GB2308050A

GB2308050A - Lawn mower

Info

Publication number: GB2308050A
Application number: GB9625784A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alberto Enos Cattaneo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-12-12
Filing date: 1996-12-11
Publication date: 1997-06-18
Also published as: SE9604573D0; SE9604573L; ITMI950842V0; IT237331Y1; GB9625784D0; DE29621609U1; ITMI950842U1

Description

LAWN MOWER The subject-matter of the present invention is a lawn mower of the type comprising a shell, equipped with wheels, on which a motor means is installed which drives a blade for grass slicing off.

Said blade, which is arranged inside a hollow chamber provided inside the interior of the shell, performs the function of slicing off grass, so as to mow lawns at a uniform height.

Cut grass is projected into a container ("grass-catcher") applied onto the lawn mower shell, or, should such a container be absent, are directly left on mowed lawn.

When cut grass is collected inside a purposely installed container, the lawn is deprived of cut grass which, later on, can be easily added to the composting container.

However, the experience demonstrated that before (or during) the operation of lawn mowing the path of the lawn mower must usually be liberated from coarse agricultural materials, such as, e.g., deadwood, old stakes, leaves, wooden shrubs, horticultural residues, scraps from edge trimming, from pruning, bushes, organic garden and/or house wastes, all which could damage the lawn mower.

At present, the operation of disposing off said coarse agricultural scraps and wastes requires a specific engagement from the operator, due, above all, to the need for using particular tools which, consequently, slacken down the work of lawn mowing.

The purpose of the present invention is of obviating the above drawbacks, i.e., providing a lawn mower which can operate in an easy and fast way even on lawns on which coarse agricultural materials are present.

Such purposes are achieved by a lawn mower according to claim 1 to which reference is made for the sake of brevity.

The concept at the basis of the present invention is essentially of associating with the blade used to slice off grass in a lawn mower, a blade suitable for grinding the coarse agricultural material, so that the resulting machine can act both as a lawn mower and a scrap/waste grinder.

The operations of grass cutting and coarse materials grinding take place inside the interior of a same hollow chamber provided inside the shell of the machine.

However, it should be reminded that the lawn mower according to the present invention is also capable of acting as a grinder, with no preliminary setting thereof being necessary for that purpose.

Therefore, the operator, by stopping the forward movement of the lawn mower, can immediately dispose of the coarse agricultural materials as they appear on lawn mower path by simply charging them to the suitable opening provided through the shell which bounds the blade housing chamber.

The ground materials are automatically collected inside the grass-catcher, owing to the action of the blade which forces it to enter the grass-catcher, as it occurs for cut grass.

When the grass-catcher is not provided, the ground material is just left on the ground.

Another purpose of the present invention is of uniting a lawn mower and a grinder in one single machine with undoubted advantages in terms of practicality and cheapness.

The present invention can be applied both to lawn mowers of the type driven by the pushing force applied by the operator, and of self-propelled type, whether provided, or not, with a seat for the operator, and independently from the type of motor means which drives them.

The present invention is illustrated for merely exemplifying, non-limitative purposes in the figures of the accompanying drawing plates which relate in particular to a particularly simple lawn mower, i.e., of the operator-pushed type, provided with an electrical motor means for the blade.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a lawn mower according to the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged detail of the lawn mower of preceding Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a perspective bottom view of the lawn mower of the preceding figures.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of Figure 3.

Referring in particular to the above mentioned figures, the lawn mower according to the present invention, generally indicated with (1), comprises a shell (2) which supports a motor means (3).

With the shell (2) a tubular handle (5) and four wheels (4) are connected. In the herein exemplified case, said wheels (4) are idling, because the lawn mower is of the type driven to move by the pushing force applied by the operator.

The motor means (3) which, in the herein exemplified case, is of electrical motor type, bears a shaft (6) on which a first blade (7) for grass slicing off is installed inside the interior of the hollow chamber (8) of said shell (2) which, when the lawn mower (1) is being used, is opposite to the ground.

Between the shell (2) and the first grass slicing off blade (7) and revolving relatively to the same revolution axis of said first blade (7) a second blade (9) is provided which comprises a disc element (11) provided with grooves (12) (which, in the herein exemplified case, are in the number of 2), at each of which there can be fastened [in the herein exemplified case by means of first screws (14)], respectively, two cutting means (10) so oriented as to grind materials which are charged from top downwards through an opening (13) purposely provided through the shell (2).

The blade (7) suitable for grass slicing off is fastened onto the disc element (11) of the blade (9) (i.e., the coarse materials grinding blade), by means of second screws (15).

Therefore, the blade (9) has such a structure which makes it particularly suitable for grinding coarse agricultural materials which can be charged through the opening (13) provided through the shell (2) and provided with a tubular guide duct (16) which extends inside the shell (2), by means of two duct portions (18, 17) reaching a close position to the grass slicing off (7) and grinding (9) blades.

For reasons of cheapness and rationalization of spare parts warehouse, the blade (9) can be similar to the blades used in garden grinders, the so-called "biogrinders".

