GB2520001A

GB2520001A - Hover lawnmower

Info

Publication number: GB2520001A
Application number: GB1319489.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeff Lear; Ian Zetterstrom Smith
Original assignee: Husqvarna AB
Current assignee: Husqvarna AB
Priority date: 2013-11-05
Filing date: 2013-11-05
Publication date: 2015-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2033-11-05
Also published as: GB201319489D0; GB2520001B; CN104604423A

Abstract

A hover lawnmower having an assembled state, and a disassembled state, the lawnmower comprising, in the assembled state: a housing 1 open on a bottom surface 5 thereof, the bottom surface having a circumference, a cutting element mounted in the housing and facing the bottom surface, and a lift-generating apparatus arranged to pressurise a chamber formed in the bottom surface relative to a local ambient pressure, in which the housing comprises a first portion 2 and a second portion 3, the first portion and the second portion forming, in the assembled state, part of the circumference, the first portion comprising a body 6 from which descends a skirt 7, the skirt defining part of the bottom surface and in which the second portion is mounted on the skirt of the first portion in the assembled state. This lawnmower has the advantage that it can be packed compactly into a box or other such container.

Description

I

HOVER LAWNMOWER

This invention relates to hover lawnmowers, a boxed lawnmower and to methods of assembling and packing such lawnmowers.

Hover mowers generally comprise a hood that contains a volume of air that has been pressurised to be above atmospheric pressure, thereby to provide a cushion of air on which the mower can hover, in order to make the mower easier to move over a grassed (or similar) surface to be cut. A powered cutting element, such as a rotating blade, is provided on the bottom surface, in order to cut the grass, typically driven for rotation on a drive axle by an electric motor or internal combustion engine, in either case potentially through a transniission.

Known hover mowers are generally shipped in a carton or box in an assembled state, where little assembly is required of a user before they can be used. Whilst this is convenient for an end-user, it is a relatively poor use of space. It has, to date, been possible to achieve more efficient use of space for wheeled lawnmowers, where whecls and thc like can bc removed, and it has provcd casicr to providc a disassembled lawnmower. Given that the aerodynamic performance of a hover lawnmower depends on the size and shape of the hood, to date those working in this field have been reluctant to interfere with the integrity of the hood for fear of reducing the performance of the lawnmower. This means that the shipping cost of a (disassembled) wheeled lawnmower is approximately half that of an (assembled) hover lawnmower.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a hover lawnmower having an assembled state, and a disassembled state, the lawnmower comprising, in the assembled state: * a housing open on a bottom surface thereof, the bottom surface having a circumfercnce, * a cutting element mounted in the housing and facing the bottom surface, and * a lift-generating apparatus arranged to prcssurisc a chamber formed in thc bottom surface relative to a local ambient pressure, in which the housing comprises a first portion and a second portion, each of the first portion and the second portion forming, in the assembled state, part of the circumference, the first portion comprising a body from which descends a skirt, the skirt defining part of the bottom surface and in which the second portion is mounted on the skirt of the first portion in the assembled state and fits on or around the body of the first portion in the disassembled state.

Thus, a portion of the second portion can be fitted on or around the body of the first portion whcn disassemblcd. Thus, thc lawnmowcr can bc morc efficicntly packed when disassembled.

Typically, the lawnmower will have a first extent in a first direction, which may be less in the disassembled state than in the assembled state; the difference in extent may be due to the difference in position of the first portion. The first direction may be generally parallel to the bottom surface.

The second portion may comprise a pair of elongate members depending from a cross-member so as to define a U-shape, the elongate members fitting either side of the body in tile disassembled state. This represents a particular efficient use of space.

The lawnmower may comprise a handle which, in the assembled state, is graspable by user in order to propel the lawnmower over a surface. The handle may comprise a first portion which is coupled to the housing, and a second portion which is coupled to the first portion in the assembled state but not in the disassembled state. Thus, the handle can be split into separate parts, which can therefore make packing of the lawnmowcr more efficient.

Furthermore, the handle may comprise a third portion which is coupled to the second portion in the assembled state but not in the disassembled state. Each of the first, second and third portions may comprise U-shaped members formed of a cross member form which extend two generally parallel elongate members; thc width between the elongate members of at least one of the second and third portions may be less than the first extent in the disassembled state.

