in a rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in the housing, an engine supported on the blade housing and located inwardly from the discharge chute, a grass clipping collection bag having a mouth adapted for attachment to the discharge chute outlet, means for releasably attaching the collection bag mouth to the discharge chute outlet, a door pivotally mounted on the blade housing for movement between a closed position wherein the door covers the discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein the collection bag can be attached to the discharge chute outlet and the door is interposed the engine and the collection bag and is thereby protected by the collection bag from engagement with obstructions exterior of the mower during moving.
Disclosed herein in a rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in the housing, an engine supported on the blade housing and located inwardly from the discharge chute, a grass clipping collection bag having a mouth adapted for attachment to the discharge chute outlet, means for releasably attaching the collection bag mouth to the discharge chute outlet, a door pivotally mounted on the blade housing for movement between a closed position wherein the door covers the discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein the collection bag can be attached to the discharge chute outlet and the door is interposed the engine and the collection bag and is thereby protected by the collection bag from engagement with obstructions exterior of the mower during moving.
Description
SAFEI~Y SHUTTER DOOR ASS~ LY FOR
ROTARY LAWNMOWER GRASS CATCHER CHUTE
INVENTOR
Einar S. Dahl BACKGROUND OF THE INVENI ION
The invention relates to rotary lawnmowers and, more particularly, to a safety shutter door assembly which automatically closes the grass catcher chute outlet of the rotary lawnmower whenever the grass collection bag is removed For collecting the grass cIippings, rotary lawnmowers are provided with a collection bag which is releasably attached to the opening of a discharge chute on the mower blade housing. The grass clippings and other debris are discharged through the chute and into the collection ba8 by ~ high velocity air stream created by the circulating action of the cutter blade in the mower housing. Whenever - the collection bag is removed from the discharge chute open-ing while the cutte blade is operating, objects, such as small stones, twigs, small ~ieces of glass or wire and the like, can be discharged through the chute at a high velocity, thereby representing a serious potential hazard to the operator and/or bystanders. This hazard can be minimized by insuring the lawnmower engine is shutoff every time the collection bag is being removed. However, during mowing, the collection bag can be removed accidentally by engagement with shrubs, trees, or similar obstructions, in which case the cutter blade normally will be operating.
Various safety devices have been proposed to eliminate this potential hazard. However, such prior art devices either complicate the installation and removal of the collection bag or do not provide complete protection. Examples of prior art devices are described in the Meyer et al U.S. Patent 3,636,686, issued January 25, 1972, and the Haffner U.S. Patent 3,721,078, issued March 20, 1973.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in the housing, an engine supported on ';
the blade housing and located inwardly from the discharge chute, means for releasably attaching a collection bag mouth to the discharge chute outlet, a door pivotally mounted on the blade housing for movement between a closed position wherein the door covers the discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein the collection bag can be attached to the discharge chute outlet and the door is interposed the engine and the collection bag when so attached, and is thereby protected by the collection bag from engagement with obstructions exterior of the mower during movement.
' .~, . , ~036366 Other features and advantages of the embodiments of the invention will become apparent upon reviewing the following detailed description, the drawing and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a rotary mower having mounted thereon a shutter door as~embly in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the mower illustrated in Fig. 1 shown with the shutter door assembly in the open position and without a grass collection bag attached.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the mower illustrated in Fig. 1, shown with the shutter door assembly in the open position and without a grass collection bag attached.
Fig. 4 is the same view as Fig. 3 except the shutter door assembly is shown in the closed position.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane designated 5-5 in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 5 except the shutter door assembly is shown in the closed position.
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10;~6366 Before explaining the embodiments of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawing. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.
Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a rotary lawnmower 10 including a blade housing 12 having a grass clipping discharge chute 14 with an outlet 16. An engine 18 is carried on a blade housing deck 20. Attached to the lawnmower 10 for collecting the grass clippings is a collection bag 22 including a sack 24 which has a mouth 26 adapted for communication with the discharge chute outlet 16. The collection bag 22 is attached to the discharge chute outlet 16 by a releasable connection means, such as a spring : ~ . . ... . . .
-:: . . .
~ . .