In the herein exemplified case the blades (7) and (9) are mutually constrained by means of second screws (15), consequently both of them are driven by the same motor means (3), through a same shaft (6).

According to an alternative embodiment, one single blade, suitably shaped and sharpened, can be provided to perform both functions of lawn mowing and grinding.

However, clearly, also two or more shafts (6) can be used, linked with the same motor means (3) by mechanical transmission means which transmit the motion to the grass cutting (7) and grinding (9) blades.

The opening (13) for entering the coarse materials is preferably provided on the front side (relatively to the traveling direction) of the shell (2) of the lawn mower (1).

In fact, it could realize that such a position is the most comfortable one for charging the material to be ground which is guided into the interior of the hollow chamber (8) inside which the blade (7) and the disc element (11) of the blade (9) revolve.

However, the opening (13) can be provided at any positions of the shell (2) of the lawn mower (1), possibly also through the bottom side, facing the ground.

The opening (13) comprises a tubular duct (16) for feeding the material to be ground which, in the herein exemplified case, comprises a first duct portion (17), which is interposed between the shell (2) and the blade (9), and a second duct portion (18) which protrudes outwards from the shell (2).

In order to keep the lawn mower (1) blocked when resting, and, above all, during the use thereof as a grinding apparatus, a parking means (not illustrated) is provided, for example a brake, preferably acting on at least one pair of wheels (4) revolving relatively to the same geometrical axis.

From the above disclosure, the characteristics of the lawn mower which is the subject-matter of the present invention as well as its advantages will be clear.

In particular, such advantages are represented by: - integration of the functions of grass slicing off and grinding the coarse of garden and/or house waste materials and/or scraps, inside the interior of one single machine, equipped with one single motor means; - comfort for the operator who must alternate the works of lawn mowing and grinding; - simplicity of machine manufacture and servicing, with no need for complex and/or expensive operations.

Furthermore, changes can be supplied to the embodiments of the invention illustrated herein without departing from the principles on which the innovative idea is based, as well as, when practically implementing the innovation, different materials and dimensions can be selected according to the technical requirements.

For example, one single shield or cover or lid (from either a plastic or a metal material) can be provided to close the hollow chamber under the shell of the lawn mower, for revolving blades protection and operator safety, so that even the most exposed portions of operator's body cannot come into contact with the cutting elements of the machine.

Furthermore, with the lawn mower disclosed above, mechanical, electrical and/or electronic devices for protection and safety (consensus devices, motion stopping means, interruptions) can be associated.

Claims

1. Lawn mower (1) of the type comprising a shell (2), equipped with wheels (4), with which at least one motor means (3) is associated which drives at least a first blade (7) for grass slicing off, or the type provided with a plurality of cutting edges and revolving around a barycenter axis, in which said first blade (7) is arranged inside the interior of a hollow chamber (8) defined within the interior of said shell (2), opposite to ground, characterized in that between said shell (2) and said first blade (7), at least one second blade (9) is provided which: is provided with at least one cutting edge (10) suitable for grinding coarse agricultural materials which can be charged to the chamber through at least an opening (13) which is provided through said shell (2) of the lawn mower (1) and which, through at least one tubular duct (16) leads, through said shell (2), to said hollow chamber (8); is driven to revolve by the same motor means (3) which drives the revolution of said first blade (7).

2. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second blade (9) is installed on a same shaft (6) on which said first blade (7) is installed.

3. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second blade (9) is installed on a shaft (6) which is different from the shaft on which said first blade (7) is installed.

4. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second blade (9) is constrained to said first blade (7) through fastening means (15).

5. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second blade (9) is integrally mounted on said first blade (7).

6. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said shell (2) is of type made from metal material.

7. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said motor means (3) drives said first blade (7) and said second blade (9) to revolve either directly or through at least one transmission means.

8. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second blade (9) is the blade of a garden grinder.

9. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said second blade (9) comprises at least one carrier disc element (11) on which one or more cutting edges (10) are installed by means of fastening means (14).

10. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said motor means (3) which drives said first blade (7) and said second blade (9) is of reciprocating internal-combustion engine type.

11. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said motor means (3) which drives said first blade (7) and said second blade (9) to revolve is of electrical motor type.

12. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said tubular duct (16) comprises at least a first duct portion (17) which is provided between said shell (2) and said second blade (9) and a second duct portion (18) protruding outwards from said shell (2).

13. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said opening (13) is provided on the front side of said shell (2), relatively to the traveling direction.

14. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is of the self-propelled type, or of the type to be pushed by the user, or suitable for lawn mowing, or of the type having, or not having, at least one seat for the operator.

15. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a parking means, of the type acting on the wheels (4) of the lawn mower (1).

16. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said hollow chamber (8) is covered by at least one protecting shield or cover or lid, for operator safety.

17. Lawn mower (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises mechanical, electrical and/or electronic safety devices, as microswitches for motion starting-up, or for consensus to operate, or to stop the movement of said first blade (7) and/or said second blade (9).