The first portion of the handle may be pivotally mounted on the first portion of the housing. As such, there may be a pivoting axis, which may be perpendicular to the first direction.

The first portion of the handle may support the second por ion of the housing on the first portion of the housing in the disassembled state. Thus, that portion of the handle, which will be fixed to the housing even in the disassembled state, can also be used to support other members, to ensure that they are in the most efficient position for p ae king.

The body may contain a motor for the lawnmower, and possibly also a grass box.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a boxed hover lawnmower, comprising a hover lawnmower in accordance with the first aspect of the invention in the disassembled state, in a box.

The box may have an extent in a first direction that is greater than, but within 5% or 2% of the first extent of thc lawnmower.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of assembling a hover lawnmower, comprising taking a lawnrnower in accordance with the first aspect of the invention in the disassembled state, and assembling it such that it is in the assembled state.

The act of assembling the lawnmower may comprise removing the second porion of the housing from where it is surrounding the first portion and affixing it to the first portion so as to complete the circumference. The act of assembling may also comprise attaching the second porion of the handle to the first portion, and potentially also attaching the third portion of the handle to the second portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of packing a lawnmower, the lawnmower being in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising placing the lawnmower in the disassembled state into a box.

The box may have an extent in a first direction that is greater than, but within 5°A or 2% of the first extent of the lawnmower.

The method may comprise the step of placing the second portion of the housing around the body of the housing, typically so that it is supported on the first portion of the handle.

There now follows, by way of example only, dcscription of an embodiment of the invention, described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a lawnmower in accordance with an embodiment of the invention in a disassembled state in a box; Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the disassembled lawnmower of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the lawnmower of Figure 1, in the assembled state.

A lawnmower in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings. This lawnmower has the advantage that it can be packed compactly into a box 10 or other such container. Rather than the box 10 having to fit the assembled lawnmower as shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, the box 1 can be made significantly smaller, thus making packing and shipping of the lawnmower more efficient and hence cheaper.

Taking first the assembled view of Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, in this embodiment, the mower is provided with a housing I, which is formed of two portions, comprising a first portion 2 and a second portion 3. Thc first portion 2 has a body 6 from which depends a skir 7. The second portion is generally U-shaped in outline, having a cross member 8 and two side portions 9 which, in the assembled state shown in Figure 3 surround the sides of the skirt 7.

A handle 4 is provided projecting backwards from the housing, by means of which a user can propel the mower over a surface to be cut. The handle is formed of three portions; a first portion 11 which is pivotally mounted on the first portion 2 of the housing about a horizontal pivot axis, a second portion 12 fixed to the first portion Ii and a third portion 13 fixed to the second portion 12, and which carries a switchbox 14 used to control the operation of the motor. Each of the portions II, 12, 13 is generally U-shaped.

The housing defines a bottom surface 5 which has a circumference which is defined partly by the first portion 2 of the housing and partly by the second portion 3. This bottom surface 5 defines a chamber in which there is a cutting element (comprising a set of blades, not shown) and a lift-generating member (not shown) of the form of an impeller, mounted on a common axle, and driven for rotation by an electric motor housed in a body 6 forming part of the first portion 2 of the housing.

In use, the bottom surface 5 will be presented to the ground. The axle is driven for rotation by motor. This rotates both the cutting element and the lift-generating member, drawing in air from above the housing I and pressurising the chamber. This generates lift, which allows the mower to hover. Because the blades are rotating, moving thc mowcr over a grass surface (aided by the fad that the mower is hovering) will allow the blades to cut thc grass.

However, in order to pack the lawnmower conveniently into the box 10, the mower has a disassembled slate, in which it can be so packed. In this state, the second portion 3, which acts as a "bumper" at the front of the lawnrnower in use, is not affixed to the first portion 2 of the housing, but instead is placed around the body 6 of thc first portion 2, with thc side portions 9 cither side of thc body 6. The first portion 11 of the handle 4 is swung forward about the pivot axis to lie almost horizontal (that is, almost parallel to the bottom surface 5, 50 that the second portion 3 of the housing is laid on top of the first portion II of the handle.