1~36366 latch 28, which enga~es a wire frame 30 (See Fig. 5 surrounding the~mouth 26 of the sack 24. The air stream laden with grass clippings and other comminuted material is discharged from the blade housing 12 into ~he dischar~e chute 14 and enters the collection bag 22 through the mouth 26. The collection bag 22 is supported by a support rod 32 which extends upwardly from the blade housing deck 20.
The construction discussed thus far i9 conventional. Various alternate means can be used to attach and support the collection bag 22. Such means form no part of the invention so illustration or detailed description thereof is not necessary for a full understanding of the invention.
There is provided a shutter door assembly which automatically closes the discharge chute outlet 16 whenever the collection bag 22 is intentionally or accidentally removed. In the construction illustrated and best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the shutter door assembly 32 includes a door 34 which is adapted to completely cover the discharge chute outlet 16 and a support frame assembly 36. The support frame assembly 36 includes an upper horizontal member 38 which extends above and is attached to the upper portion of the discharge chute 14 and a vertical side member 42 which extends along the inner side portion of the discharge chute 14. Mounted on the frame side member 42 is a generally vertically extending shaft or hinge pin 46. The door 34 at one side is supported on the hinge pin 46 by a pair of vertically spaced hinges 50 for swingable movement between a cIosed position and an open position about the generally vertical '' , .
103f~366 pivot axis provided by the hinge pin 46.
When in the closed position as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the backside of the door 34 completely covers the discharge chute outlet 16. When in the open position as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the door 34 is swung to a location where there is unimpeded discharge of the grass clippings through the discharge chute outlet 16 and the collection bag 22 can be attached to the discharge chute 14 in the usual manner as shown in Fig. 1. As illustrated, the shutter door assembly 32 is preferably arranged so that the door 34 opens towards the engine 18. With this arrangement, the collection bag 22 provides protection for the door 34 and other operative components of the shutter door assembly 32 against engagement by shrubs and similar obstructions during normal mowing operations.
The toor 34 is urged towards the closed position by a torsion spring 52 which surrounds the hinge pin 46 and which, at the opposite ends thereof, is secured to the frame side member 42 and the door 34, ~See Figs. 5 and 6). The hinges 50 and the torsion spring 52 are slidably mounted on the hinge pin 46 so as to permit relative vertical movement of the door. In order to facilitate grasping the door 34 for opening, a tab or extension 54 is provided on the upper portion of the door.
Means are provided for releasably and positively latching the door 34 in the closed position so that, after being closed, the door cannot be forcibly opened by the impact of an ob~ect hurled through the discharge chute 14 by the cutter blade~
While various arrangements can be used, in the construction illustrated (See Figs. 3 and 5), such means includes an upper latching arm 56 which extends laterally and forwardly from the upper edge of the door 34 and which ha8 a generally, vertically extending ear 60 terminating in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper edge 62. Provided integrally with upper frame member 38 is a latching bracket including an arched section 64 under which the latching arm ear 60 can pass. The door 34 is urged upwardly with respect to the upper frame member 38 by a leaf spring 66 (See Fig. 6) which includes an inner end portion 67 and which is secured to the door 34 in a manner so that the inner end portion 67 bears against and exerts a downward force on the hinge pin 46.
As the door 34 is urged towards the closed position by the torsion spring 52, the inclined upper edge 62 of the latching arm ear 60 bears against the underside of the arched section 64 and urges the door 34 downwardly against the biasing force of the leaf spring 66. When the latching arm 60 moves past the forward edge 70 of the arched section 64, the door 34 is urged upwardly by the leaf spring 66 and the vertical rear edge 69 of the ear 60 is er-gaged against the forward edge 70 of the arched section 69 to thereby securely latch the door 34 to the frame (See Fig. 4). Thus, a propelled object, such as a small stone or the like, impacting the backside of the door 34 will not force the door open Further in accordance with the invention, means are provided for releasably locking the door 34 in the open position so as to insure that the door does not interfere with normal discharge of the grass clippings into the collection bag 22 and to facilitate the attachment of the collection bag 22 to the discharge chute 14. While various arrangements can be used, in the construction illustrated, such means includes a lower locking member or arm 74 which 0 i9 mounted on the front side of the door 34 and which includes an inner end portion 76 extending outwardly beyond the inner edge of the door 34 (See Figs. 2 and 6). Extending from the side frame 42 is a locking bracket 80 which includes an upwardly inclined edge portion 82 and a generally vertical 81Ot 84 for receiving the inner end portion 76 of the locking arm 74. As the door 34 is moved towards the open position, the inner end portion 76 of the locking arm 74 is forced upwardly along the inclined edge portion 82 of the locking bracket 80 and is eventually urged into the slot 84 to there-by lock the door 64 in the open position.