The second portion 12 of the handlc is then placed intermediate the first portion 11 of the handle and the skirt 7. The third portion 13 of the handle can be laid on top of the body 2.

Thus, by splitting the lawnmowcr into scveral parts, the overall size of the box 10 can be reduced. The box 10 can have an extent ddI3 when disassembled in the "forwards" direction of the lawnmower (that is, the direction parallel to the bottom surface perpendicular to the horizontal pivot axis of the handle 4, along which a user would preferentially push the lawnmower) that is less than the corresponding extent c/88 in the assembled state. Because the length (along the sides of the U-shape) of the first II and second 2 por ions of the handle, and of the second portion 3 of the housing are less than dd!, thosc parts can bc positioned lengthwise in thc box; similarly, because the width between the sides of the U-shape of the third portion 13 of the handle is less than ddES, that part can be laid widthwise in the box. Therefore, much less packing space is wasted than would be the case if the lawnmower were boxed in the assembled state of Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, and a box that is not much longer than d18 can bc used.

In order to assemble the lawnmower, the lawnmower in the disassembled state is removed from the box 10. The second portion 3 of the housing is clipped onto the skirt 7 of the first portion 2 of the housing, so as to complete the circumference. The first portion 11 of the handle is swung into a more upright position as shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, and the second 12 and then third parts 13 of the handle sequentially attached. The lawnmower is now in the assembled state shown in Figure 3.

Claims

CL Al NI S 1. A hover lawnmower having an assembled state, and a disassembled state, the lawnmower comprising, in the assenibled state: * a housing open on a bottom surface thereof, the bottom surface having a circumference, * a cutting element mounted in the housing and facing the bottom surface, and * a lift-generating apparatus arranged to pressurise a chamber formed in the bottom surfacc relative to a local ambient pressure, in which the housing comprises a first portion and a second portion, each of the first portion and the second portion forming, in the assenibled state, part of the circumference, the first portion comprising a body from which descends a skirt, the skirt defining part of the bottom surface and in which the second portion is mounted on the skirt of the first portion in the assenibled state and fits on or around the body of the first portion in the disassembled state.
2. The lawnmower of claim 1, in which the lawnniower will have a first extent in a first direction, which may be less in the disassembled state than in the assembled state; the difference in extent being due to the difference in position of the first portion.
3. The lawnmower of claim I or claim, in which the second portion comprises a pair of elongate members depending from a cross-member so as to define a U-shape, the elongate members fitting either side of the body in the disassembled state.
4. The lawnmowcr of any preceding claim, comprising a handle which, in the assembled state, is graspable by user in order to propel the lawnmower over a surface, the handle comprising a first portion which is coupled to the housing, and a second portion which is coupled to the first portion in the assenibled state but not in the disassembled state.
5. The lawnmower of claim 4, in which the handle comprises a third portion which is coupled to the second portion in the assembled state but not in the disassembled state.
6. The lawnmower of claim 4 or claim 5, in which the first portion of the handle supports the second portion of the housing on the first portion of the housing in the disassenibled state.
7. The lawnmower of any preceding claim, in which the body contains at least one of a motor for the lawnmower and a grass box.
8. A boxed hover lawnmower, comprising a hover lawnniower in accordance with any preceding claim in the disassembled state, in a box.
9. The boxed hover lawnmower of claim 8, in which the lawnmower is in accordance with 2, in which the box has an extent in a first direction that is greater than, but within 5% or 2% of the first extent of the lawnmower.
10. A method of assembling a hover lawnmower, comprising taking a lawnniower in accordance with any of claims I to 7 in the disassembled state, and assembling it such that it is in the assembled state.
11. The method of claim 10, in which the act of assembling the lawnmower comprises removing the second portion of the housing from where it is surrounding the first portion and affixing it to the first portion so as to complete the circumference.
12. A method of packing a lawnmower, the lawnmower being in accordance with any of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising placing the lawnmower in the disassembled state into a box.
13. The method of claim 12, comprising the step of placing the second portion of the housing around the body of the housing, so that it is supported on the first portion of the handle.
14. A hover lawnmower substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.