Since the door 34 is urged upwardly by the leaf spring 66, the locking arm 74 will tend to become unlocked from the locking bracket 80 unless the door is held down against the biasing force of the leaf spring 66. To accomplish this downward movement of the door 34, there is provided a trigger arm 86 (See Figs. 5 and 6) having an inner portion 88 which extends into the lower portion of the discharge chute outlet 16 and has an outer end portion 90 which is pivotally mounted, such as by a pin 92, on a support bracket 94 which in turn is connected to t'ne frame side member 42.
Affixed to the door 34 is a pin 96 which extends through a S slot 98 provided in the trigger arm 86 and includes a head 100 which engages the underside of the trigger arm 86.
The door 34 can be held downwardly ~o maintain the locking arm 76 in a locked position by applying a downward force on the inner portion 88 of the trigger arm 86.
This can be accomplished during normal installation of the collection bag 22. That is, the lower portion of the col-lection bag frame 30 is placed against the trigger arm 86 and, as the upper portion of the collection bag mouth 26 is moved into position and secured to the discharge chute 14 by the latch spring 28, there is sufficient downward move-ment of the trigger arm 86 to provide the desired locking action (See Figs. 2 and 5).
Tn operation, the grass collection bag 22 is installed by grasping the door extension 54 and pushing it downward to disengage the latching arm ear 60 from the arched section 64. The door 34 is then moved clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 3) to completely free the latching arm 56 from the arched secti~n 64. Thereafter, the downward force on the door 34 is relieved, the door is rotated further clockwise toward the open position until the locking arm 74 has passed over the inclined edge 82 of the latching bracket 80. The door 34 is then pushed downwardly to move the inner end _g_ ' ~
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portion 76 of the lower locking arm 74 into the locking bracket slot 84 as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the door 34 is thereby locked in an open position and cannot be returned to a closed position so long as the downward force is maintained thereon.
While maintaining the downward force on the door 34, the lower portion of the collection bag frame 30 is moved into its normal installation position ad~acent the discharge chute outlet 16 and the upper portion of the collection bag 30 is moved into position and secured in place by the spring latch 28. The lower portion of the collection bag 30 bears down on the trigger arm 86 to overcome the biasing force of the leaf spring 66 (See Fig. 5) and thereby prevent the locking arm 74 from becoming unlocked from the locking bracket 80.
When the grass collection bag 22 is to be removed, lt is only necessary to disengage the spring la~ch 28 from the top portion of the collection bag frame 30 and remove the bag from the discharge chute 14 in the usual manner. As the lower portion of the collection bag frame 30 is disengaged from the trigger arm 86, the leaf spring 66 urges the door upwardly to move the inner end portion 76 of the locking arm 74 out of the locking bracket slot 84. The torsion spring 52 then urges the door 34 to the closed position and the latching arm ear 60 is moved to the latched position behind the arched section 64 (See Figs. 4 and 6) by the combined biasing actions of the torsion spring 52 and the leaf spring 66. Of course, -10--`
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~ . .
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the door is automatically closed and latched at the same manner any time the collection bag is accidentally removed from the discharge chute 14, such as being pulled off by engagement with shrubs or similar obstructions.
Although the arrangement of the shutter door assembly ha~ been described and illustrated with the door 34 opening laterally towardly the mower engine, it can be appreciated that the assembly can be arranged so that the door opens laterally away from the engine. Even though less desirable, the assembly can also be arranged so that the door opens upwardly or downwardly, in which case the trigger arm 86 can be arranged to be engaged by a side of the collection bag frame 30 instead of the bottom of the frame as described above.
ROTARY LAWNMOWER GRASS CATCHER CHUTE
INVENTOR
Einar S. Dahl BACKGROUND OF THE INVENI ION
The invention relates to rotary lawnmowers and, more particularly, to a safety shutter door assembly which automatically closes the grass catcher chute outlet of the rotary lawnmower whenever the grass collection bag is removed For collecting the grass cIippings, rotary lawnmowers are provided with a collection bag which is releasably attached to the opening of a discharge chute on the mower blade housing. The grass clippings and other debris are discharged through the chute and into the collection ba8 by ~ high velocity air stream created by the circulating action of the cutter blade in the mower housing. Whenever - the collection bag is removed from the discharge chute open-ing while the cutte blade is operating, objects, such as small stones, twigs, small ~ieces of glass or wire and the like, can be discharged through the chute at a high velocity, thereby representing a serious potential hazard to the operator and/or bystanders. This hazard can be minimized by insuring the lawnmower engine is shutoff every time the collection bag is being removed. However, during mowing, the collection bag can be removed accidentally by engagement with shrubs, trees, or similar obstructions, in which case the cutter blade normally will be operating.
Various safety devices have been proposed to eliminate this potential hazard. However, such prior art devices either complicate the installation and removal of the collection bag or do not provide complete protection. Examples of prior art devices are described in the Meyer et al U.S. Patent 3,636,686, issued January 25, 1972, and the Haffner U.S. Patent 3,721,078, issued March 20, 1973.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in the housing, an engine supported on ';
the blade housing and located inwardly from the discharge chute, means for releasably attaching a collection bag mouth to the discharge chute outlet, a door pivotally mounted on the blade housing for movement between a closed position wherein the door covers the discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein the collection bag can be attached to the discharge chute outlet and the door is interposed the engine and the collection bag when so attached, and is thereby protected by the collection bag from engagement with obstructions exterior of the mower during movement.
' .~, . , ~036366 Other features and advantages of the embodiments of the invention will become apparent upon reviewing the following detailed description, the drawing and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a rotary mower having mounted thereon a shutter door as~embly in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the mower illustrated in Fig. 1 shown with the shutter door assembly in the open position and without a grass collection bag attached.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the mower illustrated in Fig. 1, shown with the shutter door assembly in the open position and without a grass collection bag attached.
Fig. 4 is the same view as Fig. 3 except the shutter door assembly is shown in the closed position.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane designated 5-5 in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 5 except the shutter door assembly is shown in the closed position.
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.
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10;~6366 Before explaining the embodiments of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawing. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.
Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a rotary lawnmower 10 including a blade housing 12 having a grass clipping discharge chute 14 with an outlet 16. An engine 18 is carried on a blade housing deck 20. Attached to the lawnmower 10 for collecting the grass clippings is a collection bag 22 including a sack 24 which has a mouth 26 adapted for communication with the discharge chute outlet 16. The collection bag 22 is attached to the discharge chute outlet 16 by a releasable connection means, such as a spring : ~ . . ... . . .
-:: . . .
~ . .
1~36366 latch 28, which enga~es a wire frame 30 (See Fig. 5 surrounding the~mouth 26 of the sack 24. The air stream laden with grass clippings and other comminuted material is discharged from the blade housing 12 into ~he dischar~e chute 14 and enters the collection bag 22 through the mouth 26. The collection bag 22 is supported by a support rod 32 which extends upwardly from the blade housing deck 20.
The construction discussed thus far i9 conventional. Various alternate means can be used to attach and support the collection bag 22. Such means form no part of the invention so illustration or detailed description thereof is not necessary for a full understanding of the invention.
There is provided a shutter door assembly which automatically closes the discharge chute outlet 16 whenever the collection bag 22 is intentionally or accidentally removed. In the construction illustrated and best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the shutter door assembly 32 includes a door 34 which is adapted to completely cover the discharge chute outlet 16 and a support frame assembly 36. The support frame assembly 36 includes an upper horizontal member 38 which extends above and is attached to the upper portion of the discharge chute 14 and a vertical side member 42 which extends along the inner side portion of the discharge chute 14. Mounted on the frame side member 42 is a generally vertically extending shaft or hinge pin 46. The door 34 at one side is supported on the hinge pin 46 by a pair of vertically spaced hinges 50 for swingable movement between a cIosed position and an open position about the generally vertical '' , .
103f~366 pivot axis provided by the hinge pin 46.
When in the closed position as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the backside of the door 34 completely covers the discharge chute outlet 16. When in the open position as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the door 34 is swung to a location where there is unimpeded discharge of the grass clippings through the discharge chute outlet 16 and the collection bag 22 can be attached to the discharge chute 14 in the usual manner as shown in Fig. 1. As illustrated, the shutter door assembly 32 is preferably arranged so that the door 34 opens towards the engine 18. With this arrangement, the collection bag 22 provides protection for the door 34 and other operative components of the shutter door assembly 32 against engagement by shrubs and similar obstructions during normal mowing operations.
The toor 34 is urged towards the closed position by a torsion spring 52 which surrounds the hinge pin 46 and which, at the opposite ends thereof, is secured to the frame side member 42 and the door 34, ~See Figs. 5 and 6). The hinges 50 and the torsion spring 52 are slidably mounted on the hinge pin 46 so as to permit relative vertical movement of the door. In order to facilitate grasping the door 34 for opening, a tab or extension 54 is provided on the upper portion of the door.
Means are provided for releasably and positively latching the door 34 in the closed position so that, after being closed, the door cannot be forcibly opened by the impact of an ob~ect hurled through the discharge chute 14 by the cutter blade~
While various arrangements can be used, in the construction illustrated (See Figs. 3 and 5), such means includes an upper latching arm 56 which extends laterally and forwardly from the upper edge of the door 34 and which ha8 a generally, vertically extending ear 60 terminating in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper edge 62. Provided integrally with upper frame member 38 is a latching bracket including an arched section 64 under which the latching arm ear 60 can pass. The door 34 is urged upwardly with respect to the upper frame member 38 by a leaf spring 66 (See Fig. 6) which includes an inner end portion 67 and which is secured to the door 34 in a manner so that the inner end portion 67 bears against and exerts a downward force on the hinge pin 46.
As the door 34 is urged towards the closed position by the torsion spring 52, the inclined upper edge 62 of the latching arm ear 60 bears against the underside of the arched section 64 and urges the door 34 downwardly against the biasing force of the leaf spring 66. When the latching arm 60 moves past the forward edge 70 of the arched section 64, the door 34 is urged upwardly by the leaf spring 66 and the vertical rear edge 69 of the ear 60 is er-gaged against the forward edge 70 of the arched section 69 to thereby securely latch the door 34 to the frame (See Fig. 4). Thus, a propelled object, such as a small stone or the like, impacting the backside of the door 34 will not force the door open Further in accordance with the invention, means are provided for releasably locking the door 34 in the open position so as to insure that the door does not interfere with normal discharge of the grass clippings into the collection bag 22 and to facilitate the attachment of the collection bag 22 to the discharge chute 14. While various arrangements can be used, in the construction illustrated, such means includes a lower locking member or arm 74 which 0 i9 mounted on the front side of the door 34 and which includes an inner end portion 76 extending outwardly beyond the inner edge of the door 34 (See Figs. 2 and 6). Extending from the side frame 42 is a locking bracket 80 which includes an upwardly inclined edge portion 82 and a generally vertical 81Ot 84 for receiving the inner end portion 76 of the locking arm 74. As the door 34 is moved towards the open position, the inner end portion 76 of the locking arm 74 is forced upwardly along the inclined edge portion 82 of the locking bracket 80 and is eventually urged into the slot 84 to there-by lock the door 64 in the open position.
Since the door 34 is urged upwardly by the leaf spring 66, the locking arm 74 will tend to become unlocked from the locking bracket 80 unless the door is held down against the biasing force of the leaf spring 66. To accomplish this downward movement of the door 34, there is provided a trigger arm 86 (See Figs. 5 and 6) having an inner portion 88 which extends into the lower portion of the discharge chute outlet 16 and has an outer end portion 90 which is pivotally mounted, such as by a pin 92, on a support bracket 94 which in turn is connected to t'ne frame side member 42.
Affixed to the door 34 is a pin 96 which extends through a S slot 98 provided in the trigger arm 86 and includes a head 100 which engages the underside of the trigger arm 86.
The door 34 can be held downwardly ~o maintain the locking arm 76 in a locked position by applying a downward force on the inner portion 88 of the trigger arm 86.
This can be accomplished during normal installation of the collection bag 22. That is, the lower portion of the col-lection bag frame 30 is placed against the trigger arm 86 and, as the upper portion of the collection bag mouth 26 is moved into position and secured to the discharge chute 14 by the latch spring 28, there is sufficient downward move-ment of the trigger arm 86 to provide the desired locking action (See Figs. 2 and 5).
Tn operation, the grass collection bag 22 is installed by grasping the door extension 54 and pushing it downward to disengage the latching arm ear 60 from the arched section 64. The door 34 is then moved clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 3) to completely free the latching arm 56 from the arched secti~n 64. Thereafter, the downward force on the door 34 is relieved, the door is rotated further clockwise toward the open position until the locking arm 74 has passed over the inclined edge 82 of the latching bracket 80. The door 34 is then pushed downwardly to move the inner end _g_ ' ~
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portion 76 of the lower locking arm 74 into the locking bracket slot 84 as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the door 34 is thereby locked in an open position and cannot be returned to a closed position so long as the downward force is maintained thereon.
While maintaining the downward force on the door 34, the lower portion of the collection bag frame 30 is moved into its normal installation position ad~acent the discharge chute outlet 16 and the upper portion of the collection bag 30 is moved into position and secured in place by the spring latch 28. The lower portion of the collection bag 30 bears down on the trigger arm 86 to overcome the biasing force of the leaf spring 66 (See Fig. 5) and thereby prevent the locking arm 74 from becoming unlocked from the locking bracket 80.
When the grass collection bag 22 is to be removed, lt is only necessary to disengage the spring la~ch 28 from the top portion of the collection bag frame 30 and remove the bag from the discharge chute 14 in the usual manner. As the lower portion of the collection bag frame 30 is disengaged from the trigger arm 86, the leaf spring 66 urges the door upwardly to move the inner end portion 76 of the locking arm 74 out of the locking bracket slot 84. The torsion spring 52 then urges the door 34 to the closed position and the latching arm ear 60 is moved to the latched position behind the arched section 64 (See Figs. 4 and 6) by the combined biasing actions of the torsion spring 52 and the leaf spring 66. Of course, -10--`
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~ . .
. .
the door is automatically closed and latched at the same manner any time the collection bag is accidentally removed from the discharge chute 14, such as being pulled off by engagement with shrubs or similar obstructions.
Although the arrangement of the shutter door assembly ha~ been described and illustrated with the door 34 opening laterally towardly the mower engine, it can be appreciated that the assembly can be arranged so that the door opens laterally away from the engine. Even though less desirable, the assembly can also be arranged so that the door opens upwardly or downwardly, in which case the trigger arm 86 can be arranged to be engaged by a side of the collection bag frame 30 instead of the bottom of the frame as described above.
Claims (2)
1. A rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in said housing, an engine supported on said blade housing and located inwardly from said discharge chute, means for releasably attaching a collection bag mouth to said discharge chute outlet, a door pivotally mounted on said blade housing for movement between a closed position wherein said door covers said discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein the collection bag can be attached to said discharge chute outlet and said door is interposed said engine and the collection bag when so attached, and is thereby protected by the collection bag from engagement with obstructions exterior of the mower during moving.
2. A rotary mower having a blade housing with a grass clipping discharge chute having an outlet, a rotary cutter blade located in said housing, an engine supported on said blade housing and located inwardly from said discharge chute, a grass clipping collection bag having a mouth adapted for attachment to said discharge chute outlet, means for releasably attaching said collection bag mouth to said discharge chute outlet, a door pivotally mounted on said blade housing for movement between a closed position wherein said door covers said discharge chute outlet and an open position wherein said collection bag can be attached to said discharge chute outlet and said door is interposed said engine and said collection bag and is thereby protected by said collection bag from engagement with obstructions exterior of the mower during moving.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US391934A US3872656A (en) | 1973-08-27 | 1973-08-27 | Safety shutter door assembly for rotary lawnmower grass catcher chute |
| CA205,131A CA1022346A (en) | 1973-08-27 | 1974-07-17 | Safety shutter door assembly for rotary lawn mower grass catcher chute |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1036366A true CA1036366A (en) | 1978-08-15 |
Family
ID=25667638
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA265,297A Expired CA1036366A (en) | 1973-08-27 | 1976-11-10 | Safety shutter door assembly for rotary lawnmower grass catcher chute |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1036366A (en) |
-
1976
- 1976-11-10 CA CA265,297A patent/CA1036366A/en not_active Expired
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